Page 170 - Portents and Features of the Mahdi's Comingl

PORTENTS AND FEATURES OF THE MAHDI'S COMING

three tasks. Both the puri ty in the Treatise that can not
be mis used will be harmed, and the truths will become
defi cient in the eyes of believ ers with lit tle knowl edge
of spir it u al things; even indis pu ta ble argu ments will turn
into an opin ion that is only part ly the truth, and the vic -
to ry over stub born proof and arro gant athe ism will begin
to not be seen among the con fused peo ple of faith.
Political cir cles and some reli gious teach ers will begin
to feel doubts. Therefore, it does not seem appro pri ate
to give that name in the Treatises. It may be said that
he is a reviv er, a pre cur sor." (The Seal of Affirmation of
Hidden Things, p. 10)
The facts stat ed by Bediuzzaman in this extract are
dis tort ed, and it is sug gest ed that "he said it would be
extreme ly dam ag ing for the sub ject of the Mahdi to be
spo ken about pub lic ly." Yet this idea is total ly based
on a mis in ter pre ta tion; what Bediuzzaman is say ing
here refers to his own time. He says that his dis ci ples
har bour a mis con cep tion about him with regard to the
Mahdi, but that "this is an error that stems from con fu -
sion." For that rea son, he tells them not to "speak in
this way or make any claims with regard to the Mahdi."
On close inspec tion, how e ver, Bediuzzaman is say ing
that it is not speak ing of the Mahdi that is objec tion a -
ble and dam ag ing, but direct ing claims regard ing the
rank of Mahdi towards him self, since these are found -
ed on an erro ne ous opin ion. He reminds them that at

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