The Essence of Islam – Volume IV — Page 52
52 Essence of Islam-IV Significance of the Title 'Mahdi' The one who was to come was named Mahdī, to in- dicate that he would acquire the knowledge of the faith from God Himself, and would not acquire the knowledge of the Qur'an or Hadith from a teacher. I can state on oath that such is my case. No one can prove that I have had a single lesson of the Holy Qur'an or Hadith or Tafsir from any human being or have been the pupil of any commentator of the Holy Qur'an or scholar of Hadith. This indeed is the status of Mahdi, which has been bestowed upon me on the pattern of the Prophethood of Muhammadsa. I have been taught the mysteries of the faith directly, with- out any intermediary. [Ayyām-uş-Şulḥ, Rūķānī Khazā'in, vol. 14, p. 394] Comparison with the Miracles of Jesusas Question: The Messiah son of Maryas proved through many miracles that he had been sent by God, what [miracles] have you got? Have you put forward any such proof? Have you brought any dead person to life or restored sight to one congenitally blind? Even if we were to suppose that you are the like of the Messiahas, what benefit do we derive from your advent? Answer: It is apparent from a study of the Gospels that, throughout his life, the Messiahas himself re- mained the target of this same objection that he had shown no miracle. How could he be the Messiah when he did not bring back to life anyone who could