The Revolution in Iran
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas also prophesied in regards to the revolution in Iran. Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmadra beautifully explains this and states:
” The second prophecy which, out of many thousands, I now wish to narrate relates to Afghanistan’s neighbour Iran. On January 15, 1906, Hazrat Mirza Sahib, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) received the revelation:
i.e. ‘Shaking in the palace of Chosroes.’
As was the practice, the revelation was published in all Urdu and English newspapers and periodicals of the Jama’at. At the time of its publication, the then ruler of Iran sat comfortably on his throne. In 1905 he had accepted proposals for popular representation Government by parliament had been promised and proclaimed. The country rejoiced over this, and the king, Muzaffar-ud-Din Shah, was the popular monarch of a grateful nation. Great satisfaction prevailed because a political revolution had taken place without bloodshed. The rest of the world looked hopefully to Iran because this experiment in democracy was new for the whole of Asia, excepting Japan. But they were unaware of the difficulties it entailed. The people were without sufficient education and without sufficient experience of democratic government. At such a time Hazrat Mirza Sahib published his revelation–‘Shaking in the palace of Chosroes.’ The revelation seemed strange. Nobody seemed to apprehend the consequences pointed out in the revelation. Iran was happy with its new-found freedom. The king, Muzaffar-ud-Din Shah, was happy with the popularity he had built.
In 1907, at the age of fifty-five, the king died. His son, Mirza Muhammad Ali, ascended the throne. The new king confirmed the constitutional changes which had been inaugurated by his father. The Iranian Parliament, the Majlis, was to continue. Representative government had come to stay. But a few days later ominous signs began to appear which pointed to events foretold in the revelation of the Promised Messiah. A year after the publication of the revelation, one could see signs of rebellion and disorder. A conflict began between the king and the parliament, the Shah and the Majlis. The Majlis put forward demands which the Shah could not accept. At last, on the insistence of the Majlis, he agreed to turn out certain men, leaders of mischief according to the Majlis. At the same time, the king decided to leave Tehran. Grave tension arose between the Nationalists and the Cossacks who formed the king’s body-guard. The revelation of the Promised Messiah received partial fulfilment. The Iranian House of Representatives was shelled and destroyed. The king abolished the parliament. General rebellion ensued in many parts of Iran. Laristan, Labudjan, Akbarabad, Bushehr, Shiraz, and practically the whole of Southern Iran were involved. Governors and officers of the old regime were dismissed and the administration assumed by Nationalists and democrats. Iran was in the grip of internecine warfare. The king could see the country’s critical condition.
He started moving the treasury and his personal effects to Russia, himself staying behind to use all his tact and will to put down the rebellion. The rebellion only grew. By January 1909 it had spread to Isphahan. The Bakhtiari chief also joined the Nationalists. The royal troops suffered ignominious defeat. The king was forced to proclaim his acceptance of parliamentary government. He told the people again and again that the old autocratic order will not be re-established. But God had ordained otherwise. In the palace of Iran anxiety increased from day to day. At last even the Cossacks, the Shah’s body-guard, joined the revolutionaries. The Shah and his family left the palace and took refuge in the Russian Embassy. This was on July 15, 1909, two and a half years after the publication of the revelation ‘Shaking in the palace of Chosroes. The revelation was literally fulfilled Autocracy and reaction disappeared from Iran. Democracy came instead. The months of June and July passed in great anxiety. Only those who have ever lived through such conditions can have an idea of the anxiety, the restlessness and desperation which reigned in the palace of Iran for these two months. We need imagination to think of what must have happened. So much at least is clear, that the prophecy of the Promised Messiah came true. It was a Sign, even though few benefit from such Signs.” (Invitation to Ahmadiyyat, Prophecy No.2)