Forged prophecies bank on a true postdated prediction to sell a false one

Evidence

This obviously spurious hfiadı¯th is a typical example of a favorite technique of the forger. He begins with a “prediction” which is remarkably accurate, because it was in fact written after the events which it predicts, and having thus gained the confidence of the listener, he continues with a prediction of events yet to occur. The second, genuine prediction, as in this case, is usually wrong. — Bernard Lewis, From Babel to Dragomans, 497 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Prophesied doom retroactively serves as an alibi after liquidation occurs; Propaganda forgers embed accurate old predictions to sell false future ones. — Bernard Lewis, From Babel to Dragomans: Interpreting…, 497

Broader Connections

• Propaganda forgers embed accurate old predictions to sell false future ones. #corroborates (0.95) — Bernard Lewis, From Babel to Dragomans, 497
• Prophesied doom retroactively serves as an alibi after liquidation occurs #complicates (0.75)