Al Hakam - 18 March 2022

From the Markaz Atfal from MKA USA meet Hazrat Khalifatul Masih

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“God remained silent for a long time”: Warnings of the Latter-Day Messiah

21st-Century Deluge and the New Ark of Noah

The need, importance and blessings of the Promised Messiah’s writings

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THE WEEKLY

www.alhakam.org AL HAKAM | Friday 18 March 2022 | Issue CCIX Ahmadiyya Archive & Research Centre (ARC), 22 Deer Park Road, London, SW19 3TL, UK info@alhakam.org | ISSN 2754-7396

Clouds of war loom over us and people will ask why this happened Khuddam from MKA USA meet Hazrat Khalifatul Masih On 13 March 2022, 126 Khuddam aged 15-25 from MKA USA had the opportunity to meet Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa through a virtual mulaqat. The Khuddam were situated in Dallas, Texas, while Huzooraa was in Islamabad, UK. After conveying his salaam, Huzooraa called Jalees Ahmad Sahib to recite a portion of the Holy Quran – Surah al-Mu’minun, Ch.23, V. 1-12 – and

Samar Ahmad Sahib read the English translation. Shifa Ilahi Sahib was called up to read an Urdu poem of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra – its translation was given by Abdur Rahim Oresanya Sahib.

Addressing Madeel Abdullah Sahib, Sadr Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya USA, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said: “Sadr Sahib, today you selected almost the same verses that were recited yesterday.

If your Atfal and Khuddam act upon

all these things written in these verses, then Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya USA will be one of the most pious and righteous Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya and Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya in the world.

This is the commandment, this is the guideline, this is the directive of Allah the Almighty which, if practised, can make us role models for others.”

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Hadith-e-Rasul – Sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa

The Just Arbiter (Hakam ‘Adl) َ ُ َ​َ َ َ َ َ ّٰ ‫عن أ�ي ه َريْ َرة رضى الله عنه قال قال‬ َّ َ ّ ٰ َّ ّٰ ُ ‫َر ُسول الل ِه ﺻلى الل ُه َعل ْي ِه َو َسل َم‬ َ َ َ َ ْ َ َّ ‫وشك ّن أ ْن‬ ِ ‫ ل ُي‬،‫’’ َوال ِذي نف ِ�� بِ َي ِد ِه‬ ُ ً ْ َ َ َ ْ َ ،‫يَ� ِ�ل ِفيك ُم ابْ ُن م ْري َ َم َحك ًما عدلا‬ ْ ْ َ َ َ ‫الصل‬ َ �ْ�‫ َوي َ ْق ُت َل ا� ِخ‬،‫يب‬ ،‫ير‬ ِ ّ ‫ف َيك ِ� َر‬ ِ َ ْ َ َ َ ْ َ ‫ َوي ِفيﺾ ال َمال َح ّتى‬،‫َويَﻀ� ا� ِ� ْزيَة‬ ُ َ َّ َ ُ َ َّ َ ٌ َ َ ُ َ َ ْ َ َ ‫الس ْﺠدة‬ ‫ حتى ت�ون‬،‫لا يقبله أحد‬ ُّ َ ً ْ َ ُ َ َ ْ َ ‫الدنْ َيا َو َما ف‬ ‫احدة خي�ا ِمن‬ ‘‘ ‫يها‬ ِ ِ ‫الو‬

Hazrat Abu Hurairahra narrates, “The Holy Prophetsa said, ‘By Him in Whose hand is my soul, the son of Mary shall soon descend among you as the Just Arbiter; he shall break the cross, kill the swine and abolish the tribute (jizya); and he shall distribute wealth until no one will [be left to] accept it, and one prostration will be better than the whole world and all that is in it.’”

(Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Ahadith al-Anbiya, Hadith 3448)

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Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, In His Own Words

Trials and the Promised Messiah’s timeless advice for his Community “It is necessary for the Messengers of God to face great trials, and for their followers and the generation after them to be tried and tested, so that God may distinguish between the honest and the insincere, the steadfast and the wavering. ‫قشع ا ّول �� و �� �د‬ ‫ف‬ ‫� ��ی ز � ہک ج ی�زو� �د‬ [Love, in its very essence, is wilful and bloodthirsty, so that everyone who does not belong to it may keep away.]

The trials which initially confront prophets and saints and make them appear dishonoured despite their being loved and accepted by God do not come to disgrace them or destroy them or wipe their names off the face of this earth. Nor can this be their purpose, for how can God become the enemy of those who love Him and bring disgrace upon them? These trials, which appear with the ferocity of a roaring lion and cause darkness to descend all around, come upon God’s chosen servants in order to raise them to the highest levels of acceptance and to open for them the finer dimensions of Divine knowledge. This has always been God’s practice towards His servants, and it is substantiated by the entreaties made by Davidas in the Psalms, by the Gospel’s account of Jesus’ heartrending supplications during his time of trials, and by the humble supplications of the Holy Prophetsa that are recorded in the Holy Quran and the traditions.

One of the supplications which David made during his time of trials, and are recorded in the Psalms, is: Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire where there is no standing. I am weary of my crying: mine eyes fail. They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head. Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake. They that sit in the gate speak against me; and I was the song

of the drunkards. Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour. I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none. (Psalms 69) The Gospels also contain an account of how the Messiahas prayed and supplicated during his night of trial, and how he remained awake all night and was overwhelmed by grief and anguish as if in the throes of death. All night he cried and beseeched his Lord to let the cup that he was destined to drink pass from him. But, despite his many prostrations, his prayer was not heard, because prayers that are offered during trials are not accepted. We should also not forget the sufferings endured by our lord and master, pride of the Messengers, and seal of the Prophets, Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, during his times of trial. At one such time, he prayed, ‘My Lord! I complain to you of my weakness and confess my helplessness at your threshold. My humble state is known to You. I am ready to bear every hardship until You are pleased with me, and I have no strength other than You.’ If past Prophets and saints had not faced these difficulties, they would not have attained the high status they did through the blessings of their trials.

Their ordeals set the seal on their perfect obedience, firm resolve, and readiness to offer the ultimate sacrifice. In the face of adversity they displayed wonderful steadfastness, complete obedience and true love. They were caught in terrible storms, enveloped by darkness, shaken by earthquakes, ridiculed, and considered liars and deceitful and dishonourable, and deserted by everyone. For a time, they were even deprived of the Divine support in which they put all their trust, and all at once He seemed to withdraw His sustenance, as though in anger, and left them in difficulty and sorrow, as though they had become deserving of His wrath. He appeared indifferent to them and did not seem to care for them in the least,

and seemed instead to show concern for their enemies. Thus their trial was drawn out and one ordeal was followed by another, and trials came upon them like torrential rain in a dark night, but they did not waver in their resolve and did not lose heart. In fact, the greater the trials that beset them, the faster they moved forward; and the more they were battered, the stronger they became; and the bigger the difficulties and dangers they faced, the greater the bravery and courage they showed. But they finally succeeded in their trials with flying colours, and were blessed with complete success due to their perfect sincerity, and were bestowed the crown of honour. All the objections of the unenlightened then vanished like vapour as though they had never existed.

In short, prophets and saints are not free from trials, and have to face them more than others, but they always overcome them by the strength of their faith. Common people do not recognise them, just as they do not recognise God, and they are particularly vulnerable to deception when the loved ones of God are going through their period of trials, for they do not have the patience to wait and see what the future holds and are completely overwhelmed by the flood of deception. They fail to see that when God prunes a tree which He has Himself planted, He does not do so with the intention of destroying it, but only to help it grow and blossom so that it may yield as much fruit as possible. It is imperative for the inner purification and spiritual perfection of prophets and saints that they face these trials which serve as virtual uniforms by which these Divine soldiers are known. Whoever wins anything in a manner contrary to this, only succeeds to a degree and is not granted complete success. It is highly unfortunate that man should readily yield to suspicion and presuppose that all those who claim to be from God are cheats and swindlers and seek to serve their own interests. In

time such beliefs make people harbour doubts about sainthood, and once they have rejected sainthood, they begin to have reservations about the status of Prophethood, and when that, too, has been rejected, they start doubting the existence of God and think that perhaps the whole concept is a baseless fabrication and a superstition that has gradually found its way into people’s minds.

O you who love truth with your heart and soul, and you who hunger and thirst for it! Do understand that belief in sainthood and its essentials is the sine qua non for passing through this chaotic world with one’s faith intact. Sainthood helps to safeguard belief in Prophethood, and belief in Prophethood safeguards belief in God. Saints are like pegs that reinforce Prophethood, and Prophets are like nails that strengthen belief in the existence of God. Whoever fails to recognise a saint will also not succeed in recognising a Prophet, and he who does not recognise a Prophet will certainty fail to recognise God and is bound to be led astray. No amount of rational arguments and conventional knowledge will be of any avail to such a person. [...]

Finally, let it be clear that I have complete and absolute trust in my Lord to take care of my affairs, and I am not bothered whether people are with me or against me, whether they accept my claim or reject it, whether they like me or hate me. Disregarding everyone, and considering everything, except God, to be as good as dead, I carry on with my mission. There are some from among our own people and belonging to our own religion who look disdainfully at what I am doing, but I make allowances for them knowing that what has been revealed to me has not been revealed to them, and the thirst that I feel has not been felt by them. َّ ُ َ َ ‫ک ٌّل � ۡع َم ُل َع ٰلى شا ِکل ِت ٖه‬ [Everyone acts according to his own way. (Surah Bani Israil, Ch.17: V.85)]” (The Green Announcement, pp. 13-21)

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AL HAKAM | Friday 18 March 2022

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Madeel Abdullah Sahib reported that the Khuddam present in the meeting were aged 15-25. Hearing this, Huzooraa asked if all those Khuddam above this age group “were very well reformed” and that they didn’t need a meeting? To this sadr sahib said the spaces were limited and he felt the Khuddam above this age group out as they could travel to meet Huzooraa in person. To this Huzooraa remarked: “They should. Encourage them to visit.”

The Khuddam then had a chance to ask questions to Huzooraa.

The first question was by Umar Amir Sahib from Houston. Seeing him, Huzooraa asked, “Where did I see you last? Your face looks quite familiar to me.” Umar Sahib said he had been blessed to meet Huzooraa during the AMSA MKA Canada trip to the UK in 2020.

Omer Sahib referenced a meeting of Kababir Ahmadis with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa on 5 June 2021, in which Huzooraa said the next few decades were crucial for the success of the Jamaat. Omer Sahib asked how Ahmadis today could fulfil their roles for this success.

Huzooraa said: “They are crucial. Allah the Almighty has promised to the Promised Messiahas that his Jamaat will spread all across the world.

And we, the Khuddam and even every person who claims himself to be an Ahmadi and the follower of the Promised Messiahas should work hard that when the time comes, if we are alive at that time […] then Allah the Almighty give us the opportunity to guide those people who come to us for any guidance.

“And for that, we have to learn more about religion. We should know; what is the Islamic shariah; what was the purpose of the coming of the Holy Prophetsa; what has been revealed to him in the Holy Quran; what are the commandments and injunctions given in the Holy Quran which make a person a true Muslim.

“If we ourselves are not practising those things, and we, ourselves don’t know what has been written in the Holy Quran, and what was the sunnah of the Holy Prophetsa and what Allah the Almighty wants from us, then how can we guide them?

“Because we can see the world is changing; even nowadays you can see. Some years ago, even your politicians, thinktanks and analysts used to say that ‘Oh, there’s no chance of any world war’ and I would always say that ‘No, there’s a fear of world war and you have to be very much careful’. And they

were all refusing, refuting [and] denying it.

“But now you can see the clouds of war are just hanging over us.

“Even if this world war erupts or not, now people have started realising that this world is not a safe place; anything can happen at any moment. And I think, ultimately, people will start thinking on this matter as well that ‘Why is this happening?”

“If we are discharging our duty for the spreading of the message of Islam and Ahmadiyyat to the people, then a time will come when people will realise that ‘Yes, we should follow the commandments and injunctions which have been given to us

by Allah the Almighty’ – not necessarily to the Muslims in the Holy Quran, but all the scriptures, all the prophets have asked their people to bow before Allah the Almighty, to bow before God and be morally good […]

“But at that time, you may say that ‘your religions were for during that time when their prophets claimed themselves to be prophets. But now the final of the prophets is the Holy Prophetsa of Islam and Quranic teachings are the universal teachings. And now if you want to save yourself, if you want the nearness of Allah the Almighty, then accept Islam and follow the teachings of Islam.

“And because the situation will be such that people will be realising it, I hope – and it is the promise of Allah the Almighty also – that they will pay heed to your words. And when they start listening to you, then that will be your duty to guide them on the right path.

“They will ask you, ‘How can we pray to Allah the Almighty? How can we practise the true teachings of the Quran and Islam?’

Then we should have the translation of the Holy Quran in their language. This is what we have been doing now.

“We have to spread this message and we have to reform ourselves before that time. If we do it, then that means we are preparing ourselves for that time.”

Muneeb Ahmad Sahib from Fort Worth asked if any doubts had ever arisen in Huzoor’s mind regarding the truth of Ahmadiyyat and if so, how did he reconcile those doubts.

Huzooraa said: “Fortunately, I was brought up in such an atmosphere which was a religious atmosphere. And we used to have our Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya classes in the mosque from the very childhood. There we knew what are the Islamic teachings and we were taught that it was the prophecy of the Holy Prophetsa that in the Latter Days a reformer

will come to revive the teachings of Islam when the time would come when the people would have forgotten the teaching of Islam.

That was what we were taught in the early childhood.

“It never occurred to me in my life that I ever think that Ahmadiyyat is not true. If I believe that Allah is One and Omnipotent if I believe that the Holy Prophetsa is His prophet and Islam is the true religion then I have to believe that all the prophecies of the Holy Prophetsa were true and will come true in the future as well.

“This is why, as far as I am concerned, it never occurred to me or I never had any doubt about Ahmadiyyat; the truth of Ahmadiyyat.

“If you read to increase your knowledge, you read the Quran, you read Surah alJumuah, Chapter 62 of the Holy Quran and you read the first five to six verses of that surah and then you read the translation and interpretation and commentary of that, then certainly it will come into your mind – you start pondering over it – that who are those people whose coming was foretold by the Holy Prophetsa. And even it was revealed to the Holy Prophetsa by Allah the Almighty.

Then you will know.

“And if you read the literature of the Promised Messiahas – his claim – and you see the condition of the Muslim ummah then it will never come to your mind that Ahmadiyyat is wrong. If you believe that Islam is right, if you believe that all the prophecies of the Holy Prophetsa are true and will be true in future as well, then it will never happen that you feel any doubt in your mind.”

Further advising on how to strengthen faith in Ahmadiyyat, Huzooraa said: “For this, you will read the Holy Quran, you pray to Allah the Almighty in your five daily prayers – that if there’s any doubt, Allah removes it – and you read the literature, especially the books of the Promised Messiahas. And for that Haqiqatul Wahi is a good book […] You can read Introduction to the Study of the Holy Quran written by the second Khalifa – that will also give you the idea to understand about Islam and Ahmadiyyat, the truth of it, especially the last 5-10 pages if you read that there’s a mention of the coming of the Promised Messiahas and truth about Ahmadiyyat.

“And even Invitation to Ahmadiyyat is also a good book […] that will also give you the true concept about the truth of Ahmadiyyat.”

Nauman Farid Sahib from Minnesota, a waqif-e-nau, was next to ask a question.

Huzooraa asked Nauman Sahib what he did to which he said he was still studying in high school but wanted to be a cardiothoracic surgeon in the future. Huzooraa said “MashaAllah’” and asked: “So, you want to be a cardiothoracic surgeon? Are you sure that you will do the waqf after completing your education?”

Nauman Sahib said: “Yes, I’m really interested in the human body and I want to offer my services to the Jamaat.”

To this, Huzooraa said: “Okay, if by that time we have more cardiac centres or hospitals in the world you can be sent there. Otherwise, at present, we have a hospital in Rabwah. So, after having completed your education then go to Rabwah to serve there for some time. InshaAllah.”

Huzooraa then asked Nauman Sahib to ask his question. Nauman Sahib expressed that he offered his five daily prayers regularly and at times tahajud prayers too. However, sometimes he felt as if his heart was not present in the prayer and wanted to take a break. He asked Huzooraa what to do in such a situation.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said: “A true believer should always be consistent in his worship. If you believe that it is Allah the Almighty Who is the Lord of the world – Heaven and the earth – then it will come into your mind immediately that I should bow before Him, I should pray to Him. “If you think that Allah is the One Who is providing you everything – He is the Provider and Sustainer – then you will bow before Him. So always try to remember the attributes of Allah the Almighty.

“Since you are a grown-up boy now – I think you are 15 or 16 – so when you’re praying, you [should] also pray to Allah the Almighty that He gives you the strength to be steadfast in your prayers, in remembering Allah.

“If you want Allah the Almighty you have to ask Allah that it should never happen that you lose Him. And if you pray to him fervently in this manner, then I don’t think you will ever have any desire to have a break to offer any of your prayer.”

“If you need Allah the Almighty you have to say to Allah that you need Him. Then He will help you.

“And because at that time, you might be busy in either your studies, or any book which you like more, or any TV programme, or any programme on your tablet or iPad or somewhere, which you think should be given more preference than the prayer. If that be the case, then you will lose. Even during the prayer time, you leave everything and pray to Allah the Almighty that Allah always keeps you to steadfast in your prayers.”

Iqaan Ahmad from Oshkosh asked a question next. Huzooraa asked if he was ‘Mirza’ Iqan Ahmad to which he said yes.

Iqan Sahib asked Huzooraa what his most memorable experience was with any of the previous Khulafa.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said: “There are quite a number of memories.

A very light moment I can tell you. In 1993 I was here, I had a chance to go to the North [of the UK] with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V. There we did some hiking or Continued on next page >>

Friday 18 March 2022 | AL HAKAM

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mountaineering […] So, I enjoyed that trip.

And there were so many light moments at that time and he was very much free with me at that time. There are some moments like this which I enjoyed. So I can tell you only this much – if I go into the detail of it then the secrets of some other people will come out and I don’t want to disclose it.”

Danial Ahmad from Atlanta said that being a college student in America, it was inevitable to have friends who drank, used drugs and practised wrongful relationships.

He asked how Ahmadis could balance religious values while also maintaining close and healthy relationships with society.

Huzooraa said: “You see, I cannot believe this, that one hundred per cent of the students are involved in all the bad things […]

There are quite a number of non-Muslim students even who are of good nature. So, you should see that your fellow students, if they are good in their studies – concentrate more on their studies – then you can make some friendship with them because you can discuss your subjects with them with regards to your studies. But if they say ‘let’s go to the club’ or ‘have a little drink’, then you say ‘no, being a Muslim, I don’t want it’.

If they ask you to [be] involved with some bad things, making bad relationships with the opposite sex, or anything evil, then you say ‘no, being a Muslim I try to save myself from these things’.

“But as far as your studies are concerned you can make them friends, you can be in their company; in their lecture rooms, in your library, in your common room, in common discussion, in your playground, yes.

“You should be so powerful with regards to your character that they should not influence you. Rather, it should be the other way around – you should influence them.

So that by seeing you, they leave their bad habits, they stop drinking. You can tell them these are the drawbacks of drinking […] – this is why our religion says we should not drink – and there are some other moral evils. […]

“This is your duty now that being a true Muslim – Ahmadi Muslim student – you should tell them that we should try to refrain from all these things. Instead of you getting under the influence of those people, you should rather influence them and bring them under your influence so that they change themselves.

“You have been created to reform the world, not to indulge yourself in worldly things. So, it needs some determination plus you pray to Allah the Almighty that Allah helps you so that you are saved from all these evils of the society.”

Huzooraa added: “But never try to fight with any student.

There are some moments when they behave well, then you also should behave well.

This is why in the Holy Quran, Allah the Almighty says that in your company you will see different types of people of different nature and different habits. When they are doing something wrong just say ‘salaam’ and leave their company. When they discuss something else, they are doing good things, then come and join them.

This is the directive given in the Holy Quran that say “‘Peace’ – now you are involved in something wrong so ‘salaam’

– peace be on you – I still pray that Allah the Almighty saves you from this and I am going. When you will come to a normal condition then I will come back.’”

“Always remember this commandment of Allah the Almighty.”

Raghib Shahid Sahib was next to ask a question. He said he was the son of Dr Abdul Quddus Shahid Sahib. To this Huzooraa said, “I see, you are Dr Abdul Quddus’ son, the anaesthetist?” Raghib Sahib confirmed this.

His question was how one could overcome bad habits that were affecting spirituality.

Huzooraa said: “For that Allah the Almighty says you should do more istighfar. And istighfar, where it saves you, and you get the forgiveness of Allah from your previous sins, it also saves you from all those sins which may occur in your life. You should do istighfar: َ ُ َ َ َ ّ ‫َ ْ َ ْ ُ ّٰ َ َ ّ ْ م ْن‬ ‫نب ّوات ْو ُب اِل ْي ِه‬ ٍ ‫استغفِر الله ربِى ِ کل ذ‬ [I seek forgiveness of Allah, my Lord, for all my sins, and turn towards Him.] “And you should know the meaning of it. And if you’re doing it fervently and you are remembering Allah the Almighty, and even during your five daily prayers you pray to Allah that Allah saves you from all these things, then Allah will save you.

“And never ever try to see the programmes on your internet, on your media, on your television which can lead you to go astray. There are good websites also. Never ever open any bad website, any link, which can lead you to the bad things.

“And try to read the Holy Quran daily and know the meaning of it also. Now you are grown up Masha-Allah with a beautiful beard.”

Huzooraa then asked Raghib Sahib if he was in university to which Raghib Sahib said he was and that he was 19 years old.

Huzooraa continued: “At this age, you should also try to give some time to increase your religious knowledge. And make it a point that you will never lose your five daily prayer; you will never miss any prayer during the day and you will offer your five daily prayers regularly. And pray to Allah the Almighty in your prayers as well, when you are in sajdah position, that Allah saves you from all the bad things of the society.

“It is only Allah Who can help us.

Otherwise, the society we are living in is such that if we are relaxed, even a little relaxation can just ruin us – ruin our religion, our life. […] We have to be very much careful and vigilant.

“To save yourself from Satan is very much difficult and without Allah’s help, without prayer, without involving yourself in learning more about the Quranic commandments or other religious literature, you cannot save yourself.

“You should try to find some time, spare some time you give to your religious studies and that will also increase you in your faith.

“Always say: َّ ّٰ ُ َ َّ ‫الش ْي َط‬ ‫يم‬ ‫أ ُعوذ ِبالل ِه ِم َن‬ ِ ِ ‫ان الر ِج‬ “And:

ُ َ ّ َ ّ ْ ْ ّ َ َ ّٰ ُ ْ َ ْ َ ‫نب َواتوْ ُب ِال َ ْي ِه‬ ٍ ‫استغ ِفر الله ر ِبى ِمن کل ذ‬ Frasat Ahmad Basharat from Detroit spoke next to Huzooraa. Frasat Sahib said he was part of the Waqf-e-Nau scheme and on Huzoor’s questioning said he planned to go

to Jamia Ahmadiyya.

Frasat Sahib asked how Huzooraa felt when he received the letters of Ahmadis.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa smiled and said: “You see, if I receive your letter once in a year even then I pray for you, I say ‘O Allah the Almighty bless this person who has written me the letter’. And some people who have been writing to me regularly, at least once a month, and I have some personal contact with those people as well, obviously it is human nature – and I am also a human being – […] that creates some different sentiments for that person.

“Anyway, no matter whether you are writing once in a year or every month, I pray for everybody who writes to me, even for those even who do not write.

“But those whom I know very well, you see, then you have some personal contacts with them and personal sentiments and emotions for them. So, I feel the same way as you feel when you receive the letter of your friend, or your brother or your loved one.”

Jasim Ijaz Sahib from Houston said that in the Western world it was difficult to lower one’s gaze as society was overwhelmed with unavoidable forms of media in every direction. He asked Huzooraa how one could ensure modesty and lower one’s gaze in such an atmosphere.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa noted that lowering one’s gaze was no more limited to settings outside the house like shopping malls or streets, rather: “Even at home also when you’re watching your television it becomes very much difficult because suddenly such types of scenes come on the screen which a piousnatured person would loathe seeing. This is why you should try to avoid seeing these programmes on the television or Internet, or any of this media.

“Secondly, when you are walking on the streets then don’t open your eyes once you see somebody. It is true that if you close your eyes you will collide with somebody […] so ‘lower your gaze’ means you can open your eyes – not wide-opened eyes – see that you are just seeing the way, not the person. You have to avoid it.

“At the same time, you should also do istighfar that Allah the Almighty saves you from any bad scene which you may come across on the way.”

Huzooraa noted that one could not lower their gaze completely while walking outside as this would lead to accidents and more harm. Huzooraa said ‘lower your gaze’ meant seeing the way clearly but with a blurred vision too and with half-opened eyes so that the complete feature of a person could not be seen.

Huzooraa said to always engage in istighfar while outside and to recite: َ ّ ٰ َّ َ َ ُ ‫لا َح ْول َولا ق ّوة ِإلا بالل ِه‬ “There is no power nor strength except by Allah” Huzooraa continued: “This is the only way to save yourself, otherwise Satan will always incite you to see these things. Here, in this world, only istighfar and prayer to Allah the Almighty can save you from these things.

“Otherwise, yes, you are right, that no person can be saved.”

Umar Chaudhry Sahib from Detroit said there were Khuddam who felt there was no

good marital matches for them within the Jamaat, therefore they sought other girls outside the Jamaat. He asked for Huzoor’s advice to such Khuddam.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said: “How do you know that this rishta [match] is good for you and that is not good for you?”

Huzooraa said the Holy Prophetsa said a person married for four reasons and out of those the Prophetsa selected the criteria which a true Muslim should focus on when finding a marriage match. A person married a woman for either beauty, wealth or because of her family. The Holy Prophetsa however said “A true Muslim, a true believer should prefer to marry a girl who is pious and more inclined towards religious things.

And she’s a true believer.”

Huzooraa said that if boys started searching for girls who were true believers, it would mean the boys would also have to reform themselves. They should also try to be pious, good-natured and practising Muslims, like the girls they were seeking.

Huzooraa said: “This is the only solution which can solve this problem. But the problem here is that boys themselves are deviating from the true teaching of Islam and Ahmadiyyat.

They are more inclined towards worldly things than religion. And the same is with the girls to some extent – if not one hundred per cent like boys. Both of you will have to change your mindset that you should give preference to your religion over all other things.

“If you bring your mind to such a position and your mindset is such that you are not going to prefer anything else but the religion, then this problem can be solved.

Otherwise, if you marry a girl who is not from the Jamaat, you are going to affect your progeny. Your children may go astray. They may leave the Jamaat. They will not follow the religion which you are following.

“For that instead of only following our emotions and sentiments and worldly things, we should prefer religion more than anything else. And that is the only solution, otherwise no, after some generations you would see that your progeny has left the religion, has left the Jamaat. Even have forgotten to bow before Allah the Almighty and practise the teachings of Islam.

“Every big thing needs some sacrifice.

If you are determined to do sacrifice for the safety of your next generation, then you should marry those girls who are Ahmadis – and among Ahmadis even those girls who are religious minded and of pious nature.

“And in this way, both of you – boys and girls – will start reforming themselves.

They will be inclined more towards religion than anything else. And this is how we can save our next generation, this is how we can save ourselves, this is how we can save our religion.

“Otherwise, there is no other way.”

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa then turned to sadr MKA USA and said the time was over. Sadr Sahib thanked Huzooraa for his time and prayed for Huzooraa to visit them in the USA. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said: “Let us hope for the best.”

Huzooraa then conveyed his salaam and the meeting came to an end.

(Report prepared by Al Hakam)

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AL HAKAM | Friday 18 March 2022

From the Markaz

It was Allah’s promise to the Holy Prophetsa that in the Latter Days He would send the Promised Messiah and Mahdias to revive the religion Members of Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya, USA meet Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V

On 12 March 2022, members of Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya, USA, were given the opportunity to meet Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, in a virtual mulaqat.

The mulaqat commenced with the recitation from the Holy Quran by Hassan Sheikh after which the translation was presented by Qasid Mian.

Then, Waleed Ahmad recited a poem composed by the Promised Messiahas.

Azish Ahmad read out its translation.

After this, a video about Baitul Ikram, the newly constructed mosque in Dallas, was presented before Huzooraa. The mosque, as stated in the video, can accommodate 450 worshippers, with an extra spill overcapacity of 250. The construction began in 2019.

In the video, it was requested that Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa bless Dallas Jamaat with his presence and officially inaugurate

the Baitul Ikram mosque.

After watching the video, Huzooraa smiled and said: “Since you are sitting here. Now it has been officially inaugurated with your mulaqat.”

Thereafter, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa asked Madeel Abdullah Sahib, Sadr Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya USA, what the programme was. Sadr Sahib replied that 106 atfal, aged 7 to 15, had gathered and added that there were some atfal who had questions they wished to ask Huzooraa.

A young tifl, Umar Mahmud, 8, was first to ask his question. Upon seeing this young tifl, Huzooraa said, “Yes, Masha-Allah, Umar Mahmud Sahib. What do you say?”

Umar Mahmud asked Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa that since Allah Almighty had knowledge of all things including what humans would do in the future, then why did He put humans through trials in life.

Huzooraa answered: “Allah the Exalted has given you wisdom. You [human beings] are the only creatures of Allah the Exalted who have been given wisdom and fertile brains to use.

So, although Allah the Exalted knows what is going to happen in the future, He gives you a free hand. He has asked you now, as a human being, ‘I have given you wisdom and knowledge as well. You can learn more, you can improve yourself and you can differentiate between right and wrong. So, I am telling you these things are wrong and these things are right.

Now if you practice the right things, I will give you a reward. If you do bad things, I may punish you.’

It is not necessary that Allah the Exalted always punishes everybody. He forgives as well, and He says He is All-Merciful. His Mercy encompasses everything. Just like you are studying in a school and some students

are good, some are not very good in their studies. Your teacher knows very well that ‘this student will not get that many marks as the other student is going to get.’ He [the teacher] very well knows who are the clever students and who are the poor students in their studies. Despite that, all of you sit in the exam and you are given marks.

So, the teacher does not give different questions to the good students in their studies or some simple questions to the students who are not good [in their studies].

The same question paper is given to everybody […] In the same way, Allah the Exalted has given us the question paper, and He has even given us the answer that ‘these are the good things, these are the bad things.

If you do good things, you will be rewarded.’

And it is not necessary that if a person

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is doing bad things, he will ultimately be punished. Sometimes it so happens - and there are quite a number of narrations in this regard - that sometimes Allah the Exalted forgives those people who commit sins throughout their whole lives but before the end of their lives they do something good which pleases Allah, and Allah the Exalted forgives them and sends them to paradise [after their demise].

This world is a world of trial. You can compare this to an examination hall. If you work hard, you will get better marks […]”

Mubashir Khalid, 15, asked Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa that since Allah knew that humans were His ultimate creation, why did He create animals before humans that are now extinct.

Huzooraa replied: “He knew that those animals which are now extinct, their bodies will be used for you [human beings], as you see [in] the [case of] fossil fuel. Dinosaurs and other animals died […] Allah the Exalted created them to make proper use of their bodies, and now you are benefiting from that fossil fuel which was produced by those animals or all those creatures which were present in the olden days and now they are extinct.

This is why, Allah the Exalted made a plan in such a way that when human beings come to the stage where they have perfect knowledge of using good things or things that are buried in the ground, so He will let them make good use of it. Now this is the mercy of Allah the Exalted that He created some animals or some life on this earth and now that life is extinct, and now human beings are benefiting from it. Now you should thank Allah the Exalted that, before the invention of the cars and the engine, He had planned in such a way that you can get oil from the soil [...] Allah the Exalted’s plan is such that whatever is buried underground, under the soil, is being used by us. Instead of asking questions, you should be thankful to Allah the Exalted that you came afterwards, and you are making use of those extinct animals by using their residue in the shape of fossil fuel.”

Salman Momin, 11, asked Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa if it was permissible to eat at a Christian friend’s house as they pray and may say the name of Jesus upon their food.

Huzooraa explained: “When they are cooking, they might say they have taken the name of Jesus. Normally they do not do [this]. So, creating so many things in your mind, developing something in your mind that ‘they might have done this thing or that thing,’ [is unnecessary].

As I just mentioned in my last sermon, yesterday’s sermon (11 March 2022), Hazrat Abu Bakrra said to the army people that ‘whatever food is given to you by the local people, you say ‫ بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم‬and eat it.’ So, instead of going into a detailed investigation and becoming curious about it, [thinking] ‘they might have done this thing or that thing,’ you just say ‫بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم‬ and eat it. Then the food is pure for you. You can eat it. No problem! Even if you do not go to a Christian’s house, you buy food from Nando’s or buy burgers or anything from service stations. Do you know [whether] the person who prepared that food might have said the name of Jesus Christ on that

food? So, do not try to be so curious about these things. Just say Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim and eat it.

But, if you know – clearly know - that this animal has been slaughtered in the name of something which is other than Allah the Exalted, then do not partake [of it].”

Next, Wali Ahmad Nun, 10, asked Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa how to maintain a peaceful and loving environment with siblings. Huzooraa asked if his siblings were older or younger. He replied by saying that one was older and two were younger.

Huzooraa smiled and explained: “You should show patience. You [should] respect your brother or sister who is older than you and also be kind to those who are younger. And whenever they say something wrong, you [should] always show patience.

Your tolerance level should be very high.

And, also at the same time, when you see something wrong in them, and they are teasing you, you get annoyed, then say: َ َُ َ َْ ُّ َ ‫اَ ْس َتغف ُر‬ ‫اللہ َربِّ ْی ِم ْن ک ِل ذن ٍب ّوات ْو ُب اِل ْیہ‬ ِ “And at the same time, you should pray in your prayers that you always get good things from your siblings, and neither you make them unhappy, nor they make you unhappy and that both of you may live together amicably, in a friendly manner, in a brotherly manner. So, the thing is that an Ahmadi boy or girl, man or woman, [should] show patience, and their patience level should be very high. If you develop that one, then you will not get annoyed or you will not take revenge from your brothers and sisters.”

Naweed Ahmad asked that since Allah initiated all religions, was it correct to say that all religions lead to Allah Almighty.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa responded: “Yes. It is correct, provided they [followers of other faiths] do not deviate from the original teachings. All the prophets came with the message of prophethood from Allah the Exalted. And they all announced that ‘You [should] worship the One God and don’t make partners with Him’ and they clearly said that ‘we are the messengers of Allah the Exalted’ and they also said that ‘we have come for our people, to guide them’ and quite a number of prophets have prophesied that a prophet will come in the Latter Days and who will be the Prophetsa of God but not for the local people, [not only] for their own people, but for the whole of the mankind. And this prophecy was made

by Mosesas, by Jesusas Christ, and so many other prophets. So, although Moses brought the same message, Jesus brought the same message, Krishna brought the same message, Confucius brought the same message, but they also prophesied about the coming of a prophet who will be the universal prophet.

And none of their books has ever claimed that they are the prophets for the whole of mankind.

Even in the Bible, Jesus Christ has categorically said that ‘I am only the prophet for my own people, for my own tribes.’ But it is the Quran which claims that the Holy Prophetsa has come for the whole of mankind. He has been sent by Allah the Exalted for the whole of mankind. He is a mercy for the whole of mankind. So, despite the fact that all the religions are true religions, but, one thing is, that they have deviated from their true teachings.

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Friday 18 March 2022 | AL HAKAM

All the prophets came with the message of prophethood from Allah the Exalted. And they all announced that ‘you [should] worship the One God and don’t make partners with Him’ and they clearly said that ‘we are the messengers of Allah the Exalted’ and they also said that ‘we have come for our people, to guide them’ and quite a number of prophets have prophesied that a prophet will come in the Latter Days

Secondly, they never claimed that they came, or they were sent by Allah the Exalted for the whole of the mankind; but the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was sent - and it is a claim of the Holy Quran - it has been categorically announced by himself as well and it is written in the Holy Quran very clearly that the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is the mercy for the whole of mankind. He has been sent for the whole of mankind as the Warner and the Giver of glad tidings.

So, this is why we say despite the fact that all the religions were true religions but now their teachings have been corrupted by their followers. And it so happened that some of the traditions also entered into the Islamic teachings. This is why it was the promise of Allah the Exalted to the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that in the Latter Days a person who will be the lover and the follower of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, will be sent by Allah the Exalted as the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, and if there is any corruption in the religious teachings in Islam then he will rectify it and he will revive the religion. So, now, Islam is the true religion that is in its original shape. There is no book of the previous prophets that is in its original shape. It is only the Holy Quran that is in its original shape. And our opponents even accept this thing that there has never been any change in the Quran despite the fact that there had been some temptations to change it. And it is the claim of Allah the Exalted, in the Holy Quran, that the Quran will never be changed, and this is why we see that even today the Holy Quran is in the same form as it was revealed to the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.

This is why we say that Islam is the final religion and that was the claim of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and that has been announced by Allah the Exalted and it was even prophesied by the previous Prophets.”

Taha Qureshi, 9, asked Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa what children should do to get closer to Allah.

Huzooraa stated: “Now you should offer your five daily prayers […] We have five daily prayers salat – that you offer five times; Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha. Altogether, there are five prayers. So, offer your five daily prayers

and pray to Allah the Exalted in your prayers that Allah the Exalted may make you a good Muslim so that you come nearer to Allah the Exalted.

Secondly, you [should] read the Holy Quran daily and, if possible, you [should] also read the translation of it. Try to learn the translation of it so that you may know what is written in the Holy Quran. And then, when you know what is written in the Holy Quran then you should try to practice it and follow what Allah the Exalted wants from you. […]”

Tamim Butt, 9, said that every Friday, he had a test in school. He added that if he was to attend Jumuah, it would have a negative effect on his grades. He asked Huzooraa what he should do regarding this matter.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa advised: “[…] You can ask your teacher if it is possible to take your test one day before. Or if not then - okay, you can sit in your test.

And Allah the Exalted knows your intention that you want to offer the Friday prayer but Allah the Exalted will - if you have a good intention and you want to offer the Friday prayer and because of your schedule in the school or the programme in the school or because of the test you cannot attend the Friday prayer - then Allah the Exalted will forgive you.

And you [should] also pray that they change the date of the tests so that you are able to attend Jumuah prayer. So, next year you will be free [to do so]. They will change your timetable next year. It is not necessary that next year you will also have tests on Friday. You can wait till next year. [...] Pray to Allah the Exalted that he helps you to change this timetable.”

Fateh Ahmad Nun, 11, asked Huzooraa if ordinary people could see angels.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa explained: “Angels do not have physical bodies, but whenever they are seen - by the prophets even - that is a vision […] Nobody can [physically] see angels. Only, sometimes the whole atmosphere is created in such a way that sometimes you are sitting with a prophet, you may see the angels as it happened during the time of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Sometimes, his Companions used to see the angel Jibrael while sitting in the company of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. But that was just the vision, not that some physical body was there who descended from heaven and

AL HAKAM | Friday 18 March 2022

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"I am with you, O Masroor..." - A revelation of the Promised Messiahas َ َ ََْ ُ َْ َ َْ َ َ َ َ َ َ ّْ ���� ��� �� ������ �� � ������ ���� �� ��� ���� ��� ���� �� ��� ��َ ‫ارک۔‬ ‫ِا� ِ� معک و مﻊ اﻫ ِلک۔ اح ِمل اوز‬

ْ َ َ َ َّ َ ْ َ َ ٌ َ َ َ َ َّ ٌ َ َ َ َ ُ ْ ُ ْ َ َ َ َ َ ْ ّ َ َ َ ‫اس ت ْح َﺖ اق َدا ِمک۔ َوﺿ ْعنا‬ ‫����� ۔ ِا� ِ� معک یا م�رور۔ وقﻊ واقِﻊ و ﻫلک ﻫال ِک۔ وﺿعنا الن‬ َ ْٰ َ ٰ ُ َ ُ ْ ْ ُ َ ْ َ َ َ ْ َ َ َ ْ َ َ َ ْ َ ْ َّ َ َ ْ َ ْ �ْ ِ � ‫اق َو‬ ِ ‫َعنک ِوزرک ال ِذي انقﺾ ﻇہرَک َورﻓعنا لک ِذ� َرک۔ ا ِج ْي َبﺖ َدعوَتک۔ َس�رِیْ ِہ ْم ایَا ِتنا �ِ� الاﻓ‬ ُ​ُ َ َ ُ ُ ُ َْ ّٰ َ ‫انﻔ ِس ِہ ْم۔ ا ِج ْي َب ْﺖ َد ْعوَتک َما۔ ِا ّن الل َه َع�ٰ� ک ِ ّل ش ْي ٍﺊ ق ِدیْ ٌر۔‬ Translation: [Arabic] Surely, I am with you and with the members of your family. I shall bear your burden. [Urdu] I am with you and with all your dear ones. [Arabic] Surely, I am with you, O Masroor [happy one]. An event will happen and the one who is to be destroyed will be destroyed. We have put the people under your feet. We have relieved you of your burden, which had wellnigh broken your back and have exalted your name. Your prayer has been accepted. Soon, We shall show them Our signs all around them and in their own selves. The prayers of both of you have been accepted. Allah has power over all things.

made the shape of a human being, no. That was a sort of vision or ilhaam [revelation] or something like that. Nobody can see angels in a physical shape because they are not like human beings. You can only see angels in your dream if it is a true dream; or, whenever you receive any message from Allah the Exalted, or you see a vision.”

Ramees Mirza, 14, said that the Holy Quran states, “I have not created the Jinn and the men but that they may worship Me.” He added that since Allah was not in need of man’s worship, it seemed like a contradiction. He asked Huzooraa to elaborate on this.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa explained: “There is no contradiction. Allah the Exalted says: َّ ۡ ۡ َۡ​َ ‫َو َما خلق ُﺖ ال ِﺠ َّن َوالۡاِن َﺲ ِالا ل َِي ۡع ُب ُد ۡو ِن‬ “‘I have not created Jinn or the men but to worship [Me].’ That is the duty of a human being. ‘Jinn’, here, means the big people, the people whom an ordinary man cannot see, the people who consider themselves something above the ordinary man. They are the Jinn, here. And ‘the men’ [means] human beings, normal men, ordinary men, general people, the general public. So, Allah the Exalted says ‘I have created them to worship Me so that they may be rewarded. [If] they will worship Me, they will be rewarded,’ Allah says, ‘I will not get any benefit from it.’

In another verse, Allah says that He does not need our worship. It means that this worship will not benefit Allah the Exalted, or it will not increase the status of Allah the Exalted.

Rather, it is we who will get to benefit from worshipping Allah the Exalted. So, there is

no contradiction. On the one side, Allah the Exalted says, ‘this is your duty.’ On the other side, He says why [it is so] ‘because I want to reward you, I want to bless you abundantly with manifold blessings. But do not think that I need your worship. I have asked you just to make you understand that it is going to benefit you.’ Allah the Exalted says ‘My status will remain the same. By worshipping Me, you will not increase my status. I am God. I am Omnipotent. I am the Only God who created the heavens and the Earth and all the universes. So, I do not need your worship but you need My help and if you need My help to get the benefit from My blessings, or you want to get rewards for your deeds, then worship Me. So, on the one side He asks us that this is your duty. [On] the other side He has told us that ‘don’t think I have given you this duty to increase My status, no. I have given you this duty to reward you, to increase your status.

It is not going to affect My position or status, rather, you are going to benefit from it.’

Okay, do you understand now? There is no contradiction. Both commandments are for us to practice and to make us realise that we need Allah’s help. It is not Allah [Who] needs anything from us.”

Chaudhry Abdullah Cheema, 12, said that people in the USA believed that Prophet Jesusas was the son of God. He asked Huzooraa how he should reply when he was asked why he did not hold this view of Jesusas being the son of God. Huzooraa said: “You can tell them that, ‘we only know that Allah is All-Powerful and Omnipotent, and there is no match [to Him] and He can

do everything.’ You can ask them ‘do you think Allah needs somebody’s help? If He does not need anybody’s help, then why should He have a son?’ […] We believe that Allah is Ever-Living, and He will never die.

Everything is going to finish but Allah the Exalted will remain there all the time. Even before He created this world, heaven, and earth, He was there. So [...] why should He have a son? You can tell them that ‘we do not understand the logic behind it’ […]”

Huzooraa further said, “If they say it is written in the Bible that ‘Jesus is the son,’ [then, one can reply that] all the pious people Allah the Exalted has considered them as their children.” Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa explained that there were so many places in the Bible where noble men had been called “sons”. It was not only Jesus. “[This title] does not mean that they are [God’s] real children.

It means they are the true followers of Allah the Exalted,” Huzooraa said.

Huzooraa further encouraged Abdullah to study the Holy Quran and read the last three surahs which declare the Oneness of God. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa then turned to Sadr Sahib and said that there was only time for one last question.

Haris Goraya, 12, said that he had a non-Ahmadi Muslim friend in school who had invited him to his mosque. He asked Huzooraa if he recommended visiting the mosque.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said: “You may visit his mosque, but you should tell him that, ‘ask your imam that I believe’ - you believe – ‘that Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas of Qadian is the Promised

Messiah.’ So, you tell him that ‘I believe that the person who was to come in the Latter Days, according to the prophecy of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has come.’ That is your belief.

So, you can tell him that ‘Okay, I can go and see your mosque, no problem, but ask your imam that if he gets the chance to pray behind an Ahmadi imam, will he pray?’ If the imam says, ‘yes I will pray behind the Ahmadi imam,’ then you can pray behind him. But if the imam says that ‘no, I will not pray behind the Ahmadi imam,’ then you can tell [your friend] that ‘how can I pray behind such an imam who does not believe that the Imam of the Age has come according to the Prophecy of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. So, this is the matter.

You see, in the olden days, Ahmadis used to go to the non-Ahmadi mosques and they used to pray behind the non-Ahmadi imams but later on when non-Ahmadi imams started saying that the Promised Messiah, on whom be peace, is nauzubillah [God forbid] a ‘kafir, he is a disbeliever,’ then the Promised Messiah, on whom be peace, said that ‘we should not pray behind them.’ […]”

Huzooraa added, “If they say that we are ‘kafir’ then how can we offer our prayer behind them; but, there is no harm in going to the mosque, just to see the mosque.”

Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa then conveyed his salaam to all the atfal and the meeting came to a close.

(Report prepared by Al Hakam)

Friday 18 March 2022 | AL HAKAM

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Islam today

The Promised M as a Zilli and Bu

Can the idea of zilli or buruzi prophethood be traced back to Islamic tradition?

just as it is said of the good man that he is an angel, and of the evil man that he is a devil, by which is meant the likeness, not the essence.” (Mutahhar ibn Tahir al-Maqdisi.

In the course of his divine mandate, the Promised Messiahas used various terms to describe the uniqueness of his divinely bestowed prophethood, just about all of which were known in the Islamic scholastic tradition. These terms include, for example, shadow (zilli), spiritually projected (buruzi), likeness (mathil), non-real (ghayr haqiqi), metaphorical (majazi), partial (juz’i), non-legislative (ghayr tashri‘i), nonindependent (ghayr mustaqill), follower (ummati), etc.

What the Promised Messiahas had in mind when using these terms, i.e., what he himself understood by them, he explained in countless of his works. In doing so, he was more or less guided by the traditional terms but did not always adhere exactly to their purport.

In this regard, the hermeneutic maxim of the science of principles, “There is no dispute about technical terms,” (la mushahhata fi l-istilah) has to be kept in mind, since terminology is meaningless in itself and debate is only expedient when it comes to meaning, content and substance.

If one wants to understand how the Promised Messiahas filled terms he used with semantic content, one cannot avoid delving into his works and informing oneself. What can be said with certainty, however, is that the essence and the tenor and the core of the common denominator of all these terms can undoubtedly be found throughout the history of Islamic scholarship.

As early as the 4th H/10thCE century, the Muslim ummah was divided into at least three groups regarding the nature of the Second Coming of Jesusas.

Describing the doctrine of one of these three groups, the historian and philosopher Abu Nasr al-Mutahhar ibn Tahir alMaqdisi (more commonly known for his works from around 966 CE) writes in his universal chronicle with a theological approach called Kitab al-Bad’ wa-t-ta’rikh (“The Book on Creation and History”):

Kitab al-Bad’ wa-t-ta’rikh, ed. Clement Huart, Paris, Ernest Leroux Vol. 2. p. 196)

‫وقالت فرقة نزول ع�سى خروج رجل شبيه بع�سى في‬ ‫الفﻀل وال�رف كما يقال للرجل ا�خي� هو ملك ولل�رير هو‬ ‫شيطان يراد به ال�شبيه لا ال�عيان‬ “And one group says: The descent of Jesus is the emergence of a man who is a likeness of Jesus in excellence and nobility,

In the same way, Muhyi d-Din ibn ‘Arabi (d. 1240 CE), one of the most influential Sufi mystics in the history of Islam, writes in his commentary (tafsir) on the Quran about the ascension and descent of Jesusas: ‫رفﻊ ع�سى عليه السلام اتصال روحه عند المفارقة عن‬ ‫ ]…[ وجب نزو�ه في آخر‬.‫العالم السف�� بالعالم العلوي‬ ‫ بتعلقه ببدن آخر‬،‫ال�مان‬ “The ascension of Jesusas is the establishment of his soul, at the separation from the lower realm, in the supernal realm. [...] His descent at the end of time is inevitable, through his communion with another body.” (Muhyi d-Din ibn ‘Arabi. 1867, Tafsir Ibn ‘Arabi, Cairo, Matba‘t Bulaq Vol. 1. p. 165)

This is the very concept that is known among the honourable Muslim mystics as buruz i.e. spiritual projection.

Thus, the Crimean Tatar Hanafi encyclopaedist Abu l-Baqa’ Ayyub ibn Musa al-Kafawi (d. 1094/1683) writes in his lexical work on scientific terms Kulliyyat al‘Ulum (“The Totalities of Sciences”): ‫ هو أن يفيﺾ الروح من أرواح الكمل على کامل‬:‫وال��وز‬ ‫كما يفيﺾ عليه ال��ليات وهو يصي� مﻈ�ره ويقول أنا هو‬

“And projection (al-buruz): It occurs when a soul from the souls of the perfect men pours into a perfect being, in the same way as epiphanies pour into him and he becomes the locus of their manifestation and says, ‘I am him’.” (Ayyub ibn Musa al-Kafawi, 1998. al-Kulliyyat: Mu‘jam fi l-mustalahat wa-l-furuq al-lughawiyyah, eds. ‘Adnan Darwish; Muhammad alMisri, Beirut, Mu’assasat al-Risalah. p. 305.)

This definition can be traced back to the founder of the Nurbakhshiyyah order, Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah Nurbakhsh alKhurasani (d. 1464 CE). He writes in his Risalat al-huda (“Treatise on Guidance”):

،‫ومﺜل ذلك الﻈهور کان من برزات المكمل لا من التناسﺦ‬ ‫والفرق بينهما أن التناسﺦ وﺻول روح إذا فارق من جسد‬ ‫ يع�� في الش�ر الرابﻊ من وقت سقوط‬،‫إلى جنين قابل للروح‬ ‫ وکان ذلك المفارقة من جسد‬،‫النطفة وقرا�ها في الرحم‬ ‫ وال��وز أن يفيﺾ روح‬،‫والوﺻول إلى أخر معا من ﻏي� تراخ‬ ‫ كما يقبﺾ عليه ال��ليات‬،‫من أرواح المكمل على کامل‬ ‫ ويقول أنا هو‬،‫وهو يصي� مﻈ�ره‬ “[The Muhammad-Reality appears in the human body through the process of] spiritual projection (barazat) of the perfecting saints, which is not

transmigration (tanasukh). These differ in that transmigration occurs when a soul departs one body and enters an embryo ready for a soul – meaning in the fourth month after the sperm first settles in the womb – and this removal from one body and arrival at the other occurs instantaneously, without a time interval.

However, projection (buruz) occurs when a soul from the perfecting souls pours into a perfect being, in the same way as epiphanies pour into him and he becomes their locus of manifestation and says, ‘I am him’.” (Shahzad Bashir, 2001, The Risalat al-huda of Muhammad Nurbakhsh (d. 1464 CE), Critical Edition with Introduction in Rivista Degli Studi Orientali, 75 (1-4): p. 107)

‘Abd al-Qadir ibn Muluk al-Badauni (d. 1004/1615), a historian and translator living in the Mughal Empire and the first Grand Mufti of India, writes in Najat arRashid (“Salvation of the Rightly Guided”), a work on Sufi theology and ethics: ‫ و‬.‫ﺑﺰر�ﲝن اﻫﻞ ﮐﺸﻒ و ﻋﻴﺎن ﺑﺮوز را ﻗﺎ ﻳﻞ اﻧﺪ ﻧﻪ ﺑ�ﻨﺎﺳﺦ‬ ‫ ﺑﺎرزﭼﻪ ﺗﻨﺎﺳﺦ آن اﺳﺖ ﮐﻪ‬.‫ﻣﻴﺎن ﺗﻨﺎﺳﺦ و ﺑﺮوز ﻓﺮ�� اﺳﺖ‬ ‫رو�� از ﺑﺪن ﻣﺮده ﺟﺪا ﺷﻮد )و( �� ﻓﺎﺻﻠﻪ در ﺑﺪن ﮐﻪ ﻣﺴﺘﻌﺪ‬ ‫ و‬.‫ و ﻗﺎﻟﺐ اول ﺿﺎ ﻳﻊ و �ﻬﻤﻞ ﻣﺎﻧﺪ‬،‫ﺣﻴﺎت ﺷﺪه ﺑﺎﺷﺪ در آﻳﺪ‬ .‫ا ﻳﻦ ﻣﻌﺎﻣﻠﻪ ﻧﺰد ﺗﻨﺎﺳﺨﻴﻪ ﺑﻴﮏ ﺳﲝﻋﺖ ﺑﻘﻮ�� �� �� ﮐﺸﺪ‬

،‫و ﺑﺮوز آن اﺳﺖ ﮐﻪ روح ﻣﮑﻤ�� ﺑﺮوح �ﲝﻣ�� ﺗﺠ�� ﮐﻨﺪ‬ ‫ آن �ﲝﻣﻞ ﻫﻤﰿﻦ‬،‫ﭼﻨﺎﻧﭽﻪ ﻣﺎﻟﮏ و ﻣ�ﺻﺮف و ﻣﺪﺑﺮ ﺑﺮ در �ﻬﺮ‬ ‫ �� آﻧﮑﻪ روح آن �ﲝﻣﻞ از ﺑﺪن ﻣﻔﺎرﻗﺖ ﻧﻤﺎﻳﺪ و‬،‫ﻣﻜﻤﻞ ﺷﻮد‬ ‫اﺧﺘﻼف درﻳﻦ اﺳﺖ ﮐﻪ آﻳﺎ در ﺑﺮوز ا ﻳﻦ ﺷﺮط اﺳﺖ ﮐﻪ آن‬ ‫ و ﻇﺎﻫﺮ ا ﻳﻦ اﺳﺖ ﮐﻪ �ﺎم ﺗﺮ‬.‫ﻣﮑﻤﻞ درﻳﻦ �ﺎﻟﻢ ﺑﺎﺷﺪ ﻳﺎ ﻧﻪ‬ ‫ ﭼﻪ �ﺴﻴﺎری از اوﻟﻴﺎی در زﻣﺎن ﺣﻴﺎت ﺧﻮد ﻧﰿﺰ ﺑﺮ‬، ‫ﺑﺎﺷﺪ‬ ‫ و ا ﻳﻦ ﺑﺪان ﻣﺎﻧﺪ ﮐﻪ ﻧﻮر ﭼﺮاغ‬.‫ﺑ��� �ﲝﻣﻼن ﺑﺮوز ﮐﺮده اﻧﺪ‬ ‫ﺿﻌﻴﻒ در ﭘﺮﺗﻮ ﭼﺮاغ ﻗﻮی ﻣﻐﻠﻮب ﺷﻮد �� آﻧﮑﻪ ﻣﻌﺪوم‬ ‫ �ﲝه ﺗﻮ ا ﻳﻦ ﻣﻌ�� را ﻗﺒﻮل ﮐ�� ﮐﻪ ﺟﻦ را ﻗﺪرت �ﺻﺮف‬.‫ﮔﺮدد‬ ‫ ﭼﻨﺎﻧﭽﻪ ﺑﺎرﻫﺎ‬. ‫و ﺗﻐﻠﺐ ﺑﺮ ﺑ��� از ﻧﻔﻮس ﻧﺎ�ﺻﻪ ا�ﺴﲝ�� ﻫﺴﺖ‬ ‫ ﭼﻪ‬، ‫ ﭘﻨﺪارم ﮐﻪ در ﺑﺮوز ﻧﰿﺰ ﻧﻪ ﺧﻮا�� ا�ﺴﺘﺎد‬. ‫ﻣﺸﲝﻫﺪه ﺷﺪه‬ .‫�ﺻﺮف اﻧ�ﻴﺎ و اﺻﻔﻴﺎ ﮐﻤﰐﺮ از �ﺻﺮف ﺟ�ﻴﺎن ﻧﻪ ﺧﻮاﻫﺪ ﺑﻮد‬ ‫و ازﻳﻦ ﺟﺎﺳﺖ ﮐﻪ �ﺴﻴﺎری از اوﻟﻴﺎی اﷲ ا ﻳﻦ ﻣﻘﺎم رﺳﻴﺪه‬ ‫ﺑ��� دﻋﻮی ��ﺴﻮﻳﺖ و ﺑ��� دﻋﻮاﻫﺎی دﻳﮕﺮ ﮐﺮده اﻧﺪ‬ “The leaders of the community of mysticism and gnosis subscribe to the projection of the soul (buruz), not to transmigration (tanasukh). There is a difference between projection and transmigration. It is evident that transmigration is that in which a soul is separated from a dead body and immediately enters into the body of a species that has become capable of life, and the former body becomes wasted and worthless. This process takes no longer than an instant, according to the transmigrationists.

“On the other hand, projection (buruz)

is that in which the perfecting soul manifests itself in the accomplished soul, just as the owner, occupier, and governor at the gate of the city. The existence of the accomplished soul is thus brought to perfection, without requiring the soul of that accomplished one to leave the body.

“The unsettled question here is whether the perfecting one has to be in this world or not. Apparently, it is more common that it be so, for many among the saints have projected in their own lifetimes onto some accomplished ones. This is akin to how the light of a weak lamp is subdued by the rays of a strong lamp without, however, being extinguished. When you accept the notion that jinn have the ability to dominate and subdue some imperfect human souls, as it has been witnessed many times, I imagine that you will not oppose the notion of spiritual projection. For how could the ability of the prophets and the pure ones be less than that of jinn?

“For this reason, of many of the saints of God who reached this stage, some made the claim of being Jesus and some made other claims.” (‘Abd al-Qadir ibn Muluk Shah Bada’uni, Najat ar-rashid, ed. Sayyid Mu‘in al-Haqq, Lahore, Idarah-i Tahqiqat-i Pakistan, The University of the Punjab, 1972, pp. 72-73.)

Shams ad-Din Muhammad ibn Yahya al-Lahiji (d. 1506 CE), known as Shaykh Asiri Lahiji, an eminent Nurbakshi thinker, poet and mystic, in his Mafatih al-i‘jaz (“The Keys of Wonder”), a very widely read Persian Sufi work during the later medieval period and the most famous of commentaries of Gulshan-i raz (“The Mystic Rose Garden”), a well-regarded versified work on Sufism by the Sufi poet Mahmud Shabistari (d. 720/1340), describes in more than twenty pages that the Muhammadan Reality (haqiqah Muhammadiyyah) manifests itself in the bodies of living human beings through the process of projection (buruz). This occurs at varying levels, so that the perfect humans in a given historical period are receptacles of the projection of the Muhammadan Reality according to the level of spiritual perfection available in that age. (Muhammad

ibn Yahya Lahiji, Mafatih al-i‘jaz fi sharh Gulshan-i raz, eds. Muhammad Riza Barzgar Khaliqi, ‘Iffat Karbasi, Tehran, Zavvar, 1992, pp. 265-87.)

The Persian scholar and judge Qadi Kamal ad-Din Husayn ibn Mu‘in ad-Din ‘Ali al-Maybudi (d. 1504 CE) – likely affiliated with the Nurbakhshi Sufi order – corresponded with al-Lahiji in the chapter

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AL HAKAM | Friday 18 March 2022

Messiah uruzi Prophet as

on prophethood and sainthood of his major opus, the Sharh-i Divan-i ‘Ali (Commentary on the Poetry of ‘Ali, and also known as alFawatih):

‫و ﺑ��� ﺑﺮاﻧﻨﺪ ﮐﻪ روح ���� در �ﻬﺪی ﺑﺮوز ﮐﻨﺪ و ﻧﺰول‬ :‫���� ﻋﺒﺎرت از ا ﻳﻦ ﺑﺮوز اﺳﺖ و �ﻃﺎ ﺑﻖ ا ﻳﻦ اﺳﺖ ﺣﺪﻳﺚ‬ ّ .‫لامهدی الا ع�سى بن مريم‬ “And some say that the spirit of Jesusas will be spiritually projected (buruz) into the Mahdi, and by the descent of Jesusas this spiritual projection is meant, and in agreement with that view is the hadith reads, ‘There is no Mahdi but Jesusas, Son of Mary.’” (Husayn ibn Mu‘in ad-Din al-Maybudi, Sharh-i Divan al-mansub ila l-Imam, Tehran, 1868, p.

89.)

This exact phrase has also been reproduced verbatim by the Hanafi Sufi scholar Shaykh Muhammad Akram ibn Shaykh Muhammad ‘Ali Sabiri Quddusi Barasawi (d. unknown) from Delhi in his Iqtibas al-anwar, also known as Sawati‘ al-anwar, a large work on the saints of the Chishti order in four chapters which he completed in 1729.

Moreover, the great Indian mystic and reformist thinker Imam Rabbani, Mujaddi Alf Thani, Ahmad Sirhindi (d. 1624 CE) explains in one of his letters, collected and published as Maktubat:

‫و ﺑﺮوز ﮐہ ﺑ��� از ﻣﺸﲝ ﻳﺦ ﮔﻔﺘﻪ اﻧﺪ ﺑ�ﻨﺎﺳﺦ ﻣﺴﲝس ﻧﺪارد‬ ‫زﻳﺮا ﮐﻪ در ﺗﻨﺎﺳﺦ ﺗﻌﻠﻖ ﻧﻔﺲ ﺑﺒﺪن ﺛﺎ�� از ﺑﺮا�� ﺛﺒﻮت ﺣﻴﺎت‬ ‫اﺳﺖ و ﺑﺮا�� �ﺻﻮل ﺣﺲ و ﺣﺮﮐﺖ آن ﺑﺪن اﺳﺖ و در ﺑﺮوز‬ ‫ﺗﻌﻠﻖ ﻧﻔﺲ ﺑﺒﺪن دﻳﮕﺮ از ﺑﺮا�� �ﺻﻮل ا ﻳﻦ ﻏﺮض ﻧ�ﺴﺖ‬ ‫ﺑﻠﮑﻪ ﻣ�ﺻﻮد از ا ﻳﻦ ﺗﻌﻠﻖ �ﺻﻮل ﮐﻤﺎﻻت اﺳﺖ ﻣﺮ آن ﺑﺪن را‬ ‫و وﺻﻮل ﺑﺪرﺟﺎت اﺳﺖ‬

“As for spiritual projection (buruz), which some shaykhs have spoken of, it has nothing to do with transmigration.

In transmigration, a soul unites with another body to give it life, perception and movement. In spiritual projection, however, the union of a soul with another body does not have this purpose, but its aim is to receive the merits of the other person and elevate it by degrees.” (Maktubat Imam Rabbani, Vol. 2, Letter no. 58)

Coming now to more contemporary times, Sayyid Muhammad Dhawqi Shah (d. 1951), a scholar on Islamic mysticism, has a detailed entry on the concept of buruz in his reference work on Sufism, Sirr-i Dilbaran (“The Secrets of Beloveds”):

‫�ی ف‬ ِ �‫�رف اک� یا‬ � �� ِ� � ‫� � اک‬ ‫ � ِ ف‬:‫�وز‬ � �‫اج� �� ��۔ ��ی� �� اور اُےس ا� � � � ا‬ ‫ف‬ ‫�ا۔ ا� � ی‬ ‫� ی‬ ‫م � اج� ےہ ہک �ں �رگ �ں‬

‫�رگ � ُ��رت ی‬ ‫م �دار �� اور �اد اس ےس �ی‬ ‫�� ےہ ہک اُن �رگ � اک �وت اک� �ر � ُدو�ے‬ ِ ‫�رت �ی ف ی�اں ��۔‬ � ‫�رگ � �ا اور دو�ں‬ ‫� ج�� ی ہ‬ ‫ی‬ ِ ‫ف‬ �� ‫ا� � اج� یھب � �� �۔ �ی‬ ‫�رت ��ی اک ی‬ ‫ہی‬ � �‫ا‬ ‫اس � �� ہ ی� ہک ی‬ ‫وت‬ �� � �� ‫ےہ۔‬ � ‫ت‬ ‫�ام �� ےہ ی ف‬ ‫ُروح ےس ُدو�ے � ز�� اک ی‬ ‫� �وز ےس‬ ‫ی‬ ‫� � وت ُدو�ے � ز�� اک �� ر� ےہ � اس م‬ ِ ِ ‫�� اک چ ی‬ ‫��ت‬ ‫��ت �� اور‬ � ‫��ا �� ےہ‬ ‫ِ� و‬ ‫ف ف‬ ‫�ی اک ی‬ ‫�ان �د �� ےہ۔‬ “Buruz: The attention of a perfect knower or accomplished spiritual guide to an imperfect person, bringing spiritual benefit to that person and making them his manifestation by making them like himself.

In this sense it is said that such and such a saint has appeared in the image of such and such another saint. The meaning is that the image of the perfect saint was perfectly transferred to the second and the essential form of the two became the same. The outward image becoming the same is also not improbable. This is not transmigration of souls. The proponents of transmigration are convinced that one soul gives life to another person, but the purpose of spiritual projection (buruz) is neither to preserve the life of the other nor to cause perception and movement in them, but the aim is the grace of the secret perfections and spiritual perfections.” (Muhammad Dhawqi, Sirr-i dilbaran, Karachi, Mahfil-i Dhawqiyyah, 1980, p. 90.)

Muhammad ‘Abd al-Qadir Siddiqi (d. 1962 CE), a scholar on Sufism and translator, writes in the introduction of the second bezel of his Urdu translation of the renowned Sufi work Fusus al-Hikam (“The Bezels of Wisdom”) of ash-Shaykh al-Akbar, Muhiy-ud-Din Ibn Arabi: ‫ت‬

� ‫�ا ی‬ ‫�وز � ���ی� �ی ےہ ہک او ی‬ ‫م ےس � � �ت‬ ‫� �ص � � ف�ت ےس �� �� ےہ۔ � � ہک‬ � ‫او ی‬ �‫� �ا‬ ‫ا�ا� �ام � ��ت � ی ز‬ ‫�ا� �ام وک ف ج ی‬ ‫ہ‬ ‫ی‬ ‫اج� ےہ اور ف او ی‬ �‫ا� � ر� م ر� اجےت ی�۔ یا‬ ‫�ا ج ی ا‬ ‫ا� � ��ت اک �وت ان � �� ےہ۔ یا� �ی �ں‬ ‫�ی �ں � فہک ج یا‬ ‫ی‬ �� ‫�� اُن م ےس �ر و �وز‬ ‫� ہک ج یا‬ ّ ‫ا� ت� �ت‬ ‫ی‬ ‫ی‬ �� ‫ا� ا� �ی‬ ‫���� ی‬ ‫ہ ی�۔ � � ز‬ ‫�� ت‬ ‫ف‬ ‫� ا� �م � ر� ےہ � ّ�ی� ی‬ ؑ�� �‫د� وا� و‬ ؑ ‫�ح ی�ا �وز‬ ؑ � �‫�ح یا‬ ؑ ‫ا�ب ی�ا ت �م‬ ‫�ح �� ےہ۔‬ �‫� ہ‬ �‫ی‬ ‫اور ر� و ی‬ �‫� وا� ا�ا � ا�ب۔ اور قشع و � وا‬ � ‫ت‬ � � ‫��ی ا�ب اور �ق و ی‬ ‫�� وا� ی���ی ا�ب‬ ‫ی ت‬ ّ ‫�� وا� وج � وک اج� ےہ‬ �� ‫��ی ا�ب‬ ‫اور‬ ‫ت‬ ‫ی‬ ‫ہ‬ ‫ےہ۔ � د� � ی‬ � ‫د� ی� ہک �ں و� م �ں‬ ‫ی‬ ‫� � م � اک �وز �� ےہ۔ ا�ض‬ ‫اک �وز �ا ےہ ج ی‬

‫ف‬ ّ ‫ا� � الص‬ ؐ�� ‫� الص اور و� اس � � �� ےہ اور ج یا‬ ّ �‫� ا� ��� ی‬ ‫و� ہ ی�۔‬ “Buruz means that the nature of some saints resembles the nature of a particular prophet. Many saints are made to travel through the achievements of the great prophets and the saints are coloured with the colour of the prophets. In other words, the image of the achievements of the prophets is transferred to them. One could also say that the special qualities of the prophets are manifested and projected (buruz) through them. But after the journey is completed, each of them remains in their original position of natural belonging. For example, the saint who supports the cause of faith is referred to as one who has the nature of Noahas or who stands in the footsteps of Noahas, or as one who manifests Noahas, or as the buruz of Noahas. The saint who accepts the will of God is called someone who has the nature of Mosesas, the one of sincerity and self-annihilation is called someone who has the nature of Jesusas, and the one who is a perfect servant who combines all these qualities is called someone who has the nature of Muhammadsa. Sometimes it is said that this or that saint is the buruz of this or that prophet, just as the moon is the buruz of the sun. In short, the Prophet is the original and the saint is his copy and the original of the Prophets is Muhammadsa.”

(Muhyi d-Din ibn ‘Arabi, Urdu translation of Fusus alHikam , ed./trans. Muhammad ‘Abd al-Qadir Siddiqi, Hyderabad, Dar at-Tab‘-i Jami ‘ah-i ‘Uthmaniyyah, 1942, p. 24)

Although the concept of buruz may not appear in sources earlier than the ninth/fifteenth century, the gist of the idea, that saints are representations of the Muhammadan Reality and that an inheritor of this light is bound to be present in any era, is found in Sufi sources very early on. Accordingly, Ibn ‘Arabi conceives the fourfold division of sainthood (walayah), saint-prophethood (nubuwwat al-wilayah), legislative prophethood (nubuwwat attashri‘) and messengership (risalah), whereby, according to him, while risalah and nubuwwat at-tashri‘ have come to an end with the Holy Prophetsa, nubuwwat alwalayah and walayah remain in effect due to the continued bearing of the general Prophethood (nubuwwah ‘ammah) of the Prophet Muhammadsa and his overarching Muhammad-Reality.

A concept similar to buruz is subsumed by the Islamic saints under the term zill,

i.e., shadow.

‘Ali ibn Yusuf al-Shattanawfi (d. 1314 CE), a Sufi mystic of the Qadiri order reports in Bahjat al-asrar (“Splendour of the Mysteries”), a very early biography of one of the most outstanding Islamic scholars and Sufi grandmasters, ‘Abd alQadir al-Jilani (d. 1166 CE), that al-Jilani said: ‫الولاية ﻇل النبوة والنبوة ﻇل الإ��ية‬ “Sainthood is the shadow (zill) of Prophethood and Prophethood is the shadow of Godhood.” (‘Ali ibn Yusuf alShattanawfi, Bahjat al-asrar wa-ma‘din al-anwar, Cairo, Mustafa al-Babi al-Halabi, 1912, p. 39.)

The South Asian Islamic scholar and Sufi reformer Shah Isma‘il Shahid (d. 1831 CE) writes in his important but lesserknown Persian work Mansab-i Imamat (Station of Imamate):

‫ اﺣ�ﲝم ﻧﺎﺋﺐ‬.‫اﻣﺎم ﻧﺎﺋﺐ رﺳﻮل ﺳﺖ و اﻣﺎﻣﺖ ﻇﻞ رﺳﲝﻟﺖ‬ ‫ و ﺣﻘﻴﻘﺖ ﻇﻞ را از ﺣﻘﻴﻘﺖ‬،‫از اﺣ�ﲝم ﻣ�ﻴﺐ ﺗﻮان ﺷﻨﺎﺧﺖ‬ .‫اﺻﻞ ﺗﻮان درﻳﺎﻓﺖ‬ “The Imam is the deputy of the Messenger and Imamate is the shadow (zill) of Messengership. The rulings of the deputy are identified through the rulings of the chief and the truth of the shadow is known through the truth of the original.”

(Shah Muhammad Isma‘il Shahid, Darajat-i Imamat, Delhi, Faruqi Press, 1899, p. 3.)

Shaykh Ahmad Sirhindirh writes in another of his letters: ‫ﻣﻘﺎم وﻻﻳﺖ ﻇﻞ ﻣﻘﺎم ﻧﺒﻮت ﺳﺖ و ﮐﻤﺎﻻت وﻻﻳﺖ ﻇﻼل اﻧﺪ‬ ‫ﻣﺮ ﮐﻤﺎﻻت ﻧﺒﻮت را‬

“The state of sainthood is the shadow (zill) of the state of Prophethood, and the perfections of sainthood are the shadows (zilal) of the perfections of Prophethood.”

(Maktubat Imam Rabbani, Vol. 2. Letter no. 71)

And in another letter, Shaykh Sirhindirh writes:

‫ﮐﻤﻞ ﺗﺎﺑﻌﺎن اﻧ�ﻴﺎء �ﻠ�ﻬﻢ ا�ﺻﻠﻮة و اﻟ�ﺴﻠﻴﻤﺎت ﺑﺤﺠﺖ ﮐﻤﺎل‬ ‫ﻣﺘﺎﺑﻌﺖ و ﻓﺮط ﻣﺤﺒﺖ ﺑﻠﮑﻪ ﺑﻤ�ﺾ ﻋﻨﺎﻳﺖ وﻣﻮﻫﺒﺖ ﺟﻤﻴﻊ‬ ‫ﮐﻤﺎﻻت اﻧ�ﻴﺎء ﻣ�ﺒﻮﻋﻪ ﺧﻮد را ﺟﺬب �� ﻧﻤﺎﻳﻨﺪ و ﺑ�ﻠﻴﺖ‬ ‫ﺑﺮﻧﮓ ا�ﺸﲝة ﻣ�ﺻﺒﻎ �� ﮔﺮدﻧﺪ ﺣ�� ﮐﻪ ﻓﺮق ﻧ�� ﻣﺎﻧﺪ درﻣﻴﺎن‬ ‫ﻣ�ﺒﻮ�ﺎن و ﺗﺎﺑﻌﺎن اﻻ ﺑﺎﻻﺻﺎﻟﺔ واﻟ�ﺒﻌﻴﺔ و اﻻوﻟﻴﺔ واﻻﺧﺮﻳﺔ‬

“The perfect followers of the prophets, by virtue of their perfect discipleship and their great love, nay, by virtue of their bestowal and endowment alone, assimilate all the perfections of the prophets whom they follow into themselves, and are imbued with their very colour, to such an extent that there no longer exists any distinction between the followers and the followed other than that of superiority and subordination, priority and posteriority.”

(Ibid, Vol. 1. Letter no. 248)

“In conclusion, what the Promised Messiahas wanted to express with these two words was that although he was a Prophet because Allah and his Messengersa called him a Prophet, he and his Prophethood were merely a shadow (zill) and a spiritual projection (buruz) of the Messengersa of Allah and his infinite Prophethood, since prophets as before, i.e., legislative (tashri‘i) or independent (mustaqill), can no longer appear after the appearance Messengersa of Allah.

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TEN CONDITIONS OF BAI‘AT I

The initiate shall solemnly promise that he/ she shall abstain from shirk [associating any partner with God] right up to the day of his/ her death.

Him at the onslaught of any misfortune; on the contrary, he/she shall march forward.

II

That he/she shall keep away from falsehood, fornication/adultery, trespasses of the eye, debauchery, dissipation, cruelty, dishonesty, mischief and rebellion; and that he/she will not permit himself/herself to be carried away by passions, however strong they might be.

That he/she shall refrain from following un-Islamic customs and lustful inclinations and shall completely submit himself/ herself to the authority of the Holy Quran; and that he/she shall make the Word of God and the sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa his/her guiding principles in every walk of his/her life.

III

VII

That he/she shall regularly offer the five daily Prayers in accordance with the commandments of God and the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa and shall try his/her best to be regular in offering the tahajjud and invoking durud on the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa. That he/she shall make it his/her daily routine to ask forgiveness for his/her sins, to remember the bounties of God and to praise and glorify Him.

IV

That under the impulse of any passions, he/ she shall cause no harm whatsoever to the creatures of God in general and Muslims in particular, neither by his/her tongue, hands, nor any other means.

V

That he/she shall remain faithful to God in all circumstances of life, in sorrow and in happiness, in adversity and in prosperity, in felicity and in trial; and that he/she shall in all conditions remain resigned to the decree of God and keep himself/herself ready to face all kinds of indignities and sufferings in His way and shall never turn away from

VI

That he/she shall entirely give up pride and vanity and shall pass all his/her life in humbleness, cheerfulness, forbearance and meekness.

VIII

That he/she shall hold faith, the honour of faith and the cause of Islam dearer than his/her life, wealth, honour, children, and all loved ones.

IX

That he/she shall keep himself/herself occupied in the service of God’s creatures for His sake only and shall endeavour towards the beneficence of mankind to the best of his/her God-given abilities and powers.

X

That he/she shall enter into a bond of brotherhood with this humble servant of God, pledging obedience to me in everything good for the sake of God, and remain faithful to it until the day of his/her death. That he/she shall exert such a high devotion in the observance of this bond as is not to be found in any other worldly relationship and connection that demand devoted dutifulness.

18 March 1924: Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra announced the expulsion of some members of the Jamaat, after it was established that those men were being used as handlers of the Baha’i faith and trying to spread their views to the Jamaat members secretly.

The names of these people were: Mahfuz-ul-Haq Ilmi, Mehr Muhammad Khan Shehab and Master Allah Ditta.

They had confessed to being Baha’is before a commission appointed

by Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra. After their expulsion, Huzoorra issued a series of lectures on the reality of the Baha’i faith. In addition, Maulvi Fazl-ud-Din Sahib, with great diligence, obtained books on Baha’i, especially Baha’ullah’s book, Aqdas, and published important literature on the invalidation of Bahaism. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 4, p. 496) 18 March 1949: On this date, Muhammad Khan Sahib, who was the grandson of a companion, was martyred in Kashmir. He was martyred inside the building which collapsed due to heavy bombardment of the enemy on the front of the Furqan Battalion on 18 March 1949. (Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh, Friday Sermon, 21 May 1999) 18 March 1966: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh announced the blessed scheme of Waqf-e-Arzi – temporary life-devotion. This scheme was to cater for the religious education and tarbiyat of the Jamaat. Huzoorrh said that those members whom Allah Almighty gave the opportunity to, for 2-6 weeks in a year, should dedicate time to the service of religion and to the various activities of the Jamaat. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 23, p. 49) 19 March 1937: In his sermon, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, while explaining the ّٰ meaning of ‫تخلقوا باخلاق الله‬, advised that Ahmadis should be a manifestation of the attribute of God Almighty, Rabb-ulAalamin (Lord of the all worlds). And since there was no pause or hindrance in this attribute of Allah, Huzoorra said, let there not be any hindrance in the acts of worship and good deeds of the members of the Jamaat. (Khutbat-eMahmud, Vol. 18, p. 61) 20 March 1914: Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra delivered his first-ever Friday Sermon after being elected as Khalifatul

AL HAKAM | Friday 18 March 2022

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This Week in History 18-24 March 24 March 1944: Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra lodged a campaign for the youth of the Jamaat to devote their lives to the Jamaat as it needed devotees in almost all departments to operate effectively. Furthermore, Huzoorra shared that the Jamaat needed 200 scholars and experts to devote their lives in the near future.

Masih. In this sermon, he advised Ahmadi Muslims to seek Allah’s help and support through giving sadaqah (charity) and praying. (Khutbat-eMahmud, Vol. 4, p. 49) 20 March 1970: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh delivered his Friday sermon in which he spoke about the great spiritual manifestations brought by the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa.

In this Friday sermon, while describing events of history, Huzoorra said:

21 March 1914: Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra issued a powerful and resolute announcement under the title, “Who can stop divine missions?” (Anwar alUlum, Vol. 2, p. 9) 21 March 1958: Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra inaugurated the Fazl-e-Umar Hospital in Rabwah, Pakistan. (Al Fazl, 23 March 1958, p. 1) 22 March 1946: Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra proposed some new names (derived from names of elders of the Jamaat) for the agricultural properties owned by the Jamaat in Muhammad Abad state, Sindh. These names included: Nur Nagar, Karim Nagar, Latif Nagar, Roshan Nagar, Burhan Nagar and Ishaq Nagar.

During this journey, Huzoorra departed from Qadian to Sindh on 9 March 1946 and returned to Qadian on April 13. He also visited Nusratabad Estate at the invitation of Hazrat Nawab Abdullah Khanra. (Al Fazl, 25 March 1946, p. 1) 22 March 1989: An interview of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh was broadcast on BBC London in connection with the centenary celebrations of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat. Khuddam

“The Jamaat of the one whom Allah Almighty sends as a messenger is not so weak. It may be deceived temporarily, but it cannot be deceived permanently.” (Khutbat Mahmud, Vol. 25, p. 207) Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra on his arrival to inaugurate Fazl-e-Umar Hospital

cleaned Masjid Fazl, London and decorated it with lights. Before Maghrib prayers, Huzoorrh switched the lights on and formally started the celebration of 100 years since the establishment of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat.

23 March 1951: On the completion of major construction work of Masjid Mubarak, Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra delivered his Friday sermon in Masjid Mubarak, Rabwah, and to mark the inauguration, led the congregation in a long prostration of gratitude.

(Khutbat Mahmud, Vol. 32, p. 48) For a further read, see: Al Hakam, issue 18 May 2019 23 March 1989: The second century of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat began.

The centenary celebrations began on March 23 and continued throughout the year. After the Fajr prayer, Harzat Khalifatul Masih IVra announced the first nikah of the new century.

Huzoorrh waved the Ahmadiyya flag in front of Fazl Mosque, London, and offered prayers. Special programmes were organised all over the world.

On this occasion, Huzoorrh released a video message for the whole world, and in another message, he congratulated the Jamaat for the beginning of the second century. At night, in London, Huzoorrh addressed a dinner. Al Fazl published a special issue and Huzoorrh sent Al Fazl a special poem for the issue.

The Punjab government banned all Ahmadis from celebrating the occasion in Pakistan. Lighting, distribution of sweets and food and all posters by Ahmadis were banned in Rabwah from March 23 to 25. The law was strictly enforced, and many Ahmadis were arrested.

24 March 1936: Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra led the congregation in prayer to mark the inauguration of a new mosque in Retichalla, a neighbourhood in Qadian, India.

Construction of the mosque had been stalled since 1935 due to government officials. On this date, on its completion, Huzoorra inaugurated it with prayers. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 7, p. 305)

Friday 18 March 2022 | AL HAKAM

12

Coming from every distant track

Sir Mian Fazl-i-Husain meets with the Promised Messiah A series looking at the high standard of morals of the Promised Messiahas and his Khulafa when receiving visitors in Qadian

Awwab Saad Hayat Al Hakam Sir Mian Fazl-i-Husain Sahib was born in Peshawar, India in 1877. He was one of the most influential politicians in the Punjab province of the British Raj and a founding member of the Unionist Party.

He was instrumental in the planning of employment for Muslims in the Indian Civil Service and was called the “Father of Modern Punjab”. He introduced various schemes for the development and welfare of the people of Punjab. For example, while serving as Minister of Education, Member Board of Revenue and Member Executive Council Viceroy (for Education, Health and Land Affairs), he not only implemented costly reforms to protect the interests of the people of Punjab but, most importantly, he played an exemplary role in introducing laws. In particular, his invaluable services to the protection of the rights of the common people of Punjab, the working class and the labourers are not only commendable but also unforgettable.

Mian Fazl-i-Husain Sahib’s father’s name was Khan Bahadur Hussain Bakhsh Sahib. Khan Bahadur Hussain Bakhsh had reached very high and honourable positions in his government service. Mian Fazl-iHusain received his early education from Government College, Lahore. Allama Iqbal was his classmate as well as a close friend.

After completing his primary education, he

went to England and from there returned to India with a law degree.

Mian Fazl-i-Husain Sahib visited Hazrat Ahmadas twice. On 14 September 1907 and then again in May 1908.

On his first visit, he was accompanied

by Mian Hussain Bakhsh Sahib. There, during his visit, he met with the Promised Messiahas. A representative of the Jamaat’s newspaper, Al Hakam, recorded the details of this meeting. The Al Hakam correspondent wrote that during the conversation some things served as extremely effective proof of the living faith that Hazrat Ahmadas had in Allah Almighty.

“

During the conversation, Hazrat Ahmadas unveiled the secrets of national development and while highlighting the correct Islamic teaching in this matter, said: “When Muslims make progress, they will do it with piety,” Hazrat Ahmadas said that the same God who helped Muslims make progress in its inception was the same God today. “Take my Jamaat for example,” Huzooras said. People had labelled the Promised Mesisahas a kafir, religious edicts were issued for his murder and an attempt to halt his message were made. The Promised Messiahas added that Muslims had turned against him and his Jamaat to

the extent that a religious edict was issued that Muslims should not even meet with him and the Jamaat cheerfully. Then Hazrat Ahmadas said, “But you tell me, what was the result of this opposition? Now my Jamaat is close to 400,000 in which there are doctors, there are lawyers, there are traders, there are people from all walks of life. What effect has this opposition had?

‫دخا داری � � داری‬

[What is grief, if God is yours!]

“It is my belief that man perishes by disassociating himself from God. However, as long as he does not abandon Him, even the entire world cannot do him any harm

It is my belief that man perishes by disassociating himself from God. However, as long as he does not abandon Him, even the entire world cannot do him any harm whatsoever […]”

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AL HAKAM | Friday 18 March 2022

Sir Mian Fazl-i-Husain at Fazl Mosque, London

whatsoever […]”

According to the Badr newspaper dated 24 May 1908, it is written that during the last journey of the Promised Messiahas to Lahore, Sir Mian Fazl-i-Husain had the pleasure of meeting Huzooras again. There were two other lawyers with him on this occasion. By then, Mian Fazl-i-Husain had established a good reputation as a lawyer in Lahore.

The meeting took place at 10 am. Whilst

conversing with these guests with regard to a particular matter, Huzooras said “InshaAllah” and then added: “It is very important to say Insha-Allah because not all matters of man are under his control. Man is surrounded by various kinds of calamities, unpleasantries, and obstacles. It may be possible that that which he has intended to do, he may not be able to fulfil. And so, by saying ‘Insha-Allah’, help is sought from Allah Almighty who is the

source of all powers. Today’s irrational and ignorant people laugh at it.”

Whilst mentioning the advantage of the opposition faced by the Ahmadiyya Jamaat and the defeat of those who oppose the Jamaat, Huzooras said that all processes in cultivation play a role. Even with the usage of water and seeds, manure is needed.

So, in the same way, Huzooras said, unjust opposition serves as fertilizer for the Jamaat.

The Promised Messiahas then stated the purpose of forming a Jamaat and explained the differences with other Muslims. Highlighting various issues, Huzooras openly said that receiving [nonlaw bearing] revelation from Allah Almighty was still possible and that Allah Almighty was not mute, as the majority of the Muslim ummah believed.

During this meeting, a guest asked Huzooras about the reality of Shaq-ulQamar (the splitting of the moon).

Huzooras said: “In our opinion, it was a kind of eclipse. We have written about this in our book, Chashma-e-Ma‘rifat.”

Then Hazrat Ahmadas was asked about the reality of the Miraj, and about the uniqueness of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya among the existing sects of Muslims.

Fazl-i-Husain Sahib submitted that if all non-Ahmadis were labelled as disbelievers, there would be nothing left in Islam. Hazrat Ahmadas said: “We do not deem any person who believes in the Kalima as a person outside the pale of Islam until such a one calls us a kafir and [and in doing so] himself becomes a kafir. You may not be aware, when I claimed to be appointed [by Allah], then Muhammad Hussain of Batala, Maulvi Abu Saeed prepared a fatwa [religious edict] with great effort in which it was written [alluding to Hazrat Ahmadas] that ‘this person is a kafir, dajjal, misguided. His funeral prayer should not be offered, whoever says “assalamu ‘alaikum”, greets him, or calls him Muslim is also a kafir’. You see, it is a matter of consensus that whoever calls a person a kafir, he himself, becomes a kafir. So how can we deny this matter […] Such a one who does not call us a kafir, we do not call them a kafir at all. However, if those who call us kafir, [and in doing so] we should not

consider them as kafir, then that is to oppose the hadith and the agreed-upon issue, and this we cannot do.”

Then, on being asked what the issue was if one offered salat with those who do not oppose Hazrat Ahmadas a kafir, Huzooras said: َْ َ​َ ُ ْ ُ ْ ْ ُ َْ َ ‫اح ٍد م ّرتي ِن‬ ِ ‫لا يُلدغ ال ُمؤ ِمن ِمن ج ْح ٍر َو‬ “[A believer may not be bitten twice from the same hole]. We have had many experiences [with them] such people are actually hypocrites. Their condition is:

َّ ُ َ َ َ َ َ َّ ۤ ُ َ ُ ۙ ‫َو ِاذا لَقوا ال َِذیۡ ُ ۤ َن ٰا َّ َمنوۡا ُقالوۡا ٰا َّ َمن َا ۖۚ َو ِاذا خلوۡا ِالٰی ش ٰی ِط ۡی ِن ِہ ۡم‬ َ‫قالوۡا ِانا َم َعک ۡم ۙ ِان َما ن ۡح ُن ُم ۡس َت ۡہز ُء ۡون‬ ِ

[Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V. 15] “In other words, they say in front of us that ‘we have no opposition with you’, but when they are alone with their ringleaders, they say that ‘we were only mocking’. So, if these people make an announcement that ‘we consider the people of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat to be believers, and that those who call them kafirs are themselves kafirs’, then I shall order my Jamaat, today, to pray alongside them […]”

The person who asked the previous question retorted and asked his question again. Huzooras then explained: “First ask your clerics what view they have of me. They say that ‘he is such a disbeliever that his disbelief is greater than that of the Jews and the Christians.’ Thus, just as when the message of release [from jail] reached Yusuf, peace be upon him, he said, ‘First ask them what my fault is?’

Thus, [is my case] before reconciliation, ask them [clerics] as to which aspect of disbelief [they see in me]. In all that we do and say, is an expression of the greatness, honour and respect of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.”

In the same session, Huzooras was asked about his views on women›s education and about which type of employment was best.

The Promised Messiahas answered that the employment which stopped a person from acting or doing prohibited things was a blessing and the employment that caused a person – or provided him with the opportunity to do bad – was damnable employment.

Friday 18 March 2022 | AL HAKAM

14

“God re

The Promised Messiah and His Community Mentioned in the Holy Quran

Warnin M Adam Ahmad & Aqeel Kang Al Hakam

Photo courtesy of Suhaib Ahmad

The Promised Messiahas said: “There are four chapters in the Holy Quran which are recited often, and they contain mention of the Promised Messiah and his community.

Firstly, there is Surah Fatihah, which is recited in every rak’at of the formal Prayer.

This chapter contains proof in support of my claim, as shall be established in this commentary. Secondly, there is Surah Jumu’ah which contains the following verse in respect of the Promised Messiah and his community: َ َ ۡ ‫ّو ٰاخ ِریۡ َن ِمن ُہ ۡم‬ ‘And among others from among them.’

This Surah is recited every Friday. Thirdly, there is Surah Kahf, the recitation of which the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has emphasised. The first and last ten verses of this chapter speak of the Antichrist. Fourthly, the last chapter of the Holy Quran, in which the Antichrist has been given the name khannas (the evil whisperer); this is the same word which has also been used for the Antichrist in the Hebrew Torah, i.e. Nahash (‫)ש ָׁחנ‬. ָ In the same manner, there is extensive mention in other instances throughout the Holy Quran as well.”

(Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, Malfuzat, Vol. 3, pp. 99-100)

The world is witnessing an unparalleled surge in catastrophic events across the globe.

The 2020 Ecological Threat Register (ETR) shows that there was a tenfold increase in the number of natural disasters since the 1960s. The data collected by the Institute for Economics and Peace between 1900 and 2019 shows an increase from 39 incidents in 1960 to 396 in 2019.

The Guardian reports that “Globally, 7348 major disaster events were recorded, claiming 1.23 million lives, affecting 4.2 billion people and causing $2.97tn (£2.3tn) in economic losses during the [last] two-decade period. Drought, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires and extreme temperature fluctuations were among the events causing major damage.” (‘More than 7,000 extreme weather events recorded since 2000, says UN’, The Guardian, 12 October 2020) On the other hand, the devastation caused by the recent Covid-19 pandemic had not yet subsided when another global catastrophe of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine emerged. Its worldwide impact is not hidden from anyone. It is not only destroying the peace and economy of the world but also threatening the global economic recovery. (‘How War in Ukraine Threatens the World’s Economic Recovery’, Bloomberg, 22 February 2022) Allah says in the Holy Quran: َ َ ّٰ ۡ ّ َّ ُ ‫َو َما ﻛنا ُم َع ِذ ِبی َن َحتى ن ۡب َعﺚ َر ُسوۡلًا‬ “We never punish until We have sent a Messenger.” (Surah Bani Israil, Ch.17: V.16) According to His practice – God Almighty fulfilled His promise and sent a messenger in the person of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas for our age.

Hazrat Ahmadas repeatedly cautioned the world about God’s wrath and worldwide tribulations if they would deny Allah’s messenger and continue evil and sin.

On 27 February 1905, the Promised Messiahas published the following warning: “Arise and be ready for a time of great distress has come for this generation. There is no other bark, but that of piety that can take you to the shore. In times of trouble, the faithful one inclines to God, for besides Him there is no other security. Atone now for your sins by making yourselves truly humble and give a sacrifice of your own selves by annihilating yourselves in truth. […]

“Walk fast towards God with all your strength; and if you cannot do it, take yourselves to the gate of His will, though you do it limping and halting like a sick person; and even if this is not in your power,

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AL HAKAM | Friday 18 March 2022

emained silent for a long time”

ngs of the Latter-Day Messiah

let charitable deeds bear you to that place like a corpse.

“These are days of great distress and the wrath of God has been kindled in the heavens. This is not the time when you can be saved by mere words of mouth and boasting of the tongue. Let such a transformation be wrought within you, and let your footsteps fall in such a path that your gracious and compassionate Master may be pleased with you. Make your corner of solitude a place for the remembrance of God. Remove the rust of impurities from your hearts and shun rancour, niggardliness and abuse. Before the time should come, which would make you mad, make yourselves like madmen with untiring and restless prayers. […]

“Know it for certain that these are days of such great affliction for the world as it has never seen since its creation. All this has been brought about so that the word may be fulfilled which had been uttered by the prophets in the beginning. Almighty God informed me of these violent onslaughts twenty-five years before this time, and this Divine information was recorded and published in the Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya at that very time. […]

“These are days of heavy tribulation for the world, but the world does not care when

these afflictions are actually brought upon its head. I have done my duty and delivered the message, for I have informed you of the heavy afflictions which are in store for you. And peace be on those who follow true guidance. […]” (The Review of Religions [English], March 1905) Except for those who believed in the Latter-Day Messiah, the world did not pay heed to the warnings of the Promised Messiahas, so soon after the aforementioned warnings, the world was hit with plague, famines, wars, epidemics and earthquakes.

On 5 April 1905, the Latter-Day Messiah published another warning and stated: “A warner came into the world but the world rejected him, but God will accept him and show his truth by powerful attacks.

“Heaven raineth signs, ‘the hour has come,’ says the earth, “The promises of the Prophets and Messengers of God are fulfilled.

“How long wilt thou fight against God and oppose Him, “Thou fool! Fear the wrath of the Lord of worlds.

“As it is my duty to invite men to the true path and to deliver to them the message of my Lord, I, therefore, again inform the public, and God bears witness that the fact has been

revealed to me by Divine inspiration, that His wrath is now kindled upon the world, for the vast majority are so deeply immersed in sinfulness and worldliness that they have no faith in God. He who has been sent by Him for the regeneration of mankind is laughed at, and scorns and abuses have overstepped all limits.

“Almighty God has, therefore, said that He would now fight against the abusers and the scoffers, and that he would do it by means of His angels and the powers of nature. He has said that His assaults on them would be such as they have never thought of, for they so loved falsehood as to tread the truth under their feet. Almighty God, therefore, says that He has now willed to save his humble people from the attacks of these beasts and to manifest many signs in support of the truth. […]” (The Review of Religions [English], April 1905) On 8 April 1905, the Promised Messiahas said: “Almighty God says that His wrath must come down upon the earth, for the earth is full of sin and iniquity. Rise and prepare yourselves, for the hour has drawn nigh of which the prophets had spoken. I swear by Him who has sent me that it is not from myself that I am speaking, but from God.

Ah! that my words were not taken with mistrust. Ah! that I had not been declared a liar so that the world should have been saved from destruction. This writing of mine is not an ordinary one, but it is an outcome of the truest and deepest sympathy. If you change your ways and turn away from evil, then will you be saved, for God is merciful as He is wrathful. Even if some of you mend your ways, then will also mercy be had on you. If not, the day is coming which will turn men mad. […]” (Ibid.)

Every single word of the above prophecies of Prophet Ahmadas is being fulfilled to this day and we are still witnessing similar warnings of God Almighty.

There is still time to save oneself from these havocs by believing in the Warner of the Latter Days, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, and repenting before Allah the Almighty and abandoning corrupt practices.

Allah the Exalted appointed him as the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi of this age in accordance with the prophecies of his Master and Guide, the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa, the Chosen One. The Promised Messiahas states: “If the people of Noah had possessed true awareness, which inspires fear of God, they would not have drowned; and if the people of Lot had truly recognised their Lord, they would not have been showered with stones; and if the people of this country had been granted true awareness that makes hearts tremble, they would not have been ravaged by the plague.” (Lecture Lahore, pp.

6-7) God Almighty also addressed the Promised Messiahas by the name of Nuh [Noah] in His revelation. (Barahin-eAhmadiyya Part 5, p. 140) Hence, when the bubonic plague ravaged India, he wrote a book, entitled Noah’s Ark in order to counsel his community and to save mankind from disaster. The book was published in 1902.

(The Review of Religions, April 1976, p.

1) In Noah’s Ark, the Promised Messiahas explained the nature of the prophecy concerning the plague. He declared that whosoever dwelled within the four walls of his home, both in a literal and spiritual sense, would be protected by God from the ravages of the plague. He then proceeded to give the gist of his teachings so that, by adhering to its precepts, people might spiritually enter the ‘four walls’ of his home and save themselves from the disease.

(Our Teaching, foreword, p. ix) It was, in a manner of speaking, to serve as Noah’s ark in the midst of the deluge of irreligion, materialism and misguidance: Mankind

Continued on next page >>

Friday 18 March 2022 | AL HAKAM

16 << Continued from previous page

could save themselves by embarking in this ‘ark’. (The Review of Religions, April 1976, p. 1) One of the remarkable features of the book is that the Promised Messiahas spelt out very beautifully the true teachings of Islam. This Noah’s Ark was to continue to serve as insurance against calamities and troubles ahead. (An Introduction to the Hidden Treasures of Islam, p. 327) Hence, this timeless guidance is as relevant today as it was 120 years ago. The Promised Messiahas states:

[‘Except those who think highly of themselves out of arrogance.’], is very frightening. Hence, it is incumbent upon you to repeatedly read Noah’s Ark and recite the Holy Quran and to act accordingly. Who knows what is about to take place? You have received whatever curses and taunts you were to receive from your own people [i.e. non-Ahmadi Muslims]. However, if your account is not clean with God Almighty in spite of their reproach, and you fail to come under His mercy and grace, then what great catastrophe and tragedy that would be!”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 3, 2016, p. 263) Hence, this was the practice of the Companionsra that they would regularly delve into this book to analyse and compare their conditions with the teachings outlined in it. (Tarikhe-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 14, p. 399) During his Friday Sermon of 13 April 2018, delivered from the Basharat Mosque in Spain, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said: “For our reformation, the Promised Messiahas has exhorted us to repeatedly read his book Noah’s Ark. The Promised Messiahas states:‘I have told my Community

on numerous occasions not to merely rely on their bai’at [oath of initiation] with me.

Until you do not reach the depth of this oath’s essence one cannot attain salvation.

One who simply relies on the exterior is bereft of its essence.’ It is not sufficient to only focus on the exterior shell until one does not seek to attain its kernel.’ The Promised Messiahas further states, ‘If the disciple does not carry out [virtuous] deeds himself, then the saintly personage of his mentor can be of no benefit. If a physician prescribes a remedy for a patient and then

� ‫ا� ��ں ےہ دخا � � اک اب وجش‬ ‫ی‬ � �� � � ‫�ح � � ی‬ ‫م وج ج �� ویہ � ر�ر‬ ‫ف‬ ‫�ق ےس ی�زی �ف آؤ ا� ی‬ ‫م ی‬ ‫�ز ےہ‬ ‫ت‬ ‫ہ ی� در�ے � �ف َ ی‬ ‫م ��� ی� اک �ں �ر‬ “A flood of divine wrath is raging; Only those who board the ark of Nuh [Noah] will be saved Come to me with sincerity, for in this alone lies your good; Wild beasts abound in every direction—I am the Citadel of Security.”

(Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part 5, p. 203) While admitting a person to the fold of the community, the Promised Messiahas would not content himself with a mere declaration on the part of the initiate that he had accepted him. In fact, holding his hand in his own, he used to take from him the pledge that to repent of his sins at his hands, that he would do his best to save himself from falling into sin in future and that he would give precedence to faith over worldly matters. (The Review of Religions, April 1976, p. 5) He used to say, “To take bai‘at means giving your life to Almighty Allah. It means, ‘Today we have sold our life to Allah Almighty.’” (Malfuzat, Vol. 7, p. 29, UK, 1985) The Promised Messiahas further says, “I have advised my community on numerous occasions that you should not rely on the mere verbal proclamation of your pledge of allegiance. Until one understands the reality [of the bai‘at], they cannot attain salvation.”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 4, pp. 232-233, 1985, UK) The Promised Messiahas used to advise new initiates to internalise the teachings contained in Noah’s Ark so that they may keep the essence of bai‘at always before their eyes.

Hence, when, on 8 November 1902, Muhammad Rafiq Sahib BA and Muhammad Karim Sahib came from Munger, India to visit the Promised Messiahas to pledge their allegiance to him, he advised them to “continue to engage in an extensive study of my books and always act upon the teaching that I have mentioned in Noah’s Ark. Moreover, always write to me.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 3, 2016, pp. 364-365) Once, a student of Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College, Aligarh, India, met with the Promised Messiahas and asked him about how to get rid of sins. Among other things, he advised, “One way of avoiding sin is to read the advice and teachings written in Noah’s Ark every day”. (Malfuzat, Vol. 3, 2016, p. 254) On another occasion, the Promised Messiahas advised his community in the following words: “What has been revealed in a revelation, that is, ّ ّ ‫إلا الذين علوا باستكبار‬

Below, a segregation camp during bubonic plague outbreak, Karachi

AL HAKAM | Friday 18 March 2022 places it in a vault, the patient will gain no benefit from this.’ It is as if one acquires a prescription from the doctor yet does not utilise it, and then claims that they remained uncured. This is precisely the case of those suffering from spiritual ailments, if they fail to adhere to what is said then they will avail no benefit. The Promised Messiahas further states, ‘They will certainly not derive any benefit from it as benefit can only be derived if the prescribed practise is adhered to, which they have deprived themselves of.’ He further states, ‘You ought to constantly study [the book] Noah’s Ark and act according to it. َ ّٰ�‫َق ۡد اَ ۡﻓ َل َﺢ َم ۡن َز‬ ‫ىہا‬ Verily, he truly prospers who purifies himself. (Surah al-A‘la, Ch.87: V.15) ‘There are thousands who are guilty of committing theft, adultery, immorality and drinking alcohol. Thousands lead evil lives and yet they claim to be from among the Ummah of the Holy Prophetsa, but can they truly be considered his followers?

Certainly not. A true follower is one who completely adheres to the teachings of the Holy Prophetsa.’ (Malfuzat, Vol. 4, pp. 232233, 1985 UK) “Urging the members of his community to read this book, the Promised Messiahas said, ‘I have written down My Teaching in Noah’s Ark. Everyone must be acquainted with it. Every Jamaat ought to organise a convention and read this book out to everyone. It can be sent to an individual who is willing and also has the time to read it out to others. Otherwise, if you start distributing it to everyone then even 50,000 copies will be insufficient. This way, it will be published and made public and the unity that I want in the Community will also begin to develop in the Jamaat.’ (Malfuzat, Vol. 3, p. 408, UK, 1985) “Therefore, while arrangements ought to be made to read this aloud in Jamaats, there ought to also be arrangements for it to be read out on MTA. Everyone ought to make this a part of their lives. One ought to read this themselves as well and make an effort to adhere to it.”

Noah’s Ark is a torch of guidance through which every Muslim, nay every persan with a craving for truth and spirituality can rekindle their inner lamp and illuminate their heart. (Our Teaching, foreword, p. vii) Every line of this book breathes a new life in the reader.

At once place in this powerful piece of writing, the Promised Messiahas states: “Our paradise lies in our God. Our highest delight is in our God for we have seen Him and found every beauty in Him. This wealth is worth procuring though one might have to lay down one’s life to procure it. This ruby is worth purchasing though one may have to lose oneself to acquire it. O ye, who are deprived! Hasten to this fountain as it will satiate you. It is this fountain of life that will save you.” (Noah’s Ark, pp. 35-36) This is an open invitation from the Promised Messiahas to anyone, who is seeking salvation for there is nowhere else that man can find sanctuary except in God. The Promised Messiahas states: “O Europe! You are not safe! And O Asia!

Neither are you secure! And O the dwellers of Islands! No artificial ‘God’ will come to

“

17

For our reformation, the Promised Messiahas has

exhorted us to repeatedly read his book Noah’s Ark. The Promised Messiahas states:‘I have told my Community on numerous occasions not to merely rely on their bai’at [oath of initiation] with me. Until you do not reach the depth of this oath’s essence one cannot attain salvation. One who simply relies on the exterior is bereft of its essence.’ your aid. I see cities falling and habitations in ruin. That One and Unique God remained silent for a long time. Abominations were committed before His eyes and still He remained silent. But now He shall reveal His countenance in an awe-striking manner. Let him who has ears hear that the Hour is not far. I strived to bring everyone under the protection of God, but the ordained decrees had to be fulfilled. I say it truly that this country’s turn is also drawing near. The age of Nuh [Noah] shall appear before your eyes, and you will witness with your own eyes the incident of the land of Lut [Lot]. But God is slow to wrath. Repent so that you are shown mercy. He who abandons God is a worm, not a man; and he who does not fear Him is dead, not alive.” (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation [translation of Haqiqatul-Wahi], p. 328) Regarding the present situation of war, the current successor of the Promised Messiahas, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, said: “May Allah have mercy on the Muslims and the Muslim ummah, and this can only happen when they accept the Imam of the Age who was sent by Allah in this age for this very purpose. May Allah grant understanding [to the Muslims], and where they rectify their condition, may they also pray for the world and use their means and resources to stop the world from war.”

(Friday Sermon, 11 March 2022) Thus, the world must accept the Messiahas of Muhammadsa and come under the banner of Islam Ahmadiyyat to save themselves from the rising global catastrophes and attain peace with Allah the Almighty.

Black History Month Event

Syed Mukarram Nazeer Canada Correspondent

Every February, people across Canada participate in Black History Month events and festivities that honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities.

The 2022 theme for Black History Month was “February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day”, which focused on recognising the daily contributions that Black Canadians make to Canada.

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Durham operates a tabligh bookstall in a flea market, located

on 2 acres (approximately 90,000 square feet) of covered area and is regularly visited by the local people.

To celebrate Black History Month, the flea market held an event, which was attended by the Jamaat, and tabligh banners were placed prominently in the event.

Over the weekend, an estimated 5000 people walked by the banners and benefited from them. Some even came over to the Jamaat bookstall and asked questions.

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Canada held similar events across the country.

Friday 18 March 2022 | AL HAKAM

18

Heraclius’ nine criteria for the truth of a prophet and validity of the claim of as Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Jalees Ahmad Al Hakam

The Promised Messiah, on whom be peace, explaining theٰ meaning of the revelation ّ ‫ جری اللہ فی حلل الانبیاء‬writes: “This revelation of Allah means that my humble self has been bestowed a portion of the particular circumstances or attributes of all the Prophets from Adam onwards—may peace be upon them—who have come into the world from God Almighty, whether they are from among the Israelites or otherwise.

There has not been a single Prophet, a share of whose characteristics or circumstances have not been bestowed upon my humble self to some degree. My nature bears the imprint of the nature of every Prophet.”

(Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V [English], p.

144) Similarly, in another place, Hazrat Ahmadas writes: “God Almighty has made me a manifestation of all Prophets, may peace be upon them, and has ascribed the names of all Prophets to me.” (Haqiqatul Wahi [English], p. 101) These two quotes undoubtedly indicate that the authenticity and truthfulness of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’sas claim of prophethood should be tested in the same way and method as the past prophets were; because all signs, circumstances, and events that befell other prophets befell on Hazrat Ahmadas too.

Imam Bukhari, in his book Sahih alBukhari, has mentioned the famous dialogue that transpired between Abu Sufyan and Heraclius, King of Rome.

To further spread the message of Islam, the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa wrote letters to various kings and rulers inviting them to Islam.

Hazrat Ibn Abbasra narrates that the Holy Prophetsa wrote to Heraclius calling him to Islam. He sent this letter through

The Holy Prophet's letter to Heraclius |

Hazrat Dihya al-Qalbira and ordered him to hand it to the governor of Busra for him to give it to Heraclius. In the letter, the Holy Prophetsa introduced himself as “Muhammad, God’s servant and Messenger”.

(Mishkat al-Masabih, hadith 3926) After having read the letter, Heraclius stated that if anyone knew about the Holy Prophetas then they are presented before him so that he could make some inquiries to conclude whether he was true in his claim.

Abu Sufyan, who at that time had not accepted Islam, and some others were out accompanying a caravan from the Quraish when Heraclius sent a messenger summoning him. As the group came before Heraclius, Heraclius called for his translator and asked: “Who amongst you is closely related to

that man who claims to be a Prophet?” (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Bad‘a al-Wahi, hadith 7). In response, Abu Sufyan said that he, amongst the group, was the nearest relative to him.

Heraclius called him forward and told the others to stand behind him. Heraclius expressed, through his translator, that he wanted to ask some questions regarding the Holy Prophetsa and added that if Abu Sufyan spoke falsely then his companions, standing behind him, should rectify him.

Abu Sufyan is reported to have said, “Had I not been afraid of my companions labelling me a liar, I would not have spoken the truth about the Prophet.” (Ibid) In this dialogue, Heraclius – being from among the People of the Book – who knew the qualities of prophets and apostles very well, presented nine criteria by which to test the truthfulness of the claim of the Holy Prophetsa. He asked Abu Sufyan whether the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa met the criteria or not. When Abu Sufyan replied that these standards and criteria were found in the Holy Prophetsa, Heraclius said that then he must be right in his claim of prophethood.

As this hadith has been recorded by Imam Bukhari in his book, it is clear these criteria indicate the righteousness and truthfulness of a claimant of prophethood.

The standards and criteria mentioned

by Heraclius shall now be presented below and also be used as a standard to prove the truthfulness of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas of Qadian in his claim.

The first criterion set by Heraclius is, as stated in Sahih al-Bukhari:

Wiki Commons

ُ ُّ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ َْ َ ُ ُ ُ َّ َ َ َ َ َ ‫الر ُسل‬ ‫ فكذل ِك‬،‫ فذك ْرت أنه ِفيك ْم ذو ن َس ٍب‬،‫َسأل ُتك ع ْن ن َس ِب ِه‬ َ َ ُ ُ ‫ت ْب َعث فِي ن َس ِب ق ْو ِم َها‬

“I asked you about his family and you replied that he belonged to a very noble family. In fact, all the Apostles come from noble families amongst their respective peoples.” (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Bad‘a alWahi, hadith 7) Thus, the first criterion is simple and easy to understand. It is a well-known fact that Hazrat Ahmadas was born in a very respected family in the country he was raised in. Hazrat Ahmadas belonged to the Barlas branch of the respectable Mughal cast. The Mughal cast was among one of the most honourable casts of India. And then, even among the Mughals, the highest cast is of the Barlas.

Hazrat Maulvi Abdur Rahim Dardra, in his book Life of Ahmad, writes: “He [Hazrat Ahmadas] was a descendant of Haji Barlas, who was the uncle of Amir Timur. It is a fact that Timur belonged to the famous tribe of Barlas which had lived and ruled in Kish for 200 years. This part of the world was known in ancient times as Sogdiana of which Samarkand was the capital.

The Encyclopaedia Britannica says that the Sogdians... were a tribe of Iranians. The word ‹Samarkand› itself is of Iranian origin.

The word ‘Barlas’ also is Iranian and means ‘a brave man of noble stock.’ Hence the Promised Messiahas was originally Iranian by race, though he and his family were all known as Mughals in India.” (Life of Ahmad, p. 8) The second criterion was stated by

19

AL HAKAM | Friday 18 March 2022 Heraclius in these words: ُ ْ َُ َ َ َ َ َ​َ َ َْ َ َ ُ ٌ َ َ َ ْ َ َ َْ ‫ فقلت‬،‫َو َسأل ُتك هل قال أ َحد ِم ْنك ْم هذا الق ْول فذك ْرت أ ْن لا‬ َ َ َْ ٌ ُ ْ َُ َ َ َ َ ْ َ َ َ َ ٌ َ َ َ َْ ‫ان أ َحد قال هذا الق ْول ق ْبل ُه لقلت َر ُجل يَأت ُّم بِق ْو ٍل ِقيل‬ ‫لو ك‬ ُ‫قَ ْبلَه‬ “I questioned you whether anybody else amongst you claimed such a thing, your reply was in the negative. If the answer had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man was following the previous man’s claim.” (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Bad‘a al-Wahi, hadith 7) Readers should now examine the Promised Messiah’sas claim on this criterion. No one in the time before Hazrat Ahmadas ever claimed to be the Messiah and Mahdi; otherwise, if this was the case, objectors would have the chance to say that “he was following suit of so and so person”.

Such a claim of being the Messiah and Mahdi did not even cross a single person’s mind as Muslims believed that the Messiah who was to come was to be Prophet Jesusas, the Prophet who was sent to Bani Israel.

The third criterion presented by Heraclius was: َ​َ ُ ُْ َ َ َ َ​َ​َ َ ُ َْ َ َ َ َ ‫ك َه ْل ك‬ ‫وسألت‬ ‫ قلت فل ْو‬،‫ان ِم ْن آبَائِ ِه ِم ْن َملِكٍ فذك ْرت أ ْن لا‬ َ َ ْ ُ ُ َْ ٌ ُ َ ُ ُْ َ َ ْ ْ َ ُ َ ‫كان ِمن آبائِ ِه ِمن ملِكٍ قلت رجل يطلب ملك أبِي ِه‬ “Then I asked you whether anyone of his ancestors was a king. Your reply was in the negative, and if it had been in the affirmative, I would have thought that this man wanted to take back his ancestral kingdom.” (Ibid) Again, this criterion can also be applied to Hazrat Ahmadas in its entirety. The Promised Messiah’sas ancestors were not kings; however, from ancient times, were loyal subjects of their rulers. Especially Hazrat Ahmad’sas farther, Mirza Ghulam Murtaza Sahib, who was very sincere towards the government. Mirza Ghulam Murtaza was an exceptional physician.

The fourth criterion, which is a very interesting, is described by Heraclius in these words: َ َ ُ ُ ْ َ َ َْ َ َ َ َ ُ َ َ َ َُ ‫َو َسأل ُتك هل ك ْنت ْم ت ّت ِه ُمونه بِالْك ِذ ِب ق ْبل أ ْن يَقول َما قال‬ ُ َ ُ َّ َ ُ ْ َ ْ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ ‫ فقد أع ِرف أنه ل ْم يَك ْن ل َِيذ َر الْك ِذ َب َعلى‬،‫فذك ْرت أ ْن لا‬ َّ َ ْ َّ ‫اس َويَك ِذ َب َعلى الل ِه‬ ِ ‫الن‬ “I further asked whether he was ever accused of telling lies before he announced his claim, and your reply was in the negative.

So, I wondered how a person who does not tell a lie about others could ever tell a lie about Allah.” (Ibid) Now consider the claim of the Promised Messiahas with this standard. Before Hazrat Ahmadas claimed to be the Messiah and Mahdi, did anyone consider him to speak or forge lies? Not at all! We find the complete opposite. There are testimonies of Hindus, Aryans, Sikhs and Muslims of Qadian, who agreed that Hazrat Ahmadas never uttered a lie even in the most difficult of times.

Whether it be in Sialkot, where the Promised Messiahas spent a good part of life working, or during a law case against him, Hazrat Ahmadas was known for his pure nature and the fact that he always spoke the truth, even if it harmed him.

Even Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi, who was one of the fiercest opponents of the Promised Messiahas, had stated in detail the pious nature of Hazrat Ahmadas while reviewing Huzoor’sas book, Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya.

When Hazrat Ahmadas announced his claim, everyone opposed him; so-called scholars of that time issued fatwas of takfir (disbelief) against Hazrat Ahmadas, newspaper editors wrote columns in opposition against him.

Ahmadis were severely persecuted. Thus, waves of opposition surged from one end of the country to the other. However, with the help of Allah, first one person accepted the call of the time, then two, then three – in a short time - the number reached hundreds and thousands. No one could halt this divine mission. No opposition or enemy was successful in their efforts of blowing out the light of Allah.

After witnessing this progress, opponents thought that after the demise of Hazrat Ahmadas, this Jamaat would also perish; however, when Allah established the system of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya, the Jamaat continued to grow, flourish, and the Jamaat spread from the small hamlet of Qadian to the corners of the earth; this fact only further strengthens this sixth criterion of Heraclius.

The seventh criterion is: ً َ ْ َ ٌ َ َ ُّ َ َ َ ُ ْ َ َ َ ُ ْ َ َ َ َ​َ​َ ‫ين ِه ب َ ْعد أ ْن يَدخل ِفي ِه فذك ْرت‬ ِ ‫و َسألتك أي َ ْرتد أحد سخطة ل ِ ِد‬ َ َ َ​َ ُ َُ َ َ ‫اش ُت ُه ال ْ ُق ُل‬ ُ ‫يم‬ َ ‫ َوك َ َذل َِك الإ‬،َ‫أ ْن لا‬ ‫وب‬ ‫ان ِحين تخال ِط بش‬ ِ

Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi testified that he had known the author of Barahin-eAhmadiyya from the earliest times. He said that Hazrat Ahmadas was a strong believer of the religion of Islam brought by the Holy Prophetsa and was a truthful person.

He further said, “The author has also been so persistent in the service of Islam, with his money, life, writings, speeches and personal actions, that very few parallels can be drawn among Muslims.” (Ishaat-usSunnah, Vol. 7, pp. 169-170) Thus, before Hazrat Ahmad’sas claim, no Hindu, Arya, Sikh, Christian, or Muslim had ever attributed any lie to Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas. On the contrary, all admired his high morals and good manners and the Muslims used to believe him to be a great saint at the time of the publication of his book Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya. Therefore, from this fourth criterion, the truth of Hazrat Ahmadas and his righteousness in his claim has become manifest.

The fifth criterion presented by Heraclius was: َ َ َ َ َ َ ُ ُ َ ُ َ ُ َّ َّ ُ َ ْ َ َ ُ ْ َ َ َ ‫اس ات َب ُعوه أ ْم ض َعفاؤه ْم فذك ْرت أ ّن‬ ‫الن‬ ‫وسألتك أشراف‬ ِ ُّ ُ َ ْ َ ْ ُ َ ُ ُ َ َّ ُ ُ َ َ َ ُ ُ ‫ وهم أتباع الرس ِل‬،‫ضعفاءهم اتبعوه‬ “I then asked you whether the rich people followed him or the poor. You replied that it was the poor who followed him. And in fact, all the Apostle have been followed by this very class of people.” (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Bad‘a al-Wahi, hadith 7) Again, this criterion proves the authenticity of Hazrat Ahmad’sas claim as it was not the wealthy who adhered to his

message; rather it was the weak and lower class who accepted him at first.

In the Indian subcontinent, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan undertook a task and began to serve his nation. Immediately, well known and influential people joined his group. He began to receive help from chiefs and wealthy individuals. A good number of learned people gathered in Aligarh to assist.

However, when Hazrat Ahmadas announced his claim, only the poor accepted and became Ahmadis. The well-known, rich and famous did not pay heed to his call, nor did the great emperors of the country pay attention to Qadian.

During the initial years of the Jamaat, the majority were of humble status. And the donations and chandas that were collected in the Jamaat to spread the message of Islam were also collected from the money of the members of the Jamaat who did not earn a lot. No aid was received from any chief and no state had issued any stipend or fund for the Jamaat.

The sixth criterion mentioned by Heraclius was: َ َ َ َ ُ َ ْ ُ َّ َ َ ْ َ َ َ َ ُ ُ ْ َ ْ َ َ ُ َ َ َ ُ ْ َ َ َ ‫ َوكذل ِك‬،‫ون‬ ‫وسألتك أي ِزيدون أم ينقصون فذكرت أنهم ي ِزيد‬ َ َ َ َ ‫أ ْم ُر الإ‬ ‫ان َح ّتى يَتِ ّم‬ ِ ‫يم‬ ِ “Then I asked you whether his followers were increasing or decreasing. You replied that they were increasing, and in fact, this is the way of true faith, till it is complete in all respects.” (Ibid) This criterion is also proof of the authenticity of the Promised Messiahas.

“I further asked you whether there was anybody, who, after embracing his religion, became displeased and discarded his religion. Your reply was in the negative, and in fact, this is the sign of true faith, when its delight enters the hearts and mixes with them completely.” (Ibid.)

The teachings of Islam revived by Hazrat Ahmadas had such a profound impact on all those who heard and accepted him. They gave their lives for Hazrat Ahmadas and in the severest persecution did not renounce their faith. They flocked to Qadian to remain in the company of Hazrat Ahmadas and remained loyal Ahmadis until their last breath.

The impact was such that those few who turned away from the Jamaat would still hold on to those teachings revived by Hazrat Ahmadas and would not discard it as they knew within their hearts of hearts that it was indeed the truth. For example, we have before us the case of Mian Abdul Hakim Sahib Patialvi. He accepted Hazrat Ahmadas and joined the Jamaat.

He remained a follower of the Promised Messiahas for 20 years; however, through his misfortune, turned away from the Jamaat. If we look at his beliefs later, it is clear that he did not discard or even abandon his religion and faith. Though he shunned and closed the divine light with his own hands for himself, he did not discard his belief. Mian Abdul Hakim Sahib Patialvi himself writes, which has also been quoted in Haqiqatul Wahi by Hazrat Ahmadas: “‘I have no equivocation about you, I still believe that you are the like of the Messiah, that you are the Messiah, and that you are the like of Prophets.’” (Haqiqatul Wahi [English], p. 229) The Promised Messiahas presented the doctrine of the death of the Messiah of Nazareth to the world and stated such conclusive arguments that Mian Abdul Hakim Sahib Patialvi did not deny the death of Jesusas despite turning away from the Jamaat and Hazrat Ahmadas.

Then another matter that the Promised Continued on next page >>

Friday 18 March 2022 | AL HAKAM

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Messiah clarified was that Allah Almighty still conversed as He did before, and that divine revelation was not a thing of the past.

Mian Abdul Hakim Sahib Patialvi, despite having turned away from the Jamaat, did not abandon this notion. Rather, he continued to publish his own revelations he claimed to have received.

Another matter Hazrat Ahmadas clarified was the divine attributes that were attributed to Prophet Jesusas, such as raising the dead physically and creating things out of clay.

Hazrat Ahmadas denied these notions and stated that Prophet Jesusas was a noble prophet of God. Mian Abdul Hakim Sahib Patialvi, despite discarding Ahmadiyyat, did not abandon this belief presented by Hazrat Ahmadas. He held on to the beliefs of Hazrat Ahmadas in these matters.

Even if four or five individuals turned away from the Jamaat and Hazrat Ahmadas, it was not because they became displeased and discarded the teachings of Islam he revived. Otherwise, being an absolute apostate in no way denotes that the claimant is wrong in his claim. Even a scribe of the Holy Prophetsa himself became an apostate.

And one of the 12 disciples of Jesusas of Nazareth apostatised.

The eighth criterion presented by Heraclius was: ْ َ َ ُ ُّ َ َ َ َ َ ْ َ َ ْ َ َ َ ُ ْ َ ْ َ َ ُ ْ َ َ َ ‫الر ُسل لا تغ ِد ُر‬ ‫ وكذل ِك‬،‫وسألتك هل يغ ِدر فذكرت أن لا‬ as

“And I asked you whether he had ever betrayed someone. You replied in the negative and likewise the Apostles never betray.” (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Bad’a alWahi, Hadith. 7) Even with a deep look at the biography of the Promised Messiahas, keeping the eighth criterion in mind, one would not find a single iota or instance where Hazrat Ahmadas had been found guilty of even any minor offence. He always kept the promises he made with his companions with his sincere friends and even the promises he made with his enemies, and never let any opportunity come whereby one could criticise any of his actions.

A testimony of a Hindu, with regards to the noble character of Hazrat Ahmadas, has been recorded in The Review of Religions (issue January & February 1922).

He states: “His whole life from the very dawn of boyhood up to his youth and manhood was one continuous chain of virtuous and pious acts.”

The ninth criterion, which is the last criterion, Heraclius said: َ َ َ َّ ُ ُ ْ َ ْ َ ْ ُ ُ ُ ْ َ ُ َّ َ َ ْ َ َ َ ْ ُ ُ ُ ْ َ َ َ ُ ْ َ َ َ ‫ ولا‬،‫ فذكرت أنه يأمركم أن تعبدوا الله‬،‫وسألتك بِما يأمركم‬ ُ ُْ ُ ُْ َ َْ َ َ ْ َ ُ َ َْ َ ً َ ‫ َويَأم ُرك ْم‬،‫ان‬ ِ ‫ وينها� ْم عن ِعباد ِة ال�وﺛ‬،‫ت� ِركوا بِ ِه ش ْيﺌا‬ َ َْ ْ ّ َ َ َّ ‫اف‬ ِ ‫الصد ِق َوالعف‬ ِ ‫بِالصلا ِة و‬ “Then I asked you what he ordered you to do. You replied that he ordered you to worship Allah and Allah alone and not to worship anything along with Him and forbade you to worship idols and ordered you to pray, to speak the truth and to be chaste.” (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Bad’a alWahi, Hadith. 7) When Hazrat Ahmadas was sent as a messenger, such misleading notions, issues, and ideas were deeply seated within the minds of Muslims that it seemed as if those false ideas were the teachings of Islam.

Hazrat Ahmadas refuted these notions such

Offer supplications and seek God’s grace

“

I declare with certainty that many people

are born in this community who possess immense power and who are replete with light, devotion and loyalty. No one should consider themselves deprived. Has God Almighty published some list of saints, so that one should think that they cannot be among them? God Almighty is remarkably generous.

His generosity is a very deep ocean that can never be exhausted. No seeker or searcher has been left deprived. Therefore, you ought to wake during the night and offer supplications and seek God’s grace. There are numerous opportunities to offer supplications in the Prayer—the bowing position, while standing and sitting, and in prostration, etc. There are five Prayers that are to be offered in twenty four hours: Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha. Above and beyond these there is the Ishraq Prayer and Tahajjud. All of these are opportunities for supplication.

(Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, Malfuzat, Vol. 2, p. 67)

as the belief in Prophet Jesusas being alive in the heavens.

This concept helped Christians spread their teachings and conquer Muslims, especially in British India. Hazrat Ahmadas, with strong and convincing arguments, defeated and disproved this view that even bishops hesitated to compete with ordinary Ahmadis in debates.

The Promised Messiahas refuted those false notions which seemed to lead to the belief that the Messiah of Nazareth, son of Mary, was given attributes that were purely for Allah Almighty. Due to popular Muslim beliefs, Muslims started to believe that the Messiah of Nazareth was capable of creating and raising the dead. Muslims believed – and do so today - that Jesusas is alive in heaven. Thus, supernatural and godlike attributes were attributed to Prophet Jesusas.

In this dark era, it seemed polytheism was introduced among the Muslims, but the Promised Messiahas saved Muslims from being engulfed by this darkness.

The Promised Messiahas enlightened the Muslims about the true nature of Jihad. He disproved the false notion that the Mahdi would force others to accept Islam by the sword. The Promised Messiahas forbade the Muslim ummah from all these superstitions and false deeds and established a Jamaat which was free from polytheistic beliefs and evil deeds.

The very first condition of bai’at, as stated by the Promised Messiahas, is: “That till the last day of his life, he shall abstain from shirk (associating any partners with Allah).” The rest of the conditions of bai‘at clearly show that the criterion of ordering to worship Allah alone, to speak the truth, and to be chaste is fulfilled in the teachings of Islam revived by the Promised Messiahas; proving that Hazrat Ahmadas was true in his claim.

It will not be out of place to mention here that Heraclius was deeply convinced of these criteria and well aware of what scriptures mentioned about the coming a prophet,

the Holy Prophetsa, that he announced and declared before the court that day, “If what you have said is true, he will very soon occupy this place underneath my feet and I knew it [from the scriptures] that he was going to appear but I did not know that he would be from you, and if I could reach him I would definitely immediately go to meet him and if I were with him, I would certainly wash his feet.” (Sahih Bukhari, Kitab Bad‘a al-Wahi, hadith. 7) If Heraclius, the king and ruler of such a great empire was convinced of the authenticity of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa based on these principles and criteria, then the truthfulness of the Promised Messiahas, who revived Islam, can also be established through these nine criteria mentioned by Heraclius.

(In preparation of the above material, 23 March 1915 issue of Al Fazl, Haqiqatul-Wahi: The Philosophy of Divine Revelation, Tiryaq-ul-Qulub, Life of Ahmad and Sahih al-Bukhari were utilised)

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AL HAKAM | Friday 18 March 2022

100 Years Ago...

Address to His Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, on behalf of the Ahmadiyya Community of Qadian, on the occasion of his visit to Punjab The Review of Religions, March, April & May, 1922

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Beneficent.

May it please your Royal Highness!

We the representatives of the Ahmadiyya Community humbly and respectfully extend a most hearty welcome to your arrival in India. Your Royal Highness! We do not find words to adequately express our sincere & heartfelt attachment to your Royal House but we beg to assure your Royal Highness that whenever our services are required by the King-Emperor, your Royal Highness will find us ready to sacrifice our lives and our property without any idea of reward or compensation in the carrying out of the royal commands.

Your Royal Highness, the time will come when through God’s grace the reins of the government of this vast country will be entrusted to your hands, and as it is most essential for a ruler to be acquainted with all the classes of the ruled, we deem it necessary to acquaint your Royal Highness with our movement, for our community being a newly established one and being yet small in number your Royal Highness may not be fully acquainted with it.

Your Royal Highness! We are a religious community and it is this religious nature which distinguishes us from the other communities. We are Muslims and we are proud of the name, but there is a big gulf that separates us from the other Muslims, for like those who 1900 years ago responded to the call of the Blessed one of God we have believed in Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, Punjab, India, peace and the blessings of God be upon him, the messenger of the Latter Days whom God raised as the Promised Messiah but our brethren, the other Mussulmans, reject the Promised one as did those who rejected Jesus Christ, on whom be peace and the blessings of God. We believe that the Promised one was to come in the spirit and power of Jesus and that Jesus in person was not to come.

Your Royal Highness! The Ahmadiyya Movement was founded only thirty-one years ago and in spite of the fact that our community has had to undergo the severest persecutions the movement has already spread not only in all parts of India but also in Ceylon, Afghanistan, Persia, Mesopotamia, Mauritius, Natal, East Africa, Egypt, Sierra Leone, Gold Coast, Nigeria, the United States of America and England and according to our computation the community numbers nearly half a million souls in all. The movement is not only spreading among the Indian population of these countries but men of all countries and climes are entering into its fold, for instance,

in England where we have established our mission at Putney in London, about two hundred Englishmen have joined our movement. Similarly, the movement is spreading among the people of the United States of America and we firmly believe that a time will come when our movement will have spread throughout the world.

Your Royal Highness! After giving this brief account of our community we beg to submit that our loyalty to your Royal father’s throne is not based upon any worldly motive. We have never been actuated by any idea of reward or compensation in whatever services we have rendered. Our loyalty, on the other hand, is founded on an Islamic injunction on which the Holy Founder of the movement has laid great stress. That commandment is this that in all times and under all circumstances we should remain loyal to the government which gives us religious freedom and that if there is any government which interferes with our religious beliefs and duties, we should leave its territory but should on no account create disorder or break the peace.

Your Royal Highness! Our experience tells us that we enjoy perfect religious freedom under the British Government, insomuch that while in many so-called Islamic countries we cannot preach our religion, under the British Government we preach even against the religion of the King-Emperor and invite people to Islam in the King Emperor’s own country. We believe that the neutral attitude of the British Government in religious matters is one of the causes of the rapid growth of our movement. Thus, our loyalty is based upon religious grounds and however much we may be disposed to differ from the government in its policy we can never be disloyal to the government, for in so doing we shall belie our own doctrine and our own faith will hold us guilty. Loyalty to the Crown is a religious obligation with us and so long as we enjoy religious freedom it shall remain unshaken whether we get any political rights or not. The enmity and persecution of the people cannot deter us from this course. We have proved our loyalty in the face of the most bitter social boycott and persecution and should circumstances so demand we are ready to demonstrate the same loyalty a thousand times again. We disdain to entertain the idea of breaking the peace of the country merely on the ground of political differences. On the contrary, our religion teaches us that even in time of dire religious intolerance we should respect the peace of the country and try to maintain it by peacefully migrating from the land.

Your Royal Highness! Our countrymen call us traitors to our country on account of our holding these views and look upon us as sycophants. Others think us imprudent and time-servers. But, illustrious Prince, we cannot forsake God for the sake of the people. The world may call us what it pleases but when our God commands us to maintain peace and to unite the people with bonds of love and affection, nothing can make us deviate from this path. We are loyal to the crown and through the grace of God will remain loyal to the crown and obedient under all circumstances.

Your Royal Highness has undertaken such a long and arduous journey to make a personal acquaintance with the people over whom you are destined to rule in future.

We regard it as an act of kind sacrifice and condescension on your Royal Highness’s part and look upon it with feelings of gratitude and thankfulness. No one who loves the truth can take it in any other light but that. Therefore, we express our heartfelt thanks for this labour of love and sympathy on your part and pray to God that as you have cast your loving looks upon your Imperial father’s subjects, He, out of His bounty, may bestow His loving and benign looks upon you!

Your Royal Highness! In honour of your arrival in India, we have prepared for you a literary present wherein are set forth the distinctive teachings of our movement, the object of its foundation, its special features

and characteristics, and brief notices of the life of its Holy Founder. The book has been specially prepared and addressed to Your Royal Highness by the present head of our community. Thirty-two thousand members of the community have subscribed to get it printed and published, so that it may be a testimony of their sincere devotion towards your Royal Highness and but for the shortness of time, a much greater number of Ahmadis would have taken part in it. Your Royal Highness! We intend to duly offer this present to you through the Punjab Government and we humbly and respectfully request your Royal Highness to spare some time for its perusal.

In the end, we again warmly welcome your Royal Highness on coming over to India and particularly to the Punjab which is the centre of our movement and we humbly request Your Royal Highness to bring it to the notice of your Imperial father that the Ahmadiyya community, in spite of their weakness and the smallness of its numbers, are ready to lay down their lives and sacrifice their property for the sake of the British throne and that His Majesty can repose full confidence in their loyalty. May God bless your Royal Highness on your age and guide you in the paths of His pleasure and may He protect you from every evil and grant you His help and succour wherever you be. Amen!

(Transcribed by Al Hakam from the original in The Review of Religions, March, April & May 1922)

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Friday 18 March 2022 | AL HAKAM

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The physical exercise practices of the Promised Messiah Ahmadra said: “When I sit in public or go for a walk, and engage in discussions with others, I do all of this out of obedience to the command of Allah Almighty.” (Malfuzat [English], Vol. 2, p. 184) Both the Prophetsa of Islam and Hazrat Ahmadas were the epitomes of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s couplet that:

‫ف‬ ‫ی‬ ‫��� � ہک �ا� ےہ ��� ِ جی� �اں‬

� � ‫�د وہ ےہ وج �� � � ا�ام‬

Always remember that tenderness suits a woman. A man is one who is robust and not lily-livered.

A physically active youth Though the Promised Messiahas would spend most of his time worshipping, reading and even debating Christians in his youth, he was by no means inactive or lazy.

His son, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra MA wrote that as a child the Promised Messiahas would at times swim in the ponds of Qadian and learnt horse riding while still young and became a competent rider. As a child, he would also sometimes go hunting using a slingshot. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Vol. 1, p. 9)

Lifting weighted Indian Clubs

Ataul Fatir Tahir and Awwab Saad Hayat Al Hakam Prophets of Allah are physically active and robust – not for vain pursuits, but to serve religion and worship.

The Holy Prophet Muhammadsa hiked up mountains (without the comfort of modern, well-maintained paths and equipment) in search of solitude to worship.

He participated in defensive battles, fighting in the fiercest areas of war: “[…] A narrator reports that when the Holy Prophetsa was sought during a battle, they would look for him in the area where combat was at its fiercest and he would always be in the midst.” (Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmadrh, The Seal of the Prophets – His Personality and Character, p.19) The Prophetsa migrated from Mecca to Medina, travelling at least 338 km under the scorching sun of the Arabian desert. He encouraged fathers to teach their children

swimming, archery and horse riding (Sahih Muslim) and was a tremendously competent horse rider himself with the skill to ride at speed even without a saddle.

The Holy Prophetsa declared: َّ ْ ْ َ َّ َ ُّ َ َ ْ َ ُ َ ْ ُ ْ ْ َ ‫يﻒ وفِي‬ ِ ‫ال ُمؤ ِمن الق ِو ّي خي ٌ� َوأحب ُ ِإلى الل ِه ِمن ال ُمؤ ِم ِن الﻀ ِع‬ ْ َ ّ �ٌ ‫ک ٍل خي‬ “A strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone […]” (Sahih Muslim) The aim of the Prophetsa was not to show off or be physically active for vanity, his guiding compass was the worship of Allah – which meant fulfilling His rights and the rights of humanity. Physical health and strength assisted in this pursuit.

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, the Messiah of Islam was also very physically active – though the majority of his time was spent in religious affairs. In terms of his physical exercise, he had the same purpose in mind; to serve Allah and Islam. Hazrat

Describing the Promised Messiah’s participation in lifting weights for health, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra MA writes: “For staying healthy, he would at times exercise using mugriyan [Indian clubs: A method of weight training], and it is the narration of Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad Sahib, Khalifatul Masih II that ‘I once saw him using mugriyan during his old age.’

“However, all of these aspects were solely for improving health, otherwise he never participated in such activities to the extent of being lost in them or wasting time.” (Ibid.)

Not shying away from physical hard work Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra said:

Weighted clubs, known as Indian or Persian clubs.

These were a form of weight training used during the time of the Promised Messiahas and are still used today for strength training

“Despite the fact he [the Promised Messiahas] was averse to the world, he was by no means lazy, rather he was extremely hard working and though he loved being alone, he would never be agitated by physical hard work. […]” (Sirat Hazrat Masih-e-Maud Az Hazrat Khalifatul Masih al-Sanira, p. 23) It is important to note that in line with a prophecy of the Holy Prophetsa, that the Messiah would be wrapped in two yellow sheets, the Promised Messiahas suffered from ailments throughout his life. He had diabetes and at times his blood pressure would drop due to working hard.

Despite these illnesses he would work with great fortitude and was blessed with Allah’s support.

It is narrated that once the Promised Messiahas would suffer extreme kidney pain. He would tightly tie a cloth around his abdomen and back and continue working whilst in this condition and also pray to Allah for relief. (Malfuzat, Vol. 4, p.336), (Tazkiratu-Shahadatain, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 20, pp. 74-75) “This fortitude and grit is granted by Allah to his prophets and chosen ones.”

This trait of the Promised Messiahas can be also be seen in the following incident narrated by Hazrat Pir Siraj-ul-Haqra Numani: “The Promised Messiahas came to Masjid Mubarak at the time of Asr prayer. He had tied a bandage – that was soaking with water – on a finger on his left hand. At the time Maulvi Abdul Karim Sahib Sialkoti asked the Promised Messiahas why he had tied this bandage. While laughing, the Promised Messiahas said there was a bird that needed to be sacrificed and ‘the knife cut my finger’. The late maulvi sahib laughed too and humbly asked why he had done this.

The Promised Messiahas said ‘There was no one else present’ [to sacrifice it].” (Sirat-ulMahdi, Vol. 1, narration 307)

An able and fast runner Allama Syed Mir Hassan Sahib who spent considerable time with the Promised Messiahas in his youth when he worked in Sialkot, India narrated an incident about a race between the young Hazrat Ahmadas and a Sikh by the name Billa Singh. He said: “Mirza Sahib’s outshining state and leadership in theology is known to all.

However, his physical dominance in running had also become apparent to those present.

“The details and circumstances of this are that once, after being dismissed from court [where Hazrat Ahmadas worked in Sialkot], when the employees were returning home, there was a mention of running and someone said they should have a competition. Everyone began claiming they were the fastest in running.

“Eventually, a man named Billa Singh claimed, ‘I always take the lead in running

23

AL HAKAM | Friday 18 March 2022 competitions.’

Mirza Sahib [hearing this] replied, ‘Compete with me, then it will be proven who is faster.’

“Sheikh Elah Daad Sahib was appointed as the referee and it was decided that the run would start from the position where they were already standing and the finish line would be the bridge which was on the road of the court and served as the boundary of the city.

“They were also to run bare feet.

“A person took hold of their shoes and another person went towards the finish point at the bridge.

Mirza Sahib and Billa Singh ran at the same time whilst the rest came behind them at a normal pace. When they reached the bridge, they found that Mirza Sahib had taken the lead, leaving Billa Singh behind him.” (Sirat-ul-Mahdi, narration 280)

A habit of walking long distances, fast The Promised Messiahas was an avid walker and like the Holy Prophetsa of Islam, his pace was fast; those accompanying would often struggle to keep up. However, following his beloved Master, the Promised Messiahas held great dignity while walking at this pace as it was natural to him like it was natural to the Holy Prophetsa. A clear proof of this is that they didn’t get out of breath while walking fast, even whilst talking during the walk!

Hazrat Abu Hurairahra reported: “[…] Nor have I seen anyone faster in his gait than Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace). The earth seemed to be folded up for him. We strenuously exerted ourselves [walking alongside him], while he was not subject to any stress.” (Ash-Shama‘il Al-Muhammadiyah 122, The Walking of the Messenger of Allah, book 18, hadith 1) Describing the gait of the Promised Messiahas, Hazrat Shaikh Muhammad Naseebra narrated: “While walking, he would walk fast and only the person who walked quickly could keep up. He would speak while walking too but would not get out of breath. […]”

(Register Rawayat Sahabara, Vol. 15, pp. 29, [unpublished]) The Promised Messiahas was also known for being able to write while walking (Ibid) and even in his home, he would, at times, write while pacing from one end of the room to the other.

Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra MA writes: “His most frequent exercise was walking which continued all his life. He would go for walks for miles on end and walked extremely fast.” (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Vol. 1, p. 9) The Promised Messiahas would regularly go on walks after Fajr and at times would go in the evening too. Scores of narrations by his companions mention these morning

in thought – would walk so much that the floor on which he would walk on would flatten to the extent that it could be differentiated from the rest of the floor.” (Hayate-Ahmad, Vol. 1, p. 81)

Staying active even in his final days

walks during which the companions joined him and discussed religious matters.

Hazrat Syed Zia-ul-Haq Khanra Sahib records: “Every day, after breakfast, we would accompany the Promised Messiahas on a walk. He used to walk extremely quickly to the extent that some who were accompanying him had to run.” (Register Rawayat Sahabara, Vol. 3, p. 57, [unpublished]) Hazrat Master Khalil-ur-Rahmanra narrates: “Almost every day at around eight in the morning, the Promised Messiahas would leave for a walk with his companions. And Huzooras walked so fast that even the youth and children could not match Huzoor’s pace and the scene was such that everyone would almost be running [to keep up].”

(Register Rawayat Sahabara, Vol. 4, p. 123, [unpublished]) Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra narrated: “Despite the fact he [the Promised Messiahas] was averse to the world, he was by no means lazy, rather he was extremely hard working and though he loved being alone, he would never be agitated by physical hard work.

“And many times, when he needed to travel, he would give the horse to the servant to go forth and would himself walk behind

on foot for 20-25 Kos [Approximately 36-45 km] and reach his destination.

“In fact, he used to mostly travel on foot and hardly got on the horse and this habit of walking on foot continued until his old age.

At more than 70 years of age, when he was suffering from some serious illnesses, he would go out for some fresh air almost every day and walk four to five miles and at times he would walk seven miles [at this age].

“He [the Promised Messiahas] would narrate that before old age he would sometimes leave for a walk before the morning salat […] and when would reach Wadala (a village approximately five and a half miles from Qadian on Batala road) it would be time for morning prayer [Fajr].”

(Sirat Hazrat Masih-e-Maud Az Hazrat Khalifatul Masih al-Sanira, pp. 23-24) Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfanira relates: “This habit of his of walking was so common that when travelling on trains, whenever he had to wait for a train, he would constantly walk on the platform.”

(Hayat-e-Ahmad, Vol I. p. 75) In another narration, Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfanira described how the Promised Messiahas would walk while spending time in the mosque: “In the mosque, he would often continue to walk. He enjoyed walking – and while lost

Jalsa Yaum-e-Musleh-e-Maud in North Macedonia Wasim Ahmad Saroa President Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Macedonia

On 27 February 2022, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya North Macedonia organised Jalsa Yaum-eMusleh-e-Maud at Baitul Ahad in Pehcevo.

The event commenced with the recitation from the Holy Quran. After that, the attendees listened to the Friday Sermon

of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa that was delivered on 18 February 2022 in which Huzooraa spoke about the early life of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra.

This was followed by a speech delivered by my humble self, president of Jamaat-eAhmadiyya Macedonia, on the life of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra.

The Jalsa concluded with a silent prayer.

It was attended by 25 members.

The Promised Messiahas passed away in Lahore on 26 May 1908. The days before, he was busy writing what would be his last book, Paigham-e-Sulh (A message of peace). He was accompanied by his family and some companions.

During this time, he would go on walks in Lahore with his family, sometimes even twice a day.

Hazrat Bhai Abdu-urRahmanra Qadiani narrates: “When he was staying in Lahore, the Promised Messiahas would go for a walk outside almost every day with the women and children of his family. In fact, some days he would go for a walk in the morning and in the evening.” (Tatimma [appendix] Sirat-ulMahdi, Vol. 2, pp. 378-379) Prophets of Allah, including the Promised Messiahas are given lives that best serve the faith and enable worship of Allah. The physical exercise the Promised Messiahas engaged in was to improve his health to carry out his grand Jihad of the pen.

This can be understood by the following quote of the Promised Messiahas regarding children who have to exercise as part of their routines in school: “[…] in schools, along with education it has been made compulsory for the boys to exercise for a specific amount of time. From this exercise, discipline, etc. it cannot be that the aim of those in charge of the education department is to prepare the boys for some sought of a fight, nor can it be for wasting time; letting the boys spend their time in mere play. Rather, it is for the body parts which require movement – if they are left without activity their strength and abilities will weaken and go to waste and in this way [through exercise] this element is fulfilled. […]” (Malfuzat, Vol. 3, p. 2)

Jalsa Yaum-eMusleh-e-Maud in Sri Lanka A. Abdul Aziz Sri Lanka Correspondent

On 20 February 2022, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Sri Lanka had the opportunity to hold Jalsa Yaum-e-Musleh-e-Maud in Colombo, Negombo and Pasyala.

During the jalsa at the Baitul Hamd Mosque in Colombo, the national president, AH Nasir Ahmad Sahib, and missionary-incharge, AB Mushtaq Ahmad Sahib, delivered speeches.

Friday 18 March 2022 | AL HAKAM

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The need, importance and blessings of the Promised Messiah’s writings

Ata-ul-Haye Nasir Al Hakam

Many religious scriptures contain prophecies about the advent of a Messiah in the Latter Days. Similarly, the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa had prophesied about the advent of the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi, and narrated the Signs of that era as well.

It was certain that the awaited Messiah would have extraordinary qualities to compete with the satanic powers of the world, in order to defend Islam. This required him to be well versed in spiritual knowledge, and recipient of divine help from God Almighty.

The signs of the Latter Days have been described in Surah al-Takwir, and one of them is:

ُ ُّ َ َ ‫الص ُح ُف ن ِش َرت‬ ‫و ِاذا‬

“And when books are spread abroad.” (Surah al-Takwir, Ch.81: V.11) Then, there is a hadith which describes the attributes of the Latter Days Messiah, and states: ْ َ ٌ َ َ ْ َ َ ُ ْ ‫ َوي ِفيﺾ ال َمال َح ّتى لا يق َبل ُه أ َحد‬،‫َويﻀ� ا��َ ْر َب‬ “He will stop the [religious] wars and distribute wealth in such abundance that nobody will accept it.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Anbiya, Hadith 3448)

The above-mentioned verse and hadith indicated that in the Latter Days, there would be publications in abundance and by these means the Promised Messiah would prove the supremacy of Islam. It implied that the jihad of the sword would be prohibited and jihad by the pen would be needed.

Moreover, the word ‘maal’ mentioned in the hadith did not mean material riches. Rather, it meant spiritual wealth. It meant that the awaited Messiah would disclose those spiritual secrets which were not seen for a long time, and thus, he would revive the beautiful teachings of Islam. In short, the Messiah would use the pen as his ‘weapon’.

In the thirteenth century after Hijrah, all religions were constantly opposing Islam, and the Muslims seemed to be unable to defend Islam. Many books were being written against Islam, and objections were being raised from all sides. ُ ُّ َ َ In light of the verse ‫الص ُح ُف ن ِش َرت‬ ‫و ِاذا‬, it was clear that the time had come for the coming of the awaited Messiah, but the Muslims thought that they would defeat the antiIslam rhetoric with Jihad of the sword, and they were not responding to the opponents in an appropriate way. Thus, the Muslims were being defeated in all fields. Hence, Islam was seen as a religion without any divine help and power (God forbid).

All the prophecies about the advent of

the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi, were fulfilled with great glory in the person of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas of Qadian. He stated in a couplet:

� ‫وہ �ا� وج �اروں �ل ےس دم�ن‬ ‫َ ی یت‬ ‫�ا ی‬ ِ �‫د�ا �ں ا� وک‬ ‫ُ��وار‬ ‫اَب م‬

“Those treasures that were buried for thousands of years; Now I disburse them if there is one who is desirous.” (Barahine-Ahmadiyya, Part V, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 21, p. 147) In this regard, he stated: “God Almighty has appointed me so that I may reveal these hidden treasures to the world, and so that I may purify and cleanse the filth of those impure allegations that have been smeared upon these shining gems. The jealousy of God Almighty is vigorously roused at this time in order to clear and absolve the honour of the Holy Quran from the objections attributed to it by every malevolent enemy. Therefore, in the case that our opponents seek to attack Islam by the pen, and indeed they do, how foolish would it be for us to come prepared to engage in physical battle against them?”

(Malfuzat, [English], Vol. 1, p. 59) While narrating a divine vision, the Promised Messiahas stated: “I saw that I was standing on a pulpit in the city of London and was setting forth the truth of Islam in the English language,

in a very well-reasoned address. Thereafter, I caught several birds who were sitting upon small trees and were of white colour and their bodies resembled the bodies of partridges.

“I interpreted this in the meaning that though I would not [be able to travel to that country], my writings will reach those people and many righteous English people will be attracted to the truth.” (Izala-eAuham, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 3, p. 377) Huzooras stated at another place: “Know for certain that in this age it is not the sword that is needed but the pen. Our opponents have spread doubts about Islam and have sought to attack the true religion sent by Allah Almighty through various sciences and strategies. I have thus been moved by God to enter this battlefield of science and academic advancement armed with a literary arsenal, and also to exhibit the spiritual valour of Islam and demonstrate the marvel of its inner strength. How could I have been capable to enter this field of battle? It is only due to the grace of Allah Almighty and His boundless beneficence that He desires to manifest the honour of His religion at the hands of a humble man like myself. (Malfuzat [English], Vol. 1, p.

58) He stated at another instance: “Islam is a pure and flawless religion.

However, it has been attacked in such a manner that there are hundreds of thousands of books written which are filled with vile abuse against the Holy Prophetsa.

Some magazines are printed in the millions.

If everything that has been written against Islam is gathered together in one place, it would form an enormous mountain.

“The case of the Muslims is that it seems as if they are lifeless and have become like corpses. In times like these, if God Almighty also remains silent, then one can only imagine what would be the outcome. One strike from God Almighty is far greater than even a thousand assaults of man and this one strike alone would be enough for His religion to triumph over others.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 8, pp. 174-175) The Holy Prophetsa stated: َ َ​َ ُ ‫ث‬ َ ‫�� ابْ َن مَ ْري َ َم فَ َي�ْ� ُل ِع ْن َد ال ْ َم َن‬ ّ‫ار ِة ال ْ َب ْي َﻀا ِء َش ْر�ي‬ َ ‫الله ال ْ َم ِس‬ ‫بع‬ ِ ْ َ َ ِ َ َ َ َّ َ َْ​َ ْ ْ َ ْ ‫اض ًعا �ف ْي ِه َعلى أ ْج ِ��َ ِة َملكي ِن‬ ِ ‫د َِمشﻖ بَي َن َم� ُرودتي ِن و‬ “Allah would send Jesus, son of Mary, and he will descend at the white minaret to the east of Damascus, wearing two garments lightly dyed with saffron and placing his hands on the wings of two angels.” (Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Malahim, Hadith 4321) In this regard, the Promised Messiahas stated: “The two angels symbolise the two supports from the unseen, upon which

AL HAKAM | Friday 18 March 2022

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depends the incontrovertibly of his claim: “1. God-given knowledge regarding incontrovertible evidence based on reason and record, that shall be vouchsafed to him without any effort and exertion on his part.

“2. Secondly, the incontrovertible argument through Signs which will be sent down by God without any human intervention.” (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation, p. 388) The Promised Messiahas wrote around 85 books which have been compiled in 23 volumes, titled Ruhani Khazain, whereas, his discourses are compiled as Malfuzat, and announcements as Majmu‘a Ishtiharat.

The collection of his Urdu poetry is named Durr-e-Sameen, while his Persian poetry is also published under the name of Durr-eSameen Farsi. The poetry that he wrote prior to his claim is named Durr-e-Maknoon, also known as Kalam-e-Ahmad. His Arabic poems are published under the title AlQasa’id-ul-Ahmadiyya.

All of his writings and discourses are filled with the love of Allah and the Holy Prophetsa and prove the majesty of Islam.

The Promised Messiahas stated in a couplet: ‫ف‬ ‫�ب ت‬ ‫ک مہ ےن ح�ج� اپامل‬ ‫ص دنمش وک ی ا‬ ِ َ ‫ف‬ ‫ی‬ ‫س اک اکم ملق ےس یہ داھک یا� مہ ےن‬ “We routed the ranks of foes with convincing proofs; The work of sword we accomplished with just the pen.” ُ ُّ َ َ In relation to the verse ‫الص ُح ُف ن ِش َرت‬ ‫و ِاذا‬, Huzooras stated: “The phrase, ‘When the books are spread abroad,’ refers to the means for publication like the printing press. As you see, Allah the Almighty has raised a nation that has invented the instruments for printing.

[Look] how many printing presses are working in India and other countries. This is God’s act so that He may assist in my task and may spread my teachings and my books and convey to every nation the wisdom contained in my writings so that they may listen and be guided.” (Aina-e-Kamalat-eIslam, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 5, p. 473) In verse 4 of Surah al-Jumuah, the َ ُ ۡ َ ۡ words, ‫و ٰاخ ِریۡ َن ِمن ُہ ۡم ل َ ّما یَل َحقوۡا ِب ِہ ۡم‬,َ indicate that the Latter Days Messiah – who was to be the shadow of the Holy Prophetsa – will recite unto his people Allah’s Signs, and purify them, and teach them the Book and wisdom.

Therefore, the Promised Messiah’s writings and sayings are full of these four attributes.

A renowned scholar of the Indian Subcontinent, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, wrote an editorial in his newspaper Vakil of Amritsar, upon the demise of Hazrat Ahmadas. He stated: “This man – the very pre-eminent personality – whose pen was a marvel and voice magic. He was a monument of great intellectual wonders; his insight was revolutionary and his voice was charged with the call of Judgement. His fingers moved the strings of reformation, and his two fists generated the thunderous lightning. The man who served as the epicentre of religious shock waves for thirty years, and awakened the sleeping souls of the world with his thunderous calls. [...]

“Men who revolutionised the spiritual or intellectual world appear very seldom. But when such prides of the children of history do appear, they bring about a revolution in this world. The demise of Mirza Sahib, in spite of extreme differences over some of his claims and views, has made educated and

called Ghazi and there are allusions to this in Brahin-e-Ahmadiyya and in other places.”

(The Heavenly Sign, pp. 28-29) On another occasion, Huzooras stated: “I particularly experience God’s miraculous power when I put my pen to paper. Whenever I write something in Arabic or Urdu, I feel as if someone is instructing me from within. [...]

“During the course of writing Arabic, hundreds of complete sentences descend upon my heart, either in the form of verbal revelation or in the form of writing on a piece of paper which is shown to me by an angel. Some of these sentences are verses of the Holy Quran, or similar to them with minor modification. [...]

“God, in Whose hand is my life, is my witness that this is how He has been dealing with me. This is one of the signs pertaining to matters of the unseen that continue to be revealed to me in various forms.” (Essence of Islam, Vol. 5, pp. 156-158) At another instance, Huzooras said: “I tell you truly that those who were revived by the Messiahas [Jesus] are dead, but he who will drink from the cup that has been bestowed upon me will never die. If there is anyone else who can also utter the life-giving words that I speak and proclaim such wisdom as I do, then you are at liberty to conclude that I have not come from God Almighty. However, if this wisdom and understanding — which serves as the water of life for those whose hearts are dead — is not procurable from any other source, then you have no excuse for the crime of having rejected the fountain that has been opened from heaven. No one on earth can stop it.”

(Izala-e-Auham, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 3, p.

104) At another instance, Huzooras said: “I cannot write even a single letter if the help of God Almighty is not with me. I have seen many times while writing that there is a spirit of God that is manifesting itself, the pen gets tired but the enthusiasm inside [my heart] does not get tired. My heart feels that every single letter comes from God Almighty.” (Malfuzat [1988], Vol. 2, p. 483) On 9 February 1906, the Promised Messiahas received the following revelation: � ‫ِ چ‬ ‫نی ت‬ ٌ َ ‫�۔ ک‬ ‫در الکم وت ی‬ ‫رعشاء رادراںَ دےلخ‬ ‫�زے اتس ہک‬ ‫لام‬ َ ّ ُ ّ َ ُ َ ‫ا‬ ‫یم‬ ِ ٍِ ‫فصحت ِمن لدن ر ٍب ک ِر‬ “Your discourse has been made eloquent by the Benevolent Lord. There is something in that which you say, to which the poets have no access.” (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation, p. 123) Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya was the first book written by the Promised Messiahas, in which he established the truth of Islam and also narrated several prophecies after receiving glad tidings from Allah the Almighty.

Even his staunch opponent, Maulvi Muhammad Hussain of Batala stated: “In our view, this book [Barahin-eAhmadiyya], at this time and considering the present circumstances, is such that so far, the like of it cannot be found in [the history of] Islam. Nothing can be said of the future: ُ ّٰ َ َ ٰ ‫ل َ َع َّل الل َہ یُ ۡح ِدث بَ ۡع َد ذل ِک ا ۡم ًرا‬ “[‘It may be that thereafter, Allah will bring something new to pass.’ (Surah alTalaq, Ch.65: V.2)] “The author [of the said book] has also been so persistent in the service of Islam,

enlightened Muslims realise that they have lost one of their pre-eminent personalities. [...]

“His distinction of serving as an evervictorious general against the opponents of Islam compels us to openly and sincerely wish that the majestic movement which dwarfed and destroyed our enemies for a long time may continue in the future.

“The literature that Mirza Sahib produced against the Christians and Aryas has been acclaimed widely and as such does not need any introduction. Even today, now that it has fulfilled its purpose, we have to sincerely acknowledge its influence and magnificence. Our hearts can never forget the time when Islam was totally encircled by hostile attacks and Muslims, who were entrusted by the Real Protector [God Almighty] with the duty to defend Islam in the visible and perceptible worlds, were leading a miserable life as a penalty for their own vices. They did nothing for the defence of Islam, nor were they capable of it.”

(Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 2, pp. 560-561) The Promised Messiahas stated: “In short, this land [Indian Subcontinent] is a Dar-ul-Harb in our contest against the Christian clergy. Therefore, we must not sit idle. However, do remember that our war against them must be like in kind. We must go forth with the same form of weaponry that the Christian clergy have brought into

the field of battle, and that weapon is the pen. It is for this very reason that Allah the Exalted has named my humble self the King of the Pen and has named my pen the Dhulfiqar of Ali. The secret at the heart of this is that the present era is not an age of war and battle, but an era of the pen.

(Malfuzat [English], Vol. 1, p. 238) While commenting on a Persian couplet of Hazrat Naimatullah Walirh, ‘I see his hand shining like the white hand of Moses; And in his hand, I see the Dhulfiqar’, Huzooras stated: “In respect of incontrovertible arguments, his adroit hand flashes like a sword. Then I see him with the Dhulfiqar.

There was a time when Hadrat Alira held the Dhulfiqar in his hand; but Allah, the Exalted, will bestow Dhulfiqar upon that Imam in such a manner that his luminous hand will accomplish that which in the past had been accomplished by Dhulfiqar. Thus his hand will be as if it was the Dhulfiqar of Alira that has reappeared. This is an indication that the said Imam will be Sultanul Qalam and his pen will serve as Dhulfiqar. This prediction is an exact translation of a revelation vouchsafed to me, which was published ten years ago in Brahin-e-Ahmadiyya. It reads: Kitabul Wali Dhulfiqar-e-Ali, which means that the book of this saint is the Dhulfiqar of Alira. Here the reference is to me, and, on account of this, in many visions, I have been

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Friday 18 March 2022 | AL HAKAM

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with his money, life, writings, speeches and personal actions that very few parallels can be drawn among Muslims.” (Ishaat-usSunnah, Vol. 7, Number 6, p. 169) On many occasions, the Promised Messiahas has described the importance and need of his books. Some excerpts are presented below: “At the present time, the swords of the pen are being wielded against us and the arrows of allegations are being rained upon us. It is our responsibility to ensure that we do not leave our faculties idle and we must sharpen the spears of our pens for the sake of God’s pure religion and to prove the truthfulness of the prophethood of God’s Chosen Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.” (Malfuzat [English], Vol. 1, p. 237) “It is important for all members [of the Jamaat] to read my books at least once, because knowledge is power, and power produces courage. One who does not have knowledge, gets surprised at a question from the opponent.” (Malfuzat [1988], Vol. 4, p. 361) “Islam is being attacked by the pen, and thus, it is necessary to respond to [those attacks] by the pen. [...] Look at the disbelievers, as to what kinds of efforts they are making against Islam, they are not preparing armies, rather they are publishing various books and magazines. Thus, it is our duty to pick up our pen in response, and defend against their attacks through magazines and books.” (Ibid., pp. 372-373) “The Christian clergy publish books against Islam with all sorts of deceptions and slander. How can Islam be spread unless the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is proven to be pure from these evil words? [...] We must help [the cause of] Islam. For instance, I have mentioned that a book should be written for the Japanese people, and an eloquent Japanese be given 1,000 rupees for translating it [into the Japanese language], and then ten thousand copies be printed and spread in Japan.”

(Ibid., Footnote) “Our friends should read Haqiqatul Wahi from beginning to end with great attention — in fact, they should memorise it. No maulvi will be able to stand before them because all the necessary matters have been elucidated in it and replies have been given to the objections.” (Malfuzat [1988], Vol. 5. p. 235) “In my literary works for the itmame-hujjat [completion of proof], I have written around 70 to 75 detailed books, and each of them is so comprehensive that it is impossible for a seeker of truth and a researcher to not gain enough resource for distinguishing the right and wrong, after reading these [books] carefully.” (Ibid., p.

578) “We need such men who can do something, not just verbally, but practically.

Verbal claims of knowledge are useless.

They should be completely free from arrogance and pride, and they should attain a higher level of knowledge by staying in my company or at least by reading my books frequently.” (Ibid., p. 682) “And he who does not listen to the words of God’s Appointed One and Messenger attentively and does not read his writings carefully, has also partaken of arrogance.

So, endeavour and let there be no arrogance

in you, so that you may not perish and be saved along with all of your family.” (Nuzulul-Masih, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 18, p. 403) In regards to this excerpt, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa stated: “This statement of the Promised Messiahas means that those who only remain occupied with worldly books and sciences and do not pay attention to religious books and knowledge have a kind of arrogance in them because they consider worldly knowledge to be sufficient.

However, acquiring religious knowledge is very important for man’s deliverance. And religious knowledge comes from the study of religious books.” (Al Hakam, 29 October 2021, Issue 189, p. 6) Guidance of Khulafa-e-Ahmadiyyat On several occasions, Khulafa of Ahmadiyyat have spoken about the importance and blessings of the Promised Messiah’s writings and advised members of the Jamaat to pay attention towards reading his books. Some excerpts are presented below: Excerpts of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira “Allah the Almighty had granted him [the Promised Messiahas] such knowledge that the Indian and Arab scholars were helpless in response to his Arabic books. He had complete trust in dua [prayer], and through dua, God had taught him all the disciplines [ulum].” (Hayat-e-Nur, p. 579) While commenting on a revelation of the َ َ ْ َ ّ ً ْ َ ُ َ ْ َ ْ َ َّ Promised Messiahas ‫ان‬ ِ ‫اِنا انزلناہ ق ِریبا ِمن القادِی‬ (Tadhkirah [English], p. 93), Huzoorra said: “Every insightful person can observe that thousands of Quranic insights [ma’arif] have been published from Qadian to the whole world since the beginning of Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya’s publication [...] The truthfulness of the Holy Quran and hujjat [proof] of [the Holy Prophet] Muhammad’ssa prophethood has been completed upon the followers of all other religions, whether Jews or Christians, Arya or Sanatan Dharam,

Sikh or Naturalists […]

“If this revelation was not from Allah, then how could these fountains of Quranic insights [ma’arif] and Islamic truths be spread from such a small town to the whole world; whose branches have expanded to the whole world, including America, Europe (Germany, France), Russia, Japan etc. Look at the institutions of The Review of Religions, Al Hakam, Badr, Talim-ul-Islam, and Tashheezul-Azhan etc.” (Khutbat-e-Nur, p. 233) “I want you to love Allah the Almighty, His angels, His prophets, and His messengers, and not to disrespect anyone.

Allah the Almighty has granted you a great blessing, as the advent of Hazrat Sahib [the Promised Messiahas] is not an ordinary happening [...] Propagate the books of Hazrat Sahib.” (Khutbat-e-Nur, p. 559) Excerpts of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra “Read the books of Hazrat Sahib [the Promised Messiahas], and remember that Hazrat Sahib’s books are a commentary of the Quran.” (Islaah-e-Nafs, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 5, p. 447) “Angels may descend on a person who reads the books written by someone on whom the angels used to descend. Therefore, angels would descend on anyone who would read Hazrat Sahib’s [the Promised Messiahas] books. It is a distinctive feature that [new] aspects and insights open up while reading Hazrat Sahib’s books, and whenever one reads them, special points and blessings are bestowed.

“Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya has been written by the sheer grace of Allah the Almighty.

About this [book], I have noticed that whenever I started reading it, I could not read even ten pages [continuously], because so many new matters and points of knowledge begin to open up, that the mind becomes occupied with them.

“Thus, Hazrat Sahib’s books have been blessed immensely [by Allah the Almighty], and reading them is also a means of getting

blessings from angels, and through them, new avenues of knowledge [ulum] are opened. If you read any other book, you will understand as much subject as mentioned in those words, but reading the books of Hazrat Sahibas opens up a lot of subject matters.” (Malaikatullah, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 5, p. 560) “The Promised Messiahas came from God Almighty as a buruz [spiritual projection] of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa. Therefore, each and every word, written by his pen, is more precious than all of the worldly books and writings. If at any time, a question arose whether to preserve a single line written by the Promised Messiahas or the books of all the authors of the Jamaat, I would say that I would exert my utmost effort to preserve this single line [written by the Promised Messiahas] and would accept to burn all these books [of scholars of the Jamaat] with kerosene oil. What importance do our books have? These are all interpretations of what the Promised Messiahas has written.”

(Khitabat-e-Shura, Vol. 1, p. 148) “The books of the Promised Messiahas are based on experience and are dominant over observations. A common preacher says that such and such is written in the Holy Quran and ahadith, but the prophets of God Almighty do not say that such and such is written at a certain place, but they say that such and such is written on their heart and tongues. Their sermons are their biographies, so reading their books does not have a sermon effect on someone, but an observational effect. Just as dua is the essence of prayer, similarly, advice [naseehat] is the essence of the prophets’ books, which is found in the words of God Almighty and His prophets.” (Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 11, pp. 283-284) “The personage of the Promised Messiahas has manifested so many blessings in this world, and one of the biggest blessings is his style of writing. [...] One finds that the Promised Messiah’sas writings encompass the hearts of people. [...] The Promised

27

AL HAKAM | Friday 18 March 2022 Messiah’sas writings, in addition to being powerful, remain thoughtful and dignified as well. [...] The example of the flow of the Promised Messiah’s writings, is like water flowing down the mountains. Apparently, its direction is not known but it makes its own direction. There is a Divine Glory in the writings of the Promised Messiahas, and are above any kind of artificiality. [...] All other writings are mere paintings, whereas, the Promised Messiah’s writings are a natural scene.” (Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 13, pp.

218-221) Excerpts of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh “The Promised Messiahas, in his prose and poems, in his speeches and discourses and in his books, in fact, in every way, has always emphasised the point that the spirit of Islam lies in taqwa [righteousness]. The Promised Messiahas stated in his couplet: ‫وقتی‬ ٰ ‫ونس ےہ احلص االسم‬ ‫وقتی‬ ٰ ‫دخا اک قشع ےم اور اجم‬ ‘Listen! The essence of Islam is taqwa! Love of God is the wine and taqwa is the goblet.’”

(Friday Sermon, 16 December 1966) “Read the books of the Promised Messiahas frequently, especially Durr-eSameen.” (Al Fazl, 11 October 1970) “Every [Ahmadi] household should have the books of the Promised Messiahas which they should study and teach to the children.”

(Al Fazl, 29 October 1977) “The interpretation of the Holy Quran which meets the needs of this age, is found in the books of the Promised Messiahas.

The Promised Messiah’s books and the disciplines [ulum] which they comprise are the life and spirit of every Ahmadi. If you are unfamiliar with those books or the disciplines described within – then although Ahmadiyyat will continue to spread and it will be difficult to eradicate it – you will become like a lifeless body.” (Mash’al-eRaah, Vol. 2, p. 44) “I will urge you time and time again to get in the habit of reading the books of the Promised Messiahas. If you start reading three pages daily, then you will get in the habit of reading it, and it would not have any [negative] effect on your work at all, whether you are studying or employed.

Instead, this reading will have a good effect on them. If someone is a student, then reading these books would create enlightenment in their mind, and a nur [divine light] will be instilled. And then they will easily understand other subjects like Chemistry and English etc., and they will gain good marks in the exams. And if someone is employed, then efficiency will be created in their work.” (Ibid., p. 45) “The Promised Messiahas has presented to us the Islamic teaching in a beautiful and amazing manner, and with great detail.

But it is our duty to draw the attention of those youngsters who are not interested in this treasure, and tell them that ‘this is the teaching which he has given, this is the interpretation of the Holy Quran which he has narrated, these are the manifestations of the beauty and benevolence of the Holy Prophetsa which are found in his books, and these are the attributes of Allah the Almighty on which he has shed light.’” (Ibid, pp. 207-208) “Let me tell you one thing and I say from my experience and according to my insight that the Quranic commentary given to us

by the Promised Messiahas, is so great that pick up any of his books, large or small, and read it a hundred times, and every time you would find new meanings in it. This is a commentary of such a kind. His books are not like ordinary books, rather they are inspired by God. This interpretation of the Holy Quran was taught to the Promised Messiahas by God as a result of the Holy Power [quwwat-e-qudsia] of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa, and by sacrificing himself in a state of fana fil rasul, and thus God became his teacher Himself.” (Ibid., p.

443) “If one takes a single sentence of Huzoor’s writings, the subject matter of that one sentence would not end even if they spend their whole life [pondering over].

Once, I picked up a sentence from a book of the Promised Messiahas and delivered five or seven Friday sermons on that one sentence.

That much subject matter was filled within that [one sentence].” (Ibid., p. 471)

ideas put forward by the opponents of Ahmadiyyat cannot even come close to the ones that the Promised Messiahas has presented to us in his pure words, derived from the Holy Quran and the sunnah of the Holy Prophetsa.” (Friday Sermon 3 May 1985) “The excerpts of the Promised Messiahas are so impactful that in this era, there is no better way for tarbiyat of the Jamaat than to read out those [excerpts]. The Promised Messiah’s words originate from the depth of heart and instil into the depth of heart, and are the sayings of such an experienced person whose words do not have even the slightest amount of untruth or pretence.

Whatever he says, is the truth. And what could have more impact on a heart than the words uttered by such a person?” (Al Fazl, 19 April 1998)

Excerpts of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh

“One should benefit from the commentary [of the Holy Quran] and theology of the Promised Messiahas. If one wishes to understand the Holy Quran or ahadith, they should pay attention to [reading] the Promised Messiah’s books. This is a great blessing for those who know how to read Urdu as the majority of the books are in Urdu, a few are also in Arabic. Then for those who are illiterate, there is an arrangement of duroos in the mosques. One should attend and listen to those duroos.

“Moreover, one should benefit from the MTA. And MTA administration should also present such programmes for different countries as much as possible, in which the translation of the Promised Messiah’s excerpts be presented in their [respective] languages. Wherever the translations [of Huzoor’s excerpts] have been prepared, and are satisfactory, they can be presented anyway. In the same way, Urdu programmes should be prepared by the Urdu-speaking people or countries, so that the world may see the points of spiritual insight [ma‘rifat] of the Promised Messiah’s theology, and may it be a source of guidance for us [Ahmadis] and others [non-Ahmadis] as well.” (Friday Sermon, 11 June 2004, Khutbat-e-Masroor, Vol. 2, pp. 401-402) “In order to acquire the Quranic and religious knowledge, first of all, we need to read and pay attention towards the priceless treasures provided by the Promised Messiahas. Because he has shown us the ways for our thinking, through which we can enhance our Quranic and religious knowledge, and then with this Quranic knowledge the avenues to worldly knowledge and research are also opened.

“Therefore, the youth of the Jamaat should be interested in reading and benefiting from the Promised Messiah’s books, along with their worldly education.

Moreover, if the researchers and many students who are doing research on different topics would combine this religious and Quranic knowledge with their secular knowledge, new paths will also be paved for them, and opportunities will also be available to work from different aspects, which they might not learn from their worldly professors. [...]

“The older people should not think that as they get older they can no longer acquire knowledge. They also need to pay attention to this, [and need to] read the Promised

“May Allah the Almighty shower countless blessings upon the Promised Messiahas who closed all the paths of arrogance and opened the path of humility. Each of his couplets, each of his lines of poetry, each and every word is full of truth. And the reality is that the poetry of the Promised Messiahas is in itself proof of his truthfulness. If a person of a pious nature listens to this poetry, it is impossible for him not to testify to the truthfulness of its author.

“Amazingly pure and pious emotions.

The soul becomes intrigued while hearing this poetry, which is immersed in love (of Allah the Almighty and the Holy Prophetsa).

“While the poetry was being recited, I was thinking of those Ahmadi youths who say, ‘How should we do da‘wat ilallah [calling unto Allah]? ‘We cannot remember the arguments.’ We do not have the capability to debate.’ ‘We do not know Arabic.’ ‘We do not know how to debate.’ I thought to myself, what more do they need to remember than remembering the poetry of the Promised Messiahas, reciting it like darweshes from one town to another and preaching it and informing the world that he has come whose coming is linked with your salvation.

“Such effective poetry, such pure poetry, such wise poetry; poetry which consists of the praise of Allah the Almighty; poetry, about which one must say: � ‫آدیم تزاد وت ی ا‬ ‫� رفےتش یھب امتم‬ ‫ک چیز‬ ‫دمح ی‬ ‫م ی�ری وہ اگےت ہ ی� وج اگ یا� مہ ےن‬ ‘Not only Human beings, but all of the angels sing in your praise what I have sung.’

“The fact of the matter is that when the Promised Messiahas would have uttered this couplet, surely, the angels in heaven must have also recited this couplet along with him. They must have been reciting all the praises of Allah the Almighty along with him, what he expressed in love of Allah the Almighty.” (Mash‘al-e-Rah, Vol. 3, pp. 43-44) “The fact is that each word of the Promised Messiahas makes us ecstatic, inspires our souls, and kindles new life in us.” (Friday Sermon, 12 April 1985) “Just read through the words of the Promised Messiahas and see what God is, what angels are, what the heavenly books are, and what the prophets are. But the

Excerpts of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa

Messiah’s books.” (Friday Sermon, 18 June 2004, Khutbat-e-Masroor, Vol. 2, pp. 407408) “Every Ahmadi needs to ensure that they, along with their wives and children, pay attention towards recitation of the Holy Quran. Moreover, they should read the translation [of the Holy Quran] and commentary by the Promised Messiahas.

Although this commentary is not in the form of a [full] commentary, a compilation work has been done by taking excerpts from [the Promised Messiah’s] books, speeches, and Malfuzat, and this is a great treasure of knowledge.” (Friday Sermon, 24 September 2004, Khutbat-e-Masroor, Vol. 2, p. 687) “There is a narration from Siratul Mahdi which reads that ‘the Promised Messiahas used to say that one who did not read his books at least three times had a kind of arrogance in him.’ (Siratul Mahdi [Urdu], Vol. 1, p. 365, Narration No. 410) “[Meaning] that reading only worldly books while leaving aside religious books and acquiring only worldly knowledge while neglecting religious knowledge reflects the existence of arrogance in a person. Therefore, every Ahmadi ought to take maximum benefit from these spiritual treasures.” (Al Hakam, 29 October 2021, Issue 189, p. 6) In the foreword of the new edition of Ruhani Khazain, Huzooraa stated: “It is clear from the Holy Quran and the sayings of the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that this is the age in which the means of the propagation and dissemination of Islam to the corners of the earth had been decreed by the Powerful and Omnipotent God. “For this reason, scientific discoveries took place with such rapidity and in such large numbers that man would be astonished and, effectively, say: َ ُ ‫ال الۡان ۡ َس‬ ‫ان َما ل َ َہا‬ ِ َ ‫َو ق‬ “[And man says, ‘What is the matter with her (the earth)?]

“It is this age, about which it was foretold: ۡ ُ ُّ َ َ ‫الص ُح ُف ن ِش َرت‬ ‫و ِاذا‬ “[And when books are spread abroad] and thereby informed us that such inventions would take place that would flourish the spread of books and journals.” [...]

“It is our good fortune that we have been able to accept the Imam Mahdi and Messiah of Muhammadsa and thus, inherited these spiritual treasures [Ruhani Khazain].

Accordingly, we should study these blessed writings so that our hearts, minds and souls become enlightened by means of this, something which is capable of eliminating the darkness of Dajjal [the antichrist].

“May Allah enable us to beautify our lives and the lives of our progeny through these blessed writings and may we light the candles of peace and tranquillity within our hearts, homes and surroundings. May the love of God and His Prophetsa penetrate our hearts in such a manner that we are able to carry on igniting the flame of love and compassion for mankind throughout the world. May Allah help us in this task. Amin.”

In short, the Promised Messiahas disclosed all those spiritual treasures to this world that had been hidden for a long time.

Now, it is our responsibility to benefit from these treasures.

Friday 18 March 2022 | AL HAKAM

28

100 Years Ago...

The shocking state of Muslims in Africa & the Arab world Al Fazl, 16 March 1922

Hazrat Maulvi Abdur Rahim Nayyarra (1883-1948)

Tabligh to the people of Morocco In Kumasi, I met some Sudanese and Moroccans. Some of them were familiar with ahadith and the Holy Quran. They were preached and the reality of DabbatulArd [a worm of the earth, as mentioned in the Quran], kasuf-o-khusuf [solar and lunar eclipse], Gog and Magog, and Dajjal was explained to them. They were informed about the appearance of the Promised Messiahas after highlighting the arguments of the death of Prophet Jesusas. These people do not like the French style of government, but they greatly admire the British government.

A person who speaks in Arabic can easily preach in all those parts of the world that are located below the equator line. It is very important for the missionaries of the said countries to be proficient in the Arabic language. It is possible to survive without English, but it is impossible to preach to Muslims without having the knowledge of Arabic.

Amir of Kenya Among the Nigerian amirs [leaders], the amir of Kenya is the most enlightened man. This year, he went for Hajj as well.

Our missionaries met him in London, and Brother Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sahib mentioned it in Al Fazl [newspaper]. Now, the amir has returned home from Hajj. I met

him at the port of Secondi on a ship called SS Appam. He was accompanied by a British officer named Mr Mathed, a resident of one of the northern states of Nigeria. This friend became my interpreter and I remained in the company of the amir for more than half an hour in Mr Mathed’s room. We had a discussion on various issues and as soon as he heard the name of Maulvi Mubarak Ali, his companion said: “Imam of Ahmadiyya Mosque London.”

I presented the Holy Quran, [The Philosophy of the] Teachings of Islam, the magazine, Ahmad Al-Masih Al-Maud, to the amir and he accepted them with gratitude.

He invited me to visit his place.

Thereafter, I had a discussion with Mr Mathed for some time and we talked about the attributes of Islam.

African women The women here carry their children around their backs. A daughter is considered the heir of the father. They have handkerchiefs on their heads, clothes on their lower parts, but the middle part of the body, from the chest to the neck, is bare. The style of hair varies from one place to another. Somewhere there are two braids on the head and at other places there is only a single braid. These braids are beautifully made by interlacing stiff curly strands of hair together. Some women place a big cap of synthetic hair on their head and then tie it, and it appears as if they are going to collect water with a small

pitcher on their head.

The fashion of the Ashanti tribe is different from other places. Among them, the hair is cut and made into a round cap, and the heads of both men and women look similar.

African women work harder than men. You will often see a strange figure on the streets and that is an African woman going to the market. She has a cloth on the lower part of the body and the upper part is completely bare. She has a pipe in her mouth, and a Ham wine or tari [palm wine] pitcher on her head, or a basket full of bananas, rice, castors, melons, custard apples, ladyfinger, tomatoes and onions. The pipe is lit and the smoke is coming out of her mouth. Sometimes a child is seen on the back of such a woman. I did not understand the Islamic purdah before as much as I do now. The understanding of some of the commandments of the Holy Quran that Africa taught me was not even in my imagination before.

Alas! This is not Islam I went to Secondi from Kumasi on a train and from there to Saltpond in a car. I kept thinking about the big and small things that caught my attention. Observing monkeys and cats playing at Lala Boolchand‘s house every day, I kept interpreting qiradatan khaasi‘een [despised apes] and gurba-emiskeen [a person who looks innocent but is wicked in reality]. Moreover, the vision

of maghdhub [those who incur the wrath of God] and dhaal [those who go astray] groups gathering against Islam began to turn my heart towards prayer. The strong prejudice of Syrian Christians against Islam, the shock after listening about the bad examples and false beliefs of Syrian Muslims from Syrian Christian men and women, the surprise after hearing objections against the stories of: “Islamic paradise, spread of Islam by the sword, Islam is the religion of Bedouins, Muslims are alcoholics, wicked and adulterers, the practice of halalah [the un-Islamic concept in which a divorced woman marries another person temporarily and gets divorced again so that she can be remarried to her first husband], sermons on 99 hurs [beautiful women of paradise], etc.”, and the statement of the Christians about me that, “You present a very different Islam and this is not the Islam of our Arab people,” were all noteworthy things. This is the condition of the Arabs.

The state of the poor people of Africa is that the nominal Islamic missionaries have taught them to practice sorcery, use amulets, wear dirty clothes and hate the English language and the Englishmen. What is the fault of the poor new Muslim Africans when the women and girls of the said teachers walk around bare-chested, and alcohol, gambling and adultery have become the habit of the said savage missionaries of Islam? Alas, these conditions are painful. These things hurt and break my heart. Regarding these Muslims, the Christian missionaries say, “Africa is converting to Islam.” But alas!

They are neither missionaries nor advisers of Islam.

Everywhere there is kufr [disbelief], heresy and domination of the cross, and all that is being called Islam. Alas! This is not Islam.

(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu, published in the 16 March 1922 issue of Al Fazl)

29

AL HAKAM | Friday 18 March 2022

Friday Sermon 18 February 2022 Musleh-e-Maud: The Prophecy and The Man After reciting the tashahhud, ta‘awuz and Surah al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said: Every year, we hold gatherings on the 20th of February to commemorate “Musleh-eMaud Day”. This prophecy of the Promised Messiahas was about the birth of a son, which he foretold after receiving Divine revelation.

This was a response to the allegations of the opponents of Islam whereby they said that Islam could not demonstrate any signs [of its truthfulness]. The Promised Messiahas responded by saying that he had been informed by God Almighty and announced that a magnificent sign of the truthfulness of Islam would be manifested through him; it would be through the birth of his son, who would enjoy a long life and serve Islam.

The Promised Messiahas also said that he would be gifted with such and such qualities and he enumerated approximately 52 or 53 qualities. This was no ordinary prophecy.

Moreover, he specified a timeframe [for the fulfilment of this prophecy] that this son would be born within this period, who would enjoy a long life and would go on to serve Islam in an extraordinary manner.

Nevertheless, various aspects of this prophecy are highlighted during the gatherings organised by the Jamaat. Godwilling, this year too, various Jamaats will hold their gatherings. Similarly, MTA broadcast various programmes from where one can learn further details.

At present, I will mention various extracts in Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’sra own words in relation to how his early years were, about the condition of his health and his relationship with Allah the Almighty.

The prophecy was about a child, who would enjoy a long life. You can understand the state of the health of this child – who was prophesied to live a long life – from the following extract in which Hazrat Muslehe-Maudra states: “My health was rather poor during my childhood. At first, I suffered from whooping cough and then, my health declined to such an extent that until the age of eleven or twelve, my condition would hover between life and death, and it was generally considered that I would not live for very long. During the same period, my eyes developed a condition whereby they would ache continuously; to the extent that I lost almost all vision in one eye. Even now my vision is impaired in that eye [i.e. at the time he was delivering this address].

I can hardly see in one eye. Then, when I grew older, I had a continuous fever for six or seven months and I was diagnosed

with tuberculosis. Due to this, I was unable to study on a regular basis and I did not attend school. Master Faqeerullah Sahib of Lahore [Huzoor was delivering this lecture in Lahore] owned a house in Muslim Town.

He was a mathematics teacher in our school.

Once, Master Faqeerullah Sahib complained about me to the Promised Messiahas, saying, ‘He remains absent from school and only comes occasionally.’”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra further says: “I became scared that the Promised Messiahas might become upset. However, the Promised Messiahas replied, ‘Master Sahib! His health is poor. We are thankful that he attends school occasionally and learns some things here and there. Do not push him too much.’”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra says: “As a matter of fact, I also remember that the Promised Messiahas said, ‘What will we achieve by teaching him mathematics. Are we going to make him open a shop?’”

Hence, this was the state of his health and his attendance at school during his childhood. Given the circumstances, who could guarantee that he would live a long life and not just a long life, it was also prophesied that he would be filled with spiritual and secular knowledge. Who could have said that he would acquire this knowledge under such circumstances?

Nevertheless, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra says: “The Promised Messiahas said: ‘It will suffice if he just studies the Quran and hadith.’ Hence, my health was so poor that I was not at all in a state to acquire secular knowledge and my vision was also impaired.

I failed my primary, middle and entrance exams. I did not pass any exam, but God had declared in relation to me that I would be filled with secular and spiritual knowledge.

Hence, despite not having acquired any secular education, Allah the Almighty has penned such magnificent books through my hands that their study has left the world in amazement and they are compelled to acknowledge that nothing more profound could have been penned in relation to Islamic matters.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra further says: “I have recently written a portion of the commentary of the Holy Quran by the name, ‘Tafsir-e-Kabir’. Having read this, even staunch opponents have admitted that no such commentary has been written until this day. Furthermore, I frequently visit

Lahore and those who live here know that college professors, students, doctors and prominent leaders and lawyers come to meet me. However, to this day, there has never been an occasion where a prominent scholar has raised an allegation against Islam or the Holy Quran before me, and I have failed to leave him speechless by presenting the teachings of Islam and the Holy Quran and compelled him to admit that in reality, no valid allegation can be levelled against the teachings of Islam. It is merely the favour of Allah the Almighty that I am blessed with, otherwise I have not acquired any secular education. However, I cannot deny the fact that God has granted me knowledge from Himself and has blessed me with every form of secular and spiritual knowledge.”

Then, in relation to how Allah the Almighty filled him with secular and spiritual knowledge, Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra says: “During my youth, I saw in a dream that a bell had been sounded and it produced a clanging sound. This increased to the extent that it took the shape of a picture frame. I then observed that a picture appeared on this frame. A short while later, this picture began to move and all of a sudden, a figure jumped out of the frame and appeared before me.

He said, ‘I am an angel of God and I have come to teach you the commentary of the Holy Quran.’ I replied, ‘Please do teach me.’

Following this, he started teaching me the commentary of Surah al-Fatihah. He began to teach and continued until he reached:

َ َ َ ۡ َ َ َ ؕ ‫ِا ّیاک ن ۡع ُب ُد َو ِا ّیاک ن ۡس َت ِعی ُن‬

“‘Thee alone do we worship and Thee alone do we implore for help’] and said, ‘All previous commentators had covered only up to this point in their commentaries.

However, I will teach you the commentary beyond this point as well.’ Hence, he taught me the commentary of the entire Surah alFatihah. The true meaning of this dream was that I was imbued with the gift of understanding the Holy Quran. This gift is so apparent within me that I openly declare that if I were stood in any gathering, I would be ready to proclaim that I can expound upon all the aspects of the Islamic teachings through Surah al-Fatihah.”

This was a speech delivered in an open gathering; he was telling the whole world and putting forth this challenge, but no one ever took up this challenge.

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra further says:

“I was fairly young and was in school when our school football team went to play against the Khalsa College team in Amritsar.

The two teams played against each other and our team won. Although our Jamaat faces opposition from other Muslims, this victory uplifted Muslim morale, and so a Muslim nobleman in Amritsar invited our team for tea. When we arrived, I was told to give a speech. I did not prepare at all for this speech. When I was made to stand and speak, I remembered my dream in which the angel had taught me the commentary of Surah alFatihah. First and foremost, I prayed about this to God Almighty that ‘O Allah, your angel had taught me the commentary of Surah al-Fatihah in a dream. Today, I want to test and evaluate whether this dream was indeed from You or a creation of my mind. If this dream was indeed from You, then tell me of a point in Surah al-Fatihah that has never been elucidated upon by any other commentator.’ Immediately after this prayer, God Almighty revealed a particular aspect in my heart and I said, ‘Look in the Holy Quran and you will find that Allah the Almighty has taught this prayer:

َ ُْ ْ َْ ْ ّ َّ ‫غیرِ ال َمغضوْ ِب َعل ْی ِہ ْم َو لَا الضٓال ِی َن‬

“‘O Muslims, pray in your five daily prayers and in every rakat [unit] of your prayer for you not to become among the ‘Maghdub’ and ‘Dall’. The meaning of ‘Maghdub’ has been explained by the Holy Prophetsa in a hadith [sayings and traditions]. The Holy Prophetsa explained that ‘Maghdub’ refers to the Jews, and ‘Dall’ refers to the Christians.

“Thus,

ُْ ْ َْ ‫غیرِ ال َمغضوْ ِب‬

“means ‘O God, save us from becoming like the Jews’, and,

ْ ّ َّ ‫َو لَا الضٓال ِی َن‬

“means ‘O God, save us from becoming like the Christians.’ This matter is further elucidated by the following statement of the Holy Prophetsa, when he said, ‘A messiah would come to this ummah, and those who would reject him would be likened to the Jews.’ On the other hand, the Holy Prophetsa also stated, ‘A time would come when the strife spread by Christianity would become prevalent. The people would convert to Christianity for the sake of acquiring sustenance, livelihood and respect in society. Or they would fall prey to deception and accept Christianity as a

Friday 18 March 2022 | AL HAKAM

30 result of not understanding the teachings of their faith.” It is strange, however, that Surah al-Fatihah was revealed in Mecca at a time when neither the Jews predominantly opposed Islam, nor the Christians. During that time, Islam predominantly faced opposition from the Idolaters, however, the prayer ‘O God, save us from becoming like the idolaters’ was not the prayer that was taught. Instead, we were taught to pray, ‘O God, let us not become like the Jews and Christians.’ This clearly demonstrates that through this chapter, Allah the Almighty foretold that the idolaters of Mecca would be eradicated forever and not so much as a trace would remain. It was not required that a prayer regarding them should be taught to the Muslims.

“On the other hand, Judaism and Christianity would both continue on and it is imperative that you always pray to be safeguarded from their evil.’ After the conclusion of my speech, many nobles approached me and said, ‘You have studied the Quran in great depth. This is the first time in all our lives that we have heard the point you have expounded upon.’ And in reality, this is absolutely true; look at all the commentaries written on the Holy Quran and you will not find a single commentator who has mentioned this aspect until today.

I was 20 years old when Allah the Almighty revealed this point to me.

“Thus, Allah the Almighty granted me knowledge of the Holy Quran through His angel and developed such a proficiency within me that can be likened to a key for a treasure chest; in the same manner, I had found the key to unlocking the knowledge of the Holy Quran. There is no scholar in the world who can stand before me and I would fail to prove the superiority of the Holy Quran. This is the city of Lahore and there is a university here [He was delivering this speech in Lahore]. Many colleges are also established here, and scholars of vast fields of knowledge can be found here. I address all of them and say that a scholar of any field of knowledge can challenge me, or any professor from anywhere in the world, or a scientist can try and raise an allegation against the Holy Quran in light of their knowledge. By the grace of Allah, the Almighty, I would be able to give them such an answer that the world would be forced to admit that the allegation has been refuted.

And I proclaim openly that I would answer this allegation solely with the words of God and form the rebuttal of that allegation using the verses of the Holy Quran.” (Mein Hi Musleh Maud Ki Peshgoy Ka Misdaq Houn, Anwar-ulUlum, Vol. 17, pp. 213-217)

This incident, as he mentioned himself, took place when he was 20 years old, and at that time he had attained perfect conviction about God. In regard to what age he attained this perfect conviction, Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra writes this himself, and from this, we learn that Allah the Almighty had made him the fulfilment of [the prophecy of Muslehe-Maud] from his childhood. Nonetheless, he states: “The year 1900 became the year that drew my heart towards the commandments of Islam. I was 11 years old at the time.

Someone had brought a robe for the Promised Messiahas made of a printed fabric. I asked if I could have it; not for any particular reason, but only because I liked its colour and print. I could not wear it because

the garment would dangle below my feet.

When I reached the age of 11 and when the year 1900 had begun [i.e. 1900 CE], I started to think about why I believed in God and what evidence was there of His existence.

I pondered over this matter late into the night. Finally, at 10 or 11 o’clock, my heart was comforted and I was reassured that there indeed is a God. That was a moment of immense joy, an hour of great happiness.

Just as a child is delighted to find its mother, I was overjoyed to discover my Creator [this was his thinking at the age of 11]. My faith, which was based only on things that I had heard, transformed to faith that was understood.”

In other words, faith that was acquired from hearing turned into faith acquired from understanding. Nonetheless, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra states: “I could not contain myself. At that time, I prayed to Allah the Almighty and continued to do so for some time, that ‘O God, never allow for me to fall into doubt about Your existence.’ I was 11 years old at the time, and now I am 35, but even today, I regard that prayer very highly. Even today, I offer the same prayer, ‘O God, never allow me to fall into any doubt about Your existence.’ Indeed, I was a child at that time, but now I have more experience. Now, in addition, I say ‘O God, grant me perfect conviction in regards to Your existence.’”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra continues: “One thing led to another. I was writing with regards to the robe I had asked from the Promised Messiahas when all of a sudden I was overcome by a surge of the thoughts that I have just mentioned above.

Nonetheless, one day, I performed ablution at the time of Dhuha or Ishraq [forenoon or morning time]. I wore the robe, not because I found it to be beautiful, but because it belonged to the Promised Messiahas and was blessed. This was the first instance when I realised the sacredness of something that belongs to a chosen one of God Almighty.”

He further states, “At that moment, I closed my door and wept profusely as I offered voluntary prayers.” (Yaad-e-Ayaam, Anwar-ulUlum, Vol. 8, pp. 365-366)

The details of this incident and how he recognised God Almighty at the age of 11 has been mentioned in another place as well. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra states: “I was 11 years old when Allah the Almighty, through His grace, enabled me to transform my belief into conviction. It was the time after Maghrib prayers and I was standing in my home. Suddenly, a thought occurred to me and I began to ponder as to whether I was an Ahmadi simply because my father was the founder of the Ahmadiyya community, or because I found Ahmadiyyat to be true and that it had been established by God Almighty. After this thought occurred to me, I decided that I would think hard about it and not leave my place until I reached a conclusion. If I realised that Ahmadiyyat was false, then instead of going to my room, I would depart from the courtyard.”

This was the mindset of an 11-year-old.

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra continues: “Nonetheless, after making this decision, I started to contemplate, and naturally, certain proofs occurred to me that I began to analyse. I would formulate an argument and then refute it, and then formulate a second argument, and refute it, and then

formulate a third argument, and refute it as well. This continued to the extent that I began to ponder over whether the Holy Prophetsa was a true prophet of God and whether I believed him to be true because my parents believe in him, or because I believed that he was a righteous prophet through evidence. When this question posed itself to me, I decided that I would reach a conclusion in this matter as well.

After this, a thought naturally occurred to me about God Almighty which needed to be resolved, and I questioned in my heart as to whether I simply held the belief in God Almighty, or had I truly uncovered the truth that this world has a God. “Then, I began to contemplate over this question about Allah the Almighty. My heart said that if there is a God, then the Holy Prophetsa must also be true, and if the Holy Prophetsa is a true prophet, then the Promised Messiahas must also be true, and if the Promised Messiahas is true, then Ahmadiyyat must surely be true as well.

However, if this world has no God, then no one among them is true.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra further states: “I had decided that today I would find a solution to this question, and if my heart reached the conclusion that there is no God, then I would no longer remain in my home.

In fact, I would leave at once.”

He further says: “After making this decision, I began to deliberate on the matter and continued to do so. As I was very young, I could not find an acceptable answer. Even so, I continued to ponder until my mind became weary. At that moment, I looked to the sky. There were no clouds that day.”

This was the way in which Allah the Almighty wanted to teach him. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra says: “The sky was crystal clear. The stars were beautifully glistening in the sky; no other sight could have been more uplifting for a tired mind. I was tired and began to gaze at the stars and enjoyed the scenery. I continued to look at them for so long that I lost track of time. After a while, when my mind was refreshed, I thought to myself that these stars are so beautiful, but is there something beyond them? My mind proposed the answer that there would be more stars beyond them. Then I thought, what is beyond that? Again, my heart proposed the answer that there are even more stars beyond that. Then, I questioned as to what would be further beyond that.

My mind proposed the very same answer, that there would be even more stars beyond that. Then again, I asked myself what is even further beyond that, and again, my heart and mind proposed that there would be more stars. Finally, my heart said that it cannot be that beyond the first star, there would be a second, and after the second, there would be a third, and after the third, there would be a fourth. Will the stars not eventually end? If they did, then what would come after them?

“After all, it is this very question that perplexes people who wonder what it means when we say that God is limitless and has always existed, as they say, there must be some sort of limit.

“This same curiosity developed within me regarding the stars, and I wondered whether they ever end or not. If they do end, then what will come after them? And if the stars never end, then what is the

system whereby they last forever? When my thoughts reached this stage, I realised that it is vain to conjecture about God being limited or limitless. Even if one does not accept God, what can you say about the stars which are before your eyes? If we accept that something is limited, then it can only have a limit if something else begins after it ceases to exist. Thus, the real question is that if they are limited, then what lies beyond them? Or, if it is said that they are limitless, then if man can accept stars to be without limit, why can man not accept God Almighty to be without limit? At that moment, my heart accepted the fact that God does indeed exist, because, within the law of nature, God has brought about the same allegations which are raised against His Own existence. He says, ‘If you raise these same questions about Me, Who cannot be seen, then what is your response regarding those things which can be seen, because you raise the same questions about them, as you do about Me. You have no answer, yet you quite simply say that you cannot understand how God can be limitless.’”

At another instance Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra said, “When this argument proved to me that God does exist, then this also proved to me the truthfulness of the Holy Prophetsa and the Promised Messiahas.”

(Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 19, pp. 689-692)

Hence, this is yet another proof of God Almighty filling him with secular and spiritual knowledge. Allah brought about such questions in the mind of a child who had little education and then guided him as well.

What were the sentiments of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira towards Hazrat Muslehe-Maudra? From what Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira has expressed, it is clear that he understood this child would become the manifestation of the prophecy of the “Promised Reformer” [Musleh-e-Maud].

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra relates an incident; he says,: “It was quite some time ago that I along with some of my friends, initiated the ‘Tashiz-ul-Azhan’ magazine. In order to garner attention for this magazine, I wrote an article which outlined its aims and objectives. When it was published, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira expressed his special appreciation for it to the Promised Messiahas and said that it would be worthwhile for the Promised Messiahas to read it. Thus, the Promised Messiahas asked to see the magazine whilst he was in Masjid Mubarak and had Maulvi Muhammad Ali Sahib read the article out to him, upon which he commended it. Later when I met Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira, although he had praised the article before the Promised Messiahas, when he met me he said, ‘Mian, your article was quite good, however I am not satisfied.

He [i.e. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira] said ‘There is a saying which is common in our country, “The camel is worth 40, and its calf is worth 42” meaning the price of a camel is less, while the price of its calf is two rupees more. You have not fulfilled this metaphor.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra explains: “I could not speak Punjabi and did not understand what this meant. Upon seeing the confusion on my face, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira said, ‘Perhaps you have not understood the meaning. This is a metaphor used in our area, that a person was selling a camel along with its calf, which in that

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AL HAKAM | Friday 18 March 2022 area was called ‘toda’. Someone asked him the price, and he replied that the camel’s price was 40 rupees while the toda’s price was 42 rupees. He was surprised to hear this, upon which the earlier person said that a toda is both a camel and a young calf. In the same way, you had the Promised Messiah’sas book Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya at your disposal. When this was written [i.e.

Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya], there was no other Islamic literature like it at the disposal of the Promised Messiahas, however you had this with you, and it was expected that you would present something even greater by benefiting from it.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra says: “How can one present greater knowledge than those commissioned by God? But this was not the question at hand – except that one ought to have brought the hidden gems presented [by the Promised Messiahas].”

What Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira meant was that it was the responsibility of later generations to build upon the foundations which have previously been established.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira was aware about the condition of his health and also knew the level of his knowledge, but despite that, this was how highly he thought of him. This certainly indicated that he knew this boy had the potential to write articles of the highest standard.

Nevertheless, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra states: “If future generations were to keep this point in mind, not only would they reap blessings and bounties for themselves, but they would become a means of attaining blessings and bounties for the entire nation.

However, one should only try to exceed their forefathers in virtuous deeds; it should not be that the child of a thief strives to become an even greater thief than his father.

Instead, this means that the progeny of a person who is regular in prayer should try to become even more established upon prayer.”

(Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 3, pp. 484-485) The condition of Hazrat Musleh-eMaud’sra health has already been mentioned in an incident earlier. There is another incident that shows the state of his health and knowledge. In fact, this incident also shows the degree of love and care that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira and the Promised Messiahas had for him and proves that they were certain this child was the “Promised Reformer”.

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra states regarding this incident: “In relation to my education, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira conferred the greatest favour upon me. Since he was a physician and also aware of the fact that owing to my poor health, I was unable to look at a book for too long, therefore, his method of teaching was that he would seat me beside him and say, ‘Mian! I will read and you continue to listen.’”

Then whilst explaining his health condition, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra says: “The reason for this was that in my childhood, a severe form of trachoma formed in my eyes [his ailment of the eyes has been mentioned earlier as well] and I suffered from pain in my eyes for a consecutive period of three to four years. Due to the effects of trachomatous concretions, I had such severe pain in my eyes, the doctor said that I would eventually lose my eyesight. Upon this, the Promised

Messiahas started to pray specifically for my health and also began to observe fasts.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra further states: “I do not recall how many fasts he observed. In any case, he observed three or seven fasts. When he was about to break his last fast and was about to place something in his mouth in order to break the fast, I suddenly opened my eyes and exclaimed that I am able to see.” [Just as the Promised Messiahas was about to break his fast, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra says that he opened his eyes and said that he could see.] However, the result of this illness and its repeated outbreaks was that the sight in one of my eyes weakened significantly.”

He further explains: “Hence, I am unable to see properly through my left eye. I am able to see ahead of me, but I am unable to read a book. If a person whom I know is sitting two or four feet away, I am able to recognise him – however, if someone unfamiliar sits there I am unable to make out his face. Only my right eye is fully functional. However, trachomatous concretions formed in this eye as well and its severity was such that I would spend many nights awake due to it.”

This was the state of his health, yet just see the scholarly work he produced and how he was bestowed the succour of God Almighty.

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra further states: “The Promised Messiahas told my teachers that I was to be educated according to my wishes. I should study as much as I could and I should not be forced to study because my health did not permit me to bear the burden of education. The Promised Messiahas would constantly advise me to simply study the translation of the Holy Quran and Sahih al-Bukhari from Hazrat Maulvi Sahib [that is, from Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira]. In addition to this, the Promised Messiahas also said that I should study some aspects of medicine, as this was an expertise practised by our forefathers.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra continues: “Hence, I was educated in this manner, but at the same time I had some constraints.

Apart from suffering from the ailments of the eyes, I also had complications with my liver – I was enduring various illnesses – and for this I had to drink water extracted from mung beans [a form of lentils] or saag [green leafy vegetable] for six months at a time. On top of this, I had an enlarged spleen and red iodide of mercury was used to massage it. This was used for massaging my neck also as I suffered from Scrofula [ulcers in the neck due to TB]. Hence, I had trachomatous concretions, problems with my liver and an enlarged spleen. In addition to this, I used to develop a fever which would last for six months. My elders would advise against putting too much pressure on me to study and permitted me to study as much as I wanted. One can ascertain my educational competence based on all of these factors.”

“Once my maternal grandfather, Hazrat Mir Nasir Nawab Sahibra tested my level of Urdu. My handwriting is untidy even now, but in those days, it was so bad that one could not even read what I had written.

Mir Sahib attempted to decipher what I had written, but he was not able to do so. Mir Sahib was quick-tempered, and went to the Promised Messiahas fuming. I also happened to be at home. We were already afraid of his temper [Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra says

this regarding his maternal grandfather].

When he went to the Promised Messiahas I became even more worried as to what would happen next. Mir Sahib came and said to the Promised Messiahas, ‘You do not pay any attention towards Mahmud’s education. I tested him on his Urdu. Please have a look at his paper. His handwriting is so bad that no one can read it.’ He continued in this impassioned state and said to the Promised Messiahas, ‘You do not address this matter at all and this boy is wasting his time.’ Observing Mir Sahib’s fervency on the matter, the Promised Messiahas stated, ‘Call Maulvi Sahib.’ Whenever facing a difficult situation, the Promised Messiahas would summon Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira had immense love for me. He came and, as was his habit, he stood to one side with his head lowered in respect.

The Promised Messiahas stated, ‘Maulvi Sahib, I have called you here because Mir Sahib says that it is impossible to read Mahmud’s handwriting. I would like a test to be prepared for him.’ After saying this, the Promised Messiahas picked up his pen and wrote a few sentences. He gave me the sheet of paper and instructed me to copy it.

“This was the simple test conducted by the Promised Messiahas. I copied this writing very carefully with full concentation. First of all, the sentences were not long, and secondly, I only had to copy it, which was very straightforward because the original was in front of me. I copied it slowly and very meticulously wrote down the Urdu alphabets ‘Alif ’ and ‘Baa’. When the Promised Messiahas saw this, he stated, ‘I was perturbed by Mir Sahib’s comments, but his handwriting resembles mine.’ Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira was already in my favour and stated, ‘Huzoor! Mir Sahib became impassioned for no reason. His handwriting is very neat.’ So this was my situation. Given these circumstances, one can see how could I attain any formal education.”

Then with regards to the level of his education, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra says: “Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira would always tell me: ‘Mian! Your health is not well enough that you can study yourself. Visit me and I will teach you in a way that you only need to listen.’ Hence, he laid great stress on this and taught me the Holy Quran first and then Sahih al-Bukhari. He did not teach me the Quran at a slow pace; rather, he used to recite the Holy Quran followed by its translation and would elaborate on anything that he felt was necessary to further explain.

Otherwise, he would teach at a quick pace.

He taught me the entire Quran in three months after which there was a gap in the lessons. After the demise of the Promised Messiahas, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira said to me, ‘Mian! Let me finish teaching Bukhari to you.’ This is because I had previously informed him what the Promised Messiahas had stated during his lifetime which was to learn the Holy Quran and Bukhari from Maulvi Sahib. Therefore, I had started learning the Quran and Bukhari from Hazrat Maulvi Sahibra during the lifetime of the Promised Messiahas, although there were some gaps in between. Similarly, under the instructions of the Promised Messiahas, I began learning medicine from him.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra further says: “In short, I learned medicine and commentary of the Holy Quran from Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira. He finished

teaching me the commentary of the Holy Quran in two months. He would make me sit with him and would sometimes teach me half a part or one full part of the Quran with translation. He would explain the commentary of certain verses as well.

Similarly, he finished teaching me Sahih Bukhari in two or three months. During one Ramadan, he delivered lectures covering the entire Holy Quran throughout the month, which I was able to attend as well. I also had the opportunity to study a few Arabic magazines from him. This was the condition of my education.” (Al-Maud, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 17, pp. 532-537)

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra has written about his first speech and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I’sra appreciation. Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra writes: “About one of my teachers, I noticed that whenever I would deliver a lecture, he would always sit down and listen to it. Conversely, there was another teacher of mine, whenever he would deliver a lecture, the first teacher would come in and upon seeing that he was delivering a lecture, he would exclaim, ‘what is the use of listening to him, I have heard all of these things before.’ However, whenever I would deliver a lecture, despite the fact that I was his student, my teacher thought so highly of me that he would always sit down to listen. He would say, ‘I listen to his [i.e. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra’s] lectures because I learn new meanings of the Holy Quran from him.’ To reveal these insights, the likes of which other people could never conceive, and to bestow them upon a person so young is only due to the grace of Allah the Almighty.”

The fact of the matter is that Allah the Almighty intended to fulfil the prophecy of the Promised Reformer through Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra, and that is why Allah the Almighty Himself filled him with knowledge. Nonetheless, Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra further writes: “It was in this very mosque [I believe he is referring to Masjid Aqsa] in 1907 when I delivered my first public address. It was on the occasion of Jalsa and there were many people in attendance. [This was one year prior to the demise of the Promised Messiahas]. Many people were attending the Jalsa and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira was also present. I recited the second Ruku [subsection within a chapter of the Holy Quran] of Surah Luqman and then explained its commentary. My condition at the time was such that because I had never delivered a public address before then and I was only 18 years old at the time – furthermore, the likes of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira and members of the [Sadr] Anjuman as well as many other people were present – when I stood up, I felt faint and I had no idea who was sitting in front of me. The speech lasted between 30 to 45 minutes. When I finished my speech and sat down, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira stood up and said, ‘Mian! I congratulate you for your outstanding speech. I am not saying this to make you feel better, I can assure you, it really was an excellent speech.’” (Khutbat-eMahmud, Vol. 22, pp. 472-473)

Thus, Allah the Almighty had filled him with such profound knowledge that his 52-year era [as Caliph] is a witness to it.

Whether it was to do with a religious topic or a secular topic, whenever Hazrat Muslehe-Maudra was asked to write or speak on a particular topic, an ocean of verities and

Friday 18 March 2022 | AL HAKAM

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insights would spring forth. On countless occasions, even externals have lauded his speeches and these are all on record, and they praised him openly in front of the public. Even newspapers published articles regarding them. All of this proves that the prophecy of the Promised Messiahas was fulfilled with all its grandeur.

Nonetheless, the literature and sermons of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, which spans thousands of pages, or perhaps even a hundred thousand, are a priceless treasure.

It is being translated into English and other languages as well. It is our responsibility to derive benefit from it.

Declaring himself to be the fulfilment of the prophecy about the “Promised Reformer” [Musleh-e-Maud], Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra said: “Out of the sheer grace and mercy of Allah the Almighty, the prophecy – about which people have been waiting to be fulfilled for a long time – Allah the Almighty has disclosed to me by way of Divine revelation that it has been fulfilled through my person. Now, Allah the Almighty has perfected His argument against the enemies of Islam; and He has made manifest that Islam is the true religion from God, and that Muhammadsa is the true Messenger of God and the Promised Messiahas is a true prophet sent by God. All those who declare Islam to be false are liars; those who declare Muhammadsa, the Messenger of Allah, to be a liar, are themselves liars.

Through this extraordinary prophecy, God has demonstrated a living proof of the truthfulness of Islam and the Holy Prophetsa before the people. Which mortal being had the power to make such a prophecy in 1886, exactly 58 years ago (when Hazrat Musleh Maudra was mentioning this, 58 years had passed [since the prophecy]) and state that

within a period of nine years he would be blessed with a boy; and that he would grow rapidly in stature; his fame would spread to the ends of the earth; he would spread the name of Islam and the Holy Prophetsa throughout the world; he would be filled with secular and spiritual knowledge; he will be a source of manifestation of Divine Majesty; he will be a living sign of the Power, Nearness, and Mercy of God? No human on this earth could have foretold this from their own accord, it was God Who revealed this and it was the same God Who ensured its fulfilment. God ensured the fulfilment of this prophecy through an individual regarding whom the doctors were concerned whether he would even survive or that he would not live a long life.”

Then regarding his health, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra stated: “In my childhood years, my health was so frail that at one stage Dr Mirza Yaqub Baig Sahib mentioned to the Promised Messiahas that I had developed tuberculosis, and thus I ought to be sent to a mountainous area.

Subsequently, the Promised Messiahas sent me to Shimla. However, when I went there, I felt homesick and returned after a brief stay.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra further says: “Thus this prophecy was fulfilled through a person for whom there was not a single day in which his health was good, yet despite this, God Almighty granted me health and He kept me alive in order to manifest the fulfilment of this prophecy through me and provide the people with proof of the truthfulness of Islam and Ahmadiyyat. Furthermore, this humble one was such that I did not attain any secular knowledge, yet God Almighty sent down His angels in order to bestow that knowledge to me and He instilled such knowledge of the Holy Quran within me that no human

could have ever perceived. The knowledge that God Almighty granted to me and the spiritual fountain that flowed within me was not as a result of my own thoughts or ideas, rather it is so comprehensive and sound that I issue a challenge to the entire world that if there is anyone on the face of the earth, who claims that God Almighty taught him the knowledge of the Holy Quran, then I am ever ready to challenge such an individual.

[Yet nobody accepted this challenge] “However, I am aware that today there is no one on the face of the earth whom God Almighty has bestowed knowledge of the Holy Quran other than myself. God Almighty granted me knowledge of the Holy Quran, and in order to teach the Holy Quran in this era, He has appointed me as the teacher of the entire world. God Almighty has appointed me so that I may propagate the message of Muhammadsa, the Messenger of God, and the Holy Quran to the ends of the earth and ensure that Islam prevails once and for all over every false religion of the world.”

And indeed, Hazrat Musleh Maudra carried out this task, countless translations of the Holy Quran were published in his time – rather, it was not countless, but published in a large number, and this work is continuing to expand to this very day. In the lifetime of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, the Holy Quran had been translated into 17 or 18 languages. Similarly, the message of Islam reached the corners of the world during his era.

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra further says: “The entire world can gather all their strength and might, whether they are Christian kings or if Christian governments join them, even if Europe and America join forces or if the most powerful and wealthiest nations unite together in an attempt to stop

me achieving my goal, I swear by God Almighty that all their efforts will be in vain and they will be defeated. God Almighty will accept my prayers and efforts and destroy all of their schemes and deceptive ploys. In order to prove the truthfulness of this prophecy, God Almighty will establish the honour of the Holy Prophetsa and Islam through me or my followers, and will not forsake Islam until its full grandeur and glory is restored throughout the world and until the time the Holy Prophetsa is accepted as a true and living prophet.” (Al-Maud, Anwarul-Ulum, vol. 17, pp. 613-614)

Thus, this prophecy was fulfilled and Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra lived through his era, however, the words of the prophecy are applicable even today, and God-Willing, these words will remain in effect until the Promised Messiah’sas mission is completed and until the flag of Islam is raised aloft throughout the entire world. Thus, during our conventions [Musleh-e-Maud Day] we ought to remember this prophecy as well, and remembering this prophecy will only prove to be beneficial when we keep our objective in view in that we must uphold the honour and dignity of the Holy Prophetsa, and by demonstrating the truthfulness of Islam to the world, we must bring everyone under the flag of the Holy Prophetsa.

Today, there is no one aside from the followers of the Promised Messiahas who can raise aloft the flag of Islam once again, and through whom the message of Islam can spread in the world. May Allah the Almighty enable us to fulfil this task.

(Official Urdu transcript published in Al Fazl International, 11 March 2022, pp. 5-9. Translated by The Review of Religions)

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