Belief in the truth of his father and its consequences

beLief in tHe trutH of His fatHer and its ConsequenCes

There were many factors helping to establish the path Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad’s [ra] life would take. Some were visible and some were hidden; some were specific while others were general. There are certain general factors that have a definite effect on building the child’s personality. We will examine a very critical factor, which played an unforgettably important part in building his personality.

When a child is born its mind is almost like a clean slate on which very little has yet been written. Children usually cannot dictate the choices their parents make. As they grow up, it is the choices made by the parents and others around them that, increasingly and progressively, differentiates them from their fellows; in this process, a ‘personality’ emerges and we begin to take on responsibility for our actions.

A potter moulds a vase from clay on his turning wheel. At the beginning of the process, he has a shapeless lump of clay. During the creative act he fashions a recognisable image by giving it form. When it has form it has identity, it has a ‘self’.

Once a strong sense of self has developed during the later years of childhood and teens, the new and mostly unimportant day-to-day experiences of life usually serve to reinforce or at worse only slightly modify the status quo structure of the personality.

Unless the child is a simpleton, a mother or father cannot hide his or her personality and inner leanings from the child no matter how tightly they wrap them in deceit and deception. This plays the most prominent part in establishing the direction of a child’s thoughts by creating and developing the features of his inner self. The fact that the picture of the psyche of the mother and father is gradually painted on the child’s heart and mind is absolute and cannot be refuted. As a result of this, psychological

difficulties are created, as a result of this mental rebellion and disobedience are born, as a result of the same grow seekers after high ideals that are wholesome, sincere and honest personalities.

If we analyse the psychological background of those personalities who play a prominent role in good or evil, it would be no exaggeration to state that the children’s view regarding their parents strongly influences them in reforming or spoiling their conduct and behaviour. These views continue to shape their hearts and minds as a result of experience and perception. The positive and negative incitements and urges that are being created as a result of these views and opinions continue to mould a child’s personality as wet clay is moulded in the hands of a potter.

We accept that there is no single cause for the making or breaking of these personalities and we are aware that in the complex workshop of God’s Will are innumerable causes and stimuli covertly doing their job. Keeping in view whatever lies in the domain of man’s knowledge, it would be no exaggeration to favour one influence over all others.

Analysing Hadhrat Sahibzada Sahib’s personality from this point of view, after carefully observing his father and after pondering over his visible and hidden impressions over a long time we are compelled to accept that Hadhrat Sahibzada Sahib believed his father to be a sincere and pious man who was always true to his word. As a result of this conviction, all the positive influences of his father’s character ought to have made their impression on his own personality and that is exactly how they made their mark.

It was as a direct result of this positive influence that Hadhrat Sahibzada Sahib became wholly committed to that to which his illustrious father had dedicated his every moment to. He sacrificed his time, life, property and honour just as his glorious father had done throughout his life. Like him, he endured torment upon torment and problem after problem in this cause. Hence, all the signs, which appeared in his thought

and actions, could not have appeared unless he had full conviction and perfect faith.

FIRST InCIdEnT: dOES HAdHRAT GAbRIEL STILL dESCEnd

It is true that different narrators as well as writers, who were childhood friends, have presented various accounts from different periods of his life. However, they were not in contact with Hadhrat Mirza Mahmud Ahmad sahib [ra] throughout his early life nor could their memories manifest everything anew. To overcome this deficiency we have relied on Hadhrat Mirza Mahmud Ahmad sahib’s [ra] own testimonies made in connection with various issues during his adult life. There is no question of anyone who possesses insight and perception raising doubt over the incidents because they testify to their own truth. Two incidents are presented below as examples. One is a small and simple incident maybe from early childhood, the other when he was in his prime.

The first incident is prominent for its simplicity; it is an innocent account free from any artificiality. The second is significant because it relates to a dangerous, unexpected incident and the spontaneous and inimitable actions of Hadhrat Mirza Mahmud Ahmad sahib [ra]. Even more thought provoking are his thoughts regarding the event. The first incident is as follows:

“When I was about nine or ten years of age, I was playing at home with a fellow student. There was a book lying in the cupboard wrapped in a green cloth (similar to the way the Holy Qur’an is sometimes wrapped). It was from the time of our paternal grandfather…. When I read this book, it stated that Gabriel (Arch angel) no longer descends. I said that this was wrong because he descends on my father. The boy stated that he does not descend as it is written in the book. We had an argument. In the end we went to Huzur (the Promised Messiah) and both presented our cases. He stated the book is incorrect, Gabriel still descends.” 52

SECOnd InCIdEnT: EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE PROMISEd

MESSIAH [as] FROM LIGHTnInG

The second incident is presented below:

“From the archive of foolish incidents I remember my silly incident. Many times I have laughed upon recalling this incident and sometimes my eyes have also filled with tears. However, I look upon it with great reverence. And from the incidents of my life that fill me with pride there is one among them that is foolish. That incident took place one night in the time of the Promised Messiah [as] when we were all sleeping in the courtyard. It was summertime and rain clouds suddenly appeared in the night sky accompanied by roaring thunder.

During this, lightning fell somewhere close to Qadian. However, its blast was so loud that every household in Qadian thought this lightning might have struck their house….Owing to the blast and some rainstorms everyone went into their rooms. When the lightning struck, those of us sleeping in the courtyard also got up and went inside. I remember that scene to this day. When the Promised

Messiah [as] was going to go inside, I covered his head with both my hands.

So that if lightning struck it would strike me, not him. Later when I returned to my senses, I laughed at my actions. It was because of him that we were to be saved from the lightning not that he could be protected by us! I think that action of mine was no less than the act of a madman. However, I am always happy because this action made manifest to me my love for the Promised Messiah [as]. Sometimes a person is unaware of how much he loves someone.

When this type of incident occurs, he can estimate how deep and profound his love is. So when the feelings of extreme love are roused the intellect fails at that time. Love tosses wisdom to one side; love rejects all fear. And it comes to the fore by itself.” 53

Reading this incident along with his comments one is left in no doubt about Hadhrat Sahibzada Sahib’s deep and strong belief in the truth of his father. His deep love for the Promised Messiah [as] and his magnificence were indelibly etched onto his heart. One is hard pressed to find its equal. Although children naturally love their parents and some children are aware of their parents’ magnificence but for such powerful feelings of extreme love, glorification and magnificence to be portrayed all at once is not an everyday occurrence in human experience.

GREAT PASSIOn FOR PRAyER & wORSHIP

The outcome of this faith and love was that he too started to walk in those footsteps with full sincerity, which the Promised Messiah [as] deemed as a prerequisite for the victory of Islam. He dedicated all his strength and vigour from his childhood to this cause. Compared with secular knowledge, he had a distinct inclination towards the attainment of religious knowledge that was born out of this belief. However, as far as the Promised Messiah’s [as] personal involvement is concerned, he was unable to give time to any of his children because of his very busy schedule. The second deep effect of this faith became apparent in his worship where right from a young age he developed great fervour for prayer and worship. From childhood he was in the habit of waking in the middle of the night for prayers. It is clear from many accounts that apart from the five daily prayers, he also took upon himself Tahajjud prayers (voluntary prayers before Fajr). His prayers were not for show, offered like an empty ritual but were offered with fear and humility, bearing a depth of feeling and intensity.

For a child or youth to shed tears in prayers and fall prostrate for a long time is a cause of amazement for adults, especially at a time when the child has not suffered any misfortune or injury and there is no reason for discontentment. This amazement increases and questions are raised. What has come over this child that he gets up

unseen in the middle of the night, weeping bitterly and wetting the prayer mat with his innocent tears!

Sheikh Ghulam Ahmad sahib Wa’az [ra] was also amazed. He had just converted to Islam at the hands of the Promised Messiah [as]. He progressed in faith and sincerity to such a degree that he was considered among those people who are godly, devout and recipients of visions and revelations. He used to relate:

“Once I resolved to spend the night in the Mubarak Mosque and in solitude

I shall ask for whatever my heart desires. But what do I see when I reach the mosque. Someone is lying prostrate and praying with imploration. I could not offer my prayer because of his beseeching and was quite moved by his supplication. And I too became engrossed in prayer. I prayed that O Allah! Please grant this man whatever he is requesting from You. And I became tired from standing and waiting for this man to lift his head so that I could see who it was. I cannot say how long he had been there before I arrived. But when he lifted his head, what do I see! It was Mian Mahmud Ahmad sahib. I said ‘peace be upon you’, shook his hand and asked, ‘Mian! What have you acquired from Allah today?’

He replied that I have only asked that O Lord! Please revive Islam in front of my very eyes. And upon saying this he went inside.” 54

This anxious wish at that young age to witness the victory of Islam also began to bear fruit in his youth. It seems that Allah viewed his pure supplications rising from his innocent heart with mercy and kindness and Himself made arrangements to console him. This consolation was given through true dreams, visions and revelations.

dREAMS, vISIOnS & REvELATIOnS FROM A yOUnG AGE

Hadhrat Syed Sarwar Shah sahib [ra] was an outstanding companion of the Promised Messiah [as] and a brilliant scholar, whose reputation for knowledge and

excellence had spread far and wide. He was one of the teachers of Hadhrat Sahibzada Sahib. He states:

“Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] was taught by me and so one day I asked him, Mian! Your father receives revelation in abundance. Do you receive revelation and dreams etc.? Mian sahib replied: Maulvi sahib! I have many dreams and there is one dream I see nearly every day. From the moment my head touches the pillow to the moment I wake up in the morning I dream that there I am leading an army. And sometimes I see us crossing oceans to fight an adversary. And many times it has happened that if I have nothing to make the crossing with, I make a boat out of reeds etc. and with it make the crossing to attack the enemy. When I heard this dream from him, the thing imprinted on my heart since then was that this man will lead the Jama’at (Ahmadiyya

Community) some time in the future. From then on I stopped teaching him while sitting in the classroom. I would sit him in my chair while I sat in his place and began to teach him. Upon hearing the dream I also requested him that Mian! Please do not forget me when you get older, please keep me in your loving sight.” 55

On the subject of receiving revelation in his childhood, one of his old playmates states:

“Maybe this fact has been recorded or has been printed somewhere, but I feel it important to mention that when he was studying with me in the Ta’limul Islam school, he stated that he had received the following verse in revelation: ‘I will place those who follow thee above those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurection’.

“And he also stated that he had mentioned it to the Promised Messiah [as] that I have received this revelation.” 56

In his young days he had the honour of receiving visions. Hence, during a Friday Sermon in which he launched a scheme to raise funds for the building of the London Mosque, elaborating on this vision he stated:

“To this day I have received visions about three important affairs. Firstly, it was during my childhood days. At that time my attention was diverted towards learning about religion and serving the faith. At that time I saw God and I was shown the entire scene of the resurrection. This was a great change in my life.” 57

It seems that the Promised Messiah [as] himself felt that his connection with God Almighty had begun already in his young days. Hence, Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad sahib [ra] himself states:

“In the days during the Clark case, the Promised Messiah [as] requested people for prayers and he also requested me to pray and do Istikhara. At that time I saw in a vision that there are guards surrounding our house. I entered the house by the steps where there used to be a basement. I saw that they made Huzur stand and in front of him they raised a screen of dung cakes over which they poured petrol and are trying to set it alight. But as they strike the matches it does not light. They try it time and again but are unsuccessful. I became very worried at this spectacle. However, when I looked towards the doorsill it was written:

‘No fire can burn the men of God.’” 58