Ismael – Jan – Mar 2024 (English)

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Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmedaba

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12

Signs of the Messiah

From Haqiqatul Wahi

14

The Promised Messiahas Champion of Islam

Lunar & Solar Eclipses:

Sammar

Kids

Meet the Team

Chief Editor & Manager:

Luqman Ahmed Kishwar

English Editor:

Talat Syam

Urdu Editor:

Farrukh Raheel

Editorial Team:

Touqeer Tanvir

Farukh Arshad

Musharraf Ahmed

Talat Syam

Content manager:

Nauman Ahmad

Raheef Ahmad Muslun

Anas Mahmood

Cover design:

Labeed Mirza

Farhad Ghaffar

Designing Team:

Talat Syam (Lead Designer)

Ehtesham Ul Islam

Asim Javed

Proofreading:

Sadiq Ahmed

Rabeeb Mirza

Dr Mahmood

Editorial

By the grace of Allah the Almighty, in this quarterly edition of the Ismael magazine the theme is around the Promised Messiahas. On February 13th, 1835, in the small Indian village of Qadian, a man named Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas was born. He belonged to a well-known and noble family.

All religions vouchsafe prophecies that foretell the advent of a special individual, one who will come as a reformer in the latter days. In Islam, Muslims await a promised Mahdi and Messiah. The advent of the Promised Messiahas was prophesied by the Holy Prophetsa himself. According to a tradition, the Holy Prophetsa was sitting among his companions, two verses from Surah al Jum’uah were revealed,

“He it is Who has raised among the unlettered people a Messenger from among themselves who recites unto them His Signs, and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and Wisdom though before that they were in manifest error; And He will raise him among others of them who have not yet joined

them. He is the Mighty, the Wise.”

(The Holy Quran 62:3-4)

One of the companions of the Holy Prophetsa questioned to who this verse relates to, and the Prophet of Islamsa replied while putting his hand on Salmanra, a Persian man,

“If faith were to go up to the Pleiades, a man from among these would surely find it.” (Bukhari).

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas is that Promised Reformer of the later age.

The Promised Messiahas wrote many books and spent a lifetime in the service of Islam There were many signs and prophecies in regards to the advent of the latter day reformer and are being fulfilled even to this day.

To delve deeper into the life and teachings of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, we encourage all Waqifeen-e-Nau to explore the rich literature dedicated to the service of Islam—a legacy that continues to illuminate hearts and minds, transcending time and space.

What is the Ismael Magazine?

By the grace of Allah Ta'ala, Waqifeen-e-Nau are now spread across the globe, many of whom are studying in their respective fields while others have already fulfilled their pledge of dedicating their lives for the Jama’at. There are many who are Missionaries, practising Doctors, Television producers, Architects, Graphic designers, Engineers, Accountants and much more.

Ismael is an international magazine, which was launched in 2012 by Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih the fifthaba specifically for the Waqifeen-e-Nau around the world. At this auspicious occasion, addressing the Waqifeen-e-Nau Huzoor-e-Anwaraba wrote:

“The magazine has been named as “ISMAEL”, which reminds us of the sacrifices made by Hazrat Ismaelas and by Hazrat Hajiraas who spent their lives in a desolate and barren place and instituted exceptional standards of sacrifices for the sake of religion. Likewise, it is expected of every Waqf to uphold the covenant of Waqf (dedication) made by their parents even before their birth, who have in turn themselves reaffirmed the same.”

Waqifeen-e-Nau can contribute by sending articles regarding their respective fields of studies. This magazine is published on a quarterly basis as a platform for the Waqifeen-e-Nau to get in touch and express what they have always wanted to. To subscribe to this magazine, you can contact your National Waqf-e-Nau Secretary. You can also read the magazine online at: www.waqfenauintl.org/resources/ismael

Remember, this magazine is for the Waqifeen-e-Nau, prepared by the Waqifeen-eNau. Everyone is welcome to send their articles, contributions and comments. Ismael magazine is the central magazine for Waqifeen-e-Nau from around the globe.

The Holy Quran

مِیۡحِرَّلا نِمٰحِرَّلا ہِلّٰلا مِسۡبِ

مِہِیۡکِّزَیُوَ ہٖتِیُا مِہِیۡلَعَ اوۡلَتِیُ مِہِنۡمِّ الًوۡسُرَ نَیّٖمِّالًا یفِ ثَعَبَ یۡذِلا وۡہُ

﴾۳ ﴿ۙ

نَیّٖبِمِّ لٍلَضَ یۡفِل لٍبِقَ نِمِّ اوۡنُاکَ نۡاوَ ٭ ۃَمٰکۡحِلاوَ بَتِکۡلا مِہِمٰلَعَیُوَ ﴾۴﴿ مِیۡکۡحِلا زَیُزَعَلا وۡہُوَ مِہِبِ اوۡقُحِلَیُ امٰل مِہِنۡمِّ نِیُرِخَاوَ

He it is Who has raised among the Unlettered people a Messenger from among themselves who recites unto them His Signs, and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and wisdom, although they had been, before, in manifest misguidance; And among others from among them who have not yet joined them. He is the Mighty, the Wise.

The Holy Qur'an 62:2-3

،ثَیۡغَلا یبِأَ نِعَ ،رَوۡثَ نِعَ ،لٍالبِ نِبِ نۡامٰیۡلَسُ ينِثَدَّحِ لٍاقَ ،ہِلّٰلا دَّبِعَ نِبِ زَیُزَعَلا دَّبِعَ ينِثَدَّحِ تْلزَنُأُفَ مِلَسُوَ ہٖیۡلَعَ ہِلّٰلا ىلَصَ يبِنۡلا دَّنۡعَ اسُوۡلَجُ انۡكُ لٍاقَ ہٖنۡعَ ہِلّٰلا ىضَرَ ،ةَرَّیُرَّہُ یبِأَ

مِلَفَ ہِلّٰلا لٍوۡسُرَ ایُ مِہُ نِمِّ تْلَقَ لٍاقَ }مِہِبِ اوۡقُحِلَیُ امٰل مِہِنۡمِّ نِیُرِخَآوَ

نۡامٰلَسُ انۡیۡفَوَ ،اثَالثَ لٍأُسُ ىتِحِ ہٖعَجُارَّیُ

"ءِالًؤُہُ

نِمِّ ـ لٍجُرَ وَأَ ـ لٍاجُرَ ہٖلانۡل ایُرَثُّلا دَّنۡعَ نۡامٰیُإِلًا نۡاکَ وۡل " لٍاقَ مِثَ نۡامٰلَسُ ىلَعَ هُدَّیُ

One day we were sitting with the Holy Prophetsa when this chapter (Surah Al-Jumu`ah) was revealed. I enquired from Muhammadsa, ‘Who are the people to whom the words and among others of them who have not yet joined them refer?

Salmanra – a Persian – was sitting among us. The Holy Prophetsa put his hand on Salmanra and said, ‘If faith were to go up to the Pleiades, a man from among these would surely find it.’

Sahih al-Bukhari 4897

The Promised Messiahas

‘There are other considerations of importance in determining the truth of a claim to prophethood. Whether the claimant has appeared in time of need, i.e., at a time when the need of a guide was felt by the world, whether he has come exactly at the prophesised hour, whether he receives assistance from God, whether he has fully refuted the objections brought forward by his opponents against his claim,

are points which go a long way to prove the truth or falsehood of his claim. If all these questions were satisfactorily answered, they would be an evidence of his truth. Now it is clear that at the present moment, the need of a guide and reformer is very strongly felt by the whole world. Islam needs the soothing hand of a reformer who should bring about union and agreement among the contending sects and the strong hand of one who should defend it against hostile attacks, while the world generally needs a spiritual guide who should restore to it the spirituality which it has lost, and re-establish the certainty which has vanished away from its face, and thus strengthening faith release people from the bondage of sin and turn them to paths of virtue and righteousness.’

(Written by

Promised

Messiahas in the September 1904 issue of Review of Religions (Vol.3, No.9)

Pearls of Wisdom

Some people infuse into the minds of their Waqifeen-e-Nau children that they are very special children. The result is that even when they become adults, this ‘specialness’ sticks in their minds. These queries and matters have also reached me here. They dilute the essence of Waqf and assume, by way of the title of Waqf-e-Nau, that they have become special. Some of them have developed the idea in their hearts that since they are in Waqfeen-e-Nau, they need not attend the programs of Nasirat and Lajna if they are girls, and they need not attend the programs of Atfal and Khuddam if they are boys; they have a separate organization. This is a wrong idea, if someone has it. Any office-bearer, even the Amir Jama’at, is a member of a related auxiliary organization.

(28th October, 2016)

Haqiqatul-Wahi (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation)

Signs

that support the Promised Messiahas

In this book the Promised Messiah, on whom be peace, discusses the philosophy of divine revelation, the three categories of people who claim to receive revelation, and the distinction of the truthful from the false. He then establishes his truthfulness by documenting over 200 Signs, including the fulfillment of prophecies made by the Holy Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, other men of God, earlier scriptures, and his own revelations spanning over twenty-five years.

The author cites numerous examples of his enemies who publicly predicted his downfall and demise, only to become the very victims of their own prophecies. God, however, protected

him against every assault, while continuously reassuring him of His promise to bless his Community—a promise which continues to bear the seal and testimony of history.

The author also appeals to the followers of different faiths to read this book cover to cover to appreciate and accept this evidence as proof that God is One and the Holy Prophet Muhammad is the Messenger of God, and that he is the Promised Messiah raised to unite humanity under the banner of Islam.

In this Quarterly issue we will be mentioning some striking signs taken from Haqiqatul Wahi, that support the claim of the Promised Messiahas, read throughout the magazine.

Look out for this section to delve into some of the signs

The Promised Messiahas Champion of Islam

Humza Sikander

Murrabi-e-Silsila

The title ''Champion of Islam'' is not one we use lightly when referring to the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas. In the face of adversity he stood as a fortified pillar of Islam, particularly during a time when Muslims living in the subcontinent relied on Christians for support and guidance. Evangelist priests would often convert Muslims first and provide aid afterwards, leading to many poorer Muslims forsaking their religion in exchange for Christian assistance. This period was marked by the normalisation of vilifying Muslims, to the extent that scholars of the time found themselves unable to adequately respond to their vile onslaughts and were sometimes forced to agree with their detractors. It's important to note that the state of Muslims during this time was far worse than commonly acknowledged today. The dire circumstances underscored the urgent need for a divinely guided leader, a need that was fulfilled through the advent of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiahas

It's commendable to recognise an individual's passion and zeal for their religion. However, the crucial question remains: what actions did this individual take to safeguard the religion of Islam? The answer lies in the compilation of over eighty publications known as the Ruhani Khazain or ‘spiritual treasures’. This collection epitomises how the Promised Messiahas emerged as the true champion of Islam.

To understand the

significance of these publications, we must delve into the period before Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas claimed to be the Promised Messiah, particularly in the 1880s. During this time, publications against Islam were proliferating from at an alarming rate. Whether from Hindus or Christians, there was a concerted effort to defame Islam. In response, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas rallied the Muslim nation, advocating for publications in favour of Islam to counteract these

Not only did the Promised Messiahas, write this book to rebut every argument of the time and those that would come later, but he also issued an unchallengeable challenge, which is:

“Anyone who wishes to reply to this book must respond in two ways as per the conditions laid down in the Challenge [in Part I]. They must produce arguments from their own scriptures, for comparison with the arguments of the Holy Quran, and must also refute the arguments I have given. If they fail to present comparable evidence from their own scriptures and focus entirely on countering my arguments, it will be taken to mean that they are totally incapable of providing evidence for the divine origin of their Book.”

(see Part II, Preface, on page 104)

attacks. Despite efforts, no suitable publication defending Islam emerged. Therefore, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas took the task upon himself and authored the first of many books, notably ''Barahin-eAhmadiyya.'' This seminal work presents arguments supporting the truthfulness of the Holy Qur’an and the Prophethood of Muhammadsa, showcasing Islam's superiority over all other faiths through logical discourse.

This is not the only instance

where the Promised Messiahas, silenced his critics. He has done so on multiple occasions and on various fronts, with the divine assitance of Allah the Almighty, as exemplified in his book titled ''The Holy War''. This book documents a debate between the Promised Messiahas and Deputy Abdullah Atham, an Muslim convert to Christianity, dated 1893. The debate stemmed from an open challenge issued by Dr. Henry Martyn Clark to Muslims, which remained unanswered until the Promised Messiahas accepted it with great vigour. From the beginning of the event, the Promised Messiahas laid down two fundamental principles as conditions for the debate: Firstly, all claims and arguments must be strictly sourced from the respective parties' scriptures. Secondly, he emphasised that a living religion must demonstrate Heavenly Signs in its favour. However, the Christian side proved thoroughly incompetent in both areas, once again affirming his status as the champion of Islam.

We now turn to a masterpiece by the Promised Messiahas entitled ''Jesus in India''. In this work, the Promised Messiahas applied textual analysis to both the Gospels and Islamic sources – the Quran and Hadith – and also incorporated medical and historical material, including ancient Buddhist records, to support his argument that Jesus survived the crucifixion and ultimately migrated towards Kashmir conveying his message to the Jewish diaspora inhabiting those lands.

The beauty of the writings of the Promised Messiahas lies not in reinventing the wheel,

but rather in simplifying it. While Islam had been extensively explained, it had not been elucidated for all walks of life. The world had forgotten that God still speaks, with many adamant in the belief that divine communication was a thing of the past. However, the Promised Messiahas dispelled this notion in his book ''Barkaatud-Dua.'' Furthermore, the book serves as a refutation of Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan’s view that prayer's acceptance is non-existent, considering it merely a form of worship. The Promised Messiahas rejects this perspective and proclaims that Allah hears and accepts the supplications of believers offered in humility and sincerity. He asserts that the acceptance of prayer initiates its own chain of causes, culminating in the fulfilment of the prayed-for objective.

The work of the Promised Messiahas was so significant and impactful that his message has now successfully reached every corner of the earth. What began as a small community in a village in the heart of Punjab is now transcending borders of the world and has a membership spanning to over 210 countries. The Promised Messiahas is undeniably the champion of Islam. This statement is irrefutable. It has been 144 years since the first challenge issued by the Promised Messiahas, and to this day, not a single soul has been able to match any of his challenges.

The true champion of peace was indeed the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas. I would like to end on the beautiful words of the Promised Messiahas himself:

My purpose, yearning, and heartfelt desire is to serve humanity;

This is my job, this is my faith, this is my habit and this is my way of life.

Finding the world in darkness, I pray to my Lord: May He grant my prayers of the small hours of the night.

I urge all Waqifeen-e-Nau to read the books of the Promised Messiahas and see for yourselves how he was the true champion of Islam for this era. May Allah enable us all to equip ourselves with the precious gems infused throughout his literature and may we truly inculcate the expectations within ourselves that he held for every single member of his community.

Maulawi Noor Deenra, a sincere friend of mine, had lost a son. This was his only son. At his death, some imprudent enemies expressed great jubilation at the thought that Maulawi [Noor Deen] had been left without issue. Upon this, I prayed for him a great deal. After the supplication I was informed by God: ‘In response to your prayer, a son shall be born.’ As a Sign of the fact that he would be born exclusively as the result of prayer, I was informed that he would develop multiple boils on his body. Accordingly, the son was born and was named ‘Abdul-Hayy. Multiple boils of an unusual nature appeared on his body, the scars of which are still present. This Sign regarding boils had been announced through a pamphlet before the birth of the boy.

Lunar & Solar Eclipses: A Sign for the MessiahAS

Sammar Sheikh

Lecturer Jamia Ahmadiyya UK

Various religions have foretold the emergence of a distinguished Reformer in the latter days, entrusted with the task of reviving religious matters and ushering in prosperity and peace globally. The Jews await the Messiah, Christians anticipate the return of Christ to establish the Kingdom of God on earth, Muslims await the Imam Mahdi and the Promised Messiah, Hindus look forward to the reappearance of Krishna for the glory of Hindus.

Upon in-depth examination of these prophecies, a common thread emerges - the timing of their fulfilment is often indicated as the 'latter days.' If each prophecy referred to a distinct individual, it would imply the simultaneous appearance of numerous reformers and redeemers. This raises questions about how these holy figures would coalesce. Would each of them strive to promote their respective religions, potentially causing division rather than unity among the world's people?

Instead, the prophecies appear to converge on a singular individual who embodies the attributes of all the promised reformers. This figure is envisioned to claim that he is the realization of every prophecy, asserting that God Almighty has dispatched him to unite humanity under the true and final religion, thereby establishing a kingdom marked by peace and love.

Among the numerous signs indicating his recognition, this article will delve into one particular sign – the occurrence of the lunar and solar eclipses.

In the

“For our Mahdi, there are two signs which have never appeared before since the creation of the Heavens and the Earth, namely the Moon will be eclipsed on the first night in Ramadan [i.e. on the first of the nights on which a lunar eclipse can occur] and the Sun will be eclipsed on the middle day [i.e. on the middle one of the days on which a solar eclipse can occur]. And these signs have not appeared since God created the Heavens and the Earth.”

Sunan al-Daraqutni, Kitab al-Eidain

The credibility of this Hadith is reinforced by the Holy Quran's acknowledgment of eclipses as significant indicators of the impending Resurrection. The Quranic verses says:

“And the moon is eclipsed. And the sun and the moon are brought together.”

The Holy Quran 75:9-10

The foundation of this prophecy originates from the Holy Quran, while the Hadith serves to elucidate and provide valuable details regarding the verses of the Holy Quran. Scientifically, we understand that the Earth and the moon create a revolving pair, completing a revolution around each other in one month. Additionally, they form another pair as they collectively orbit the sun, completing a revolution in one year. This establishes a pair within the solar system. Extending further, the sun, along with its planets, orbits the centre of the galaxy, completing a revolution in approximately 200 million years. Within this vast galaxy, there are billions of stars, each forming pairs and moving around the galactic centre with distinct periods.

When the moon, during its orbit around the Earth, positions itself between the sun and the Earth in a way that obstructs the sun's light from reaching the Earth, we witness a solar eclipse. Conversely, when the Earth comes between the sun and the moon, casting its shadow on the moon, a lunar eclipse occurs. In astronomical terms, a solar eclipse coincides with the new moon, while a lunar eclipse aligns with the full moon. During the new moon phase, the longitudes of the sun and the moon coincide, placing the moon in conjunction. However, not every new moon and full moon result in an eclipse because the alignment of the sun, Earth, and moon is necessary for such an event. If the Earth's orbit around the sun and the moon's orbit around the Earth were in the same plane, alignment would occur twice each month. Consequently, there would be one lunar eclipse and one solar eclipse every month.

If we turn our attention to the Hijri Cal-

endar, lunar eclipses are anticipated on the 13th, 14th, and 15th day, while solar eclipses are expected on the 27th, 28th, and 29th day. According to the prophecy, the lunar eclipse is foreseen on the first night, and the solar eclipse on the middle day of the month of Ramadhan, pinpointing the 13th of Ramadhan for the lunar eclipse and the 28th of Ramadhan for the solar eclipse.

It's crucial to note that the Hadith employs the term “Qamar” for the moon, not “Hilal”. Hilal refers to the crescent observed on the first, second, and third nights, while Qamar denotes the moon from the fourth night onward1. Therefore, the interpretation associating the first night of Ramadhan with the 13th of Ramadhan, rather than the first day, gains further support from the specific use of the term Qamar in the Hadith, leaving no room for confusion.

This is also what the Promised Messiahas had illuminated in his book “Noorul Haq” (Light of Truth) Part II. It provided a comprehensive analysis of the precise fulfilment of the Holy Prophet'ssa splendid prophecy.

Aided by divine revelation, the Promised Messiahas elucidated the deeper meaning of the Hadith as follows:

“So, the right interpretation and the true meaning of the expression ‘lunar eclipse will occur in the first night of Ramadhan’ are that it will occur in the first of the three full-moon nights, and you know the expression white nights. In addition to this there is also a hint that when the lunar eclipse occurs in the first full-moon night, it will occur in the beginning of the night and not after a lapse of time as will be clear to an enlightened person. And the lunar eclipse

Sign

The prophecy about my exoneration in the murder case which Doctor [Henry] Martyn Clark had filed against me. Thus, in accordance with this prophecy, I was found innocent.

Sign

The prophecy regarding the tax case. Some mischievous people had filed a complaint about me to the British Government that my income amounted to thousands of rupees and it should be taxed. God Almighty revealed to me that they would remain unsuccessful. That is exactly what happened.

Sign

The invention of a new means of transport which is a special Sign of the advent of the Promised Messiah. As is written in the Holy Quran:

﴿ۙ﴾۵

Meaning that, the Latter Days are those when she-camels will become obsolete. Similarly, there is a hadith in Sahih Muslim that:

Meaning that, in that age ‘She-camels will become useless, and no one will travel on them.’ During the days of the Hajj, the journey between Makkah and Madinah is undertaken on she-camels, but the day is close at hand when railways will be constructed for this journey and then it will be true for this journey that

She-camels will become useless, and no one will travel on them.

did occur accordingly, and many had seen it in this country.”2

With regard to the solar eclipse, he stated:

“The saying that the sun will be eclipsed in the middle, implies that the solar eclipse will manifest itself in such a way that it will divide the days of the eclipse into two halves. It will occur in the second day of the eclipse and its time will not exceed the first half of the day because that is the limit of the half. So just as Almighty God ordained that the lunar eclipse should occur in the first night, so also, He ordained that the solar eclipse should occur in the eclipse days in the time specified by half. So, it happened as predicted. And Almighty God does not reveal His secrets to anyone except to those whom He chooses for the reformation of the world. Hence there is no doubt that this Hadith is from the Messenger of God, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, who is the best of all messengers.” 3

The lunar and solar eclipses were not only significant in their fulfilment of prophecy but also notable for being visible from India. Unlike lunar eclipses, which can be observed from over half of the Earth's sphere, solar eclipses have a more restricted visibility range, often being confined to sparsely populated areas or open waters.4 However, the solar eclipse that occurred on April 6, 1894, distinguished itself by being visible across a vast expanse of Asia, including India.

In the subsequent year, 1895 C.E., lunar and solar eclipses once again took place in the month of Ramadhan, specifically on the 11th of March and the 26th of March, respectively. These eclipses occurred in the western hemisphere and were not visible from Qadian. However, despite their invisibility, the dates in Qadian coincided with the 13th and 28th of Ramadhan for the lunar and solar eclipses, respectively. This discrepancy in visibility underlines the fact that the date of an eclipse can vary based on the location.

The Promised Messiahas, also addressed these eclipses in his book “Haqiqatul Wahi” He stated:

“As stated in another Hadith, this eclipse occurred twice in Ramadhan, first in this country and then in America, and on both occasions, it occurred on the same date. Since, at the time of the eclipse, there was no claimant on earth of the Mahdi and nobody else declared this eclipse as his sign, publishing hundreds of pamphlets and books in Urdu, Persian, and Arabic, this heavenly sign is for me. Another proof of this is the fact that twelve years before this sign occurred, Almighty God had informed me that such a sign would occur. This news, as stated in Braheen-e-Ahmadiyya, was announced to hundreds of thousands of people before the sign was manifested.” 5

The Promised Messiahas also issued a challenge accompanied by a reward of a 1000 rupees to anyone who could

demonstrate that a similar celestial sign had occurred earlier. He wrote:

“Are you not afraid to deny the Hadith of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, even though its truth has become as manifest as the bright sun? Can you present a Sign like this in any age in the past. Do you read in any book that some person claimed to be from Almighty God and then in his time in Ramadhan, the lunar and solar eclipses occurred as you have now seen? If you are aware, then relate it and you will get 1000 rupees as a reward if you can show. So, prove it and take this reward and I make Almighty God a witness. And if you cannot prove, and you will never be able to prove, then guard against the Fire which is prepared for those who create disorder.”6

The Promised Messiahas, also solemnly declared on oath that he is the Promised Messiah, and that the lunar and solar eclipses are Divine Signs specifically for him. He stated:

“In my age, only in the month of Ramadhan, eclipses of the sun and the moon occurred; in my age, in accordance with the authentic sayings of the Holy Prophetsa and the Holy Quran, and earlier Books, there was plague all over the country, and in my age only, a new mode of transport, namely railways, came into existence. Additionally, in my age only, as per my prophecies, terrible earthquakes came. Does not then righteousness demand that one should not

be bold in denying my truth? Look! I swear by Almighty God and say that thousands of signs for establishing my truth have been manifested, are being manifested, and will be manifested. If this were a man’s plan, he would never have enjoyed such support and help.” 7

In summary, the Promised Messiahas, confidently associated the occurrence of the lunar and solar eclipses in the month of Ramadhan with the fulfilment of his divine mission. He provided detailed explanations and prophecies, highlighting the alignment of these solar events with his revelations. The challenge he issued, coupled with his solemn oath, reflects his unwavering belief in being the Promised Divine Messenger. The acknowledgment of these signs, along with other phenomena like earthquakes and technological advancements during his time, adds weight to his claim. The Promised Messiah'sas unwavering stance and the multitude of signs he cited stand as a compelling testament to the divine support behind his mission.

References

1.Aqrabul Mawarid Vol. 2

2. Noorul Haq, Part II

3. Noorul Haq, Part II

4. Canon of Eclipses by Professor T. R. Von Oppolzer

5. Haqiqatul Wahi p. 195

6. Nooral Haq Part II

7. Haqiqatul Wahi p. 45

Sign

The suspension of Hajj. It is recorded in an authentic Hadith that the Hajj will be suspended for a period of time during the era of the Promised Messiah. This Sign, too, was manifested in 1899 CE and 1900 CE etc. on account of the plague.

Sign

The prophecy about the advent of the Promised Messiah at the end of the sixth millennium as deduced from the Bible.

Sign

The prophecy of Ni‘matullah Wali concerning me, the couplets of which I have reproduced in my book Nishan-eAsmani.

Sign

Pir Sahibul- ‘Alam of Sindh—who had 100,000 followers and was a famous saint in his area—saw in a dream that, referring to me, the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, ‘He is truthful and is from me.’ I have already published this dream in Tuhfah-e-Golarhviyyah. Therefore, no further details are required.

Sign

Some thirty years ago, I received the revelation from Almighty God: ‘You shall witness a distant progeny.’ Hundreds of people are witness to this revelation. It has been published a number of times. So, it came to pass in conformity with it. I saw the children who did not exist at the time of the prophecy, and then I saw the children of those children, and I do not know how far the effect of this prophecy will continue.

Sign

On 30 June 1899, I received the revelation: ‘First unconsciousness, then coma, then death.’ And the understanding given at the same time was that this revelation pertained to a sincere friend whose death would cause me sorrow. So, this revelation was announced to several members of my Jama‘at and it was published in Al-Hakam of 30 June 1899 Thereafter, towards the end of July 1899 a very sincere friend of mine, Dr. Muhammad Burhey Khan, Assistant Surgeon, died suddenly in Qasur. He first lost consciousness, then suddenly entered into a coma and then passed on from this mortal world. There was a difference of only 22–20 days between the time of his death and this revelation.

Ask A Murrabi

Khalid Gonzalez Sahib is currently serving in Spain as a missionary

We asked Murrabi sahib a few

Questions about his work and here is what he had to say..

Ask A Murrabi

Khalid Gonzalez

Missionary Serving in Spain

What inspired you to apply for Jamia Ahmadiyya UK?

I never knew what Jamia was, I was 15 when my friends told me that they wanted to join and they told me about it… Since I was young my mother always told me to pray for anything I needed or wanted. So throughout my childhood I saw my prayers being heard. So when I came to know that there was a place where I’d learn all about prayers, where my job would essentially be to gain Allah’s love, then my mind had already been made up, especially considering that we are all going to leave this world one day so I didn’t see anything more rewarding and safe (with regards to safeguarding my faith) than serving the Jama'at.

Name three things that you experienced in your time studying in Jamia that changed you as a person.

A - The constructive feedback and perspectives shared by others have played a pivotal role in my personal growth journey. I deeply value feedback, as it provides valuable insight for self-reflection and improvement. Understanding and

embracing this feedback encourages continuous self-development, a principle emphasised by Huzooraa which resonates deeply with me.

B - I saw generosity. I learnt true generosity from my classmates, one in particular, who would give so generously and so gracefully that I’d be left speechless. After seeing how he always gave his own food and money to others, I no longer felt the need to keep my food or snacks to myself, and it was no longer hard to give them out, in fact I wanted for others to use my things and enjoy whatever food I had. Because that friend of mine would give to others just as a mother gives to her child, MashaAllah.

C - The close attention that our Khalifa pays to the students of Jamia. He honestly and truly cares about our spiritual welfare, he gives it so much priority, and he thinks about us and prays for us. I’ve seen how much significance Huzooraa holds for our spiritual decline, as well as spiritual elevation. If we are declining, he lovingly heals us (those of us who trust him enough to reach out to him for guidance), and if we are excelling, then there is nothing better in this entire world than seeing our Khalifa smile.

Where are you posted and what is your daily routine?

I have been posted in Madrid, but before moving there right now I am currently serving in Granada and soon I will temporarily be serving in Cordoba.

My routine is split in half. I spend time in the office carrying out various tasks and the rest of my time is spent in Tabligh activities. There are some translation projects and tasks that I am currently undertaking, for example Tafseer-e-Kabeer into Spanish. During the evenings I go out with a whiteboard which reads ‘I am a Muslim, ask me about Islam’ and honestly apart from all the organised events I haven’t seen a better method than this one to teach people about Islam.

Describe some of your challenges serving as a Mubaligh in Spain and how have you tackled them?

One of the toughest challenges serving in Spain is the lack of shame and modesty which is found here. Another challenge for

me is the size of the country and trying to bring people together, whether that’s local/ regional/national Jama'ats or whether it’s meeting up with Tabligh contacts, speaking over the phone just isn’t the same and doesn’t have much impact in comparison with meeting in-person. As for the distance between us all, I’m trying to buy a car so that I can go and meet these people in person and tell them the truthfulness of the Holy Prophetsa and The Promised Messiahas… especially to the Ahmadis, talking about the truthfulness of our prophets increases people’s faith in Allah.

What are some of the guidelines from Khalifatul-Masihaa to Mubaligheen in propagating the message of Islam to the locals and how do you implement them?

Huzooraa has told us to read 'Zareen Hidaayaat' by Hazrat Musleh Maudra which is an in-depth book of instructions for Murabbiyaan.

Some things Huzooraa has mentioned: be brave, don’t fear in giving responses to questions which may seem complicated.

I’ve been reading this book and making notes, I also feel no fear answering people’s questions about Islam, although in the beginning I would worry to not hurt the feelings of some people, but after time, experience and learning new points you learn to give these answers in ways which don’t harm their sentiments. Huzooraa is the perfect example of how to do that.

I also learnt through my experience that you can’t just give irrefutable arguments that you’ve learnt from the Promsied Messiahas or from the Khulafa and expect them to concede or accept your points. What impacts people more, is your conduct, whether that’s in the few moments you speak with them or whether it’s over a longer period. Hazrat Musleh Maudra said that when you go for Tabligh you shouldn’t expect anything - this means you might see

someone who seems like he’d be interested but instead they insult you, you could also see someone who seems uninterested in religion but then accepts Ahmadiyyat.

What is the most rewarding aspect aspect within Spain?

One of the most rewarding things in Spain is the weather and the beauty of the country.

Please share some personal stories or moments you had with KhalifatulMasihaa?

What was truly amazing was that during my time in Islamabad with my Jamia class in the years 2021/2022 Huzooraa took out a big chunk of his time to teach us and give us classes in the Mubarak Mosque. In one of the last classes Huzooraa at one point paused for a good moment looking right at me, I became quite nervous and wasn’t sure he was looking at me or someone else. Then he said, ‘I’ll probably send you to South America for 6 months.’ I hadn’t been officially posted at that time, so these were big words for me, it made me realise my responsibility but at the same time how much work there really is for our Jama’at to do.

There was a person named Dowie, living in America. He claimed to be a Prophet. He was a bitter enemy of Islam and aspired that he would exterminate Islam. He believed Hadrat ‘Isa to be God. I wrote to him, challenging him to a mubahalah [prayer duel] with me. With it, I also wrote that even if he did not accept the challenge, God would still destroy him. This prophecy was published in a number of American newspapers and also in our own English magazine. The end result of this prophecy was that he was dispossessed of property worth hundreds of thousands of rupees. He was utterly disgraced and he was stricken with paralysis to the extent that now he cannot move a single step on his own. People carry him everywhere. According to the American doctors, he is beyond treatment and will probably die within a few months.

Our Mosque 'Fath-e-Azeem' in Zion, in Professor Dowie's Town

Kids Corner

The Old Fire Worshipper

The Reward Of A Good Deed Never Goes To Waste

The Promised Messiah (as) states:

“I remember once reading about an old fire-worshipper of ninety years of age in Tadhkira-tul-Awliya. It so happened that in a period of extended rain, the man was feeding seeds to the birds on the roof of his house. A noble man approached him and said: ‘Old man, what are you doing?’

He responded: ‘Brother, it has been raining continuously for six or seven days now and so I am feeding the birds some grain.’

‘You do so in vain,’ said the noble man. ‘You are a disbeliever, what reward can you attain for such action?’

The old man responded, ‘I will surely receive my reward.’

The noble man relates that he went for Hajj and saw the same old man going around the Ka’bah from a distance. The noble man was astonished to see this and relates that when he approached him, the old man was first to say, ‘Did my feeding seeds to the birds go in vain or have I received my reward?’

So now, one should reflect on the fact that Allah the Almighty is such that He does not even waste a good deed of a disbeliever. So would He let the virtuous deeds of a Muslim go in vain?”

(Malfuzat Volume 1 page 72-71)

What Did you Learn from this Story?

Write in the box below *

TEST YOURSELF:

1. In which book did the Promised Messiahas read the story of the Fire Worshipper?

2. What was the old man feeding the birds?

3. What was the reward that the old man was talking about?

4. What was the moral of the story?

CALLING