Saturday, April 20, 2013

TEN YEARS of the Divine Manifestation

From the long and great history of the arrival of Divine Messengers in the world, believers have numerous lessons and insights to keep in mind. Every Messenger has to go through countless trials- his own people will turn back on him and boycott him. His own people, who may have received countless signs and blessings, may desert him in the hour of need. Countless years may pass by, before the world begins to take notice of the Divine Message in full measure, just as it happened in the time of Jesus (as). It may also happen that those who desert the Messenger may later realise their mistakes. They might return to the path of rectitude eventually, as did the brethren of Yusuf (as) in another time and space.        

The need for the appearance of a Divinely-raised Messenger in this era among the Ahmadi Muslims has been fulfilled with the raising of the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius. Thus, 19 April 2013 (08 Jamad’ul Aakhir 1434 Hijri) marks an important milestone in the sacred history of modern Islam. For, it was on this day in 2003 that the Jamaat of the Divine Manifestation took their first Bai’at in the hands of the Khalifatullah (atba). The first Bai’at was held in the house of Hazrat Ummul Mumineen Sadr Sahiba Fazli Amena on the second storey, at Louvet Avenue, Quatre-Bornes.

The fact that the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius has completed 10 years in relative obscurity will only surprise those who have no knowledge or understanding about the working of the spiritual realm. The duty of the Divine Messenger is only and merely to convey the Message; Allah the Most High is the Reckoner. There are indeed many spiritual lessons and lofty insights to be derived by observing and understanding the Divine favour on the Khalifatullah and how he goes about with his deep and unwavering commitment to advance the cause of Allah and His Message in the last ten years.  

It is instructive for Ahmadis to understand that the emergence of the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius coincided with the decline in physical health, spiritual faculties and eventual death of the Fourth Khalifa of the Jamaat-e- Ahmadiyya, Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad Sahib. In his last years, the ageing Khalifa was already in a zone of his own, where he was in constant need of sound advice for prudent governance of Jamaat affairs. Yet, as it happened, he was badly advised regarding the nature and character of the Divine Manifestation then emerging in the horizon of Mauritius. Unscrupulous and scheming people, who worked behind the corridors of influence, suggested vanity of office and pride of legacy. Instead of showing humility and open heart to understand the lofty claims and spiritual verities on offer, the Khalifa chose the other road. May Allah forgive him for his blurred vision in his last days, Ameen.


Fortunately, Ahmadis are beginning to come out of the shadow of that colossal mistake of their leadership. Increasingly, there are aware of this alternative trajectory of the Divine Favour in the Jamaat, for truth can be eclipsed, but only for a period. Like the moon, it will eventually come out of the shadow of clouds and confusions created by the enemies of truth, Alhamdulillah. In this context, the Friday Sermon of April 19, 2013 delivered by the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) must be of special interest to truth seekers, as it provides searching light upon the extraordinary circumstances and events surrounding the Divine Manifestation in its early days.

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon:
  
“Verily, during this last decade, and today is 19 April 2013; verily exactly ten years back, the first believers in the Divine Manifestation took their first Bai’at in the Hands of Allah (which was manifested through this humble self’s hand). My hand became the Hand of Allah, like Allah explains in both the Quran and Hadith. The Hand of Allah was upon their hand. But what happened (then)?

Allah tried them with some little tests, and instead of remaining true to Allah and His Messenger and the sacred covenant which they took with Allah and His Messenger, they turned on their backs, thinking the worst of the Messenger of Allah. All kind of evil thoughts came to their mind and most of them thought that the Messenger of Allah had to act according to their will, not that of Allah’s. Ten years, and later on, they took more Bai’ats, but where are they now, in a deserted valley wherein there is no cultivation, no progress.

Allah gives respite to a people, for them to curb their evils and repent and to recognise their sins or faults. But if they persist in their hatred against the Messenger of Allah, therefore Allah knows best what He shall do to them. Beware Oh my followers, do not follow the example of the people who ridiculed the Message and Divine Messenger and created their own notions of the Divine Manifestation. Allah does what He pleases and He is the in-dweller of every heart, knowing exactly the degree of your faith.

If you turn your back today, then bear in mind that your tomorrow shall not be glorious. It shall seem glorious for a limited time, but then the Hand of Allah shall strike and leave you in a deplorable state or He shall finish you up. Cultivate fear of Allah and remain ever under the obedience of Allah and His Messenger, His Khalifatullah of this era so that you may be saved, in this world and the hereafter. Insha-Allah, Ameen…

Huzur (atba) related the unique historical event of first Bai’at on 19 April 2003, and Insha-Allah, he instructed that the historical recording be available on our official website soon. He related how Allah informed him that the fourth Khalifatul Massih in fact made a Mubahila with him when he said that he and Zafrullah Domun Sahib shall have a fearful destiny. He talked about the arrogance of the Khalifa how he said that 2 go away, and Allah shall bring Ahmadis in millions. Huzur (atba) asks (for the attention of all), to say truthfully that if verily millions, even as little as one million every year came to embrace Ahmadiyyat since the two were expelled from the Nizam-e-Jamaat Ahmadiyya.

Huzur (atba) related his vision where Allah informed him that it was in fact a Mubahila that the fourth caliph made with me, and how Allah’s Hand crushed the letter of Muhabila and dumped it in a dustbin. Huzur (atba) says that had the fourth caliph been in the truth, then he should have been alive today, yet, as soon as he launched this Mubahila, on 19 April 2003, he passed away.

And on 19 April 2003, during the Study-Circle of the Divine Manifestation, Mukarram Zafrullah Domun Sahib told him that now the time has come for him (Hazrat Amirul Mumineen Munir Ahmad Azim) to take bai’at of his disciples, but Huzur (atba) says that he cannot do that until Allah vouchsafes him the revelation to do so, and that the Study-Circle shall be held like they always hold it.

But then, a strong wind began to blow, and the atmosphere change and revelation descended on the humble servant of Allah, and Allah through His Messenger hold out His hand, and all believers, and even some members of the Jamaat Ahmadiyya who came to attend the Study-Circle all came forward to take the Bai’at as one body. Huzur (atba) relates how Mukarram Zafrullah Sahib at the time told him that while taking Bai’at in the state of revelation, and he being the first to hold the Hand in Bai’at, he related how the hand of Huzur (atba) did not move one bit, either up or down with the weight of all the hands of the disciples and witnesses present. And after revelation (long revelations), Huzur began to tremble greatly and it was the Shawl of the mother of Mukarram Zafrullah Domun Sahib, “Dadi Nusrat” which was sent to cover Huzur (atba)…

Huzur (atba) expresses how he feels “rehem” (mercy) even for those who have left the Divine Manifestation and prays that they realise their error, and he says and invites one and all, all Ahmadi Muslims, including the ex-members of the Divine Manifestation and the Muslims and all people of every community forward and says that his door is always open for them, and that we should all reunite to become one solid body, Insha-Allah.