I am the 'Mahdi' of this Era

  

On the 'Mahdi'

Today, we come on a most controversial subject, even among Muslims, and that is the advent of the Mahdi. Both the second advent of the Messiah, as well as the Mahdi of the Last Days represent each a prophecy in itself, such a prophecy which links the both of them: Messiah and Mahdi.

Bear in mind that “Mahdi” is derived from the word, “Haadi”, which means “to guide” and “Massih” means “the Anointed One”. Now, the term “anointed” refers to the ritual act of pouring or rubbing oil on a person as a sign of sanctification. In a broader sense, it signifies being chosen or set apart for a special purpose or role. We use “anointed” not just for prophets but for kings as well when they are chosen to rule over their kingdom.

 

When we study the information on Mahdi, we notice that he is not directly and clearly mentioned in the Holy Quran as well as the two most authentic Books of Hadiths in Islam, i.e. Sahih Al-Bukhari and Muslim. There are many narrations on Mahdi, the larger part of them being qualified as weak (Da’if) or not so authentic by the Muslim Ummah. But then, if Mahdi is not plainly mentioned in Quran and both Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim have avoided mentioning him in their respective Sahihs, how then to be sure that one Hadith which the Muslim Ummah regards as weak (Da’if) can actually be powerfully true and be fulfilled in this era?

Questions for Ahmadi Maulvis

 

To protect people of the Faith from doctrinal confusion and Satanic deviations and to preserve and guide them in the subtle and abstruse path of pure spirituality, Islam offers the prospects of perpetual Divine guidance through the advent of Divinely- imbued souls as servants of Faith in every era of Islam. In spiritual terminology, the Divinely-raised Reviver of the Faith is a true son, spiritual heir and successor to the Holy Prophet (sa), and he renews the true teachings of the Faith as it were in the days of the Prophet (sa) in a new century of Islam. Indeed, an appointed one of God when he is commissioned by the Lord Almighty with a spiritual mission of renewal and reform of the Ummah is known as a ‘Muhyiuddin’, ‘Mujaddid’, ‘Khalifatullah’, ‘Waliullah’, ‘Ma’mur-min-Allah’, ‘Ummati- Nabi’, ‘Imam Mahdi’, etc.    

 

 

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, established by the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi of the previous era, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian, way back in 1889, is deeply rooted in the Islamic spiritual tradition of perpetual divine guidance. Like the Mujaddidin of Islam who appeared in all parts of the Islamic world over the millennium and more of Islamic history, Hazrat Mirza Saheb claimed to be a recipient of Divine communion and special messages with a view to reforming the Ummah of all its doctrinal confusions and divisions so as to renew the days of the Holy Prophet (sa) as a living, thriving religion in the Later Days. Furthermore, as for the future, the Promised Messiah (as) clarified in no uncertain terms that Allah (swt) will continue to raise Mujaddidin in every century as a favour of Divine Grace and Mercy and Favour upon the Muslim Ummah till the Day of Judgement.  

Bai’at with the Khalifatullah

 Bai'at:  In Covenant with God   

‘Whoever obeys the Messenger obeys God.’ (4:81)

 

‘Prophet, when believing women come and pledge to you that they will not ascribe any partner to God, nor steal, nor commit adultery, nor kill their children, nor lie about who has fathered their children, nor disobey you in any righteous thing, then you should accept their pledge of allegiance and pray to God to forgive them: God is most forgiving and merciful.’ (60:13)

 

‘Those who pledge loyalty to you [Prophet] are actually pledging loyalty to God Himself– God’s hand is placed on theirs––and anyone who breaks his pledge does so to his own detriment: God will give a great reward to the one who fulfils his pledge to Him.’ (48:11)

The Realm of Divine Revelations- II

 

The Mysterious & Wonderful Realm of Divine Revelations and the Advent of a Messenger of Allah

'It is not granted to any mortal that Allah should speak to him except through revelation or from behind a veil, or by sending a messenger to reveal by His command what He wills: He is Exalted and Wise.'  (Ash-Shuraa 42: 52)

 

Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah, I will continue today’s Friday Sermon on the subject of Divine Revelations and the Advent of a Messenger of Allah.

 

As I told you last week, the Messenger of Allah is such a recipient which is empty of himself and filled instead with Allah’s Will. He submits himself to the Will of Allah and makes the divine essence control him, in his actions so that he is able to properly transmit the divine messages that he has been commissioned to distribute to his people and to all humanity (especially for the Islamic Prophets and Messengers of Allah - who come after the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (saws) and who follow in his footsteps in order to revive the teachings and commandments of the Quran and his own Sunnan (practices) – i.e., the Sunnan of our Beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh).

‘Al Mubashirat’: An Explanation

  

In the sacred traditions of the Holy Prophet (sa) chronicled in Sahih Al Bukhari, one can read: 

1.   Allah's Messenger (sa) said: 'Nothing is left of Nubuwwah except Al-Mubashirat.' They asked, "What are Al-Mubashirat?" He replied, 'The true good dreams (that conveys glad tidings).'

2.  Allah's Messenger (sa) said: "A good dream (that comes true) of a righteous man is one of forty-six parts of Nubuwwah."

In a recent Question and Answer Session, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius profoundly explained the true concept of ‘Al Mubashirat’ and its linkages with the enduring blessings of Islamic Nubuwwah for human kind for all times till the Day of Judgement.   

'Khalifatullah': The Rope of Allah

 

‘Hold fast to God’s rope all together; do not split into factions. Remember God’s favour to you: you were enemies and then He brought your hearts together and you became brothers by His grace; you were about to fall into a pit of Fire and He saved you from it– in this way God makes His revelations clear to you so that you may be rightly guided. Be a community that calls for what is good, urges what is right, and forbids what is wrong: those who do this are the successful ones. Do not be like those who, after they have been given clear revelation, split into factions and fall into disputes: a terrible punishment awaits such people.’ [3:104-106)

Elects of God appear to call people to the Right Path- providing them with true and clear guidance to discriminate between good and the bad; reforming their communities through Divinely-gifted teachings; laying solid foundations for great nations by unifying hearts in Divine worship and urging adherence to the higher values of life. It is those sublime teachings established by the Prophets through their noble personal examples that constitute the Rope of Allah for their nations to cherish and act upon in all their lives. Hence, Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) left behind a treasure-trove of eminently-sensible, behavioural principles and practical guidance in the form of the Holy Qur’an and the sacred traditions of Holy Practices for the Muslims to hold on for all times. If only people follow the teachings of God in the way in which they are expected to be followed: it would benefit the believers in their individual and social lives, and would also profit them in the world to come, Insha Allah.

When Prophets leave this world, their spiritual successors are elected by the assembly of the Pious to carry on and establish the heavy tasks of Faith in all its divine sanctity and purity. And then comes a time in the life of the community- especially when error and deviance impact people’s lives in profoundly negative ways- when Allah (swt) in His infinite wisdom raises His Elect in the community to repeat the cycle of spiritual renewal once again. Islamic history bear witness to this grand Divine principle and established practice. After the death of the Holy Prophet (sa), the Muslim Ummah witnessed the presence of righteous Caliphs in the early days, and also, in later centuries, the advent of a series of Mujaddidin who appeared to guide and rejuvenate Islam at times of difficult fortunes for the Ummah. In our own times, to renew the original teachings of the Prophet (sa), Allah (swt) has raised a Muhyiuddin, a Khalifatullah, a Mujaddid, a Mahdi, a Dhul Qarnayn in our midst. Indeed, with all the aforesaid spiritual titles and more, the Divine Manifestation in the person of Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (aba) of Mauritius is here to revive and restore sublime Faith in the Prophetic Path as an enduring, living, thriving Highway to God. It is by recognizing and following such pure servants of God that believers can cling to the Rope of Allah in this era, and access felicity and progress in both the worlds. 

'Nur Ala Nur': A Commentary

The Light Verse in Surah An-Nur (24:36) has attracted much spiritual attention and commentary by eminent scholars and savants of Islam through the centuries, including a famous treatise by Imam Ghazzali (ra). The verse is widely seen as a beautiful metaphor of the profound, transformational impact the Faith in God brings about in the heart of a true believer. The illumination of the pious heart, brought through its God-gifted encounter with the Light of revelatory guidance, is a perfect spiritual promise Allah (swt) vouchsafes to His special servants and Friends in every era (Auliah of Allah). According to some commentators, the Verse alludes to the Divine Light vouchsafed to the Holy Prophet (sa) and his spiritual Khulafa, the Mujaddidin who come in every era of Islam to renew and reform the Muslim Ummah and to guide them on the pristine path of Faith. Indeed, based on the Qur'anic promise of perpetual spiritual guidance and Muhammadan blessings, the advent of a Khalifatullah as an Elect and High Representative of Allah is an occasion when the full brightness and splendour of the Faith becomes visible to the discerning minds- like we witness today in the person of Hazrat Imam Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius, Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah. 

Reproduced Below is a commentary on the Light Verse made by Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian, in the Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Part III: 

The Light of Faith in the Heart of a Servant 

God is the Light of the heavens and earth. His Light is like this: there is a niche, and in it a lamp, the lamp inside a glass, a glass like a glittering star, fuelled from a blessed olive tree from neither east nor west, whose oil almost gives light even when no fire touches it–light upon light– God guides whoever He will to his Light; God draws such comparisons for people; God has full knowledge of everything– shining out in houses of worship. God has ordained that they be raised high and that His name be remembered in them, with men in them celebrating His glory morning and evening: men who are not distracted, a either by commerce or profit, from remembering God, keeping up the prayer, and paying the prescribed alms, fearing a day when hearts and eyes will turn over. God will reward such people according to the best of their actions, and He will give them more of His bounty: God provides limitlessly for anyone He will. (Surah An Nur, 24:36-39)

'Khalifatullah': A Divine Promise

The Promise of Allah to the Prophet & the Believers

“O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will remit from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) the Day that Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believe with him. Their Light will run forward before them and by their right hands, while they say, ‘Our Lord! Perfect our Light for us, and grant us Forgiveness: for You have power over all things’.” (Surah At-Tahrim, 66 : 9)

In light of this Quranic verse, I present to you a Hadith where Hazrat Abu Dharr and Hazrat Abu Darda (ra) reported that Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said that: On the Day of Judgment I will recognize my people. The Sahaba (companions) asked him: O Prophet of Allah, how will you recognize your people? Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said: 'I will recognize you by the light that will be before you'.

Therefore, in the world there are those who have the light of Imaan (faith) and on the day of judgement this light will be before them and on their right.

When you read Chapter ‘The Light’, i.e., Surah Al-Nur, Verse 56, where Allah (swt) says:

“Allah had promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely make them Successors in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who were before them; and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them; and that He will surely give them in exchange security and peace after their fear: They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me. Then whoso is ungrateful after that, they will be the rebellious.”

This has always been the way of Allah, a practice that He has demonstrated since the existence of man, that it is Allah (swt) Himself Who raises His Chosen Messenger, His Prophet, His Khalifatullah as this verse makes us understand. And Allah says in this verse that it is a promise that He makes to those who believe and do good works. 

'I am the Messiah of this Era'

"I want neither pelf nor power. I have been commissioned by Allah as a Warner unto mankind, and deliver His message to you. Should you accept it, you shall have felicity in this life as well as in the life to come. Should you reject the word of Allah, surely Allah will decide between you and me." 

More than 1400  years ago, addressing the doubting Makkan chieftains of his times, Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa)  emphatically declared his Divinely-inspired spiritual Mission in the aforesaid words. Through out history, the Holy Prophet's ringing words have been the signature tune of Islamic Messiahs and other Divine Elects; people who spoke with the help of Holy Spirit (Roohul Quddus) and were known by different spiritual titles. Like the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian (1835-1908 CE) in the previous era, Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius in this era claims Divine revelations and messages as the authority behind his spiritual titles and religious claims as the Imam, Caliph, Mujaddid and Messiah of this era. 

06 December 2003. Almost 15 years ago, it was  on this day that Hazrat Saheb (aba) made his official proclamation as the Muhyi-ud-Din (Reviver of the Faith) and the Messiah of this era. The Speech is noteworthy on a number of grounds. As the Founding Head of the Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen, Hazrat Munir (aba) explains the spiritual and material circumstances in which the Jamaat was founded as a distinct group of believers who follow all teachings of Islam.  

Reclaiming Islam's Pristine Essence

By the grace of Allah, nowadays people in the four corners of the world are lending positive ears, that is, listening carefully and acknowledging the message of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam.

Allah (swt) chose us to transmit the divine message, the same message which was given to Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). As our noble master and prophet, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) is no more today, but nevertheless Allah (swt) has provided ways and means for His message to be transmitted in our present time in a way to connect both eras.

Who are those people who are capable of spreading this message?

It is verily those who possess the characteristics of the founder of Islam and the Seal of all Prophets (pbuh) who are the one who shall be able to carry on this message with the express commandment of Allah and the blessings of the Ruh-il-Quddus. In other words, they have to possess the same behaviours and willingness as those of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) to execute that great divine plan. These characteristics have been described from the Holy Quran itself as follows:

a)      Yatloo alayhim Ayaatihi:  that is, the one who reads the verses of the Holy Quran and explains them to others.

b)     Wa yuzakkiihim: that is, when he reads these verses, he purifies the hearts of people and converts them in the good sense.

c)      Wa yu’allimahum Kitaaba: that is, he teaches people the Holy Quran.

d)     Wa Hikma: that is, and he teaches people also the Wisdom.

There are numerous people who have accepted the message of Allah but they are not convinced. Some have accepted the message of Allah with good hearts and want to do good deeds, but they don’t know what to do exactly and how to do them.

Hence, it’s the Taleem-ul-Kitaab which explains what pleases Allah and what displeases Him. It’s very important for all of us to acquire knowledge and its BEST SOURCE is from the Holy Quran. And moreover, to have the best explanation of its verses, we all need the Best Lecturer, one who is Divinely-Guided and possesses Taqwa, fear of Allah in his heart.

'Khalifa': Different Types and Ranks

According to the Holy Qur’an, only a person appointed by Allah Himself and enjoys His converse on a sustained basis and receiving revelations from the Holy Throne can be considered a Khalifatullah or the Caliph of Allah. With regard to Hadhrat Adam (as), the Holy Book states: “I am going to place My Khalifah in the earth”. [2:31]. 

Like wise, with regard to Hadhrat David (as), the Holy Book states: ‘O David, We have made you a Khalifah in the earth’ [38:27]. And in both cases, it is patently obvious that the servants of God being addressed invariably enjoyed Divine converse and were appointed by Allah Himself as His Messengers or Khulafa.

Apart from the two Messengers of Allah who were described as the Khalifah of Allah, the Holy Qur’an also speaks about another type of Khalifas. It refers to the subordinate Prophets who are Khalifas of another and a greater prophet such as the Israelite Prophets who all were the Khalifas of Moses. 

The Holy Qur’an states: “Allah has promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will, surely, make them SUCCESSORS in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who were before them; and that He will, surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them; and exchange security and peace after their fear; They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me. Then whoso disbelieves after that, they will be the rebellious”. (24:56).

According to Hadhrat Ahmad (as), the phrase ‘as He made Successors from among those who were before them’ is a clear reference to the Khalifas of Moses who were all Prophets.