'Qudrat-e-Saniya': 'Khilafat is Ever-Lasting'

In their quest for perpetuating the authority of the their assembly-elected "Khalifa" within the Community, Ahmadis today deny the possibility of Allah sending any Mujaddid in future as His Elect to guide the community of Muslims. Further, they have raised the status of their elected Khalifa even above that of an Elect of Allah such as a Mujaddid. Since Hadhrat Ahmad (as) was an Elect of Allah and the Mujaddid of the Fourteenth Century, where does the Ahmadiyya Khulafa stand in spiritual status vis -a- vis him? Can their status be equal to, or even be above, the status of Hadhrat Ahmad (as)?! Are we to consider that given the lofty position to which Ahmadiyya Khulafa have been elevated, they have  every right to alter, bend and modify and thereby destroy the original teachings of Hadhrat Ahmad (as)? It is striking to note the manner in which the mainstream Ahmadiyya Community has moved away from the teachings of Hadhrat Ahmad (as) while claiming to be his ideal disciples.

We are presenting below certain extracts from the Friday Sermon of May 22, 2009 delivered by the Muhyi-ud-Din Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius. This sermon graphically chronicles the original beliefs of the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) on the future divine guidance of the Muslims and asks some pertinent questions for Ahmadi friends to reflect upon:

“In his book Shahadat’ul Quran (on pg. 48 - 60), the Promised Messiah (on him be peace) said: “‘Qudrat-e-Saniyah’ is everlasting and will end till the day of Judgement”. The meaning of the Promised Messiah (on him be peace), in this sentence concerning the word “Qudrat-e-Saniyah” implies to “Khilafat”. And according to the Promised Messiah (on him be peace), “Khilafat” does not only implies to “Khilafat-e-Rassool” but it also implies to “Mujaddid”. The Promised Messiah (on him be peace) believes that “Khilafat” includes “the four rightly guided successors of Rassool” and Allah willed that it should continue to exist permanently till the Day of Judgement.

Thus, the Promised Messiah (on him be peace) has not declared the “Ahmadiyya Khilafat” everlasting in his writings. What he has declared everlasting are two things: (1) Qudrat-e-Saniyah (2) Islamic Khilafat.

(1) Qudrat-e-Saniyah includes “Khilafat” and not just the “Ahmadiyya Khilafat”, because the Promised Messiah (on him be peace) wrote in the same book Al-Wassiyat that this Qudrat is similar to the Qudrat which appeared in the form of Hazrat Abu Bakr, the first Islamic Khalifa which means “Qudrat-e-Saniyah” is comparable to the “Islamic Khilafat”.

The Second Coming of Musleh Mauod

One of the questions that our Ahmadi friends generally ask is this: Is there any Prophecy by an Ahmadiyya Khalifa regarding the coming of a divinely raised, spiritual personage in the Community? 

The answer is a resounding YES!

Hadhrat Mirza Basheeruddin Mahmud Ahmad (r.a) (1889-1965) was not just the Second Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He was also, he claimed, the Musleh Maoud as prophesied by Hadhrat Ahmad (as). He officially stated in a meeting at Hoshiarpur on the 20^th February 1944:

“I do not say that I am the only Promised One and that no other promise one will appear till the Day of Judgement. It appears from the prophecies of the Promised Messiah that some other promised ones will also come and some of them will appear after centuries. Indeed, God has told me that at one time He will send me a second time to the world and I will come for the reform of the world at a time when association with God will have become widespread. This means that my soul will, at some time, descend upon someone who will possess faculties and capacities like mine and he will, following in my footsteps, bring about a reform of the world. Thus, promised ones will appear in their due times according to the promise of God Almighty.” (Ref: Ahmadiyyat, the Renaissance of Islam by Sir Zafrullah Khan p.293-294)

Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib, the Divinely-raised Massih of Allah in the new Century of Islam, states:

“I have come, both as a spiritual son of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and as a spiritual son of the Promised Messiah (upon him be peace) and Allah did called me Musleh Maoud on the 20^th February 2004. Allah promised me also that He shall elevate my honour stage by stage (step by step) and from being a Qamaram Munira, he elevated me as Khawja Nooruddin, Amir’ul Momeneen, Muhyi-ud-Din, Muslih-ud-Din, Khalifatullah, Rassoolullah (like published on Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam website) and Nabi’ullah – all of these titles and honour pertaining to one fundamental task – not to fight with others about the honours which Allah has poured down upon this humble self and to justify myself – but to deliver the message of Allah, to reform the world and make it return back to the worship of Allah (twa) alone, leaving behind their idols.

My task is only like I have received several times throughout these twelve years, as a Bashir, a Nazir and a Mubasshir. I have come to warn. I do not have the power to change hearts. Changing the states of heart belongs only to Allah alone. I have come not as an intellectual but rather as a personification (the second coming) of my beloved master Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) as prophesied in Surah Jumu’ah. I have no extraordinary academic qualifications but it is my Allah my Teacher and Guide. It is Him who has raised me as His humble Messenger and this claim, I do it without any fear, for why fear man when Allah is the One who has raised me and Who is my Guardian”. (Friday sermon of January 21, 2011)

For an illustrative list of Divine Revelations vouchsafed to the Khalifatullah, click here. 

The Role and Status of a Mujaddid

The fundamental religious obligations of a Muslim include the duty to recognize and accept and help the Divinely-raised Mujaddidin in every century. Common believers, including Ahmadis, are however, insufficiently aware about their responsibilities in this regard. What does a Mujaddid do? What is the function and status of a Mujaddid in the Divine scheme of things for Islam? Should the Believers be surprised if a Mujaddid comes in a new Century? We are presenting below certain extracts from the writings of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian (1835-1908 CE) that provide exceptionally illuminating answers to these basic questions:

“Tajdid-e-Deen’ is that passion for the reformation of faith which descends upon such a heart that forges a state of communion with Allah. Then, sooner or later, this yearning of communion seeps into others. Those who are gifted with the status of a Mujaddid do not just trade in lifeless bones. Rather, they become the deputies of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) and indeed his spiritual successors (Khalifa). They inherit all the blessings that are granted to Prophets and Apostles. Their speech is effortless and spontaneous emanating from the inner core of the heart. Their speech is supplemented with noble deeds and personal experiences and is not the mere expression of theoretical knowledge. The revelation of Allah illumines their hearts. In all times of distress they receive guidance from the Holy Spirit. Their speech and conduct is not influenced by any worldly concern because they have been wholly purified and drawn towards Allah”. - [Victory of Islam, p.06, Qadian: Islam Int’l Publications, (2003)].

The Enduring Blessings of Islam

Most Ahmadis today somehow believe that Allah has abolished the Divine Scheme of sending Mujaddidin in every century to revive the Muslims and to renew their Faith. They consider that sincere believers have to be content with the man-elected Khulafa in the Ahmadiyya Community for all practical purposes and that for the purpose of Divine guidance in future, if any, only an Ahmadiyya can elevated with Divine revelations by Allah (twa). The Divine Prerogative of choosing and selection whoever He wills has come tom an end with the establishment of Ahmadiyya Khilafat- at least, that is what the leaders and the priests within would like common Ahmadis to believe as religious doctirne.

On the other hand, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian presented Islam as a living faith that produced through the centuries of its existence, countless saints and godly people. More importantly, Hadhrat Ahmad (as) firmly believed that these blessings will certainly continue till the Day of Judgement amongst sincere believers who followed the fundamental teachings of Islam. We are presenting below certain extracts from the writings of Hadhrat Ahmad (as) that affirms the enduring blessings of Islam and points out the mistaken notions of the Shia Muslims in this regard. Reflective Ahmadis will find remarkable lessons in the episode:  

“It must be clear to you that when a true seeker lives Islam obediently and completely and each of his faculty truly and automatically follows God’s commands then the overall results of his efforts is that Allah sends signs of guidance to him on a larger scale without any intermediary veils. That is to say that this person will directly experience Allah on a higher level. Many kinds of blessings fall on this person. These commands were accepted due to his faith and because it was obligatory on him.

Mujaddid and the Sign of ‘Laila-tul- Qadr’

The Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) writes:

“Allah gives glad tidings to the faithful in Surah Al Qadr that His prophet and His revelation descended from the heaven during the period of Laila-tul- Qadr (the Night of Decree).

Every Muhaddath and Mujaddid who is commissioned by Allah always appears during the Night of Decree. 

Do you understand what is meant by the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree or the Laila-tul- Qadr is the name of a night when spiritual darkness reaches its ultimate gloom. That gloom, metaphorically, demands a light from heaven for its dissipation. This night is symbolically called the Night of Decree. In fact, it is not a night, but a period, which is referred to as a ‘night’ because of its intense darkness. 

One thousand months is the approximate life span of a human being. It is also a period after which normal human senses ceases to function. The elapse of a period of one thousand months, following the demise of a Prophet or his spiritual successor also signals the commencement of a ‘night’ of darkness. This ‘night’ triggers fervour in the heavens and the seeds of the birth of one or more reformers (Mujaddidin) is stealthily sown. Thus such a Mujaddid or prepare to emerge at the head of the new century. The following verse is also an indication by Allah towards this phenomenon:

           

  “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months”.  (Surah Al Qadr, 97:4) .

  

It means that anyone who perceives the blessings of this Night of Decree, or anyone who benefits from the company of the Mujaddid of the age, is better than an eighty year old man who failed to behold this blessed time. Even if he witnessed a single moment of this blessed era, it was better than his past one thousand months. Why is that moment better?

'Khalifatullah' appears with the 'Rooh-ul-Qudus'

The Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) writes:

“Let it be known that it is the established custom of Allah that whenever a Messenger, a Prophet or an appointed recipient of Divine Revelation is sent for the reformation of mankind, it becomes imperative that he is accompanied by such angels who instill guidance in all loving hearts. They induce the hearts towards goodness.  They continue to descend until the darkness of profanity and corruption gives way to the break of the dawn of faith and truthfulness. The Almighty God says: “The angels and the Spirit descend upon them by the command of their Lord with their Lord’s decrees concerning every matter. It is all peace, till the break of the dawn”. (Surah Al Qadr, 97:5-6) .

So the appearance of the angels and the Holy Spirit only takes place at the advent of a person of distinction, who is dressed in the garb of Khilafat and honored with a direct communion with God. This Khalifa is specially gifted with the Holy Spirit and the angels in attendance are deputed to descend on all pious hearts. The reflection of this heavenly glow falls on people of receptive talent, and consequently the whole world is engulfed in the dazzle of this intense light.    

As a result of the noble influence of the angels, the hearts of such people are voluntarily inclined towards virtuous thoughts and are thus charmed by the concept of the Unity of God. Upright hearts are charged with the inclination towards the search of truth. The spiritually frail are granted fortitude. Everywhere a breeze begins to blow which is supportive to the objectives of the Mujaddid. An invisible hand is beckoning humanity so that they of themselves are hastening towards that reform which will bring out the best of their talents. Mankind is in a state of agitation and stir in anticipation of what is to come.

Heavenly Signs for the Messiah

Heavens and the Earth bear witness when a Messenger of Allah appears on the horizon to call mankind on the path of Allah. According to the Holy Qur’an, eclipses of the sun and the moon are important signs of the approach of the Last Days. The Holy Qur’an says:  “He asks: When will be the day of Resurrection? When the eye is dazzled, And the moon is eclipsed, And the sun and the moon are brought together, On that day man will say, whither to escape? (75: 7-11)

In the tradition attributed to the 7th century Imam Muhammad al Baqir, also known as Muhammad bin Ali, it is stated about the appearance of the Al  Imam Al Mahdi: “For our Mahdi (Divine Reformer) 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 Ramadhan and the sun will be eclipsed on the middle day in the same month of Ramadhan, and these signs have not appeared since God created the heavens and the earth” – Dar Qutni, Vol 1, page 188.

During the time of the Promised Massih (as), the solar and lunar eclipses were observed from Qadian in 1894. Hadhrat Ahmad (as) stated that the eclipses represented heavenly signs in favour of him. He famously asked the people to ponder over the fact that the sign was manifested in his country and that the wisdom of God does not separate the sign from the person for whom the sign is meant. Likewise, Allah has raised Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (atba) of Mauritius as the Messiah of Allah in the new Century. Countless heavenly signs have appeared on the Mauritian sky in the last decade, bearing witness to the presence of Divine Manifestation in our times. Reflecting on the issue, Hadhrat Khalifatullah (atba) stated:  'Allah has sent this humble self with lots of heavenly signs and the most flagrant and being a prophecy of both the Holy Qur’an and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) is the eclipse of both the moon and the sun in the same month of Ramadhan back in November 2003 (November 9 and 23). 

At that time (in the Jamaat Ahmadiyya Al Mouslemeen), Allah made me stood up and proclaim that I was the one whose advent is announced through this heavenly sign in our present era, that this sign is for the advent of this humble self. Moreover, during the course of the Divine Manifestation (in its beginning), there were the rare (and frequent at that time) manifestation in the Mauritian Sky of sun-halos or what is also known as full-circle rainbows (October 2002 +, December 2007 etc.). Later on, in 2004 (June 8), scientists from all round the world took Mauritius as a vital centre for the observation of the extremely rare “Once in a lifetime” Venus Transit.

It must be noted also that more than once, the name of Allah has appeared in the Mauritian Sky, and witnessed personally by this humble self along with a group from among my disciples. In addition, twice there has been the witness of the crescent of the moon along with its star (an Islamic symbol), where six months back on 11 September 2010, there have been once again this manifestation in the sky (after Maghrib and Esha prayers), to which I am a personal witness.

Likewise, all round the world there have been manifestation of such like phenomena, so that they act as an eye-opener that all these rare occurrences in this special era (2000-till now – in my times). And now, I am going to prophecy yet another heavenly phenomenon, which is the splitting of the moon into two. Such phenomenon has happened in the times of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saws) and in my times also, such sign shall be witnessed by my friends and foes alike as a proof of my truthfulness as the Chosen Messenger of Allah of this era, the second Muhammad (saws) whose advent has been prophesised in the Holy Qur’an in Chapter 62. This prophecy (moon-splitting) shall be physical and spiritual, both literal and metaphorical”.  (Friday Sermon of 25 March 2011).