A Debate on “Ummati-Nabi”

What a wonderful perfection has Khatm-i-Risalat shown to the world!

It has made the river of Nabuwwat (Prophethood) to flow in the Ummat.

On the basis of this blessing we have achieved the foremost position,

in comparison with the other Ummats.

What is the harm, among the followers of the Holy Prophet Mohammad, if

one has appeared among us as a Prophet? 

For the true Believer, if there is any glad tiding, it lies in this point, and whatever miracle is

now possible among the Muslims, it is only on this account!

                                               -Paigham-i-Sulha, February 12, 1914)

In a recent series of conversations over e-mail, Ahmadi brothers of different denominational groups- Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya (Haqiqi), Jamaat-e- Ahmadiyya Al Muslimeen and the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam- shared their differing perceptions on the meaning and scope, ambit and purpose of the spiritual title of “Ummati-Nabi” as applicable to the Promised Massih (as).   

It is instructive to note that till the death of Khalifatul Massih Awwal Hadhrat Maulvi Hakkim Nur-ud-Din (ra) in March 1914, all Ahmadis, including those who went on to form the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement (LAM) and unjustly ACCUSE Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad (ra) of doctrinal revision, believed that the Promised Massih (as) was indeed a Nabi in the Ummat-e-Muhammadiyya. Yet, after the Great Split in the Jamaat, the Lahore Ahmadis indulged in doctrinal revisions to position themselves away from their own previous beliefs and proclamations.( See the poem published in their Journal a month before the Split in March 1914). 

‘Sacrifice’ is a Call of Duty

The spirit of Eid-ul-Adha ought to pervade the faith and practices of the believer in his everyday life. He could, should and would be ready to sacrifice all that he values and cherishes in furtherance of the cause of God and to fulfil His wishes. Being submissive to the command of God and the willingness to sacrifice in the Divine Path is a call of duty for all Muslims, to be discharged throughout their lives. It is through the practical demonstration of obedience to Divine commandments in their own everyday life that the believers will be able to inherit and follow in the footsteps of the noble Messengers and saints of the past, points out the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius, in his Friday Sermon of 18 October 2013.

“And when he reached the age of travelling with him, he said: ‘My son, while I was sleeping I saw that I shall slaughter (sacrifice) you, tell me what is your opinion.’ He replied: ‘Father, do as you are ordered (by Allah). Allah willing, you shall find me one of those who are steadfast.’” (37: 103)

Exclusion of Ahmadis from HAJJ: A Grave Error

Performance of Hajj is one of the fundamental religious obligations of the Muslims. Yet, today Ahmadi Muslims are legally prohibited from enlisting themselves for the same, as the Ulema in Pakistan have succeeded in writing their bigotry and intolerance into legal injunctions. The Saudi Arabian authorities who take pride in the title of “Custodians of the Holy Mosques” have failed to estimate the gravity of their mistake in preventing those who believe in Allah (twa) and His Messenger from doing Hajj. The Kaaba, in the course of its several millennium of history, had witnessed some tragic transgressions, including the installation of idols and the taking away of the Black Stone itself for a period of time. Allah the Most High has informed the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius that the present legal restrictions/ religious prohibitions would also be thrown into the dustbin of history as it unjustly prevent the Ahmadi Muslims from being able to perform the Hajj.   

Read the Extracts from the Eid-ul-Adha Sermon, delivered on 16 October 2013: 

 And who is more unjust than he who prevents (men) from the Mosques of Allah, that His name should be remembered in them, and strives to ruin them? (As for) these, it was not proper for them that they should have entered them except in fear; they shall meet with disgrace in this world, and they shall have great chastisement in the hereafter. (2: 115)

Final Sermon of Prophet Muhammad

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) delivered his last sermon (Khutbah) on the ninth of Dhul Hijjah (12th and last month of the Islamic year), 10 years after Hijrah (migration from Makkah to Madinah) in the Uranah Valley of mount Arafat. His words were quite clear and concise and were directed to the entire humanity.

After praising, and thanking Allah, the Holy Prophet (sa) said: “O People, lend me an attentive ear, for I know not whether after this year, I shall ever be amongst you again. Therefore listen to what I am saying to you very carefully and take these words to those who could not be present here today.

Eid-ul-Adha: Qurbani is Obligatory

Through his willingness to offer his son Hadhrat Ismail (as) in sacrifice, Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) displayed tremendous commitment and extraordinary faith in executing a Divine Command. Islam, thus, commends the sublime spirit of sacrifice for the sake of seeking the pleasure of Allah (swt) in its rituals and faith-practices. The festival of Eid-ul-Adha and the ritual of Qurbani integrated with it, in many ways, represent the permanent remembrance of Muslims of the great sacrifice of the Great Patriarch and Khalilullah.  In his Friday Sermon of 11 October 2013 (05 Dhul-Hijjah 1434 Hijri), the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (atba) of Mauritius continued the theme of the great sacrifice of Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) and underscored the significance of Qurbani or Udh-hiya on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha.

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon:

“And when he reached the age of travelling with him, he said: ‘My son, while I was sleeping I saw that I shall slaughter (sacrifice) you, tell me what is your opinion.’ He replied: ‘Father, do as you are ordered (by Allah). Allah willing, you shall find me one of those who are steadfast.’” (37: 103)

Allah expounds on the sacrifice of cause of Hazrat Ibrahim (upon him be peace) and Hazrat Ismail (upon him be peace) in praiseworthy words. He (Allah) informs humanity in which way the unique son of Ibrahim (upon him be peace) preferred the decree of Allah above all things. In the verse which I just recited, Hazrat Ismail (upon him be peace) tells his father: “Father, do as you are ordered (by Allah). Allah willing, you shall find me one of those who are steadfast.” (37: 103)

Therefore, when both father and son submitted to the will of Allah, then Allah Himself was extremely pleased with such a proof of love and submission which both His chosen servants showed towards Him. Hazrat Ibrahim (upon him be peace) offered the life of his son at the command of Allah the Almighty, but (then) Allah, the Exalted says: “Wa fadaynaahu bizibhin ‘aziim” (37: 108) - And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice.

The degree of the manifestation of this love which Hazrat Ibrahim (upon him be peace) had for Allah was so great that it made manifest such an event which has since marked the history of Islam. This gave way to a rite called Qurbani or Udhiya, which has become a part of Islam. This sacrifice was continued by Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) and Allah made it obligatory on the Muslims who have the means to do it. This sacrifice is not only prescribed for us, the people, Ummah of Hazrat Muhammad (peace be upon him) but it was prescribed also to people of the past also, like mentioned in the Holy Quran: “To every people did We appoint rites (of sacrifice), that they might celebrate the name of Allah over the sustenance He gave them from animals (fit for food).” (Al-Hajj 22: 35)

A Message of Peace to All Hajjis

The journey to the House of Allah in Makkah, prescribed as part of the religious obligations of the able faithful, is the representational act of complete submission to the Divine Will and Command in this life and the ultimate metaphor for the journey to the Hereafter. In November 2007, Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Munir Ahmad Azim (atba) of Mauritius paid a poetic tribute to all Hajjis on the occasion of their proceeding on the spiritual pilgrimage to the land of the Prophet of Islam for the Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha. The depth of meaning and sheer beauty of the soulful prayer captures one’s imagination so much so that one keeps repeating the poem long after the first recitation. As another Hajj is culminating in the Eid, we reproduce the poem below for the benefit of all our readers:   

From the bottom of my humble heart,
May your flight to the land of the Prophet of Islam,
Bring about a great spiritual change in you,
And may you revolve in Allah’s Love,
And gain proximity with Him,
Who have made Hajj the essence of purification,

I call to you O Allah, my Lord,
To bless all those who are dear to You,
And who have readied their heart,
To accomplish Your command,
And come to You,
From all corners of this temporal world as true devotees of the Lord of all the worlds,
To sacrifice their selves in the hands of purity, Incha-Allah. Ameen

The QURBANI of Hadhrat Ibrahim (as)

People practice different rituals in their quest for Divine satisfaction. Sincere good deeds and personal sacrifices made solely for the purpose of seeking the pleasure of Allah have special resonance at the throne of Allah (twa). In the quest for understanding the spirit of sacrifice in the service of Tawheed, the life of Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) serves as an enduring model and inspiration for all believers. For his experiences in all their complex and varied settings represent an extraordinary saga of submission to the Divine Will. Even under conditions of severe trials, requiring extreme patience in the contingencies of life such as being asked his son, Hadhrat Ibrahim (as) remained sincere, solely devoted to the protective hands of the Divine [Inset: Artistic impression of that great sacrifice).

In his Friday Sermon of 04 October 2013, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) Mauritius reflected on the purpose of Qurbani, a ritual of faith all devout Muslims observe on the occasion of the performance of Hajj / Eid-ul-Adha in the backdrop of the story of the life of Hadhrat Ibrahim (as).

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon:

“(O Prophet) Say, “Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.” (6: 163)