The Theology of Ahmadiyya ‘Khilafat’

Today, the "mainstream" Nizam-e-Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya is guilty of gross exaggeration of their assembly-selected leadership known as the office of "Khalifatul Massih". The 'deification' of 'Khilafat' in general and that of the reigning 'Khalifa' of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya is of stunning proportions. So much so that anyone who is familiar with the community would be astonished with the perceptional transformation on spiritual questions achieved by the 'Ahmadi' leaders and scholars for themselves. 

The theological engineering done by Ahmadi Ulema to exaggerate the importance of the office of "Khalifatul Massih" is apparent for discerning observers. Consider the Arabic term “Khalifa”. It is generally translated as ‘vicegerent’ or ‘deputy’. The basic meaning of 'khalifa' is ‘successor’. In the Holy Qur’an, one can see several verses that speak about generations and individuals who are successors to each other. For instance: [6:166], [7:130]. According to the Qur’an, ‘Khalifa’ can also be a ‘trustee’ to whom a responsibility is temporarily given. Holy Qur'an tells us that Haroon (as) was the ‘Khalifa’ of Musa (as) when the latter journeyed to His Lord for a period of Forty Nights under special Divine instructions. 

The Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya and its Ulema today only speak about the assembly-selected "Khalifa", ignoring the Qur'an's larger message and subtle nuances. This is the "permanent arrangement"of spiritual leadership they foresee and envision for  themselves till the end of times/ Day of Judgement. In his Friday sermon of May 29, 2015 Khalifatul Massih Mirza Masroor Ahmad Sahib spoke about the question of Ahmadiyya Khilafat in the same lines and looked upon all the material riches on the community as the 'Divine favour' on promise in the Later Days. Despite the acknowledgement of moral decadence among Ahmadis, they do not expect any Divine Elect to rise up and correct them on their mistakes. 

True spiritual vision of the Qur'an and Sunnat Allah is lost out in the mundane calculations and fallible imaginations of the Nizamis: Allah does what He Will, He raises up whoever He wishes, wherever He will, especially when such ideas gain credence among people to destroy the edifice of Tawhid. 

In a recently published book entitled "Towards the Understanding of Prophethood & the Fallacy of Hypocrites", written by the Divine Elect of our times, Imam Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius, the issue of Ahmadiyya Khilafat has been put into perspective. 

In the ebb and flow of human life and the fortune of communities all through history, trajectories of Divine favour can take different shapes and forms, but all human institutions fail and there is no alternative to 'Divine guidance as true guidance'. Truth seekers cannot avoid or evade the issue anymore: the perspective on "Khilafat" presented by the Khalifatullah (atba) is very persuasive and will appeal to the intelligence and heart of every fair-minded person, the arguments being theologically and rationally sound; Qur'anically based, historically-informed and sociologically- accurate. 

  

Read the Extracts from the Book: 

The Fallacies of Maulvi Abdul Ghany

The leaders and scholars of the Nizam(e-Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya) are today guilty of giving credence to self-serving, dynasty-perpetuating, 'doctrinal spin' on important questions of theological matters that impinge on the very foundations of true Islam. The teachings of Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) highlighted the significance of Divine guidance as true guidance and today those who claim his legacy stand to deny the same 'by other means'. For clinging to their earthly 'positions', these leaders and scholars trample upon perennial Qur'anic teachings and would have common folks to believe that Allah (swt) stopped the enduring practice of raising His Elects in support of Tawhid. They would prefer everyone to consider that a man-elected-man is 'superior' to a Divine Elect, raised by Allah (swt) Himself in this era! 

In a recently published book entitled "Towards the Understanding of Prophethood and the Fallacy of the Hypocrites", Imam Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah, Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius corrects these doctrinal mistakes, interpretative anomalies and argumentative fallacies committed by the so called Ahmadi leaders and scholars. The central question of continuity of Divine revelations in the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya had for too long been kept under the carpet by these chiefs and now their ways are being challenged by a servant of Allah (swt), speaking with the help of Rooh-il-Quddus.  The book in this context puts under scanner the reality of certain statements and pronouncements made by Khalifatul Massih Mirza Masroor Ahmad Sahib in one of his recent Friday Sermons. 

The Book also takes apart the article written by maulvi Abdul Ghany Jahangeerkhan. Ever since the advent of the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius, the maulvi had been at the forefront of efforts to extinguish the light of Allah from among the Ahmadis in Mauritius. Like the original Iblis in the times of Adam (as), he tried his worst to confuse and deviate as many Ahmadis as possible. He feared that common Ahmadis recognizing the Divine Light among them might turn upside down the very edifice of mundane chiefs to whom he was beholden. Sensing 'danger' to entreched fiefdoms, he cared far more to please his 'masters' at home and abroad than to bow before the wisdom and judgement of the Master of the Universe in raising a Messenger among them. In ringing Orwellian style of a rank hypocrite, he co-opted the 'language' of faith to deviate people from the faith!  

The first part of the series appeared in the Blog and can be read here. The second part of the extracts follow below:

Reply to Abdul Ghany Jahangeer Khan

Earlier this month, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International published a new Book written by the Khalifatullah, Hadhrat Imam Muhyi-ud-Din Munir Ahmad Azim  Saheb (atba) of Mauritius. This tract is entitled, Towards the Understanding of Prophethood & the Fallacy of the Hypocrites. It can be read here. 

This book is an important contribution to the growing literature of the Jamaat, explaining the unthinking premises of the currently held notions of basic Ahmadi 'beliefs' on the 'continuity' of Khilafat in the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya through mundane elections till the end of times. 

Most Ahmadis today follow a narrow assumption of prophethood and spiritual leadership in the Muslim Ummah among the 'Aakharreen'. Devout Ahmadis are often misguided by their leaders and scholars into muddled thinking: that Allah (swt) can raise no one in this era with Divine revelations, to revitalize the constitutional architecture and thereby correct the administrative edifice of the legacy left behind by the Promised Massih (as) in the previous century. The fallacies apparent (and not so apparent) in the doctrinal assumptions of the current Ahmadi scholars on the concepts of 'Khilafat' and 'Rooh-il-Quddus' can be cleared only by a Man of God, a recipient of Divine Revelations in the tradition of the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) of Qadian. The reality of  the ways of the Divine and His Plans for spiritual rejuvenation unravel only in the fullness of time and scholarly assumptions are mere speculations unless blessed by the support and endorsement of Divine practice (Sunnatullah.), Alhamdulillah, for those who humble their selves and pay homage to the wisdom of God, the aforesaid Book offers subtle Signs of Divine wisdom, convincing argumentation on theological differences and clear reasoning on all incidents that it surveys. 

Reproduced below is an extract of a section from the Book, containing a response to Mr. Abdul Ghany Jehangeerkhan, a maulvi in the Nizam-e-Jamaat and a self-declared, fierce opponent of the Divine Mission of the Khalifatullah. The scrutiny of the record of (mis-)deeds of this Maulvi provides a fascinating glimpse into the early Days of the Divine Manifestation when it faced enormous trials at the hands of the enemies of Allah (swt). 

Read the Extracts below:

"By the grace of Almighty Allah, Allah has enabled us to be born Muslims and also belonging to the spiritual family and identity of the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) who came more than 125 years ago with a rise of a new century to bring people from darkness into light.

It is Sunnat Allah (the blessed practice of our Lord Almighty, Allah) that whenever the original divine message is in danger of extinction, that is, when people have deviated from the right path and has taken their own souls as prisoners and cast them in the dungeon of unfaith, then Allah, merciful as ever, before seizing them with His mighty punishment, chooses to send to them, time after time, era after era someone from Him to bring back the pristine message of Islam, the pristine divine message.

It is a reality which existed since the dawn of time and which the Quran highlights that those in power try to manipulate the mass so that the people listen to what the corrupted divines have to say instead of the true Messengers of Allah who come to the world with the Ruh-il-Quddus (Holy Spirit) to warn mankind and to give good news of the approval and pleasure of Allah when those who come forward embrace the divine light which is offered to them.

If the teachings of Islam as a whole were being manipulated by the so-called divines and scholars so much so that Allah saw the need to send the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), then do you think that now the people in the Jamaat of the Promised Messiah (as) shall remain as devoted and pure as when the Ruh-il-Quddus was still descending on the Promised Messiah (as) when he was yet alive?

People constitute a Jamaat, and when people become corrupted especially the spiritual leaders and their subordinate chiefs (in all regions and countries), do you think that Allah shall stay aloof and won’t send His Chosen Messenger again to save the ship (the Community) of His true prophets? Such a Messenger who shall safeguard the honour of His elects and preserve His teachings as per His divine instructions which He sends in forms of revelations, true dreams and visions?

On the 09 July 2015, Mr Abdul Ghany Jahangeerkhan posted on alislam.org an article: “The characteristics of hypocrites”, thereby auto-proclaiming himself as the defender of the Khilafat-ul-Massih treating others as hypocrites without analysing his own deeds. We know the characteristics of an individual through his own actions.

Mr Abdul Ghany posed himself as a very nice little charming defendant of the Khalifa and Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya by citing some verses of the Holy Quran concerning the characteristics of the hypocrites.

Khalifatullah: Guardian of the Faith

Each time Allah (swt) sends His Caliph (Khalifatullah) on earth, people refuse to accept him; they not only refuse to accept him but they also make all sorts of evil plans to stop him from spreading the message of His Creator. In the message he gives there is protection for humanity, to safeguard the true faith and guide them towards (the worship of) only the Unique God. He also shows them the path which shall lead them to the Unique God. Unfortunately, through their arrogance and ignorance, they persist in worshipping the idol/idols of their own making.

A Khalifatullah is a guardian of the Tawhid (unicity of Allah) in a particular/special way. Allah (swt) has fulfilled His promise after Nabi Kareem (pbuh) where there were the Khulafa-e-Rashideen and after the Promised Messiah (as), there were the Khulafa-e-Massih; but like Allah (swt) has promised in the Holy Quran, in Surah An-Nur, Chapter 24, Verset 56, those who have faith and do good deeds as per the commandments of Allah, and who follow the divine instructions as to how to obtain (true) faith and who obey Allah (swt) in the performance of good deeds – whereby these shall be reflected in their deeds – then Allah shall establish them as His representatives, Khalifatullah on earth like He did with those who came before them. And moreover Allah shall reinforce for them their religion which He has perfected and loved for them and He shall transform their fear into security.

Verily, this promise (and actual materialization of that promise) is a divine gift to the sincere believers who have firm faith in the unicity of Allah, who have Taqwa (fear for Allah only) and not fear for creature/s. They worship Allah only and do not associate anything to Him in this worship. Their love for Allah (swt) is infinite and they are always ready to lay down their lives for the cause of Allah.

A Khalifatullah is a guardian for everybody; he becomes their heart and brain and whenever the Khalifatullah sees a sprout (the manifestation) of Shirk, he eliminates it. A Khalifatullah also does not worry about what the world may think of him – either positive or negative. He trusts that in such situations of negativity (against his person), Allah (swt) shall always help him (His Khalifatullah) for it is Allah who has chosen and raised him.

With the advent of a Khalifatullah, what has transpired in the past in the times of the Khalifatul-Massih, Insha-Allah, with the help of Allah, the Khalifatullah shall not permit that all these mistakes be repeated in the Jamaat wherein the Khalifatullah is found! And I, as the Khalifatullah of this era, I make this firm announcement that wherever there is the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam in the world, we shall not let innovations and Shirk enter the Jamaat. If ever these exist in the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, that I am not aware of, then (after taking knowledge of it) I cannot let these kinds of Bai’ats remain attached to me as the Khalifatullah of this age; I cannot let Shirk and innovations etc. enter the Jamaat. For me personally, I would prefer that these kinds of people break their Bai’ats and this shall not affect me. If someone becomes Murtad, Allah (swt) shall enable hundred pious and sincere people, Muwahid to enter the fold of the Jamaat (Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam).

Politics of 'Jihad' and 'Victimhood' in Paris

The killings in Paris

Before coming on the subject matter of my sermon today, I shall talk a little on what has transpired in France, Paris last Friday, 13 November 2015. Friday the 13^th is believed by many, including the French people as a very inauspicious day. This superstition was reinforced with the killings which happened there (last Friday) and which made lots of victims. It was really a sad event, especially for the victims of these attacks. 

But unfortunately, I must stress also the fact that the Government of France, with all their arrogance won’t budge from their stand, especially concerning the giving of armaments to the people of Syria with the intention of capsizing the regime of Bashar Al-Assad, and also to reinforce their plans for the killings of the Muslims among themselves, thus weakening Islam further.

The Politics of 'Jihad'

It is true also that the type (and execution) of the Jihad which the so-called Muslims are putting into practice is completely unislamic. The attacks which they are perpetrating are not justifiable attacks as they are killing their own selves, committing suicide and having suicide as intention so as to kill innocent people. 

Islamic Morals for a Joyous Life

By the grace of Allah I continue today on the subject of my previous sermons, that is to say, the “Khidmat-e-Khalq” (Service to Humanity) and this sermon is specifically the continuation of the last Friday Sermon where I spoke on hospitality (to the guests, to the poor, to everyone).

In a very nice anecdote and Hadith, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) refers to hospitality in a wonderful way. Once a Sahabi (companion of the Messenger of Allah) appeared before Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) in the morning, and then the Holy Prophet (pbuh) told him: “The action you did last night pleased Allah very much (and this even made Allah laugh).” 

And it was on this occasion that Allah revealed the following verse:

“They prefer others to their own selves, in spite of the fact that they are themselves in pressing need.” (Al-Hashr 59: 10)

In fact, this is the same matter of the verses of the Quran which I mentioned in the previous Friday Sermons: Al-Insaan, Chapter 76, Verses 9-10. It is about the fact that despite the difficulties they face, they give priority to other people rather than their own persons. 

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya at the Cross-roads of Time

By the grace of Allah, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam is today celebrating its Jalsa Salana in the north of Mauritius. It is an historic Jalsa Salana in the annals of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam whereby a hundred years have passed since our ancestors first accepted the Promised Messiah of the past era, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as). And all this came to be as per the plan of Allah (swt) for this little island, such an island which is difficult to see on the world map. And today, Allah has raised another of His Messiah who is present amidst you today to celebrate this centennial celebration of the message of the past Messiah in our little island.

Allah (swt) has wished for His Messiah and Khalifatullah to celebrate the Jalsa Salana 2015 together with the seekers of truth of this era. And Allah (swt) gave His chosen servants that great honour to be foremost in the grand event of this year 2015, and thus the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam was the first to be able to publish a centenary magazine on the subject, launched it and organised also several conferences around the island in different villages, accompanied by social works as well.

Therefore, this Jalsa Salana holds another status and importance today. It is a Jalsa which shows the results of this centennial year, for it is the Caliph of Allah (Khalifatullah) who has received this true blessing from Allah to honour those who toiled hard, made sacrifices over sacrifices in 1915 to receive the message of the Promised Messiah (as). When they accepted that message, they had to undergo all kinds of trials (for the sake of their faith). Their trials and sacrifices did not go in vain.

It has borne its fruits in this very same island, and at the beginning of this century, Allah has raised His Messiah, His Muhyi-ud-Din, His Khalifatullah. You like it or not, but the fact remains that Allah raised this humble servant and Allah has decreed: “It is My Caliph (Khalifatullah) who shall have the upper hand over all other Jamaats”. The latter have failed because of their arrogance, boastfulness and more specifically because of their refusal to accept the Khalifatullah of this era and to believe in the revelations he receives from Allah. They have moreover given their idol foremost importance (instead of Allah and His signs). Thus ensured the results which they are now receiving/ witnessing, but Allah (swt) is verily showing these to them so that they may know that it is in the simple ways and without exaggerated expenses that they can make progress. But instead what do these people do? They are wasting (valuable) money of the contributors who contributed in the path of Allah.

Allah (swt) has enabled His Khalifatullah to honour this centennial event and made him (i.e. this humble self) the key person in all aspects to receive this privilege. The Jamaat Ahmadiyya (mainstream) lost this divine honour, for despite that they are celebrating that centennial event, yet there is no spiritual flavour, no spiritual juice in it, just like a withered orange devoid of juice.