Sexual Allegations on Khalifa Sani

Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad (ra) (1889-1965), as the second Khalifa of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, had a long period of service at the helm of affairs. It was at the death of the first Khalifa Hadhrat Hakkim Nur-ud-Din Sahib (ra) (b.1841; k. 1908-1914), that he was elected as the head of the spiritual community. It was a difficult historical moment, especially with the Great Split of 1914, leading to the separation of the LAM and the shaking it entailed for the entire community. As the young Khalifa was uniquely positioned to provide the interpretive guidance so necessary for the spiritual community, in the course of several decades, he played a significant role in shaping and defining the ideological and administrative contours of the Community in the last century or so.

The uniqueness of his special authority emerged not just from the fact that he was elected by the companions of the Promised Massih (as). For the common members as well, the second Khalifa was the pious, biological son of the Founder of the community. Given the fact that the prophecies of the Promised Massih (as) included the prophecy Musleh Maoud- regarding the arrival of a righteous progeny for the service of Islam, for many of the companions of the Promised Massih (as) and others, he represented the hope and expectation of a bright future of the Jamaat. For them, he was the personality in whom and through whose times, many of the Divine revelations and sacred prophecies were to be redeemed in the fullness of time.

The prophecy Musleh Maoud

Consider this instance from the first Khilafat. An old, venerable Companion of the Promised Messiah, Pir Manzur Muhammad Sahib, made a study of the works of the Promised Messiah. It led him to the conclusion that Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad combined in himself all qualities and circumstances which marked him out, very clearly, as the Muslih Mau'ud. Pir Manzur Muhammad, wrote a paper on this prophecy. He deduced 14 points, and applied the Prophecy to Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, and he put it before Hazrat Maulvi Nurruddin Khalifatul Masih I whose reaction was: "I have known it for a long time. Have you never noticed that in my attitude towards him, on a personal level, there is an inner shade of deference." 

Pir Manzur Mohammad, then, wrote the gist of this talk and put it before Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I, requesting his signature in confirmation. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih wrote the following on that Paper, and signed it:

"We have known this for a long time. Haven't you noticed that in our personal attitude towards him there is a deep inner shade of deference? I confirm that I said this in the course of a talk with brother Pir Manzur Muhammad."

(Signature bears the date December 10)  (Tashhizul Azhan, 1914, and Tarikh-i-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. IV, page 369)  which carries a photographic reproduction of the original. (quoted in “Truth Prevails” by Qazi Muhammad Nazir, p.90-91)

Fulfilment of a Prophecy

Through the dreams and visions he said he received, Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra) became convinced in 1944 that the great signs mentioned in the prophecy had been fulfilled in his case and that he is indeed the personal embodiment of this grand prophecy, which was  vouchsafed to the Promised Massih (as). In his public statements regarding the august fulfilment of the glad tiding, Khalifa Sani (ra) clearly précised that the spiritual embodiment of the prophecy would (continue to) be redeemed through other promised sons who would appear in future, to serve the cause of Islam in difficult times.

...Not a Ma’mur; a recipient of Revelations

While Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra) emphatically declared in a series of public Speeches in February-March-April 1944 about the fulfilment of the prophecy Musleh Maoud, he has also made it clear that his is not the status of a Ma’mur-min-Allah or Divinely-appointed Mujaddid with a special Divine Mission. For instance, one can read the clear statement of the Khalifa Sani (ra) in this regard:  "Where the fact is conveyed to a man that you are the Muslih Mau'ud, and the argument has been fully put before him, but he persists in denial, what shall we say to him, after that?  Hazrat Khalifatul Masih replied: `We shall say nothing. Whenever Allah desires to do so, He will guide him. Persistence and insistence on acceptance is not the task of one who is not a Ma’mur. '" (Al-Fazal, June 3, 1961)

Though not a Ma’mur-min-Allah, Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra) was a righteous soul and recipient of Divine revelations and true visions and dreams. Many years before he came to be the Khalifa, the young Mahmud had received an Ilham : "Those who follow you, shall remain dominant over those who deny you, and this shall remain true to the Day of the Qiyama ".  In 1944, while speaking at Lahore in the context of the fulfilment of the Prophecy Musleh Maoud, Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra) reiterated the revelatory message to argue that his followers will triumph over the other forces in establishing the majesty of Islam.  

Unfazed by any Opposition

Given the clarity of his mind and commitment to creative engagement on any given context and situation, he never feared any opponent, nor cared for what the critics might hate in his policies. What he understood to be in the best interest and progress of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, he chose to proceed with, regardless of what obstacles lay in the path or how people may look at those actions and policies. Despite the adversities of personal circumstances in the form of a life threatening attack, he persevered in his Jihad al Akbar, the completion of a commentary of the Qur’an in his final years, Alhamdulillah.

It is no accident, then, that just as he had followers in the Jamaat, he has had his critics as well from the day one in the office as Khalifatul Massih. With the separation of the LAM fraction in March 1914, which coincided with the beginning of the second Khilafat, we have a “parallel” account/ alternative description of every idea/events in the history and everyday life of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya.  The pin-pricks in the LAM nurtured all those who said they have a problem with the leadership in Qadian. While professing to be interested only in helping Qadian Ahmadis to know the “true conception” of the teachings of the Promised Massih (as), the LAM leaders like Maulana Muhammad Ali Sahib used the opportunity to speak about the doctrine to call attention to controversial questions.

The children of LAM

If today the likes of the Mushtaq Maliks (and the Rashid Jahangiris) among the Lahori-fellow-travellers and also the other anti-Ahmadi forces in the internet sites, speak against and cast aspersions on the personal character of Khalifa Sani, it is in large measure, due to the discussions within the Lahore literature, on these controversies. One can discern a remarkable similarity and meeting of minds in the commission of the despicable crime on the part of these foot-soldiers and their ideological-mentors. They seem to be ever ready to pounce on any juicy news and turning it in their own advantages, even if it means twisting the truth to make it become to their taste and plausible to public ears and eyes. If Mushtaq Malik and Rashid Jahangiri are guilty of wandering blindly on the internet, with the sole agenda of defamation and character assassination of Khalifa Sani today and their misdeeds appear beautiful to them, they are only following the path of Satan, taught to them by the fathers of Lahore in their official publications.         

Allegations in the LAM Literature

In the LAM publication “Truth Triumphs” by Mumtaz Ahmad Faruqui, (1965) one can see recorded several allegations against Khalifa Sani. He writes:

1.    “When Mirza Mahmud Ahmad was a student and an adolescent, some very immoral and shameful incidents were attributed to him. So much so that even Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, his father had to appoint an enquiry commission to investigate into one such incident. For want of witnesses the charges could not be proved.” (P. 40)      

Whereas, Allah (swa) clears all doubt, Satan insinuates doubt.  Look at the language and the ‘slang’ of the writing. It casts aspersion on the young Mirza Mahmud, insinuating his culpability even after being absolved of the charges for want of proof. In the context of allegations of sexual misconduct, did not Allah reveal the Qur’an to say: “Why did they not bring four witnesses to prove it? Since they have not brought the required witnesses, they are indeed liars in the sight of Allah!” (24: 14)

Wahyi for the Promised Massih (as)

Just as the Holy Prophet (sa) received Qur’anic revelation establishing the righteousness of his young wife, the Promised Massih (as) also received Wahyi  on the point of the purity and righteousness of his spouse, and his children. It came to the Promised Messiah on four separate occasions, in words from the Holy Quran, the words being:

 "Allah intends that He should take away from you all kinds of impurity, ye of the household, and that He should make you pure, as pure should be."

The first time, on January 22, 1907 Tazkira, page 687.
The second time, February 3, 1907 Tazkira, page 688.
The third time, March 2, 1907 Tazkira, page 695.
The fourth time, March 13, 1907 Tazkira, Page 701.

The innocence of the people concerned has been declared four times in Divine revelations. Is it a mere coincidence that four separate attempts were actually made to throw dirt on the family of the promised Massih (as)?

Mubahila Challenge to Rebels

2.  “In 1927, some 14 years after Mirza Mahmud Ahmad had become the Khalifa at Qadian, his Mureed Mistri Abdul Kareem and his relatives and friends, openly levelled a charge of adultery against him and furnished proofs of the same. They also challenged him to a Mutual prayer for the annihilation of the party in the wrong, but Mirza Mahmud Ahmad made sundry excuses and would not accept the same...” ( p.40)

What is apparent from the records is that Khalifa Sani took the view that the scandal was manufactured to discredit his Khilafat and that as the aggrieved party; he had the right to give the Mubahila Challenge to the wrong-doers. Thus, he counter-challenged Mistri Abdul Karim for a Mubahila duel:

"I put myself on a solemn oath, in the name of God, Who holds my life in His hand; Who is the master in everything connected with punishment and reward; and from Whom proceed all kinds of honour and disrepute, that I am the Khalifa appointed by Him; and those who stand opposed to me, and demand that I should engage myself in a mobahila, they are acting in defiance of His wishes, and the laws coming from Him. In this if I am working a fraud of some kind - then, O Lord, make the truth clear by means of some unmistakable Sign. Now that I have taken this solemn oath, let whosoever believes he is justified in his opposition to me in this behalf, come forward to take a similar oath, on his own part, then leave the matter to be decided by Allah."

(Letter dated October 21, 1927, addressed to Babu Abdul Hamid Shimlavi, published in leaflet entitled Jawab Mobahila, page 10, June 30, 1929; quoted in “Truth Prevails” by Qazi Muhammad Nazir, p.100)

Sheikh Abdur Rahman Misri

3.      The third incident of accusation against Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra) was made Sheikh Abdur Rahman Misri after he and family were expelled from the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Qadian in 1937. According to the Sheikh Sahib, who was once the Principal of the Jamiah in Qadian, the reason for his disenchantment with the movement was this:

“The present Khalifa is licentious. Under the guise of holiness, he is a womaniser. He has employed some men and women as agents for this purpose. Through this, he entraps the innocent boys and girls. He has set up a society, which comprises men and women. They indulge in adultery”. (Al Fazl, Dec 2, 1938; Maulana Muhammad Ali Sahib’s Response Speech on Dec 08, 1938; Faruqui, p. 41)

Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra) once again took the position that this was an attack on Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya by someone who has long lost any credibility in the system of the Jamaat by joining its worst enemies in history, the Majlis-e-Ahrar, a fact confirmed by the son Bashir Ahmad Misri as late as March 1989. 

And the Khalifa equated the allegations against him with the kind of allegations people had levelled on divine servants in the past. It should also be noted that it was in 1937 that Hadhrat Khalifa Sani put himself on a solemn oath, with a prayer for heavenly punishment, in case in the eyes of the Lord he was a liar in this claim that he did receive the Ilham regarding the eventual victory of his followers over those who oppose him. He said: "If this is a lie fabricated by me, I call for the curse of the Lord to fall on me!" (Al-Fazal, November 2, 1937).

After being expelled from the JAQ, the Sheikh Sahib joined the LAM. His son Bashir Ahmad Misri, a vocal critic of the Jamaat -e-Ahmadiyya all through his life, died some years after he mounted the challenge of Mubahila against the Jamaat in 1988-89, during the fourth Khalifa’s time, on the very issues on which his family rebelled.

HPP Rebels

4.   The fourth instances of allegations were made during the in the 1950’s, by Chaudhry Ghulam Rasool and the likes of him in the Haquiqat Pasand Party. Against their despicable allegations, the Khalifatul Massih refused to initiate any criminal proceedings in the mundane courts. Look at the stupidity of the argument being mounted these days: because the Khalifa did not go to court to imprison his accusers in the Haqiqat Pasand Party in the 1950s and that he did not establish a Commission under him to sit in judgement over him, he is guilty!!

According to certain websites, in October 2010, Chaudhry Ghulam Rasool declared that he was a part of 'mainstream Islam' and that he did not believe that it was necessary for a Muslim to accept any of the claims of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Unfortunate as it is for them, those who rebelled against the second Khalifa, eventually moved away from the truthful precincts of the Promised Massih (as) himself.

In lieu of Conclusion

"Those who love that immorality should spread among the believers will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter, And Allah knows while you know not." (24:20)

Viewed in retrospect, there is little doubt that the verdict of history has consumed the scandal- mongers. Allah has scattered the joint forces of rebels and enemies who sought to besiege the Khalifa and took away from them the blessings of the richness of faith and the company of the Promised Massih (as).  Has anyone outside of Pakistan has ever heard of the Haquiqat Pasand Party?

And as we have noted recently in another article in the Blog, no effort to implicate Khalifa Sani through secular courts also did find any success, as these were all thwarted one way or the other. When adverse remarks were entered into the judgements by the lower courts, the higher courts rose to shoot them down in the interest of justice and fairness and rule of law.  On the contrary, his adversaries were caught in the trap of law and justice and ended up in jail for hate speech and incitement to murder. Where his adversaries found ‘incitement to murder’ in his speeches, the impartial judges of British India recognized the long arm of “Divine punishment” in the very same space! Can one hope that wisdom will dawn upon the imbeciles who pick up the stones to cast aspersions on a Divine servant?  

As the companion of the Promised Massih (as) Maulana Muhammad Ali Sahib noted in 1938, “Muslims are dissipating their energies in undoing each other on very petty issues”. Thoughtful people among the Lahoris should prevail upon the maverick-elements within and among them from seeking cheap victories. We cannot deny the humanity of anyone who claims he is a victim provided he seeks redress through recourse to law and the administrative system to establish a right. As we have noted already, the alleged victims of Khalifa Sani failed to prove their cause in their time. What is the point in talking about a law point once the Court has ended its proceedings? Continuous allegations against Khalifa Sani (ra) can serve no useful purpose now. There is no point in holding any grudge against anyone on any side. As a scholar noted in another context, “What happened is over. The time has come that we turn a new page and act in a wise manner to solve our differences. Our aim should be union and not division”.  

"Believers, do not be like those who insulted Moses- Allah cleared him of their allegations and he was highly honoured in Allah's eyes. Believers, be mindful of Allah, speak in a direct fashion and to good purpose, and He will put your deeds right for you and forgive you your sins.."  ( HQ 33:69-71)