Tuesday, February 21, 2017

'Musleh Maoud': Then & Now

Divine revelations and prophecies unravel in subtle ways in the fullness of time: testifying to the Grandeur and Mercy of the Lord by confirming the essential truth of what a Divine Elect foretells the world. Yet, the ways of the Lord Almighty are unknowable for the most part, except to the extent and limits of what He chooses to reveal through His Elects. Sometimes, even the Divine Elects themselves may not comprehend in full measure the nuances and implications of a Prophecy they are made to proclaim, as the Lord in His Infinite Wisdom may choose to keep hidden certain aspects till a time or "substitute one revelation for another and God knows best what He reveals" (16:102,  2:107, 13:40). And the realization of such prophecies, thus, often may not confirm to the dominant notions and prevailing imaginations of people. 

Today, there are major differences of opinion among the various Ahmadi sects about the meaning and interpretative implications of the prophecy on "Musleh Maoud" made by the Khalifatullah of the previous era, Al Imam Al Mahdi,  Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian. 'Mainstream' Ahmadis of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya (Qadian) feel that the prophecy was fulfilled in the person of the second caliph, Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad (ra) (1889-1965) and they attach only some anecdotal value to the fulfillment of this prophecy today, as they do not find any contemporary relevance to it, in a new century of Islam. On the other hand, many other sects of Ahmadis who also believe in the spiritual claims of the Promised Massih (as), do not consider that the prophecy regarding the advent of a Musleh Maoud is fulfilled, especially since they retain, regrettably,  animus against the family and physical progeny of the Promised Massih (as). Many of these groups also feel that the fulfillment of the prophecy is only concerned with the advent of a Ma'mur in the new century of Islam- in the Fifteenth Century Hijri, and are waiting for a spiritual churning to take place within the world of Ahmadiyya Islam, especially with the advent of  a number of claimants who say they are recipients of Divine revelations in this era.   

  
On the prophecy Musleh Maoud, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam offers a very appealing discourse on the issues and points at the heart of the debate. Devout and thoughtful people among the Ahmadis of various denominations will find much to reflect in the perspective of the Jamaat, as it illumines the Prophecy on Musleh Maoud without falling into the pitfalls that the other perspectives suffer from, right now. Consider the glaring differences: 'Mainstream' Ahmadis have ignored the continuing validity of the Prophecy in the new century of Islam by their denial of significance to the statements and clarifications of Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra) while claiming to be the 'Musleh Maoud' of his times, and more importantly, the vital words of Allah (swt) Himself, in the form of Divine revelations vouchsafed to the Promised Massih (as) on the question of his spiritual progeny. On the other hand, the perspectives of the other Ahmadi sects openly reject the intimate connection the Prophecy has with the 'physical' progeny of the Promised Massih (as). As against these glaring lacunae in the understanding of the different groups, Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam upholds both the 'physical' and 'spiritual' dimensions of the prophecy Musleh Maoud. While pointing to the fulfillment of this prophecy in the previous era in the physical progeny of the Promised Massih (as), it also calls attention to the continuing relevance of the Grand Prophecy in the new century of Islam for the spiritual progeny of the Promised Massih (as, especially with Allah (swt) raising Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius with Divine revelations to proclaim the  fulfillment of this prophecy in this era as well, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar.  

Reproduced below is the text of a Speech delivered by Hazrat Tayyeba Shaheeda Aliah Nasrine Saheba on 20 February 2016 on the Prophecy Musleh Maoud. With copious references from the original sources, the Speech calls attention to the profound spiritual background and historic context of the prophecy Musleh Maoud, even as it provides illuminating inferences on its contemporary relevance. 


Read the Speech Below:  

And to Dawud (David) We gave Suleiman (Solomon). How excellent a slave he was! Surely he was frequent in turning (to Allah) in repentance. (Sad, 38: 30).

Today is 20 February 2016, a memorable day in history for this date and month marks 130 years since the unforgettable prophecy as received by the Promised Messiah Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) in the year 1886 concerning a Promised Pure Son who shall his biological and spiritual heir. The Promised Messiah Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) sought from Allah a special entreaty in the ability to bring forth into the world a blessed son who shall be like Suleiman was to Dawud, and like Yahya was to Zakariyya. He sought this from Allah not just as good news, but as a Grand Divine Sign.

He already made the intention to go into a spiritual retreat in a particular place but then Allah revealed to him the place which he needed to go to accomplish his heart’s desire, and Allah so desired that this heartfelt supplication be heard and that this proves as a great divine blessing not just for the Community of the Promised Messiah, i.e. his followers and movement, but for the religion of Islam and humanity as a whole.

Therefore, Allah directed him to go to Hoshiarpur. The Promised Messiah (as) wrote: “God, the Almighty has disclosed to me the name of the town where I should stay for a period in retreat. It is Hoshiarpur.” (Maktoobat Ahmadiyya, Vol. V No.3 p.10).

He further received another revelation: “One of your purposes will be achieved in Hoshiarpur.”

While in retreat in Hoshiarpur, the Promised Messiah (as) was blessed with several revelations, among which he received:

“I confer upon thee a Sign of My mercy according to thy supplications. I have heard thy entreaties and have honoured thy prayers with My acceptance through My mercy and have blessed this thy journey. A sign of power, mercy, nearness to Me is bestowed on thee. A Sign of grace and beneficence is awarded to thee and thou art granted the key of success and victory. Peace on thee, O victorious one. Thus does God speak so that those who desire life may be rescued from the grip of death and those who are buried in the graves may emerge therefrom and so that the superiority of Islam and the dignity of God’s word may become manifest unto the people and so that the truth may arrive with all its blessings and falsehood may depart with all its ills, and so that people may understand that I am the Lord of Power, I do whatever I will, and so that they may believe that I am with thee, and so that those who do not believe in God and deny and reject His religion and His Book and His Holy Messenger Muhammad, the chosen one (on whom be peace) may be confronted with a clear sign and the way of the guilty ones may become manifest.

“Rejoice, therefore, that a handsome and pure boy will be bestowed on thee. Thou wilt receive a bright youth who will be of thy seed and will be of thy progeny. A handsome and pure boy will come as your guest. His name is Emmanuel and Bashir. He has been invested with a holy spirit and he will be free from all impurity. He is the light of Allah. Blessed is he who comes from heaven. He shall be accompanied by grace (Fazl) which shall arrive with him. He will be characterized with grandeur, greatness and wealth. He will come into the world and will heal many of their disorder through his Messianic qualities and through the blessings of the Holy Spirit. He is the Word of Allah for Allah’s mercy and honour have equipped him with the Word of Majesty. He will be extremely intelligent and understanding and will be meek of heart and will be filled with secular and spiritual knowledge. He will convert three into four (of this the meaning is not clear). It is Monday, a blessed Monday. Son, delight of heart, high ranking, noble; a manifestation of the First and the Last, a manifestation of the True and the High; as if Allah has descended from heaven. His advent will be greatly blessed and will be a source of manifestation of Divine Majesty. Behold! A light cometh, a light anointed by God with the perfume of His pleasure. We shall pour our spirit into him and he will be sheltered under the shadow of God. He will grow rapidly in stature and will be the means of procuring the release of those held in bondage. His fame will spread to the ends of the earth and peoples will be blessed through him. He will then be raised to his spiritual station in heaven. This is a matter decreed.”

This revelation/ prophecy was first written for the attention of the people by the Promised Messiah on 20 February 1886 and was published for the first time in the ‘Riaz-e-Hind’ Newspaper on 01 March 1886 as a supplement to the Newspaper. It was again published in the form of a leaflet on 22 March 1886 and the Promised Messiah (as) specified therein that through divine revelation, that promised son with the messianic qualities shall be born within the period of nine years.

By the grace of Allah, on Saturday 12 January 1889, the world was blessed with the birth of Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, who was to be both the biological and spiritual heir of his father, the Dawud of his era. Indeed, the Promised Messiah Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) came in the mantle of all prophets, and thus, he was also Dawud like Allah so many times named him. For e.g., in one of his revelations, Allah told him:

“O Dawud, behave towards people gently and benevolently.” (Anjam-e-Atham, Ruhani Khazain, Vol.11, P.60).

So the Dawud of his era was blessed with a Suleiman who proved throughout his lifetime on earth that he was indeed not just the normal heir of his father but also blessed by Allah to continue the mission of his father the Messiah with the messianic essence within him, such essence which Allah concealed to the world through his apparent lack of instruction since a child but which became apparent with Allah’s touch and revelations when Allah was the One who became the Greatest Guide and Teacher of that special child.

We know through the verses and teachings of the Holy Quran that Prophet Zakariyya (as) as a childless man feared the bad intentions from the people from his family and he pleaded from Allah a miracle, in that which he shall receive a pure son who shall not only be his biological heir, but also a mighty help for his mission as prophet of Allah. Allah knowing his predicament, just like He listened to the entreaties of His intimate friend, Abraham (Ibrahim), gave him a blessed son, prophet of Allah in old age.

Likewise the Promised Messiah (as) was in his early fifties when he sought the same kind of miracle from Allah. He married twice and from his first wife who turned into his opponent later on during his mission as Elect of Allah, he got two sons who remained aloof to him and his mission. He thus desired a sign of Allah in the form of a blessed son who shall be not only a comfort to his heart but also a comfort to his community and the world. This wish was fulfilled when he got his first living son, who grew up to adulthood and who became his Khalifa (Khalifatul-Massih) after his demise, and most particularly the demise of the first Khalifatul-Massih Hadhrat Al-Hajj Hakeem Nuruddin (ra). He was not merely a Khalifatul-Massih for namesake but also that promised blessed and pure son whom he called “Musleh Maud” who shall be the light of the world, the light of his mission on earth.

Just like Abraham received in old age his first son, Ismail, likewise, the Promised Messiah (as) got Bashiruddin Mahmud, the Emmanuel of his era. If Ismail means an entreaty which was heard and granted by God Almighty, Emmanuel means that God Almighty is with him. And thus as the first born after the prophecy from his pious second wife, Hadhrat Nusrat Jahan Begum (ra), Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra) proved to be the fulfillment of the divine prophecy and died after 51 years (on 08 November 1965) after serving the mission of his noble father.

This mission was not just a mission chosen by the people to guide them towards righteousness and victory, but the will of Allah even before his birth on earth. As there were speculations as to who was the promised son and reformer of the Promised Messiah (as), revelations, inspirations and a specific vision were granted to the Khalifatul-Massih II guiding to take notice of the fact that he was the chosen one among all children of the Messiah about whom the prophecy of 20 February 1886 applied. It was not in vain that after his birth, the Promised Messiah (as) named him “Mahmud” and “Bashir”, for he was the result of the glad tidings announced to him by Allah.

It is true that after his birth also, and also before the demise of the Promised Messiah, the latter received good news of other promised sons who shall be born. The Promised Messiah (as) got in all 5 sons from his second wife, two of whom died young.

Controversy over Interpretation

Today there is great controversy among groups of Ahmadi Muslims as to who is the Real Musleh Maud (Promised Reformer) promised to the Promised Messiah Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as). Some say that Mubarak Ahmad, the last son was considered by the Mahdi to be his designated promised pure son (Zaki Ghulam), but as was the will of Allah, he died young at the age of 8 years old, roughly one year before the demise of the Promised Messiah so that the latter may have no doubt as to whom is really his Promised Son. Even elects of Allah receive trials from Allah. Not everything is clearly depicted to them, but time is of essence in the manifestation of the sign of Allah, especially in respect of the Great Divine Sign, the advent of the Promised Messiah’s Musleh Ma’ud (Promised Reformer).

Like Allah promised, all good omens pertaining to the promised son pointed to Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad. He was the actual seed and progeny of the Promised Messiah. He was born within the limit of 9 years. He was the first born living son of the Promised Messiah after that Allah listened to the latter’s entreaties and bestowed upon him the glad tidings of this illustrious son. He was to arrive after the first Bashir who died very young (1886-1887).

In 1940 he stated in the course of a Friday sermon: 


“I believe it is not necessary to make a claim in respect of a prophecy that relates to a person who has not been commissioned by God. How many of the Reformers whose names are entered in a list published after the approval of the Promised Messiah (as), made such a claim? I have heard the Promised Messiah (as) say that he thought Emperor Aurangzeb was the Reformer of his age. Did he put forward any claim? Umar bin Abdul Aziz is revered as a Reformer. Did he make any claim? Thus it is not necessary for a non-commissioned one to make a claim.”

The Musleh Maud (ra) knew deep inside that he was the one prophesised but he did not say anything during his Khilafat until he got the divine sign and permission in 1944 to confidently proclaim his status as the prophesised pure son and reformer promised to his father, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as). On 28 January 1944 he related in detail a dream he has seen and announced that he was the Promised Reformer. In this vision, he was made to proclaim loud and clear: “Anal Massih’ul Maudu, Maseeluhu wa Khalifatuh.”  (I am the Promised Messiah, his reflection and his Khalifa (representative)”, thus confirming his special connection to the prophecy of 20 February 1886 in full. From then on, he made several public gatherings in which he declared himself openly to be the Promised Reformer, the pure son vouchsafed to the Promised Messiah by way of revelation. But he was sure to precise, like he did on 20 February 1944 in Hoshiarpur:

“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.”

Furthermore, Hadhrat Musleh Maud (ra) published in Al-Fazl the following claim through divine revelations:

“God has told me that at another period of infidelity He will send me in the world a second time, which means that my spirit at such time will descend on another person who will possess capabilities similar to mine and he will reform the world by following my footprints.” (19 February 1956)

Moreover, through dreams which he had, the Musleh Maud (ra) knew that Allah shall manifest him a second time to the world for its reformation. This does not mean that he shall be reincarnated or that he will come bodily from the heavens to accomplish such feat but verily, Allah shall manifest a person/ persons like him to accomplish His purpose through him/ them. According to the interpretation of the Musleh Maud (ra) himself and as recorded in the compilation of his dreams and revelations, he commented on the fact that it seems that that designated epoch shall be the 15th Century Hijri.

By the immense grace of Allah in this present age, the 15th Century Hijri (Lunar Calendar) and at the turn of the 21st Century (Christian Era – Solar Calendar), Allah has directly commissioned another one of His designated Messenger, the Promised Messiah, Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (atba) for the reformation of the whole world. Allah clearly told him that he was the Reviver of Faith, the Messiah and Khalifatullah of this era.

Even though he is not of the biological seed of the Promised Messiah, but he is the spiritual son of both Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh) and Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as). His coming has been prophesised by Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh), Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) and even the Musleh Maud Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Ahmad (ra). But the latter prediction has got credence when Allah Himself revealed to Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (atba) that he was also the Musleh Maud of this era. He got the revelation of being the Musleh Maud on 20 February 2004, and he made the proclamation the same night at the residence of Zafrullah Domun Saheb at Pailles.

Thus, in this era Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (atba) is a living proof of the revelation: “Anal Massih’ul Maudu, Maseeluhu wa Khalifatuh.” He is verily the Promised Messiah of this era, the reflection of the Promised Messiah of the past era and his representative. He moreover is the Promised Messiah, the Promised pure Son and Reformer and Khalifatullah (Caliph of Allah, commissioned by Allah) of this/ his era. Like Allah revealed to him, he is the manifestation of Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh) in this era, he is the manifestation of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) and Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra), as well as all the other prophets. His mission is such a mission which is not separate from Islam and its teachings and last divine code, the Holy Quran. His mission is in confirmation of the grandeur and beauty of Islam and the teachings of Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh), Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) and Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra).

Allah has once told him that the Musleh Maud is under many attacks even nowadays and that is why he needs to defend his honour. Today as one of the personifications of the Musleh Maud (ra), he is taking on the world to bring the whole world to the unity of Allah and to remove them from the shackles or bondage of falsehood.

Indeed, “Jaa-al Haq-qu wa zahaqal baatil; innal baatila kaana zahuuqaa”The truth has arrived and Falsehood has perished: for Falsehood is (by its nature) bound to perish.”

May Allah pour His unlimited blessings on Hadhrat Muhammad (pbuh) and his spiritual sons Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra) and Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (atba). May Allah be pleased with them and make peace be the embodiment of their existence for as long as Allah Be (i.e. forever for Allah has no beginning and no end).

Indeed a disciple learns from his Master and Allah is the Best Teacher for all His Elects and beloved servants, and all Messengers of Allah are the best guides whom Allah sends to them for their reform, and indeed in this era, we are indeed fortunate that Allah has chosen us to be part of the Grand Divine Plan in the presence and protection of His Messenger of this era, the Massihullah (Messiah of Allah) and Khalifatullah (Caliph of Allah). We are here to learn from him how to get us closer and closer to Allah, and Allah, by His grace and infinite mercy keeps getting closer and closer to us. Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar.