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.
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.
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:
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
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.
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.
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.
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.