19 April 2003 is an important day in the annals of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya
(Qadian),
for it marked the end of an era and the formal beginning of another,
within the larger concept and actual working of the system of
spiritual succession or ‘Khilafat’ among the Ahmadi Muslims.
Many Ahmadis today can relate that day with the death of the fourth
Khalifatul Massih of the Jamaat-e- Ahmadiyya Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad Saheb (1928-2003).
Some also relate the day with the formal inaugural of a new system of
‘Khilafat’ among the Ahmadis, a Divine Manifestation with an
Elect of God in our era, Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim (atba) of
Mauritius, accepting
Bai’at at his hands, marking an important milestone in the sacred history of modern Islam. The first Bai’at was held in the house of Hazrat Ummul Mumineen Sadr Sahiba Fazli Amena on the second storey, at Louvet Avenue, Quatre-Bornes, Mauritius.
Indeed one of the questions that deeply divide
devout Ahmadis today relate to the events of 19 April 2003, its
meanings, interpretations and implications. As
is well known, it was in the final years of the caliphate of Hazrat
Mirza Tahir Ahmad Saheb that a pious and
devout Ahmadi
Muslim
mystic in Mauritius,
Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim (atba), began to make the extraordinary
claim that Allah (swt) has raised him as His Elect of this era, to
invite people to God and to strengthen Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya by sharing
the Divine revelations and other
spiritual
verities being vouchsafed to him, with the assistance of
Rooh-il-Quddus.
It
is a matter of historic record and Divine destiny that the fourth
Khalifatul
Massih thought
highly of the noble qualities and preaching attainments of the future
Divine Elect when he was still working as a missionary-ambassador of
the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya into the various communities and nations of
the Indian Ocean region.
The
emergence of the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius coincided with the
decline in physical health, spiritual faculties and eventual death of Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad Sahib. In his last years, the ageing
caliph
was already in a zone of his own, where he was in constant need of
sound advice for prudent governance of Jamaat affairs. Yet, as it
happened, he was badly advised regarding the nature and character of
the Divine Manifestation then emerging in the horizon of Mauritius.
Unscrupulous and scheming people, who worked behind the corridors of
influence, suggested vanity of office and pride of legacy. Hence,
when
the saintly figure was reported to have made the claims of being a
recipient of Divine revelations, he was expelled from the
Nizam-e-Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya
under
misleading circumstances. Social
boycott was administratively enforced on those Ahmadis
who
preferred faith above the world. Instead of showing humility and open
heart to understand
the
lofty claims and spiritual verities on offer in
the new era,
the Nizam-e-Jamaat
chose pride
and vanity in the material legacy they amassed from the past, and it is only unfortunate that the fourth caliph passed away before he could reflect on his decision vis-a-vis the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius, may Allah forgive him.
The fact that the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius has completed 16 years in relative obscurity will only surprise those who have no knowledge or understanding about the working of the spiritual realm. There are indeed many spiritual lessons and lofty insights to be derived by observing and understanding the Divine favour on the Khalifatullah (atba) and how he goes about with his deep and unwavering commitment to advance the cause of Allah and His Message in the last eighteen years. The duty of the Divine Messenger is only to convey the Message; Allah the Most High is the Reckoner. Fortunately, Ahmadis are beginning to come out of the shadow of that colossal mistake of their leadership. Increasingly, they are aware of this alternative trajectory of the Divine Favour in the Jamaat, for truth can be eclipsed, but only for a period. Like the moon, it will eventually come out of the shadow of clouds and confusions created by the enemies of truth, Insha-Allah, Aameen.
Reproduced below are certain brief comments and points mentioned at the beginning of the Friday Sermon of 19 April 2019~12 Shabaan 1440 AH by Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius on the significance of the aforesaid historical event :
Alhamdulillah,
Summa Alhamdulillah, today (19 April)
marks 16 years that a historical event happened within the framework
of the Divine Manifestation of this era. The first Bai’ah
(oath of allegiance) in the hand of Allah was made and that day also
marked the death of the 4th
Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Movement. Before I get up to deliver my
sermon, I feel that I shall receive many important messages from
Allah. These revelations may come down during or after my sermon.
Anyway, these are messages [they are
coming and Huzur (atba) is aware of it]
that I must share – soon – with you my dear disciples and all
humanity, Insha-Allah.
[The
Caliph of Allah - Khalifatullah (atba) - then spoke of this important
day in the annals of the history of the Divine Manifestation and the
Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam. He recounted how he and the one who was
always by his side to write down the divine revelations - and to whom
Allah had made great favours (Z. Domun Saheb) - gathered with the
believers of the Divine Manifestation at that time for the study
circle at Quatre-Bornes. That day was the day when the 4th
Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Movement died, and Z. Domun Saheb asked
Amir’ul Mumineen, Munir Azim Saheb, a question about whether he had
received any revelation about giving Bai’ah
(oath of allegiance) to the believers.