In a recent essay in Malayalam, the respected Amir of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam in South Kerala, Mukarram R. Jamaluddin Raother Saheb of Mathra, compiles together some very important extracts from the writings of the Promised Messiah Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian (1835-1908). These writings of the Promised Messiah (as) clearly establish that the descent of Divine revelations among human communities is a Sunnat Allah- a perennial practice of Allah (swt). From the times of Hadhrat Adam (as) onwards, God’s covenant with the Prophets included the duty on believers in every era to help and assist in the establishment of Tauheed on earth, by believing and following in the footsteps of the Divine Elects raised amongst them (Holy Qur'an, 03:82; 33:08, 02:39; 07:36).
The Promised Messiah (as), through his writings, points out that the door of Divine revelations shall remain open till the Day of Judgement, and that the sincere and steadfast servants of God in every era shall have the opportunity to receive the special blessing and favours of God, like Allah (swt) bestowed upon His perfect devotees in the past- the Prophets; the Truthful in their belief, words and deeds; the Bearers of Testimony to the truth of the religion of Allah by their words and deeds,; the Martyrs and the Righteous who stick to the right course under all circumstances (HQ, 01: 06-07; 04:70).
‘Do not think that God’s revelation is a thing of the past (The Holy Quran has perfected the Law of God, but this has not brought an end to revelation, for it is the life of a true religion. Any religion which is devoid of ongoing divine revelation is dead and forsaken by God) and that the Holy Spirit can no longer descend as it did so in previous times.
I tell you truthfully that all doors may close—but the one from which the Holy Spirit descends, never shuts. Open the doors of your hearts so that the Holy Spirit may enter it. By closing the window from which the ray of light enters, you distance yourself from this sun of your own accord. Unenlightened ones! Come forth and open this window so that the sun might itself enter you. God has not closed the paths of His worldly blessings in this age. Rather, He has increased them. Do you then think that the paths of the blessings of heaven, which you sorely need at this time, have been closed by Him? Most certainly not! Rather, this door is wide open. In Surah Al-Faatihah God has taught that the door to every single blessing of the past has been opened for you. Why then do you refuse to accept them?...’
---[Noah’s Ark by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, UK: Islam International Publications Ltd; 2018 edn, pp 39-40].
Further, the Promised Messiah (as), through his writings, points out that Allah (swt) raised Mujaddidin in the Muslim Ummah all through history with the purpose of preserving Islam as the evergreen Faith as against all other religions of the past; to provide a living model of spirituality for all seekers after Divine verities in every era, Alhamdulillah. Indeed, this Divine Practice is in accordance with the glad tidings given to the Muslim believers through their Holy Prophet (sa). Recorded by Abu Dawood, narrated by Abu Hurairah (ra) who mentioned that Prophet Muhammad (sa) said:
‘Allah will raise for this community at the end of every 100 years the one who will renovate its religion for it’.
— Sunan Abu Dawood, Book 37: Kitab al-Malahim [Battles], Hadith Number 4278.
Pointing to the significance of this Divine Plan for the enduring preservation of the Islamic Way through the appearance of righteous servants of the Faith in every era, the Promised Messiah (as) wrote:
“However, God did not treat Islam in this way (like the ancient religions which lost Divine support in later times) because He wished this garden to remain green forever. That is why He irrigated it afresh in each century and protected it lest it should dry up. Whenever a servant of God appeared at the turn of each century as a Reformer, the ignorant people vehemently opposed him and strongly detested any attempt to correct the errors which had become a part of their habit and custom. Still, God Almighty did not abandon His practice”.
----(Lecture Sialkot by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, UK: Islam International Publications Ltd; (2007),Qadian edn, pp 01-02].)
In summation, to have faith in a Divinely-raised substitute Prophet- ‘Mujaddid’/ ‘Muhyi-ud-Din’/ ‘Khalifatullah’/ ‘Ummati-Nabi’- is obligatory on the believers, according to Hadhrat Masih-e-Maud (as). Reflect on the following points mentioned by that Reformer of the Faith and the Guide, the Just and Praiseworthy Arbiter on religious disputes for all Muslims:
1. ‘Our Prophet (sa) had said that at the turn of each century one Mujaddid (Reformer) will come who will refresh the faith.’ (Urdu- Roohani Khazain, Volume 20, Page 195)
2. ‘The term Khalifa means the successor who renews the faith. After the time of Prophets when (again) darkness prevails, those who advent to remove it are called Khalifa'. (Urdu- Malfoozat, Volume 2, Page 666)
3. ‘The advent of Khilafat has been ordained by the Almighty up till the Day of Judgment. This special honor and superiority has been bestowed on Islam that for its support and reformation, Reformers (Mujaddideen) have been sent in every century, and will continue so into the future.’ (Urdu- Malfoozat, Volume 5, Page 551)
4. ‘On the turn of every century He appoints a person who saves Islam from dying and provides it a new life and saves the world from those mistakes, innovations, negligence and laziness which appear in them’. (Urdu- Malfoozat, Volume 4, Page 629)
5. ‘Hence it is evident that the love of God Exalted does not leave this Ummah without a Mujaddid and this is the thing which is an evident proof of the life of the Holy Prophet (sa).’ (Urdu- Malfoozat,Volume 4, Page 629)
6. ‘And the Mujaddid whose functional tasks resembles some Messenger, he is called by the name of that Messenger by God the Exalted.’ (Urdu- Roohani Khazain, Volume 6, Page 348)
7. ‘To say this that it is not obligatory to have faith in Mujaddideen is disobedience to the command of God the Exalted’. (Urdu- Roohani Khazain, Volume 6, Page 344)
8. Regarding the Divine Mission of an Elect of God in a new era, and the trajectory of challenges and trials faced by such a Mujaddid in society and the eventual triumph of the Divine Order on earth, Hadhrat Massih Maoud (as) has made extensive observations:
‘Every new century which turns up then it is the start of a new world. Then the God of Islam, who is the true God, for every new century shows new signs at the turn of the new century, and in particular at the turn of such a century which has gone far from faith and honesty and is full of darkness in it raises a substitute of the Prophet in whose natural mirror the image of the Prophet appears and that substitute exhibits the excellences of that Prophet whom he follows.... The person of such excellence is always graced with the dress of honor of communion with God and is virtuous, blessed and his prayers are accepted and he very clearly proves these things that God exists.... Although in the beginning he is tried and put through atrocities and people cause him sufferings of sorts and attribute many statements in his name and by way of different ways tease him and want to establish indignity for him. But since he has the right proof with him hence ultimately becomes victorious on all of them and the rays of his truthfulness spread in the world with great speed....
And when Allah the Exalted sees that the world does not stand witness to his truthfulness then He commands the heavenly creatures that they stand witness to it. So a bright witness by way of miracles; by way of acceptance of prayers; by way of truths and knowledge descends from heaven and that witness reaches the deaf and dumb and the blind and there are many who are attracted towards right and truth but blessed are those who accept in advance because they being holders of good opinion and power of faith receive a portion of truthful ones and this is His grace to whom He may grant'. (Urdu- Roohani Khazain, Volume 5, Pages 246-251)
A Divine Elect in Our Times
For close to two decades now, Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius has been blessed with an abundance of Divine communications and spiritual messages, to a level and scale unheard of in the records of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya since the times of the Promised Massih Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) in the previous century. Hadhrat Khalifatullah (aba) proclaims that Allah (swt) has bestowed upon him several spiritual titles in this era- Khalifatullah; Mujaddid, Messiah; Muhyi-ud-Din, etc.- and that these spiritual titles point to his Divinely-inspired mission: of reclaiming and revitalizing the enduring message of Tawheed in this new century of the Islamic Era- thereby helping people appreciate the correct spiritual path; strengthening them morally and spiritually in these bewildering times. Like all men of God throughout history, Hadhrat Saheb (aba) preaches Divine Love.
Sharing pure Divine messages coming from the Unseen, Hadhrat Saheb (aba) invites people to recognize the advent of his humble self in our midst as an Elect of God and consider the extraordinary possibility of acceding to the Divine countenance in this era as well by following his personal example. Among the most recent Divine revelations, received by Hadhrat Saheb (aba) are the following:
'On Monday 27 April 2020 at 1.45 pm after the Zuhr prayer (3rd day of fasting), in a state of vision (Kashaf) I heard in the Bait-ul-Zikr a voice say aloud (in French):
“You are the Khalifatullah on this earth, Just like Hazrat Adam (as) was in his day. I bless you and I will protect you and I will give you victory.Today is a blessed day; People find in you only your faults, But I see your Love for Me. Little by little, I will transform your faults into good qualities. You have become the king of the earth; I will teach you the reign of My Throne.”
On Wednesday 29 April 2020 after the Tarawee prayers, I received the following revelation (in English) before going to bed:
“The Mohyuddeen Khalifatullah has come to turn an associated world to a universal word, that is, ‘Laa Ilaaha Illallah’. The best of man is the one who recognizes My Unicity. The best of man is the one who accepts what I have sent to them for their sake without arguing.”
May peace and blessings of Allah (swt) be upon those who follow Guidance, Aameen.
(---Adapted from the Malayalam essay by Mukarram Amir R. Jamaluddin Raother Saheb of Mathra; with additional notes and references by Abu Zaahidah. To read the Original essay in Malayalam, click here).