Wednesday, April 26, 2023

'Voice of Imam': New Issue

  

Alhamdulillah, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam- International just unveiled a new Issue of its flagship Journal, the ‘Voice of Imam’ in April 2023. Likewise, the Siraj Makin Djawaharatul Kamal [women’s wing of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International] also recently published two new Issues of the Alam Al Yaqeen Journal, in February & April 2023 respectively, Summa Alhamdulillah. 

The aforesaid e-Magazines contain a wealth of information beneficial for the religious education and understanding of all readers. Apart from explaining foundational beliefs and practices of Islamic spiritual life, the Journals marshal vital materials useful for a closer appreciation of the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius in the last two decades, with the descent of Holy revelations, visionary experiences and pure dreams in the person of our beloved Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba).   


Muslims, especially Ahmadis- the members and followers of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya founded bythe Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian [1835-1908] will find many interesting pieces of information useful for their spiritual reflection and understanding within the pages of these magazines. Reproduced below is an article compiled by our dear brother Sahib'al Faraj Khwajah Muhyiuddin Saleem Saheb of Tamil Nadu, along with Abu Zaahidah; the essay provides a fascinating insight into the interpretation and understanding of Divine revelations vouchsafed to the Promised Messiah (as) in the previous era, especially the competing claims of fulfillment of related prophecies in this era.


Most Ahmadis know that Allah (swt) revealed to the Promised Messiah (as), 'Inni ma'aka ya Masroor' (Surely, I am with you, O Masroor). Members of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya (Qadian) today project the aforesaid revelation/ prophecy as standing fulfilled with the election of Mirza Masroor Ahmad Saheb to the office of Khalifatul Massih V by the assembly of Jamaat elders in 2003, following the demise of the fourth caliph. They are merely following speculation and conjecture in this, as they have no real authority/ confirmatory evidence to offer in the form of  formal claim of fulfillment of the Prophecy in his own person by the present chief/caliph. Indeed,  Masroor Saheb has not announced to the world any supportive claim of Divine revelations, nor any personal statement being the prophecy fulfillment in this regard. What is available on record is merely the 'usual' exaggerations and spiritual speculations and lofty conjectures by the followers of the present caliph- just like the idolaters worship their calf by singing hyperbole, the Ahmadi leaders and priests treat the Caliph like a  shadow of God on earth!  


Read the Article Below:   

 

'Recently, an Ahmadi brother sent us a question. According to him: 'It was Allah who had already revealed to Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah(as), ‘Inni ma'aka ya Masroor' (Surely, I am with you, O Masroor) Hence it is very clear when Allah Himself said that 'I am with you, O Masroor’- that is, He is with the fifth Khalifa Mirza Masroor Ahmad after the Promised Messiah. Then, how can Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib, or anyone else, have the authority to do so? 

 

Before, we can answer the question first of all, we have to discuss about the divine revelation revealed to the Promised Messiah(as). Actually, this revelation is the third from the chain of revelations which is vouchsafed to the Promised Messiah (as) in Arabic language and these revelations were received by him on December 1907. (Tadhkirah, p. 1016) In that, Allah (swt) had revealed to him, "Inni ma'aka ya Masrur" (I am with you, O Masrur [happy one]) and Further, it was revealed to him “Inni Ma'aka ya Ibrahim” in the same day! One thing we should also remember is that these revelations were vouchsafed to the Promised Messiah (as).


But now, the Nizamies are completely devoid of this heavenly blessings and they are claiming that this revelation is a prophecy for Mirza Masroor Ahmad Sahib and certainly, we will have no objection; rather, we will happily welcome it. But the question is did he (Mirza Masroor Ahmad Sahib) proclaim and declared that the revelation of Promised Messiah (as) would prove that he has been raised from Allah for the benefit of the whole of mankind? And if not, what is the significance of this own claim by Nizamies? 


And what is the interpretation of this revelation according to truth- seekers? What an incredulous and incredible claim by the self-confessed? Some unfortunate people, without a basic understanding of the revelations of spiritual leaders, embroiled in egotistical matters and argued that 'Mirza Masroor Ahmad Sahib was a shy and magnanimous person, so, he would not disclose revelation from the Allah.' This is a very dangerous and untenable belief as it produced very grave consequences.

 

Elects of God and Revelations


Allah (swt) says in the Quran: “By the night when it covers up!; And (by) the day when it brightens up; And (by) the creating of the male and the female.” (92: 2- 4)


Like the physical world there are in the spiritual world males—God’s great Prophets and Divine Reformers—who teach and guide. (English W/5 vol. Commentary(2018) page no:3390).


These are very clear statements in the Quran describing that the spiritual male shall never conceal the revelation. In fact; it would be a great sin if concealing revelations from Allah.


The Holy Quran says: “He sends down the angels with revelation by His command on whomsoever of His servants He pleases (saying), ‘Warn (people) that there is no God but I, so take Me (alone) for your Protector.” (16:3)

 

Promised Messiah (as) on Kinds of Revelations


It should be remembered that Divine revelation is generally of two kinds: 

 

(a) The revelation which concerns the recipient’s own person. It does not require to be made known and published, though generally there is no special ban on giving it publicity.

 

(b) The revelation which is meant for mankind at large. This latter kind of revelation must be given wide publicity and it amounts to a veritable sin to suppress it. (English W/5 vol. Commentary(2018) page no: 3390).

 

The first kind is general and mercy from Allah for all mankind and Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah(as) says about this kind that: 


“The fact is that out of the forty-six parts of the angelic light of Gabriel, only one part covers and is distributed over the entire world. No sinner or evildoer even of the first order is outside its purview. 


I even believe, and experience testifies to it, that on occasion even a woman of loose morals who belongs to the class of prostitutes and whose youth has been spent in illicit sex, may sometimes have a true dream. It is even more surprising that such a woman soaked in drink and in bed with her lover, can even during such a night have a dream which turns out to be true.


But, the second kind is the life and soul of religion without revealed guidance from God. What is the use of a religion that is dead, and of what value is the book that is dead, and what can we gain from a God who is dead?


God Almighty bestows this holy revelation upon only those believers who truly believe in the Holy Quran as the Word of God and act upon it with truthfulness and sincerity and who believe in Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, as God’s true and perfect Prophet, who is most excellent and superior and more exalted than all the Prophets and is Khatamur Rusul [the Seal of the Messengers] and accept him as their leader and guide.


Such revelation is not vouchsafed to others, be they the Jews, Christians, Aryas, Brahmuns, etc., but rather, has always been vouchsafed to the perfect followers of the Holy Quran. It is vouchsafed to them now and will continue to be vouchsafed to them in the future.” (Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya — Part 3, p. 147)


The First promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) wrote that God willed the garden of Islam to be evergreen and fresh, therefore at the turn of every century, He sent a person for the reformation and the ignorant contended with him. Yet, God did not abandon His way. In the latter-days, having found the Muslims in ignorance, God revived the religion of Islam. Other religions were not revived in this manner; people who lacked spirituality and were led by their selfish desires brought these faiths in decline.

 

An Elect of God in This Era


O people of Ummat-e-Muhammadiyya, Muslims await a promised Mahdi and Messiah (the Reviver of all Faith, Messiah and Islamic Prophet-Reformer) in this era. The advent of the Promised Messiah (as) was prophesized by the Holy Prophet (sa). The second coming of Jesus, as an Imam among the Muslims, is a great blessing of our times.


All Ahmadis agree that most prophecies regarding the Imam Mahdi and the Promised Massih have been fulfilled at the time of Hadhrat Ahmad (as). Yet, it is a fact that there are several prophecies remain to be fulfilled in greater measure in our times. It is thus instructive to note that several Hadiths foretells of the coming of the Mahdi (that is, the Khalifatullah) in some 20 to 30 years after the 1400 years after Hijra (of the Holy prophet of Islam).


“People will gather around the Mahdi in 1400”. (Risalat al-Khuruj al-Mahdi, p. 108). In another Hadith, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Count two or three decades after the decades of Hijri 1400. At that time, the Mahdi emerges...” (Asmal MasalikLieyyam Mahdiyy Maliki Li Kull-id DunyaBiemrillah-il Malik, Qalda bin Zayd, p. 216) 


In the beginning of the year 2001, Allah chose a spiritual progeny of the Promised Massih (as)- Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib of Mauritius as His chosen messenger of our times- at a time when the world was about to enter the Third Millennium of the Christian Era and the Muslim world had firmly entered the Fifteenth century. In these turbulent times, more than ever, Islam as a religion and Muslims as a community are under relentless attack from varying forces. So, the appearance of the new Messenger of Allah could not have been more timely and necessary. Hazrat Azim agreed with this proposition and noted in one of his discourses on his advent as a divinely-raised Khalifatullah in this era, by linking this profound claim against the sacred traditions of the Holy Prophet (sa) concerning the appearance of the Guided Ones (Mahdis) in the Later Days.


“If we analyse these Hadiths, all these points in the direction of my epoch, my coming. I was expelled from the Nizam-e-Jamaat Ahmadiyya on 01 January 2001 (that is, 1421 Hijri). We are now in 1432 Hijri and I made my proclamation as Amir’ul Momeneen on 19 January 2003 (that is, 1423 Hijri), Muhyi-ud-Din on 06 December 2003 (that is, 1423 Hijri), Khalifatullah on 26 May 2008 (that is, 1429 Hijri) and Messiah, Mujaddid and Prophet of Allah officially (though I already received these revelations beforehand until Allah made me stand up to proclaim it officially) in 2010 (that is, 1431 Hijri)”.


In December 2003, proclaiming that Allah had made him the Muhyi-ud-Din/ Mujaddid of this era, Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) stated: 


“I want neither pelf nor power. I have been commissioned by Allah as a Warner unto mankind, to deliver His Message to you. Should you accept it, you shall have felicity in this life as well as in the life to come. Should you reject the word of Allah, surely Allah will decide between you and me. As from today, I take Allah as my witness that I am the Muhyi-ud-Din of this era.”


Anyone who has a sense of Islamic history and Prophetic traditions cannot mistake the remarkable parallels in the phrases/wordings used by Hazrat Azim (atba) in his proclamation of Divine appointment in December 2003 with what the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa) addressed his own people at the very beginning of his sublime mission. Moreover,  if we look at the history of prophethood, it was at the age of forty that the Holy Prophet of Islam Muhammad (sa) began to receive messages from the Unseen and was raised to that august spiritual position through recurring Divine revelations. Likewise, the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) was also blessed with Divine revelations by the time he was forty years of age. It is remarkable to note that Allah, the Exalted chose to elevate the spiritual status of Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib by the time he turned forty years of age in 2001. In the last two decades, Allah, the Most High bestowed many titles on Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib- “Hazrat”, “Amirul Mu’mineen”, “Muhyi-ud-Din”, “Mujaddid”, “Khalifatullah”, “Nabiullah” and “Rasulullah”.

 

Revelations and the Ahmadi Conjecture Today


The belief in the vital presence of Divine revelations is not a ‘blind belief’; it is a rational belief after having contemplated the Existence that cannot be comprehended by our basic senses. Yet, revelations also entail the spiritual and living presence of a credible claimant- not someone for whose sake others will speculate and issue conjectures. The larger question is this: does the Divine blessing of revelations exist now among the Ahmadis? What is happening in the Nizam-e-Jamaat today?


Based on a simplistic reading of profound texts of Divine revelations from another era; Ahmadis today follow their own ‘fertile’ imagination or speculative conjecture that their present elected chief, Khalifatul Massih V Mirza Masroor Ahmad Saheb is the embodiment of a Divine revelation vouchsafed to the Promised Messiah (as) in the last century. Yet, the caliph himself has never come forward to claim or agree that Allah (swt) has indeed raised him with Divine revelations which ought to be presented before the world. 


In the history of Jamaat—e-Ahmadiyya, the second caliph Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad Saheb (ra) publicly claimed and acknowledged- based on Divine inspirations he said he received in 1944- that he was the embodiment in certain senses of a great revelation vouchsafed to the Promised Messiah (as) in the past- the prophecy on Musleh Maoud. However, no such blessing or acknowledgement of Divine Grace has come forth from the present Caliph in 17 years as the man-elected chief of the community. Hence, make no mistake, any such lofty claim by others in his name and on his behalf, carry no weight and value in the eyes of spiritual doctrine and practice: these are mere desires of exaggeration by camp-followers- reminding us of the habits and manners of idol-worshippers!


On the other hand, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (atba) of Mauritius is a spiritual progeny of the Promised Messiah (as). Over the last two decades, Allah (swt) has blessed him with an abundance of Divine communications and spiritual messages, and he speaks with the help of the Roohul Quds, a great bounty and special blessings of the Almighty in this difficult era for the Ummat-e-Muhammadiyya.


Indeed, a recipient of revelations is the very embodiment of Divine mercy for the community of believers. Devout Muslims are those who wholeheartedly submit to the Will and Decree of the Almighty Allah, at all times. When Allah (swt) confers a great blessing, they will not behave like the Iblis, which quoted its own heritage and superior mundane standing in saying no to “Labbeik” to the Divine decision of appointing a man as His Khalifatullah. It is hoped that sooner than later, the cobwebs of confusion created by the satans  in the Nizam-e-Jamaat will perish, and the truth of His wisdom and Mercy will unravel upon all right-minded Ahmadis as they recognize and accept the Divine Mission of Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) in this era, Insha Allah, Aameen.'  [ VOICE OF IMAM, Vol.3, April 2023, pp. 28-34].