Fourth Caliph and the Divine Signs

In his Friday Sermon of 01 February 2019~ 25 Jamadi’ul Awwal 1440 AH, Imam-Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, Hazrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius profoundly reflects upon certain interesting Divine Signs of our times. Based on Qur'anic prophecies and the Holy Prophet's own teachings, the Later Days is the era of extraordinary developments, marking the advent of great transformations that will 'disrupt' the existing ways and 'flatten' the world, destroying the elite privileges and artificial barriers at every level of societal stratification. Thanks to breath-taking changes in transportation mechanisms and  communication technologies in our times, different classes, nations and peoples are brought together more than ever before. In this age of the Internet, all the world is virtually reduced to our finger-tips! Hence, unlike the past, ideas and images travel swiftly across the world and it is now possible to reach out and share the Divine message to people everywhere, Alhamdulillah.  

On 07 January 1938, speaking on the occasion of the installation of loudspeakers at the Mosques in Qadian, the far-sighted second caliph of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad (ra), underscored the importance of technical advancements as a means of bringing people together and he went on to virtually predict the advent of a time of technological progress when a single person sitting somewhere will be able to communicate and conduct his business globally and thereby it would become possible to spread the message of Islam across the world in an easier way through such developments. 

In this context, the establishment of the MTA International  commencing its operations from Mauritius  on 07 January 1994 was an important event in the annals of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya. The then (fourth) caliph Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad Saheb profoundly understood the significance of the moment and the opportunity MTA represents for the community. He recalled the prescient words of the second caliph on the occasion as he believed that the time to spread the teachings of Islam-Ahmadiyya around the globe arrived, with the satellite broadcasting channel in place. Anticipating the promised "victory" of Islam-Ahmadiyya in the second century of the Jamaat (1889-1989; 1989-), the fourth caliph even unleashed a programme of global bai'at, setting targets for the rank and file to convert the whole world. As it happened, afraid as they were to speak truth of the situation to the caliph,  the Nizam-e-Jamaat 'cooked the books' to reach the figures their 'boss' wanted to see and thereby perpetuated a culture of caliph-worship in the Nizam-e-Jamaat, creating a permanent crisis of credibility in its functioning 'methods'. Consider the searing paradox here: on the one hand, the caliph projected the Nizam- 'establishment'- as the true 'heirs' of the Promised Messiah (as) for all times; yet, he ended up presiding over the destruction of the fair name and legacy of the institution.  Allah (swt) raising an Elect of His choice  would upset and 'disrupt' the 'order' (the system of elected, infallible leadership) in the Jamaat. Hence, exaggerating  the 'ego' of the elected chiefs of the Jamaat, the caliph propagated that only a man-elected caliph could be the Divine Elect in future. Despite his line of thinking and public pronouncements, the caliph also understood that the All-Powerful and Exalted Allah (swt) might raise someone, anyone He chooses at a place of His choice, especially at the beginning of a new century of the Jamaat. The ambitious caliph did seem to have wished, and he certainly asked the Jamaat in so many words on the occasion of the annual Jalsa in the year 2000 CE, that everyone pray for him to be elevated as the "Mubarak Wajood "('blessed person'), like mentioned in the prophecies of the Promised Massih (as).    

Allah does what He will. Despite the caliph's ambitious plans and his arrogant pronouncements on Divine Decisions concerning the raising of a reformer in the Jamaat in the new century, the trajectory of Divine blessings and favours shifted in this era, with the advent of a man who speaks with the help of Ruh-il-Quddus, like prophesied by the Promised Massih (as) himself in his testamentary declaration, Al Wassiyat. Indeed, Allah (swt) in His infinite wisdom, used the most disruptive of technologies of communication the humans have ever known- "Ruh-il-Quddus"- to destroy the man-invented and exaggerated notions of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya and rebuild the edifice of the Divine Order of His Elects guiding humanity till the Day of Judgement, by raising a humble servant of the faith in this era- a spiritual progeny of the Promised Massih (as) himself- Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius, Alhamdulillah. Like the Promised Messiah (as) also points out, despite the persecution- with "millions stand(ing) up against them", the caravan of the Divine Elect (atba) will continue to straddle the world with His Message, Insha-Allah, Aameen. 

The Divine signs narrated here calls for deeper reflection by those who use their minds- including truth seekers among the Ahmadis. In this era when the world is 'flat', the old order of special claims- of inherited family legacy and infallible authority of tribal chieftains (think of the Ahmadiyya Khilafat today)- are out of sync with the times and are bound to vanish. In the new order of God on earth, everywhere- both materially and spiritually speaking- 'the underclass', i.e., those who were  previously looked down upon, truly humble people are to inherit the earth: Indeed, the Divine favour of prophethood and sovereignty is being bestowed upon a new class of people in the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya as well- through the advent of the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius, Alhamdulillah, Allah-u-Akbar!

Read the Friday Sermon Below: 

Signs for the 'Ulul-Al-Baab'

“And it is not for a soul to believe except by permission of Allah, and He will place defilement upon those who will not use reason.” (Yunus 10 : 101).

Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah, Allah shows His signs in extraordinary ways. Sometimes in simple and unimaginable things. He can show His signs in a grand way. Certainly Allah guides whom He wills to the right path, and when He guides His servants, He opens for them the door of spiritual knowledge and makes them understand even a thing that seems simple and unimportant and He makes them see its importance.

God Speaks Today: 10 Reasons

A GOD WHO SPEAKS AND GUIDES

If God spoke to His servants in the past, why does He not talk to them now? If He used to send His guidance in times of trouble, doubt and bewilderment, why does He not open for men the door to His guidance today? Does this mean that all religions are corrupted and cannot find any truth, and thus we cannot get any results by following any one of them; or is it possible that the true religion exists on earth, but men do not follow its teachings and therefore cannot make any progress in the spiritual realm?

Whatever opinion we espouse, the following question shall always be asked: why did God not reveal a new religion if He thought that the world needed one; and if He had already given His guidance to be followed and that people have not heeded it, why did He not raise a reformer to guide them on the right path so that they can enjoy His proximity and thus achieve the purpose of their creation?

It’s unbelievable that a Merciful and Loving God remains unmoved at the sight of humanity struggling in error and worldliness and does nothing to indicate to it the direction and right path to take. God must be kinder and more merciful than a father or a mother, for a mother and a father are only the instruments of procreation of children, but God is not only the creator but also the ultimate goal of human existence.

The relationship between a child and his parents is temporary, but the one between man and God lasts forever. The faculties and resources of parents are finite and perishable, but God’s power is boundless and His treasures are inexhaustible. He who has such a relationship with His creatures and Who is the Master of such powers cannot forget His creatures and remain indifferent to their suffering. He Who asks His weak creatures to be lenient to others cannot be inclement so much so, that He leaves mankind without any means of direction and spiritual progress and He leaves them to wander haphazardly in darkness and lose sight while seeking light.

If there is a God, He cannot permit that! If He sympathizes with His servants in their trials and yet does not provide means of protection, we must conclude that either He has no power to guide humanity towards the truth, or that it is not the purpose of human existence to be in communion with God, and that man was created only to eat, drink, and live a purely material and animalistic existence. But these alternatives are without any support (they are baseless). 

It is absurd to imagine that the One Who created the universe has no power to provide the means for the spiritual guidance of humanity. We cannot also imagine that man was only created for a purely material existence, because in that case we would have to admit that an All-Wise and All-Knowing Creator manifested the existence of this great universe without purpose. There is no machine invented simply to let it run by itself; any machine has a precise/ designated purpose.

Khalifatul Massih V as "Ummati Nabi" ?

The Promised Messiah (as) received the status of Ummati Nabi (subordinate prophet) and of Khatam-ul-Khulafa (Seal of the Caliphs). It’s true that it is only in the Jamaat of Hazrat Massih Ma’ud (as) that Allah (swt) will raise subordinate (Ummati) prophets. How will we know how Allah (swt) shall choose this kind of subordinate prophet, His prophet?

It is of course, through DIVINE REVELATION and not through the tongues of man (i.e. elected by man) that this humble servant of Allah shall have to proclaim himself officially, affirming that Allah alone has raised him as Ummati Nabi and after his death, well-guided Khulafa shall take over his mission. But as it is Sunnat Allah (the way of Allah), whenever the situation deteriorates and the divine teachings are trampled to dust, and dynasties take over, definitely Allah will raise His very own Khalifa (without the help and election of any creature) in the same Jamaat of Hazrat Massih Ma’ud (as) and in the Ummah of Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) as His prophet (an Ummati Nabi) and having the same titles and grades as the Promised Messiah (as) in that which he also shall be a Khatam-ul-khulafa, i.e. all other subordinate prophets after him shall be from his own Jamaat and identity.

Indeed years and years have gone by and I am curious to know if the Khalifat-ul-Massih Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad has proclaimed himself officially to the status of Ummati Nabi and Khatam-ul-Khulafa in this era?

Hence Allah (swt) has taught us in various verses of the Holy Quran, for example: in Surah Al-Anam:

“O you assembly of jinn and mankind! Did not there come to you messengers from amongst you, reciting unto you My verses and warning you of the meeting of this day of yours?” They will say: “We bear witness against ourselves”. It was the life of this world that deceived them. And they will bear witness against themselves that they were disbelievers. (6: 131)

The prophets (Nabiyyuun) come to bring back the glory and true value of the divine instructions to humankind so as to enable them to pave their way towards spirituality which they have completely forgotten or which they have trampled to dust. A prophet’s (God’s chosen one) duty is to bring people of all nations throughout the whole world back to the Tawheed (unity of God) and convince them that the day is coming soon that they shall have to present themselves in front of Allah (swt). The Holy Quran has clearly explained this to us that whenever the religious leaders started being corrupted and they wanted people to give them much more importance than Allah, the Sovereign of all worlds, behaving as if they are gods on earth, therefore Allah sees the need to send His very own Khalifa (representative). For example Allah (swt) says in the Holy Quran:

“And surely, many do lead mankind astray by their own desires through lack of knowledge. Certainly your Lord knows best the transgressors.” (6: 120)

 “They look their rabbis and their monks and Jesus, son of Mary to be their Lords besides Allah. (9: 31)

Many people are led astray by their honouring their chiefs to the rank of God, taking them as their idols. These people follow only the instructions coming from their idols, their leaders even if these instructions are clearly contrary to the divine commandments. Hence, this situation will never be corrected unless divine revelation comes to clear out the misunderstandings and wrong interpretations of the Book of Allah and the writings of His Messengers. Alas, these chiefs mislead the people just to satisfy their personal desires and thirst for power. These chiefs are not like those whom Allah have safeguarded and honoured to the status of Ummati Nabi and Khatam-ul-Khulafa.  Indeed, these chiefs are devoid of divine guidance and revelation coming from Allah. And whenever the subordinate non-law bearing prophets come to guide them to the right path, they turn a deaf ear to his call and label him a madman and liar.

The Fallacies of Maulvi Abdul Ghany

The leaders and scholars of the Nizam(e-Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya) are today guilty of giving credence to self-serving, dynasty-perpetuating, 'doctrinal spin' on important questions of theological matters that impinge on the very foundations of true Islam. The teachings of Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) highlighted the significance of Divine guidance as true guidance and today those who claim his legacy stand to deny the same 'by other means'. For clinging to their earthly 'positions', these leaders and scholars trample upon perennial Qur'anic teachings and would have common folks to believe that Allah (swt) stopped the enduring practice of raising His Elects in support of Tawhid. They would prefer everyone to consider that a man-elected-man is 'superior' to a Divine Elect, raised by Allah (swt) Himself in this era! 

In a recently published book entitled "Towards the Understanding of Prophethood and the Fallacy of the Hypocrites", Imam Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah, Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius corrects these doctrinal mistakes, interpretative anomalies and argumentative fallacies committed by the so called Ahmadi leaders and scholars. The central question of continuity of Divine revelations in the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya had for too long been kept under the carpet by these chiefs and now their ways are being challenged by a servant of Allah (swt), speaking with the help of Rooh-il-Quddus.  The book in this context puts under scanner the reality of certain statements and pronouncements made by Khalifatul Massih Mirza Masroor Ahmad Sahib in one of his recent Friday Sermons. 

The Book also takes apart the article written by maulvi Abdul Ghany Jahangeerkhan. Ever since the advent of the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius, the maulvi had been at the forefront of efforts to extinguish the light of Allah from among the Ahmadis in Mauritius. Like the original Iblis in the times of Adam (as), he tried his worst to confuse and deviate as many Ahmadis as possible. He feared that common Ahmadis recognizing the Divine Light among them might turn upside down the very edifice of mundane chiefs to whom he was beholden. Sensing 'danger' to entreched fiefdoms, he cared far more to please his 'masters' at home and abroad than to bow before the wisdom and judgement of the Master of the Universe in raising a Messenger among them. In ringing Orwellian style of a rank hypocrite, he co-opted the 'language' of faith to deviate people from the faith!  

The first part of the series appeared in the Blog and can be read here. The second part of the extracts follow below:

‘Shaqqul Qamar’: Miracle of Islam

'The Hour draws near; the Moon is split. Yet whenever the disbelievers see a sign, they turn away and say, ‘Same old sorcery!’  (Surah Qamar, 54: 2-3)

In the Islamic sacred tradition, this verse of the Qur’an is generally associated with a special miracle of the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa), known widely as the event of “Shaqqul Qamar”, or the ‘splitting’ of the Moon. There are several Ahadith that confirms the miracle. The authenticity of these traditions are beyond reproach as the transmission chains and channels pertaining to them go all the way to the great companions of the Holy Prophet (sa), such as Ibn Abbas, Anas bin Malik, Abdullah bin Masud and others. The traditions on the subject can be seen in all the major collections of Ahadith: Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi, etc. 

For instance, in Sahih Al Bukhari, one can read several traditions being reported on Shaqqul Qamar:

1.  Narrated Abdullah bin Masud: "During the lifetime of the Prophet the moon was split into two parts and on that the Prophet said, 'Bear witness (to thus).'"

2.  Narrated Anas:  "That the Meccan people requested Allah's Apostle to show them a miracle, and so he showed them the splitting of the moon."

3. Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: "The moon was split into two parts during the lifetime of the Prophet." (Volume 4, Book No:56,  Traditions: 830-832)

4. Narrated Anas bin Malik: "The people of Mecca asked Allah's Apostle to show them a miracle. So he showed them the moon split in two halves between which they saw the Hiram' mountain."

5. Narrated 'Abdullah: "The moon was split ( into two pieces ) while we were with the Prophet in Mina. He said, "Be witnesses." Then, a Piece of the moon went towards the mountain."

6. Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas: "During the lifetime of Allah's Apostle the moon was split (into two places)."

7.  Narrated 'Abdullah: "The moon was split (into two pieces)."  (Volume 5, Book No:58,  Traditions: 208-211)

Hadhrat Ali (ra) is reported to have affirmed to have heard the account from several persons that once a number of polytheists came to the Prophet Muhammed (sa), and said, 'If you claim to be a prophet, split the moon which is now in the sky into two parts.'

Sexual Allegations on Khalifa Sani

Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad (ra) (1889-1965), as the second Khalifa of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, had a long period of service at the helm of affairs. It was at the death of the first Khalifa Hadhrat Hakkim Nur-ud-Din Sahib (ra) (b.1841; k. 1908-1914), that he was elected as the head of the spiritual community. It was a difficult historical moment, especially with the Great Split of 1914, leading to the separation of the LAM and the shaking it entailed for the entire community. As the young Khalifa was uniquely positioned to provide the interpretive guidance so necessary for the spiritual community, in the course of several decades, he played a significant role in shaping and defining the ideological and administrative contours of the Community in the last century or so.

The uniqueness of his special authority emerged not just from the fact that he was elected by the companions of the Promised Massih (as). For the common members as well, the second Khalifa was the pious, biological son of the Founder of the community. Given the fact that the prophecies of the Promised Massih (as) included the prophecy Musleh Maoud- regarding the arrival of a righteous progeny for the service of Islam, for many of the companions of the Promised Massih (as) and others, he represented the hope and expectation of a bright future of the Jamaat. For them, he was the personality in whom and through whose times, many of the Divine revelations and sacred prophecies were to be redeemed in the fullness of time.

The prophecy Musleh Maoud

Consider this instance from the first Khilafat. An old, venerable Companion of the Promised Messiah, Pir Manzur Muhammad Sahib, made a study of the works of the Promised Messiah. It led him to the conclusion that Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad combined in himself all qualities and circumstances which marked him out, very clearly, as the Muslih Mau'ud. Pir Manzur Muhammad, wrote a paper on this prophecy. He deduced 14 points, and applied the Prophecy to Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, and he put it before Hazrat Maulvi Nurruddin Khalifatul Masih I whose reaction was: "I have known it for a long time. Have you never noticed that in my attitude towards him, on a personal level, there is an inner shade of deference." 

Pir Manzur Mohammad, then, wrote the gist of this talk and put it before Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I, requesting his signature in confirmation. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih wrote the following on that Paper, and signed it:

"We have known this for a long time. Haven't you noticed that in our personal attitude towards him there is a deep inner shade of deference? I confirm that I said this in the course of a talk with brother Pir Manzur Muhammad."

(Signature bears the date December 10)  (Tashhizul Azhan, 1914, and Tarikh-i-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. IV, page 369)  which carries a photographic reproduction of the original. (quoted in “Truth Prevails” by Qazi Muhammad Nazir, p.90-91)

Khalifa Sani and the limits of Social Boycott

In a previous article in the Blog we have noted some of the outstanding allegations against Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra) (click here) from his critics– including the imposition of social boycott against rebels in Qadian and even a murder case involving  an Ahmadi alleged to have been “ordered” by the second Khalifa. From our examination of some of the public records and court judgements, what is apparent is that there was a religious, social and political context in which the unfortunate events have occurred in the 1930’s in Qadian under Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra).

As we have shown in the article, while the towering Majlis-i-Ahrar leader Maulana Ataullah Shah Bukhari was prosecuted and punished by the Lahore High Court for his hate speech and incitement to violence against the Ahmadis in a single public sermon in Qadian, the same High Court in the same period absolved the second Khalifa of the allegation of incitement to murder his “Muslim” enemies/ Ahmadi rebels, even after examining several of his speeches printed and published in the Ahmadi Press, including the “AL FAZL” of the 1930’s. The Hon’ble High Court had before it those very sermons and it reached its conclusions after forensically analysing the contents thereof and that too in the context of a murder case which took place in Qadian itself.

Flawed Perception of a Complex Legacy

Let truth be told. It is not just the Lahori-fellow travellers who are guilty of a flawed perception of a complex legacy of the past. Put differently, members of both the mainstream Jamaats- Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Qadian and the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement are wrong in their ‘blames’ and ‘accusations’ against Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra). If there is visceral hatred on the part of the enemies of Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra) to implicate and consider that he “ordered” murders and violence against his opponents, the people who claim they are his followers in the “mainstream” Jamaat are equally guilty of the sin of deification, unexamined adulation and uncritical implementation of his policies even for a new age.

Truth about the Allegations on Khalifa Sani

In the 125-year old history of the Jamaat-e- Ahmadiyya, Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad (ra) (1889-1965) holds a very special place. If the idea of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya was invented after the death and departure of the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) (1835-1908) and took its initial contours during the time of the Khilafat of Maulvi Hakkim Nuruddin Sahib (ra) (1908-1914), it was during the time of Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra) that the institution, in many ways, got consolidated, as the period of his Khilafat extended over half a century. If today, for devout Ahmadis, the institution of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya holds much significance in their lives and the obedience to the Khalifatul Massih is perceived by the members as a foundational act of religious sincerity, it has occurred through the specific interpretations of the teachings of the Promised Massih (as) and the conscious policy choices adopted especially during the second Khilafat.

2014 marks the one hundred years of the beginning of the second Khilafat in the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya. As tragic irony goes,  the year also marks one hundred years of the Great Split among the Ahmadis. It was with the death of the first Khalifa Hakkim Nuruddin Sahib (ra) in March 1914 that the differences of opinion among the companions on ideological directions of the Jamaat came to the foreground. The refusal of some of the influential companions of the Promised Massih (as) to agree upon the leadership of the eldest son of the Promised Massih (as) led to the Split in the Jamaat and also the formation of the Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement (LAM) and the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Qadian (JAQ) as two separate fractions.

Ideological Implications of the Split

The formation of the LAM under the leadership of Maulana Muhammad Ali Sahib witnessed the intellectuals and the opinion makers within the Jamaat moving along with him, out of Qadian, in the aftermath of the Split. On the contrary, the substantial mass of common believers took allegiance to Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad Sahib, who became the second Khalifa of the JAQ at a relatively young age of 25. Both fractions committed themselves to the propagation of Islam as “originally” taught by the Promised Massih (as), even as they bitterly differed among themselves on the ‘true’ conception of those teachings. The great scholars in both the fractions produced volumes of literature in support of their sectarian identity, chosen lexicological interpretations of abstract concepts with nebulous meanings and advanced their respective terminological preferences such as ‘Nabi’,‘Mujaddid’, ‘Ummati Nabi’, ‘Ummati wa Nabi’, ‘Khalifa’, ‘Amir’ etc.

To the uninitiated and the ill-informed, the diverging philosophical positions might appear like highly abstract matters. Yet, the fact is that the fractional war within the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya has had its consequences, desired as well as unintended fall-outs, both internally and externally. Most crucially, it was the sectarian divisions within that played into and provided the fuel to the fire of hatred and jealousy nurtured by the Mullah and the enemy class (often feeding one another) to undermine and possibly attempt to destroy the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya altogether by declaring it out of the pale of Islam in the murky politics of Pakistan, in the subsequent decades.

Personal Dimensions of the Split

Internally, the hardening of doctrinal positions and ill- thinking of fellow brothers on both sides of the divide led to intolerance of differences within the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya. Some Ahmadis suspected fellow Ahmadis of ideological drift and personal ambitions. These tensions in ideological positions and the personal equations produced, in their wake, a number of allegations by people who were once closer to one another than their own families and clans and tribes, based on the affinity of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya. Some of the bitter critics and vocal opponents of the second Khalifa alleged about practices of social boycott and criminal intimidation in Qadian. Even allegations of incitement to murder had been made against the Khalifa. The police records and the court documents of the times speak about these controversies. In their refusal to recognize the claim of the second Khalifa as to the fulfilment of the prophecy Musleh Maoud, part of the reason or justification publically given by his critics in the LAM includes the controversies and cases surrounding his administration of the Jamaat in Qadian.

Mubahila: Khalifa Sani and the Ahmadiyya Sects

Today, among the followers, or those who have accepted the claims, of the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) in the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, one can count six different, denominational sects: Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Qadian, Anjuman Ahmadiyya Lahore, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Al Muslemun, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Islah Pasand, Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Haquiqui. 

The recent Mubahila between two of the Ahmadiyya sects- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and the Jamaat-e- Ahmadiyya Islah Pasand is entering into a different stage now, with the Mujaddid claimant Abdul Ghaffar Janbah Sahib and his Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Islah Pasand declaring for himself a “clear victory” through his recent speeches. The boastful claims from the Janbah Sahib came after the completion of two years of publishing/uploading the official Mubahila Document in the respective official websites.

In contrast to the approach of the Janbah Sahib, Hadhrat Imam Muhyi-ud-Din Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba)  and the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam  has taken the position that the Janbah Sahib is gravely mistaken in his approach and perceptions and also in his appreciation for himself in the context of the Mubahila. Janbah Sahib is ignoring a profound fact about the situation: he had entered into the Mubahila, half-hearted and reluctant, as is so apparent from the way he conducted himself and his failure in fulfilling the simple procedural requirements in their full measure. He should not have abused the fact that Allah (twa) is compassionate and overlooks the mistakes and sometimes extends the days of people in His Wisdom. Insha Allah, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam is certain to serve the purpose of renewal of faith in our times, and there are glad tidings for those who are steadfast and do good deeds in the path of Allah.

The result/consequences of the Mubahila is itself a trial for the believers, especially for all Ahmadis found in the various sects of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya today. Given that all parties to the Mubahila are alive and positive factors that give personal and subjective satisfaction can be, and had been, shared from both ends, whose claims of decisive victory needs to be accepted may yet remain shrouded for many believers, especially those who have veils over their eyes which haze their spiritual vision. In his Friday Sermon of March 21, 2014 the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius spoke about the questions that are most relevant for those who analyse the Mubahila situation.

Musleh Maoud: Declaration of 20 February 1944

Ahmadis are mostly familiar with a famous speech made by Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad (ra) in 1944. The speech pertains to the grand fulfilment of the prophecy on Musleh Maoud made by the Promised Massih (as) in his own person. What the Ahmadis generally do not know is that the same speech by Khalifatul Massih Sani contains a very important prophecy regarding the arrival of other Divinely-raised pure sons / Zaki Ghulam/ spiritually-blessed souls in future, in the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya to advance the cause of Islam. 

The speech is very significant for Ahmadis to ponder over, especially at a time when Allah (swa) has redeemed His pledge and raised such a soul in the Jamaat, in the person of Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib of Mauritius. For the benefit of our readers, we reproduce below the extracts from the Speech/Declaration made by Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra) on February 20,1944:   

“I call to witness the One and Supreme God Who has full control over my life that the dream that I have just described was seen by me exactly as I have put it, except possibly for some slight verbal involuntary inaccuracy. I call God Almighty to witness that in a state of vision I announced: 'I am the Promised Messiah, his reflection and his Khalifa.' 

In the same state, under divine command, I said: 'I am the one for whose appearance the virgins had been waiting for nineteen centuries.' I therefore announce, under divine command, on oath, that God has appointed me the Promised Son of the Promised Messiah, peace be on him, according to his prophecy, who has to convey the name of the Promised Messiah to the ends of the earth. I do not say that I am the only Promised One and that no other promised one will appear till the Day of Judgment. 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. 

Mubahila Challenge to Nasir Ahmad Sultani

As the Mubahila between the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius and Abdul Ghaffar Janbah Sahib of Germany (and the respective Jamaats) enter into its second year, believers are patiently awaiting the Great Divine Decree to reveal and unravel itself in the cause of truth and His Truthful Messenger. Yet, there are others (outside the two Jamaats) who are keen to know the outcome of the Mubahila and are turning impatient. The Ameer of “Jama'at e Ahmadiyyah (Haqiqi)” NASIR AHMAD SULTANI SAHIB, who is also a claimant of “Mujaddid 15th century of Islamic Calendar” recently declared that since all the parties are still alive even after a year of Mubahila, it only means/proves that they are all liars. Thus, Sultani Sahib declares himself the winner in a contest he was not even party to!

In the aftermath of these developments, the Messenger of Allah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius has decided to respond. In his Friday Sermon of May 31, 2013 the Khalifatullah clarifies that it is permissible for parties to a Mubahila to agree upon the time period of Mubahila. Drawing upon the experiences/practices of the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as), the Khalifatullah (atba) points to the instances in which there were Mubahilas with greater time periods. Finally, in a language that can penetrate and crack the hardest of rocks, the Lion of Allah challenges Sultani Sahib to show some spine and come to the court of Allah in the cause of truth by entering into a Mubahila.       

Read the Extracts from the Friday Sermon:

Recently, I have received some correspondences which relate to Mubahila and especially concerning the Mubahila which I invited Abdul Ghaffar Janbah Sahib and his Jamaat (and specifically also one of his disciples Mansoor Ahmad Sahib) to accept. The thing is, instead of waiting for the specified two years limit mentioned in the Mubahila, some people like Mushtaq Malik Sahib and another claimant of divine vicegerency, Nasir Ahmad Sultani have made some comments to which I must respond.

SYRIA: Some Prophecies and the War Clouds

According to the Holy Qur’an, men of purified intelligence can ‘read’ the ‘world’ as a ‘text’. For, the Signs of Allah are present everywhere for the discerning eye. And there are many prophecies that will find there fulfilment in the promised Latter Days of Islam. Many of these prophecies have been indeed fulfilled in the times of the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as). And hidden dimensions and other subtleties of those prophecies unclear in the previous era will unveil itself and become apparent in the present times, Insha Allah, with Allah the Most High raising His Chosen Messenger for the era, Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius amongst us, Alhamdulillah.  

  

One of the stunning prophecies made by the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as) was about the arrival of the ‘Zaki Ghulam’/ ‘Musleh Maoud’ in the Jamaat-a- Ahmadiyya, who would be a servant of Allah for his times. Ruminating on future world events, the Promised Massih (as) indicated about troubling times ahead when there will be wars and countries invading one another, and instances of kings subjugating kings. He specifically mentioned that the centre of these all-encompassing troubles shall be Syria and that is the political and material context in which the Musleh Maoud would be making his Divine Mission. Most aspects of the signs were fulfilled in the times of Hadhrat Khalifa Sani Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad (ra), physically and literally. When Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra) made his public claim of being the Musleh Maoud, the Second World War was  still raging and there were troubles all over the Middle East and beyond, as indicated in the sacred prophecies.

It is astonishing to note that a great blessing for our times is that Allah has once again raised a spiritual son of the Promised Massih (as) with the grand title of ‘Musleh Maoud’ on February 20, 2004. It is also instructive to note that the political and military scenario emerging and unfolding in our times as well point to the arresting scenarios divined in the prophecies, if one pays close attention to the developments in the Arab world in the last decade and elsewhere. Indeed, for those who believe in Allah and His astoundingly subtle ways, these are times of a second Musleh Maoud in the personhood of Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba), spiritually and metaphorically fulfilling the great Divine prophecies in this era.

Interpreting the Prophecy on Musleh Maoud

In a special speech delivered on the occasion of the Musleh Maoud Day on February 20, 2013 Hadhrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius paid glowing tributes to the grand prophecy revealed to the Promised Massih Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) regarding the birth of an auspicious, blessed, fortunate son who would be a servant of Islam. Extolling the literal and physical fulfilment of that great prophecy in the time of the second Khalifa of the Jamaat-e- Ahmadiyya, Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad (ra), the Chosen Messenger of Allah of our times points to the contemporary relevance of this prophecy.

A revelation of Allah can be realised in many ways and in different eras also. Just as there was the physical fulfilment of this prophecy in the previous period, the metaphoric and spiritual fulfilment of the prophecy takes place in this era on 20 February 2004, when Allah the Most High raised Hadhrat Khalifatullah with the title: “Musleh Maoud”.  Further, drawing upon the principles of interpretation of numerical values familiar to the great, mystical saints of Islam, Hadhrat Sahib provides an interesting explanation regarding the fulfilment of the prophecy in this era on his august personhood, Alhamdulillah.

Read the Extracts from the Sermon:    

Remembering Hadhrat Musleh Maoud

On the occasion of Musleh Maoud Day, Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius delivered a special sermon on February 20, 2012. The speech contains illuminating insights on the life and personality of the Musleh Maoud Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad, the Promised Son and Reformer of the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as). The speech is also significant for the powerful and unassailable arguments the Khalifatullah brings forward in defence of this Man of God, especially in the backdrop of the objections being raised against his status as Musleh Maoud by Abdul Ghaffar Janbah Sahib of Germany who claims to be the Divinely-appointed Mujaddid of the era.

This part contains the first instalment of this important speech and deals with the major milestones in the life of Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra). The second instalment dealing with the accusations that he met with an accursed death of a false claimant of Divine office is examined against the backdrop of true Islamic teachings on the Divine shadow of help over the missions of Divine Elects, historic record of martyrdom of the Jewish Prophets and the experiences of the Holy Prophet (sa) himself. For the second and final part of the Speech, click here].  

Musleh Maoud Day marks the announcement of the revelation of the prophecy by the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), about the birth of a son to him who would be the Musleh Maoud or Promised Reformer. The advent of Musleh Maoud was not only prophesised by the Promised Messiah but also by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and the saints of Islam who lived before the advent of the Promised Messiah and in the scriptures and traditions of the past.

Born on 12 January 1889, Hazrat Musleh Maoud started his education in early 1895 with the simple reading of the Holy Quran. He attained fluency in reciting the Holy Quran within the short period of two years and an Ameen function was held to mark the happy occasion on 07 June 1897. For this memorable achievement the Promised Messiah (as) composed a poem in the form of a moving prayer, in acknowledgement of the grace and favour of Allah. (Thereafter Huzur (atba) sang the said poem).

He was then enrolled in the District Lower Primary School and then later joined the Talimul Islam School. Due to his constant ill-health and weak eyesight he did not achieve any degree of success in his secular studies. The Promised Messiah was very much concerned about his son’s illness to the degree, that in the last days of his life, he called one of his attending physicians and told him to take greater care of Mahmood’s health and should be more attentive to his treatment. His teachers were not altogether satisfied with the educational progress he was making in his studies, so they complained to the Promised Messiah who had him undergo a hand-writing test and found that his handwriting corresponded almost to his own. In his matriculation examination he could only secure passes in Arabic and Urdu.

Subsequently, Hazrat Maulvi Nuruddin (ra) took over the duties of his religious education. At the early age of fourteen, he composed his first poem in which he addressed Allah in the following words: “I seek Thy pleasure all the time. If I am favoured with it, I shall feel that I got all that there is to get.” This was the state of the heart that was to revolutionise the world and we find that was his guiding theme throughout his life which led him from success to success.

In 1903, he married Sayyeda Mahmooda Begum who later became known as Hazrat Sayyeda Umme Nasir. In May 1914 he married Hazrat Sayyeda Amatul Hayy, the daughter of Hazrat Khalifatul Massih I. Then in 1925, he married Hazrat Sayyeda Sarah Begum. He subsequently married Hazrat Sayyeda Umme Tahir. The first mentioned wife bore him Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad who then became Khalifatul Massih III, while the last mentioned wife bore him Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (may Allah forgive him) who then afterwards became the Khalifatul Massih IV.

Among his other renowned sons are Mirza Mubarak Ahmad. In March 1906 he started the publication of a magazine known as Tashhizul Azhan of which he was the editor. His first editorial covered fourteen pages. In the Jalsa Salana (Annual Gathering) of the same year, he delivered his first important lecture which was highly appreciated by the audience and which was later published as a book.

At the age of nineteen, he started giving lessons on the Holy Quran after Maghrib (evening) prayer. In 1913, with the permission of Hazrat Khalifatul-Massih I, he started Al-Fazl newspaper from Qadian on a bi-weekly basis but it has since been converted into a daily newspaper. In the meantime, he also organised an association called ‘The Anjuman Ansarullah’ with the objective of raising the Community to greater activity in pursuing its objectives. Also when he was nineteen his illustrious father, the Promised Messiah, died and standing by him, he made the following historic statement: “Even if everybody deserted you and I were left alone to battle against the whole world, yet will I stand against the whole world and shall not heed any opposition or hostility.”

During the years from 1909 to 1911, he took lessons in English from Hazrat Maulvi Sher Ali and on the very first page in his notebook he wrote a very remarkable prayer which runs as follows: “O Lord God, help me in learning this language and bless every word that I learn from my teacher and help us in breaking the power of the cross and in slaying the swine, for man has no power without Thy aid.”

In March 1914, Hazrat Khalifatul Massih I became seriously ill, so he appointed Hazrat Musleh Maoud to lead the prayers. It may here be noted that Hazrat Musleh Maoud was only 25 years old at that time and to be appointed Imaam for prayers by the Khalifatul-Massih I showed what qualities must have been observed in him.

In this context it may be pointed out that an old and very respected companion of the Promised Messiah whose name was Pir Manzur Muhammad, after studying the works of the Promised Messiah on the subject of Musleh Maoud concluded that Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad combined in himself all the qualities which mark him out very clearly as the Musleh Maoud of the prophecy. He wrote a paper on it deducing fourteen points and applied the prophecy to Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra). He presented the paper to Hazrat Khalifatul Massih I and having written a gist of the discussion between himself and the Khalifatul Massih, he presented it to him, requesting his signature for confirmation.

Hazrat Maulvi Nuruddin (ra) wrote the following on the paper and signed it: “We have known this for a long time. Haven’t you noticed that in our personal attitude towards him there is a deep inner shade of deference? I confirm that I said this in the course of a talk with Brother Pir Manzur Muhammad.”

On Friday 13 March 1914, Hazrat Khalifatul-Massih I passed away and the following day Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra) was acclaimed as Khalifatul Massih II at that young age of 25. According to the prophecy announced by the Promised Messiah about the Musleh Maoud, two of the qualities mentioned are that he would be filled with secular and spiritual knowledge. During more than half a century of his Khilafat, Hazrat Musleh Maoud (ra) demonstrated these qualities in an exceptional manner. 

In 1924, he travelled to England to present a paper at the Conference of Living Religions of the Empire. The natural outcome of the paper is his book Ahmadiyyat or The True Islam. On 19 October 1924, he laid the foundation stone of the London Mosque. During the early thirties, he played an important role in the Kashmir situation and was unanimously acclaimed as the first President of the All India Kashmir Committee, a duty which he performed meritoriously. The result of the All India Kashmir Committee were nothing but miraculous.

He initiated Jalsa Seerat-un-Nabi (pbuh) and some years later, he launched All Prophet’s Day. With the combined efforts of the Ahrar and the Mullahs to undo the Community, Hazrat Musleh Maoud (ra) initiated the scheme of Tahrik-i-Jadid which roused the members of the Jamaat to respond admirably with great sacrifices. In 1944, he announced publicly that it was revealed to him that he was the Musleh Maoud (Promised Reformer) mentioned in the prophecy of the Promised Messiah who was the recipient of Divine revelation from his very youth.

He wrote by the grace of Allah more than two hundred books and pamphlets and his most famous work was the Tafseer-i-Kabeer which is a veritable storehouse of knowledge. All his writings and speeches display a very high scholarship in both the religious and secular fields and they stand second to none in his time. In every aspect of his life and action was fulfilled in every detail the prophecy about him being the Musleh Maoud. It was on Monday, 08 November 1965 that he breathed his last.