Khalifatullah’s India Visit 2024

                                  

Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International Hazrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius, accompanied by Hazrat Ummul Mu’mineen Sayyedah Nazirah Beebi Saheba and Sahebzada Abdul Muhaymine, completed a historic visit to India between 05 February and 07 March 2024, Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah.

At the Chennai Airport, devout disciples of the Tamil Nadu Jamaat under the leadership of  Hazrat Amir Mukarram Saleem Saheb, and senior Kerala Jamaat member Janab Saleem Saheb of Alappuzha, and our brothers Alauddin Saheb, Saddam Hussein Saheb and Ansari Saheb of Coimbatore, and Khwajah Muhyiuddin Saheb of Chennai received the holy Imam (aba) and dignitaries on arrival.  During his month-long stay in the country, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) and family visited members of the Jamaat in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, bringing so much spiritual joy and happiness to disciples and followers in India, Masha Allah, Alhamdulillah, Allah-u-Akbar! 

In Kerala, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) and family stayed at the historic Noor’ul Islam Masjid Complex at Mathra for a few days during the visit. In Tamil Nadu, Hazrat Saheb (aba) visited disciples and followers in Coimbatore, and also stayed at the historic Sirajum Munir Masjid for a few days. Members of the Jamaat from different parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu flocked to the Masjids during those days to meet with Hazrat Saheb (aba) and to learn from his inspirational spiritual presence in their midst.

‘Musleh Maoud’: Celebrating a Prophecy

            

In a special speech telecast live over the YouTube on Friday 24 February 2023, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Muhyiuddin Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius spoke on the fulfillment of a grand Divine Sign in the modern times pointing to the truthfulness and vitality of Living Islam: the prophecy on the advent of Divinely- shaded individual/s within the physical and spiritual progeny of the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian (1835-1908).

All followers of the Promised Messiah (as) found in the various sections of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya today agree that Hazrat Ahmad (as) made the announcement concerning the advent of pure children as a special sign of Divine mercy and grace and blessing. Yet, there are major differences of opinion among the Ahmadi sects about the meaning and interpretative implications of the prophecy on ‘Musleh Maoud’.

'Mainstream' Ahmadis of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya (Qadian) feel that the prophecy was fulfilled in the person of the second caliph, Hazrat 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, some Ahmadis do not consider that the prophecy regarding the advent of a ‘Musleh Maoud’ is fulfilled yet. For them, the fulfillment of the prophecy is concerned with the advent of a Ma'mur in the new century of Islam- in the Fifteenth Century Hijri.

'Musleh Maoud' Day 2022

  

A majestic Sign of special nearness, communion and holy communications between Allah (swt) and his devoted servant, the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian (1835-1908); Prophecy Musleh Maoud, although revealed 136 years ago, continues to resonate among the believers in the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya. 

Far beyond its historical relevance in the early days of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya and its partial fulfillment through the dreams vouchsafed to the great, second caliph of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad (ra) in 1944, the Prophecy has gained much contemporary spiritual attention due to certain prescient observations left behind by the second Caliph while claiming to be the 'Musleh Maoud' (Promised Reformer) in the previous era, especially with the advent of the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius in the last two decades in the person of Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (aba). 

Indeed, against the backdrop of the second Caliph's own prophecies and statements vis-a-vis the fulfillment of prophecy Musleh Maoud, based on the supreme authority of Divine revelations, Hazrat Khalifatullah (aba) has clearly and consistently acknowledged before the global spiritual community that he is 'Musleh Maoud' in this era, as of 20 February 2004. 

Alhamdulillah, this week the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International commemorated the Musleh Maoud Day in India and elsewhere with much spiritual fervour and in Thanksgiving to Allah (swt). Special Jamaat meetings took place both in Tamil Nadu and in Kerala, at the historic Mosques of the Jamaat- the Siraj-um-Munir Masjid, VK Puram, and at the Noor’ul Islam Masjid, Mathra, Summa Alhamdulillah. 

The Divine Mission @ 20

All Praise Belongs to the Almighty Alone. That is the defining thought for us as  the Divine Manifestation in Mauritius in the person of our beloved Imam Hadhrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (atba) marks the completion of the first two-decades of its spiritual mission this week. Even as the world marked the end of the second millennium after Jesus (as), and commenced a new century in the trajectory of time in the year 2000-01, spiritually-illumined dreams, sublime mystical visions and Divine revelations were bestowed upon this most humble man who already made it his life’s vocation to devote all his time and energy in sharing the Word of God to the people near and far.  As the Divine Manifestation enters its twenty-first year; this week also marks for the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam International, the 12th anniversary of its distinct identity as a spiritual commune, Alhamdulillah, Soumma Alhamdulillah.

The Divine Manifestation of Mauritius is in perfect accordance with the finest traditions of Islamic spirituality. Indeed, it is a living, thriving example of the vitality of Islam as a religion and way of life. The deeply-rooted belief in the Islamic world- and the experience of the distinct Muslim communities around the world- regarding the appearance of Divinely-imbued souls among the believers finds one of its clearest manifestations in the spiritual circle of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam today. 

An Inspired, Divine Mission

Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) is a born-soldier of Islam, having had with him from a relatively very young age of his blessed life, an abiding interest in religious matters and an intuitive understanding of effective preaching and an exceptional drive to spread further and further the true message of Islam for all of humanity. Years before the Divine call, as a devout Daai-e-Ilallah, Hadhrat Munir was the ambassador of the Promised Massih (as) to several communities and peoples of the Indian Ocean Island-states, including Reunion Island (1990), Mayotte (1997) and Seychelles (2000), helping to establish the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya in these distant lands. During those years, through his fervent prayers and the Divine Grace over his ardent preaching efforts,  hundreds of people in these nations got the opportunity to recognize the sublime path of true Islam. Indeed, in the annals of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, the extraordinary services rendered by this humble servant of Islam to the mission of the Promised Massih (as) had been recorded by the then (Fourth) caliph Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad Sahib himself. Even more importantly, Allah (twa) showed His deep appreciation and profound satisfaction for the sincere and earnest efforts, when Allah (swt) took him under His wing of Mercy at the age of 40 when he became a frequent recipient of divine revelations and spiritually-infused messages from the Unseen. 

By the Grace of Allah (swt), for the last two decades now, Hadhrat Munir (atba) 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 (as) in the previous century.  Like the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian (1835-1908 CE) in the previous era, Hazrat Munir (atba)  claims Divine revelations and messages as the authority behind his spiritual titles and religious claims in this era. Allah (swt)  bestowed upon him several spiritual titles in this era- Hazrat, Amir-ul-Mu’mineen, Muhyi-ud-Din Khalifatullah; Mujaddid, Messiah, etc. He is charged with a Divinely-inspired mission of reclaiming and revitalizing the enduring message of Tawheed in this new century of the Islamic Era. 

'Khalifatullah': A Divine Promise

The Promise of Allah to the Prophet & the Believers

“O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will remit from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) the Day that Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who believe with him. Their Light will run forward before them and by their right hands, while they say, ‘Our Lord! Perfect our Light for us, and grant us Forgiveness: for You have power over all things’.” (Surah At-Tahrim, 66 : 9)

In light of this Quranic verse, I present to you a Hadith where Hazrat Abu Dharr and Hazrat Abu Darda (ra) reported that Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said that: On the Day of Judgment I will recognize my people. The Sahaba (companions) asked him: O Prophet of Allah, how will you recognize your people? Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) said: 'I will recognize you by the light that will be before you'.

Therefore, in the world there are those who have the light of Imaan (faith) and on the day of judgement this light will be before them and on their right.

When you read Chapter ‘The Light’, i.e., Surah Al-Nur, Verse 56, where Allah (swt) says:

“Allah had promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely make them Successors in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who were before them; and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them; and that He will surely give them in exchange security and peace after their fear: They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me. Then whoso is ungrateful after that, they will be the rebellious.”

This has always been the way of Allah, a practice that He has demonstrated since the existence of man, that it is Allah (swt) Himself Who raises His Chosen Messenger, His Prophet, His Khalifatullah as this verse makes us understand. And Allah says in this verse that it is a promise that He makes to those who believe and do good works. 

On the Syrian Quagmire

‘And when the Fire is caused to blaze up’---[Holy Qur’an, 81:13] 

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (sa) as saying: ‘The last Hour will not come unless there is ‘Harj’. They asked: ‘What is ‘Harj’, O Messenger of Allah?’ Thereupon, the Holy Prophet (sa) said: “Bloodshed, Bloodshed, Bloodshed”.--- (Sahih Al Bukhari/Muslim)

The Civil War in Syria

In less than a month, Syria’s horrific ‘civil’ war will enter into its eighth year. Having already lasted more than the Second World War, the internecine conflict in Syria has profoundly impacted the nation and its people in unimaginable ways. The conflict and its aftereffects has virtually reduced the country to rubble. Entire cities and villages remain abandoned, people having no choice but to flee the mindless violence and mayhem, altering the everyday life-world of the common people forever. Even as hundreds of thousands lost their lives, millions of others had to flee their homes and hearths, seeking refuge elsewhere in the country or beyond the borders, in nations near and far. Thanks to the many actors on the conflict scene and their varying  political interests and strategic calculations, the bloodletting in Syria continues unabated with no end in sight till this day. Indeed, the humanitarian catastrophe that has engulfed this already suffering, impoverished nation shakes the conscience of our common humanity.

How do we explain the extraordinarily mind-numbing shift in the fortunes of the Syrian people in recent times? What are the prospects for peace in the land, especially  in view of its complex regional environment? How does the present situation relate to Divine revelations vouchsafed to the Promised Massih (as)? Can we look at the Syrian quagmire as a Divine Sign of our times? These are some of the few questions and concerns explored in the following article.

‘Dhu’l Qarnayn’: History and Prophecy

In a recently released book entitled Dhul Qarnain: The One of Two Epochs (Originally written in Creole in 2009; Translated into English by Hazrat Ummul Mu’mineen Fazli A. Varsally Saheba), the Holy Founder of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam and the Divinely-raised Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Hazrat Munir Ahmad Azim (atba) of Mauritius makes an important declaration: 

“Once I was reading the Chapter 18 of the Holy Quran, Surah Al Kahf, which means “The Cave”. This Surah mentions the Dhul Qarnain. When I studied this chapter deeply, I noticed that the story mentioned in it coincides with the conditions we are living in this era. This chapter mentions the first trip (travel/journey) of Dhul Qarnain (in the West), where he reached a place where he found the sun setting as if it were in a pool of murky water. 

After that, the Dhul Qarnain made another trip and this time he went to the East. During the course of that travel, upon reaching midway he met a person/people who were naked, totally exposed to sunlight; there were nothing to protect them from that deep heat, not even a shadow. Then the Dhul Qarnain made a third journey and at the end of it he met a people who informed him about the persecution and ill treatment of Gog and Magog upon them. These people even supplicated him to protect them against Gog and Magog. 

Allah, the Great has given us a parabolic description. However, the name of Dhul Qarnain can be given to the one who lives during two centuries and I have come in two centuries in such a way that no objection can be levelled upon me. Definitely, I belong to both Islamic centuries, and if you do the calculation in the proper way, this will prove my veracity.”

'Musleh Maoud': Then & Now

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.   

Remembering 'Musleh Maoud'

Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (as) was the second successor of the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as). He was a distinguished Khalifa because his birth was foretold by a number of previous prophets and saints. Moreover, the Promised Messiah (as) received a Divine Sign for the truth of Islam as a result of his forty day's prayers at Hoshiarpur (India). God Almighty told him that a pure son would be born to him within the period of nine years. He had already published this prophecy regarding his Muslih Ma'ud (Promised Reformer) on 20 February 1886. In accordance with this divine prophecy and within the specified period, the Promised Son, was born to the Promised Messiah (as) on 12 January 1889 at Qadian. He was named Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad. 

The prophecy about Muslih Ma'ud had also specified some special qualities of the promised son and reformer. For instance, it was foretold that he would be extremely intelligent and highly learned. His fame will spread to the ends of the earth and nations would be blessed through him.

'Musleh Maoud': Trajectories of a Grand Prophecy

Before ending my sermon on this vast subject – Revelations – I wish to say a few words on the prophecy of 20^th February 1886. Today is the 20^th February, and this reminds us of the grand prophecy in the announcement of 20^th February 1886 concerning the Promised Messiah’s entreaties to Allah in Hoshiarpur to bless him with such a physical son as to become his physical and spiritual heir in majestic respect.

A prophet, envoy of Allah always wants pious children, from his own lineage and blood to carry on his mission, his works with the same intensity of devotion as he showed towards Allah throughout his life on earth. Prophets of Allah seek such gems from their own blood but only after supplicating Allah for them. When Hazrat Ibrahim (as) prayed for a blessed son and messenger of Allah, after being childless for years, he sought a miracle of Allah from the grace and majesty of Allah, and his Zaki Ghulam (Pure Son) was not only from his own blood, but also his spiritual heir, in that which he became a Prophet of Allah, chosen and purified by Allah. The same was for Hazrat Zakariyya and Hazrat Dawud (as) among others. 

A prophet of Allah is not mistaken in his entreaties to Allah as to which type of son he is seeking from Allah! He seeks a biological and spiritual heir, who shall have both these attributes in him (physical and spiritual for the sake of Allah and from Allah) from his own body to carry on the works he is blessed with from Allah. And when a prophecy, more specifically a glad tiding is granted to him from Allah that he shall father such a son, and for whom Allah has granted much more spiritual and divinely attributes in him to reflect that purity of being the son of a prophet of Allah, therefore, the prophet of Allah, in occurrence, the Promised Messiah of Islam, the first of his kind, was granted such a request.

Through several of his announcements, he made it clear that he was waiting for the fulfillment of a physical son who shall be that reformer of Islam, who shall be his mirror image, that is, possessing messianic qualities to carry on his mission to the end of the worlds.

As you all will agree with me, whenever a prophet of Allah comes on earth, as it has always happened ever since the creation of the earth, it is expected that this prophet of Allah shall have spiritual heirs, prophets of Allah who shall confirm his veracity and spread his mission and honour for as long as life exists on earth. Moreover, it is Sunnat-Allah (the way of Allah) to preserve the honour of all His prophets from the beginning to the end of times. Therefore, spiritual heirs of prophets are bound to come, especially after the advent of the final religion, Islam whose extent is a universal one, and the purpose of receiving messengers from Allah is for the revival of the state of Muslims and to bring back the glory of Islam.

Attacks on Khalifa Sani and on the First Mujaddid

Islam does not subscribe to the infallibility of any man. Even the Messengers and Reformers are not the sons of Allah, nor are they partners in the Divine kingdom. They do not control life, not death; nor resurrection, nor are they immune from the trials and persecutions at the hands of the rebels and transgressors of their times. Weak as human beings are, it is Allah (twa) who chooses and raises His servants from among them and they serve their mandate according to the Divine Will and they move on to the home in the Hereafter when their assigned time is up in this world. In the true conception of the Islamic tradition, a Divine servant being attacked and/or killed at the hands of the enemies- rather than meeting with a natural death- does not cast aspersions on his lofty spiritual mission.

Yet today, a section of the Ahmadi Muslims- the proclaimed followers of the Promised Massih Hadhrat Ahmad (as); the Lahoris and their fellow-travellers and also the new Mujaddid claimants- Abdul Ghaffar Janbah Sahib of Pakistan/Germany and Dr. Nasir Ahmad Sultani Sahib of Pakistan/Sri Lanka - hold the belief that Divinely-appointed Reformers are absolutely immune from life-threatening attacks and/or being killed within a period of 23 years of their spiritual claims. They have tailored their spiritual doctrines to please their nafs’ desire of calumniating Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra) of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya¸ who met with such an attack on the fortieth (40^th) year of his Khilafat.

The Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam has always responded to the unfortunate insinuations that malign the just reputation of Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra).  Several articles in the Blog explain and show how the critics are wrong on several grounds of reasoning- Qur’anic insights, sacred prophetic traditions, viewpoint of the Promised Massih (as). These posts can be seen and read here: [ 1; 2; 3;4; 5; 6).

In this article, after noting the murderous attack on Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra) and the view of his critics, we discuss the life and times of the universally acknowledged, first Mujaddid of Islam Hadhrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz (ra). It provides an insightful episode from the Islamic spiritual tradition for those who wish to reflect more profoundly on these matters and correct themselves of the doctrinal mistakes that they commit.

The Attack on Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra)

It was on March 10, 1954- exactly, sixty years to this day- that Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra) was physically attacked, in a murderous attempt on his life. In the words of Zafrullah Khan (ra), one can read an account of the events: 

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. 

Progeny: Biological and Spiritual

...[t]he belief in all the prophets of God is fundamental to a true believer in the Oneness of God, especially for the one who calls himself Muslim. The prophets form a chain and the medallion, which enhances the beauty of the chain, is certainly the greatest prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh).

If the Israelite prophets received from God sons who were both biological and spiritual, so why not the Muhammadan Ummah?  From the prayer of the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), it is clear that the Messiah (as) wanted a son like Prophets Zakariyya and Ibrahim (as) each received; extraordinary, learned, and intelligent sons, one who would raise the honour of the physical family of these prophets, as well as their spiritual ones, that is to say, their communities of believers.It is in this context that the Promised Messiah (as) went into retirement/retreat at Hoshiarpur so that Allah may listen to his supplications and answer his prayers. 

In addition to this, the people around him wanted to witness a divine sign which clearly assert his veracity. Thus, it was about such a sign which had to be manifested in the lifetime of the Promised Messiah (as) so that they may witness to this sign. And Allah, by accepting his prayer during his retreat has confirmed that He shall fulfill his prayer and grant him such a son who would be from his own seed, and who would be a Great Divine Sign.

Remembering 'Musleh Maoud'

As you now all know, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra) was the second successor of the Promised Messiah (as) from his own seed. His appointment as both Khalifatul-Massih and Musleh Ma’ud proved to be fruitful to Islam throughout his life.

He was a distinguished Caliph because his birth was foretold by a number of previous prophets and saints. Moreover, the Promised Messiah (as), like I said again yesterday received a divine sign for the truth of Islam as a result of his forty days prayers at Hoshiapur, in India. Allah the Almighty told him that a pure son (Zaki Ghulam) whom he named “Musleh Ma’ud” would be born to him within a period of nine years. He had already published this prophecy regarding the Musleh Ma’ud (ra) on 20 February 1886.

In accordance with this divine prophecy and within the specified period, the promised son, was born to the Promised Messiah (as) on 12 January 1889 at Qadian, despite that unbeknownst to his father, it was his first-born living son who represented that special hope for the future of Islam Ahmadiyyat. He was named Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra). The prophecy about Musleh Ma’ud had also specified some special qualities of the promised son. For instance, it was foretold that he would be extremely intelligent and highly learned. His fame will spread to the ends of the earth and nations would be blessed through him.

He got his primary education in a school of Qadian and then in the Taleemul Islam school when it started in 1898. He could not do well in his studies due to his persistent ill-health. His academic career came to an end in March 1905, when he failed in the Matriculation examination. About two years before this, in October 1903, he had married Sayyidah Mahmooda Begum Saheba (also known as, Hazrat Umm-e-Nasir).

He started learning the translation of the Holy Quran and the Hadith from Hazrat Moulvi Nooruddin (ra). Moreover, he began his independent study of religion, history, literature and various other subjects. He developed into a great scholar and had mastery over many subjects. Thus, the following prophecy of the Promised Messiah (as) regarding Musleh Maud was clearly fulfilled in his person:

“… He will be extremely intelligent and understanding and will be meek of heart and will be filled with secular and spiritual knowledge.”

He received his first divine revelation in 1905, when he was only sixteen years old:“I will place those who follow you above those who disbelieve until the day of Resurrection.”

The Elixir of Truth in Divine Prophecies

March 23 is an important date in the modern history of spiritual Islam. It was on this Day in 1889 that the the Jamaat-e- Ahmadiyya was established by the Promised Massih Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian. [Inset: a photo from the 2005 Jalsa Salana at Qadian, which the present writer attended]. He initiated the Bai’at Programme through which devout Muslims could express their allegiance to the Divine appointee. In a special speech to mark the occasion on Saturday, 23 March 2013 the Chosen Messenger of our times, the Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Sahib (atba) of Mauritius spoke at length about the sacred, foundational prophecies that undergird the belief about the coming of Divine Messengers/Massihs’/Mahdis’ in the Latter Days of Islam. The speech beautifully captures the essence of Divine prophecies foretold in the sacred writings of Muslims, Christians and the seers of other religious. It demonstrates how these prophecies have been fulfilled in the times of the Promised Massih (as) and also reflects on their contemporary significance. The spiritual outlook regarding the continuity of Divine revelations and the appearance of Divine Messengers in future, who will speak with the Holy Spirit, as emerging from the writings of the Promised Massih (as) and as discussed in the speech must be of special interest to devout Ahmadis.   

Read the Extracts from the Speech:

Today 23 March 2013 establishes 124 years since an event took place in the once unknown small village – Qadian – situated in the province of Punjab in India. It was an event destined to change the course of history. In Islamic literature, the Quran predicts a thousand years during which Islam will suffer an extraordinary decline.

“He regulates His command from the heaven to the earth; then shall it ascend to Him in a day the measure of which is a thousand years of what you count.” (As-Sajdah 32: 6).

The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) has predicted that this decline will not begin until three hundred years after his advent: “The best century is the one in which I live, then the second and the third will be good, afterwards lies will spread, truth shall disappear; cruelty, excesses, differences and divergences shall appear”. (Miskat, Bukhari & Tirmidhi).

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.

Janbah Sahib and the Argument of 23 Years

Abdul Ghaffar Janbah Sahib of Kiel, Germany claims to be the "real" Musleh Maoud as per the prophecy of the Promised Massih (as).  Janbah Sahib thinks that he is on the right path and that he is the true and only Musleh Maoud promised to Massih Maoud (as) and he is adamant to defile the claim of Musleh Maoud of Hadhrat Musleh Maoud (ra). In order to prove that the claim of Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad (ra) was false, Janbah Sahib argues that Hadhrat Khalifa Sani met with the accursed death of a false claimant (God Forbid). In short, for the sake of making himself true, Janbah Sahib has smeared himself with the blood of the Musleh Maoud (ra).In order to prove his satanic theory, Janbah Sahib attempts to derive a principle from the writings of the Promised Massih (as). Janbah Sahib alleges that the Promised Massih (as) held that anyone who is killed within a period of 23 years after making a claim of being a divine appointee shall be deemed to be false. Applying this (self-invented) principle in the case of Hadhrat Khalifa Sani (ra), Janbah Sahib comes to the conclusion that because Khalifa Sani died 22 years and 06 months under the Islamic Calendar after making the claim of being the Musleh Maoud of the era, he did not complete the requirement of 23 years! Further, since Khalifa Sani met with a severe attack on his jugular vein during this period, Janbah Sahib argues that the Qur’anic punishment of divine wrath for a false claimant is fulfilled in his case (God Forbid).        

Such simplistic analysis of a profound spiritual issue could have been dismissed as the fabrication of a deluded mind but for the proponent of this idea claiming to speak on the basis of divine guidance. Since the Holy Qur’an is with us even today, any one who speaks to be inspired by Allah, the Most High ought to confirm the message of the Holy Qur’an and not to go against the grain of divine wisdom contained in the Holy Book.