Shafa’ah: 'Intercession' in Islam

A. Dead Saints Cannot Intercede 

Intercession (Shafa’ah) in Islam takes many forms. But unfortunately, some people have wrongly interpreted the verses of the Holy Quran to mean that dead saints or prophets can intercede for human beings while they are still alive on earth. And that is why they go forward for saint-worship, by setting up Dargas (mausoleums) of saints everywhere.

[Huzur (atba) then related about an important tabligh he did during the course of this week with a very rich Muslim family who lost everything, yet whenever they incurred losses, instead of turning to Allah, they approached Mullahs, Mawlawis. The latter misguided them, and took fees upon fees from them supposedly to pray for them and instead of advising this family to turn to Allah, they preferred to direct them to pray to dead Pirs on Dargas. Huzur (atba) said that when he heard about this and also about a friend of his who donated lots of money for the construction of a Darga, when he preached to him the right teachings of Islam, guiding him to the worship of Allah, all these people (including his friend) were annoyed. Huzur (atba) said that he had to deliver his message, whether they were annoyed or not, because he himself was very angry (not the fighting type of angry) because they have deviated from the way of Allah to put their trust in others besides Allah. And they wonder why they were still incurring so much losses! They kept on losing their wealth like running water, and those Mullahs were enriching themselves while this Muslim family were getting poorer and accumulating debts. These people did not even pray their five daily prayers, and despite that there is a mosque near their place, they prefer to frequent all kinds of Dargas! They don’t even know what is Tahajjud prayer. Huzur (atba) said that had this family turned sincerely to Allah, Allah would have helped them, but they chose others over Him.]

B. The Requirement of Divine Approval

It is very important to understand that Allah is the Best Interceder/ Intercessor for His servant. He is the Best Being who can waive away all the sins or faults of someone, forgive him and make him taste His pleasure and paradise. Allah says in the Holy Quran: “Say: ‘To Allah belongs all intercession’.” (Az-Zumar, 39: 45).

Moreover, Allah shall allow some of His special servants on the Day of Judgement to intercede in the favour of His other servants. The Holy Quran calls our attention to it in the following verse: “And they say, ‘The Most Merciful has taken a son.’ Exalted is He! Rather, they are [but] honoured servants. They cannot precede Him in word, and they act by His command. He knows what is before them and what will be after them, and they cannot intercede except on behalf of one whom He approves. And they, for fear of Him, are apprehensive.” (Al-Anbiya 21: 27-29).

'Laila-tul- Qadr': Rise of a 'Mujaddid'/ 'Khalifatullah'

In the Muslim spiritual imagination, the month of Ramadan is deeply embedded as the sacred month of Fasting for the sake of God Almighty. The month also reminds us about the advent of Divine revelations on the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa) and the sacred birth of the Holy Qur'an! Indeed the Holy Qur'an itself acknowledges that it was in the blessed nights of Ramadan that the very first verses began to be revealed on the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa). The Holy Book says: “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong).” [2:185] “Verily! We have sent it (this Qur'an) down in the night of Al-Qadr (Decree).” [97:1].  "Truly, We revealed it in a blessed Night"(44:3). 

Distinguished lexicographers and Qur'an scholars have noted that wherever the Qur'an speaks of "Lailah", it has a deep connection with the descent of Divine revelations. The saints of Islam had noted the profound connection of "Lailat-ul-Qadr" with the advent of Muhaddith (recipient of Divine revelations), "Khalifatullah" (Caliph of God) and Mujaddid (Divine reformer) in every era of Islam. The Promised Massih Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian also sought to educate and remind the Muslims of his era about the significance of 'Lailat-ul-Qadr' and the deep spiritual verities of Surah Al Qadr, especially with regard to the raising of great spiritual souls in every era of Islam as 'Mujaddid', 'Muhaddith', 'Khalifatullah', etc. 

Reproduced below are the words of Hadhrat Massih Maoud (as) from one of his books, Fateh-e-Islam: 

“Allah gives glad tidings to the faithful in Surah Al Qadr that His prophet and His revelation descended from the heaven during the period of Laila-tul- Qadr (the Night of Decree).

Every Muhaddath and Mujaddid who is commissioned by Allah always appears during the Night of Decree. 

Do you understand what is meant by the Night of Decree? The Night of Decree or the Laila-tul- Qadr is the name of a night when spiritual darkness reaches its ultimate gloom. That gloom, metaphorically, demands a light from heaven for its dissipation. This night is symbolically called the Night of Decree. In fact, it is not a night, but a period, which is referred to as a ‘night’ because of its intense darkness. 

One thousand months is the approximate life span of a human being. It is also a period after which normal human senses ceases to function. The elapse of a period of one thousand months, following the demise of a Prophet or his spiritual successor also signals the commencement of a ‘night’ of darkness. This ‘night’ triggers fervour in the heavens and the seeds of the birth of one or more reformers (Mujaddidin) is stealthily sown. Thus such a Mujaddid or prepare to emerge at the head of the new century. The following verse is also an indication by Allah towards this phenomenon:

           

  “The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months”.  (Surah Al Qadr, 97:4) .

Mauritius: Freedom from Slavery

Every year, Mauritius observes a national holiday on February 1^st. For, this day marks a defining moment in the collective memory of the Mauritian people's struggle for dignity and human rights. Almost two centuries ago, it was on this day in 1835 that the abominable practice of Slavery was formally abolished in the Island State, liberating a mass of humanity from the clutches of an oppressive social order. 

The story of how Mauritius- once a virtually uninhabited Island off the southeast coast of Africa, became home to close to 1.5 million people today; professing various faiths- including Hinduism, Christianity, Islam- and speaking different languages, including Creole, French, English, Tamil, Urdu, Hindi and Bhojpuri and Chinese- is a fascinating chapter in the making of the modern world. There is little doubt that the modern identity of Mauritius as ‘a rainbow nation’ is a tribute to the cultural confluences it inherited from its complex past. 

Originally discovered by the Arabs in the 9^th century; successively colonized by the different European powers from the 17th century- the Deutch, the French and the British- in the last four centuries; modern Mauritius is, in many ways, shaped by this Island nation's encounter with the different phases of global capitalism and the trajectories of the European imperial forays into Africa and Asia, including the strategic control of the Indian Ocean region for safeguarding their vital, commercial interests. The detachment of a part of the Mauritian territory- the Chagos Archipelago and offering the same on a virtual, perpetual lease to the United States by the last colonial power- Britain- before the granting of national independence to Mauritius in 1968, continue to remind all of us in the global South about the long shadows of imperial hubris that permanently scar the psyche of nations and peoples. (For a review of the continuing Mauritius-UK dispute over the Chagos Archipelago, click here).

Even as the colonial masters sought to subjugate the nations they conquered through military means, they found it politically convenient to stake the moral high ground of good governance, rule of law and human rights in the shaping of national policies. Hence, the colonial, administrative practices in the Indian Ocean region, including in relation to questions of slavery and ‘rule of law’ in the conquered territories vis-a vis the subjugated peoples, can be seen as a partial concession to the tectonic shifts in the global thinking around questions of human dignity and basic rights. The abolition of slavery in the British colonies and the introduction of the system of ‘contract labour’ with a semblance of rights and privileges for the migrant working class can only be seen against this backdrop.

On Spirituality and Social Service

Street Light Foundation, a Kuwait-based NGO of concerned Indians from Kerala, organized a local community function at Mathra with a view to spread goodwill, empathy and understanding among people on the Indian festival season of Diwali, the Festival of Lights. The event was held at the Old-Age Home (being run by the Meera Charitable Trust ), Mathra (Kerala, India) on October 18, 2017. 

The Amir of Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam, Kerala- South Zone (India), Mukarram R. Jamaluddin Saheb, was among the speakers on the occasion. In his speech, the Mukarram Amir Saheb shared the perennial, sublime spiritual message of all Elects of God all through history- Sri Ramchandran ji, Sri Krishna ji, Jesus Christ, Prophet Muhammad (sa)- the essence of which is to lead a good life in service of fellow humans. 

Emphasizing on the common ground of all religious traditions and spiritual messages from the past,  the Amir Saheb urged the audience to gaze at the universality of spiritual consciousness and our common humanity as the foundational bases for building solidarity with the less privileged and to do service to fellow men and women in our (local and global) communities. He emphasized that a life well-lived is one that is dedicated to the service of fellow beings. Indeed,  such service is a noble path to realize the ultimate purpose of life in this fleeting world: Worship of the Divine, Alhamdulillah, Soumma Alhamdulillah. 

Charitable Giving (Sadaqah)

Four members of the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam- Kerala visited the Old-Age Home at Mathra, being maintained by Mrs. Jameela Rajagopalan of the Meera Charitable Trust in service of destitute, old women, on Friday, October 13, 2017. The Jamaat delegation consisted of  Mukarram Amir Jamaluddin Saheb, Naib Amir Sadiq Ali Saheb, Secretary-Tabligh Sulfikar Ali Saheb and this humble blogger. The visiting delegation offered a Sadaqah in the name of our senior member Shareefa Beevi Esmail Saheba, who has age-related ailments now;  the Sadaqah was in the  form of providing Breakfast for all the inmates of the Institution, Alhamdulillah, Soumma Alhamdulillah. 

'Eid-ul-Adha' Sermon 2017

Eid-ul-Adha commemorates the great sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim (as) and Hazrat Ismail (as). It is indeed Hazrat Ibrahim (as) who accomplished all rights of fidelity. He could not have become an intimate creature and servant of Allah, were it not for the sincerity, cleanliness and purity he displayed, and it would have been difficult for him to arrive at such stage (in the eyes of Allah/ in the realm of spirituality).

To fulfil all rights of fidelity, Hazrat Ibrahim (as) had to make such efforts to purify his heart and remove all 'Ghairullah' (all that is not Allah) and filled it with the love of Allah and act according to the will of Allah. Hazrat Ibrahim (as) had persevered in this path and showed himself ever firm, to such an extent that he once dreamt that he was sacrificing his son. So, concerning his dream, he could have given it several interpretations, but his faith in Allah was so firm that he decided to go through with the literal sacrifice of his young son, with his own hand.

Ponder over this. Imagine the state of a person if his son suddenly dies due to some illness. That person can reach such stage where he starts to have all kinds of doubts on Allah, and thus he opens his mouth to utter countless complaints and objections against Allah.

So, Hazrat Ibrahim (as) crushed the love he had for his son and above all preferred to show his love for Allah (swt). This kind of person, Allah does not let him lose anything and he becomes the friend of Allah.

When you read the Holy Quran, you see how much love he had for Allah (swt) and Allah (swt) in return gave him lots of revelations and granted him, in his progeny, prophets. Both his sons Ismail (as) and Ishaq (as) were prophets and through them (i.e. their bloodline), many more prophets came.  In the example  of Hazrat Ibrahim (as), there is a lesson for all humanity; a lesson of sincerity and faithfulness. That is why Ibrahim (as) has been qualified as the one who showed faithfulness (fidelity) and sincerity.

Divine Revelations and Actual Signs

There are scientists who say that the earth on which we live is very small. Compared to other divine creations, for them the earth is only an insignificant thing. Verily, neither what they say is accurate, nor is it our belief that God reveals Himself only through a particular nation or sect. God has no connection or special love for a particular nation. 

What is correct (to state) is that God, the God of the universe as a whole has created the means to physically nourish and develop everything that He has put on earth without distinction, and according to our faith, that same God (Allah) is “Rabbul Aalameen”, that is to say, He is the One Who provides the whole universe everything we need; it is He who gives us all sorts of favours/ benefits. He has provided cereals (i.e., food and also drink), air, water, light, etc. to all His creation.

Similarly, in every period of human existence and to every nation He has, from time to time sent reformers to reform peoples. As stated in Surah Fatir of the Holy Quran, Allah the Almighty is the God of the universe. 

In fact, in this regard, we find no contradiction in the scriptures that were given to the nations from time to time. This is so because the advent of a reformer is a necessity when the world tends to indulge in evil and unethical practices such as lying, stealing, quarrels and general immorality that lead people to move away from purity and virtue and to be enslaved by selfishness. Their submission to such wrong practices/ to such evils is such that they abandon the worship of God and they indulge in idolatry.

God takes care of the physical and spiritual well-being of man. His Munificence requests that in such times of spiritual darkness, He needs to appoint a person to reform (mankind) and the concept of such a representative (of God) does not affect any law of nature.

Divine Elects and the Light of Revelation

« Wa immin Ummati illaa khalaa fihaa Naziir. »

There is no nation but has had its Warner. 

(Fatir 35: 25)

As Allah (swt) is the Lord of all mankind, He has equipped all humans with the power to think for themselves. And thus, He could not deprive any nation of His guidance. Like the verse of the Holy Quran which I have recited before you, in which it is said: “There is no nation but has had its Warner”.

Allah (swt) has sent His messengers among all nations and in all ages, and like the sun lights up the whole world, the light of revelations has ever lit up the darkest corners of the earth. If today we cannot discover the light of revelation among a particular people, it does not mean that no prophets have appeared among them, but the truth is that these people have allowed their national traditions and faith to die out.

Over time, most people believed that (divine) revelation was limited to the founders of their respective religions, and even those who believed that divine revelation was given to those who profess other religions did that, more like a kind of personal tribute to the founders of these religions because of the services they had rendered to the cause of humanity than the result of the acceptance of the doctrine of the universal providence of God. For example, today we see that Christmas has become a national and international festival where even the adherents of other religions like the Hindus celebrate it with fanfare. Why? Is it because of their belief in Jesus just like the Christians have in him? Or is it simply because of the attraction of this festive celebration and as a tribute to the Christian beliefs about Jesus’ birth? They are fully engaged in this feast while in reality they do not believe in the authenticity of Jesus as a prophet, or even (may Allah forbid) as son of God, a belief that the majority of Christians espouse.

The services rendered to humanity by the righteous servants of God have certainly been preserved in history, but God’s attributes and words also reflect the fact that each nation, whether its traditions have been preserved or not, had its prophet and to receive guidance through prophets is the right of humanity that God never ignores. This doctrine has opened for all nations the doors of God’s love to the point that it has put the internal relations of humanity on a consistent and friendly basis and preserved the founders and righteous men of all religions from all kinds of insults.

The world has seen the greatest universal prophet for all humanity, for all nations, for all peoples of the world. This greatest prophet is indeed our beloved prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). He was raised among the Arabs as the universal prophet for the entire human race. Although he was the last prophet bearer of divine laws, with the last code of revealed laws, i.e., the Quran, the complete Holy Book, which contains the necessary lessons for the needs of all times, the doors of revelation and spiritual advancement are, however, still open and will continue to be forever.

Making Sense of the Disasters Around Us

Before coming on the subject of today’s sermon, I would like to talk a little on the visit of the actual Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi who came to Mauritius on 11 March 2015 as Chief Guest of Honour for the 47^th Anniversary of Independence Day (12 March 1968) of our country. 

Honourable Narendra Modi was all praise for Mauritius and the exceptional bond which binds our two countries. The humility he showed as a statesman was much appreciated, as political leaders should be good models for society at large, intrinsically as well as extrinsically. Honourable Narendra Modi graced the National Assembly with his presence yesterday and axed his speech on the celebration of both the freedom and also the struggles which Mauritius had to do to get its independence. He also reminiscence the Dandi March led by the Mahatma Gandhi on the 12 March 1930 paving the way towards the Independence of India. 

We, the Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam sincerely hope that the Honourable Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi proves to be a good statesman for the betterment of India as a whole, and to connect India to the global community in peace, justice, liberty, and noble aspirations and plans.

Life & Destruction through the means of Nature

Water is Life. But sometimes, water is a means of destruction also. Too much of something can spoil it altogether. Likewise, man needs water to live. Water is a blessing of God. Rain falls to revive the dead earth, and provide man with the necessary water to keep himself alive.

Very often when man’s action is not guided according to the Divine will, but according to his own passions, God Almighty uses the elements of nature against him, and thus what may seem like a natural calamity is in fact a planned divine punishment, to give mankind a wake-up call, to make them realise their error and return to the worship of the sole God who have provided them all their necessities and to whom they should be thankful.

Water is life, but the same water can become a means of death. God Almighty used rain water to flood the town and drown the people of Noah (as). The same water which man absolutely needs to survive becomes a lethal weapon by Allah to punish those whom He has condemned as culprits when they discard the divine warnings through His Prophets and Messengers and do as per their own will. Water also was used as a means for God to rescue His Prophet, Moses (as) and his followers. He opened the sea to save His servants and bring the destruction of Pharaoh and his companions.

 Disasters in the times of a Divine Elect

Since the start of the Divine Manifestation of this age, we have witnessed many calamities, but the exceptional nature of the Divine Manifestation, with the advent of a Messenger of Allah is that Allah through His Messenger already gives warnings to mankind before actually seizing mankind, or some people in particular (as per the divine revelations) for their misdeeds.

And Allah also affirms in the Holy Quran that the consequences of the people who commit evil shall be evil in return, and all misgivings and calamities which befall them are consequences of their corruption and evil deeds and thoughts. Allah through His prophets warns of the spread of diseases, and all sorts of calamities if people do not reform their lives and start acting righteously. Therefore, people should not blame God for any calamity but should blame themselves. 

Divine Elects Lit Up the Path of Guidance

The Universality of Divine Providence

Wa ‘immin ‘ummatin ‘illaa khalaa fiihaa naziir.

“There is no nation but has had its Warner.” (Surah al Fatir; 35: 25)

All nations received revelation. There is an important question which relates to the person of God and man and that which subsists between man and man; in other words; which nations have been the recipients of revelation and on what principles were they selected by God to receive His revelation? Without the solution of this question, the reform which the Promised Messiah had attempted in relation to other questions relating to the being of God, would not have been complete. With regard to this question he pointed out that, as God is the Lord of the whole universe, his guidance could not be confined to any particular nation. As he is the Lord of all mankind and has equipped all of them with thinking minds, he could not deprive any nation of His guidance. As I have recited in the beginning of my sermon: “There is no nation but has had its Warner”. (Fatir; 35: 25)

God has sent His messengers among all nations and in all ages, and as the sun lights up the whole world, the light of revelations has ever lit up the darkest corners of the earth. If today we cannot discover the light of revelation among a particular people, it does not mean that no prophets have appeared among them, but the truth is that these peoples have allowed their national traditions and faith to die out.

In pursuance of this doctrine this testified to the truth of Krishna, Ram and Buddha, the prophets of India, and all the other prophets, messengers and reformers of Almighty God, and the rejection of their claims is, in a sense, amounting to a denial of the universal providence of God. 

Why accept some and reject some? Why not accept all as of divine source? This is a doctrine which was not to be found among the teachings of any sect or religion, and, as a matter of fact, the majority of people believe that revelation had been confined to the founders of their respective religions, and even those who believed that revelation had been vouchsafed to people of other religions did so, more as a sort of personal tribute to the founders of those religions on account of the services rendered by them to the cause of humanity than as a result of the acceptance of the doctrine of the universal providence of God.

The Enduring Light of Muhammad

But the Promised Messiah demonstrated from the Quran that not only were those men the righteous servants of God whose services to humanity are recorded in history, but that the attributes and the words of God alike bore witness to the fact that every nation, whether its traditions have been preserved or not, has had its prophet, and that to receive guidance through prophets was the right of humanity which God would never ignore. The extent to which this doctrine has opened to all nations the doors of the Love of God, has placed the internal relation of mankind on a basis of concord and amity, and has secured the founders and righteous men of all religions against insult and abuse.

Muhammad- the Universal Prophet

The Holy prophet (pbuh) was born on 12^th Rabi’ul Awwal. His father was Abdullah son of Abdul-Muttalib and his mother was Amina daughter of Wahab. It was in the year of Elephant, the year when Abraha an Abyssinian at the head of an army marched towards Mecca mounted on elephants in order to attack Mecca and demolish the Ka’aba. The march of elephants frightened the Arabs but Allah sent down a swarm of flying creatures which threw stones on the Abyssinian army. This event marked history for Allah after nominating the Muhammad (pbuh) as prophet, later revealed to him about what occurred to Abraha and his army in the year of his birth. This Surah is none other than Surah Al-Fil (The Elephant: Chapter 105). Allah relates therein how He crushed them and their evil plans.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) came to change the course of human history. His birth was like a spring of light which illuminated the Arabian Peninsula and the whole world.

According to various Qur’anic verses and prophetic traditions, we see the magnificence of the Prophet, whether in his physical features, and in his character. His physical beauty is comparable to the beauty of the fourteenth moon; and much more! Several of his companions have given details of his physical traits and his character. The Prophet (pbuh) had a beautiful constitution. He had a white complexion; a splendid white. His forehead was wide, and the place between his eyebrows was bright like pure silver and his eyes were beautiful, and the pupils of his eyes were black. His cilia were abundant. As for his nose, it was thin, and he had a sweet face. His beard was thick, and his neck was beautiful, being neither long nor short, to the point that if the sun hit him, it seemed like a cup of silver mixed with gold. In addition, the space between the shoulders of the Prophet (pbuh) was wide and his hair, which was neither thin nor curly, almost touched his shoulders. Aisha, his beloved wife reported that “the blessed hair of the Messenger of God (pbuh) were longer than those reaching the earlobes and shorter than those that reach the shoulders.” He was neither tall nor short. (Inset:  Hazratbal Mosque in Srinagar, Kashmir. It houses a hair of the prophet Muhammad. The "Moi-e-Muqqadas", arrived in Kashmir in 1699 during the time of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, is displayed on various occasions related with the life of the Holy Prophet ).

Divine Guidance and Free Will

Alhamdulillah Summa Alhamdulillah, Allah (twt) has given me this opportunity to continue the subject matter of last week’s Sermon on the need of the advent of a prophet of God, and the reality of the miracles and faith which are joined together for the realization of the designs of Allah.

Indeed God Almighty talked in the past, is talking even today to His humble servants and messengers. It is unbelievable that a Merciful and Loving God would remain unmoved at the sight of mankind floundering in error and worldliness and yet He would take no measures for their guidance and direction. So my dear brothers and sisters, if there is a God, He cannot permit this!

If He feels for His servants in their trials and yet makes no provision, we must conclude either that He has no power to guide mankind to the truth, or that to attain communion with God is not the object of man’s existence, and that man was created merely to eat, drink, and to lead a purely worldly and animal existence. But each of the alternatives previously mentioned is insupportable.

To imagine that He who created the universe has no power to provide means for the spiritual guidance of mankind is absurd. The Creator of the whole must have power to create a part. If we admit the existence of a Creator, we must admit that He has absolute power and that nothing is impossible unto him, and He can accomplish everything except whatever is incompatible with His holiness and perfection, nor can we imagine that man has been created merely for the purpose of a worldly existence for, in that case, we would be compelled to admit that an All-Wise and All-Knowing Creator has brought this huge universe into being to no purpose.

Miracles and the Light of Faith

In continuation to last Friday’s sermon, the condition of the world itself demands the advent of a prophet. For, where can be find today the light and the faith of which we read in connection with the prophets? Who can show the signs and miracles which men were wont to witness at the hands of the prophets and their companions? We find a great deal written in the books of each religion, but where can be find the practical proof of it? Where is the gift of prophecy which the companions of Moses possessed? Where are the signs which the disciples of Jesus were wont to show? The books of every religion talk of a living God, but is that living God living today also? Does He still maintain with His servants the relation which Jehovah was wont to maintain with the followers of Moses or the Heavenly Father with the disciples of Jesus, or Allah with the Muslims?

If not, what reason can be assigned for this change? And, has this change occurred in God, or in man? We find that, in order to avoid having to face this question and to admit that this change has occurred, the contents of the revealed books of different religions are sought to be explained away, and meanings are assigned to passages which the words are incapable of bearing.

It may be permissible to us to say that God spoke to His servants in this or that manner, or spoke to His servants in this or that way, or that His relations with His servants were of this or that kind, but it is not open to us to assert that God has never talked to man in a manner which should exclude all possibility of doubt or misgiving nor is it open to us to say that God never showed any miracles to demonstrate conclusively the truth of a particular religion or of a particular prophet. We may be permitted to assert that the relationship which existed between God and His servants in the past was of a nature different from that ordinarily understood or accepted, but after a perusal of the scriptures of different religions we cannot honestly assert that God has never dealt with His servants in manner from which the world could judge that a Living God exists who displays his Might and Mercy for those He loves.

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: 

'Khalifa': Different Types and Ranks

According to the Holy Qur’an, only a person appointed by Allah Himself and enjoys His converse on a sustained basis and receiving revelations from the Holy Throne can be considered a Khalifatullah or the Caliph of Allah. With regard to Hadhrat Adam (as), the Holy Book states: “I am going to place My Khalifah in the earth”. [2:31]. 

Like wise, with regard to Hadhrat David (as), the Holy Book states: ‘O David, We have made you a Khalifah in the earth’ [38:27]. And in both cases, it is patently obvious that the servants of God being addressed invariably enjoyed Divine converse and were appointed by Allah Himself as His Messengers or Khulafa.

Apart from the two Messengers of Allah who were described as the Khalifah of Allah, the Holy Qur’an also speaks about another type of Khalifas. It refers to the subordinate Prophets who are Khalifas of another and a greater prophet such as the Israelite Prophets who all were the Khalifas of Moses. 

The Holy Qur’an states: “Allah has 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 exchange security and peace after their fear; They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me. Then whoso disbelieves after that, they will be the rebellious”. (24:56).

According to Hadhrat Ahmad (as), the phrase ‘as He made Successors from among those who were before them’ is a clear reference to the Khalifas of Moses who were all Prophets.

A Divine Reformer after Hadhrat Ahmad

Allah’s Covenant with the Prophets is very clearly stated in the Holy Qur'an: 

“And remember the time when Allah took the covenant from the people through the  Prophets, saying ‘Whatever I give you of the Book and Wisdom and then there comes to you a Messenger fulfilling that which is with you, you shall believe in him and help him’. And He said, ‘Do you agree, and do you accept the responsibility which I lay upon you in this matter?’ They said, “We agree” He said “Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses”. (3:82).

‘Surely, there will come to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My guidance, no fear shall come upon them, nor shall they grieve’. (2: 39)

Every Ahmadi Muslim believe that Hadhrat Ahmad (as) is a Messenger of Allah/ Divine Reformer appointed by Allah (swa). So, it is only reasonable to assume that such a divine covenant has been taken from Hadhrat Ahmad (as) as well. In fact, the Promised Massih (as) who wrote over 80 books, made several statements regarding the coming of divinely guided people in his Jamaat in future. For, Hadhrat Ahmad (as) did not come to discard, but to renew the message of the Holy Prophet (sa). In fact, that is what he did through all his teachings and that is why he said that Massihs will come after him. He even specifically declared that there is nothing abnormal or unusual about the spiritual situation if a Mujaddid follows him in the next century.