The gifts of Islam

 

Reproduced below is a section from the writings of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian [1835-1908], the Muslim saintly figure who claimed under Divine inspiration that he is the promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi of the Later Days. Hazrat Ahmad (as) explains here the transformative potential of Islamic beliefs and practices upon the spiritual fortunes of a human soul striving steadfastly and sincerely in the pure path of the Prophets, seeking the Face of God: attain true humility and Taqwah; gain Holy Communion- be blessed with Divine converse and dialogue, and thereby partake of lofty discourse and deep guidance; indeed, become a true heir to the cognition of God in their times.

Islam: An Incomparable Gift

 

Islam is a gift that Allah has given to humanity at its birth; and it is a more honourable gift for anyone who is born Muslim and who grows up in the Islamic environment. A child’s upbringing in this honourable environment means that the parents also have a very great responsibility to guide them and maintain them in this Islamic, pure environment until these children become sufficiently mature, especially after the age of puberty, to know the difference between good and evil and to choose with full awareness to follow the path of truth, the path of Islam; and to make effort themselves to remain attached to the straight path, and to do everything possible to gain the pleasure of Allah, and to become a true Muslim, not by birth or by the Islamic environment in which they grew up, but by choice; a choice that is personal, that is pure, where a child, an adolescent, or even an adult – whether a young adult or even one in middle age – all have a choice to make. After the parental education they have received, where their parents guided them towards Allah, towards His Deen, towards good practice that will lead them to Paradise, will they follow this path or follow a path led astray by the influence of bad companions, bad guides who exist in the world and whose primary work is to divert them from the straight path?

A Prayer in the Mihrab

 

In the quiet mihrab, silver crowned with age,

Zakariya stood, though his frame was frail.

'My bones have weakened, my hair is ablaze,'

Yet his hope in his Lord did not pale.

Childless years weighed heavy on his chest,

He feared for his people when he was laid to rest.

Who would guard the way if heirs went astray? 

So he turned to his Lord, and began to pray.

Imam Mahdi's Prayer

 

O my Lord, 

by Your grace,

be my strength

and illumine my sight 

and what is in my heart

and be the purpose of 

my life and my death.

 

Fill me with Your love

and grant me such love

that it is surpassed 

by none after me.  

 

O my Lord,

accept my prayers,

grant me my wishes,

cleanse me, protect me,

draw me close to Yourself;

guide me,

help me and enable me to do good,

purify me,

illumine my soul,

make me entirely Yours

and become entirely mine.

 

A 'Bai'at' with the Khalifatullah

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem 

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu, 

To all my dear Spiritual children and the Muslim ummah around the world, 

All praise belongs to Allah (swt), the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate, who has never left mankind without guidance. From the beginning of time, He has raised among people His chosen servants—prophets, messengers, and reformers—to illuminate the path of truth and righteousness.

As Muslims who hold firmly to the timeless teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the noble Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), we recognize that the raising of an Elect of God in every era is part of Sunnatullah—an enduring Divine practice. Especially in times of spiritual darkness, confusion, and moral decline, Allah, in His infinite mercy, sends guidance to revive faith and restore the connection between man and his Creator.

Advices for the Muslims

   

Strive hard—O valiant ones!—

so that the Faith may gain strength,

And freshness and elegance may flourish

in the garden of Islam.

 

Friends!

Should you have compassion for the plight of Islam,

You will be—in the eyes of God—akin to

the Companions of the Prophet.

 

Hypocrisy and discord will be removed from the ignorant;

Perfect harmony, brotherhood, and friendship will be cultivated.

So rise up to strive, for surely from God’s court,

Assistance will appear for the helpers of Islam.

 

Should any sympathy for the honour of the Faith

burn in you this day—

I swear by Allah—

ye shall likewise attain dignity and honour.

 

Should ye extend forth the hand of generosity

for the victory of Islam,

Likewise shall ye behold

the sudden manifestation of the Hand of Power.

On 'Lailatul Qadr'

The Night of Decree

 

Lailatul Qadr, the Night of Decree, is a spiritual treasure that Allah has given to humanity. In the Qur’an, Allah says: “We have sent down the Qur’an in the Night of Decree” (Al-Qadr 97: 2). This revelation is the beginning of a light; that is, the light of divine guidance, the light of a Messenger of Allah, who comes to shine in the darkness, and thus it is a constant reminder that as long as man exists on earth, divine guidance will never cease. This guidance is not limited only to past centuries; it is an enlightening principle that touches every generation, and especially our generation that is living amidst chaos, wars, calamities, and confusion. Lailatul Qadr is a reminder that Allah always sends His guidance when people fall into error, and it is a promise that truth will triumph despite darkness.

 

Today, our era is filled with tribulations. So-called powers are conspiring, enriching themselves upon the suffering of people; they believe they are eternal upon the earth. But the Qur’an reminds us: “Every soul shall taste death” (Al-Imran 3: 186). They do not realise that their wealth and power will vanish, and they will have to answer for their crimes. In Hadith, our beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) announced the coming of the Mahdi and the Messiah, who will appear in a time filled with injustice and oppression. And it is important to clarify, as a Hadith in Ibn Majah states, that the Mahdi and the Messiah are one person, not two different individuals. This truth is a key to understanding our era: a single Chosen One of Allah has come, but people blinded by their own interpretations do not recognise him. They prefer to follow explanations and invented beliefs that they have inherited, instead of the living truth that Allah is manifesting.