Asad Shah Murder and the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya

The Murder of Asad Shah Sahib 

Before ending my sermon today (Khutba Jumu’ah), I would like to say few words on Syead Asadul Islam Shah Sahib who was murdered March 24 last. He was born in Rabwah on 31 January 1976 (he just reached his 40 years) and he was the son of Syead Naeem Shah who was a Pakistani. Asad Shah Sahib did his FSc at the Nusrat Jahan Academy in Rabwah and his family went to establish in Glasgow, Scotland in 1998. He had a business which he ran and was regular in his financial contribution in the Jamaat (Ahmadiyya), and I have even learnt that he was in Wassiyat and that according to the Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya, he was regular in Ijtema and Jummah.

Motive Behind the Murder

That imbecile who stabbed and killed him 30 times with a kitchen knife was 32 years old Tanveer Ahmad, an extremist who worked as Taxi driver. (Inset on the right: first pictures of the accused Tanveer, who made a public statement on his responsibility for the murder). He confessed to killing Asad Shah Sahib not because he wished the Christians Happy Easter, but he confessed during his private hearing that he killed Asad Shah Sahib because he proclaimed to be a prophet and thus did not show any respect to prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

The newspapers (the media in general) have seized this opportunity to state that it was because of his wishing his fellow Christian citizens that a Muslim of another sect came to kill him. For the moment, Tanveer Ahmad has appeared twice in the High Court, the first at the end of March and the second time on 05 April 2016 wherein he confessed to killing Asad Shah Sahib. He moreover instructed his lawyer, John Rafferty to make an official statement on 06 April 2016 to clarify his real reasons behind the murder, the main cause being he declared himself to be a prophet. There are other details which have been mentioned in that statement to justify his crime.

Murder for 'Blasphemy' in Islam?

In other words, he targeted the Jamaat Ahmadiyya whereby according to his line of thoughts, as well as those of the other fanatical Mullahs of the group ‘Khatme Nabuwwat’ and the others from the Anti-Ahmadiyya circles, prophets cannot come after the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh). And thus these people have published declarations that Asad Shah Sahib was a false prophet and they even posted videos online in November 2014 to denounce that he was a false prophet. And their websites also are filled with hatred against Islam Ahmadiyyat. For them, we Ahmadis are out of the pale of Islam.

God Forbid! Is that the teaching of Islam? Is that what Allah (swt) and His Messenger (pbuh) have taught you? If he has declared himself to be a prophet and if he is false (in his claim), then he is accountable for that claim/ proclamation to Allah alone. Is that the way of a good Muslim (to kill)? When have they receive the patent to judge the faith of others. Do you give the guarantee that you are yourselves on the right path and that your faith is firm, that your belief in the teachings of Islam is as solid as concrete? Is that barbarous deed committed truly Islamic?

Through their barbaric actions, they are depicting a very wrong image of the teachings of Islam. It is those kinds of extremists who are committing anti-Islam deeds, and are attacking and killing innocent people in various countries. Is that the teaching of Islam? 

Are you taking yourselves as greater judge than Allah (swt)? Allah (swt) have put it clear in the Quran that it is He alone who knows the hearts of His creatures, His servants, and that the domain of faith and to judge faith belongs only to Him, not to others who are declaring and judging people as non-Muslims. Verily, through their twisted and wicked minds, they are trampling all the more the true teachings of Islam.

'Show Prudence, Be Good and Do Good'

Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam- Kerala (India) organized a special Spiritual Gathering of our members at the historic Noor'ul Islam Masjid, Mathra on March 24-25, 2016- coinciding with the the august occasion of the Massih Maoud Day. 

Hazrat Muhyi-ud-Din Al Khalifatullah Munir A. Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius issued a special message of advice for the benefit of all those who gathered there on the occasion. In his message, Hazrat Khalifatullah (atba) underscored the historic responsibility of our Jamaat to restore the true spiritual order of Islam in an age in which all ethical values and religious teachings are trampled to dust and the great legacy of Divine servants destroyed from within by their own so-called disciples and followers. As the momentous task of upholding the Torch of Truth and illuminating the world with the Light of Faith requires extraordinary patience and sustained hard work over a long period of time for the desired transformation-"arise and create a new world"- Hazrat Saheb (atba) advocates the wisdom of displaying foresight in all actions; showing prudence against evil and the need for blazing a trail of good conduct and deeds in our everyday lives. 

Reproduced below is the Official Text of the Address:

My dear brothers and sisters, Assalamoualaikum Warahmatullah Wabarakaatuhu.

The Meaning of 'Khatam-an-Nabiyyeen'

The Dogma of 'Khatme Nabuwwat'

On Saturday 26 March 2016 after Salat-ul-Zuhr, a non-Ahmadi Muslim friend gave me a Muslim newspaper (STAR ​​No. 1625) dated 21 to 27 February 2016 wherein was written an article at page 30 on the Seal of Prophethood (part 4). An Imam spoke of the agreement by all the Ulema of the Ummah on the issue. When we look at this clause, we see that from the first century until today, in each successive generation, in the entire Muslim world, in every country, theologians are unanimous on this point that after the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) no one can be a prophet, and if someone claim the right to this post/ status or one who believes in such claimant, is a Kafir (infidel) and out of the pale of Islam. 

Then, the Imam in question reproduced the following evidence, namely the views of these theologians:

1.   Hazrat Imam-e-Azam Abu Hanifa (ra) [80-150 AH] said (like I told you last Friday): “La Nabi Ba’adi” (No prophet after me). [Manaqib-ul-Imamul Azam Abu-Hanifa, Labin-e-Ahmedul-Makki, Vol.1, Pg. 161].

2.     Allama Ibn Jarir-Tabri (ra) [224-310 AH] commented on the verse of the Holy Quran “Walakir-Rasulullah, wa Khatam-an-Nabiyyeen” and explained that he is one who had shut the door of prophecy and has applied thereon a seal. [Tafsir Ibn Jarir, Vol.22, p. 12].

3.      Allama Ibn Hazam (ra) Andalusi [384-456 AH] wrote: “Without a doubt, the continuation of revelation ceased after the death of Rasulullah (pbuh). The proof is that the revelation is bestowed to a prophet and (he is) the last of the prophets.” [Al-Muhalla, Vol.1 p. 26].

4.    Hazrat Imam Ghazali (ra) [450-505 AH] wrote in his book ‘Iqtisaad’: “No doubt the Ummah has reached a consensus that through the words’ Khatam-an-Nabiyyeen’ ‘the Nabiya Badi’, there will be no Messenger and no Prophet until eternity.”

And then the Imam quoted others also and pronounced that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) is the last prophet and said that those who pretend to receive a divine revelation or claim to be a prophet, will be declared infidel (Kafir) and has mentioned that in every Muslim country, the great scholars, ‘Fuqaha’, the ‘Muhadditheen’ and ‘Mufassireen’ have all expressed the same opinion about “Khatme Nabuwwat”.

The meaning of “Khatam-an-Nabiyyeen”

Now I make a small comment on the meaning of “Khatam-an-Nabiyyeen” and also put forward the writings of prominent Muslim scholars.

As you know, the term Khatam-an-Nabiyyeen appears in the Quran in Surah Al-Ahzab. This verse says:

“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah, and the Khatam-an-Nabiyyeen (Seal of the Prophets); and Allah has full knowledge of all things.” (33: 41)

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) said: “I was the Khatam-an-Nabiyyeen before the birth of Prophet Adam.” (Tafsir ibn Kathir, on the authority of Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal).

When his son died, he (pbuh) said: “Had Ibrahim lived he would have become a prophet.” (Ibn Majah, Vol.1 Kitabul-Janaiz).

These very significant words agree with the text of the Holy Quran. They mean that the word Khatam does not mean ‘the last’ in respect to the time factor.