Khalifa Awal (ra) Q/A – Basics about Ahmadis
Hazrat Maulawi Hakim Nuruddin (ra) – the first Khalifatul-Masih’s question answer session with a Maulawi. It sums up the general belief of Ahmadi Muslims, and answers some basic questions put forward by Non-Ahmadis. It is translated from Al Badr No. 8 August 22, 1912. p. 3 from the original text.
Words of the Amir
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih the 1st’s discussion with a Maulawi Sahib. Date: August 13. 1912
Usool-e-Din (principles of religion)
QUESTION: What are your Usool (principles), what difference do you hold with other Muslims.
ANSWER: Our Usool (principles) are these: Allah Almighty is One, He encompasses all perfect and praiseworthy qualities – free from all defects and deficiencies. Angels exist and they are assigned different tasks by Allah Almighty. All Messengers are truthful – the books which descended on them are truthful. The matter of punishment and reward is truthful. And Hazrat Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the Khatam-ul-Anbiya (Seal of the Prophets).
There is no difference in Usool-e-Din (principles of religion) between us and other Muslims. Whereas they believe in the death of more than a hundred thousand prophets, we have believed in the death of one Hazrat Masih [Jesus], so what is the sin? Just like this, in Ummat-e-Muhammadiyya, there has been [divine] dialogue and communication since the Auliya’ullah [saints], so what is wrong in accepting God Almighty’s dialogue with Mirza Sahib. The acceptance of the Messiah’s Nuzul (descent/being sent down) is not included in Usool-e-Din (principles of religion).
Who was Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad?
QUESTION: What was Mirza Sahib? Was he Isa (peace be upon him)?
ANSWER: Mirza Sahib is an Ummati’. He has always mentioned his name as Ghulam Ahmad (Servant of Ahmad). As we name [people] Ibrahim, Ismail, etc. just like this God Almighty named him Isa. The Isa of Bani Israil has passed away. The issue of Isa’s Nuzul (descent/being sent down) is solved by reflecting on the Quranic words,
نَزَّلۡنَا عَلَیۡکُمُ الۡمَنَّ وَالسَّلۡوٰی
وَاَنۡزَلَ لَکُمۡ مِّنَ الۡاَنۡعَامِ ثَمٰنِیَۃَ اَزۡوَاجٍWe sent down on you Manna and Salwa
[Holy Quran 2:58. Holy Quran 39:7]
and He has sent down for you eight head of cattle in pairs
Since, as Iron etc. was ‘sent down’ this is the reality of Isa (as)’s Nuzul (descent/being sent down) – not the meaning that he will descend from the sky. There is a couplet of Mirza Sahib:
من نیستم رسول و نیا وردہ ئم کتاب
ہاں ملہم ستم وز خداوند منزرم
I am not a [law bearing] Messenger, nor have I come with a new Book
Yes, I am a recipient of revelation, and I am devoted to God
Was Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad the Imam Mahdi?
QUESTION: Was Mirza Sahib the Mahdi?
ANSWER: Yes, he was the Mahdi. The proof of his truthfulness is that hadith which is found in Dar Qutni p. 188, narrated from the Ahl Bayt. That in the month of Ramadhan the solar eclipse on its middle date, and the lunar eclipse on its first date will occur. This sign was fulfilled with his claim.
Probably made his claim after seeing the Sign of the Eclipses?
QUESTION: Mirza Sahib probably just made his claim after seeing this sign.
ANSWER: The claim was there beforehand. And if this is the case an allegation can be made against Muhammad Rasulullah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that he ‘probably’ made his claim after looking at signs in the Torah.
What about other claimants?
QUESTION: Someone in Arabia also probably made a claim in this era
ANSWER: Before his (as)’s claim no one made a claim. And if you show me with evidence [someone making a claim right] after, then I will reward you with a thousand rupees.
Messiah and Mahdi are one?
QUESTION: Are the Messiah and Mahdi one?
ANSWER: In Ibn Majah p. 257 [Hadith #4039] there is the hadith,
لاَ الْمَهْدِيُّ إِلاَّ عِيسَى
There is no Mahdi but Isa
And in Musnad Ahmad [bin] Hanbal there is also the hadith Vol. 2 p. 411 [Hadith #9068]:
عن أبي هريرة عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال يوشك من عاش منكم أن يلقى عيسٰى ابن مريم إماماً مهديا وحكما عدلا فيكسر الصليبُ ويقتل الخنزير ويضع الجزية وتضع الحرب أوزارها
From Abu Hurairah (ra), on the authority of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) who said: Whoever among you lives shall soon meet Isa ibn Maryam, an Imam Mahdi, and a just arbiter (Hakam Adl), he shall break the Cross, slay the Swine, abolish Jizya, and war shall lay down its burdens.
In our view, there are many Mahdis (guided ones) – Abu Bakr (RA), Umar (RA), Uthman (RA), Haider-e-Karaar [Ali] (RA), Muhammad Abdullah bin Hassan Mathna, [and] Mahdi Harun’s father – the Conqueror of Constantinople. However, the Mahdi at the time of the Messiah – that Mahdi and Isa are one.
Was he an ‘Alim?
QUESTION: Is Mirza Sahib an ‘Alim (scholar)?
ANSWER: He was not very learned in the scholastic sense. His father had appointed Gul ‘Ali Shah, a Shia Maulawi of Batala, his tutor in his boyhood. But God Almighty had bestowed such erudition upon him that the great divines of India and Arabia could not produce the like of his Arabic books. He had great faith in prayer, and in answer to his prayers, God had bestowed all requisite knowledge upon him.
Why do Ahmadi Muslims always take metaphorical meanings?
QUESTION: Why do you take metaphorical meanings?
ANSWER: Alright, a man’s name is Isa, and his mother’s name is Maryam, he breaks a cross, takes a swine, and slays it, so will you accept that he is the Promised One? The truth is to understand the reality of prophecies one should observe the tarz (mode/style) of the Divine Book.