Death in Mecca or Medina – A Failed Prophecy?
Introduction:
An allegation that has been raised against the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (AS), is that he had made a false prophecy in regard to the location where he will die. Opponents allege that he stated he would die in either Makkah or Madinah, however, he actually passed away in Lahore. As we shall see, this is a grave misrepresentation of the prophecy that would bring many people to shame once they realise the manner in which this has been cunningly done.
Revelation:
January 14, 1906
[Badr, vol. 2, no. 3, January19, 1906, p. 2; al-Hakam, vol. 10, no. 2, January 17, 1906, p. 3]
“[Arabic] Allah has decreed since eternity that He and His Messengers shall prevail. (2) [Arabic] God, the Merciful, says that there is peace, meaning that ‘you will not die in disappointment or defeat.’ (3) [Urdu] I shall die in Mecca or in Medina”
The opponents say that since the Promised Messiah (AS) died in Lahore, this is a failed prophecy. However, as we shall see they could not be further from the truth.
Explanation:
Right under this revelation, the Promised Messiah (AS) explains what it means. Since he is the one who received it, he is within his right to explain it.
January 14, 1906
[Badr, vol. 2, no. 3, January19, 1906, p. 2; al-Hakam, vol. 10, no. 2, January 17, 1906, p. 3]
“This sentence ‘I shall die in Mecca or in Medina’ means that before my death I shall be bestowed a victory like that of Mecca. That is to say that as the Holy Prophet had vanquished his enemies through the manifestation of the majestic Signs of Allah, so will it happen now. The second meaning is that before my death, I shall be bestowed a victory like that of Medina which means that people’s hearts will, on their own, be inclined towards me.”
As we can see, the meaning of dying in Makkah or Madinah is that he will be bestowed a victory through the manifestation signs and people’s hearts will be inclined towards him.
If it is said that the victory of Makkah was a military one so we should expect the Promised Messiah (as) to have such a victory then as it can be seen, that was not the aspect that was brought in order to make a parallel. The aspect was majestic signs (an aspect which the Promised Messiah (as) did indeed possess).
Usool of Prophecies:
There is an important Usool (principle) that must be remembered in light of objections that opponents could raise. Someone might ask: how do the words “die in Mecca or in Medina” relate to victories that were achieved in both of the cities as opposed to the apparent import of the statement? The answer is that a Prophet is in the best place to give the correct interpretation of his revelations. This can be supported with examples from the life of the Prophet Muhammad (saw).
Narrated `Abdullah bin `Abbas: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “While I was sleeping, two golden bangles were put in my two hands, so I got scared (frightened) and disliked it, but I was given permission to blow them off, and they flew away. I interpret it as a symbol of two liars who will appear.” ‘Ubaidullah said, “One of them was Al-`Ansi who was killed by Fairuz at Yemen and the other was Musailama (at Najd).”
[Sahih al-Bukhari 7034]
As we can see, the Prophet (saw) understood two golden bangles to mean two liars. Are we then out of obstinacy to ask what is the relationship between bangles and liars? Such is the dire condition of those who attempt to create their own restrictions for what a Prophet of God can or cannot do.
Conclusion:
The prophecy regarding dying in Makkah and Madinah was explained by the Promised Messiah (as) himself (the one who received it) to mean that he will vanquish people through majestic signs and people’s hearts will be inclined towards him. It is an accepted Usool that a Prophet will interpret his own revelations and so we shall extend this Usool in the case of the Promised Messiah (as) out of consistency.