A Follower as Well as a Prophet — Essence of Islam Vol. 4

14 Sep, 2026 Essence of Islam 0

Essence of Islam Book Cover by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS)

Introduction

In this discourse from Essence of Islam (Volume 4), Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS), the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, expounds upon A Follower as Well as a Prophet, presenting profound spiritual insights and scriptural verities.

Book Series: Essence of Islam (Volume 4)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (AS)
Section: Part 3: Status of the Promised Messiah (as)
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: Triumph of Islam | Next: Names of Other Prophets »

Status of the Promised Messiahas God Almighty has repeatedly described me in His revelations both as a follower and as a Prophet. My heart is gratified with both these titles and I am most grateful that I have been honoured with this compound name.
[Brahin-e-Ahmadiyyah, Part V, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 21, p. 355]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 75]

I have been bestowed two titles by God Almighty. One of these is the title of a follower, as indicated by my name Ghulam Ahmad. The second title given to me, by way of reflection, is that of Prophet, since God Almighty has named me Ahmad in the earlier parts of Brahin-e-Ahmadiyyah and addressed me repeatedly by that name. This was an indication that I am a Prophet by way of reflection. Thus, I am an Ummati [follower of the Holy Prophetsa] and also, by way of reflection, a Prophet. This is also indicated in the revelation set out in the earlier parts of Brahin-eAhmadiyyah: That is, every blessing is from the Holy Prophetsa, and blessed is he who taught—the Holy Prophetsa— and, thereafter, blessed is he who was taught— myself. Therefore, through perfect obedience, I was named a follower and having acquired the full reflection of Prophethood, I was named Prophet. Thus I acquired two titles.
[Brahin-e-Ahmadiyyah, Part V, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 21, p. 360]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 75]

Wherever I have denied being a Prophet or a Messenger, it has only meant that I have not brought a permanent and independent Shariah, nor am I a Prophet in my own right. But I am a Messenger and a Prophet without a new Shariah in the sense that— because of the inner grace that has been bestowed upon me on account of my obedience to the Holy Prophetsa, and because I have received his name— God reveals the unseen to me. I have never denied being a Prophet in this sense, and it is only in this sense that God has called me Prophet and Messenger. Thus, even now I do not deny being a Prophet and a Messenger in this sense. When I say: 42

I only mean that I am not the bearer of a new Shariah. It must, however, be remembered and never forgotten that, despite my having been called Prophet and Messenger, I have been informed by God that all this grace is not bestowed directly upon me but there is a holy one in heaven, i.e., Muhammad, the Chosen Onesa, whose spiritual grace accompanies me. Because of this intermediary link and having been named Muhammad and Ahmad, I am both a Messenger and a Prophet—one who is sent by God and one to whom God discloses news of the unseen. In this manner, the Seal of Prophethood has been fully safeguarded, for I have only been given this name by way of reflection through the

Status of the Promised Messiahas mirror of love. If a person is chagrined over this revelation in which God Almighty has called me Prophet and Messenger, it is foolish on his part, for my being Prophet and Messenger does not break the Divine seal.
[Eik Ghalati Ka Izalah, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 18, pp. 210-211]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 75]

Twenty-six years ago, I was named Muhammad and Ahmad in Brahin-e-Ahmadiyyah and designated a spiritual reflection of the Holy Prophetsa. This is why in Brahin-e-Ahmadiyyah people were told: 43 And it was also said: 44

If someone asks, how is it to be determined whether the Hadith 45

refers to me, and why it might not have reference to someone else from among the Muslims, the answer is that, in Brahin-e-Ahmadiyyah, Divine revelation has repeatedly pronounced me as the person referred to in this Hadith, and I call God Almighty to witness that this is the word of God Almighty that descended upon me.

44 Every blessing is from Muhammadsa, and thus blessed is he who taught and he who was taught. [Publisher] 45 Had faith ascended to the Pleiades, a man from among the Persians would have brought it down. [Publisher] 46 No one else from among the Muslims has ever made this claim that God Almighty has so named him and that he alone is entitled to make this claim on the basis of Divine revelation. To charge me with having claimed to be a Prophet on my own is the height of folly and ignorance and is utterly opposed to the truth. O’ ignorant people, my claim to Prophethood does not mean that, God forbid, I claim to be a Prophet as against the Holy Prophetsa, or that I claim to have brought a new Shariah. My Prophethood means the frequent experience of Divine converse and address that has been granted to me on account of my obedience to the Holy Prophetsa. You people also admit the possibility of Divine converse, so our difference is only over the interpretation of terms. What you regard as the Divine converse, I, in obedience to the God’s commandment, denote its frequency as Prophethood. 47
[Haqiqat-ul-Wahi, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 22, pp.502-503]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 77]

46 He who denies this should be ready to come forth for Mubahalah and may the curse of Allah overtake him who denies the truth or manufactures a lie against the Lord of Honour. [Publisher]

Status of the Promised Messiahas 48
[Khutbah Ilhamiyyah, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 16, pp.69-70]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 78]

I am the one whose advent had been promised by God. Yes, I am the one whose advent had been foretold by all the Prophetsas.
[Malfuzat, vol. 3, p. 65]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 79]

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Introduction