Blessings Upon Those Who Accept the Promised Messiah (as) — Essence of Islam Vol. 4
Introduction
In this discourse from Essence of Islam (Volume 4), Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS), the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, expounds upon Blessings Upon Those Who Accept the Promised Messiah (as), presenting profound spiritual insights and scriptural verities.
Book Series: Essence of Islam (Volume 4)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (AS)
Section: Part 5: Propagation, Establishment of a Holy Jama’at, and Instructions
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126 127 Plea made by the humble servant of God Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, District Gurdaspur, Punjab, July 15, 1897.
[Majmu‘ah Ishtiharat, vol. 2, pp. 443-451]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 214]
126 Dear ones, I put you on oath a hundred times in the name of the Lord of the universe and in the name of the Beloved of the purehearted that you should seek from God a reply in my matter. [Publisher] 127 This is what I have intended for dispelling the darkness. Peace be on him who follows the guidance. [Publisher] Propagation, Establishment of a Holy Jama‘at, and Instructions cerning him. They are, therefore, deserving of the merit which is earned by those who think well of a brother. Secondly, they did not fear people’s reproaches in the matter of accepting the truth, nor did they yield to egoistic passions. They have, therefore, become deserving of merit in that, having heard the call of a Divinely inspired Caller, and having considered it as a call to the truth, they accepted his message and were not held back by any obstacle. Third, having accepted the one who appeared in fulfilment of a prophecy, they have been freed of all bothersome thoughts which are generated by a long period of waiting and end up in the loss of faith due to continuous disappointment. These fortunate people have not only been delivered from such risk but, their faith is further strengthened and their traditional belief assumes a sense of true knowledge for they have seen a Divine sign and the fulfilment, before their very eyes, of a prophecy of God’s Messengersa. They have been delivered of all anxiety that invades the hearts in the matter of prophecies that just do not find fulfilment. Fourthly, having believed in one sent by God Almighty they have been rescued from Divine wrath and displeasure which pursues the disobedient ones who have nothing to do but contradict and deny. Fifthly, they have become deserving of the graces and blessings which descend upon the sincere ones who, out of goodwill towards a claimant, accept the one who comes from God Almighty. These are the benefits which, by the grace of God, shall be bestowed on the fortunate people who have accepted this humble one. But those who do not accept me are deprived of all this good fortune. Their fear that in the case of acceptance they would harm their faith is baseless. I cannot understand how this could do any harm to their faith. The faith would only be harmed if I had asked them to follow a new teaching contrary to the teaching of Islam; for instance, if I had declared unlawful that which is lawful or had declared lawful that which is unlawful, or had changed anything in respect of the fundamental doctrines upon which salvation depends, or if I had added anything to or subtracted anything from the prescribed forms of worship, like Fasting or Prayer or Pilgrimage or payment of Zakat. If I had increased the number of Prayers from five to ten or had reduced them to two, or had prescribed Fast for two months instead of one, or had reduced the period to less than a month, that would certainly have done harm and might have amounted to denial of the faith. But when I repeatedly affirm, ‘Brothers! I have not brought a new faith or a new teaching. I am one of you and am a Muslim like you. For us Muslims there is no book other than the Holy Qur’an, which we should follow and direct others to follow; and we have no guide or leader except the Khatm-ul-Mursalin [Seal of the Messengers], Ahmad of Arabiasa, whom we should follow and Propagation, Establishment of a Holy Jama‘at, and Instructions should direct others to follow. In such case, what apprehension can a devout Muslim have in accepting my claim which is based on Divine revelation?
[Izala-e-Auham Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 3, pp. 186-189]
Assuming that the revelation received by me were not true and I was in error in interpreting and understanding that which I was commanded, what harm would come upon him who believed in me, for he would not have believed in anything which unfavourably affects his faith. If, during our lifetime, Jesus son of Maryas was to actually descend bodily from heaven, then: 128 I and my Community would be the first to accept him….But, in the contrary case, there is no way of saving one’s faith. If, until the end of their lives, no one is seen descending from heaven and they are instead faced with their own journey to the hereafter, what doubts would assail their minds and what apprehensions would they entertain in the matter of the prophecy of the Holy Prophetsa? It is not unlikely that such doubts might even destroy one’s faith, for according to the Bible and the Ahadith, this is the time of the appearance of the Messiah. That is why many of the righteous ones, who had experience of visions, had specified the beginning of the fourteenth century as the time of the appearance of the Messiah.
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 214]
128 My heart is overjoyed and my eyes are lit up with delight. [Publisher] Can the Reviling and the Enmity of the People Destroy Him who is from God? 129
It appears to be a matter of destiny that the ill-wishers among the people can always find some excuse to give expression to their hidden rancour. My opponents have found a new pretence for reviling me. Having misconstrued an announcement of mine, they have given out as if I am bitterly opposed to the Sultan of Turkey and his government and desire their decline, and that I flatter the British outrageously and pray constantly for the glory of the British government. It appears that much publicity has been given to these ideas in the greater part of the Punjab and India by means of announcements filled with false accusations and some extracts from my announcement have been misquoted to deceive the populace. Thus efforts have been made to incite and inflame ignorant people. I have no power to silence the forgers and liars, nor is it open to me to compete with them in their abuse and vilification and derision. However, it appears to be proper that I should commit their wrongful abuse to the jealousy of God Almighty and should frustrate their true purpose, which is to deceive the masses. This is the object that I have in mind in making this announcement.
129 Till the heart of a Man of God is in travail, God does not humiliate a people. [Publisher] Propagation, Establishment of a Holy Jama‘at, and Instructions Every reasonable and good-natured Muslim who, on account of his innate ability, is ready to accept a true statement, should listen carefully that I have no rancour even against the lowest Muslim, let alone that I should entertain rancour against a person under whose protecting rule millions of Muslims lead their lives and to whom God Almighty has committed the protection of His holy sites. I have never discussed the person or the circumstances of the Sultan, nor is it my purpose to do so now. Indeed, Allah the Glorious is aware that I have a better opinion of the present Sultan than I had of his forefathers. It is true, however, that in my past announcements I have said certain things about some influential and corrupt members and ministers of the Turkish government, on the basis of the God-given light and intelligence and revelation which has been bestowed upon me, and the contemplation of their dangerous implications troubles and pains my heart. That writing of mine, contrary to what the evil-minded ones have imagined, was not based on any personal ill-will, but proceeded from the fountain of light which Divine grace has bestowed upon me. If my narrow-minded opponents had not been bent upon thinking ill of me, they would have realized that the true well-wishing of the Sultan did not demand that they should have resolved to abuse me as is the wont of people of low caste. Instead, keeping in mind the verse: 130 and reminding themselves of the verse:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱجۡتَنِبُواْ كَثِيرٗا مِّنَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِنَّ بَعۡضَ ٱلظَّنِّ إِثۡمٞ ۖ وَلَا تَجَسَّسُواْ وَلَا يَغۡتَب بَّعۡضُكُم بَعۡضًا ۚ أَيُحِبُّ أَحَدُكُمۡ أَن يَأۡكُلَ لَحۡمَ أَخِيهِ مَيۡتٗا فَكَرِهۡتُمُوهُ ۚ وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابٞ رَّحِيمٞ
“O ye who believe! avoid most of suspicions; for suspicion in some cases is a sin. And spy not, nor back-bite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of his brother who is dead? Certainly you would loathe it. And fear Allah, surely, Allah is Oft-Returning with compassion and is Merciful.” (Surah Suspicion in some cases is a sin.—Al-Hujurat, 49:13)
they should have expressed their sympathy for the Sultan through sincere supplication for him. The only purpose of my announcement was that the Turks should adopt the ways of purity and righteousness, for nothing is so effective in holding back heavenly decree and torment as piety, repentance and righteous conduct. But the foolish well-wishers of the Sultan started reviling me, and some of them said: ‘Is the Sultan guilty of all sins and is Europe so holy and pure that no prophecy is made in respect of its chastisement?’ They do not understand that for the punishment of disbelievers because of their disobedience and idol-worship and deification of human beings, God Almighty has appointed another world which will be encountered after death. It is not the practice of God Almighty to subject to chastisement in this very world people who do not believe in Him, except in cases when they transgress all limits in their sinfulness and are accounted tyrants and cruel and mischief-makers in the estimation of God, as the mischievous people of Noahas, Lotas, and Pharaoh brought punishment upon themselves by their prolonged misconduct. But God does not leave the 130 And follow not that of which thou hast no knowledge.—Bani Isra’il, 17:37 [Publisher]
Propagation, Establishment of a Holy Jama‘at, and Instructions chastisement of the Muslims for their misconduct for the other world. The Muslims are admonished in this very world for even their slight offences. In the estimation of God Almighty, they are like children whose mother rebukes them at every step for the sake of their proper upbringing. God Almighty, out of His love, desires that they should depart this world in a state of purity. These are the things that I had explained to the Turkish Vice-Consul in good faith; but alas! the foolish Muslims have pulled them out of their context. They are like the heirs of a person concerning whom an expert physician, who is wellversed in diagnosis, expresses the view in complete good faith that some kind of ulcer is growing in his stomach and if it is not operated upon immediately it will put his life in serious danger; and hearing this they are wroth with the physician and try to kill him, but neglect the ulcer altogether until it grows and spreads through the stomach and puts an end to the life of the patient. This is the case with these people, who, in their own estimation, are well-wishers of the Sultan. Then also ponder that while I am the person who claims to be the Promised Messiah concerning whom the Holy Prophetsa has said: ‘He will be your Imam and Khalifah, and there is for him the greeting of peace from God and His Prophetsa, and his enemy would be accursed and his friend would be the friend of God, and he will be an Arbiter for the whole world and will be just in all his sayings and doings.’ Then was it the way of righteousness that hearing my claim and witnessing my signs and observing my proofs they should have reviled me and treated me with derision? Have signs not appeared? Has divine support not been manifested? Have not the times and the seasons been ascertained which had been stated in the Ahadith? Why then have I been mistreated with such daring? If there was still some doubt concerning my claim or there was some suspicion with regard to my arguments and signs, they should have tried to remove these doubts with meekness, goodwill and fear of God. But instead of research and investigation they reviled me and cursed me so much that they exceeded even the Shiites. Was it not possible that what I had stated with regard to the inner machinery of the Turkish government might be true, and that there might be elements in the Turkish government which would prove treacherous at a time of trial? My opponents should reflect in their hearts that if I am the Promised Messiah, can it be permissible that, for the sake of a mere monarch, they should revile and curse one whom the Holy Prophetsa had described as one of his arms and whom he had sent the greeting of peace and whom he called the Arbiter, the Judge, the Imam and the Vicegerent of God? Let them restrain their anger and reflect, not for my sake but for the sake of Allah and His Messengersa, whether such treatment of such a claimant was proper? I do not wish to enlarge upon this because my case against you is pending in heaven. If I am the same person Propagation, Establishment of a Holy Jama‘at, and Instructions who had been promised through the holy lips of the Holy Prophetsa, then you have sinned, not against me but against God. Had it not been mentioned in the Ahadith that he will be persecuted and cursed, you would not have dared to persecute me as you have done, but it was necessary that all that was destined and decreed by God and which is still to be found in your books should be fulfilled, and that you should be proved guilty. You read those books and then, by continuing to declare me a kafir and cursing me, you affirm that you are the evil divines and their ilk who were to declare the Mahdi a Kafir and oppose the Messiah. I have invited you time and again to come to me so that your doubts may be removed, but none of you has come forward. I invited everyone to a final decision but no one paid any attention. I suggested that you should supplicate to God and beseech Him with tears so that He may disclose the truth to you, but you did nothing and persisted in your denial. Truly has God said concerning me: 132 Is it possible that a person should be true and yet should be destroyed? Is it possible that a person 132 A warner came into the world and the world did not accept him, but God will accept him and will proclaim his truth with powerful assaults. [Publisher] should be from God and should be ruined? O ye people, fight not God. This is an affair which God has designed for your sake and for the sake of your faith, so do not lay obstacles before it. You might stand before the lightening but you have not the strength to confront God. If all this had been man’s doing, none of your attacks would have been needed. God Himself would have destroyed me. Alas! Heaven is bearing witness and you do not hear; the earth is crying out: One is needed, one is needed, and you pay no attention! O unfortunate people! arise and see that in this time of distress, Islam has been trodden underfoot and has been maligned like criminals. It has been counted among liars and has been written down among unholy ones. Then would not God’s jealousy be aroused at such at time? Understand then that heaven is drawing close and the days are near when every ear shall hear the affirmation: 133
We have suffered a lot at the hands of the disbelievers and now God also desires to show something. Do not deliberately invite the wrath of God. Have you not perceived the beginning of the century of which fourteen years have already passed? Has the eclipse of the sun and the moon not taken place before your eyes? Has the prophecy concerning the appearance of the comet not been fulfilled? Have you received no intimation of the dreadful earthquake, which came in
Propagation, Establishment of a Holy Jama‘at, and Instructions these very days according to the prophecy of Jesusas and ruined many towns? It had been prophesied that that would be the time of the appearance of the Promised Messiah. Have you not witnessed the sign concerning Atham which was fulfilled according to the prophecy of our lord and master, the Messengersa of Allah, which had also been announced seventeen years in advance in the Brahin-e-Ahmadiyyah? Have you not yet heard the prophecy concerning Lekh Ram? Has anyone ever seen such a manifest sign as that regarding Lekh Ram, which was shown after the contest had been announced to millions of people— like a wrestling match—and had been circulated through hundreds of announcements and newspapers? Do you not feel ashamed before God, Who, observing your sorrow and grief of the thirteenth century, came to your support in the very beginning of the fourteenth? Was it not inevitable that God’s promises should be fulfilled at their proper time? Seeing all this, what has happened to you and what has sealed up your hearts? O people of crooked hearts! God would give you every satisfaction if your hearts were clean. He can draw you [to Himself] if you are ready to be drawn. Look at the age, and the needs that Islam is confronted with. Does your heart not testify that this is the time for God to show His mercy? There is eagerness in heaven for the guidance of mankind, and the case of the Unity of God is now under hearing before the One God. But the blind of this age continue to be heedless. The heavenly dispensation has no honour in their estimation. Would that their eyes could open and they could see how all kinds of signs are descending and heavenly support is being proclaimed and light is spreading. Blessed are those who perceive it.
[Kitab-ul-Bariyyah, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 13 , pp. 325-331]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 217]
Book Series: Essence of Islam (Volume 4)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (AS)
Section: Part 5: Propagation, Establishment of a Holy Jama’at, and Instructions
Navigation: Book Table of Contents | « Previous: Resemblances Between Jesus (as) And the Promised Messiah (as) | Next: Testament »