Blessings Upon Those Who Accept — 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, 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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Propagation, Establishment of a Holy Jama‘at, and Instructions brought low. They do not reflect that if all this had been human imposture, I would have been ruined long ago, for God Almighty has such enmity with an impostor as He has not with anyone else in the world. They do not consider how a liar could possess such steadfastness and courage. They do not realize that only he can speak so splendidly and majestically who enjoys the support of the unseen and only such a one can have the courage to stand up alone against the whole world. Be on the look out, for the days are coming, indeed they are near, when the enemy will be disgraced and friends will be most cheerful. Who is my friend? It is he who has accepted me before seeing any sign and has offered his life, property and honour in such a manner as if he had witnessed thousands of signs This is my Jama‘at. These are my friends who found me alone and helped me, and found me sorrowful and consoled me, and being unacquainted honoured me like a friend. May God Almighty have mercy on them. If anyone accepts the truth only after witnessing signs, what is that to me and what reward will he obtain and what honour would he find in the presence of the Lord of Honour? Those alone have accepted me in reality who observed me with a discerning eye and weighed my words with intelligence and considered my circumstances, and listened to me, and reflected and, on that basis, God opened their hearts to me and they joined me. He alone is with me who gives up his own pleasure for my pleasure, and makes me an Arbiter in whatever he does, and walks along my path, and is wholly devoted to me, and has discarded his own self. I am compelled to affirm with a sigh that those who seek clear signs will not be honoured by my Lord God with praiseworthy titles and honourable ranks which will be bestowed upon the righteous ones who recognized the hidden secrets and who smelled the fragrance of the servant [of God] who was hidden under His mantle. For example, what merit can be claimed by the one who offers his salutation to a prince whom he observes in his pomp and glory, surrounded by his men? Deserving of merit is the one who encounters him in the guise of a beggar and recognizes him. It is not within my power to bestow such insight upon anyone for it is only the One Who bestows it. Those whom He holds dear, He invests with the discernment of faith. These are the things through which those who are inclined towards guidance are guided and the same things become the cause of more crookedness for those whose hearts are crooked.
[A’ina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 5, pp. 349-350]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 159]
Your opposition to me is far removed from righteousness. Your reliance is totally on such Ahadith as are inauthentic and fabricated, or you do not understand their true meaning. As against this, my claim is based on reasoned discernment. I have such faith in the revelation that has informed me of the death of Jesusas, and of my being the Promised Messiah that was Propagation, Establishment of a Holy Jama‘at, and Instructions to come, as I have in the Holy Qur’an. This faith is not merely well-intentioned but has been bestowed upon me by the light of Divine revelation which shines on me like the sun. How can I expel from my heart the certainty which has been carried to the extreme by the continuous display of extraordinary signs, certain knowledge and the daily experience of clear and certain converse with God? Shall I reject the bounty of understanding and true knowledge which has been bestowed upon me? Shall I turn away from the heavenly signs that are shown to me? Shall I disobey the commandment of my Lord and Master? What shall I do? Death is a thousand times more welcome to me than that I should turn away from Him Who has revealed Himself to me in all His beauty and majesty. Is this life such a long one, and are the people of the world so faithful to me that for their sake I should abandon the Beloved Friend? I know well that my opponents rely only on a moth-eaten crust and they desire that I too should adopt it and should give up the kernel. They try to intimidate and threaten me but, by the Dear One Whom I have recognized, I attach no weight to their threats. I would prefer sorrow in His company to the joy in the company of another. I would prefer death in His company than enjoy a long life by abandoning Him. Just as you cannot say that it is night when you have seen the day, in the same way I cannot consider the light that has been shown to me as darkness. When you are not prepared to renounce your doctrines which are a collection of doubts and superstitions, how can you expect me to leave the path upon which I perceive that a hundred suns are shining? Am I insane or mad that I should not accept the truth when God Almighty has exhibited it to me with evident signs? I call God Almighty to witness that thousands of signs have been displayed to me for my satisfaction, some of which I have communicated to others and some of which I have not communicated to anyone. I find that these signs are from God Almighty—Who has no associate—and no one else beside Him has the power to exhibit them.
[Brahin-e-Ahmadiyyah, Part V, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 21, pp. 296-298]
I have also been bestowed knowledge of the Qur’an and the true meanings of Ahadith. Why should I give up the bright path and adopt the path of ruin? What I say is based on reasoned discernment and what you say is only speculation. Speculation does not prevail in opposition to the truth. It is like a blind person plunging along on uneven ground in the darkness, not knowing where his foot falls. How shall I then exchange the light that has been bestowed on me, with darkness? When I find that God hears my prayers, displays great signs in my support, talks to me, and discloses the secrets of the hidden to me, helps me with His powerful hand against my enemies, and bestows victory upon me in every field, and gives me knowledge of the deeper meanings and verities of the Holy Qur’an, how then can I abandon such a Powerful and Supreme God and accept someone else in His place? Propagation, Establishment of a Holy Jama‘at, and Instructions I am fully convinced that it is the Powerful God Who has manifested Himself to me and Who has enlightened me of His existence and His Word and His work. I fully believe that the manifestations of His power which I see, and the knowledge of the hidden that He discloses to me, and the Strong Hand from which I receive help at every time of danger; are all the attributes of the Perfect and True God Who created Adamas, and appeared to Noahas, and showed the miracle of the flood, and helped Mosesas when Pharaoh was about to destroy him, is the same God Who bestowed complete victory on Muhammad, Chief of the Messengerssa, guarding him against the designs of the disbelievers and the pagans. This same God has manifested Himself to me in these latter days.
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 160]
What is true light? It is that which descends from heaven in the guise of convincing signs and bestows comfort and satisfaction on the hearts. This light is needed by everyone who is desirous of obtaining salvation; for he who is not free from doubt is not free from the possibility of chastisement. He who is too unfortunate to see God in this world will also fall into darkness on the Day of Judgement, as He says: 88 God has indicated many times in His book that He shall enlighten with His signs the hearts of those 88 Whoso is blind in this world will be blind in the hereafter.—Bani Isra’il, 17:73 [Publisher] who seek Him until they are able to see Him, and that He shall manifest His greatness to them until all other greatnesses will become as nothing before them. These are the words that I heard directly from God in His converse, until my soul cried out that this is the way to reach God and that this is the way to overcome sin. To arrive at the truth, it is necessary that we should tread the path of truthfulness. Hypothetical designs and imaginary projects will not help us. I am witness to the fact, and place this testimony before the whole world, that it is from the Qur’an that I have discovered the reality that leads to God. I have heard the voice and have seen the signs of the Powerful Arm of God Who has sent the Qur’an. So I believe that He is the True God and the Master of all the worlds. My heart is as full of this certainty as the ocean is full of water. I, therefore, call everyone to this faith and this light on the basis of reasoned conviction. We have found the true light with which all curtains of darkness are lifted and the heart grows cold to everything beside Allah. This is the only way whereby man emerges from the passions of the self and its darkness, just as a serpent emerges from its skin.
[Kitab-ul-Bariyyah, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 13, p. 65]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 163]
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: Opponents Destined to be Humiliated | Next: Conveying the Message to All and Sundry »