Divine Support for the Righteous — Essence of Islam Vol. 3

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 3), Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS), the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, expounds upon Divine Support for the Righteous, presenting profound spiritual insights and scriptural verities.

Book Series: Essence of Islam (Volume 3)
Author: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (AS)
Section: Part 13: Repeated Challenges
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honour for myself, but only the honour of that for which I have been sent.
[Haqiqat-ul-Wahi, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 22, pp.181-182]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 3, p. 338]

God Almighty has promised in the Holy Qur’an four types of heavenly support for perfect believers and those who are perfectly righteous, on the basis of which they can be recognized. 1. A perfect believer is frequently given glad tidings by God Almighty of the acceptance of his supplications relating to him or his friends. 2. A perfect believer is often given advance knowledge, not only of events concerning him and his associates, but also of the decrees of God about to unfold in the world at large, or the changes about to affect some of the well known personalities. 3. Most of the prayers of the perfect believer are accepted. He is often given prior knowledge of their acceptance. 4. The perfect believer is the greatest recipient of the deeper meanings, new points of wisdom, subtleties and singular qualities of the Holy Qur’an. In respect of these four qualities, the perfect believer will always surpass others. It is not an unchanging rule that a perfect believer will receive glad tidings from God Almighty continuously and all the times, or that every one of his supplications will be granted, or that he will be warned in advance of all great events, or that knowledge of Qur’anic insights will be continuously bestowed upon him, but, at a time of comparison with an opponent, all these four signs overwhelmingly favour the believer. It is Repeated Challenges 339 possible that a less perfect believer may also, on occasion, be bestowed a small portion of these bounties, but it is the perfect believer alone who is their true heir.
Unless seen in comparison, the perfect station of the believer cannot be clearly understood by every unclean, dull and short-sighted person. Hence, the most clear and easy method for recognizing a perfect believer is by comparison alone. Though all these signs proceed naturally from a perfect believer, yet there are occasional difficulties in the way of their unilateral manifestation. For instance, it often happens that some persons approach a perfect believer and beseech his supplication in respect of matters that have been absolutely decreed against them…. On account of their frustration, they are not able to witness this sign; rather, they increase in their doubts and are not able to appreciate truly the perfect qualities of the true believer.
A perfect believer occupies a high rank and status in the estimation of God Almighty. Many complicated matters are set right for his sake and in consequence of his earnest prayers. Even some matters which have been decreed, and which appear to be absolute, are changed; nevertheless, a truly absolute decree cannot be modified through the supplications of a perfect believer, even if he should be a Prophet or a Messenger. A perfect believer is clearly distinguishable from others in respect of these four signs, though he cannot be permanently and uniformly successful. Therefore, as it is clear that a true and perfect believer is bestowed a proportionately much larger share of glad tidings, acceptance of prayers, disclosure of the unseen and disclosure of Qur’anic verities, the best way to distinguish between him and others would be to institute a comparison between the claimants on the basis of these four signs which are the criteria to judge who is perfect and who is not…. Now let the whole world bear witness that purely for the sake of Allah and for the manifestation of truth, I accept this challenge with all my heart and soul. The first among those who should want to take up this challenge is Miań Nadhir Hussain of Delhi. He has taught the Holy Qur’an and Hadith for more than half a century, but the example of his learning and practice is that, without any enquiry or study, he proclaimed me a disbeliever and thus incited thousands of ill-natured wild people to revile me. He also let loose Batalvi233 to spew forth the foam of condemnation from his mouth, and to curse me like a wild beast. And he has arrogated to himself the status of the perfect believer, eminent scholar and leader of the entire Muslim world. First and foremost, he is the one I invite to take up this challenge. He is free to bring with him the Batalvi who now claims to have true dreams. I would also let him, if he so wishes, include ‘Abdul Jabbar Sahib, son of a righteous servant of Allah, the late Maulavi ‘Abdullah Sahib, and also Maulavi ‘Abd-ur-Rahman Sahib of Lakhoke, who made public his revelation about me being eternally misguided, and denounced me as an apostate. He can also bring along Maulavi Muhammad Bashir Sahib of Bhopal who is one of his followers. If Miań Nadhir Hussain should evade my challenge, as he has often done earlier, then let these gentlemen, whose names I have mentioned above, come forth to challenge me. Should they fail to do so, then let Maulavi Rashid Ahmad Sahib of Gangoha make a bold move to take up this chal- 233 The reference is to Maulavi Muhammad Hussain of Batala.
[Publisher] Repeated Challenges 341 lenge, as he is the foremost of the orthodox. Anyone else among the well-known Sufis, Pirzadas or hereditary divines who considers me a disbeliever, an impostor, a liar and a hypocrite, as do these others, may also join him.
If all of them should fail to accept this challenge and try to hide behind false excuses, then let it be known that I have fully discharged my obligation of conveying the message of God Almighty to them. I am the Appointed One. I have been given the tiding of victory and that is why I call these gentlemen to come forth in opposition to me. Will anyone come forward?… These four criteria that I have mentioned are so simple and straightforward that everyone who considers them carefully will acknowledge that there is no clearer and easier spiritual way of deciding the contest between us. I affirm on oath and promise that, if I am defeated in this contest, I shall publicly acknowledge my error, and Miań Nadhir Hussain Sahib or Sheikh Batalvi will have no more need to condemn me as a disbeliever or impostor. In this case, I shall deserve every kind of disgrace and humiliation and I shall acknowledge in an open gathering that God Almighty has not sent me and that all my claims are false. I am, however, certain and clearly perceive that God will not permit such a situation to arise and will never let me perish.
[Asmani Faislah, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 4, pp.323-330]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 3, p. 338]

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Introduction