Prevalence of Error and Misguidance — 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 Prevalence of Error and Misguidance, 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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Greatness of the Movement and the Need of Helping It Today, after a long interval, I wish to draw your attention to an important matter concerning the Divine scheme that God Almighty has entrusted to me for the support of Islam. I wish to expound before you the greatness of this Movement and the need for helping this scheme, as far as God Almighty has bestowed upon me the power of speech so that I should discharge the responsibility of propagation that is upon me. In this endeavour I am not concerned with the effect it might produce on the minds of the readers. My only purpose is to discharge adequately the duty that lies upon me and to convey the message, which is an obligation upon me, whether people listen to it with pleasure or look upon it with disdain, and whether they should think well of me in their hearts or otherwise. 84 ….O seekers of truth and true lovers of Islam! You are well-aware that the time through which we are passing is so dark that all matters of faith and conduct have become corrupted and a strong wind of error and misguidance is blowing from every direction. Mere 84 I commit my affair to Allah, and Allah is well-aware of His servants. [Translator] Propagation, Establishment of a Holy Jama‘at, and Instructions words have taken the place of faith. The term ‘righteous action’ is applied to a few ceremonies, extravagances and vain displays, and there is complete ignorance of true virtue. The philosophy and sciences of this age are also set against spiritual wellbeing. They have an ill-effect upon their votaries and are proven to pull them towards darkness. They stir up poisonous matters and awaken the sleeping Satan. Those connected with such philosophy and such sciences suffer so much from lack of faith that they ridicule Divinely promulgated principles and the prescribed forms of worship like Prayer and Fasting. Their hearts are devoid of any sense of God’s greatness. Most of them are dyed in heresy and steeped in atheism, and though they are descended from Muslims, they are the enemies of the faith. Most students of colleges withdraw from their allegiance to faith and lose all sympathy for it before they have completed their studies. Here I have only mentioned one branch which, in this age, is loaded with the fruits of misguidance, but there are hundreds of other branches which are no less harmful. Honesty and integrity have departed from the world as if they never existed. Fraudulent and deceptive schemes for earning worldly benefits have multiplied enormously. The most mischievous person is accounted the ablest. All manner of unrighteousness, dishonesty, illegitimacy, deceit, falsehood, cunning and greed are on the increase. Merciless rancour and disputes are multiplying and beastly sentiments and emotions are raging wherever you may look. As people get more and more proficient and cunning with regard to the current sciences and laws, to the same degree, their natural qualities of goodness, modesty, decency, fear of God and honesty are on the decline.
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4]
[Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 140]

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Introduction