The government of Punjab in Pakistan has recently banned the publication and display of some Jama’at publications. With the use of mobile technology and messaging apps news travels very fast these days. People from Pakistan write in to Huzoor expressing their anxiety at the matter. It should be remembered this opposition against the Jama’at is nothing new. Through the history of the Jama’at the so-called religious leaders have raised objections and created difficulties for the Jama’at and they are not going to stop. Neither their ploys harmed the Jama’at in the past nor will they harm it in future. No mother has born a child who can stop the Divine mission of the Promised Messiah.
Their antagonism and is rooted in jealousy at the progress of the Jama’at and the intensity of their jealousy makes them lose their senses. Apparently educated folk behave worse than illiterates, without trying to find out the glorious manner in which the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote about the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and Islam. Fair-minded people are astonished to browse through our literature as they realise the utterly false and fabricated manner in which writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) are portrayed by our detractors. They express their amazement on Live programmes on MTA as well as write in saying they have only now realised the high stature of writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) as their religious leaders had kept them in the dark.
Our detractors do what they do but as ever their ploys will only further burnish our faith and will enrich our connection with the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Let alone the government of Punjab even if the entire world made an effort to place obstructions, our work will not stop because it is Divine work. Indeed God sent the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) with spiritual treasures and promised him success. The more our opponents try to suppress us, the greater is our advancement and InshaAllah things will work out in this vein again.
There is no need to worry as now our books are published in other countries of the world as well. They are also available online and in audio format. There was a time when restrictions on printing caused concern but now these treasures of spiritual knowledge are spread out in the ether and it is for us to take maximum advantage of them.
Huzoor has decided that dars (lesson) on the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) books should now be given more than ever. Thus restrictions placed in one province of Pakistan will end up being beneficial for everyone. The dars will be in the original language of the books but material will be available in many other languages. Those who are worried about the situation should let go their concerns. This restriction yet again clarifies a point: these people claim to have great ardent love for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and say that their opposition against us is borne of this ardent love but they have never read our literature fair-mindedly. Today’s sermon was based on extracts from the writings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace), writings about which our opponents claim that, God forbid, they are contrary to the esteem and glory of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). It is astonishing that anyone who claims to love the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) can remain unwilling to perceive or understand after reading or listening to these writings!
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote:
‘God Almighty’s design with regard to Prophets and auliya‘ [friends of God/saints/holy men] is that every type of their high moral quality should be manifested and should be clearly established. To fulfil this design God Almighty divides their glorious lives into two parts. One part is passed in hardship
and under calamities, in which they are tormented and persecuted in every way, so that those of their high moral qualities can be manifested which cannot be manifested except during severe hardship. If they were not subjected to severe hardship, how can it be affirmed that they are a people who are not disloyal to their Lord in the face of calamities, but rather, they continue to march forward. They are grateful to the Benevolent God that He chose them for His favours and considered them worthy that they should be persecuted in His cause. Therefore, God Almighty afflicts them with calamities in order to demonstrate their patience, their steadfastness, their courage, their perseverance, their loyalty and their bravery to the world, thereby illustrating in them: [‘Steadfastness has a higher status than a miracle’], because perfect steadfastness cannot be manifested in the absence of severe hardships, nor can the perfect degree of perseverance and steadfastness be shown except in the most trying circumstances. These calamities are in fact spiritual bounties for the Prophets and auliya‘, through which their high morals, in which they are matchless and peerless, are manifested and their ranks are exalted in the Hereafter. If they were not subjected to these hardships, they would not have attained these bounties, nor would their sterling qualities be demonstrated to the common people, and thus they would be regarded like other people and equal to them. And even if they had lived their short lives in comfort and luxury, they would still have to depart from this transitory world one day. In this way, their pleasantness would not have remained with them, and they would not have
attained the lofty status in the Hereafter; nor would their manliness, resolve, fidelity, and bravery have been universally a acknowledged, which proved them to be distinguished with no match, incomparable without a peer, unique of the unique, hidden beyond hidden where
no one’s imagination could reach, and so perfect and brave as if each of them were a thousand lions in one body and a thousand leopards in one frame, whose power and strength rose above everyone’s imagination and reached the loftiest ranks of nearness [of God].
The second part of the lives of Prophets and auliya‘ is the one in which they enjoy the highest level in victory, prestige, and wealth; so that they may be able to demonstrate those essential high moral qualities that can be demonstrated only by one who enjoys victory, prestige, wealth, authority, sovereignty, and might. Possession of wealth and power is an essential condition to prove that someone possesses such high morals as forgiving his tormentors, pardoning those who have offended him, loving his enemies, desiring the good of those who desire nothing but evil for him, not loving wealth, not allowing himself to become arrogant on account of his riches, not to be niggardly and tight-fisted, to be generous and bountiful, not to use his wealth for satisfying baser passions, and not to exercise authority and governance as a tool of tyranny and aggression. These qualities
are demonstrated only when a person possesses both wealth and authority. Without passing through a time of trial and misfortune, and also a time of prosperity and authority, these two types of high qualities cannot be manifested. That is why the perfect wisdom of the Almighty God demanded that Prophets and auliya‘ should be provided with both these types of conditions, which comprise thousands of bounties.
The occurrence of these two conditions, however, does not follow the same order for all of them. Divine wisdom ordains in the case of some that the period of peace and comfort comes in the first part of their lives followed by a period of hardship; while the life of others
begins in tribulation and God’s succour comes to their rescue in the end. In some, the two phases are subtle and not easily defined; while in others they are clearly marked and evident. In this respect the foremost is Hadrat Khatamur-Rusul [the Seal of the Messengers], peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, for both these conditions were experienced by him in their perfection and in such order that all the high moral qualities of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, were illuminated like the sun and thus the meaning of ‘You do surely possess high moral excellences’ (68:5) was proved fully.
What is more, the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, having been proved to be perfect in both types of moral qualities, also serves as proof of the moral qualities of all Prophets, because he has testified to their prophethood, authenticated their
scriptures and has shown the world that they were indeed Allah’s chosen people. This analysis also completely repels the objection that might possibly arise about the moral qualities of Masih [i.e., Jesus the Messiah]—namely, that the moral qualities of Hadrat Masih, peace be on him, cannot be established to a perfect degree with respect to both of the above-mentioned types; rather, that they cannot be established even with regard to one type. Because the Masih showed patience under distress, the perfection of this quality would have been demonstrated only if the Masih had obtained authority and power over his persecutors and had forgiven his oppressors from the bottom of his heart, as did Hadrat Khatamul-Anbiya‘, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, who obtained complete victory over the Makkans and others and after virtually having his sword upon their throats, forgave them their crimes, and he punished only those few who had been condemned by a special decree of Allah the Almighty to undergo punishment. Besides these eternally accursed few, every sworn enemy was pardoned. And having achieved victory, he announced to them: [‘No blame shall lie on you this day’].
On account of this forgiveness of offences—which had appeared impossible in the estimation of his opponents who, considering their own misdeeds, deemed themselves condemned to death in the hands of their avengers—thousands of people accepted Islam instantly. Thus, the sincere steadfastness of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him, which he had demonstrated for a long period under their severe persecution became illumined in their eyes like the sun.
As it is part of man’s nature that the grandeur and greatness of patience is illustrated perfectly only for the person who, after the time of persecution has been dispelled, forgives his persecutors after obtaining power to punish them; that is why the moral qualities of
the Masih in the matter of patience and meekness and endurance were not fully demonstrated, and it did not become clear whether his patience and meekness was by his choice or was under compulsion. Because, the Masih did not acquire power and authority so that it could be judged whether he would have forgiven his enemies or taken revenge upon them.
In contrast, the good qualities of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, were demonstrated and put to test on hundreds of occasions and their truth shone forth like the sun. The good qualities of kindness, large-heartedness, munificence, selflessness,
manliness, bravery, chastity, contentment and withdrawal from the world were demonstrated so clearly and brilliantly in the case of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that, let alone the Masih, there never was a Prophet before him who demonstrated them to such perfection. Because God Almighty opened for the Holy Prophet the doors to countless [worldly] treasures, he spent them all in the way of God and did not spend a penny on any kind of self-indulgence. He created no buildings and built no mansions; rather, he spent the whole of his life in a small mud hut that had nothing to distinguish it from the huts of the poor. He repaid evil with kindness and helped his tormentors in their distress out of his own wealth. He usually slept on the floor, lived in a small hut, and had barley bread to eat—and at times nothing at all. He was granted abundant wealth of the world, but he did not soil his holy hands with it and always preferred poverty to wealth and meekness to power. From the day of his advent to the day
when he returned to his Companion on High, he attached no importance to anything except to his Benevolent God. Solely for the sake of God, he gave proof of his bravery, fidelity, and steadfastness on the battlefield against thousands of enemies when death appeared a certainty. Similarly did the Benevolent God cause all other moral excellences, associated with large-heartedness, generosity, contentment, courage, bravery, and love of God, to be manifested in the person of Hadrat Khatamul-Anbiya‘ in such a manner as has never been displayed before nor ever will.
In the case of Hadrat Masih, peace be on him, these moral qualities were not clearly established for they can only be proved in a period of authority and riches and the Masih did not find the period of authority and riches. Thus in his case, both types of moral qualities
remained hidden; hence the conditions were not present. However, this above-mentioned objection which can be raised against the deficiency in the case of the Messiah has been repelled by the perfect example of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him, inasmuch as his beneficent example perfects and completes the case of every Prophet, and through him whatever had remained hidden or doubtful in the case of the Masih and other Prophets shone forth brightly. Revelation and prophethood came to an end in that
holy person in the sense that all excellences reached their climax in him. [And this is Allah’s grace; He bestows it upon whomsoever He pleases].’ (Barahin e Ahmadiyya, Part III, pp. 177 – 181)
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) also wrote:
‘It is my personal experience that to obey the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be on him] with a sincere heart and to love him, ultimately makes a person beloved of God. God creates in his heart a burning for His Own love and such a one, withdrawing his heart
from everything else, leans towards God and his affection and desire remain only for God Almighty. Thereupon a special manifestation of Divine love falls upon him and, bestowing upon him the full colour of love and devotion, pulls him towards itself with great force. He then overcomes his passions and from every direction extraordinary works of God Almighty appear as signs in his support and to help him.’ [Essence of Islam, Vol. I, p. 210 – Haqiqat-ul-Wahi, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 22, pp. 67-68]
He also wrote the following about the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him):
‘The man who in his being and his attributes and his actions and through his spiritual and holy faculties set an example of perfection, in knowledge and action and in sincerity and steadfastness, and was called the perfect man was Muhammad [peace and blessings of Allah be on him]…. The man who was most perfect as man and as Prophet, and came with full blessings, and who through a spiritual revival and resurrection manifested the first
Judgement in the world and revived the dead world, that blessed Prophet, the Seal of the Prophets, the leader of the righteous ones, the pride of the Prophets, was Muhammad,
the chosen one [peace and blessings of Allah be on him]. Our Lord, send down on that beloved Prophet that mercy and blessing that Thou hast not sent down on anyone since the beginning of the world. Had that grand Prophet not appeared in the world then we would have no proof of the truth of lesser Prophets like Jonah, Job, Jesus son of Mary, Malachi, John, Zechariah, etc. Though they were favourites and honoured and were beloved ones of
Almighty God, they are under obligation to this Prophet that they were accepted in the world as true Prophets. O Allah, send down Thy blessings on him and on his people
and on his companions, all of them. Our last word is that all praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds.’
[Essence of Islam, Vol. I, p. 199 – Itmam-ul-Hujjah, RuhaniKhaza‘in, Vol. 8, p. 308]
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote:
‘There is neither a Prophet comparable to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) under the heavens nor is there a Book comparable to the Holy Qur’an. God did not will for anyone to live forever but this esteemed Prophet lives forever. As a basis of his eternal life God has made the beneficence of the religious law the Prophet brought as well as his spirituality carry on till the Day of Judgement. It was by virtue of his spiritual beneficence indeed that ultimately God sent the Promised Messiah to the world. The coming of the Messiah was essential for the completion of the Islamic structure. It was essential to send a spiritual Messiah of Muhammadan dispensation before the end of the world just as one was sent for the Mosaic dispensation. This is what the verse: ‘Guide us in the right path – The path of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy blessings…’ (1:6-7) indicates to. Moses (on whom be peace) was given the provision which the earlier people had lost and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was given the provision which Mosaic mission had lost. Now the mission of Muhammad is in place of the Mosaic mission and it is thousands times more glorious than the model of Moses and the model of son of Mary.’ (Kishti Nuh, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 19, p. 14)
Two funeral Prayers in absentia were announced. Muhammad Musa Sahib, dervish of Qadian, passed away on 10 May at the age of 95. Sahibzadi Amatul Rafiq Sahiba, daughter of Hazrat Mir Muhammad Ismael Sahib, passed away on 6 May at the age of 80.
: The exalted status of The Prophet (saw)){kind=link}