After reciting the Tashahhud, Tawwuuz, and Sura Fatihah Hazrat Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen (aba) said:
The Promised Messiah (as) states in one of his couplets, which translates as it is the time for a Messiah to come and reform the world; if not me, then someone else could have been appointed for this task.
At the time of the advent of the Promised Messiah (as), the state of Muslims was pitiful. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims were converting to Christianity, faith was non-existent as if had gone to the Pleiades, in accordance with the saying of the Holy Prophet (sa). Those with genuine sympathy for Islam were waiting for a Messiah to appear and to restore this sinking ship. Among them was also a pious man named Sufi Ahmad Jaan Sahib of Ludhiana. Sufi Sahib himself witnessed the same time, era and circumstances of the Promised Messiah (as) and once told him:
We ailing ones all look towards thee
Become, then the Messiah, for the sake of God
Sufi Ahmad Jaan Sahib was certain that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was the Imam and Messiah of this age. This is why he encouraged his children and his followers to accept him whenever he makes the claim. At any rate, the pious men possessing insight knew that if anyone could restore the sinking ship of Islam in this age then it was Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani (as). This is because he had silenced the enemies of Islam by writing Baraheen-e-Ahmadiyya. The Promised Messiah (as) has presented proofs in support of his claims in his countless writings, sermons and sittings. He spoke of the coming of the Messiah in accordance with the requirement of the time and of the support given to him by God Almighty, but only those with pure hearts understood, whereas those who had malice in their hearts and were self-absorbed failed to understand. I shall now present some proofs using the words of the Promised Messiah (as) . Explaining all of this the Promised Messiah (as) stated:
“If you label me a liar then you will stray far away from Islam. I say truly that God has protected the religion, in accordance with the promises in the Holy Quran and the prophecy of the Holy Prophet (sa) has been fulfilled. That is because at the exact time of need, and in accordance with the promises of God Almighty and the glad tidings of the Holy Prophet (sa), He established this community.”
The Promised Messiah (as) said this in 1903 and stated “twenty-two years have passed since I made my claim and God Almighty’s support has been with me. If I am an imposter, then why do I have all this support from God Almighty?” The Promised Messiah (as) further states that even now when there was the need, He sent me for this same purpose. He states that the Holy Prophet (sa) is the likeness of Moses in accordance with the prophecy of Deuteronomy. It is absolutely clear from this that there is perfect similarity between the Mosaic dispensation and the dispensation of Muhammad. The system of caliphate ended with Jesus who came fourteen centuries after Moses. With regards to this similarity, at the very least it is necessary for a caliph to appear fourteen centuries later in the same manner of the Messiah [Jesus] and also similar in letter and spirit. The Promised Messiah (as) says, ‘As the Messiah Jesus, may peace be upon him, did not bring a new law and came to fulfil the Torah, similarly the Messiah of the dispensation of Muhammad not bring a law of his own. Rather, he has come for the revival and completion of the Holy Qur’an, which is called the completion of the spread of guidance.’
Then, mentioning another similarity between the Mosaic Messiah and the Messiah of Muhammad (sa), the Promised Messiah (as) says, ‘This is in accordance with the statement of the Messiah [Jesus] as he said that I have come to fulfil the Torah and I say that another responsibility of mine is to complete the spread of guidance.’
Then, mentioning the fact that if you deny and reject me, you are in fact rejecting Allah the Exalted and the Holy Prophet (sa), the Promised Messiah (as) says, ‘To deny me is not only my denial but is the denial of Allah and His Messenger (sa) for he who holds me to be a liar, first considers God to have lied- God forbid. The reason for this is that he observes that the internal and external disorder has exceeded all bounds, yet, despite His promise of [Arabic], God the Exalted has not made any arrangements to reform them. [Another reason for that person calling God a liar, God forbid, is] that he apparently believes in the fact that God the Exalted promised in the Ayat-e-Istikhlaf [verse relating to caliphate], that in similitude to the Mosaic dispensation, He will also establish a continuous system of caliphs within the dispensation of Muhammad. However, He has, God forbid, not fulfilled this promise and there is currently no caliph in this Ummah. The Promised Messiah (as) said, ‘Reflect then how serious a thing it is to deny me. I do not say it on my own, but swear in the name of God that he who rejects me and denies me may not reject the Qur’an by word of mouth, but he does so in effect and cuts himself off from God and the Holy Qur’an’
Further elaborating on the point that if one rejects the Promised Messiah (as), in fact rejects the Holy Prophet (sa). The Promised Messiah (as) states: ‘How does this equate to the rejection of the Holy Prophet (sa)? When I say rejection, it is because the Holy Prophet (sa) had prophesied that a promised reformer shall appear at the head of every century and therefore this prophecy, God forbid, would be false. Also, the prophecy of Imamukum minkum, i.e. that he will be an Imam from among you, will also, God forbid, be false. And, the glad-tiding given of the advent of a Messiah and Mahdi will appear during the time of the perils surrounding the Christian doctrines, that too will, God forbid, prove false because the Fitna [disorder] is present but the Imam has not appeared. When one accepts all this, then does he not practically deny the Holy Prophet (sa)?’
The Promised Messiah (as) further states: I announce it plainly that it is not a trivial matter to denounce me. He who calls me a kafir will have to become a kafir first. … I affirm the truthfulness of the Qur’an and Hadith and am in turn affirmed by them. I am not misguided but am the Mahdi [Guided One] and I am not a Kafir but an embodiment of [the verse]: ‘I am the first to believe’.
Mentioning some of the signs for advent of the Promised Messiah’s, the Promised Messiah (as) states: ‘In actuality, the emergence of the railway is one of the signs of the advent of the Promised Messiah and the Holy Quran also alludes to this, that is, ‘when the she camels, ten month pregnant, are abandoned.’ Piety comes with righteousness and if these people ponder carefully they would clearly realise that the words, the she camel shall be abandoned, refers to the emergence of the railway. However, if this does not refer to the railway, then it is incumbent upon them to inform us of the event that shall cause the camels to be abandoned. The Promised Messiah (as) further states: ‘So many signs have been fulfilled that these people have withdrawn from even engaging in this discussion. For instance, did the lunar and solar eclipse in the month of Ramadan not take place just as it had been stated in the signs for the advent of the Mahdi? Similarly, since the beginning of creation, no such mode of transport has been invented.’
The Promised Messiah (as) states: ‘The signs signify that the Promised Messiah has appeared. If these people do not believe me to be the one then they should search for someone else and reveal who he is because the signs which were prophesied for his advent have all been fulfilled.’
The Promised Messiah (as) further states: ‘If you want to investigate my truthfulness then do so in view of the arguments presented by the previous prophets and follow this path. Try to ponder over these arguments you find with pious intention and see it as your good fortune. … However, those who harbour malice and rancour in their hearts, my words will have no benefit for them. Their example is like that of a person who is squint-eyed and sees double. Regardless of however many arguments are presented to such a person to prove that what he sees is only one, he will never accept this.’
The Promised Messiah (as) therefore states: ‘ I have outlined a compilation in which over 150 signs were given to me and were witnessed by millions of people.’
The Promised Messiah (as) continues by saying: “Thus, you should asses my claim in the same manner in which the claims of all prophets or messengers are analysed. I openly declare that you will find me to be true of the same criteria.” We can see clearly that God Almighty has helped the Promised Messiah (as) across many fields.
Whilst explaining the way to find out the truth, the Promised Messiah (as) said: “If you wish to find the true path, then pray to God Almighty in your worship for Him to make the truth evident for you.” The Promised Messiah (as) continues by saying: “If an individual prays to God Almighty to manifest the truth before him, in a manner that is free from all prejudice and stubbornness, then I say with conviction that forty days shall not pass before the truth will be made evident for them.” (Forty days will not have passed that the truth will be made plain for them) provided that one seeks the truth from God Almighty with a clear conscious. The Promised Messiah (as) then states: “There are but a few who desire to seek from God Almighty according to these conditions and due to their prejudice and stubbornness they reject the appointed one of God, thereby relinquishing their faith. The reason for this is if an individual rejects the appointed one of God – who acts like an anchor of prophethood, then that person also rejects the prophet, and by rejecting the prophet one denies God Almighty, thereby losing his faith altogether.
May God Almighty guide the Muslims in a way that instead of accepting what their clerics tell them, they see reason themselves and sincerely seek succour from God Almighty. May God Almighty open their hearts and by accepting the Promised Messiah (as) may He remove them from the dire situation of the Muslim world. They are in complete disarray and see no way of escape. Presently in Pakistan, new organisations are being formed such as “Labaik Ya Rasoolallah“, who recently staged a march; at first they encircled Lahore and then encircled Islamabad. Then another organisation with a similar name has enclosed Islamabad and the government nor the army can prevent them from doing this. It is us Ahmadis who can truly say Labaik Ya Rasoolallah [Here we are, O Messenger of God] as we are the ones who responded to the Holy Prophet (sa) when he said “the Messiah and Mahdi will appear, and when he does you should send my greeting to him”. This is the correct way to respond to the Holy Prophet (sa). Alas, if only they would understand the true meaning of Labbaik Ya Rasoolallah rather than raising hollow slogans.
May Allah the Almighty protect the world, as well as Pakistan and every other Muslim country from chaos and disorder. May God Almighty grant His special mercy for the Muslims, because the current climate in which there are organised schemes against the Muslim world are extremely frightening. If they do not see reason now, they will regret it in the future. May Allah have mercy.