It is objected that the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement claimed to be the manifestation and like of all prophets and had arrogated their names to himself saying that he was Adam and Noah and Ibrahim etc. He had even called himself Muhammad and Ahmad and had thus defamed the prophets.
In this connection we would draw attention to a statement by the Promised Messiah, peace be on him, which explains his claim of being the manifestation of the prophets and the champion of Allah in the mantles of the prophets. He states:
This revelation means that I have been bestowed some portion of the special circumstances or special qualities of all the prophets, peace be on them, who have appeared from God beginning with Adam till the end, whether they were Israelis by descent or non-Israelis. There has not been single prophet of whose qualities or circumstances I have not been bestowed a portion … In this there is an indication that many people of this age resemble the bitter enemies and opponents of the prophets, peace be on them, who had exceeded the limits in their rancor and who were destroyed by various types of torments … There has also been displayed and will be displayed in the future the various types of aid and support which God Almighty had displayed in the case of the previous prophets. (Braheen Ahmadiyya, Part V, p. 89)
In pursuance of this explanation and in support of it we cite the statements of some of the eminent personalities of Islam.
Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani, may Allah have mercy on him, has said:
A person rises till he arrives at a station where he becomes the heir of every messenger, prophet, and siddique. (Futuhul Ghaib, Maqalah 4, p. 23)
He has also stated:
This is not the person of Abdul Qadir but the person of Muhammad. (Guldastah Karamat p. 10)
Hazrat Bayazid Bistami, may Allah have mercy on him, has said:
I am Ibrahim, Moses, and Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be on him. (Tazkaratul Aulia, the Tazkarah of Bayazid Bistami)
Imam Baqar, may Allah have mercy on him, has stated:
The Imam Mahdi will say: ‘O ye people, if any of you wishes to behold Ibrahim and Ishmael, then let him note that I am Ibrahim and Ishmael. If any of you desires to behold Moses and Joshua, then let him note that I am Moses and Joshua. If any of you desires to see Isa and Simon, then let him note I am Isa and Simon. If any of you desires to behold Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, and Ameerul Momineen Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, then let him note that I am Muhammad Mustafa, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, and Ameerul Momineen Ali, may Allah be pleased with him. (Baharul Anwar, Vol. XIII, p. 209)
The Promised Messiah, peace be on him, has called himself the like of the prophets, peace be on them, in the same sense. He states:
No one should be troubled with the idea how a humble follower of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, could become a sharer in his names and qualities or praises. Without a doubt it is true that even a prophet cannot become a sharer in an equal degree in the holy excellencies of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Even the angels cannot be his equals, let alone that anyone else should have any share in his excellencies. But, 0 seeker after truth, may Allah guide you, listen to this with attention, that God Almighty, desiring that the blessings of the Holy Prophet should continue to be manifested throughout and that the perfect rays of his light and of his acceptance by God should continue to confound his opponents and to silence them, has, of His mercy and wisdom, ordained that He manifests the blessings of His accepted Messenger through the humble personalities of some of his followers who obey him completely, with utter humility and lowliness and by falling on the threshold of servitude they are completely lost to themselves. They are so honored as God finds them utterly devoted to the Holy Prophet, so much so that they become like a clear mirror for the reflection of those blessings. The praise bestowed on them by Allah and the signs and blessings and effects that are manifested by them in reality belong to the Holy Prophet himself and issue from him. In truth and in its perfection that praise is appropriate only to the Holy Prophet and he is its perfect example, but as he who completely follows the practice of the Holy Prophet becomes a reflection of that illumined personality on account of his complete obedience and utter devotion, the divine lights that are manifested in that holy personality are also exhibited in his reflection. The manifestation in a reflection of all that characterizes the original is a matter that is not hidden from anyone. It is true, however, that the shadow is not established in itself and does not possess any excellence in reality. Whatever is found in it is a picture of the original which is reflected through him. It is necessary, therefore, that no one should imagine that this phenomenon is derogatory of the Holy Prophet that his inner lights are reflected in his perfect followers. It should be understood that this is a reflection of the lights of the Holy Prophet which is manifested as a continuous grace in the pure personalities of the followers of the Holy Prophet. (Braheen Ahmadiyaa, Part III, p. 242)