The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) says in his book ‘Khutbah Ilhamia’ (Revealed Sermon) that God revealed to him, ‘the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) has taught you through the effect of his spirituality and has put the beneficence of his mercy in your heart, so that you may be included in his Companions and are encompassed in his blessing. So that God’s prophecy of, ‘And among others from among them...’ (62:4) is fulfilled with His grace and His favour.’ While this beneficence illumined the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) with spiritual light, it also gave him an apparent and manifest light so that pure natured people would benefit from it. By virtue of being the Imam of the people of latter-days, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was granted more than just the light of the Companions. God made him an example of the exquisiteness of his holy master. Just as his community was to resemble the Companions, the Imam too bore a shadow-like resemblance to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) as the Prophet himself had stated this to be a sign of the Mahdi. This resemblance was vital, so that the glory of the master would be apparent in his servant.

Huzur gave a discourse on this apparent and manifest light of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) as described by his companions. Hadhrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad relates that Dr. Mir Muhammad Ismael sahib narrated that the summary of the countenance of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) would be that he was a fine specimen of masculine good looks. However, this description would be incomplete if it was not said that this human charisma was accompanied by a spiritual light. This luminosity did not have any element of dread in it, rather it exuded humility. His complexion was a most refined brown. His facial glow did not dim at the time of any adversity but always shone brilliantly. His face would always be cheerful and smiling. Certainly, the face of a liar could never be such. The light of belief can never illuminate the face of a wicked person.

Huzur said this apparent light was granted to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) because he had absorbed himself in the light of his master, self-negating in the process, so that only the light of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) would be seen in his light. He had nothing of his own, his body and spirit were reflective of the spirit of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). In his practices and his morals, he sought inspiration from the blessed model of the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be on him) who had said, ‘there will be no Prophet between my Mahdi and I’. Huzur said the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was given the status of prophethood due to his complete absorption in the person of the Holy Prophet, who was the one and only perfect man. Contrary to what is alleged, an Ahmadi cannot even think for a moment, that God forbid, the status of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) could be more than that of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Ahmadis indeed are the people who have a real insight into the light and the lofty status of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).

Hadhrat Maulana Ghulam Rasool Rajiki writes that he once saw in a vision that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and he are standing together. The face of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is shining like the sun and the face of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) is shining like the moon while he himself is extremely proud to be in this sacred and blessed company and is saying, ‘how fortunate are we that we found the Holy Prophet and also found the Mahdi.’ At this he looks at the two sacred faces and the face of the Promised Messiah is being illumined by the light of the face of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). The next night Maulana Rajiki dreamed that Sheikh Sa’adi [a 13^th century Persian Sufi author] tells him how fortunate he is to have found the era of the Mahdi. He sends his greetings to the Mahdi. In the morning Maulana Rajiki, who was away from Qadian at the time, wrote to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) to send the greetings and also described his vision. A few days later he again saw Sheikh Sa’adi in a vision who looked extremely pleased at his greetings being conveyed and gave a book as a gift.

Hadhrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad related that when the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) heard the news of the passing away of Mirza Fazal Ahmad, his infant son, it was the time of Maghrib. He continued walking from that time until it was almost time for Isha, his face was luminous as he walked.

Mian Rahim Bukhsh sahib related that once, after Zuhr Salat the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) went to his residence. Later, through a window he called Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him). He was writing a book and perhaps wanted to consult something. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) did not have his turban on at the time and the glow on his face illumined the interior of the house.

Dr. Basharat Ahmad wrote that in 1906, he took a long leave and stayed in Qadian. Once, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had severe headache but still came to the mosque for Zuhr Salat. Due to the headache his face looked pained but there was an extraordinary luminosity on his forehead that dazzled the eyes and exhilarated the heart. Signs of this resplendent sanctity could be seen all the time and even the Hindus accepted and acknowledged this. Dr. Basharat writes that these signs could neither be described in words nor captured in photographs. When the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) came to the mosque it appeared as if a mass of light had arrived.

Chaudhry Barkat Ali Khan sahib related that a month after his bai’at through the post, he wished to take bai’at in person and asked for directions to reach Qadian. He undertook the long journey and reached Batala, where he had been advised to stay overnight before going on to Qadian. He decided to spend the night in a mosque and was met with a hostile man when he explained he was en route to Qadian. Next morning he reached Masjid Mubarak in Qadian and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace arrived). Upon looking at him, Khan sahib impulsively said ‘he is a personification of light upon light, the face of the truthful and he indeed is the person about whom I read in Al Hakm; the sacred being that I was looking for’.

Muhammad Sadeeq sahib related that he was blessed with the opportunity to see the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in Qadian in 1903 as a ten year old where he would longingly take a look at the blessed face by lifting the curtain of the bullock-carriage in which the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) travelled. Although he was a born Ahmadi he had the opportunity to take bai’at in person. He described the pain and humility that the resplendent face of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) exuded as he said the words of the bai’at as impossible for a human to recount.

Hadhrat Fazl Ahmad Patwari sahib said that when the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) returned from a lawsuit it was evening. When he came into the mosque, it lit up.

Choudhry Ali Muhammad Gondil sahib recounted that although he had taken his bai’at through letter, he went to Qadian to take bai’at in person with a group of people. He was the youngest in the group. They called on the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who came out of his house. There stood two bedsteads, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) sat on the smaller one and offered them the large one. Gondil sahib wondered whose hand the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) would take for bai’at, perhaps not his as he was the youngest. However, it was his hand on which the Promised Messiah placed his blessed hand. As it touched his hand it felt as if something passed through from the Promised Messiah’s hand like electricity to Gondil sahib’s hand, who felt at the moment that there was no one on the earth with the dignity of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

Nazam-ud-din Postmaster sahib said that once he fell critically ill and was lying unconscious when the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) came. Instantly the room filled with light, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) gave him medication and he was better.

Mir Inayat Ali Shah related that he and others went to the train station to receive the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). None, save one, was familiar with his blessed face. However, as soon as he set eyes on him, he knew from the humility and the luminosity of face that it was the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

Mian Ferozdin sahib of Sialkot recounted that his grandfather took his bai’at following the claim of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and asked his entire family to do the same. He said he knew the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) from the time when was employed there (Sialkot) and that his face was not the face of those who lie.

Dr. Abdul Majeed Khan sahib related that once during the heat of summer he followed the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) as he went outside, who told him not to follow him and went to sit under the shade of a small tree. After a short while, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) returned for Zuhr Salat and his face glowed. Huzur said certainly he must have received some glad-tiding from God.

Maulvi Fazal Illahi recounted that once, after Maghrib, in darkness the moon rose from the east and he saw that beams of light emitted from the blessed face of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and collided with the beams of the moon.

Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) related that in 1904 the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) gave an address at a convention in Lahore. A non-Ahmadi, Sheikh Rahmatullah sahib, was in the audience. During the speech he saw a column of light coming out from the Promised Messiah’s head and ascending towards heavens. He mentioned this to the person next to him, who verified it. Sheikh Rahamatullah sahib took his bai’at on the same day.

Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Muhammad Ra’een recounted that at the passing away of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) he heard that his face had, God forbid, darkened. He took his young sons to see the blessed face. The sons were very emotional and saw the face four times. He recounted that just as we have heard that the blessed face of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was luminous, so was the Promised Messiah’s. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was the original, while the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was his reflection.

Huzur said the aforementioned traditions were from the register of the companions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Next Huzur cited a few traditions signifying the high standard of spirituality of these companions.

After the election of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) a few materialistic people were misled, however, with the grace of God the majority were saved. Maulana Rajiki related that once in a mosque in Peshawar he had a vision in which he saw Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) with his heart clearly visible and luminous like many brilliant suns. By comparison, he sees his own heart which has the light of a bulb. Sohnay Khan sahib recounted that during the disturbance of the Ahrars he started praying for the honour of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II, engaging in invoking Durud and reading Surah Fatihah with profusion. He dreamed that a man comes to him and says that some maulvis have arrived in the village to the east and are saying they would uproot Ahmadiyyat. The dream continues that he and some others go to that village. There, he looks up and sees two moons in the sky. One is very bright and the other does not have light. However, soon it also brightens up. He hears a voice that the first moon is the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and the second one is Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-din Mahmood Ahmad.

Huzur said Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) was that promised son of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) about whom there were many prophecies. In his era of Khilafat, despite many adverse times, extensive Tabligh work was carried out. Much subversion arose at the time and even now, when someone in the Community is mentally disturbed, whether he does something else or not, he definitely claims to be Musleh Maud. The real danger is from those who back these subversions, they are indeed hypocrites. Then there are those who leave and want to create disorder in the Community. The matter of who was Musleh Maud (Promised Reformer) was proved so conclusively with lucid proofs that only a fool would not accept it.

Maulana Rajiki related that had he requested Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) for specific spiritual counsel a short while after which he said in Masjid Mubarak Qadian that the youth should say ‘Subhan Allah Wabihamdihi Subhan Allah Hilazim’ (Exalted Is Allah with all His Glory, Exalted is Allah, Who is Great) as well as Durud twelve times after obligatory Salat. Maulana Rajiki said of the several benefits of making this his permanent practise, one was purification of heart through which he attained a wondrous light which would make his heart light up during prayer like a bulb.

Huzur said the aforementioned prayer was one of the Khilafat Centenary prayers that he gave out. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had said that these words are very easy and light to utter but very heavy in God’s sight. Huzur said they draw God’s grace. Huzur said we should continue to say this prayer because this prayer and Durud are very significant in purifying hearts and to attain love of God so that we may continue with our mission.

Huzur cited another incident from the life of Maulana Rajiki where he went to stay with his non-Ahmadi relatives, who despite being informed of his truthfulness via a dream, were hostile to him. Eventually they were victims of the famous plague.

Huzur prayed that may God grant us His true Light with His grace, the Light that can be attained through loving His beloveds. The Imam of the age has taught us the ways and means to attain this after obtaining the nur of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). May we, rather than be embroiled in the idle pursuits of this world, be always seekers of this nur from God and be among those who always pray; ‘…Our Lord, perfect our light for us and forgive us; surely Thou hast power over all things.’ (66:9). May God show us signs of this prayer in this life and may this nur stay with us eternally in the Hereafter. Ameen.