Dr Rasheed Syed Azam
Al-Nahl, Summer 1995

According to the Laws of God Almighty stated in the Holy Quran, the door to prophethood in Islam will remain open till the end of this world (7:36). Only Allah has the power to choose prophets (16:3) and prophethood is the highest grace from Him and He bestows it on whomsoever He pleases (62:5). The rule now is:

And whoso obeys Allah and this perfect Messenger shall be among those on whom Allah has bestowed His blessings, i.e. the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs, and the Righteous. And they are an excellent company. (4 [Al-Nisa]:70)

The Holy Quran is the Perfect Book (2:3) and is the Complete Law (5:4). Therefore, only an ummati Prophet can appear in Islam, who is obedient to Allah and follows the Khataman-Nabiyyeen, the Perfect Messenger of Allah. No new Law (Shariah) is needed but a true prophet is always a mercy from Allah sent to purify people and guide them back to Allah. (79:19-20)

The Promised Messiah and Mahdi^(as)

The Promised Messiah and Mahdi of this age was Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) of Qadian, India, who came at the appointed time from Allah in accordance with the Prophecy of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. He was sent to revive the true Islam as revealed to the Holy Prophet by Allah in the Holy Quran. He was an ummati Prophet. During his life on this earth he wrote more than eighty books which are truly a running commentary of the Holy Quran and show his dedication to the cause of Islam for the love of Allah and the Holy Prophet. Under Allah’s command he established his jamaat as Ahmadiyya Movement In Islam to unite all humanity in love and peace under the banner of his master, Muhammad Mustafa Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, the Khataman-Nabiyyeen.

The Promised Messiah’s Sacred Writings

A person with even very little intellect and some honesty and fear of Allah can easily discover by reading the sacred writings of the Promised Messiah that he was indeed from Allah and his writings contain nothing but the truth about Islam in its purest form. What does he say about the Holy Prophet? A small sample of his writings is presented here for the discerning critic and enlightened readers:

The gist of our faith is: la ilaha illallaho Muhammad-ur-rasoolullah (There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.) Our belief, which we hold in this life here on earth and to which we will continue to adhere firmly till the time that we pass on to the next world, is that our spiritual leader and Master, Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is khataman-nabiyyeen, the seal of the prophets and the best of the messengers. At his hands religion has been consummated which guide man on the right path and further on to God Himself. We hold this belief with absolute certainty that the Holy Quran is the khatamul-kutub, the seal of all divine books, and not an iota can be added to or subtracted from its prescribed teachings, inhibitions, commands and injunctions. There will be no revelation or word from God which may amend or abrogate or change or alter any of the injunctions of the Holy Quran. If anyone subscribes to such views, in our opinion, he ceases to belong to the body of believers and becomes a heretic and an infidel thereby.
(Roohani Khazain, Vol. 3, P. 170: Izala-e-Auham)

We do believe that there is none worthy of worship except God Almighty and Sayyadena Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is His Messenger and khatamul-anbiya. We believe that Angels, Resurrection, Day of Judgment, Heaven and Hell all are reality.
(Roohani Khazain, Vol. 14, P. 323: Ayyamus-Sulh)

It would not have been possible for me to have attained this grace if I had not followed the footsteps of my lord and master, the pride of all prophets, the best of mankind, Muhammad, the chosen one, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Whatever I have achieved by following him, and I know from my truly verified experience that no man can reach God to obtain a deeper understanding of His ways without following this Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Now, let me also make it known that the very first thing you are rewarded with, after having completely submitted yourself to the instructions and teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, is that you are granted new heart which is always rightly inclined. Such heart loses all love for this material world and instead it begins to yearn for an everlasting and unending heavenly pleasure. Having achieved this sublime state, your heart is now ready to receive that perfect and purest love of God. All these blessings are bequeathed to you as a spiritual heritage because of your complete obedience to the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
(Roohani Khazain, V. 22, P. 64-65: Haqeeqatul Wahee)

I have been made to understand that of all the Messengers, the one who brought the perfect and purest of teachings full of wisdom, and one who exhibited in him the noblest of human qualities, is the Holy Prophet Muhammad, our lord and master, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
(Roohani Khazain, V. 17, P. 345, Arba’een 1.)

From a study of the life of the Holy Prophet, khatamal-anbiya, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, it will become manifest to every reader that the Holy Prophet of Islam possessed exemplary character with purest heart. He was ever ready to sacrifice his life for God, he pinned no hopes on men and entertained no fear of them. He reposed his entire trust in Allah. Having enslaved himself entirely to the will and pleasure of Allah, he did not care what hazards he would face and what suffering he would be subjected to at the hands of the idolators as a result of declaring to the world the message of the Unity of God.
(Roohani Khazain, V. 1, P. 111, Braheene Ahmadiyya)

When we examine with fairness and justice all the prophets of the past, we find that Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, the Holy Prophet of Islam, stands out as the most valiant among them, the one who fully possessed all the qualities of life and was the one most endeared to God.
(Roohani Khazain, V. 12, P. 82, Sirajual-Muneer)

The Holy Prophet, The Living Prophet

For all the children of Adam there is now no Messenger and intercessor other than the Holy Prophet Muhammad, the chosen one, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. So you should endeavor to cultivate true love for this magnificent and majestic Prophet and not place any one else above him in any manner so that you may be counted in Heaven among those who have attained salvation. Remember also that salvation is not something which is attainable only after death. Rather true salvation manifests its light in this world. Who is truly delivered? One who believes that God is Truth and that the Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is the intercessor between God and mankind; he also believes that under God’s command there is no book of the status of the Holy Quran. And for none else God proclaimed that he should live for ever with his message and his law, but this Noble Prophet lives for ever.
(Roohani Khazain, Vol. 19, P. 13, Kashtee Nuh)

The Promised Messiah’s Poetry: Love and Devotion to the Prophet

The Promised Messiah Alaihislam also wrote many beautiful poems to express his love and devotion to the Holy Prophet of Islam. Here are a few samples:

Thy boundless blessings of peace
Be upon Mustafa, O God;
Verily through him we receive Thy Light.
My soul is eternally bonded
To the soul of Muhammad,
I made my heart drink deep,
Of the brimful cup of his love.

It was because of you that we
Became the best of all the peoples,
O Prophet of God who
Is the best of all the prophets.
As you marched ahead of all the rest,
We too stepped forward.

Let alone the human beings,
Even all the angels in the Heavens
Follow suit and join me,
As I sing thy praise.

(Roohani Khazain, V. 5, Pp 225-226, A’eena-e-Kamalate Islam).

Our Perfect LeaderThat leader of ours,
From whom radiates all light,
His name is Muhammad.
He is the one,
Who has captivated my heart.

All prophets are holy,
One better than the other.
From God on high he is,
The crown of all creatures.

Today he is the sovereign,
Of the world of religion,
The crown of all the Messengers.
The healthiest influence;
The purest, the most comely;
The most trustworthy,
The most dependable:
Allah this superlative praise,
Befits him alone.

(Roohani Khazain, V. 20, P. 456, Qadian Ke Ariya Aur Ham)

Al-Qaseeda

The Promised Messiah has written very extensively, about his beliefs and his devotion to God Almighty and his love for the Holy Prophet, primarily in Urdu but also in Arabic and Persian languages to inform all Muslims about his claim and to show them back the way to Allah through true essence of Islam. Al-Qaseeda, a laudatory poem, is composed in flawless and fluent Arabic and is a literary masterpiece in honor of Khataman-Nabiyyeen. This encomium has 70 couplets and is included in the part of Roohani Khazain, Vol. 5, P. 590-594, A’eenae Kamalate Islam. No one has dared to accept a challenge from the Promised Messiah till this day to produce such glowing tribute to the Holy Prophet of Islam in such an eloquent and elegant diction. The Qaseeda provides a unique spiritual experience to a discerning critic with a longing heart and a keen eye.

The Promised Messiah’s face was glowing with joy, it is reported by his companions, when this Qaseeda was completed. Hazoor Aqdas addressing the Holy Prophet, conveys his salutations and love and obedience with such pathos and glowing tributes which has no parallel in human history. This empathy and the complete identification with the Holy Prophet of Islam in cause of Allah was the reason that the Holy Prophet is reported to have said that the Promised Messiah will reflect his second coming and will be buried in his grave. What a tribute! The Promised Messiah says (The number of couplet is given in the parenthesis at the end of the couplet):

O my beloved, you are the ending fountain-head of Allah’s blessings and knowledge and the whole humanity is now looking up to you to quench their spiritual thirst.(1)

Those who seek and discover that the cups of their life are empty come running towards the ocean of your blessings filled by Allah’s Grace.(2)

You are the spiritual sun who has brought light to the four corners of the world.(3)

Your face reflects the glory of Allah and His attributes find expression through your excellent character.(41)

Allah has bestowed upon you all the best and the highest qualities of man and He has perfected the gift of prophethood in your person as Khataman-Nabiyyeen.(46)

I have received the gift of spiritual life through you, O my Master and Perfect Leader, and I am nothing but your humble servant. What a miracle! How well he raised me to life.(62)

O Lord, My Creator, Your everlasting blessings be upon the Holy Prophet in this world and in the hereafter.(63)

Look at me, O My Master, with mercy and grace. I am your most humble servant.(67)

Now, no rational person will fail to recognize the truth about the Promised Messiah and his love for the Holy Prophet, khataman-nabiyyeen. The Promised Messiah appeared at the right time according to the prophecy of the Holy Prophet and completed his mission under Allah’s commands.

Ahmadiyya Beliefs

Every Ahmadi Muslim, by the grace of Allah, believes that Jesus (Hazrat Eesa, alaihissalaam) was a true and noble prophet of Allah and he died a natural death at the end of his term on this earth and is buried in Kashmir, India. How long the mullahs will continue to wait for `Messiah’ to descend from Heaven? Only Heaven knows! He never went up there with his physical body in the first place. Do they ever study and understand the Holy Quran?

It is also our true belief that the prophethood in Islam will continue as this view is supported by the Holy Quran, the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet and reliable Ahadith, and all early true reformers and thinkers in Islam preceding the advent of the Promised Messiah. The appearance of a follower (an ummati) Prophet is contained in the meanings of khataman-nabiyyeen. We believe that the Holy Prophet was so great that his followers can attain the status of prophethood in Islam because no new law is now needed. Our God is a living God and talks to His chosen ones even today.

Conclusion

Those people who falsely accuse Jamaat Ahmadiyya and its Holy Founder, Hazrat Promised Messiah, alaihissalaam, to be disrespectful to Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa, Khatamal-Anbiya, peace and blessings be upon him, do so without any fear of Allah in their hearts. For them it would be sufficient to quote the following verse of the Holy Quran:

Beware of the day of Judgment when We shall call people along with their leaders. Whoever is given the book recorded with his deeds in his right hand will be eager to read it and find that he will be dealt with mercy and justice. But whoever remained spiritually blind in this world shall also be blind in the Hereafter and will be even farther removed from the path leading to Allah. (17:72,73)

References

• Roohani Khazain, Vol 1-23 (1984): 16 Gressenhall Road, London SW18 5QL (U.K.)
• Selections From the Writings of the Promised Messiah (1988): Islam International Publications Ltd., U.K.
• Al-Qaseeda (From A’eenae Kamalate Islam): Commentary By Hazrat Maulana J. D. Shams. Pakistan, 1956.