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Who Can Halt the Will of God

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And when thy Lord said to the angels: “I am about to place a vicegerent in the earth,” they said: “Wilt Thou Place therein such as will cause disorder in it, and shed blood?—and we glorify Thee with Thy praise and extol Thy holiness.” He answered: “I know what you know not.”

The above verse fully resolves the [fundamental] issues and points of contention surrounding khilafat, and makes it clear this institution has come under attack since the time of Adam (as) and throughout the course of history groups and individuals have always stood vehemently opposed to it. Hence, I urge the members of the Ahmadiyya Community to ponder over this verse so they can follow the right way and discern the path to guidance. Always remember God appoints the khalifa. Those who say this decision rests with the people are false. In the six years of his tenure, Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih I (ra) repeatedly affirmed that God alone raises an individual to this office and not other human beings. A close reading of the Holy Qur’an supports this view; not once has this function been ascribed to human begins. Rather, Allah the Exalted says it is He Who raises all forms of khilafat.

Allah the Exalted says of His prophets and chosen vicegerents:

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Allah has promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely make them Successors in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who were before them; and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them; and that He will surely give them in exchange security and peace after their fear: They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me. Then whoso is ungrateful after that, they will be the rebellious.

According to this verse, the Holy Prophet (sas) was succeeded by the Rightly Guided Khilafat and the same institution was destined to follow the Promised Messiah. Allah the Exalted says of the Promised Messiah in the Holy Qur’an:

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He it is Who has raised among the Unlettered people a Messenger from among themselves who recites unto them His Signs, and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and wisdom, although they had been, before, in manifest misguidance; And among others from among them who have not yet joined them. He is the Mighty, the Wise.

This verse correlates the respective periods of the Holy Prophet (sas) and the Promised Messiah; just as the Prophet of Islam (sas) nurtured and raised his companions, he would rear another nation in the future which had yet to come. By associating the community of the Promised Messiah with the companions of the Holy Prophet (sas), God implies the same sunna would permeate both of them. The khilafat which followed the Holy Prophet (sas) would necessarily succeed the Promised Messiah. In [his book], The Will, the Promised Messiah (as) wrote that following the demise of the Holy Prophet (sas), the Second Manifestation came into being with Abu Bakr (ra), [therefore, his own succession] would fit into the same paradigm. The passage in question clearly reveals the Promised Messiah (as) fully expected khilafat to continue after him. However, like the Holy Prophet (sas), he only hinted at this for it was necessary the Second Manifestation (the institution of khilafat) also pass through trial and adversity just as the First Manifestation (the Promised Messiah (as)) had.

Here, it should be understood, the primary task of a khalifa is to oversee the works initiated by the forerunner (prophet) he represents. Hence, the authority of the khulafa of the Holy Prophet (sas) extended over both religious and political realms because God had bestowed on the Holy Prophet (sas) spiritual and worldly kingship. But the Promised Messiah (as), through whom the spiritual aspects of the Prophet’s (sas) teachings were manifested, was only a religious sovereign, therefore, his successors were to continue on the same path.

Khilafat is then essential for the unity of the community and the establishment of the principles of the divine law. Those who reject it stand in defiance of the sharia. The companions [of the Prophet (sas)] gave their allegiance to khilafat and, through the Ahmadiyya movement, God Almighty proved the truth of this institution. Implicit in the meaning of the word jama‘at is unity under one imam. Those who do not join together behind an imam are not a jama’at nor can they ever receive those divine blessings which are showered on a unified community. Therefore, I call on the Ahmadiyya Community to follow the decree of God Almighty so that they do not put themselves to trial. It is perilous to disobey His commandments. Islam’s truest success was achieved during the era of the Rightly Guided Khilafat. Do not hinder your own progress or precipitate your own downfall. How foolish are those who raze their homes to the ground and how pitiful are those who slit their own throats. Do not sow the seed of your destruction with your own hands and do not eschew those means which God Almighty has given to you for your success. He says:

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If you are grateful, I will, surely, bestow more favours on you; but if you are ungrateful, then know that My Punishment is severe indeed.

It is misleading to suggest the institution of khilafat gives impetus to idolatry or sows the seed of hereditary succession. 1300 hundred years ago, God Almighty rejected this notion when He said of the khulafa:

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They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me.

He knew a time would come when people would allege khilafat spreads idolatry and that it was unlawful to obey someone who is not appointed by God, [for in their mind the khalifa would not be a divine appointee]. Therefore, in Ayat-e-Istikhlaf, God has answered this allegation and said this institution is not a source of idolatry; rather the khulafa are absolute monotheists who will wipe out all other associations with God. Were this not the case there was no reason to broach the subject of idolatry in this verse.

In short, no one can reject the institution of khilafat and more so a community, which through its actions over the last six years, has arrived at [a consensus as to] its meaning. It has forfeited the right to question its status. If someone now advances [such contentions], it will be understood their allegiance to Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih I (ra) stemmed from hypocrisy, for he did not see himself as separate from the original khilafat, and took the pledge from the members of the community with this understanding. Moreover, in his lectures and sermons, he made his position on the matter so abundantly clear no truthful person can deny it. No one has the right to create dissension within the ranks of the jama‘at after his passing.

It was necessary to write these words of counsel for I see signs of a schism. There are certain elements within the community who are instigating against khilafat or at the very least promoting the idea that the khalifa ought to be [a ceremonial head] in the manner of a president and as of now the movement has no khalifa. But through this short tract I inform the members of the community that as I have just shown, it is imperative for there to be a khalifa and allegiance to him is as necessary as it was to Khalifatul-Masih I (ra). It is wrong to suggest that hitherto no one has been elected as the khalifa of the community. God has chosen His khalifa. Whoever opposes him opposes God.

I did not ask for anyone to enter into an allegiance with me, nor did I conspire with others to attain this office. If there is anyone out there who can contradict what I say, they ought to come forward and testify to this for they are under obligation to safeguard the community from intrigue. But should they not be forthcoming, they ought to know they will come under the curse of God and will be punished for [bringing about] the destruction of the community [through their inaction]. I swear before God Almighty in the presence of those pure souls who think not ill of others, I have never looked to the people to acclaim me as the khalifa, nor have I ever wished this from God. He has bestowed on me this favour from His own will; I did not seek it from Him. This task has been placed on me irrespective of my desire. It is only through an act of God Almighty the majority have submitted in obedience before me. Why should I go against His command to please other people? He has appointed me to this office just as He appointed those who came before me. I am astonished one as unworthy as I could win His acceptance, yet for all that, I am the one He has chosen. There is no one who can take off the mantle He has put on me. This is a divine gift and no one can snatch it away. God Almighty will be my helper. I am weak but my Master is powerful. I am frail but my Lord is strong. I am without means but my King is the Creator of all things. I am without support but my Lord will call on the angels to come to my assistance, inshaAllah. I am without shelter, but my Guardian is such that in his company there is no need for refuge.

There are those who call me a liar; they allege that for years I coveted rank and status. According to them I am lost in pride and lust after honour. So I say to them their accusations are the same as those leveled against Salih (as) by the people of Thamud when they charged he was an impudent liar who sought prestige.8 I can only give the same reply as Salih (as): be patient, time will tell who is false, arrogant and the pursuer of rank.9

According to some, a longer period should have been given for the election of the khalifa so all the various branches of the community could have participated in the election process. Yet those who subscribe to this point of view present no credible argument to support it. No such thing occurred after the Holy Prophet (sas) or after the demise of the Promised Messiah (as). 1200 followers swore loyalty to Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih I (ra) within 24 hours. But in this case it took 28 hours for almost 2000 people to pledge their allegiance to me, despite adverse circumstances and questions over the need for khilafat. Truly God saved the community during this crisis and enabled the majority to unite under one hand.

In the beginning only three people, Hazrat Umar (ra) and Hazrat Ubaidah (ra) from the Muhajirin and Qais ibn Sa‘d (ra) from the Ansar gave their loyalty to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). At the time of this pledge there were those who sought to stop it with the blades of their swords. They wished to disperse the people with force. There were others who, in a state of emotion, would taunt and declare that the pledge held no value. So are we to conclude from this that, God forbid, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) so greatly coveted khilafat he was ready to assume its stewardship on the basis of the allegiances of three men and continued to take further pledges despite the hostility around him or that his khilafat was illegitimate? Those who subscribe to such views are mistaken. When 2000 people have pledged their allegiance to an individual and a small minority have kept away, how can the legitimacy of this khilafat be brought into disrepute? If my khilafat is invalid it is less so than the khilafats of Abu Bakr (ra), Uthman (ra), Ali (ra) and Noor-ud-Deen (ra). So fear God and utter not that which might come to haunt you. Fear the punishment of God and do not let spite or jealousy prompt you to forgo that mission which His chosen servant prepared and readied with great effort over many years.

The allegations against me are not without precedent. All my predecessors who were divinely raised to this station were maligned in the same way. Adam was opposed by the angels themselves. So who am I that I should be free from these insinuations? [When God raised Adam (as)] the angels professed the greatness of their deeds, while Iblis proclaimed his own superiority. Yet it was Adam (as) whom God preferred, though he did not have a single achievement to his name, and in the end all were made low before him. The angels asserted their own deeds by saying they had rendered great services.

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And we glorify Thee with Thy praise and extol Thy holiness.

Today the same objections are raised. Those who rectify themselves after their transgressions possess the qualities of the angels. Let God have mercy on those who in their arrogance keep away from obedience until the end. My friends! Become like the angels and even if you have erred, repent of this so that you may be raised among them. Otherwise know well, nothing good can come from disorder.

Do you not trust in the prophecies of the Promised Messiah (as)? If not, why are you Ahmadis? Do you not know in the book, The Green Announcement, the Promised Messiah (as) prophesied the birth of a son who would be named Mahmood and Fazle Umar. In his book, Tiryaqul Qulub, he associated this prophecy with me. Who was Umar (ra)? If you are not aware, know well he was the second Khalifa [of Islam]. Thus even before my birth, God had determined I would be entrusted with those tasks that were given to Hazrat Umar (ra). If Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) was from God then what excuse do you have in not accepting him who was named Umar even before his birth? I swear by God in the lifetime of Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih I (ra), I had no knowledge of this prophecy. It was only afterwards I learnt of it.

Aside from this there are hundreds of people whom God has inclined towards me through dreams. Almost 150 dreams have been narrated to me in the last few days. It is my intention that these be published. I say this not to show any greatness, but instead to heal the rifts that are appearing in the jama‘at. May God guide those who are not tied to the rope of unity. Otherwise, in essence, I despise having to speak about such things. But I hold the unity of the community paramount over all things.

What are the grievances of those people who oppose me or who have yet to enter my bai‘at? Do they wish for freedom and autonomy? If so, they are only inviting their own destruction. Do they want a new khalifa to be nominated? Yet they ought to know there cannot be two khulafa at the same time. This is against the law of Islam. Now no matter what they do, they will only cause a split in the movement. God has willed that the community unite at my hand. No one can stand in the way of this divine objective. Do they not see there are only two options available to them? Either they enter my allegiance and do not disturb the unity of the jama‘at, or they follow their selfish desires and bring to ruin that sacred orchard which has been watered and cultivated by the blood filled tears of the pious. All that has gone before is in the past. Now, it is beyond any question that the only one way to establish unity is to pledge allegiance at the hand of God’s appointed khalifa. Whosoever opposes him creates discord.

My heart breaks at this rift and I am overwhelmed by grief. My days and nights are spent in anguish. My pain is not because I desire your obedience, but rather I wish to see unity within the community. At the same time, I cannot take any measures which might dishonour the institution of khilafat. May God enable me to fulfil the task He has assigned with dignity, so that on the Day of Judgment I can face my Lord without shame or remorse.

Who can remove me as the khalifa? God has raised me to this station and He does not err in His decision. The acceptance of the whole world cannot enhance the prestige of my khilafat, nor can the stature of this office be diminished, God forbid, if I am abandoned by one and all. Just as a prophet remains as such even when he is alone, so too does a khalifa continue in his position even if he has no followers. Blessed are those who submit to the will of God. The responsibility God has placed on my shoulders is heavy and laden. Without His help, I can achieve nothing. I have firm faith in the existence of His pure being and He will surely come to my aid. I am duty bound to keep the community united and save it from internal dissension. Therefore, I will have to face up to all hindrances. If God so wills, help will come to me from heaven. With these words I have articulated my position to all those who have yet to pledge their allegiance or who waver in their oaths. Now no blame can be held against me before God. May God help me remove these dissensions and douse the flames of this fire and enable me to focus all my attention on the primary objective of any khalifa: that is, to propagate and establish the truth of my master. It is my desire to illumine the far off places of the world with the truth of Ahmadiyyat and this is not at all difficult for Allah.

I have great hope in my Lord. I am ever praying before Him. Those members of the jama‘at who have been protected from the trial of doubt and misgiving ought to assist me in this, so that with our prayers the fire of disorder can be extinguished. Whosoever does this will become the recipient of God’s grace and I will remember them in my most earnest supplications. My loved ones, let your tears adorn your prayers now more than ever. Do not be neglectful of tahajjud. Those who are able ought to fast and those who have means ought to give sadaqa. Who knows which of our prayers, fasts or alms might quell this tribulation, enabling the Ahmadiyya Jama’at to once again set foot on the path of progress. Whereas the majority of the community have entered the bai‘at, the number of those left behind is not insignificant. No father or brother can be happy to see one of his kin be separated, even if there are ten of them. Thus how can we sit contented when a group of our own people are lost to us? May God prevent this.

I caution you to keep away from those who foment disorder lest those who are weak of faith should be poisoned and falter. Faith in infancy is a fragile thing and not immune to every kind of poison. Apart from these two admonitions, I thirdly counsel that wherever you see the fire of conflict burning, those of you who are strong of heart should leave aside everything and go to wherever this fire has broken out, in order to save the lives of your brothers. And whosoever does this will earn the mercy of God.

Yes there is discord, but let those rejoice who have fastened themselves to the rope of unity for they will meet a happy end. You will be the honoured ones of God. The rain of His blessings will inundate you and you will be amazed by its abundance. The split [in our community has brought me much distress]. In [a moment] of unease, I prostrated before God [whereupon I was overtaken by slumber]. The first line of a couplet was revealed in my heart. The words were:

Thank Allah we have been blessed with this unrivalled jewel.

Moments later someone woke me and I sat up from my sleep, but again I was overtaken by drowsiness and in this state I said to myself that the second line of this couplet is:

What are we to do when the hearts of the people have turned to stone.

I cannot say if the latter was divinely revealed or explained to me otherwise. Yesterday I prostrated before my Lord and took my complaints to Him. I asked how I was to respond to the false accusations against me. I called on Him to end any dissension for He is master over all things. I then received the following revelation about [those members of] the community [who have severed their ties]:

God will certainly reduce them to nothing.

Therefore, it is certain that while we may have to endure these momentary trials, we will meet a good and worthy end. But for this we must remain firm in our prayers. The Promised Messiah (as) once wrote: “There will come a time when the lofty will be abased, and the lowly will be exalted.” Prostrate yourselves before God so that you may be counted among those lesser ranks who are to be elevated to great heights. Be not among those of proud status who will soon be toppled from their prime positions. Let God have mercy on us all; let Him bring us under the shade of His blessings; give not our enemies a reason to taunt us; let us live and die as Muslims. Ameen.

Lord of all the worlds fulfil our prayers.

With Humility,
Mirza Mahmood Ahmad
Qadian, 21 March 1914