Under the guidance and auspices of Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V(aba) [the Fifth Successor to the Promised Messiah(as)], the English translation of Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Parts I & II, was published in 2012. By the grace of Allah, we are now presenting the English translation of Part III. The translations of Part IV and Part V will follow, God-willing.
After the Promised Messiah(as) published Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Parts I & II, in 1880, there were urgent requests from Muslims, as well as non-Muslims, for the remainder of the book, but the funds needed for its publication were insufficient. He, therefore, arranged to publish, as Part III, whatever could be financed with the available funds. As a consequence, the original Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Part III, published in 1882, ends abruptly. When Part IV was later published in 1884, it continued where Part III ended, particularly the main text, Footnote Number Eleven, and Sub-Footnote Number Two.
To provide a natural break for these sections of the book, we have included some parts from Part IV to supplement the main text, Footnote Number Eleven, and all of Sub-Footnote Number Two. These changes were made with the permission of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V(aba) and are identified in the translation with cross references to the original Urdu text.
In the original Urdu edition of Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, the Promised Messiah(as) presented the main text, footnotes, and sub-footnotes on the same page. However, to facilitate the English reading of Part III, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V(aba) decided that each of these sections should be presented individually, without break.
It should be noted that wherever the Promised Messiah(as) had not given the translation of a verse of the Holy Quran, we have generally taken the translation from Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV(rh) or Hazrat Maulavi Sher Ali(ra), but have changed ‘Thou’ and ‘Thee’ to ‘You’, and ‘Thy’ and ‘Thine’ to ‘Your(s)’, etc. In addition, terms which may not be familiar to the Western reader are italicized in the text and defined in the Glossary.
In Wakalat-e-Tasnif, Rabwah, the English translation of Part III was initially done by Raja Ata-ul-Mannan and revised by Dhulqarnain Bharwana, with supporting research by Kashif Imran. Chaudhary Muhammad Ali, Wakilut-Tasnif, Rabwah was continuously associated with the translation work. A separate translation was done by Mirza Anas Ahmad, M.A., M.Litt., (Oxon.). The translators adopted the earlier translations available in The Essence of Islam, thereby benefiting from the pioneering work done by Hazrat Chaudhry Muhammad Zafrulla Khan(ra).
As with Parts I & II, the English rendering of Part III was reviewed by Additional Wakalat-e-Tasnif with the help of its English Translation section (based in the USA) headed by Munawar Ahmed Saeed. The process of translating and reviewing these spiritual treasures was a truly challenging task. The above-mentioned translations were reviewed and compared with the original words of the Promised Messiah(as). The reviewers also consulted the available published translations in The Essence of Islam, Tadhkirah, and the Commentary on the Holy Quran, Vol. I—Surah Fatihah. Moreover, the decisions made by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V(aba) during the earlier translations were also adopted. All of this was incorporated into revised documents, which presented the primary translation and proposed edits, along with the reasoning for suggested changes and any relevant reference material.
My humble self studied these documents and reviewed them with Abdul-Wahab Mirza and Khurram Matin Khan for further revisions. Relevant queries were continually routed to and from the Arabic and Persian Desks in London, the Research Cell, Wakalat-e-Tasnif, Nazarat Isha‘at, Rabwah, Pakistan, and Nazarat Nashr-o-Isha‘at, Qadian, India. The entire review process was guided closely by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V(aba). My humble self was blessed with the opportunity to seek his guidance, obtain approval of the final translation, and convey his decisions to the reviewers and other departments as necessary. At the direction of Huzoor(aba), in order to finalize rendering of various passages and to complete the necessary work for the publication of the final book, I personally visited USA and worked with the team members. The review process was led by Munawar Ahmed Saeed and coordinated by Abdul-Wahab Mirza. They were assisted by Khurram Matin Khan, Naveed Ahmed Malik, Salman Muhammad Sajid, Rashida Kalim Rana, Naser-ud-Din Shams, Tariq Amjad, Fouzan Pal, and Bilal Ahmad Rana. I would also like to acknowledge the contributions of Ayyaz Mahmood Khan and Abdul-Quddus Arif, who helped me in Additional Wakalat-e-Tasnif, and the other devotees of the Promised Messiah(as), working in the departments mentioned above.
May Allah the Almighty reward all those and their families, who participated in this noble endeavour for their sacrifices, and may He bless them abundantly in this world and the Hereafter. Amin.
I sincerely hope and pray that these spiritual treasures will be a source of enlightenment for all readers and will create enthusiasm and motivation to embark upon a life long journey of studying the books of the Promised Messiah(as). Amin.
Munir-ud-Din Shams
Additional Wakilut-Tasnif
London
July 2014