Taudih-e-Maram

Elucidation of Objectives

Background

The Promised Messiah(as) described this book as a continuation of his first book, Fathe Islam. He tackled a number of objections advanced against his claim and established that he was the Promised Messiah and gave examples of how close he bears a resemblance and the similarities to Jesus Christ.

The Book

In this book, the Promised Messiah(as) gave a beautiful commentary on the Quranic Chapter 91, al-Shams, and explained that man is the crown of all creation and that the angels, stars, and elements were all subservient to him. Incidentally, he also threw light on the functions and nature of angel. Gabriel’s functions are particularly discussed. He also described the vast scope of spiritual progress that is open to man, and explained that inspiration and visions were the distinguishing features of God’s true saints and prophets and that this door is open to all. Therefore, it was not unusual or impossible that in this age, he should be chosen by God as the Promised Reformer.

The Promised Messiah(as) was aware of the prevalent belief among Muslims that Jesus Christ was elevated to heaven and is sitting in heaven alive and that he will descend one day from heaven. In order to counter the criticism of the ulema, he made a plea that before raising objections against the views presented by him, the ulema should read his three books together, namely, Fathe Islam, Taudih-e-Maram and Izala’i-e-Auham, in order to get a complete picture. The Promised Messiah(as) made a forceful plea that unless the false beliefs like the one that Jesus Christ was alive in the heaven are completely demolished, it would not be possible for the Muslims to enter into a debate or an argument with Christians whose entire edifice of Christian superiority is built around this very fundamental belief, and once this belief is demolished, the Christians would not be able to establish any superiority over Islam.

Specimen of Writing

Our chief , the head and the Holy Prophet(sa), in order to draw a distinction between the first Messiah and the second Messiah, had not only he stated that the second Messiah would be a male and a Muslim and would act in accordance to the dictates of the Holy Quran and like Muslims would strictly adhere to ordinances of the Quran, of prayers and fasting and would be born among Muslims and would be an Imam of them and would not bring any separate religion or bring any different message, and it was also indicated that there will be a distinction between the physical appearances of the first Messiah and the second Messiah. The appearance of the first Messiah as seen by the Holy Prophet on the night of his spiritual ascension was that he would be of middle height, red colour, and curly hairs and wide chest1 and in this book the praised one also stated the appearance of the second Messiah he would be wheatish in colour, his hairs would not curly but would hang to his ears.2

Impact

The impact of this book on Maulavis, like Maulavi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi, was not unexpected. The Maulavis now felt that the elimination of Jesus Christ from the scene would end the dominance of the Muslim clergy, and it was for this purpose that Jesus was very securely settled in heaven. For they thought the longer Jesus is securely fastened to the heaven, the longer the Muslim clergy monopoly over Muslim minds would continue. So, the first to face the Promised Messiah(as) in the field was Maulavi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi who started attacking the views presented by the Promised Messiah(as). He issued a warning to the Promised Messiah(as) that “unless he dropped the views presented by him about the death of Jesus Christ, he would start a campaign against him and would try to save the Muslims from what he called the hellish beliefs propounded by the Promised Messiah(as).” Maulavi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi thought that since he had been the one who praised the work of the Promised Messiah(as), like Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, so his opposition would destroy the Promised Messiah(as) and his Community. The Maulavi failed to realise that the Promised Messiah(as) did not need any support from any man because he had been commissioned by God to carry out the reformation of society and all the support he needed had come to him divinely.