A’ina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam

The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam

Background

The Promised Messiah(as) was prompted to write this book (it is an outstanding contribution of the level of Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya) mainly because of the mischief that was constantly being spread by the Christian missionaries against Islam. The missionaries had now changed their tactics: instead of maligning the religion by attacking the teachings of Islam, they now raised new and baseless objections against the noble personage of the Holy Prophet(sa). It appeared that these missionaries had launched this movement on the basis of such beliefs as were being spread by Muslim scholars such as Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, who had written a commentary on the Holy Quran. In this commentary, he had spread many false beliefs such as angels were in reality nothing, and belief in the miracles had no basis and also the belief in the efficacy of prayers was futile. It appeared that Sir Syed Ahmad Khan was deeply influenced by the ideas of the West and thereby helping indirectly the Christian missionaries to mount such attacks on Islam.

The Promised Messiah(as) says that during the writing of this book, he twice saw the Holy Prophet(sa) in vision and that the latter had expressed his great pleasure on the writing of such a book. On another occasion, he saw an angel calling on people to stand up and pay respect to such a noble book. Another distinction of the book is that its second part is in Arabic. This is the first time that the Promised Messiah(as) wrote on Islam in Arabic. The Arabic part of the book is named at-Tabligh.

The Book

In this work of unique nature, the Promised Messiah(as) introduced Islam in an entirely new perspective, describing how a man can achieve spiritual eminence. He explained the functions of angels, and a number of verses of the Holy Quran have been beautifully explained. The question of inspiration and revelation are fully discussed and all manners of objections against them are fully answered.

In the Arabic section of the book, the Promised Messiah(as) first explained the mission and object of his advent and then he added a short historical note about his family followed by an invitation to Queen Victoria to accept Islam.

Specimen of Writing1

Whoever surrenders himself entirely to Allah he is a Muhsin, that is, he is having such a strong connection with God that he may be said to have seen Him at the time of worship. As enunciated in the verse: “He shall have his reward with his Lord, and no fear shall come upon such, nor shall they grieve (2:113)” alludes to the three important stages of the perfect piety, Fana (Self annihilation), Baqa (Regeneration) and Liqa (Union with God). The words “surrenders himself entirely to Allah” clearly teach that all our powers, organs and whatever belongs to us should be surrendered to God and employed in His service and this state of man is known as Fana (or Death), it is when a man surrenders his wholeself and all his powers to the Will of God and totally resigns himself to His service with a complete extinction of his selfish desires and pleasures, he doubtless brings upon himself a death which the mystics call the stage of Fana.

The next stage that follows, viz., “he is Muhsin” alludes to the stage of Baqa (Regeneration), it is when a man is quickened by the love of God and moves simply in obedience to His will, after a perfect and complete annihilation of self, and after the extinction of all selfish desires, he is granted a second life and enters a second elevated stage of Baqa. “He shall have his reward with his Lord and no fear shall come upon such, nor shall they grieve” gives a promise of reward and alludes to the third stage. The stage of Liqa (Union with God) is the highest stage of knowledge, certainty, trust and love … 2

Now in this stage of Liqa, the highest stage, a man sometimes works things which appear superhuman and are a manifestation of Divine Power. For instance, our lord and master, the Seal of the Prophets, threw a handful of pebbles at the infidels in the Battle of Badr. But this handful of stones had such an extraordinary effect upon the enemy that not a single eye could escape it. All turned blind and were frightened and were seized with panic and it was to this miracle that the holy verse alludes to when “thou didst cast and thou threwst not but it was Allah who threw” (8:18). A human being could not do it, it was the hidden power that did it … 3

Now our object in writing these lines is to show that a man who has reached the stage of Liqa necessarily does some divine deeds in the best moments of this condition, and a person who passes part of his life in close connection with such a man must witness such powerful miracles because in those best moments, the Divine attributes are reflected in him to such an extent that his mercy becomes the mercy of God and his wrath, the wrath of God. And many times he says, without offering a prayer: “Let such and such a thing be” and it is so. He casts an angry look upon a person and the wrath of God is upon him. He casts a kind look upon another and the same is favourably looked upon by God. And as the “So be it” of God always produces the desired results without fail, the “So be it” of such a person in that best moment does not go unfulfilled … 4

It should also be clearly understood that upon the realization of the stage of self-annihilation described as Fana by the mystics and described as Istiqamat (Steadfastness) by the Holy Quran, the stages of Baqa and Liqa which follow Fana mean total forgetfulness of oneself and complete extinction of desire and perfect surrender of will. As soon as this stage is achieved, the stage of Baqa begins and upon its full realization begins the third stage of Liqa. Once the second stage is fully realized, the third stage enters into the very flesh and bones of the spiritual wayfarer and becomes part and parcel of his nature.

He feels every moment as if God Almighty was descending upon his heart. “When ye, blessed wayfarer, feel this state in full within yourself, be happy and thank the Beloved God, because you have reached the highest stage of perfection, the stage of Liqa.” …

But at the same time, it should be remembered that these two last stages of Baqa and Liqa are not in any way acquired, but are God given gifts. Efforts and endeavours can take us only to the state of Fana and no further. The holy journey of all pious people comes to an end at this stage, and the circle of human excellences is complete at this point. And when the pious have attained this, then all at once there blows a gentle breeze of heavenly bliss over them and takes them to the stages of Baqa and Liqa … 5

This high grade light is given to man—the perfect man—was not given to angels, nor to stars, nor to the moon, sun, earth, oceans or rivers. It was not in the precious stones, rubies or emeralds, diamonds or pearls. In short, nothing on this earth or in the heaven really had it. It was found only in the perfect man, perfect and unique. The most devoted, the most perfect, the most great, and glorious example of whom is our master and Patron, Chief of the Prophets, Chief among men—Muhammad, the Elect, on whom be peace and the blessings of God. The supreme light was given to him alone and also to his followers. This is the spiritual station held with dignity, perfection and finesse by our leader, Chief of guide, unlettered, truthful—Muhammad. Our Holy Prophet(sa) is known as the first of the Muslims. Why? Because in his knowledge of all aspects of divinity, he excels all others. In knowledge of mysteries of God, he is the highest, so he is “The first of the Muslims” … 6