Shahadatul-Qur’an

Testimony of the Holy Quran

Background

A certain person, ‘Ata Muhammad by name, asked the Promised Messiah(as) by means of a letter printed in August, 1893, how it could be determined that he was really the Promised Messiah and what evidence there was, if any, of such a Messiah having been promised. The Promised Messiah(as) answered this letter by writing a book entitled Shahadatul-Qur’an.

The Book

The Promised Messiah(as) discussed at length the point raised by ‘Ata Muhammad and he established by quoting authentic hadith that the Promised Messiah was to come at a particular point in time. Secondly, he proceeded to establish the facts from the Holy Quran which had spoken about the coming of the Promised Messiah. Thirdly, he discussed whether the hadith and the verses quoted by him were related to him, and he established that he indeed was the true Promised Messiah.

Concluding his cogent arguments spread over 100 pages, the Promised Messiah(as) said, “If Mian Ata Muhammad Sahib was not still satisfied with his arguments, the easy course open to him would be to publish a poster or tract asserting that he (Hazrat Ahmad) is a liar and an imposter and want from him a sign about me (Ata Muhammad), then, God willing, I would direct my attention and I am sure God, in His majesty, would not let me be overpowered by any opponent, for I am from Him and I have come with His command to regenerate Islam. Upon the publication of this book, ‘Ata Muhammad became silent and did not raise any further objections.1

In this book, the Promised Messiah(as) also announced the postponement of the Jalsa Salana (Annual Gathering) for 1893 on account of unavoidable circumstances. Explaining the aim and object of the Jalsa, the Promised Messiah(as) said that this was organized every year so that his followers had the opportunity of meeting him again and again and thereby witness some of the Divine signs received by him.

He said this Jalsa was not just like other melas (festivals) but an occasion to purify oneself and profit by one’s experiences and that his followers should watch for Divine Signs when they were in his company.

Specimen of Writing

If you look with care you will find that a hadith has seldom mentioned a hadith where no corroboration is found in practice. It is, therefore, not true, as some ignorant ones imagine, that the world has learnt of the hundreds of matters relating to the faith, even fasting and Prayer services, only from the Ahadith compiled by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim and others. Were the Muslims without faith for a century and a half, did they not perform the Prayer services, did they not pay Zakat, did they not perform the Pilgrimage, were they unaware of the Islamic doctrines that are mentioned in the Ahadith? Certainly not.2