Lujjatun-Nur

An Ocean of Light

Background

Hazrat Jalal-ud-Din Shams(ra) says in his introduction to the book that the Promised Messiah(as) wrote this book in Arabic in order to take his message to the pious, noble clergy and scholars living in the Arab countries. This book was motivated by a vision that the Promised Messiah(as) had, in which he was informed that pious and righteous people of these countries would believe in him and would pray for him and God will bestow so much blessings on him that the Kings and Emperors would seek blessings from his garments. The Promised Messiah(as) started writing this book in 1900. It appears that the intention of the Promised Messiah(as) was to write many more chapters but then it seemed his attention was diverted elsewhere.

In the beginning of this book, he briefly described his ancestry and then he advanced arguments in support of his claim as the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, and how he was blessed with revelations.

Stating the differences between nations and various religions, he drew a sad picture of the decline of Islam and how differences among Muslim scholars and saints have caused harm to Islam and in the end he gave the glad tidings that the Christian clergy will meet their defeat at his hand.

Now those attacking Islam have lost hope and by way of acknowledging the divine blessings he stated all the characteristics of a divine and saint are embedded in him. The Promised Messiah(as) described the divine blessings in the following words: “God, in His majesty, has granted me all favours and loaded me with all the spiritual and worldly wealth. Often a man while counting the favours becomes pensive that he had no son, but I never entertained this sadness, for God in His majesty has granted me sons.”1

On October 4, 1899, the Promised Messiah(as) proposed to send a deputation of three men to Afghanistan, Nasibain Karbala and the Laghman mountains to make further research with regard to the travels of Jesus in these areas. Mirza Khuda Bakhsh of Jhang, Maulavi Qutbuddin and Mian Jamal Din of Sekhwan were selected for the expedition. A meeting was called on November 12, 1899 to say farewell to the party and Hazrat Maulavi Hakim Nur-ud-Din and Maulavi ‘Abdul Karim made speeches. Sardar Sundar Singh read a paper giving the reasons why he joined Ahmadiyyat and changed his name to Fadl Haq.

The Promised Messiah(as) wrote the book with the idea of giving copies of the book to an expedition who could distribute it among the people of the countries through which they would pass. However, for various reasons this expedition could not materialize.

The book is in Arabic and mainly addressed to the people in Syria, Palestine, Iraq and Khurasan. It gives an account of the family of the Promised Messiah(as) and also about his movement and his claim. The book was also prompted by the revelation which foretold that pious people and scholars of various countries would join the movement.

The Promised Messiah(as) writes: “My Lord had revealed to me and promised me that He will help me till my message reaches the Easts and Wests of the earth. The oceans of truth will be stirred till the people look with wonder on the bubbles riding upon its waves.”2

The Promised Messiah(as) made it clear repeatedly in the course of his books that wherever he had used strong language or strong expressions, he had in mind only such persons of perverted nature, who persistently indulge in abusive language. The Promised Messiah(as) says: “God forbids that I should ever insult the gentlemanly and the fair-minded among my opponents, no matter whether they be from among the Muslims, or the Christians or Aryas. Indeed, whenever I used strong expression I have used only for those wicked persons, who are notorious in indulging in abusive language. I always speak well of others and accord them due respect and regard them as friends and brothers.”3

Specimen of Writing

I saw in a dream a group of sincere believers and just and righteous kings some of whom belonged to India, some to Arabia, some to Iran and some to Syria, some to Turkey and some to other regions of which I am not aware and God revealed to me that they will affirm my righteousness and will believe in me and will call down blessings upon me and will pray for me. God said to me: I shall bestow great blessings upon thee, so much so that kings will seek blessings from thy garments and will be included amongst the sincere followers. This is the vision that I saw and this is the revelation that was vouchsafed to me by God the All Knowing.4