Tuhfatun-Nadwah

A Gift for Nadwah

Background

There were two Muslim movements in India, namely, Darul-‘Ulum Deyoband and the Aligarh Movement which were engaged in spreading education among the Muslims of the sub-continent. Another organization known as Nadwatul-Ulama’ was emerging in Lucknow to bring about change in the educational standards. Maulana Shibli Nau‘mani, Maulavi ‘Abdul Haq Ghaznavi, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Nawab Muhsinul Mulk and Nawab Waqarul Mulk were in one way or other associated with it. This movement held its first meeting in Kanpur in April 1894 and then meetings were held subsequently in Lucknow, Baraili and Meerut. In 1901, they planned a similar gathering in Calcutta to which the Promised Messiah(as) was invited. The Promised Messiah(as) sent a letter through Maulavi ‘Abdul Karim to the organisers of the conference but no response was evinced by the organizers. Then, on October 10, 11, 12, 1902, a similar gathering was planned to be held in Amritsar. A week before it, a Maulavi, Hafiz Muhammad Yusuf, issued a leaflet, in which he recalled an assertion of the Promised Messiah(as) and alleged that the Promised Messiah(as) had admitted once verbally that false prophets and impostors, despite their fabrication and machinations, could live long even longer than 23 years (the duration of the life of Prophethood of the Holy Prophet(sa)). This Hafiz further compounded the lie by citing the leaflet of Abu Ishaq Muhammad Din, Qat‘ul-Watin, which had confirmed the alleged assertion of the Promised Messiahs and maintained that impostors and false prophets survive even longer than the period of 23 years.

The Book

The leaflet by Hafiz Muhammad Yusuf prompted the Promised Messiah(as) to write this book, because it was a great slur that an impostor and false prophet should survive a period longer than the life of the Prophethood of the Holy Prophet(sa). This leaflet was a calculated affront to the Holy Prophet(sa), so the Promised Messiah(as) wrote Tuhfatun-Nadwah and rejected the contention of Hafiz Muhammad Yusuf and of the ulema of Nadwah who could not be regarded as authorities on matters of faith. The Promised Messiah(as) declared that the accounts given in Qat‘ul-Watin of false prophets having lived longer were baseless and without foundation, for it was not the Divine practice that a man could survive that long period after the false prophet or impostor had announced his claim and continue to cling to the claim and still continue to survive.

After answering the allegations made in the leaflet by Hafiz Muhammad Yusuf, the Promised Messiah(as) enumerated those signs and arguments which went to strengthen his claim as the Promised Messiah.

Responding to the flyer containing the demand of Hafiz Muhammad Yusuf that the Promised Messiah(as) could only attend the gathering in Amritsar due to be held on October 9, 1902, if he okays the facts given in Qat‘ul-Watin and repent at the gathering. The Promised Messiah(as) stated that he did not regard the people attending the gathering as people of good faith, intentions and are devoid of piety and are not well versed and do not have power of adjudication on matters of Holy Quran. However if some Maulavis in the quest of truth come to Qadian, then I can educate them on these matters.

The Promised Messiah(as) still sent a delegation of Ahmadi scholars to Amritsar, where the delegation came to know that Hafiz Muhammad Yusuf has issued the said flyer without any proper authority.

Specimen of Writing

I have repeatedly affirmed that the revelation that I put forth is certainly and absolutely the word of God, as the Holy Quran and the Torah are the word of God, and I am a zilli (reflective) and buruzi (like) Prophet of God by way of reflection. Every Muslim is bound to obey me in religious matters, and is bound to accept me as the Promised Messiah(as). Everyone to whom my call has reached, though he is a Muslim, and he does not accept me as arbiter and does not believe in me as the Promised Messiah, and does not esteem the revelation that is vouchsafed to me as coming from God, is accountable before heaven, for he rejects that which he was under obligation to accept at its due time. I do not say only that had I been an impostor I would surely have been destroyed, but I affirm that I am truly like Moses and Jesus and David and the Holy Prophet, peace be on him. God has exhibited more than ten thousand signs in my support. The Holy Quran bears witness for me and so does the Holy Prophet, peace be on him.1