Al-Wasiyyat

The Will

Background

Towards the close of 1905, the Promised Messiah(as) had a number of revelations which foretold the Promised Messiah(as) about his approaching end in this world.

On October 18, he saw in vision a new clay vessel containing some clear water at the bottom of it, not more than two or three mouthful of water was left in it. Water means the water of life. The demise of a prophet in a Jama‘at is always more than an earthquake.1

Consoling the Jama‘at about his approaching end, the Promised Messiah(as) said: “It is always the way of God that He manifests His Glory twice. The first time when the prophet comes and then the second time it occurs when the prophet goes away from the scene. Just like the Holy Prophet(sa), when he joined his Creator, the Glory of God was manifested for the second time when Hazrat Abu Bakr took over.”2

The Promised Messiah(as)’s reference to Divine manifestation twice was clearly a tiding about the institution of a regular Khilafat in the Movement. The Promised Messiah(as) said: “That second manifestation can not come till the time I go, and when I go, God will send the second Divine manifestation which will remain with you for ever.”3

The Book

The Promised Messiah(as) was divinely directed to write a book outlining a structure of a permanent system whereby the work of propagation of Islam and dissemination of the divine message as contained in the Holy Quran continues forever.

So, he announced the setting up of Nizam-e-Wasiyyat, an arrangement that is self-sustaining and based on dedication and pledging of one-tenth of a devoted Ahmadi’s income and property which can keep financing the noble mission. In order to qualify for this blessing, he laid down ten strict conditions so that such an Ahmadi can prepare himself or herself in a mould of a pious and God-fearing person. And then he prayed fervently for such persons who had forsaken the world for the sake of God.

He added a supplement to it outlining how an agency to be known as Majlis Kar Pardaz will handle the burial of the Ahmadis who have joined this system in Bahishti Maqbrah (a cemetery of heavenly people).

This system was put in place to ensure that every follower of the Movement makes arrangements for one’s hereafter. In order to do so, apart from doing good, one has to contribute one-tenth of one’s income for financing a self-supporting fund for the propagation of Islam.

He further wrote: “Almighty God wills it that all those who inhabit different parts of the earth, whether it be Europe or Asia, and are right-minded, should be drawn into a community of belief in the Unity of God and gathered (under the banner of) one faith. This is the object for which God has sent me into this world.4

He, therefore, had set aside a piece of his property as his contribution for the graveyard. He prayed to God that He may bless it and make it “Bahishti Maqbara,” a real heavenly abode, and that it might be the final resting place of his followers who are pure in heart, who have in reality preferred their faith to this world and who have, in truth, forsaken the world and have brought about a true and sincere transformation within themselves. He laid down certain conditions for testators:

• Every testator must contribute at least one-tenth of his income towards the fund.

• He must contribute at least one-tenth of the property he leaves behind.

• He must be a pious man who shuns all forbidden courses, unlawful practices, shirk or any other heresy.

• If it is proved to the managing body that an entrant had nothing to contribute but had devoted his life to the cause of Islam and was really a sincere follower, he would be entitled for burial in this graveyard, even without the contribution.

A managing body was also instituted to keep a faithful record of all contributions, the funds, and manage all affairs concerning the graveyard.

Specimen of Writing

Let him who has ears hear what is it that God desires of you. It is that you should become wholly His and should not associate anyone with Him in heaven or in earth. Our God is One Who is living today as He was living before, and Who speaks today as He spoke before, and hears today as He heard before. It is a false notion that in this age He hears but does not speak, indeed, He both hears and speaks. All His attributes are eternal and everlasting. None of His attributes has fallen into disuse or will fall into disuse. He is the One without associate Who has no son and no consort. He is the Peerless One Who has no equal and like Whom no individual is absolutely qualified with any quality, and Whose attributes are not shared by anyone. None of His powers lacks anything. He is near and yet far and He is far and yet near. He can manifest Himself in any shape to those who have experience of visions but He has no body and no shape. He is above all but it cannot be said that there is anyone below Him. He is on His throne, but it cannot be said that He is not on the earth. He combines in Himself all perfect qualities and is a manifestation of all true praise-worthiness. He is the fountainhead of all excellences and combines in Himself all powers. All grace originates with Him and everything returns to Him. He is the Master of all kingdoms and possesses every perfect quality. He is free from every defect and weakness. It belongs to Him alone that all those on earth and in heaven should worship Him. Nothing is beyond His power. All souls and their capacities and all particles and their capacities are His creation. Nothing manifests itself without Him. He manifests Himself through His powers and His signs and we can find Him only through Him. He manifests Himself always to the righteous and shows them His powers. That is how He is recognized and that is how the path is recognized which has His approval.

He sees without physical eyes and hears without physical ears and speaks without a physical tongue. It is His function to bring into being from nothingness. As you see in a dream, He creates a whole world without the agency of any matter and shows as present that which is mortal and nonexistent. Such are all His powers. Foolish is the one who denies His powers and blind is the one who is unaware of their depth. He does everything and can do everything except that which is inconsistent with His dignity or is opposed to His promise. He is one in His Being and His attributes and His actions and His powers. All doors that lead to Him are closed except the one door which has been opened by the Holy Quran.5