(During a walk)
Maulawi Abu Rahmat submitted to the Promised Messiah (as) that the religion of Krishan Ji Maharaj was apparently different from that of the general masses of Hindus of this time as is evident from his own pronouncements.
The Promised Messiah (as) said:
This is factual and correct that people of later times tend to forget the teachings of their elders with the passage of time and modify their true teachings a great deal without any right. With the lapse of time, their real teachings become hidden behind hundreds of curtains and the truth becomes concealed from the eyes of the world. The truth of the matter is indeed that, his religion was totally different from the religion of the Hindus of this time and was based on the true teaching of Oneness of God.
The Promised Messiah (as) then mentioned two of his own revelations. The first is this:
ہے کرشن رُوِدَّر گوپال تیری مہما گیتا میں لکھی گئی ہے۔
O Krishan, Ruddar Gopal, your praise is recorded in the Gita.
And then, concerning the second revelation, the Promised Messiah (as) said that once I received a revelation:
آرىوں كا بادشاہ آىا
The King of the Aryas has come.
The Promised Messiah (as) mentioned another of his dreams:
Once I saw Krishan Ji [in a dream]. He had a dark complexion, a fine nose, and a broad forehead. He stood up and placed his nose against my nose and his forehead against my forehead to fix them together.
The Promised Messiah (as) narrated another incident as follows:
Someone related his dream before Khawaja Baqi Billah and said that he saw a blazing fire with Raja Ramchandar Ji standing at its edge and Krishan Ji right in its middle. One among the audience interpreted the dream by saying that both are in the fire because both are disbelievers; one is a disbeliever of a lesser degree so he is standing at the edge whereas the other is the utmost disbeliever, so he is right in the centre of the fire. Mirza Jan-e-Janan, who was a disciple of Khawaja Sahib, submitted that he disagreed with this interpretation. Khawaja Sahib asked him how he would interpret it. Mirza Jan-e-Janan said that the fire represented the fire of love for Allah; not the fire of Hell. Ramchandar Ji is a salik [seeker] and has not achieved the perfection in love. Therefore, he was seen standing at the edge, while Krishan Ji is majzub [consumed]. He attained perfection in achieving the love of Allah that consumes everything besides Allah. Therefore, he was seen right in its middle.
The Promised Messiah (as) also narrated another incident related to the same subject as follows:
Once a saintly person who was experienced in seeing visions came to Ajodhia. Upon arriving he had laid down in a mosque when he saw a vision wherein Krishan Ji came to him and gave him a gift of seven rupees seeking God’s blessings. The saint was a Muslim, so he refused to accept the money saying, ‘You people are disbelievers and we do not eat your food.’ Krishan Ji said, ‘Do you judge my status and faith by the standards of present-day Hindus? I am not one of them in the least. On the contrary, my religion is the Oneness of God and I am very close to you people.’
Besides this, Ibn Arabi writes in his book that it is mentioned in one hadith that کَانَ فِى الْہِنْدِ نَبِىٌّ أَسْوَدُ اللَّوْنِ اسْمُہٗ کَاہِنُ1 meaning that there was a Prophet in India whose complexion was dark and whose name was Kahin.
Mujaddid Alf Sani Sirhindi has stated that he recognized some graves in India to be those of the Prophets.
It is thus clearly established from all these incidents and testimonies, as well as from the Holy Quran, that there have been Prophets in India as well. Thus, it is said in the Holy Quran that:
اِنْ مِّنْ اُمَّۃٍ اِلَّا خَلَا فِیْہَا نَذِیْرٌ2
Hazrat Krishan, too, was one of those Prophets who were ordained by God Almighty and came from Allah the Exalted to guide the creation of God and establish Tauhid [the Oneness of God]. This clearly shows that Prophets have come among every nation. It is quite another thing that we may not know their names.
مِنْہُمْ مَّنْ قَصَصْنَا عَلَیْکَ وَ مِنْہُمْ مَّنْ لَّمْ نَقْصُصْ عَلَیْکَ3
Owing to the lapse of a lengthy period of time, people forget their teachings and start attributing totally different things to them. Now, take a look at the helpless state of Jesus (as). He acknowledges his own death and considers himself to be a humble servant [of God] who ate and drank like an ordinary human being and was susceptible to human needs and disavows his Divinity. But here we have the Christians thrusting upon him the claim that he is God. The same is the case with Hazrat Imam Husain (ra).
Quite some time ago a person had written that all the Prophets, saints, godly people, and people of all ranks shall have salvation only through the intercession of Hazrat Imam Husain (ra). Look, they had already done away with the Companions of the Holy Prophet (sas). Only the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was left. So now they have done away with him also, that even he would not have salvation, God forbid, without Imam Husain (ra), and even he would not have any recourse besides the intercession of Imam Husain (ra). Look at the extent of their exaggeration!
In short, this is what is done to the pure teachings of Prophets after their passing from this world. What is the Holy Quran—it is Hakam [the Arbiter]! It has laid bare the reality of all previous scriptures.
Maulawi Abu Rahmat submitted, ‘Your Holiness, kindly pray for me. Earlier, I had a different way of life but now that I have appointed it as my obligation to openly disseminate your teachings, even my clan has become adverse to me and is bent upon my persecution. In general, attendance is also poor in my public meetings.’
Upon hearing this the Promised Messiah (as) said:
You should be patient and steadfast. You will see that more people will attend your gatherings than before and all troubles will come to an end. For such difficulties to arise is essential.
Look, no one is valued without being tested. Even in worldly affairs, how much respect is given to those who have succeeded in their examinations. How they are asked what they have succeeded in accomplishing. Similarly, the doors of every kind of comfort and ease, mercy, and grace are opened for those who succeed in divine examination.
Look, it is clearly set out in the Holy Quran:
اَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ اَنْ یُّتْرَکُوْۤا اَنْ یَّقُوْلُوْۤا اٰمَنَّا وَ ہُمْ لَا یُفْتَنُوْنَ4
It is quite easy to say something with the tongue, but to show some accomplishment and succeeding in a divine trial is a great feat.
Consider even my own nascent phase. In the very beginning I did not have even one person with me. Maulawi Muhammad Husain prepared a fatwa [religious verdict] of apostasy against me. He got two to three hundred seals of all the great and acclaimed maulawis of India from Peshawar to Banaras put upon it. And he issued the fatwa that killing us, plundering our property, and snatching our women is all permissible; and that these people are kafirs [disbelievers], akfar [the greatest of disbelievers], zall [misguided], muzill [one who misguides others], and worse even than the Jews and Christians. But look what he was able to achieve! See how God Almighty humiliated him!
Thus, one should strive to become a true believer. Consider the circumstances of the life of the Holy Prophet (sas). What difficulties had to be faced in his time, but what amazing achievements were accomplished by him and his Companions (ra) through their loyalty, sincerity, patience, and steadfastness! Know it for certain that even ten million cannons could not have achieved the feats they accomplished through their faith, sincerity, patience, and steadfastness. Never, ever could they have done so! Consider that he possessed no army nor cannons, nor any soldiers; yet, what wonderful help Allah the Exalted provided, that the most powerful people were continuously vanquished one after another as if they were mere dust and dirt.
It occurred to me that I have been called by the names of Mahdi, Jesus, and Krishna by Allah the Exalted. And it is for the arrival of these three that three great nations are waiting; Muslims for the Mahdi, Christians for the second advent of Jesus, and Hindus for the Avatar Krishna. So this is indeed the Divine wisdom in these names.
Maulawi Abu Rahmat submitted, ‘Huzoor! The meaning of “Krishan” according to their lexicons is the light that illuminates the world slowly and gradually. One who effaces the darkness of ignorance is called ‘Krishna’.”
The Promised Messiah (as) said:
There is the very well-known reference regarding him [Krishna] of having numerous gopis [milk-maids]. I think the truth about it is that the ummah is likened also unto a woman. Thus, the example of this is also found in the Holy Quran, as it says:
ضَرَبَ اللّٰہُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوا امْرَاَتَ فِرْعَوْنَ ...الخ5
This is an extremely fine metaphor of a very subtle nature. The ummah possesses the potential of rectitude and through the connection with a Prophet, great fountains of knowledge, insights, and blessings develop. The sincere interaction between a Prophet and his ummah brings about such results that enable divine blessings and mercy to be absorbed. I believe this is the reality that lies hidden behind the narration regarding Krishna and the milk-maids.
Maulawi Abu Rahmat submitted, ‘The meanings of Gopi are also as follows: Go means ‘earth’ and pi means ‘the one who nurtures’; that is, the disciples of Krishna were pure-natured, kind-hearted people who nurtured and took care of the creatures of Allah.’
The Promised Messiah (as) said:
There is no harm in this either as man has also been likened to the earth, as is mentioned in the Holy Quran:
اِعْلَمُوْۤا اَنَّ اللّٰہَ یُحْیِ الْاَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِہَا6
Maulawi Abu Rahmat then said, ‘It is also possible that Krishan Ji may have disseminated his teachings with the help of women only because their men were usually busy in farming pursuits and lived in jungles and the wilderness and had little time for spreading the religion. The women must indeed have done this work.’
The Promised Messiah (as) said:
I thought once that Krishan Ji appears to have exact resemblance with David (as) in respect of music, dance, congregation of women, and bravery. God knows what all this is.
The Promised Messiah (as) said:
I have entitled my book—which consists of my lecture in Lahore, and a part of which is yet to be completed—Chashma-e-Ma‘rifat [‘Fountain of Cognizance’], because it encompasses matters of profound cognizance, as well as verities and insights.
He further said:
I had written that lecture concisely with the specific audience in mind, and in accord with the rules they had published and the exigencies of the occasion. However, since they did not observe their own published rules and cared naught for their own proclamations, and repeated those same old questions that have been responded to again and again, and did so to torment our hearts, I had to extend the book to answer all the questions by adding an epilogue.
He further said:
The difficulty is that these people have sworn not to read my book. They have covered their eyes with a veil of ignorance, naivety, and prejudice. They do not read any book of mine, do not accept any arguments, and keep raising incessant questions. In this book, I have answered their questions in great detail and if anyone studies it as a sincere seeker of truth, he will find it sufficient.
The Promised Messiah (as) also said in the course of his discourse:
Polygamy is the only issue left in the hands of Aryas these days to spread misapprehensions against Muslims. Due to their own ignorance they are unaware of its wisdom and essence and so they go on raising objections, whereas the present age is proclaiming aloud by its very state of being that polygamy is indeed sorely needed. The Aryas have also felt this need.
In short, the need has been acknowledged by everyone—now there remains the issue as to the way in which we have addressed this need and what course has been devised by the Aryas to satisfy this need. So those two methods are polygamy versus Niyog. Now, you can compare the two practices and see which course is better.7
(Before Zuhr Prayer)8
A letter was presented to the Promised Messiah (as) in which it was written:
To His Holiness the Promised Messiah and the Blessed Mahdi (as) : In March 1900, I took out a life insurance policy for 2,000 rupees. The stipulations were that I would pay the annual premium of 46 rupees till I die; my heirs would receive 2,000 rupees at my death and I would not be eligible to receive this money during my lifetime. I have paid about 600 rupees in premiums to the insurance company so far. If I break this contract now, I am eligible for only one third of this money according to the contract; meaning that I will receive 200 rupees and the remaining 400 rupees would be lost. But since I have pledged at your hand that I shall give precedence to religion over this world, I do not wish to continue to be involved in something that is in contravention to the commandments of God and His Messenger after learning the truth about this issue. You are the Hakam [Arbiter] and Adl [Judge]; therefore, I most humbly request that a verdict be issued as may be appropriate, so I could act accordingly.
In reply to this, the Promised Messiah (as) said:
The form in which the life insurance is being practiced and what is known about it—I do not see any apparent justification for it because it is a [form of] gambling. Although he has spent a substantial sum of money—yet, should he continue, this money would make him commit even more sin. In order to save himself from further sin in his life he should surrender it and take whatever proceeds he can get at this time.
A person wrote to the Promised Messiah (as) that he should make such prayer for him that would definitely be accepted and that it should be about such and such a matter.
The Promised Messiah (as) said:
Send him the reply that it is not the practice of God Almighty that He should accept every single prayer. This has never ever happened since this world came into being. Of course, the prayers of the Elect of God are accepted much more in comparison to others. No one can force his way when it comes to God.9
1 In one narration, this hadith is recorded as follows: کَانَ فِی الْھِنْدِإِسْمُہٗ کَانَ۔ ۔ ۔ ۔ ۔ وَکَانَ أَسْوَدُاللَّوْنِ سَوَادًاشَدِیْدًا، قِیْلَ إِنَّہٗ کَانَ نَبِیًّا Dustur al-‘Ulama’ Jami‘ul-‘Ulum fi Istalahat al-Funun, by Qadi ‘Abd an-Nabi bin ‘Abd ar-Rasul, Juzw 3, p. 81, Babul-Kaf ma‘ al-Alaf, Darul-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah Beirut, Lebanon 2000 [Publisher]
2 There is no people to whom a Warner has not been sent (Surah Fatir, 35:25). [Publisher]
3 Of them are some whom We have mentioned to thee, and of them there are some whom We have not mentioned to thee (Surah al-Mu’min, 40:79). [Publisher]
4 Do men think that they will be left alone because they say, ‘We believe,’ and that they will not be put to trial? (Surah al-‘Ankabut, 29:3) [Publisher]
5 And Allah sets forth for those who believe the example of the wife of Pharaoh … (Surah at-Tahrim, 66:12). [Publisher]
6 Know that Allah quickens the earth after its death (Surah al-Hadid, 57:18). [Publisher]
7 Al-Hakam, vol. 12, no. 17, p. 7–8, dated 6 March 1908
8 The first column on page 9 of al-Hakam, vol. 12, no. 17, dated 6 March 1908, clearly shows that this diary is of 5 March 1908, before Zuhr Prayer. (Compiler)
9 Badr, vol. 7, no. 14, p. 3, dated 9 April 1908