(During a walk)
The Promised Messiah (as) said:
The Shias exaggerate without reason. In confrontations, the Kharijites are the ones who leave them confuted. The fact is that even if any dispute ever occurred among the Companions (ra), it should not be a cause for concern. Disputes and disagreements always occur where people have deep relationships and this is not anything unusual. Allah the Exalted has given His verdict in all such matters by saying:
نَزَعْنَا مَا فِیْ صُدُوْرِہِمْ مِّنْ غِلٍّ اِخْوَانًا عَلٰى سُرُرٍ مُّتَقٰبِلِیْنَ1
Thus, to argue in those matters where God has delivered a verdict is not indicative of possessing faith. If the Shias raise objections against the Companions (ra), the Kharijites raise objections against Hazrat Ali (ra). Thus, it is reported that Hazrat Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, wanted to marry the daughter of Abu Jahl. However, when the Holy Prophet (sas) learned about this, he was very displeased and said it would never be possible for the daughter of the Messenger of God and the daughter of the Enemy of God to be united in one household, and if that is what he still wanted to do, then Fatimah (ra) should be divorced. The Kharijis, in fact, go to the extent of saying that Hazrat Ali (ra) himself—God forbid—deliberately killed Hazrat Fatimah (ra) by poisoning her in order to fulfil this wish of his, and did indeed fulfil this desire.
The wives of the Holy Prophet (sas) have been called the mothers of the believers in the Holy Quran. Thus, it is as if Hazrat Ali (ra) has kept arguing with his ‘mother’ [i.e., Hazrat Aishah] for a long time. Hazrat Hasan (ra) gave up his homeland due to the conflict with Hazrat Mu’awiyah, but Hazrat Ali (ra) did not give up quarrelling with his ‘mother’. Indeed, it is established that Hazrat Ali, may Allah honour and exalt him, had even deferred making the pledge of allegiance with Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) in the very beginning. Then, after reaching his home, something that only God knows caused such a sudden change of heart that he immediately rushed back, wearing just his cap and not waiting even to put on his turban—which he had brought to him later on—to take the pledge of allegiance. It seems that it occurred to him that it was a grave sin and, for this reason, he showed so much haste that he could not wait even to put on his turban. The fact of the matter is that all these issues arise as a result of not pondering over the Holy Quran.
On the issue of the death of Jesus (as), the Promised Messiah (as) said:
The Holy Quran is the authority to judge the disputes between the Christians and the Jews. The real dispute was that based on what was written in the Torah, the one who is put on the cross is not raised spiritually and, thus, is not worthy that the robe of prophethood be conferred upon him by God. On the contrary, he is accursed and condemned. Crucifixion was the punishment of habitual criminals. Therefore, how can one be worthy of being raised spiritually if he died as a result of the punishment meant for habitual criminals?
In short, the Jews only contended that Jesus (as) was not raised spiritually. Even regarding Moses (as) they believed in his spiritual, and not physical, ascension. They were not even thinking about physical ascension. Thus, the truth of the matter is that Muslims and Jews have a common and firm belief that holy men are raised spiritually after their death and this, indeed, is the feature that is worthy of honour. They do not believe in physical ascension, nor do they assign any superiority to it. Thus, the Holy Quran also lays forth this very principle as follows: مُفَتَّحَۃً لَّہُمُ الْاَبْوَابُ2 meaning that God opens the heavenly doors of mercy for those who are righteous and honourable in His estimation and they are raised spiritually after their death.
In contrast to them, the heavenly doors are not opened for those who are evil-doers and distant from God and have not inculcated a relationship of sincerity and devotion with Him, as He says:
لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَہُمْ اَبْوَابُ السَّمَآءِ وَ لَا یَدْخُلُوْنَ الْجَنَّۃَ حَتّٰى یَلِجَ الْجَمَلُ فِیْ سَمِّ الْخِیَاطِ3
In other words, the objection of the Jews, in fact, was that since Jesus (as) was put on the cross, he is accursed and obviously an accursed person cannot be raised spiritually—we seek refuge with Allah [from such an accusation]. It was in response to this very point that the Holy Quran said بَلْ رَّفَعَہُ اللّٰہُ اِلَیْہِ4.
Besides, I may ask if the objection of the Jews was just that Jesus (as) was not raised physically, then what is the answer to this objection given by the Holy Quran, which came to be the judge between these two peoples? Why is it that the Holy Quran did not provide any answer to the real objection of the Jews while laying so much stress on the spiritual ascension [of Jesus]? It said, رَفَعَہُ اللّٰہُ إِلَیْہِ [‘Allah exalted him to Himself’]. Why did it not say, رَفَعَہُ اللّٰہُ إِلَی السَّمَآءِ [‘Allah exalted him to heaven’]? The Arsh [Throne of Allah] is a creation that is hidden beyond hidden, that is as far from the earth as it is from the heavens; indeed, it is just as far from whichever direction it is approached. It is not the case that Allah’s Throne is close to heaven and far from the earth—we seek refuge with Allah [from such a belief]. One who maintains such a belief is accursed. The Arsh is a transcendent station and it is for this reason that God is Omnipresent and Omniscient, as He says: ہُوَ مَعَکُمْ اَیْنَ مَا کُنْتُمْ5 and مَا یَکُوْنُ مِنْ نَّجْوٰى ثَلٰثَۃٍ اِلَّا ہُوَ رَابِعُہُمْ6, and وَ نَحْنُ اَقْرَبُ اِلَیْہِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِیْدِ7.
In short, the real dispute was about his spiritual ascension and him being one granted nearness in the court of the Sovereign [God]. So, Allah the Exalted settled this issue by saying, رَفَعَہُ اللّٰہُ إِلَیْہِ8 . Now, can someone explain how this proves his [physical] ascension to heaven? Is God present in heaven but not on the earth?
Allah the Exalted has settled the matter of Jesus (as) once and for all where the following dialogue is recorded [in the Holy Quran] that:
فَلَمَّا تَوَفَّیْتَنِیْ کُنْتَ اَنْتَ الرَّقِیْبَ عَلَیْہِمْ9
This verse proves two points. One is the death of Jesus (as) and the second, that of his not coming back to this world again because the above conversation will take place on the Day of Judgement. Allah will ask Jesus (as) whether he taught the Christians this idolatrous teaching. Jesus (as) would say, ‘O God! They went astray after my death. I have no knowledge as to what kind of beliefs they adopted after me. I had only taught them Tauhid, [the Oneness of God].’ It is very clear, explicit, and obvious from this question and answer, that Jesus (as) has died and he would not return to this world again. Otherwise, if he had come back to the world and corrected their foul teachings and idolatrous beliefs, broken the cross, and killed the swine—wouldn’t Almighty Allah have chastised him for his blatant lie? Could he tell such a lie on the Day of Judgement in front of God with such audacity and boldness? Absolutely not! Therefore, the only factual and actual truth is that Jesus (as) has died and will not come back to this world again.
The aforementioned is the statement of Allah the Exalted. It was affirmed by the actions of the Holy Prophet (sas). On the night of the Mi’raj [Spiritual Ascension], he saw Jesus (as) sitting next to Yahya (as) [John the Baptist]. It is worth reflecting over what a living person has to do with, or to be with, a dead person. Life and death are opposites. Just as light and darkness cannot come together in one place, in the same way the dead and the living do not have any connection so as to coexist in one place. On the contrary, a separate cabin was needed for Jesus (as).
Further explanation has been provided by Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. While citing the Signs of the Latter Days, they have alluded to a new means of transportation and said, لَیُتْرَکَنَّ الْقِلَاصُ فَلَا یُسْعٰی عَلَیْـھَا10 [‘She-camels will be abandoned, and no one will travel upon them’].
The Holy Quran has provided further clarification by discussing the same subject in the following words:
اِذَا الْعِشَارُ عُطِّلَتْ11
How refreshing and invigorating it is for the Faith to witness the consonance of the Quran and Hadith, and the practical fulfilment of these prophecies after such a long time, when more than thirteen hundred years have lapsed since these prophecies were made! Thus, I have seen in a newspaper that the Sultan of Turkey has given a strict order that the Hijaz Railway must be completed within a year. Glory be to Allah! What a wonderful sight it would be and how refreshing it would be for the Faith when long lines of trains would be seen running instead of the long lines of camels, exactly in accordance with the prophecy.
When this prophecy, which is one powerful and mighty prophecy from among the Signs of the end of times and the advent of the Promised Messiah (as), is being fulfilled, one should believe that the Promised Messiah is also present at this time.
The Promised Messiah (as) said:
A series of earthquakes and plague are visiting like the visits of temporal rulers. Just as temporal rulers redress any disloyalty or disorder they find during their administrative visits, similarly earthquakes and the plague are visiting different parts of the country. It has been heard that in some countries, mountains have fallen as a result of earthquakes and entire cities have been wiped out. The same is the case with the plague. As soon as people become complacent on seeing a little break, and start to advance in sin and heedlessness, God sends the plague again to reprimand and punish them. Therefore, one should not become satisfied and unconcerned. Rather, remain busy in your reformation and occupy yourselves in seeking repentance and forgiveness before some calamity arrives all of a sudden.
The Promised Messiah (as) said:
When God wills to have something done, He gets it done even by grasping the neck. His ways to enforce His will are bewildering. For example, it is reported about a Muslim king who had imprisoned Imam Musa Raza for some reason.
It so happened that one night the King summoned his Prime Minister at midnight and vehemently insisted that he should come in whatever state he was, so much so that he was not even to change his clothes. The Prime Minister rushed to the King—bareheaded and barely clothed—as soon as he received the order and inquired the reason for this urgency and panic. The King related his dream that he had seen a man from Habsha [Ethiopia] come to him who threatened and warned him with an axe-like weapon. His appearance was extremely fearsome and horrifying, and he had told him [the King] to release Imam Musa Raza immediately or he would kill the King, and also to give him [Imam Musa] a thousand gold coins and let him live wherever he desires.
Hence, the King commanded his Prime Minister to go to Imam Musa Raza right away and set him free. Thus, the Prime Minister went to the prison and before he could express his intent, Imam Musa Raza spoke to him and said that he should first hear his own dream. He thus narrated the dream as follows, ‘Allah the Exalted has given me the glad tiding that you shall be released from this prison today even before the morning comes.’ Such are the Signs of the might of God!
The Promised Messiah (as) said:
The course that the Shias have adopted is the path that destroys, God forbid, the entire religion of the Holy Prophet (sas). See the verses:
اِذَا جَآءَ نَصۡرُ اللّٰہِ وَالۡفَتۡحُ ۙ﴿۲﴾ وَرَاَیۡتَ النَّاسَ یَدۡخُلُوۡنَ فِیۡ دِیۡنِ اللّٰہِ اَفۡوَاجًا ۙ﴿۳﴾ 12
This proves clearly that people would enter the Divine religion—that is, Islam—in great abundance and in large numbers and this would transpire in the very lifetime of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Someone should ask them if a mere handful of people can be termed as armies? Was this the net result of such prolonged labour and exhaustive effort exerted by the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him? How sad!
Look, even a single army is not something small, but here Allah the Exalted has used the plural word اَفْوَاجًا [afwajan], meaning that armies upon armies would have entered Islam within the very lifetime of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.
Subscription to the Shia beliefs mandates the very rejection of the Holy Quran itself. They have abandoned the Holy Quran by declaring it to be interpolated and altered. And as for those who caused the Holy Quran to be disseminated, about whom Allah says, رَضِیَ اللّٰہُ عَنْہُمْ وَ رَضُوْا عَنْہُ13 whom He made to inherit the throne of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and whom He declared to be the ones who testified to and fulfilled the prophecies that issued forth from the lips of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him—through whom grand Quranic prophecies were fulfilled, through whom He made Islam inherit the thrones and treasures of Caesar and Khosrow—they abandoned them by calling them traitors, oppressors, hypocrites, and usurpers. This resembles the situation where a pregnant woman—when the days of her pregnancy are complete and the pangs of delivery commence—cries along with her near and dear ones and they worry due to her suffering as it is an uncertain time, and no one knows what the outcome will be; but how out of time and place would it be if someone starts to cry when she has already given birth to a son and has even completed forty days of recovery, resuming her normal health, and the baby is also alive and well?
So this is exactly their condition. Time has passed. The Noble Companions (ra) have passed away, having been bestowed the pleasure of God after ably gracing the throne of Khilafat [Successorship] for their prescribed periods and successfully rendering their respective services, having already received the gardens and the fountains in the Hereafter that were designated for and promised to them. Now, these people raise a hue and cry about how terrible they were—we seek refuge with Allah from such allegations!
What is to be gained by mourning in Muharram [first month in Islamic calendar] in memory of the martyrs of Karbala? One should grieve for one’s own self and should be anxious for its reformation. The biggest worry of a person should be the correction of his own self and arranging provisions for the Hereafter.
Consider what the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, told his daughter, Hazrat Fatimah, may Allah be pleased with her. He said that O Fatimah (ra)! Worry about saving your soul from the Fire. I would be of no use to you.
What can be said of anyone else if this was the condition of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him?14
1 We shall remove whatever of rancour may be in their breasts so that they will become as brothers reclining on couches, facing one another (Surah al-Hijr, 15:48). [Publisher]
2 Surah Sad, 38:51 [Publisher]
3 The gates of heaven will not be opened for them, nor will they enter Heaven until a camel goes through the eye of a needle (Surah al-A‘raf, 7:41). [Publisher]
4 On the contrary, Allah exalted him to Himself (Surah an-Nisa’, 4:159). [Publisher]
5 He is with you wheresoever you may be (Surah al-Hadid, 57:5). [Publisher]
6 There is no secret counsel of three, but He is their fourth (Surah al-Mujadalah, 58:8). [Publisher]
7 We are nearer to him than even his jugular vein (Surah Qaf, 50:17). [Publisher]
8 On the contrary, Allah exalted him to Himself (Surah an-Nisa’, 4:159). [Publisher]
9 But since You did cause me to die, You have been the Watcher over them (Surah al-Ma’idah, 5:118). [Publisher]
10 The present day edition of Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, (Kitab Baqi Musnadul-Mukthirin) has the same wording, whereas in Sahih Muslim (Kitabul-Iman, Bab Nuzul ‘Isa ibn Maryam, Hadith 155), instead of وَلَیُتْرَکُنَّ the word وَلَتُتْرَکَنَّ is recorded. [Publisher]
11 When the she-camels, ten-month pregnant, are abandoned (Surah at-Takwir, 81:5). [Publisher]
12 When the help of Allah comes, and the victory, and you see men entering the religion of Allah in troops (Surah an-Nasr, 110:2–3). [Publisher]
13 Allah is well pleased with them, and they are well pleased with Him (Surah al-Bayyinah, 98:9). [Publisher]
14 Al-Hakam, vol. 12, no. 21, p. 2–3, dated 22 March 1908