1 May 1908

(Before Friday Prayers, meeting some outsiders)

One Who Comes to God Never Perishes

The Promised Messiah (as) said:

I know from experience that these are not the days of felicity and happiness for Islam, but rather, these are days of misfortune for Islam because I see that people have no interest in religious matters. In fact, people have even forgotten God. This is an error on the part of Muslims, which perhaps they will realize at the time of their death rattle. At that time, they will know for certain that, indeed, the warp and woof [essential foundation and base] of all that they had understood was wrong.

Only those who strive shall find. If one’s hard work is entirely for the world and the name of God does not come to mind even so much as a stray thought, and there is neither righteousness nor piety, and yet one remains hopeful of meeting God—this is impossible. Now, finally, the time has come to hand over recompense to those who give preference to the Faith over their worldly concerns. Nothing can be achieved without the will and help of Allah.

Look, the Noble Prophet (sas) had given up the world for the sake of God, but look how God Almighty humbled the world and cast it before him like slaves. The world runs miles away from those who pursue it, but it chases and pursues the one who advances towards God with a sincere heart and pays no attention to the world in the way of God.

Look, there are 400 million people who worship Jesus (as) at this time. They believe in his ‘Divinity’, not just his prophethood. These are all examples of the might of God showing that the one who comes to God is never wasted. He attains faith and the world is also brought before him. One who adores this world may have his way for a few days but, in the end, he will lose this world, and his life in the Hereafter will be ruined as well.

Look, the world similarly cannot be obtained for free. Those who promise the world also expect you to put forth strenuous efforts and they also test you, and you get something only after being successful in the test and by exhibiting good performance in your work. Likewise, if the same effort—albeit in the context of faith—is made in the way of God, its reward is assured. You lose neither the faith nor the world. It is like killing two birds with one stone. Double the reward. Nevertheless, there are but few who benefit from this advice. Man should continue to make supplications and try to effect some change in himself. It may be that Allah the Exalted will grant him the ability.

I am not advocating that a farmer should stop farming, a businessman should stop his business, and a craftsman should stop his craft and sit [idle] like a cripple. On the contrary, I am advising you to exemplify the case of:

لَا تُلْہِیْہِمْ تِجَارَۃٌ وَّ لَا بَیْعٌ عَنْ ذِکْرِ 1

Cultivating a state where the hand is engaged in work while the heart is engaged in [the remembrance of] the Beloved. In short, no matter what work you are involved in—a trader in his trade, a farmer in his farming, or a king ruling from his throne of governance—everyone should keep God as his objective in all his engagements, and may do whatever he desires while keeping His grandeur and awe in his mind, and respecting His commandments and His permissions and prohibitions. Do everything while being fearful of Allah.

Where does Islam teach that you should give up work and sit idle like the handicapped; and, instead of being of service to others, become a burden upon them? Nay! Laziness is a sin. How then could such an individual serve God or His religion? How would he feed the family of his which God has trusted to his care?

So remember that Allah does not wish for you to entirely give up this world. His wish is that:

قَدْ اَفْلَحَ مَنْ زَکّٰىہَا2

Do business, do farming, be employed, be a craftsman, do whatever you want, but restrain your egos from disobeying God, and purify your selves to such an extent that these worldly occupations fail to make you forgetful of God. Then your mundane worldly works will also become as though the fulfilment of your religious duties.

Man has not been created for the world. If the heart is cleansed and one is constantly keen and anxious to somehow please God, then the world also becomes lawful for him. إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّیَّاتِ3 [‘Verily, deeds are (judged) by intentions’].4

(After Friday Prayers)

The Need to Accept the Promised Messiah (as)

It was asked, ‘We believe with sincerity of heart in Allah, His Book—the Holy Quran—and His Messenger Muhammad, the Chosen One (sas) and follow all the tenets such as Prayer and Fasting etc.—then what is the need for us to believe in you as well?’

The Promised Messiah (as) said:

Look, a person who claims to have belief in Allah, His Messenger, and His Book, but does not put into practice the details of their injunctions such as Prayer, Fasting, Hajj [the Pilgrimage], Zakat [almsgiving], righteousness and cleanliness etc., and foregoes all the injunctions ordained for self-purification, for eschewing evil and pursuing rectitude, does not deserve to be called a Muslim. And it cannot be said about him that he is adorned with the ornaments of faith. Similarly, a person who does not accept the Promised Messiah or does not realize the need of accepting him, he, too, is utterly ignorant of the essence of Islam, the scope of prophethood, and the purpose of messengership. He does not deserve to be called a true Muslim, or one who is truly obedient and dutiful to God and His Messenger.

Just as Allah the Exalted has given other injunctions in the Holy Quran through the Holy Prophet (sas), similarly He has most emphatically proclaimed the prophecy of the coming of the last Khalifah in the Latter Days and has called those who do not accept him and turn away from him as transgressors. The only difference in the words of the Holy Quran and the Hadith—which is not a difference [per se] but can be said, in other words, to be the interpretation of the words of the Holy Quran—is that in the Quran the word ‘Khalifah’ has been used, whereas in the Hadith this same last Khalifah has been referred to by the title ‘Promised Messiah’. Thus, what kind of a Muslim would he be who asks what need there is for us to believe in him concerning that person about whose coming the Holy Quran uses the word promise and has, thereby, in a way bestowed upon the raising of this person a sort of grandeur?

Allah the Exalted has extended the time span for the coming of Khulafa [Successors] to the Day of Judgement. Moreover, Islam holds this honour and distinction that for its defence and revival, Mujaddids [Reformers] have come at the head of every century and will continue coming.

You see, Allah the Exalted has likened the Holy Prophet (sas) with Moses (as) as is proven by the word کَمَا [kama—similar to]. Jesus (as) was the last Khalifah in the Mosaic dispensation as he himself said that he was the last brick. Similarly, Khulafa always came and will continue to come for its service and reformation in the dispensation of Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, till the Day of Judgement. And in this way, the last Khalifah [of the dispensation of Muhammad] was named the Promised Messiah by way of similitude [to the Mosaic dispensation] and because of the service he was tasked to carry out.

Yet this is not all; it is not just that he was mentioned in an ordinary manner. On the contrary, He has mentioned the Signs of his coming in detail in all the heavenly scriptures. The Signs of his coming have been given in the Bible, in the New Testament, in the Hadith, and in the Holy Quran itself; and all nations—the Jews, the Christians, and the Muslims—unanimously believe and await his coming. So how can the rejection of such a person be Islam when he has been given such grandeur by Allah the Exalted and whose advent is awaited unanimously by all peoples?

Furthermore, he is an individual of such calibre that Almighty Allah manifested Signs in his support across the heavens and displayed miracles upon the earth. The plague came to support him and the solar and lunar eclipses occurred at their precise appointed time in accordance with the prophecy. So when the heaven shows the Sign in his support and the earth proclaims ‘This is his time’—can such a person be an ordinary individual and would his acceptance or rejection be irrelevant, and would people still remain Muslims and the dear ones of God even after rejecting him? Certainly not!

Know it well that all the Signs of the Promised One (as) have been fulfilled. All manner of evils have polluted the world. The Muslim scholars and many saints have themselves identified this very age to be the period of the advent of the Promised Messiah (as)—that he would come in the fourteenth century [of the Islamic calendar]. In Hijajul-Kiramah as well, it is this very fourteenth century that has been mentioned. No one has gone beyond the fourteenth century. Even the animals dreaded the thirteenth century. And it has been written that now, the fourteenth would be blessed. If someone still entertains any doubt after such an immense degree of collective testimony of saints and the majority of scholars, he should deliberate over the Holy Quran and carefully study the chapter an-Nur.

Look, just as Jesus (as) came fourteen hundred years after Moses (as), similarly, the Promised Messiah has come precisely fourteen hundred years after the Holy Prophet (sas). And just as Jesus (as) was the Khatamul-Khulafa [Seal of the Successors] of the Mosaic dispensation, so will the Promised Messiah (as) be the Khatamul-Khulafa here as well.

Islam was akin to a sick person whose cup of life was all but filled to the brim. Islam was oppressed. The enemies are brutally attacking it from all sides with all their weapons to destroy and annihilate it. Islam had become lifeless during this time and was barely alive due to internal and external attacks. The flame of Islam was about to be blown out and its throat was being slit with great brutality. For what time then was this promise of Allah the Exalted that:

اِنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّکْرَ وَ اِنَّا لَہٗ لَحٰفِظُوْنَ5

Was there any other calamity left that had yet to befall Islam?

Remember forever! The promise of preservation does not only apply to the written word alone. This has been expounded upon in a hadith in which the Holy Prophet (sas) said that a time would come when the Holy Quran would be lifted from the world. A Companion (ra) asked how would it be lifted from the world when the people would still be reciting the Quran? He replied, ‘I considered you to be a wise man but you are very naive. Do the Christians not recite the New Testament? And do the Jews not recite the Torah?’6

What is meant by the lifting of the Holy Quran is that the knowledge of the Holy Quran would disappear and guidance would vanish from the world. People would become deprived of the light and cognizance of the Holy Quran, and no one would act upon it. The people would abandon the path the Quran had come to teach and they would come to abide by their own ambitions and passions. When this state of affairs would prevail, a person from among the descendants of Persia would come and he would bring back the Faith anew, and he would revive faith and the Quran. He would again restore to the world the lost grandeur of the Quran, the forgotten guidance, and the faith that had ascended to the Pleiades. لَوْ کَانَ الْإِیْمَانُ عِنْدَ الثُّرَیَّا لَنَالَہٗ رَجُلٌ مِّنْ أَبْنَآءِ فَارِس [‘If faith had ascended to the Pleiades a man from among the children of Persia will find it’].7

Thus, it is very clearly proven from the Holy Quran and the Hadith of the Holy Prophet (sas) that this ummah has been given the promise of a Khalifah in the Latter Days and his Signs and characteristics have also been told. I hold the claim to be the Promised Messiah (as). Now it is incumbent upon every person who loves God and the Messenger, and who desires to preserve his faith, to ponder whether the claim I have made is true or false. Those who come from God are accompanied by Divine Signs. A mere verbal claim does not merit being accepted.

Among other Signs mentioned in the books of Allah and the Messenger, one is the abandoning of camels as a means of transport. This subject has been discussed in the Holy Quran in the following words:

وَ اِذَا الْعِشَارُ عُطِّلَتْ8

And this subject has been described in the following words in the hadith of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: وَلَیُتْرَکُنَّ الْقِلَاصُ فَلَا یُسْعٰی عَلَیْھَا [‘She-camels will be abandoned, and no one will travel upon them’].

Now, one who ponders should consider that these words, that were spoken by God and His Messenger thirteen hundred years ago, are illustrating the grandeur of those who uttered them by being fulfilled with great glory and majesty in this age. Just look at all the means coming into being to fulfil this prophecy, so much so that at the completion of the Hejaz railway, even the travel between Makkah and Madinah would be by train, instead of camels. She-camels would become useless.

As for the relationship of these prophecies with the Promised Messiah, since the expression ‘Promised Messiah’ has not been mentioned anywhere in the Holy Quran, it should be remembered that I have claimed to be the Khatamul-Khulafa and the promise of the advent of the Khatamul-Khulafa near the Day of Judgement is present in the Holy Quran. Moreover, I was repeatedly informed through Divine revelation that it is, indeed, I who has been called the Promised Messiah (as) by Allah the Exalted, whose advent was promised in the Hadith. Bear in mind that the one who casts the Hadith away like trash, cannot be a believer at all, because a very large part of Islam is such that it would remain incomplete without the help of the Hadith. One who says that he has no need of the Hadith cannot be a believer at all. Such a one would, one day, also have to abandon the Quran.

In short, the person who has been designated the Khatamul-Khulafa in the Holy Quran has been called the Promised Messiah in the Hadith. And, in this way, all the prophecies concerning these two names, indeed, apply to me. Khalifah refers to one who comes afterwards and kamil [perfect] is one who comes after everyone else. And clearly the one who will come near to the Day of Judgement would indeed be after everyone else and, therefore, he indeed would be the more perfect and pre-eminent over all. It is only a difference in choice of words. The Holy Quran has referred to him by the word ‘Khalifah’ and in the Hadith he has been named the ‘Promised Messiah’.

As for the proof of this claim of mine—so, remember well that the proof of my veracity is the very same as has always been for the Prophets and Appointees [of God]—I can show the veracity of my claim by whatsoever argument any person can present to prove the prophethood of the Holy Prophet (sas). Those who come from Allah come to be recognized as true through the testimony of God Himself. Just as a liar makes a claim, so does the one who is true. Both are equal insofar as the making of a claim is concerned, and yet there is a way to set them apart.

Let us suppose that there was, indeed, not even a mention of the Promised Messiah (as) in the Holy Quran nor even in the Hadith—what would have happened then? Even then the truthful one would have been recognized by his Signs.

Look, which earlier scripture mentioned Moses (as)? Can anyone show which scripture had the news and prophecy about Moses (as)? Then how did Moses (as) come to be accepted as a Prophet? Know it well that it is only the fresh testimony of God that can be the proof of veracity [of the claimant]. A mere claim without supporting evidence cannot be the proof of veracity [for the claimant]. On the contrary, the claim that does not have Divine testimony with it is false and is subject to His punishment. God Himself destroys the false claimant and he is not given respite because he fabricates a lie against God and wishes to create confusion between truth and falsehood.

I Have Come To Serve and Rejuvenate This Very Shariah

I have not brought anything new nor have I established a new shariah. I have come to serve and rejuvenate this very Shariah that was brought by the Holy Prophet (sas), and to establish the truth of my claim, the very same Signs on the pattern of prophethood are present. I have mentioned these in my books. I have recently written a new book, Haqiqatul-Wahi [The Philosophy of Divine Revelation]. One can see by reading it how many Signs God Almighty manifested in my support. Are these also shown for the sake of a liar?

Look, some Prophets were accepted to be true on the basis of just one miracle while here thousands of Signs are present. Moreover, any tumult or scepticism of this sort would have been justified if I had claimed [to have brought] a new religion; or if I had issued some new commandment from myself against the Book of Allah; or if I had added or subtracted from the Sunnah of the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, or if I had claimed to have abrogated it; or changed or altered the tenets of Prayer, Fasting or Hajj; but what I proclaim is that anyone who deviates even in the least from the Shariah of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is a kafir [disbeliever].

When I consider one who turns away from following the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, to indeed be a kafir, what would be the status [in my estimation] of the person who claims to have brought some new shariah; or enacts changes or modifications in the Quran or the Sunnah of the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him; or considers any commandment to be abrogated? In my view only such a one is a believer who truly follows the Holy Quran, and believes the Holy Quran to indeed be the Khatamul-Kutub [Seal of the Books], and considers the very Shariah that was brought to the world by the Holy Prophet (sas) to be everlasting and does not make even an iota of change or modification in it. And only such a one can be a firm Muslim who, annihilating himself in following this Shariah, loses himself and dedicates every particle of his being in this path and does not oppose this Shariah in theory or practice.

However, it should not be misunderstood from the Divine revelation that descends upon me that I have claimed some new and Law-bearing prophethood. I have been called a Prophet because of the profusion of the discourse and converse, both in its quantity and in its quality. If someone sitting here has knowledge of Arabic or Hebrew, he would know that the word nabi is derived from the word naba. Naba means giving the news and nabi is the one who gives the news. Thus, the one who, having received a revelation from God Almighty which has mighty prophecies comprising knowledge of the unseen, conveys it to the people, is called a Prophet according to Islamic terminology. Thus, the Holy Quran says, اَنْۢبُِٔوْنِیْ۠ بِاَسْمَآءِ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ9. In reality, the dispute between us is merely semantics.

If my opponents do not forsake righteousness and piety, and abandon prejudice and obstinacy, then they know, and our elders and saints who have preceded us have written that وَ لِلّٰہِ بِأَوْلِیَآءِہٖ مُکَالِمَاتٌ وَمُخَاطِبَاتٌ [‘Allah speaks and converses with His friends’].

Throughout the world there exist not hundreds but indeed thousands and hundreds of thousands who experience true dreams. In fact, sometimes true dreams are experienced without distinction between the righteous and the sinful, by disbelievers and Muslims. Sometimes adulterers and adulteresses, the unclean and the foul also experience true dreams. Then why would one not accept that a believer—who, due to his flawless faith, is more deserving than they—can experience a true dream or visions or revelations? In fact, a believer can experience all these phenomena a great deal more.

Do not think that this takes away from the lustre of the visions and revelations of the righteous and those ordained by God, the Prophets and the Messengers, or that it detracts from their majesty or that it decreases their esteem. Not at all. The fact is that these matters affirm the revelation of prophethood and the discourses and converse of God that are bestowed upon His Prophets and Messengers by Him, and they are a strong argument for their reality.

If the seed of this phenomenon was not found in the people, these sinners, transgressors, and faithless people, would have denied the very existence of wahi [revelation] and ilham [inspiration] and their objection would have been strong. It is for this very reason, therefore, that Allah the Exalted, in His perfect wisdom, has Himself planted the seeds of this phenomenon in people of every category to serve as a witness for the discourses, converse, and prophetic revelation of the Prophets and saints so that man would have no way to escape and would be held guilty before his own conscience.

Continuing Discourse and Converse [Of God] Is the Soul of Islam

As a rule, man starts to entertain doubts about something if he is not provided a sample of it. This is something that is found exclusively in Islam and it is a great proof of the truth of a religion which is not found in any other religion.

Islam alone is the chosen, favoured, and accepted religion of God. For this reason, out of His sheer mercy, He bestowed upon Islam the perfect blessing of [His] eternally continuing discourse and converse in order to safeguard Muslims from stumbling and entertaining doubts. It is common for people to question in their minds that I too am a human being, and this claimant to Divine revelation is also, ultimately, a human being like me, so what is the reason that I do not experience revelation and converse with God while this person does? It is for this reason that, to eliminate such doubts, Allah the Exalted has placed a glimpse of this blessing in every person by way of a sample.

Look, just as a single penny can be an argument in favour of the possible existence of one to two hundred thousand pennies, and just as one rupee can be an argument in favour of the existence of a treasure of ten or twenty million rupees; similarly, a true dream can serve as an argument in favour of revelation. True dreams have been bestowed upon human nature as an illustration so that one may believe, from this rudimentary experience, that the most sublime form of this bounty does exist. If an ordinary person or even an ignoble person can have a dream, then why is it not possible for a perfect, pure, and pious person of the highest calibre to experience the most refined form of dream which is referred to as revelation, for a true dream is just a minute fraction of the most wonderful excellences?

Remember this well, that the continuation of discourse and converse [with God] is the soul of Islam. If Islam did not have this honour, then—like other religions—it, too, would have been a dead religion. Understand this point very well that if Islam had also been devoid of this blessing and grace of Allah, then certainly there would have been no reason for its eminence. This is the special grace of God that He has continued to send such living examples in Islam at the head of every century, and has, thereby, continued to prove to the world that Islam is a living religion.

There was a time when Islam was such a religion that its renunciation by a single person caused people to imagine that the world had come to an end, but now, it is that same Islam, yet hundreds of thousands have renounced it and became faithless. A concerted effort was made to annihilate Islam through internal and external assaults. Islam was defamed; it was trampled and crushed underfoot. Being ignorant of the essence of the Faith, those claiming to be Muslim are themselves proving to be the enemy of the Faith.

Now, tell me what other misguidance and deviation remains that is now being awaited? Just read the books of Reverend Pfander from among the Christians and see for yourself. He writes that there is not a single prophecy in the religion of Islam that was made nor is there any that was fulfilled. He declares that the prophecy of:

الٓـمّٓ ۚ﴿۲﴾ غُلِبَتِ الرُّوۡمُ ۙ﴿۳﴾ 10

was guesswork and deception, and alleges that the Holy Prophet (sas) had—God forbid—framed this estimation from current events and thereby conceived the prediction. Besides this, there are hundreds of other books and periodicals that have been written against Islam. No Muslim can stand before a Christian and no one can give a crushing reply to the enemies of Islam. If Islam and the life of Islam have come to rest solely upon the tales and fables from the past, then know that Islam has no chance, neither today nor tomorrow.

Know it well that God Almighty can still manifest ever fresh Signs to help Islam just as He helped Islam in the beginning and continued to do so ever since. He can create a furqan [what sets truth apart from falsehood] for every believer provided he is a believer.

But alas! Such are the so-called scholars and supporters of this serene, solid religion, who are themselves announcing that there is no one in Islam who can produce a Sign or a miracle. For instance, Maulawi Muhammad Husain himself admitted in the Conference of Religions, where the followers of all religions were gathered, that it was a pity that Islam did not have people who could show Signs in the present times. In other words, he himself admitted that even his religion was dead like other religions and no longer enjoys the Signs that are the hallmarks of life.

Now think about it. Is this where honour lies for Islam? Nay! What can be a greater affront than to concede that Islam is devoid of people with whom God has discourse and converse, and who have mighty Signs comprising news of the unseen accompanying them to prove their veracity? Remember well that if—God forbid!—such an age comes when these blessing would no longer be found in Islam, that Islam would then have died like other religions, for how could it be living if it lacked the essential sign of life?

Look, after all, the Brahmus also believe in لَآإِلٰہَ إِلَّااللّٰہُ [‘There is no one worthy of worship except Allah’]. If they were to ask you what additional capability and particular advantage you gained from believing in مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُوْلُ اللّٰہِ [‘Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah’], what would be your reply?

A Muslim needs to seize hold of such a powerful argument and adopt such a principle that would enable him to prevail over others.

And so if what you say is indeed true, then tell me what is the point of distinction between you and others? The Brahmus are also convinced of Tauhid [the Oneness of God]. Christians, too, have regard for the concept of Tauhid. The Aryas also say they are in favour of Tauhid. Jews are also muwahhid [believers in the Oneness of God]. I wrote to a Jewish scholar and asked him about his stance with regard to Tauhid. He replied that they believe in Tauhid and their God is the same as the God of the Holy Quran. Now, this point is worth pondering over and understanding, that if these people also claim Tauhid, then what is unique about Muslims?

Miracles That Distinguish Between Truth and Falsehood

As for the abstruse and obscure discussions, they are extremely destructive. Has anyone ever been convinced by debates? No.

Look, Lekh Ram [an Arya religious leader] had a confrontation with me. He had made a prophecy about me that I would die within three years. I, having been informed by God, made a prophecy about him that he would be killed by murder within six years.

Open Lekh Ram’s book, Khabt-e-Ahmadiyyah, and see how he had supplicated to his Parmeshwar [God] with great humility and diffidence, tearfully and crying. And he petitioned God for a decision, help and support for the truthful and death and destruction for the liar so that a distinction be drawn between truth and falsehood, and so that it may be apparent to the world as to which path—the religion of Islam or the Arya faith—is dear and acceptable to God and which stands accursed. And the whole world knows what the verdict was at the end, as to who was helped by God and who died in despair. And in this way was it was settled once and for all, between the truthful and the liar, between Islam and the Arya faith.11

These are the Signs of God and these are the means of differentiating. What can be achieved by dry arguments! Has anyone ever seen one make his opponent surrender as the result of a debate?

Take Khabt-e-Ahmadiyyah on the one hand, and take my books in which this prophecy is recorded in great detail on the other. Then compare and see which is the speech of God and which is that of Satan. If my pronouncement had not been from God and with the command of God, was it not possible that I could indeed have died and he could have lived as was expected from the obvious circumstances? I was older than him in age and then I was suffering from illnesses, while on the other side, he was strong, robust, and healthy.

Nevertheless, not only this, but also everyone else beside him—whosoever undertook a mubahalah [prayer duel] against me—was himself humiliated, killed. Ghulam Dastagir of Kasur and Muhy-ud-Din of Lakhookay—these people did mubahalah and placed an eternal seal upon my veracity by perishing themselves. Maulawi Chiragh Din of Jammu prophesied about me that I would die of the plague and waged the mubahalah, but look, he himself died of plague. There was one Faqir Mirza. He had also announced that Mirza [that is, I] would die in the month of Ramadan and that he had been informed of this news from the Throne of God. When finally, that month of Ramadan came, he was the one who died. Babu Ilahi Bakhsh had also made a prophecy in his book that I would die of plague. You probably know how he died!

Now, tell me what else is a miracle? Dowie, who was sitting on the other side of the oceans, came against me. I prophesied, after being informed by God, of his sorrowful death. Soon thereafter, signs of his misfortune started to manifest, and ultimately he died having been paralyzed and having seen many miseries and humiliations. In short, if a book were to be prepared of all the Signs, I am sure it would have fifty juzw.12 Look, Abdullah Atham is, indeed, not there anymore.

People say, ‘Show a new miracle for us.’ Have the Signs of God become stale and become useless that they are rejected and Signs of their own liking are demanded? God is not subservient to anyone and does not follow the will of anyone. He is showing Signs, but according to His own will. Do these Signs not satisfy, that more are demanded?

In short, the Promised One of the Latter Days has been designated Khalifah in the Holy Quran and he has been called the Messiah (as) in the Hadith of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Thus, Allah the Exalted has also given me two names in my book which was published twenty-six years ago and is present in the hands of friend and foe.

Thus, it has been said in one of my revelations:

إِنِّیۡ جَاعِلٌ فِی الۡأَرۡضِ خَلِیۡفَۃً

[I am about to place a Khalifah in the earth.]

And in another revelation it is said:

أَلۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰہِ الَّذِیۡ جَعَلَکَ الْمَسِیْحَ ابۡنَ مَرۡیَمَ

[All praise belongs to the Allah who has made you Masih Ibn-e-Maryam (the Messiah, Son of Mary).]

Thus, I am verily the one who has been so named by Allah the Exalted in accordance with the Hadith and the Holy Quran, and I am verily the one who has been appointed as the Promised One (as) .

As for the Messiah of Nazareth, he has undoubtedly died and his death has been repeatedly mentioned in the Holy Quran in the most emphatic terms. There is no way for him to come back to life now. How foolish and ignorant it is to wait for him even after Allah the Exalted has placed another in his stead! What I am really saying is that those who argue in this matter and say that they should be given the Signs that they ask for, look—hundreds of such Prophets have also come about whom there were no prophecies in any earlier scripture.

The truth of the matter is that a true Prophet is accompanied by the awe-inspiring presence of God. And the one who comes from God, of necessity, has the banner of Divine Signs and help with him. You see, an opponent can create many excuses for not accepting the miracles mentioned in the Bible, the New Testament, the Quran, or Hadith. He can accuse them of having been modified or altered or he can interpret them in a different way focusing on a different aspect. Therefore, if the decision has to depend—and be entirely based on—past events, then this can present great difficulties, but Allah the Exalted does not at all desire that truth and falsehood be confused and that truth remain suspect upon the people of the world. That is why it is His practice that He always manifests the truth with new and fresh Signs.

Accordingly, in this age as well, when God sent me as His appointee and named me the Promised Messiah and the Khatamul-Khulafa [Seal of the Successors], He also said, together with this:

قُلْ عِنْدِی شَہَادَۃٌ مِّنَ اللّٰہِ فَہَلْ أنْتُمْ مُّسْلِمُونَ … الخ

[Say: ‘I have with me proof from Allah, then will you accept it or not?’]

Meaning that, He also bestowed His testimony and witness at the same time. Even at this time, I have the testimony of God with me. I am always prepared to answer any objection that is made on the pattern of Prophets and is based on the Quran and Hadith. Every claimant is treated in the same way. Evidence for the veracity of his claim is demanded. I am, therefore, ever ready for this test provided it is on the pattern of prophethood.

God knows what is there in these tales of the past that these people do not accept all the new and fresh Signs and, instead, go after the old tales. Someone should ask them what they get out of these tales. The tales the Jews have are far greater than yours. Would you accept them?

Every nation has an abundance of these stories but these dry tales cannot be of any benefit to strengthening faith and refreshing the soul. The belief that is based on tales is quite feeble. The ultimate punishment for those who do not accept the new and fresh Signs and the testimony of God Almighty is that they are condemned to the slavery of these tales and fables.

The True Objective of Khulafa and Reformers

It was asked, ‘What is the purpose of the advent of a Khalifah?’

The Promised Messiah (as) replied:

‘Reformation.’

Look, this human race started with Hazrat Adam (as). After an extended time, when the practical conduct of human beings deteriorated and man—having forgotten the true purpose of life and the real objective of Divine scripture—fell away from the path of righteousness, Allah the Exalted, out of His sheer mercy, guided the world and brought it out from the pit of misguidance through a Messenger and Appointee. The glorious majesty [of God] showed its lustre and the light of cognizance [of God] was established in the world like a brilliant lamp. Faith was transformed into a brilliant and luminous faith.

In short, this has been the practice of Allah the Exalted since eternity, that after the passage of some time people forget the teachings of an earlier Prophet and thereby lose the path of rectitude, the wherewithal of faith, and the light of Divine cognizance. A perilous darkness of misguidance, error, vice, and transgression encompasses the world from all four sides. It is then that the attributes of Allah the Exalted are roused and the name of God, His Tauhid [the Oneness of God], and His sublime excellences are made known anew in the world through a great man of extraordinary rank. Clear proofs of the existence of God Almighty are thus provided through thousands of Signs and it so happens that the cognizance of God, righteousness, and piety—that had been lost—become established in the world and a grand revolution takes place. In short, this Movement of mine has been established in accordance with this ancient practice of God.

Remember well that it is indeed faith that recognizes faith and it is with light that light can be identified. The sun is indeed present in the world, but what benefit can an individual whose eyes lack the light of vision draw from the sun? It is most perilous to casually assert that there is no need for an Imam or a Reformer.

Verily I say that there are some great hardships and ravines immensely difficult to traverse on the path to find God Almighty. Faith does not merely mean reciting the Kalimah لَآ إِلٰہَ إِلَّا اللّٰہُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُوْلُ اللّٰہِ [‘There is no one worthy of worship except Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah’] with the tongue. Faith is a very exquisite and profound mystery. It refers to a belief that dispels the egoistic passions from man and engenders a state within him that incinerates sin. The condition of those who achieve the true light of faith and real understanding becomes something quite unique. They are not like the ordinary people of the world. They are distinct from the rest. To become satisfied and smug that one has now become a believer and has mastered all levels of faith merely by giving up an odd sin, is but wishful thinking.

Look, human nature is indeed such that it does not always remain in one state. There is no reason to become satisfied until it is established, through long experience and perseverance, that you have really now made God your first preference and your ability to ward off sins has become permanent and you have been granted nafs-e-mutma’innah [the soul at rest] after having being rescued from nafs-e-ammarah [the self that incites to evil] and nafs-e-lawwamah [the self-reproaching self] and you have achieved genuine piety in your practices.

Different Levels of Shunning Evil and Pursuing Good

Look, Allah the Exalted says:

قَدْ اَفْلَحَ مَنْ تَزَکّٰى13

Only he finds success who is able to develop comprehensive piety and taqwa [fear of God] and purity in himself and does not ever experience any bouts of commission of sins and disobedience. When a person has excelled both in casting away evil and pursuit of virtue, only then can he achieve success. Faith is not such an easy matter. It is not possible to achieve true faith until a man brings about a death upon his self.

Look, there are only two hallmarks of faith. The first stage is that man should abandon sin and should be able to achieve a state [of mind] in which he considers commission of a sin to be akin to throwing himself into a fire or putting his finger into the mouth of black snake or drinking from the cup of some lethal poison. You should also keep in mind that mere abstinence from evil is not virtue. Virtue lies in pursuit of good along with abstinence from evil. When a person has progressed to this level in his abstinence from sin, he should then perform righteous deeds earnestly in the footsteps of the Holy Prophet (sas) as is the intent of God Almighty. No constraint should develop in his mind. And he should become capable of doing good with an open heart.

Look, some people are inherently such that they do not have the power and ability to commit certain kinds of sins. Can a person, who is impotent boast that he does not commit adultery? Or can one who barely affords a loaf of bread worth a few cents, boast that he does not drink wine? Or can a person who is old, weak, and helpless and is in a wretched and abject state, boast that he always shows patience, self-restraint, and forbearance, and does not confront people and forgives them? Thus, some people are just intrinsically incapable of committing certain sins.

It is quite possible that there might be some simpletons who have not committed any sin in their entire lifetime. Therefore, just giving up sin is not the only requisite of virtue. Pursuit of good is also a noble component. No one can be perfect until he drinks both kinds of elixirs. In the chapter ad-Dahr [of the Holy Quran] Allah the Exalted has mentioned that one elixir is kafuri [of camphor] and the second elixir is of zanjabil [dry ginger]. The chosen and dear ones [of God] are given both elixirs to drink. By drinking the kafuri elixir, the heart of the person is cooled and the faculties to commit sin are calmed down. Camphor has the ability to neutralize the foul matter. The faculties to commit sin get totally suppressed in those who are given the kafuri elixir to drink and they are no longer able to commit sin. They experience a kind of calm that is called shanti. A heavenly light descends like water upon them that washes off all the impurities of their heart, and all the contacts of carnal life are severed from them, and the inferno of the fire of sin cools off once for all.

But remember, this alone is not virtue and distinction. I recall the incident of someone. He was invited by someone to a feast. After having fed him the meal, the host, according to the custom, apologized for not doing enough. The guest was such a hot-headed person that he became very angry upon hearing this apology of the host, and said: ‘Do you intend to put me under an obligation to you by saying this? You have not done a favour to me. Rather, I have done a great favour to you.’

The host again expressed his gratitude and implored him to continue. The guest said, ‘When you were busy with your hospitality and were totally unmindful of me, I was alone here, and I could have set your house on fire. How much loss would you have suffered? So, I have done a favour to you and not vice versa.’

This is only an illustration of not committing evil, but know it for certain that no one can present this kind of example before God Almighty. There, you will find the reward for what you earned. Allah the Exalted has likened abstinence from sin with drinking the kafuri elixir.

The second stage after this is that man be made to drink the zanjabili elixir. The word zanjabil denotes dry ginger. It is a compound word derived from zana and jabal. The effect of ginger is that it increases natural vigour. The literal meaning of this word is to climb a mountain. The implication is that just as the arduous task of mountain climbing is made easy by the use of this tonic, similarly, it is very difficult to climb the mountain of virtue, but it becomes easy with the spiritual elixir of zanjabil.

To carry out pure deeds sincerely and meritoriously, solely for the sake of Allah, is also a mountain and like a ravine that is very difficult to traverse. Not everyone’s foot can reach it.

Look, in worldly matters there is an obvious outcome that is in mind, and effort is made for a specific matter. One works hard keeping a specific purpose and objective in mind. How hard one tries to succeed! What great hardships are endured to achieve respect and rank so much so that sometimes one becomes insane and crazy due to these efforts, and at times one gets sick and suffers from such ailments as ulceration of the lungs and emaciation, etc.

When the ravines of worldly trails are so arduous, imagine how much effort and hard work is needed to cross the ravines of religious and spiritual objectives whose outcomes are still behind a veil of the unseen, and whose very existence or non-existence can be elusive to some sceptic minds. To imagine that we can reach God by the blow of one breath, and we can be purified merely by verbal acknowledgement, is the idea of those who have not heard or seen reformation.

The Stages of Purification Are Very Distant

Remember that the stages of purification are very distant and beyond such conjectures. To achieve purity and truly save one’s self from minor and major sins is the achievement of those who constantly keep God in the forefront of their eyes. Only they can be like the angels.

Look, if you stand a goat before a lion, it would forget even about eating and drinking, let alone that it should stray into the fields and eat out of the crops grown by people with hard labour and great efforts. So the same is the case of man. If he is convinced that he is seeing God or, at the least, that God is watching him, then how would it be possible for him to commit sin? Of course not! This is a natural rule that when one is convinced and has definitive knowledge that to put one’s foot at a certain spot would result in death—would he do it? Or would he insert his finger in a hole which has a black snake in it and he has himself seen it? Or can he venture into a jungle without any arms where he knows that a bloodthirsty lion roams? Of course not!

Thus, it is human nature that he avoids and stays away from the place if he is convinced of its peril. The essence of faith is elusive and has not been understood until his cognizance of God reaches this level and until he gets convinced that sin and disobedience of God is a consuming fire or that it is a lethal poison. Faith is incomplete without such perfect conviction and understanding. What use is faith and what can be its benefit if it has no impact on his actions or which cannot produce even a trivial change in the condition of man!

Those who think they can continue to spend life comfortably in the pursuit of worldly affairs and still find God and can be purified as well, without any effort or struggle, are totally mistaken. It is the collective verdict of all Prophets, saints, and holy men that it is the prerogative of God to purify and it is absolutely essential and necessary to follow the footsteps of the Holy Prophet (sas) in order to absorb this blessing of God, as He says:

قُلْ اِنْ کُنْتُمْ تُحِبُّوْنَ اللّٰہَ فَاتَّبِعُوْنِیْ۠ یُحْبِبْکُمُ اللّٰہُ14

The sun is present in this world but an eye that can see is also required. The law of nature created by God Almighty is not absurd or useless. The means that God has made to achieve a particular thing must needs be followed in order to attain those results. Ears are created by God to hear but they cannot see. Eyes, which have been created to see, cannot serve the purpose of hearing. Thus, how can one succeed if he stays away from the path that Allah the Exalted has defined for attaining the bounty of His blessings? True purity and piety is attained by following the Holy Prophet (sas), because God has Himself said that if you wish to become the beloved ones of God, then follow the path of the Messengers (as) . Thus, those people who question what need there is for any Prophet or Messenger, seek, as if, to refute the law of nature set by Allah the Exalted.

God Almighty says that you cannot become purified until I purify someone; you are all blind except the one I give eyes to; you are all dead except the one I give life to. Thus, man should always remain engaged in supplications and develop a true desire and anxious eagerness within himself to bring about a pure change within himself and he should develop a thirst for the love of God within himself so that the beneficence of God then also helps him and lifts him through a manifestation of His Power.

Man should annihilate himself in search of God and in seeking His pleasure so that God may then bring him back to life and have him partake of the elixir of Divine communion. If a person shows haste or does not show adequate regard for God, or manifests common heedlessness, then remember that God too is غَنِیٌّ عَنِ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ [Independent of all creatures]. Is there anyone who can abrogate the Divine law that He has established to attain to His blessing—that those who hope to achieve His blessing must enter through this door while petitioning with humility? Only then will their wishes come to fruition; otherwise, if they were to wander lost all their lives, apart from this true path (that of following the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), they would never ever reach their desired destination.

God has informed of a path. He who does not follow it will perish, but people fail to understand despite all the attempts to make them understand and show heedlessness. The most I expect from them is that they try the path that I invite them to, and to see whether what I tell them is true or false. God is arguing on my behalf and, up till today, He has also shown thousands of Signs in my support. Who has not seen some Sign or other of mine? Recently, a Christian visited me from America and acknowledged that Dowie, indeed, died exactly according to the purport of your prophecy, albeit he himself was bad.

Not just Dowie, there are thousands of brilliant and mighty Signs. God Almighty is, after all, not subservient to anyone. He does what He pleases—revive the dead or kill the living.

In short, you spend your lives, wealth, health, and time in the pursuit of worldly matters. The Faith has, after all, the right that some time, life, and wealth be spent for its sake as well. You lived in England for three and a half years. Forget about the three, stay here with me for just the half year and then see for yourself how much beneficial increase there is in your knowledge.

The Meaning of Khatamun-Nabiyyin

A question was asked, ‘What is meant by Khatamun-Nabiyyin?’

The Promised Messiah (as) said:

It means that no law-bearing Prophet would come after the Holy Prophet (sas), and that no Prophet can come who does not have the seal of the Holy Prophet (sas) with him.

Hazrat Ibn Arabi, the Chief of the Sufis, says that cessation of prophethood and death of Islam are one and the same thing. Look, in the times of Moses (as), even women received revelation [from Allah]. Thus, the mother of Moses (as) herself spoke with God. What type of a religion is it concerning which it is said that its blessings and beneficence lie in the past and not in the future?

If God still hears the way He used to hear in the earlier times, and He sees in the way He used to see beforehand, then what is the reason that His ability to speak has now disappeared while it was present in the earlier times together with His ability to hear and see? If this is so, is there not the danger that the ability of God Almighty to hear and see might also be suspended at some point in time?

Woe to such obscene notions! Just as God used to communicate and talk with all the Prophets before, He continues to do so even now. I myself am available as proof of this. Know it for certain that God speaks just as He hears and sees. Unless the converse and discourse of God Almighty is acknowledged to exist in Islam forever, Islam becomes lifeless and it can never attain any honour, and Islam also becomes a dead religion without any blessing and beneficence like all the other religions.

If you fail to understand this today at this moment, you will come to understand it at a later time. Without accepting this, Islam cannot survive at all and you too have no option but to accept this. If one is heedless by nature, then no one can correct that, but if one’s nature is sound, he will come this way drawn uncontrollably at some point in time.

A question was asked, ‘Can there be multiple Prophets at one time?’

The Promised Messiah (as) said:

Yes. It is possible to have even a thousand at one time, but what is needed is proof and evidence for their truth. I don’t deny this.

Is This the Last Century?

A question was asked, ‘Is this the last century?’

The Promised Messiah (as) said:

This is known only to God. He is Omnipotent and can bring an end to the entire world with a single earthquake. The truth is that man thinks of such questions even in times of ease and happiness, but if even a minor difficulty is encountered, or if an earthquake were to strike right now and the buildings begin to shake, people would immediately think that the Day of Judgement has arrived and this is the hour of the end of the world, and they would believe in God with a sincere heart. However, when peace returns, it is just such questions that come to the minds of the people.

The Promised Messiah (as) said:

Mir Muhammad Ismail shared an incident related to the 4 April 1905 earthquake, that there was an atheist who did not believe in the existence of God, but when the earthquake struck, he began to chant ‘Ram, Ram!’ [‘O God, O God!’]. Once that moment passed, he was asked what all that chanting of Ram, Ram! was about when he did not believe in God? He replied embarrassingly, ‘Oh, I made a mistake. I couldn’t think straight.’

In short, if God so wishes, He can destroy [all] with just one earthquake. Nothing is impossible before God. Even now, God has informed me of an earthquake, that it will come and will come suddenly بَغْتَۃً—everyone will be busy with their respective work without any worries. Philosophical thoughts also come to mind in times of comfort. When a calamity befalls, everything is forgotten.

The earthquake that struck on 4th April—I had foretold its coming as well. And this plague that has wreaked havoc throughout the world—I had also informed about it beforehand. I had published it in my books and public announcements. It was not just word of mouth. Thus, it appeared exactly as prophesied but God is not done yet. He has decided to warn the world and will not stop until, with powerful assaults, He compels the world to concede. For me, every night is new. Only God knows what is about to happen and what all is going to happen. One should always remain fearful and worried and should continue to supplicate.15