2 May 1908

(Before Zuhr Prayers in Lahore)

Striving in Search of Truth Is Incumbent Upon Us

A [university] graduate came to meet the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, and requested prayers that Allah the Exalted enable him to recognize the truth of the Promised Messiah (as) so that he should not be left deprived of this blessing.

The Promised Messiah (as) said:

Although everything that happens occurs only as the result of the grace of God, it is still incumbent upon man to make an effort as is clearly ordained by the Holy Quran:

لَیْسَ لِلْاِنْسَانِ اِلَّا مَا سَعٰى1

Meaning that a man benefits from the blessings [in proportion] to his effort.

At another place it is said:

وَالَّذِیْنَ جَاہَدُوْا فِیْنَا لَنَہْدِیَنَّہُمْ سُبُلَنَا2

Meaning, those who strive with passion and yearning to find God through God—their effort and hard work is not wasted, and they are most certainly shown the right path and are bestowed guidance. One who takes a step toward God with honesty and sincere intention, God advances towards him to guide him to the right path. It is incumbent upon man to ponder and to develop within himself true yearning and thirst for seeking the truth. He should pursue the means that Allah the Exalted has prescribed to increase the expanse of his knowledge. God ceases to care for the one who does not care for Him, as He Himself says:

اِنَّ اللّٰہَ غَنِیٌّ عَنِ الْعٰلَمِیْنَ3

Effort and the true anguish of a sincere heart is needed for the acceptance of supplications as well. Just look at the variety of dangerous efforts people undertake for worldly exams. At times they lose their minds due to the intense mental exertion. At times, serious illnesses like insanity, tuberculosis, etc. develop. And if they fail, some people become so distressed that they well-nigh commit suicide. Thus, they bear such a variety of hardships for this transient, worldly life. Their successes are, at least in some part, the result of their own hard work. If they were to sit idle and not prepare for the exam, who would expect them to succeed? So, when some people still fail even with intense toil and trouble, what would be the condition of those who didn’t even try?

I accept that some who make the effort still fail, but this does not mean that they should never try again. This is a totally wrong approach. What a wonderful couplet someone composed:

گرچہ وصالش نہ بکوشش دہند
ہر قدر اے دل کہ توانی بکوش

[Although union with the Beloved cannot be achieved through effort—
O my heart!—you must exert as much effort as your strength allows].

How painstakingly and diligently a farmer prepares his crops but sometimes his crops are ruined due to hail and sometimes due to drought. But this failure does not result in people giving up farming altogether. There are thousands who continue to toil with full force despite such setbacks and do ultimately reap the fruits of their labour.

Allah’s blessings depend upon your efforts. Look, even a poet, when he tries and struggles, something ultimately comes to him and a couplet begins to take shape. It is also necessary for you to study the literature of this Movement, and to observe with careful consideration and fairness, whether they contain the truth or not. In order to arrive at an opinion about any matter, knowledge is absolutely essential. One whose knowledge base becomes extensive, can decide for himself who, out of the parties, is in the right.

Most people are, in the first place, reluctant to come to me because of their arrogance and even if they do come, they come having already made up their minds. Such individuals existed in the time of the Holy Prophet (sas) as well. They always remain deprived, and it is not their lot to attain faith. Such people are, in fact, atheistic and faithless, and wish not to be restrained in any way. The one who is a true Muslim does not face much difficulty in assessing the truth, because a Muslim who is true in his faith and is aware of the practice of Allah and of the Messenger, will always do his research keeping the pattern of prophethood in the forefront of his mind. Such people are left with only a few objections and for them only a very short portion of the journey remains to be covered.

On the other hand, if there is someone who is entertaining doubts and questions about Islam itself, and he has not yet even determined the truth of Islam, then for such people there is no safe passage. These are the people who ultimately perish. Such individuals are essentially the enemies of spiritual affairs. They carry a streak of arrogance and haughtiness in them. They consider following [someone or something] to be a source of disgrace for them. They have been consumed by the new enlightenment but have failed to accept heavenly light.

It has been a Divine law since eternity that when the world becomes filled with transgression, iniquity, and sin, and every kind of evil runs rampant throughout the world, God Almighty brings about a reformation of the world by Himself establishing a spiritual order. But the one who asks ‘What need do I have for this?’ is, as if, wanting to change this law of God. I fear that such people will one day renounce even Islam, and fail to feel the need for the existence of God as well. This is a very perilous course because they have turned away from the true and real path that bears witness to the distinction of Islam and the existence of the Exalted Maker [God].

Many of them claim to have vast knowledge but are, indeed, ignorant; rather, they are the most ignorant. They have no feel for religion or religious sciences. Benefit can be derived by those who have an open mind and make use of meekness, patience, and a genuine thirst in the way of God. The need for light is felt by one who is surrounded by darkness. How can those who already have light, feel the need for light?

Nothing can enter a pot that is already full. Something can be added to a pot only if it is empty. Life is not dependable. This is an extremely dangerous time. One should pay heed to this matter with urgency.

Respite From the Plague Is Not Occasion for Rejoicing

On mention of the plague, the Promised Messiah (as) said:

This year the plague is somewhat less flagrant. However, it is no occasion to rejoice as people have not derived any benefit from the plague at all. The purpose for which it came has not yet been fulfilled. In fact, plague is the name of death. According to the dictionary, all the pernicious diseases which result in death are referred to as plague. This word has a broad application according to the dictionary. It is quite possible that it may resurface in some other form, or it may reappear in the future in the same form, but with much greater aggressiveness. The revelation of Allah the Exalted hints to this as well, as it contains the phrase أَفْطِرُ وَ أَصُوْمُ; that is, there would be a time when the plague would consume people just as people consume food and water at the breaking of the fast, while at another time, there would be peace as if the plague is observing a fast:

إِنِّیْ مَعَ الرَّسُوْلِ أَقُوْمُ. أَفْطِرُ وَأَصُوْمُ وَلَنْ أَبْرَحَ الْأَرْضَ إِلَی الْوَقْتِ الْمَعْلُوْمِ

[‘I shall stand with My Messenger and shall break the fast and also observe it. I shall not depart from this land until a determined time.’]

People are only too eager to find an explanation to reassure and appease themselves. They calm themselves down by saying that it was just an ordinary illness and, accordingly, it is now gone—What Sign and what warning?

In actual fact, the word ‘plague’ has a vast meaning: اَلطَّاعُوْنُ المَوْتُ [‘The Plague means death’]. It is the term that refers to all epidemic diseases. Smallpox, pleurisy, fever, tumours, vomiting, and loss of consciousness—all such diseases are included in it. It is pertinent to recall that a form of plague also broke out in the time of the Companions of the Holy Prophet (sas) and was in the form of a small pustule that would develop on the palm of the hand.

Whereas during the current outbreak, it has been observed quite often that people pass away in a state of unconsciousness and numbness, some pass away while hearty and healthy. Some develop bloody diarrhoea. Some pass away while no one knows what happened to them. Ten men went to sleep one night all healthy and well, but not a single one woke alive. In short, there are many such instances which reveal that no one understands this disease and it has many variations.

In fact, this pause—as misfortune would have it—is extremely dangerous, because people will now become more daring and commit sins audaciously. They will infer from this hiatus that it was merely one illness that is over and gone; it was neither a Sign for anyone nor a chastisement [from God]. In short, this is not an occasion for rejoicing. It is an occasion to be fearful.

At the time when Divine wrath had befallen the world in the form of the plague, I had received the following revelation:

أَفْطِرُ وَ أَصُوْمُ

[‘I shall break the fast and also observe it.’]

It was a metaphor meaning that at times this disease would intensify and at times there would be a pause in it.

اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یُغَیِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتّٰى یُغَیِّرُوْا مَا بِاَنْفُسِہِمْ4

Allah will not relent, and will absolutely not relent, until people develop a change in their morals, deeds, and thinking.

The fact is that these people resent even the notion that something should be attributed to God. Rather, they say that it has happened by chance and how does God have any control or influence in it? What I am worried about is that people will now adopt this opinion willy-nilly, and then come to accept this opinion to be valid—that it was simply a chance illness which is gone, and all is safe and secure now.

Thus, comforting and assuring themselves in this way, they will turn away from God and advance in their defiance and audacity. The grandeur of Allah has departed from their hearts. The degree of respect and longing they hold in their hearts for figures of worldly authority and for their own personal needs and objectives—there does not remain even that much respect and longing for God and His Messenger and their approval. Even the global and punishing Sign of the plague did not prove to be of any benefit to them. Earthquakes also came exactly as promised by God and many cities that were heavily populated at one time became desolate, yet the world did not bring about any change.

A few days ago, I received the following revelation:

زُلۡزِلَتِ الۡأَرۡضُ

[‘The earth shall be shaken.’]

This also implies a terrible and unknown calamity, whether it is literal or metaphoric, as the word ‘earthquake’ has been used to convey meanings different from its literal meaning, as we see from the Holy Quran: زُلْزِلُوْا زِلْزَالًا شَدِیْدًا5. Now, all the Signs that God has shown will have the opposite effect upon them and, considering them all to be chance events like the plague, their hearts will become hardened.

It is similar to what happened with Pharaoh. He, too, became more stubborn. Whenever there was a respite from a calamity, he too would consider the chastisement to have been a transient and chance event with the result that his heart would become yet more hardened. So at the very end, when he was about to be drowned, he professed that he too believed in the One in whom the Children of Israel believed. Even then, he did not proclaim the name of God.

This is precisely the condition of these people at this time. The plague had hit but now it has become less intense to some extent. The famine is no longer that intense either, and the prospect of relief is becoming visible. Now they will feel safe and, feeling secure, will advance even further in the commission of sins and crimes with daring and audacity, having become more stone-hearted than before. Their hearts will not develop the anxiety to repent, seek forgiveness, pay heed to Allah, and to reform themselves. However, God says that this is nothing new, but rather, this has been happening since eternity.

(After Asr Prayer)

Two Components of Noble Qualities and Sublime Morals—the Rights of God and the Rights of People

(At a meeting with His Highness Prince Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, the Promised Messiah (as) delivered a speech in Persian—Editor)

The Promised Messiah (as) said:

There is too much hypocrisy in the world in the present age. There are very few who are sincere. Love and sincerity are a part of faith. May God reward you for your love and sincerity and grant you strength.

To do good to people without any consideration of reward or recompense is what is called noble morals. This is what is called nobility of human character. A lower level of nobility of character is that, instead of resisting evil or simply overlooking it, one should do good to the evildoer. This is an attribute of the Prophets and then of those who keep their company. And the perfect example of this is provided by the Holy Prophet (sas) and his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them all. Allah would never permit hearts infused with the compassion for mankind to perish.

Noble attributes and sublime morals have just two components, and they are the gist, the sum, and essence of the Holy Quran’s pure teachings. The first is the discharge of obligations to Allah—one should worship God, eschew sin and transgression, refrain from all that is forbidden, and remain committed to obeying all Divine commandments. The second is never being negligent in the discharge of the rights of human beings, and to be benevolent to all human beings.

Those who are derelict in their duty towards mankind are in a most precarious position even if they discharge their obligations to God, because Allah the Exalted is the Sattar [Concealer (of weaknesses)], Ghaffar [Most Forgiving], Rahim [Merciful], and Halim [Forbearing], and He forgives. It is His habit to mostly forgive, but the bent of man, on the other hand, is such that he hardly ever forgives anyone. Thus, if man does not forgive the transgression against his rights, then the one who has failed to fully discharge his obligations to other human beings or has transgressed against others, is at risk of losing the reward for his good deeds because of this negligence even if he is striving to obey Divine commandments and is adhering to the religious ordinances like Salat [obligatory Prayers], Fasting etc.

Thus, a true believer is indeed the one who is careful and diligent in discharging both the rights of God and the rights of His creation. Thus, he alone truly follows the Quran in its entirety, who keeps in mind both these aspects while carrying out his actions. Otherwise, he believes in only one half of the Quran. However, it is not within the power of man to perform both these types of deeds by the strength of his effort alone. He is constrained by the shackles of nafs-e-ammarah [the self that incites to evil]. Nothing can come about until the grace and power of Allah the Exalted accompanies man. Therefore, one should continue to supplicate so that he may be granted the power to perform virtuous deeds and so that he may be released from the bondage of nafs-e-ammarah which is a dangerous enemy of man.

If there were no nafs-e-ammarah, there would be no Satan either. This is man’s enemy from within—an enemy in the guise of a friend, while Satan is the enemy from without. It goes without saying that, as a rule, when a thief breaks into someone’s home, he must first conspire with some insider who is familiar with the house and knowledgeable about it. Without conspiring with the inside knower of secrets, the thief from without can do nothing and has no chance of success at all. This is indeed the reason why Satan, the enemy from without, colludes with man’s nafs-e-ammarah, the insider who is familiar with the secrets of the self, to break into the faith of a human being and destroy the light of faith. Allah the Exalted says:

وَمَاۤ اُبَرِّیٴُ نَفۡسِیۡ ۚ اِنَّ النَّفۡسَ لَاَمَّارَۃٌۢ بِالسُّوۡٓءِ6

Meaning that I do not exonerate my nafs [self] and I am not satisfied that my nafs has become purified; quite to the contrary, it is the governing mischief monger.

Salvation Depends on Purification of the Nafs

Purification of the nafs [self] is a very difficult stage to reach, while salvation revolves around the purification of the nafs. Allah the Exalted says:

قَدْ اَفْلَحَ مَنْ زَکّٰىہَا7

and the purification of nafs cannot be achieved without the grace of God. This is an immutable law of God Almighty.

لَنْ تَجِدَ لِسُنَّۃِ اللّٰہِ تَبْدِیْلًا8

And the principle that has been established since eternity for the attraction of Divine blessings is that the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, should be followed, and yet there are thousands of such people in the world who say that they too profess لَآ إِلٰہَ إِلَّا اللّٰہُ [‘There is no one worthy of worship except Allah’], perform virtuous deeds, and refrain from evil deeds. In reality, their contention is that they are not in need of following the Messenger (sas).

Beware! This is a grave mistake, and it is a Satanic deception that such a notion develops in the hearts of people. When Allah the Exalted has Himself declared in His Holy Word that purification and Divine love are contingent upon obedience of the Messenger, then who can claim that he can become pure through his own strength?

True conviction and faith full of perfect cognizance can never ever be achieved until true obedience and love of the Prophets is adopted. The faith that can destroy sin, and the conviction that can show the countenance of God, can never ever be achieved without such compelling prophecies comprising knowledge of the unseen and might of God as are beyond the power and imagination of man. People are engrossed in the pursuit of their worldly affairs with great focus and attention, and they painstakingly undertake perilous and the most arduous of endeavours for these worldly things. If they were to take a step toward God Almighty with the same zeal, and turn their attention towards the Heavenly Movement that God Almighty has established for this purpose at this time, I can say with certainty that Allah the Exalted is most certainly able to show signs of His mercy for their sake.

However, the real issue is that people are careless in this respect. Otherwise, what is difficult about religious matters? There is no hardship in Salat; water is readily available and the earth is there for one to prostrate upon. What is needed is an obedient and pure heart that has a true craving for Divine love.

Look, if you add up all the Salats and estimate the time needed to perform them, it might be no more than perhaps limited time. After all, people do attend to the call of nature. Even if they had this much regard for Salat in their hearts, they could perform the Salat. But alas! Islam is in serious jeopardy at this time and Muslims are, in reality, bereft of the light of faith. How worried one becomes if afflicted with a serious illness and yet no one is worried about this spiritual leprosy which leads to Hell!

How the World Treats the Appointees of God

Coming before me is, in essence, presenting yourself before God, and to honour me is, in fact, to honour the Word of God and His Messenger. It has been twenty-six consecutive years since God appointed me as the Mujaddid [Reformer] and sent me to the world to rectify the evils of this age. And it is not the case that this is just my verbal claim. He also gave me thousands of His mighty Signs, and He sent me on the pattern of prophethood. Yet, people did not care.

On the contrary, they called me kafir [disbeliever], akfar [the greatest of disbelievers], dajjal [a deceiver], and kazzab [a great liar], notwithstanding that the God who had sent me, manifested great Signs to testify to my truth—not just one or two, but thousands of them! In the courts of this world, no matter how difficult the case may be, even the death penalty may be awarded on the testimony of two or three witnesses. But here, thousands of people are witnesses to these Signs of mine. There is no place from east to west where some witness to my Signs is not present, yet these people have shown no regard.

No one resists even a lowly orderly of the government when he comes for tax collection, but if someone does, he is declared a rebel and duly punished. Yet people are heedless of the Divine Government. It is true that those who come from God are clothed in humility. People look upon them with derision and disdain. They ridicule and mock them. But Allah the Exalted says:

یٰحَسۡرَۃً عَلَی الۡعِبَادِ ۚؑ مَا یَاۡتِیۡہِمۡ مِّنۡ رَّسُوۡلٍ اِلَّا کَانُوۡا بِہٖ یَسۡتَہۡزِءُوۡنَ ﴿۳۱﴾ 9

Allah the Exalted is truthful and does not lie. He says that all Prophets who came, from Adam to the last one, have been ridiculed and mocked. However, when time passes, people begin to glorify them. Almost 200 ulema of his time issued a fatwa [religious verdict] of apostasy against Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, may Allah have mercy upon him. Ibn Jawzi, who was a scholar of Hadith of his time, wrote a book and titled it Talbis Iblis, and used much bitter and unseemly words against him. Yet, the whole world knows how he [Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani] was acknowledged as a wonderfully accomplished and pious man, and how he was acclaimed far and wide just a couple of hundred years after his demise. He is not alone in this. All saintly people have received the same treatment.

So, on this same pattern, all the ulema of the Punjab and India have bestowed upon me the titles of kafir [disbeliever], dajjal [deceiver], fasiq [transgressor], fajir [sinner], etc. They claim that I—God forbid—abuse the Prophets, whereas I hold all Prophets in great esteem, and it is to manifest their grandeur and truth that I have, in fact, been sent.

Know for certain that if I am not from God and I am indeed a liar, then no one can prove the prophethood of any of the Prophets. If mentioning the death of Jesus (as) is equivalent to hurling abuse upon him, then the one who abused Jesus (as) first and foremost is none other than God.

Need for a Reformer

What I mean to say is that it has always been the case that when the hearts of people become negligent of the rights of God and the rights of God’s servants, when cruelty and oppression become the norm for people, when people appoint hundreds of idols for themselves and turn away from their Creator and the True God, and when they forget the teachings of the Prophets; Allah the Exalted rectifies all these evils by initiating a spiritual movement at such critical times. Even today, if one has the insight, he can discern whether the condition of Islam has reached such a critical stage or not when God should attend to it. This age is crying out by its very plight that a Reformer is needed.

The Plight of Muslim Rulers

Muslims are in a wretched state. The condition of ordinary Muslims is such that they do not merit even being counted. Those who are known as kings and are the caliphs of Muslims and the leaders of the believers—their own condition is such that despite being the king, they do not have the courage to permit an individual to speak the truth openly and freely in their realm. In the empire of the Sultan of Turkey, no one can pen even a few lines against Christianity, being apprehensive, perhaps, that all other Christian powers would be offended and take his kingdom. They do not hold so much as an iota of regard for the Kingdom of God nor do they have full trust in the power of God. Regard for self-interest is good only to an extent, but where it endangers one’s faith, no considerations should be given to it. However, my experience shows that the government does not interfere in religion.

Look, how many books I have written against the Christians and how forcefully have I refuted their false beliefs! Nevertheless, it is a great tribute to this government that it has not expressed any displeasure. One’s own weakness is the real culprit. Otherwise, the government does not interfere in religious matters at all.

Look, just consider this case against me and how justly and honestly it was decided. An arrest warrant was issued from Amritsar requiring a bail of 40,000 rupees. It was the providence of God that it was left on the books and the judge learned afterwards that he was not even authorized to issue it in the first place! But Allah’s control, which always manifests itself in a variety of ways for those He sends into the world, helped me even at that perilous time. The petition was then suddenly transferred to the court of the Deputy Commissioner of Gurdaspur. He did not issue any warrant. He asked for me [to appear before him] and treated me with great respect and honour.

My purpose in pointing out this incident is only that, firstly, the government is not influenced—favourably or adversely—on account of religious considerations; it only does whatever is the demand of justice and honesty. And, secondly, that the bond with God is such a thing that, due to its blessings, one is comforted in every adversity and delivered from every calamity. When a man becomes devoted to God, God shows him deference in every matter. Those people who are engrossed wholly in the cares and concerns of this world, and remain oblivious to God, do not merit being called believers. A believer is one who does not forsake God even when he reaches the very edge of destruction. It is a hallmark of faith that one should not lose hope and continue to believe, to the very end, that all matters are in the hand of God.

To be called the King, the Caliph of the Muslims, Amirul-Mo’minin [the Leader of the Faithful] and yet be heedless of God is not a good thing. To be so fearful of the creation of God as if God has no power, is a serious type of weakness. People say that he is the caretaker of the holy places [Makkah and Madinah], but I say that the holy places are protecting him. It is the blessing of the holy places and it is because of them that he is still surviving. The religious freedom that we have in this country is not enjoined even by the Muslims in Muslim countries.

Look at the freedom with which I have been working, and the effect my publications have had on this country. Christian priests used to come to Qadian all the time. They would always set up their camps in the outskirts of Qadian. They would roam around town and preach, but now—for last fifteen years—we haven’t seen the face of so much as a single priest! They always invited Muslims and challenged them if anyone would debate with them. They claimed that—God forbid—the Holy Prophet (sas) did not show any miracle. They always wanted to debate the topic of the Living Prophet. How times have changed!

Now I invite them and even offer a reward, but no one comes. It is as if they have changed their stance altogether. I am always prepared to undertake any method that can be employed to effectively and conclusively settle the arguments.

External Attacks on Islam

You may also recall the time when they used to say that there was not a single miracle in the Holy Quran. They would say the prophecy of: غُلِبَتِ الرُّوْمُ10 was simply a guess that the Holy Prophet (sas) made after comparing the two powers. This was how far things had advanced.

Then, for a very long time, they had tarnished the pure and luminous face of Islam by alleging that Islam had spread with the force of the sword. In short, they had created such a maelstrom of varied accusations and uncalled for objections that in my estimation, if we were to pile up all the books and magazines they had written against Islam in the last half century, it would make a mountain. Knowledgeable people know that so many attacks have never been made against any other Prophet, nor was such foul language ever used against any other Prophet since the creation of the world, nor was any other Prophet abused to this extent or slandered to this degree.

Look at the Aryas. Their books are filled with so much filth that I do not think any Muslim who has a sense of honour can read even a single line from these books, especially if you look at the books written by Lekh Ram …

The Internal Enemies of Islam

In short, this is the status of the hostility of external enemies. The inner condition of the house [of Islam] is much worse than this. The enemy from within is causing greater loss and harm while claiming to be well-wishers. The condition of the religious scholars, who were thought to be the pillars of the Faith and the means of salvation, can be judged from their response to this Divine Movement. When God Almighty, in accordance with His age-old tradition, established a Heavenly Movement at the exact time of need with perfect wisdom and truth for the reformation and eradication of these evils, and showed thousands of miraculous Signs to testify that it was from Allah, they turned hostile to it and sought to destroy it.

It was more incumbent upon them, being the pillars of the Faith and being learned and knowledgeable of the Holy Quran and Hadith, to support this Movement. Instead, they occupied themselves with all the schemes to extinguish this Divine light. The state of their learning is so pathetic that the following couplet of Hafiz Shirazi [a famous Persian poet] was perhaps written for these very scholars:

واعظان کین جلوہ بر محراب و منبرمی کنند
چون بخلوت مے روند آن کار دیگر می کنند

[On the pulpit the preachers put up a great show;
In private, they act quite differently.]

Next to them is the echelon of society comprising the rich and powerful. Their condition is also manifestly evident. They are totally dissociated from religion. They are so occupied in their sensual pleasures and pursuits that they have no time to spare, and if they do have any time to spare, they would spend it playing chess.

If you look at the third tier of society, which consists of the general masses, you feel even more sorry at the wretched and precarious condition of Islam. Jails are filled with Muslims. It is Muslims who are ruining themselves in bars. The Muslims are the ones who are in the miserable plight as prostitutes. If you look closely at any activity of immorality, debauchery, crimes, and sin, you will find Muslims outnumbering others. It has become almost a profession for Muslims, especially the so-called maulawis, to give false testimony. And yet, I am the one receiving their fatwas of apostasy and being accused of so many things.

It is my wish and I am eager to see a group of influential Muslims to at least investigate whether these accusations that are levelled against me are indeed true. Is it true that I have abandoned the Holy Quran and the Messenger (sas)? Have I—God forbid—made some new religion? Is it true that I insult the Prophets?

Preaching by Writing Books or Making Speeches—a Comparison

The respected prince asked that if, instead of always staying in Qadian, you were to tour the various towns of Punjab and India and preach and speak, then it would be more beneficial.

The Promised Messiah (as) said:

The methods of preaching are different in every age in accordance with the time and circumstances. Although the freedom of the present era is a good thing, it also has some drawbacks. I have employed the method of preaching that you have suggested and I have also made journeys to some places for this purpose. However, I have seen, through experience, that the real objective cannot be fully achieved this way. Some people interrupt and start speaking during the speech. Some even hurl a few abuses and cause disorder by raising a clamour.

Once, right here in Lahore, a person stood up during the course of my speech and hurled abuses right in my face, even though it was my own residence and there was an arrangement of the police etc. The late Miyan Muhammad Khan, who was very sincere and loving towards me became angry, but I stopped him as it is against my moral principles to react in that same way.

In short, I have had enough experience in Lahore, Amritsar, Delhi, Sialk0t, etc. to know that this method is not free from mischief, and it has greater risk of violence. We were pelted with stones in Amritsar and one stone even hit my son. Some of my friends were hit with shoes. لَا یُلْدَغُ الْمُؤْمِنُ مِنْ جُحْرٍ وَّاحِدٍ مَّرَّتَیْنِ11 [‘A believer is not bitten from the same hole twice’], so how can I try the previously tested method again?

The second big flaw is that in oral discussion, the transcribers can do whatever they like. They have the pen in their hand, they can make a mountain out of a molehill if they so choose. Then, there are some evil-natured people of the type who are explained things for hours, but because they do not have much opportunity to ponder during the course of an oral discourse and since the oral conversations are spontaneous and reactive, they do not leave a lasting impact. Therefore, I was forced to eschew this approach.

In the course of my writing, I have penned seventy to seventy-five detailed books in order to communicate the arguments comprehensively. Each one of them is so comprehensive in its own right that it is not possible that if any seeker of truth and seeker of research reads them carefully, he would not find enough material to decide between the truth and falsehood. In my lifetime, I have collected a mighty treasure of knowledge and I have disseminated it as far as it was possible. They have also been read by both, my friends and foes alike. The spoken word has a short lifespan.

One does not get a chance to deliberate in its course. Rather, some excitable people do not even have a chance to comprehend as they become furious as soon as they hear something against their views and start to fume at their mouths. On the other hand, if one can sit with a book in an isolated room, he gets the opportunity to deliberate. As there is no opponent at that time, one gets a good opportunity to ponder with a clear mind. However, I have not given up the other method. I have travelled to many cities for this purpose and have preached there. At some places, we were even confronted with bricks and stones. Yet, in your opinion, I have not preached my message.

I Have Completed My Work

I have not had any worldly pursuit in my life. Whether I am in Qadian or Lahore, my every breath is in the way of Allah. I have now completed my work through reason and through citing the written record. There is no aspect left that I have not completed. Now it is only the prayers from my end that are left.

God has similarly not left anything incomplete. The miracles He has shown are with such abundance and awe, that both friends and foes alike have acknowledged their grandeur and majesty. Even now if one does not recognize the truth, it is beyond my control. اِنَّکَ لَا تَہْدِیْ مَنْ اَحْبَبْتَ12.

The Death of Jesus as a Remedy

One should not look upon the Divine Movement lightly or with disdain. He has a monumental plan. Islam’s well-being lies exclusively within it.

Once I went to Delhi. I submitted to them that they had used the recipe for thirteen hundred years which accepts that the Holy Prophet (sas) is buried in a grave and Jesus (as) is seated in Heaven. Did this formula benefit you or hurt you? You can think about the answer to this question for yourself. Nearly 100,000 people have renounced Islam from every tribe and group: Sayyeds, Mughals, Pathans, Qureshis, etc. This is the consequence of saying over and over again that Jesus (as) is still alive.

Now, I tell you another remedy; try it and see. It is that you accept the death of Jesus (as) (as is proven from the Holy Quran and was corroborated to by the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, through his personal experience).

A person from the audience, who was a tall man, spoke up and said, ‘You are right! You should continue your work. I have understood your approach. Verily, Islam’s well-being lies exclusively within it.’

[The Promised Messiah (as) continued:]

In the Holy Quran, Allah the Exalted has used the word تَوَفِّىْ [tawaffi] with reference to Jesus (as) and the Holy Prophet (sas) has corroborated to it by providing an [eyewitness] account of his experience during the Mi’raj [Spiritual Ascension] in which he saw him with the dead. What similarity do the living have with the deceased? Had Jesus (as) been alive, there should have been some chamber set aside for him; not that he should be living with the dead.

No one will be able to prove from the Holy Quran that the word تَوَفِّىْ [tawaffi] means ‘ascension to heaven with the mortal body’ and not ‘death’. You see, the very same word تَوَفِّىْ [tawaffi] has been used in the Holy Quran for the Holy Prophet (sas):

اِمَّا نُرِیَنَّکَ بَعْضَ الَّذِیْ نَعِدُہُمْ اَوْ نَتَوَفَّیَنَّکَ۠13

And the very same word تَوَفِّىْ [tawaffi] has been used in regard to the Prophet Joseph (as) as well:

تَوَفَّنِیْ مُسْلِمًا وَّ اَلْحِقْنِیْ بِالصّٰلِحِیْنَ14

Now, it is worth pondering that this very word implies death for others, but when it appears with reference to Jesus (as), it undergoes such a transformation that it takes on the meaning ‘ascension to heaven with the mortal body’ and not ‘death’.

The very first ijma [consensus] that took place among the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, of the Holy Prophet (sas) was on the issue of the death of Jesus (as). Once, Mufti Muhammad Sadiq, who is a very devout person, had an opportunity to debate a Bishop on the subject of ‘the Living Messenger’. The detail of this incident is that one Lord Bishop claimed in a large gathering in Lahore that the Messenger of the Muslims did not deserve to be called the Living Prophet (God forbid). The only living Prophet is Jesus (as); the Prophet of the Muslims was buried in Madinah whereas Christ (as) was alive sitting on the right hand of God.

He addressed all the Muslims that they should think for themselves and decide as to who was the superior of the two. The poor Muslims had no answer to this question. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq happened to be present in that assembly. Seeing this plight, he stood up boldly with a sense of honour for Islam and said that he would answer his question. He then explained the concept of the death of Jesus and said, ‘Nowhere in the Quran is it mentioned that Jesus is alive. The Holy Quran has repeatedly declared him dead like all the other Prophets.’

The Bishop was stunned to hear this response and could find no rebuttal. He deflected the question by saying, ‘It seems you are a Mirza’i [Ahmadi]. We do not wish to discuss this with you. Our audience is the ordinary Muslims.’

This incident struck an impact upon the hearts of even our opponents and they perceived their indefensible position within themselves. And they realized that if there was anyone who could prevail over the Christians today, it was only this sect. And they all said unanimously that although they are disbelievers, today the honour of Islam has been saved only by them.

Mighty Signs of Truth

The Promised Messiah (as) said:

Praise be to this apostasy that brings honour to Islam and the Holy Prophet (sas). So, remember to live in this world like a poor wayfarer—belongings tied in a bundle—prepared to journey on. It is not right to take on responsibility for too many worries of the world. Look at the type of dangerous attacks that various and sundry calamities are carrying out upon the world: there is the plague, there are earthquakes, there is famine, and there are hundreds of other heavenly and earthly disasters. How can one feel safe with these taking place?

Behold! Even this plague is a powerful Sign of my truth. I had foretold the coming of this disease upon receiving revelation from Allah the Exalted at a time when there was no sign or trace of it in the Punjab. And this is not simply a mere verbal claim of mine. I had informed the world that the dangerous plague was about to spread in the country by writing about it again and again in my books and in the newspapers of this Movement, and that everyone should occupy himself in repentance and seeking forgiveness and bringing about a pious change in themselves before it struck. Nevertheless, there were but a few who believed in the truth of my warning and paid heed to it.

I had seen [in a vision] that there were some people who were planting trees that were black in colour throughout different parts of the land. When asked, they replied that these were the trees of plague. Then I saw a beast resembling an elephant whose body parts looked like the body parts of different animals, but its overall appearance was that of an elephant. I saw that that elephant would go into the wilderness sometimes in one direction and then in another—here and there—and would attack different types of wild animals like deer, goats, snakes, rabbits, etc. and devour them. When it would attack the animals a veritable cacophony of doomsday would erupt from the noise the animals would make. I could hear the sound of it chomping on the bones etc. After finishing on one side, it would approach me. A meek and humble expression was evident on its face and it appeared as if it was saying, ‘How am I to be blamed for this? I am appointed to do this. I am merely obeying the command given to me.’

After pausing for a short while with me, it would go in the other direction and do the same as before, and then it would come sit beside me. On the one hand, it was devouring the wild animals while, on the other, it appeared as if it was itself terrified at the wrath of God that had descended.

I did not concoct these accounts today. They date back to the time when there was still no sign or trace of the plague in this land. Are prophecies of this kind, pertaining to the knowledge of the unseen, within the capability of a human being? Can a human being report such news of the unseen? Do ponder over this. What kind of fabrication comes to pass exactly as claimed and, thus, becomes a powerful and irrefutable proof?

Then, Allah the Exalted had also informed me about the earthquake before its occurrence:

زلزلہ کا دھکا عَفَتِ الدِّیَارُ مَحَلُّہَا وَ مَقَامُہَا

[‘The shock of earthquake. Temporary residences and permanent ones will be wiped out’.]

Go see what an earthquake it was and what havoc it wreaked upon the world. If only the accounts of the destruction of the Temple at Kangra are read or listened to, the grandeur and awe of this prophecy will become apparent.

Is this the work of a mere mortal? Absolutely not! Thus, if this is the word of God, then why is such audacity and defiance shown before God?

Appearance of the Mahdi and Promised Messiah Predicted by the Saints and Seers of Visions

I am a weak and humble human being, but Allah can select whomsoever He desires for His work. This is His grace upon His servants, and no one has the right to criticize Allah’s actions. The appointed time had come and all godly people had conveyed this news.

In his book, Hijajul-Kiramah, [Nawwab] Siddiq Hasan Khan has listed the sayings of many godly people, and seers of visions to establish that all the great saints and people who saw visions have unanimously given the news that the Mahdi and the Promised Messiah would definitely appear in the fourteenth (century) [of the Islamic calendar]. No one has gone beyond the fourteenth century [in his prediction]. Then, further ahead, he goes on to write, ‘I wish he is born in my lifetime so that I might be able to convey the salam [greeting of peace] of the Holy Prophet (sas) to him. Otherwise, I instruct my progeny, who will find his time, to convey my salam to him.’

Nevertheless, I know that very few such people are granted the ability of accepting the truth because this is, in fact, the practice of Allah. Before the advent of the Holy Prophet (sas), there was a person who used to preach with great fervour that, ‘O People! The Prophet of the last epoch is about to come and that all the Signs and requirements for his advent have been fulfilled’; yet—SubhanAllah [Glory be to God]!—when the advent of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, took place, he became first to deny him.

The fact is that being a contemporary [of the claimant] also engenders an uncalled-for pride and arrogance, which becomes the reason for failing to accept guidance. Siddiq Hasan, too, tore my book into pieces and showed disrespect. It was not long before he came under Divine censure. In the end, he wrote to me with great humility and meekness, requesting me for prayers. I prayed for him and God informed me that He had safeguarded his honour. And this is what transpired, and the order for his title of Nawwab to be restored did come, but he passed away before the arrival of this order.15

The Meek and Humble Are Always the Ones Who Support Prophets

Mr. Muhammad Ali Jafferi, M.A., Vice Principal, Islamia College Lahore, came for an audience with the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him. The Promised Messiah (as) addressed him and said:

At the time that I was appointed and when God established this Movement in a very clear manner, leaving no ambiguity or doubt, and the advent had taken place exactly according to the purport of the prophecies of the Holy Prophet (sas) and the Holy Quran and exactly at the appointed hour, and there were Divine Signs also accompanying it to validate the claim—at that time, I presented this claim first to the body of religious scholars because I thought that being familiar with religious knowledge, these people would accept me without any excuses.

My claim was perfectly in accord with the Holy Quran and Hadith and was for the fulfilment of a genuine need. And these people were themselves awaiting it, and used to preach in their sermons and lectures through both, written and spoken word, that the coming of the Promised Messiah in the fourteenth century [of the Islamic calendar] was absolutely undeniable and indisputable. And moreover, all the Signs that they used to describe had already appeared to testify to my truth. However, my expectation turned out to be absolutely wrong.

The response I received from these scholars of religion was in the form of a fatwa [religious verdict] in which I was declared to be a kafir [disbeliever], akfar [the greatest of disbelievers], zall [misguided one], muzill [one who misguides others], and that I was outside the pale of Islam. I was declared to be worse than the Jews and Christians. It was pronounced that we should not be allowed to be buried in their cemeteries, that our funeral prayers should not be offered, and no one should meet us or shake hands with us. They went to the extreme in their oppression to declare that anyone who maintained contact with us would also be considered one of us.

After receiving this response from them, I thought that the educated are usually without prejudice and hate. With this very thought in mind, I presented my invitation to the group who had received modern education. However, I discovered most of them to be unrestrained [not abiding by the Islamic teachings] and observed that most of them were seeking to make changes in Islam, thinking that Islamic teachings are of the age of ignorance and barbarism and are no longer needed—that they should now be freed from it and amendments should be made to it to keep pace with the changing times. Accordingly, in this way I was also disappointed by this group, except for an occasional few, by Allah’s grace.

Then I sent my invitation to the rich and respected as they are blessed with a share of the world and are plain and simple Muslims. So one of them, Siddiq Hasan Khan, tore my book apart and sent it back. This is how he demonstrated his callousness.

After these experiences, I realized that the honour of acceptance [of truth] is always the destiny of the weak and the poor. This turned out to be absolutely true and, in conformity with the longstanding tradition, it was the weak and the poor who joined me to a large extent. Such people do not have the arrogance of religious scholarship nor the haughtiness of wealth; rather, they are simple-natured and pious souls. And they are also the ones who are dear to God. Thus, there are hundreds of thousands from this group who are now with me.

After receiving the mantle of prophethood from God, when our Beloved Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, wrote letters of invitation to the kings of his time, one letter was sent to Heraclius, the Emperor of Byzantium. After reading it, he sent out people to search for some Arabs who belonged to the tribe of the Holy Prophet (sas). Thus, a few individuals from the tribe of Quraish were brought to him, Abu Sufyan being one of them. The Emperor posed a few questions to them. One of them was whether there had been any other person from the forefathers of this man [the Holy Prophet (sas)] who had claimed to be a Prophet. The reply given to it was in the negative. Then they were asked whether there had been any king in his lineage. The answer given was again in the negative. He then asked, ‘Who are the followers of this man?’

In reply to this, it was stated that people who followed him were poor and weak. Then he inquired as to the outcome of the battles with him. The reply given was that sometimes he would triumph and sometimes they would succeed.

Upon hearing the answers to these questions, the Emperor remarked that Prophets always come into the world in that very manner. In the beginning, they would always be accompanied by the weak and the poor. With his intuitive foresight, he was able to recognize that this person [the Holy Prophet (sas)] was a true Prophet, and that he was undoubtedly that very Prophet whose advent had been foretold. Accordingly, he also affirmed that the time was nigh when he [the Holy Prophet (sas)] would become the master of his [Caesar’s] throne.

In short, it is indeed an age-old tradition that only the weak and poor people stand with the Prophets. The high and mighty do indeed remain deprived of this blessing. Their hearts are mired in all kinds of thoughts. They consider themselves to have already advanced beyond such things. Due to their worldly superiority and veiled pride and arrogance, they consider it an affront and a cause for shame and ignominy even to sit in a gathering where the poor but sincere—the weak but beloved of God—are gathered together. I know there are hundreds of people in my Jama’at who hardly have enough clothes to cover their body. It is with great difficulty that they come by a sheet to cover themselves or acquire a pyjama.

They do not own any property but their boundless sincerity, devotion, love, and loyalty that becomes evident from time to time through their actions, or that is apparent from their countenances, leaves one amazed and wonderstruck. They have such strength of faith and honesty of conviction, and are so sincerely and loyally devoted to truth and steadfastness that if the pleasure they derive from these things were to be known to those who are slaves of material wealth and prosperity and are fond of worldly pleasure, they would be ready to give it all up in exchange for it.

As an illustration, you may just look at the example of one such person, the late Sahibzadah Maulawi Abdul Latif, and see how strong he was in his sincerity and how true he was in his loyalty. He did not shy away from sacrificing even his life. He surrendered his life, but he did not surrender truth. When he was reported to the Amir [ruler of Afghanistan] and was brought before him, the Amir asked him exactly this, whether it was true that he had made the Bai’at [Pledge of Allegiance] to such a man [the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him]. As he was a righteous man, he replied clearly, ‘Yes, I have taken the Bai’at; I have accepted him, but I have chosen to follow him out of thorough understanding and not out of blind acceptance. I have not found anyone quite like him in the whole world. I would rather give up my life in his path than to sever my ties with him.’

Thus, the blessed soul has left behind an example of the strength of faith and the purity of belief that my followers have.

The Fate of Those Who Reject

The trouble is that people have no interest to ponder over religious matters, to reflect upon issues with the fear of God [in their heart], to seek the distinction between truth and falsehood, or to employ a passionate urge to discover if the Movement is established at the behest of God or not. Notwithstanding, it should be remembered that this act of God Almighty is not frivolous. On the contrary, He has established this Movement with truth and wisdom and has raised it precisely at the time of need. He is most certainly going to demand an explanation from the disbelievers: مَا أَرْسَلَ اللّٰہُ رَسُوْلًا إِلَّا أَخْزٰی بِہٖ قَوْمًا لَّا یُؤْمِنُوْنَ  . Take note that there has never been a Prophet nor a Messenger sent to this world, but whose deniers were chastised by God Almighty with humiliation and ignominy. Once the conclusive arguments for the truth of the Prophet have been furnished, it becomes necessary and essential that the disbelieving people be made to suffer chastisement in order to bring about a distinction between the truth and falsehood.

Two Cardinal Sins in the Sight of God

There are two sins that are extremely grave in the sight of God. The first is to forge lies against God; that is, a person claims that God speaks to him or sends revelation or inspiration to him, whereas he does not receive any of them, nor has God ever spoken to him. Even fabricating a dream is included in this. So, one is the issue of forging a lie against God while God Almighty knows quite well that the person is a liar. The second person who is subjected to the severe wrath and chastisement of God is the one who rejects a truthful person who has come from God.

In any case, what I mean to say is that this has always been the norm. And in this age, God Almighty has demonstrated it by establishing a prophetic Movement. People should at least derive some benefit from it, and whereas they take on such headaches and work so hard, striving for their worldly pursuits, it behoves them to at least do some investigation to determine whether this person—who ascribes his enterprise to God and makes such a momentous claim—is, in fact, truthful or a liar.

Then, God says that if someone disobeys His Messenger, He will not leave him until he is made to answer for his rejection. Even ordinary rulers and governments do not leave those who rebel and violate their ordinances without due punishment; then, how can he who disobeys a Messenger of God and violates His commandments remain safe when God is the Most Just of judges and has absolute control over every particle?

The Truth of the Promised Messiah, Peace Be Upon Him

If I did not have any Signs of God with me and was not accompanied by the help and support from Him; or if I had carved out a path distinct from that of the Holy Quran, or if I had intruded into or modified the Quranic commandments and Shariah or had abrogated it; or if I had advocated a new path besides that of following the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him; then it would have been justified and the objection of the people would have been reasonable and worthy of being accepted that this person is, in reality, an enemy of God and the Messenger of God, and a denier of the Holy Quran and of its teachings, and one who abrogates them—that he is a transgressor, a sinner, and an apostate. But I have not made any changes in the Quran, or altered even a dot or an iota of the current Shariah brought by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas). Quite to the contrary, I am dedicated to the service of the Quran and the Quranic commandments and the pure religion of the Holy Prophet (sas), and have devoted my entire life to this path.

Moreover, I firmly believe that salvation is not at all possible without the Holy Quran—which is the perfect, complete, and comprehensive Book—and without its perfect obedience, and without following the Holy Prophet (sas). I believe that anyone who adds or subtracts anything from the Quran or refuses the yolk of obedience of the Holy Prophet (sas), is an infidel and an apostate. So this being the case, and in spite of the manifestation of thousands of Signs in the heavens and the earth from God in support of my truthfulness, if a person still calls me a kazib [liar], a muftari [fabricator], and a dajjal [deceiver], or does not show deference to me and does not lend an ear to my call, he should know for certain that God will never ever leave him without calling him to account for it.

The ship of Islam is about to sink. This age is bearing witness, and the time is proclaiming the need for help again and again. The internal state [of Muslims] is so precarious that no heart can feel reassured and content. The external onslaughts are so lethal that they are threatening to uproot Islam from its very foundations. Hence, hasn’t the time yet come for God to appoint someone for the help of Islam, and to send some Reformer who could remedy the sinking ship of Islam?

The head of the century has also passed, but all the promises turned out to be false? So, you tell me whether the time has still not come for God to attend to the welfare of Islam, or is there going to be a more critical and precarious situation? Would someone come only when Islam is totally dead with no breath of life left in it? What would the use and benefit of such a person be if he comes then?

Remember it well that if I am false, then Islam is also false. And if Islam is also a dead religion like the others, then what greatness lies in it and what’s its distinction? The Tauhid [Oneness of God] that you and I take pride in, is claimed by the Brahmus and Aryas as well. Once a person gave a lecture right here in Lahore and said, ‘We believe in لَآإِلٰہَ إِلَّااللّٰہُ [“There is no one worthy of worship except Allah”] then why do we need مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُوْلُ اللّٰہِ [“Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”]?’

When this is the state of affairs and other religions also believe in Tauhid, then what is the distinction between you and them?

The Essence of Jihad

If the tenets of jihad etc. are indeed the only distinction, then beware, it is an egregious error. You are, thus, not a friend of Islam but rather its enemy. You give a bad name to Islam.

Look, if I had understood that this was in reality the true intent of the Holy Quran, I would have left this country and chosen a place where I had all the amenities and facilities to implement such commandments, and I would have acted upon those commandments to my heart’s content. But verily I tell you that this is not the intent of the Quran, as has, unfortunately, been understood to be the case by some ignorant mullahs [Muslim clergy].

The truth is that the Holy Prophet (sas) was faced with great challenges at that time. Many of his devout and dear friends fell prey to the sword and arrows of the cruel disbelievers. They tortured Muslim men and Muslim women in a variety of shameful ways and in the end they hatched a plan to murder even the Holy Prophet (sas). They pursued him and set a bounty to kill him.

The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was forced to hide in a cave. No stone was left unturned in pursuing him. It was only Allah’s miraculous design that He saved him from their eyes even though he was right in front of them. God deceived their eyes and saved His Messenger by lending him His special help. But when, finally, their tyranny exceeded all bounds and they were not satisfied even after expelling the Muslims from their homeland, Allah the Exalted gave this guidance:

اُذِنَ لِلَّذِیْنَ یُقٰتَلُوْنَ بِاَنَّہُمْ ظُلِمُوْاؕ وَ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ عَلٰى نَصْرِہِمْ لَقَدِیْر16

God Almighty gave Muslims the permission to raise the sword. In this permission, God made it clear that the disbelievers were, indeed, tyrants and their mischief had exceeded all bounds, and the patience of the Muslims had been pushed to its limit. It was then that God decreed that those who had fought with the sword should be killed with the sword.

God also decreed that, though the Muslims were just a few in number and weak, yet He was going to lend them His support because they had been transgressed against and He would have the disbelievers killed through their hand. Ensuing from this decree, the same few people—who had been considered worthless and abject, whom no one wanted to assist or support, and who had been severely oppressed and constrained by the disbelievers—came to be held in awe both in the east and the west. In this way, God showed to the world, by helping them, that Muslims indeed were subjected to wanton oppression. In short, look at any aspect and from any angle and see whether the Muslims of that time were the oppressed party or not?

If God had not given permission to those few weak Muslims to raise their sword to defend their lives and had not permitted them to fight defensively even at that critical and dangerous juncture, should He have allowed them to be eliminated from the face of this earth? Under those circumstances, it was their right to defend themselves by any standards—religious or conventional. And yet, that has been the cause of criticism even to this day, and the bigoted and ignorant opponents refuse to forget. So now, do these people wish to renew these allegations and alienate people from Islam by advancing the concept of a bloodthirsty Mahdi? Look, the Holy Prophet (sas), has clearly stated vis-a-vis the Mahdi یَضَعُ الْحَرْبَ that he would bring an end to wars and that war would be an intellectual war.

The pen would carry out the work of the sword. The world would be conquered with spiritual insights, heavenly blessings, and miraculous Signs. And the ascendancy of Islam would be established through conclusive arguments and refulgent proofs and the true religion would be made to stand distinct by fresh prophecies from the unseen and Divine acts of support. It is not enough to say that we possess plentiful miracles from the past. You should know that you have nothing that exceeds the stories and fables mentioned in the manuscripts of the Hindus and the scriptures of the Christians and the Jews. If you present stories, they will be able to present far more impressive stories. If the standard of truth of Islam has been reduced to mere stories and fables, then you should know that this matter has been rendered dubious.

Need for Prophets and Heavenly Signs

Islam is distinctive. God has always maintained an extraordinary quality in Islam and that is its ever fresh Signs. Those who are fond of modern philosophy become somewhat displeased when they hear the word ‘Sign’. They question the need for Signs and Prophets in the search for the existence of God.

Remember, it is a weak form of conviction to deduce the existence of God from the intelligence and wisdom reflected in the solar system and the orderliness of the universe. This cannot fully satisfy the curiosity about the existence of God. It only proves the possibility, but it cannot be said with certainty that God does, in fact, exist. If these had been certain and definitive proofs, why would people become atheists? Many great scholars have written volumes, but their arguments are not irrefutable, and their proofs are not decisive. They cannot silence anyone, nor can a man attain certainty of faith through them. If a person were to formulate arguments in favour of the existence of God Almighty based on these matters, an atheist would present arguments in their refutation.

The fact is that all that can be proved this way is that ‘God should exist.’ It does not prove that ‘He does exist.’ There is a huge difference between ‘should exist’ and ‘does exist’, and the latter requires seeing for oneself. The second part that the Prophets have presented to prove the existence of the Almighty Creator is to prove His existence by means of mighty Signs and miracles, and through the display of His mighty power. This is such an approach before which all heads bow. In fact, many Arabs were atheists as we learn from the following verse of the Holy Quran:

اِنْ ہِیَ اِلَّا حَیَاتُنَا الدُّنْیَا نَمُوْتُ وَ نَحْیَا17

Were the uncouth, audacious, unrestrained, and bold Arabs reformed by him [the Holy Prophet (sas)] by the use of the sword? Was the sublime distinction and difference between their life before and after the advent of the Holy Prophet (sas) due to the fact that they could not compete with him in the use of the sword? Or was it just the moral teaching by itself that brought about such a pious change in their hearts? No, of course not!

Remember, the sword can conquer the palpable, but hearts can never be conquered by the sword. Nay, it was the light that reflected the countenance of God. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, had shown them such miraculous Signs as if God had Himself made an appearance before these people. And seeing the glory and omnipotence of God, they brought about a pious change in themselves and adopted a life that detested sin.

The Need to Develop a Living Faith in God Almighty

These times are indeed the very same, and so is this era exactly akin to that era. Therefore, conviction in the existence of God will be attained through the same method as was used at the onset. Islam is that very same Islam. Therefore, the means and methods of its success and rejuvenation remain the same as they were at the beginning. At this time as well, there is a need for the awe-inspiring Signs of God’s might to appear that will manifest His countenance. And know for certain that no one can be purified from sin unless his cognizance of God is perfected.

Mere faith is not adequate to dispel sins and the diverse transgressions that abound throughout the world in every direction. Does that fear of God—as is needed—exist in the world? No, not at all!

Man is caught in the chains of the evil-inciting ego much like a sparrow in the claws of a lion. Unless he can free himself from the grip of this spirit, change is not at all possible, and deliverance from sin is difficult. But look, If a powerful earthquake was to occur right now, and the walls and the roof of the building start to shake, hearts would be overcome by such awe, and such a fear would overshadow those hearts that not even a single thought of sin would remain in them. The state of a man during a serious life-threatening illness cannot be imagined during a life of peace and comfort.

Man is in need of the mighty Signs and manifestations of God Almighty to bring about a change in his condition. It is necessary that God should create some such path so that a man’s belief in God might become refreshed and strengthened and so that it should not remain limited to mere verbal confession; rather, the effect of this faith should become manifest in his practical conduct and one should become a true Muslim thereby. In this context, Allah the Exalted told me in His revelation:

چو دور خسروی آغاز کردند
مسلمان را مسلمان باز کردند

When the reign of the Man of Persia shall commence,
Then the so-called Muslims shall be made Muslims anew.

This is the word of God. If one looks closely and carefully, you will observe that these days faith is primarily confined to just the verbal expression of faith. Thus, it is the will of God to transform these Muslims in word and name alone, into true Muslims. Did the Jews not believe in the Torah? Did they not offer sacrifices? However, God cursed them and declared them to be disbelievers. In fact, He has even cursed the Prayers of some worshippers where He says:

وَیۡلٌ لِّلۡمُصَلِّیۡنَ ۙ﴿۵﴾ الَّذِیۡنَ ہُمۡ عَنۡ صَلَاتِہِمۡ سَاہُوۡنَ ۙ﴿۶﴾ 18

Meaning that, accursed are those worshippers who are unaware of the true essence of Salat [obligatory Prayers]. Prayer, in essence, is throwing oneself into the fire, and burning down one’s self and everything that exists besides God by throwing oneself into the fire of the love and fear of God. This is the state in which God alone becomes man’s focus, and man advances to the stage in which he speaks only when God desires him to speak and he moves only when God desires him to move. All his moving and all his stopping, all his activity and all his inactivity become aligned to the will of God—his own ego being eliminated altogether.

All these things can happen but only if God bestows the ability upon someone. Save until God opens the doors of someone’s heart can anyone do anything. It is only God who can open the doors of hearts: إِذَاۤ أَرَادَ اللّٰہُ بِعَبْدٍ خَیْرًا أَقَامَ وَاعِظًا فِیْ قَلْبِہٖ.19 When auspicious times arrive for a man and God desires his reformation and improvement, God raises an admonisher within his own heart. And until an admonisher comes into being within the person himself, admonishment from the outside has no impact on him at all. However, that is God’s work, not mine.

My task is only to convey the message: مَا عَلَى الرَّسُوْلِ اِلَّا الْبَلٰغُ20. Transformation is God’s prerogative. I wish from my side to make sure that the Message has been conveyed, lest I am questioned why I did not expound it well. This is why I have told people verbally. I have completed this task in writing as well. There will hardly be anyone in the world now who could still say that my message has not reached him, or that my claim has not reached him.21