Khutbah-Ilhamiyyah [‘The Revealed Sermon’] documents one of the many Divine Signs demonstrated at the hand of the Promised Messiah (as) to prove the existence of God and rekindle spirituality upon the earth. The treatise was published after October 1902 and highlights an impromptu ‘Idul-Adha sermon delivered live on 11 April 1900 by the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, in the Arabic language before the audience of approximately 200 people in the Aqsa Mosque, Qadian, India.
The first chapter of this treatise records the actual text of the sermon as transcribed by two audience members—Hazrat Maulana AbdulKarim (ra) and Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Noor-ud-Deen (ra)—while the sermon was simultaneously being delivered. The content abounds with gems of Divine wisdom and insight regarding the nature and essence of sacrifice, while finding expression in the most lofty calibre of Arabic articulation, eloquence, and elegance. The Promised Messiah (as), himself recounts the experience as follows:
… I stood up after ‘Id Prayer to deliver the ‘Id sermon in the Arabic language. And God Almighty knows that a power was given to me from the unseen and such an eloquent address in Arabic was proceeding forth from my mouth extemporaneously that was quite beyond my capability. I cannot imagine that, except through special divine revelation, anyone in the world can deliver extempore, without writing it down on a piece of paper, a speech that comprises many sections, with this degree of eloquence and clarity.
When this Arabic address, which has been named Khutbah Ilhamiyyah [‘The Revealed Sermon’], was delivered to the people, an audience of perhaps two hundred was present at the time. Holy is Allah! It seemed as if a fountain had begun to flow from the unseen, and I knew not whether I was the one who was speaking or it was an angel addressing through my tongue, because I was aware that I had no part in this address. Preformed sentences kept proceeding from my mouth and every sentence was a Sign for me. All of these sentences have been preserved in published form under the name of Khutbah Ilhamiyyah. One will appreciate, by reading this booklet, whether it is in the capacity of any human being to stand up and, entirely extemporarily, deliver such a long speech in the Arabic language without thinking or contemplating. This is a literary miracle that God showed, and no one can present its like. (Haqiqatul-Wahi, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 22, p. 375–376; see also English translation, Haqiqatul-Wahi—The Philosophy of Divine Revelation, p. 457–458)
The Promised Messiah (as) took great care to have the revealed section written in the Arabic with the vowel markers for correct pronunciation, and he himself translated it into Persian and Urdu. He wrote four additional chapters elucidating three crucial concepts, (i) his own claim and proofs in its support, (ii) the intent behind building MinaratulMasih, and (iii) various aspects surrounding the Spiritual Ascension of the Holy Prophet (sas). He entitled the entire compilation Khutbah Ilhamiyyah.
Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Deen Mahmood Ahmad (ra) described the miraculous nature of the Revealed Sermon as follows:
This sermon was so eloquent that Arabs and non-Arabs marvelled at it. It contained truths and verities that further increased its magnificence.
This intellectual miracle was outstanding, first, because this kind of miracle is superior to those that only impress the immediate beholders; secondly, because it was admitted even by the opponents. This miracle shall last as long as the world lasts. Like the Holy Quran, it will forever shine bright as a testimony against the opponents. (Invitation to Ahmadiyyat, p. 250).
The Promised Messiah (as) made mention of two dreams concerning this Khutbah Ilhamiyyah. Giving the date of 19 April 1900, the Promised Messiah (as) narrates the dream of Miyan Abdullah Sannauri in which he saw the late Munshi Ghulam Qadir arriving here and he questioned him about the impression of this gathering. In reply, the late Qadir said that there is much tumult here in the heavens.
This dream is similar to the dream of Syed Ameer Ali Shah who had seen that at the time that the Arabic sermon was read out before the audience, the Messenger (sas) of Allah, Jesus (as), Moses (as), and Khidr (as) were present in the gathering and were listening to the sermon. This was experienced as a vision at the very moment the Sermon was being recited.
We are herewith publishing only the revealed portion of the book (i.e. the revealed sermon), along with three footnotes by the Promised Messiah (as). The book includes the Persian and Urdu translations as originally published, along with an English translation. A subsequent edition will additionally include the supplemental portion written by the Promised Messiah (as), thus presenting a comprehensive publication.
Earlier versions of the English translation of The Revealed Sermon were performed by Hazrat Miyan Raheem Baksh and Maulana Sufi Mutiur Rahman Bengalee, and were published in the Review of Religions. The present English translation has been finalized by Munawar Ahmad Saeed. Reviews were carried out by Usman Nasir Choudhary, Waseem Ahmad Sayed, and Naser-ud-Din Shams. Arabic proofreading was performed by the Arabic Desk (UK) and Nazarat Isha‘at. Valuable assistance was provided by Sheikh Naseer Ahmad, Fouzan Pal, and Mirza Abdul-Wahab. May Allah bless them all.
al-Haj Munir-ud-Din Shams
Additional Wakilut-Tasnif, UK
May 2023