Distinction between the True and the False Claimants

Now I will cite to you the statement of Imam Ibn-e-Qayyim. He is the same outstanding scholar and philosopher who has been mentioned in the White Paper as a great Islamic thinker. What is his view of why the claimants are opposed. He says that:

Ever since the world has been created, many false claimants to prophethood made their claims and displayed some pomp and glory in the beginning, but they could not achieve their objectives nor were they granted a long time period. The Prophets of Allah the Almighty and their followers annihilated them and rendered them totally helpless. This is the way of Allah from the beginning of times and so will it remain. (Zadul-Ma‘ad, vol. 1, p. 500–501, published in Kanpur.)

These are splendid words of wisdom. Let me pause and comment on these before going on. Ibn-e-Qayyim was really a great scholar of Islam. I am aware that some of the great scholars did make some mistakes of judgment but they certainly were great thinkers. They studied the issues with wisdom and depth and extracted pearls of wisdom. When he says that the false claimants showed some pomp and splendor in the beginning, he is describing a sign of the false claimants. The fact of the matter is, and the history of Islam bears it out, that the false claimant never made a claim without overt or covert support. Musailamah, whose name is often cited by them [White Paper], also had a nation in his support. What happened to him is exactly what happens to all false claimants. They started with splendor and with a strong supporting group. It has never happened that a false claimant should be looked upon with a great hope, that he be very popular and should suddenly lose all his popularity because of his claim. No false claimant has initiated his claim with criticism and humiliation. Imam Qayyim has analyzed the situation very closely and has aptly stated that they:

...made their claims and displayed some pomp and glory in the beginning, but they could not achieve their objectives nor were they granted a long time period. The Prophets of Allah the Almighty and their followers annihilated them and rendered them totally helpless. This is the way of Allah from the beginning of times and it will so remain. (Ibid.)

I trust that our opponents will pay heed to the words of Ibn-e-Qayyim. Ponder over the treatment that you meted out the Promised Messiah(as) and the way Allah the Almighty manifested His decree in his favour. Ibn-e-Qayyim states that the false claimants are not “granted a long time period.” You are well aware that more than one hundred years have passed since the claim of the Promised Messiah(as). Despite vigorous opposition his community is marching forward and the opponents have been totally helpless. The opponents have themselves admitted again and again that the community of the Promised Messiah(as) is increasing day by day despite all opposition.

When the Promised Messiah(as) made his claim, he was deserted by all, including his own children. Close relatives also opposed him. This is the way the Prophets have always started, as Imam Qayyim has described in detail. He understood the meanings of the Holy Qur’an. False prophets start with great splendor but Allah the Almighty totally annihilates their glory. On the other hand, the true Prophets start in a pitiable condition—they are deserted even by their close loved ones. Nobody stands by their side and the whole world joins together to try to destroy their mission. Yet, Allah the Almighty does not permit that to happen. The decree of Allah always prevails, as Allah the Almighty has said in the Holy Qur’an:1

This is what Allah the Almighty has made incumbent upon Himself—Verily I [Allah] and my Messengers will prevail.