Foreword

The booklet Al-Wasiyyat (Urdu) written in 1905, gives the glad tidings of the second manifestation of Divine grace in the form of Khilafat and details the institution of the grand scheme of making a testamentary disposition for the cause of Islam and the establishment of a graveyard named as the Bahishti Maqbara1.

It was rendered into English, and was first published under the title ‘The Will’ in Pakistan. This new translation was done jointly by Chaudhry Muhammad Ali M.A., Wakilut Tasnif Tahrik-e-Jadid and Mirza Anas Ahmad M. A. M. Litt. (OXON), Wakilul Isha‘at, Tahrik-e-Jadid, Rabwah, Pakistan. The translators are extremely grateful to Munawar A. Saeed of USA for his valuable suggestions regarding the format and style of the manuscript. They are also grateful to him for translating the Persian poem for this edition.

Most of the Divine Revelations are taken from the English translation of Tadhkirah2 translated by the late Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan(ra). Please also note that the words in the text in normal brackets ( ) and in between the long dashes — are the words of the Promised Messiah(as) and if any explanatory words or phrases are added by the translators for the purpose of clarification, they are put in square brackets [ ]. The edition has also been typeset anew.

The name of Muhammad(sa), the Holy Prophet of Islam, has been followed by the symbol (sa), which is an abbreviation for the salutation Sallallahu ‘Alaihi Wasallam (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The names of other prophets and messengers are followed by the symbol (as), an abbreviation for ‘Alaihissalam (on whom be peace). The actual salutations have not generally been set out in full, but they should nevertheless, be understood as being repeated in full in each case. The symbol (ra) is used with the name of the companions of the Holy Prophet(sa) and those of the Promised Messiah(as). It stands for Radi Allahu ‘anhu/‘anha/‘anhum (May Allah be pleased with him/with her/with them). (rh) stands for Rahimahullahu Ta‘ala (may Allah’s blessing be on him). (at) stands for Ayyadahullahu Ta‘ala (May Allah, the Mighty help him).

In transliterating Arabic words we have followed the system adopted by the Royal Asiatic Society.

The Publishers