The Promised Messiah and Mahdi (as)
After reciting the Tashahhud, Ta’wwuz, and Surah Al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) stated: Today is March 23rd. This day is commemorated in the Community as the Promised Messiah Day in which the Community also holds Jalsas (gatherings) in relation to this. I will present some excerpts of the Promised Messiah (as), in which he has elucidated the purpose of the advent of the ‘Promised Messiah’, his need and his status. After he made his claim, the so-called scholars did not leave any stone unturned, exerted the utmost efforts and went to all possible lengths to incite the general Muslims against him, and they still continue to do so. However, with the Help of Allah the Almighty, his Community continues to make progress and pure-natured people continue to join the Community.
Nevertheless, while mentioning his advent in accordance with Divine promises, and proclaiming that he was indeed the aforementioned Messiah, the Promised Messiah (as) states: “The promises of God are ever true. He has sent a Warner to the world according to His promise. The world did not accept him but God Almighty will surely accept him and will establish his truth through mighty Signs. I tell you truly I have come as the Promised Messiah, in accordance with God’s promise. Let him who so wills accept and let him who so wills reject. However, your rejection will make no difference. Whatever God has promised will surely come to pass, because God has made the promise in Braheen-e-Ahmadiyya: (Arabic) (Allah and His Prophet have spoken the truth and the promise will come to pass).”
The Promised Messiah (as) states: “It is the right of every single seeker of truth to request from us the proof of our claim.” The Promised Messiah (as) states: (these are) texts from the Holy Qur’an and the Ahadeeth (traditions of the Holy Prophet (sa)) and logical arguments i.e. current necessities, which demanded the advent of a reformer. Furthermore, I have put forth an outline with the signs of God, which He has manifested at my hands. The Promised Messiah (as) states that I put forth an outline, which comprises of approximately one hundred and fifty signs and to which millions of people are witness. To present absurdities is not an act of virtue.
The Promised Messiah (as) stated that for this reason the Holy Prophet (sa) had said that he (the Promised Messiah) will come as an arbiter. In other words, when the Promised Messiah (as) will appear, he will be the arbiter and you should abide by his decision. He will be one to make decisions and you should accept his decisions. Those people, whose hearts are filled with mischief, as they do not wish to believe, they continue to present vain arguments and allegations. However, they should remember that in the end, God the Exalted, in accordance with His promise, will manifest my truth through mighty signs.”
Then, stating the fact that rejecting the Promised Messiah (as) leads to rejecting Allah the Exalted and His Messenger (sa), the Promised Messiah (as) states, ‘To reject me is not in fact limited to denying me alone. Rather, it is to reject Allah and His Messenger (sa). The reason for this is that whoever rejects me, prior to doing so, God forbid, holds Allah the Exalted to be a liar as he witnesses that internal and external disorders have exceeded all bounds and God the Exalted, despite His promise of (ArabicHijr: 10) (verily, We Ourself have sent down this Exhortation, and most surely We will be its Guardian) did not make any arrangements for their reform; as he apparently believes in the fact that God the Exalted promised in the verse of Istikhlaf (successorship) that in similitude to the Mosaic dispensation, He would also establish the system of Khilafat (caliphate or successorship) in the dispensation of Muhammad (sa). However, God forbid, He did not fulfil His promise and there is presently no Khalifa (successor) in this Ummah (nation). … Similarly, they would be compelled to falsify this verse of the Holy Qur’an (Arabic) (Al-Jumu’ah: 4) (and among others from among them who have not yet joined them. He is the Mighty, the Wise), which gives the glad tidings of (the advent of) a reflection of Ahmad (the Holy Prophet (sa)).’ The Promised Messiah (as) states, ‘There is no doubt that my rejection mandates the rejection of God and that my acceptance testifies (the truth of) God and firm faith in His Being is developed. Furthermore, to reject me is not in fact (limited to) rejecting me. Rather, it is to reject the Holy Prophet (sa). Thus, prior to forming the courage to reject and deny me, a person should reflect and seek guidance from his heart as to who he is rejecting.’
The Promised Messiah (as) states, ‘Thus, I openly say that my denial is not an easy task. Prior to declaring me as a disbeliever, you will have to become a disbeliever yourself. … In order to declare me as someone to have abandoned the Holy Qur’an and the Hadeeth (traditions of the Holy Prophet (sa)), you will have to abandon the Holy Qur’an and the Hadeeth (traditions of the Holy Prophet (sa)) yourself. Even in that case, only he will abandon them.’ In other words, I will not abandon them. The Promised Messiah (as) states, ‘I testify (to the truth of) the Holy Qur’an and the Hadeeth (traditions of the Holy Prophet (sa)) and I am a fulfilment thereof. I am not misguided. Rather, I am the Mahdi. I am not a disbeliever, but a true fulfilment of (Arabic) (I am the first to believe).’
The Promised Messiah was explaining all of these aspects to a visiting guest. The Promised Messiah (as) stated, ‘Do not hasten in relation to me. Rather, you should reflect with pure intentions and a clear mind.’ Then, on one occasion the Promised Messiah (as) states, ‘Thus, if the hearts of these people are free from grudges and malice, they should listen to my words and follow me and observe whether God the Exalted leaves them in darkness or guides them towards the light. I am certain that whoever follows me with patience and a pure heart will not be destroyed. Rather, he will partake of the life, which has no end to it.’ In other words, he will be honoured in this world and Allah the Exalted will also shower blessings upon him in the hereafter.
By the grace of Allah, today, that voice which emanated from that small village has spread to 210 countries and this too is a proof of his truthfulness. In far-off places where 30-40 years ago, one could not imagine Ahmadiyyat would have spread, not only has the message reached there, God Almighty is also granting people with such firm faith that one is left amazed. I shall present one incident. Benin is a small African country. In 2012 a Jama’at was formally established there. There is an Ahmadi from a village there named Ibrahim Sahib. He accepted Ahmadiyyat, but prior to this he was a Muslim who was well versed and knowledgeable. After accepting Ahmadiyyat he began exceling in earnestness and sincerity. He began preaching to his brothers and relatives. His brother was bothered by his preaching، feeling he would sway them from their faith so he began fighting him. Huzoor aba narrated the faith-inspiring incidence about how God Almighty manifestly showed signs in his support and his powerful enemies were overwhelmed and the truthfulness of Ahmadiyyat was demonstrated. Hence, by the grace of Allah such incidents even today are happening in favour of the Promised Messiah (as).
While responding to those who object that they are already following the Islamic teaching and there are already so many sects within Islam, why is there a need to create another sect and what is the purpose of joining your Jama’at, the Promised Messiah (as) states: “Remember, such things result from lack of understanding and insight. This is not because of me. If this dissension was created, then it was started by Allah Almighty Himself who established this Movement. I did not initiate this Movement, Allah Almighty was the one who established it, because the spiritual state has deteriorated continuously which has resulted in the utter extinction of the strength in faith and Allah Almighty desires to revive the spirit of true faith through this Movement.”
The Promised Messiah (as) explained that the purpose of the Promised Messiah’s advent was to safeguard Islam from the internal and external evil ploys and attacks. The Holy Prophet (sa) also prophesied this. The Promised Messiah (as) states: Regarding the latter days, the Holy Prophet (sa) stated there will be two kinds of evils. One of them will be internal and the other external. The internal evil shall be that the Muslims will no longer remain established on the true teachings and will fall prey to Satanic influences. There will be no righteousness in their actions. … The external evil shall be that great lies will be fabricated against the blessed character of the Holy Prophet (sa). … Every kind of effort and plan will be made to make people believe in the divinity of Jesus and the accursed death on the cross. In short, for the reformation of both of these evils, internal and external, the glad tiding was given through the Holy Prophet (sa) that a person from his followers shall be commissioned to shatter the external evil and reveal the reality of the Christian faith, it is for this reason that he shall be called Jesus, son of Mary. He shall be called the Mahdi for he will establish them on the right path by resolving the internal conflicts and disorders. The words, ‘and among others of them (who have not yet joined them)’ alludes to this.”
Therefore, since we have accepted the Promised Messiah (as), the standard of our relationship with God Almighty and our Taqwa should be much higher than other Muslims. Our practical condition should be better than others. Our actions should be in accordance with the pleasure of God Almighty and we should be righteous. Regarding this, the Promised Messiah (as) explains: “One who does the Bai’at should not just simply be content with only believing this community to be on the truth. …. Once you have entered the community, then become pious, righteous and refrain from every kind of evil. … Soften your tone, remain occupied in seeking forgiveness and pray.”
Whilst elaborating on the meaning of Amaal-e-Salih (pious deeds), the Promised Messiah (as) says: “In the Holy Quran, God Almighty has linked faith with Amaal-e-Salih. Amaal-e-Salih is that deed in which there is not even an iota of disarray. Remember, man always falls prey to complacency. What is that makes him complacent? It is pretentiousness, i.e. when man carries out a deed to show other people. Ujab means to carry out a deed and to be pleased with their own actions.” The Promised Messiah (as) then says: “Amaal-e-Salih are those deed which are free from all injustices, conceit, pretentiousness, arrogance and usurping the rights of others. Just as one can be safeguarded due to their righteous deeds in the hereafter, similarly, one can be safeguarded through them in this world as well.”
The Promised Messiah (as) then says: “Even if there is one individual in the home who carries out virtuous deeds, the entire house can be saved as a result. Be mindful of this fact that until one carries out virtuous deeds, simply believing is not beneficial. If a doctor prescribes some medication, it means that one should take those medicines as prescribed. If he does not take the medications and simply places the prescription to one side, how can he benefit from it? Since you have repented, God Almighty now wishes to see how much you have cleansed yourself after professing belief. The time has come in which God Almighty wishes to make a distinction between the righteous ones.”
The Promised Messiah (as) then says: “These days you should recite the prayer of Adam (as), which is (Arabic). This prayer has been accepted from its inception. Just as the prayer has been revealed to me: (Arabic). God, everything is under Your control, so protect us, help us and have mercy on us. Therefore, recite both of these prayers and understand these prayers.
Thus, every Ahmadi from among us should analyse themselves that if they have accepted the Promised Messiah (as), are they fulfilling the due rights of their allegiance? Often when I have assessed the situation it has come to light that many people do not even offer their prayers properly. They do not pay any attention to their prayers. Some people pay no attention towards Istighfar nor towards fulfilling the rights of each other. If this is the situation, then how can we say that we are the ones who carry out Amaal-e-Saliha? (How can we say that) We fulfil the rights due upon us after entering the Bai’at of the Promised Messiah (as)? Other people are guilty of the sin of not accepting. However, we are guilty of sin as we have accepted him but fail to reform ourselves and also by pledging allegiance then breaking our promises. Thus, every one of us should analyse themselves with great concern. May Allah the Almighty always keep us in His protection and also safeguard us from all trials and difficulties.
Today, there is also an announcement and good news in that the Al-Hakam newspaper that was once published in Qadian will now be published from here. In 1934 it began printing again but stopped soon after. Today, on the Promised Messiah (as) Day it will be launched from here (UK) in the English language. This newspaper was the first newspaper published in the time of the Promised Messiah (as). It will be printed in a small quantity, however, immediately after this Friday sermon it will be available on the internet on www.alhakam.org. Similarly, there will be an app called ‘Al-Hakam’ for mobile phones and tablets and will be available for download after this sermon. The first edition is a special feature for the Promised Messiah’s (as) Day and in future, a new edition will be uploaded every Friday. Since this newspaper will be in English, therefore the English-speaking members should derive maximum benefit from this.