Huzur delivered his Friday Sermon on the prophecy of the ‘Promised Reformer’ that Allah gave to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was addressed by God as ‘one who Allah Himself appointed’ (JareeUllah). From his childhood Allah inclined him to a deep love of God, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and Islam. He had studied all world religions and was ever engaged in proving the superiority of Islam over them. Christian missionaries had succeeded in influencing many Muslims of India and the Hindu religion was also severely opposed to Islam. At this time Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani (on whom be peace) wrote a magnificent book entitled ‘Baraheen e Ahmadiyya’ in which he presented the Holy Qur’an as a complete and perfect Book and the prophethood of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) as the most excellent. The book caused havoc among other religions and their petty attacks on Islam increased. Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani (on whom be peace) had the message of Islam printed in leaflets and sent these in his capacity as a ‘reformer of the age’ (Mujaddad) all over the world. This further shocked the people of other religions in India and their animosity grew manifold. It was at this time that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) decided to go into retreat to devote time to pray to Allah to help him in his defence of the Seal of the Prophets (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). He chose the place for the retreat after praying to Allah and having received a sign he headed for the town of Hoshiarpur. He went there with three of his companions. Arrangement for his accommodation was made on the top floor of a house belonging to one of his acquaintances. He instructed not to be disturbed for forty days and said that even when one of his three companions brought food to him, they should do so silently. Allah revealed many things to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in the forty days of solitude that he devoted to prayer and supplication.
On 20th February 1886, after his forty days of intense prayer were over, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) published a leaflet with a prophecy that God had revealed to him in the forty days. Huzur said the Community commemorates the fulfilment of this prophecy on 20th February each year and as today is 20th February Huzur would elucidate the prophecy of the ‘Promised Reformer’ (Musleh Maud). This prophecy was disclosed to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) at a time when he supplicated to Allah for signs for the defence of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Huzur said it was in 1889 that Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani (on whom be peace) was commanded by Allah to take bai’at (pledge of initiation) and the ‘promised son’ was also born in this year.
Huzur read the following words of the prophecy: 'I confer upon thee a sign of My mercy according to thy entreaties and have honoured thy prayers with acceptance through My mercy and have blessed this thy journey. A Sign of power, mercy and nearness to Me is bestowed on thee, a Sign of grace and beneficence is awarded to thee, and thou art granted the key of success and victory. Peace on thee, O victorious one. Thus does God speak so that those who desire life may be rescued from the grip of death, and those who are buried in the graves may emerge therefrom, so that the superiority of Islam and the dignity of God's Word may become manifest unto the people and so that truth may arrive with all its blessings and falsehood may depart with all its ills; so that people may understand that I am the Lord of Power and do what I will and so that they may believe that I am with thee, and so that those who do not believe in God and deny and reject His religion and His Book and His Holy Messenger, Muhammad the chosen one, on whom be peace, may be confronted with a clear Sign and the way of the guilty ones may become manifest.
Rejoice, therefore, that a handsome and pure boy will be bestowed on thee. Thou wilt receive an intelligent youth who will be of thy seed and will be of thy progeny. A handsome and pure boy will come as your guest. His name is Emmanuel and Bashir. He has been invested with a holy spirit, and he will be free from all impurity. He is the light of Allah. Blessed is he who comes from heaven. He will be accompanied by grace which shall arrive with him. He will be characterized by grandeur, greatness and wealth. He will come into the world and will heal many of their ills through his Messianic qualities and through the blessings of the Holy Spirit. He is the Word of Allah, for Allah's mercy and honour have equipped him with the Word of Majesty. He will be extremely intelligent and understanding and will be meek of heart and will be filled with secular and spiritual knowledge. He will convert three into four (of this the meaning is not clear). It is Monday, a blessed Monday. Son, delight of the heart, high ranking, noble; a manifestation of the First and the Last, a manifestation of the True and the High; as if Allah has descended from heaven. His advent will be greatly blessed and will be a source of the manifestation of Divine Majesty. Behold a light cometh, a light anointed by God with the perfume of His pleasure. He will pour His spirit upon him and he will be sheltered under the shadow of God. He will grow rapidly in stature and will be the means of procuring the release of those held in bondage. His fame will spread to the ends of the earth and people will he blessed through him. He will then be raised to his spiritual station in heaven. This is a matter decreed.’ [Translated text from ‘Ahmadiyyat, Renaissance of Islam’, pp 36, 37].
Huzur said in general fifty two points have been described therein. After receiving this grand prophecy the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) foretold that in the period of nine years the promised son will be born to him. Soon after the announcement a baby girl, who was named Ismat, was born to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) – she passed away. The opponents raised much hue and cry. Later, a son was born – who is known as Bashir, the first – this child too passed away very young. The opposition created uproar and much derision. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) repeatedly said that he had been told of a specific period of nine years to wait for the son and said that many signs had been given about the son – when they would be fulfilled the world would know.
Huzur said today we know the prophecy of the ‘Promised Reformer’ was fulfilled and the biological progeny of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) as well as his spiritual progeny is spread all over the world and the insignificant opponents have all but vanished.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) explained that the word ‘guest’ in the prophecy was for the first baby boy/child who soon departed from this world. The reference that he will be ‘free from all impurity’ also signifies his childhood death. These phrases were all meant for Bashir, the first. The indication of the ‘promised son’ in the prophecy begins with the words ‘He will be accompanied by grace which shall arrive with him.’
This ‘promised son’ was born on 12th January 1889 and was named Mirza Bashir ud din Mahmood Ahmad. The prophecy was fulfilled in this great son with immense glory and the world witnessed it. The period of his Khilafat spanned fifty two yeas during which the Community spread further than the shores of India and was established in several countries of the world. Huzur said it is impossible to encompass the achievements of the era of Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him), who did not announce that he indeed was the ‘Musleh Maud’ until God informed him. He made the announcement in 1944.
Next Huzur read our extracts from the writings of various non-Ahmadi scholars who acknowledged the fulfilment of the prophecy. A Maulwi SamiUllah Khan Farooqi wrote that the prophecy should be read and repetitively read and it should then be said whether it was fulfilled or not. Arjand Singh, a newspaper editor wrote with reference to some poetic verses by the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that are in his book ‘Dur e Sameen’ which cite attributes of the ‘son’ - that it was astonishing and was borne out of spiritual power. A Maulwi Zafar Ali Khan wrote that people should take note that they could not contend with ‘Mirza Mahmood’ because he had the Qur’an and the knowledge of Qur’an and a Community that was willing to sacrifice everything. Hassan Nizam Dehlvi, a journalist wrote that although he [Hadhrat Musleh Maud] was often unwell, his ailments did not hinder his practical life and that he was an expert warrior of the pen in political and religious matters. Huzur said the words of the prophecy referring to ‘procuring those held in bondage’ was fulfilled with great glory as it was Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) who initiated the movement for the independence of Kashmir. Later on great Islamic names of the time joined in and [part of] Kashmir was granted independence. Among those who openly acknowledged that it was Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) whose dynamic leadership attained the success in Kashmir, despite religious differences, were Abdul Majeed Salik and Syed Habib. Allama Niaz Fatehpuri and Allama Daryabadi recognized the great and eminent knowledge of the Qur’an that Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) possessed. Huzur read an excerpt by Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding the efforts he made for Kashmir.
Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the knowledge that the prophecy speaks of with regards the ‘promised son’ signifies that he would not attain the knowledge himself but would be taught by God. It also does not connote knowledge of sciences and mathematics; rather it signifies knowledge of religion and the Qur’an which God Himself would teach him. The prophecy also cites knowledge of the unseen that God would bestow on him so that his Divine connection could be proven.
Next Huzur cited two incidents where Allah informed Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) of world events in advance through dreams. One was during WWII when the number of 2,800 airplanes needed for the defence of Britain was specifically indicated in his dream. Soon afterwards USA sent the exact number of aircrafts to help Britain in the war. In another dream Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) foresaw the abdication of the King of Belgium.
Huzur elucidated the fulfilment of a few more aspects of the prophecy.
Huzur said this is a brief background of the prophecy of the ‘Promised Reformer’. He said at times some uninformed Ahmadis ask about the commemoration of ‘Musleh Maud Day’. Huzur said we do so in order to revive our faith and to remember the pledge that our objective is to establish truth of Islam in the world. The ‘Musleh Maud Day’ is not the date of his birth or his death. This is a day to remind us of our responsibilities, draw our attention to the progress of Islam, indeed, it should draw our attention to this and we should not merely enjoy it on an intellectual and ideological level.
Next Huzur said he recently heard from a country that the Ansar there were commemorating the ‘Musleh Maud Day’ by holding some sports in conjunction with traditional programme. Huzur said sports was not suitable for Ansar here. They need to turn their attention to the pledge and the way to which Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) has drawn us so that we may take the message of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to the world. Huzur said he hoped the relevant Ansar will rethink their programme and that people will also be careful in future.