بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِِ

Al Islam

The Official Website of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
Muslims who believe in the Messiah,
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian(as)Muslims who believe in the Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani (as), Love for All, Hatred for None.

The establishment of a heavenly graveyard

One objection that is raised in that the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement instituted a heavenly graveyard (Bahishti Maqbarah) and that he laid it down that whoever contributed one tenth of his property for the purpose of the Movement would enter Paradise and thus he opened the way to Paradise through a financial contribution.

It should be clearly grasped that the Promised Messiah, peace be on him, certainly did not prescribe a financial contribution alone as a means of securing burial in this graveyard. For that purpose he laid down other conditions also such as purity of life and righteousness etc. For instance, he said:

The third condition is that a person who seeks burial in this graveyard should be righteous and should refrain from all that is forbidden and should not indulge in anything which has a smattering of associating others with God or of an innovation. He should be a true and plain Muslim. Every righteous person who possesses no property and can render no financial assistance can be given burial in this graveyard if it is proved that he had devoted his life to the faith and was in every way a righteous …….

It would not he enough to contribute one tenth of moveable and immovable property but it would be necessary that the testator should, as far as is possible for him, act upon Islamic commandments and should strive after righteousness and purity and should have sincere faith in the Holy Prophet and should not contravene the rights of his fellow creatures. (Al-Wassiyyat, p.24)

These extracts show clearly that the Promised Messiah, peace be on him, laid it down as conditions for the burial of a person in the heavenly graveyard that he should be a servant of the faith, should he righteous, should be entirely free from any paganism, or indulging in innovations, should be a Muslim, should believe in the Unity of God, should have sincere faith in the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and should discharge his obligations towards his fellow creatures.

It is mentioned in the ahadees that the Promised Messiah will expound to his followers their grades in Paradise (Muslim, chapter on Anti-Christ). This prophecy was, by Divine grace, fulfilled by the institution of the Bahishti Maqbarah.

There is nothing objectionable to convey the good news of paradise to people having regard to their conduct and efforts. Prophets in the past have been conveying such good news to people from among their followers. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, conveyed such good news to those Companions of his who had participated in the Battle of Badar (Bokahri, chapter on Battles). Then he conveyed this good news to ten particular Companions who became known as the Ashrah Mubasharah. He also instituted a graveyard and named it Jannatul Baque which in effect means heavenly graveyard.

The Promised Messiah, peace be on him, in accord with the Divine will and command instituted a graveyard and laid down certain conditions for burial therein which are in accord with the Holy Quran and the hadees and announced that whoever fulfilled those conditions would be admitted to Paradise by Divine grace. What objection could there be to that?