‘Mujaddid of the Last Millennium’
Hudhur said that in his sermon of 27 May he had spoken about Ahmadiyya Khilafat in light of the Holy Qur’an, the prophecy of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and the pronouncements of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). He had also wanted to say something with reference to coming of Mujaddid (Reformer/Revivalist) but the subject required some expounding, therefore Hudhur did not mention it then, but would speak on it today.
A while ago a child in Waqfe Nau class questioned Hudhur if Mujaddids will come in future. Hudhur feels this kind of question arises when it is discussed in families because a child could not come up with a question like this or some, who wish to create uneasiness among children and the youth pose such questions. Hudhur explained that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that a Mujaddid will come at the turn of each century. Questions relating to this have arisen in the Jama’at at different times, not by sincere members but by those who wish to create discord. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) expounded this matter on various occasions. In the era of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih III (may Allah have mercy on him) this issue was raised quite forcefully and he gave comprehensive discourse in response. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (may Allah have mercy on him) was also questioned about this. It is matter that is raised in minds time and again and the hypocritical have tried to create restlessness as to what is the difference between Mujaddidiat (the office/agency of a Mujaddid) and Khilafat. Craftily, the debate is initiated from an academic viewpoint but it is later discovered that the intention is quite different. This was especially found to be the case in the era of the third Ahmadiyya Khilafat.
God promised the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that after him Khilafat would be established and for this God would show tremendous signs of His power. Thus, God has always eliminated such disturbances. Today, this mischief is not present as it was in the third Ahmadiyya Khilafat, but questions continue to arise. Therefore Hudhur expounded the matter. There is no doubt that it is stated in hadith that at the turn of each century Mujaddids will rise to revive faith. In the Arabic wording of the hadith, plural noun can also be applied to the person or persons who would be Mujaddid. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has written on this subject on numerous occasions and Hudhur chose to present some extracts from these writings which clarify the matter of Mujaddids to come. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote that God willed the garden of Islam to be evergreen and fresh, therefore at the turn of every century, He sent a person for the reformation and the ignorant contended with him. Yet, God did not abandon His way. In the latter-days, having found the Muslims in ignorance, God revived the religion of Islam. Other religions were not revived in this manner; people who lacked spirituality and were led by their selfish desires brought these faiths in decline.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote:
‘When God Almighty, observing the condition of the world and finding the earth filled with every type of disobedience, sin and misguidance, appointed me for the propagation of the truth and the reform of people and the time was…..the end of the thirteenth and the beginning of the fourteenth century, then I—in obedience to this command—sent forth the call through written announcements and speeches, that I am that person, who was to come from God at the turn of the century for revival of the faith. The purpose was that I should re-establish the faith which had disappeared from the earth, and pull mankind towards reform and righteousness and truthfulness through the power and strength that God had bestowed upon me and through the magnetic power of His hand. I was also destined to correct their doctrinal errors and to reform their conduct.
A few years thereafter, it was made quite clear to me through Divine revelation that the Messiah, whose advent among the Muslims had been promised from the beginning, and the last Mahdi whose advent had been Divinely decreed to take place at the time of the decline of Islam and the spread of error, and who was to be guided directly by God, and who was to invite people to partake of the heavenly banquet, and whose advent had been foretold by the Holy Prophetsa thirteen hundred years in advance, was none other than myself.’ [Essence of Islam, Vol. IV, pp. 31 – 32, Tadhkirat-us-Shahadatain, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 20, p. 3 - 4]
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) also said that who could argue that the age of the Mahdi was an age of revival and that the solar and lunar eclipses were a sign for it. As these signs had appeared, whoever wished to accept them was free to do so.
Hudhur explained that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was not simply the Mujaddid of the 14th century, rather, he was also the Messiah and the Mahdi and his status was considerably higher than that of a Mujaddid. Although he was sent to revive faith and guide people, his status was very high and he was granted Prophethood. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said: ‘Although generally speaking, the hadith of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) has been fulfilled that God will continue to send a Mujaddid at the turn of each century to reform this Ummah and to revive His faith. However, so many indications of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) as regards the fourteenth century, in terms of the glad-tiding that a magnificent Mahdi will appear at the turn of the fourteenth century can be found that a seeker cannot deny them.’ He also said: ‘God has sent this prophet, who is a perfect Mujaddid, so that God may demonstrate and prove in this age that all religions and all teachings are naught as compared to Islam.’
Hudhur explained that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has also said that the Khilafat or Mujaddidiat of Hadhrat Musa (on whom be peace) finished after Hadhrat Isa (on whom be peace). However, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) predicted that in order to keep the teaching of Islam fresh a Mujaddid will be sent at the turn of each century, to remove errors, harmful innovations and to reform religion. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) also declared as a sign of his truthfulness that if Mujaddids had continue to come earlier, why would not one come now. Hudhur said in view of the eminence of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and the hadith regarding establishment of Khilafat, the matter of future Mujaddids becomes clear.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote in ‘Lecture Sialkot’: This Imam, whom God has designated as the Promised Messiah, is the Mujaddid [Reformer] of this century as well as of the last millennium.’ He further explains this: ‘…counting from the time of Adam, the present millennium is the seventh…This too proves that we are now in the seventh [last] millennium.’ [Lecture Sialkot, p. 9]
Hudhur explained that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had called the preceding millennium as a time of darkness, after which the advent of the Mahdi would take place and the second phase of Islam would begin. Many Mujaddids were born in different regions in the intermediate millennium, however their standing was like that of small lamps and they illumined their specific regions. The distinction of being called the Mujaddid of the last millennium was granted to this magnificent Mujaddid as his was to be the last millennium of this Earth’s life. Thus, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that after him there will neither be an Imam nor Messiah, but one who is in a shadow-like capacity. Hudhur said as the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had said, Mujaddids came and can continue to come but they will be in a shadow-like capacity of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and this phenomenon has been expounded in the following hadith:
Hadhrat Huzaifa narrated that the Messenger of Allah said: ‘Prophethood shall remain among you as long as Allah shall will. He will bring about its end and follow it with Khilafat on the precepts of Prophethood for as long as He shall will and then bring about its end. A tyrannical monarchy will then follow and will remain as long as Allah shall will and then come to an end. There will follow thereafter monarchical despotism to last as long as Allah shall will and come to an end upon His decree. There will then emerge Khilafat on precept of Prophethood.’ The Holy Prophet said no more.
Hudhur said that once Khilafat on the precepts of Prophethood is established, it alone carries out the work of revival of faith. As the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) explained: ‘I came from God as a Manifestation of Divine Providence and I am a personification of His Power. And after I am gone there will be some other persons who will be the manifestation of the second Power [of God].’ He went on to explain the second manifestation by citing the example of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) after the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).
Hadhur said that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) is the Mujaddid of the last millennium and Khilafat was to be established through him and the work of revival of faith was to be accomplished via Khilafat alone and this indeed has been going on. It is possible that in centuries to come, someone will declare to be a Mujaddid. The condition for this would be subordination to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and to be a characterisation of second manifestation. If God so wills, He can give the status of Mujaddid to a Khalifa of the time at the turn of a century, and enable him to declare this. It has also been seen that sometimes it is after the person has passed away that people concluded that he was a Mujaddid, so it is not essential that such a person would make an announcement regarding his status as a Mujaddid. Hudhur said it should also be clear that each Khalifa is a Mujaddid during his era because he is doing the work of the Promised Messiah. Being a Mujaddid does not alter the station of Khilafat; the status of Khilafat comes before that of a Mujaddid. The tasks/mission that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) expounded are carried out under the auspices of Ahmadiyya Khilafat. In addition to our missionaries, many Ahmadis are also undertaking this work and are thus small lamps of the revival of Islam. Hudhur said that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had said that if hundreds of Mujaddids could come among the Israelites at a given time, why could not the same be the case in Islam.
Hudhur elucidated that history of Islam shows that Mujaddids came in every region. Wherever the need to reform arose, God sent people for the task. Why then only twelve Mujaddids, one for each intermediary century, are counted in the history of Islam? The majority in the Arab world do not accept the concept of twelve Mujaddids as the Muslims of the Indian sub-continent do. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) explained this as a misunderstanding. He said a Mujaddid is not for the entire world, rather, a Mujaddid is sent by God to every region and area. Since Islam is a religion for the entire world, it is essential to have different Mujaddids in different parts of the world. Hadhrat Syed Ahmad Barelvi was not a Mujaddid for the entire world, but was just for India. He gave no guidance to people in Arabia, or Egypt, Iran or Afghanistan. However, history of these countries shows that there were people there who were recipients of Divine revelation and were thus Mujaddids in their own right. Those who guided people towards reformation of religion were also Mujaddids. The only difference being, some were big Mujaddids and others small. The significance of the Indian Mujaddids was that they came to a country where the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was to appear and they foretold about him. A person who revives and reforms faith based on Divine revelation is a spiritual Mujaddid. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had said that the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb was a Mujaddid, although Aurangzeb did not claim to receive revelation.
There can be many Mujaddids at a given time whereas there can be only one Khalifa at a time. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) also conferred Khilafat with high standing when he said it would be on the precepts of Prophehood. In a hadith he explained that God will send a Mujaddid at the turn of each century, who will revive and reform religion for the people of the time. It is said that there will be a Mujaddid or Mujaddids at the turn of each century. If this is viewed in light of the hadith relating Khilafat on the precepts of Prophethood, the latter hadith first cites Prophethood, then Khilafat on the precepts of Prophethood followed by tyrannical monarchy. In early Islam, as long as the Khilafat on the precepts of Prophethood remained and as long as the Companions of the Holy Prophet were alive and later those who followed the Companions, there was not much weakening of faith. The coming of the Mujaddid was prophesised by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to be later, after one hundred years, a Mujaddid was not needed in the first century of Islam. It was in effect also a prophecy of the end of Rightly-guided Khilafat as well as a prophecy for harmful innovations entering faith. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has said that there can be many Mujaddids present at a time. However, when the glad-tiding of the magnificent and last Mujaddid was given, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) went silent. Thus the Mujaddidiat was to last until the advent of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). After his advent, as the Messiah and the Mujaddid of the fourteenth century as well as of the last millennium, the system in operation was to be of Khilafat on the precepts of Prophethood and which the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said would be tremendous.
Hudhur said that God’s support and succour for the Ahmadiyya Khilafat is demonstrated when people of other religions see its Khulafa in their dreams. Today the task of revival of faith can only be performed by adhering to the system of Khilafat. The Qur’an does not mention Mujaddids but it mentions Khilafat as Hudhur explained in his sermon of 27 May in light of Ayat e Istakhlaf. Hudhur said rather than enter into the debate whether a Mujaddid can still come or when will the next Mujaddid come, we should strengthen our belief on the claim of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and take his mission forward.
Self-reformation as well as the reformation of the next generation is needed, shunning harmful innovation in religion is needed, practicing the true teachings of Islam is needed and propagation of faith is needed. Publication work is being carried out through books, magazines and MTA and it is our responsibility to take this work forward and give it our full attention. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has removed the harmful innovations that had entered Islam and Ahmadiyya Khilafat endeavours to take this work forward. Hudhur recently received a letter in the post from an Arab person. He had written that he had been anxious over various practices of the mullah and the harmful innovations in Islam. By chance he came across MTA and observed the true teaching of Islam, learned about death of Jesus (on whom be peace) and was reassured because he could not accept that anyone could be alive for the past two thousand years. He then expressed his desire to come into the fold of Ahmadiyya Jama’at.
Hudhur said people are coming to know all this through the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and there is no need for a new Mujaddid after the period of a hundred years. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) is indeed the Mujaddid and we need to be his dynamic helpers. God has provided the apparatus and the arrangements to the Imam of the age and the Mujaddid of the last millennium; our task is to simply take the message to the world. Whoever will do so will be a helper of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and his Khilafat and will be doing the task of revival of faith. May God enable each Ahmadi to do this.
Next Hudhur gave the sad news of the passing away of Khairuddin Barus sahib of Indonesia. Hudhur announced that he would lead his funeral Prayer after Jummah. Barus sahib was born in 1947 in Indonesia and took his Bai’at in 1971. He came to study at Jamia in 1977, learned Urdu and obtained his Shahid degree in 1982. He served the Jama’at in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and was currently serving in Papua New Guinea. He passed away on 6 June after a brief illness. He was a very sincere person who was very keen on Tabligh work and would cheerfully discharge of any duty that was given to him. He is survived by three wives and fourteen children. May God grant patience to them all and elevate his station.