God sent the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) to establish the glory and the high stature of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be on him), and he wrote:
‘God Almighty is not held back from exposition of the claim of the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be on him]. He came like a sun and manifested his light from every point of view. He who turns away from this true sun, will come to no good. We cannot credit such a one with good faith. Can anyone who is afflicted with leprosy and whose limbs are corrupted with leprosy, claim that he is whole and is not in need of treatment? Should he say so, can we credit him with good faith? Should such a person insist that he cannot arrive at the truth of Islam, despite good faith and despite every effort such as he puts forth in his worldly affairs, his matter rests with God. We have not come across any such person and we consider it impossible that anyone equipped with reason and a sense of justice should prefer some other faith to Islam. Foolish and ignorant people adopt the position under the dictates of their lower selves that belief in the Unity of God is enough, and that it is not necessary to follow the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be on him]; but it is to be borne in mind that a Prophet is the mother of belief in Unity, who gives birth to it and points to the existence of God. Who knows the exposition of the truth better than God Almighty Himself? He filled heaven and earth with signs to prove the truth of the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be on him] and now in this age He has sent me and has displayed thousands of signs like heavy rain, which prove the truth of the Holy Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be on him]. What then is lacking in the full exposition of the truth?’(Haqiqat-ul-Wahi, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 22, pp. 180-181– Essence of Islam, Vol. I, pp. 10 – 11)
Although we still witness God’s signs today, the companions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) attained direct beneficence from his company. They received guidance in their dreams. Some of them saw dreams in which the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) appeared as one person. Today’s sermon was based on true dreams of some companions who were guided to accept the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) in their dreams.
Hadhrat Mirza Muhammad Afzal sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He took Bai’at in 1895 and personally saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in 1904. He relates that when he was still quite young his father Hadhrat Munshi Jalal ud Din sahib, who was among the 313 companions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace), saw an auspicious dream for three nights. As a result, he entrusted his young son to a friend and went off in search of the Mahdi. Qadian was fairly unknown at the time but somehow his father reached the town of Batala. Someone there put him off the thought of proceeding to Qadian, so he returned home. As he was in the army, he was deployed to Kabul. On his return home, he went to Qadian quite embarrassed and when he was presented to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace), he asked, ‘are you the same Munshi Jalal ud Din who used to write from Kabul?’
Hadhrat Muhammad Abdullah sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He took Bai’at in 1902 and personally saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in 1903. He relates that whatever he has is through the blessings of the prayers of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) whose blessed face he saw in dream when he was a child. In the dream he is flying eastwards like a bird. He then sees a holy person whose hair and beard is dyed with henna. He relates that when he saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in 1903 he found his face to be exactly as he had seen in the dream.
Hadhrat Rahmat Ullah sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He took Bai’at via letter in 1901. He relates that once when Jalsa was imminent he engaged in a lot of prayer and also did Istakhara. During supplication he felt drowsy and uttered the words: ‘O’ young people, try that religion is strengthened.’ He relates after this experience he attended every Jalsa in the presence of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).
Hadhrat Khanzada Ameer Ullah Khan sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He took Bai’at in 1904 and personally saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace in 1906. He relates a dream he saw before visiting Qadian that he and two other Ahmadis are standing in a queue and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him) are standing in front of them. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) extends his hand and points to Khanzada sahib’s chest and says to Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I, ‘He is of Paradise’. He then gestures to another Ahmadi and repeats, but he does not say anything about the third Ahmadi. In the dream the location changes and Khanzada sahib sees himself sitting down with four Ahmadis and each one of them is saying, I am a hawk or I am a pigeon or I am a partridge. Just then Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him) comes and says that they have not been created to say they are like this or that bird, rather, they should say: La ilaha illallaho Muhammadur Rasool Allah (There is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger) and repeats it three times. He relates that when he went to Qadian the following year, he found the appearance of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him) exactly as he had seen in the dream.
During the time of first Khilafat e Ahmadiyya, he went to Qadian and received treatment from Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him) for 22 days and also saw other doctors. Surgery was suggested to him. There, he saw a dream in which the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) stands by his bedside at night and advises against surgery. When Khanzada sahib recounted this dream to Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him) he said that it was correct, surgery was not needed. He relates a third dream which he saw after the passing away of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). He saw that he is preparing to go to Jalsa Salana the next day and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) says to him to look after Hamid Ali. When he went to Qadian for Jalsa he gave some money to Hamid Ali sahib and wrote to him that he had been instructed by the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) to also look after Hamid Ali. Hamid Ali sahib was overwhelmed at this and said that Prophets of God are so compassionate; they are even concerned about their attendants.
Hadhrat Mian Meeran Bakhsh sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He took Bai’at in 1900. He relates that he was inspired to become an Ahmadi when his brother Ghulam Rasool ,who was uneducated, became an Ahmadi. In the early days when discussing faith with his brother he used to call him a liar but once home, he would wonder that although his brother was uneducated his points were convincing. Once his brother gave him some leaflets to read which had a great impact on him. He prayed a lot. One night he saw a dream in which he saw a holy person reading a book just outside his house who tells him that it is ‘Mirza sahib’s ‘ book which he had brought for Meeran Bakhsh sahib. When the holy person gives him the book, he says that its font is small whereas the font size of Mirza sahib’s leaflets is large. He is told Mirza sahib had it published in small font. Next day he passed by Ghulam Rasool’s shop and saw a man sitting there reading a book and asked which book it was. Ghulam Rasool took the book from the man and handed it to Meeran Bakhsh sahib and said he had brought it for him and he replied that he had already received the book in his dream the night before. Meeran Bakhsh sahib read both parts of the book ‘Izala Auham’ and was left in no doubt, as a result he wrote a letter of Bai’at.
Hadhrat Muhammad Fazil sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He took Bai’at in 1899. He relates that his brother-in-law gave him a booklet entitled ‘Shahdat ul Qur’an’ (written by the Promised Messiah) to read. Next morning after Salat Fazil sahib went to a back room of his house and started reading the booklet laying down on bed. He had read three pages when drowsiness overcame him and he saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) sitting on the top end of his bed, who takes out saliva from his blessed mouth and puts it in Fazil sahib’s mouth with his hand. Fazil sahib swallows it. This fills him with rapture and he woke up. This experience enhanced his belief and intensified love of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in his heart and all uncertainties were removed.
Hadhrat Sheikh Atta Muhammad sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he saw a dream in which the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) is strolling on the Batala Road and gives Atta sahib 1 Rupee and crosses out the image of the Queen on it and says to him to deposit the Rupee in the treasure. Later, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) interpreted the dream as the Queen not accepting Islam.
Hadhrat Mian Abdul Aziz sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He took Bai’at in 1892. He relates that before accepting Ahmadiyyat a Chaudhry Abdul Rahim sahib saw a dream in which he is given a watch or a clock belonging to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) for repair. Coincidentally he was given a watch or clock for repair which belonged to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and as soon as he saw it he said it was exactly the same as he had seen it in the dream belonging to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).
Hadhrat Ameer Khan sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He took Bai’at in 1903. He relates that he saw a dream in 1902 in which he saw Masjid Mubarak in the form of a circular fort filled with humanity. Each person is holding a small red flag and the holiest person among them is on the upper story holding a large red flag. Someone asks him whether he knows who that is. When he says he does not he is told it is his brother from Kabul. The ramparts of the fort have holes in them through which those outside can be targeted but they cannot target those inside. There is a lot of smog and dust outside the fort and visibility is low and mules and donkeys are creating a din making the atmosphere menacing. When Ameer Khan sahib goes out of the fort he sees dead bodies all around and they are being taken inside the fort. Given the disturbing noise outside, he tries to go back inside but cannot find a door. There is another person who is also trying to get inside the fort and is also looking for the door. He finds out that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is leading Salat on the topmost terrace of the fort. Both of them become most anxious to join and in his anxiety Ameer Khan sahib starts to intone ‘Allahu’ as he knew at the time. Through the blessing of this intonation they both take a flight and are able to join the Salat on the right hand side of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and in utter gratefulness Khan sahib weeps profusely in prostration posture. This is where he woke up from his sleep and found that he was breathing heavily and tears were streaming down his face as he continued to intone ‘Allahu’ in wakefulness. He was completely overwhelmed by this experience and was enabled to take Bai’at after short period.
Hadhrat Mian Ibrahim sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in person in 1903. He relates that before he visited Qadian he saw a dream that he and his younger sister are by themselves at home when there is a knock on the door. There are two persons on the doorstep whom Mian sahib asks to come in. The courtyard of the house has a rug with chairs and Mian sahib sits them down on the chairs and asks his sister to make tea. His sister goes to the roof top to collect fuel to make tea and as she is climbing the stairs a large black bull enters the house and seeing those two men promptly turns around and starts to climb the stairs. Mian sahib starts shouting that the bull will kill his sister. Hearing this first the black bearded guest stand up but the red bearded guest says, ‘as you have entrusted this task to me, it is for me to do it.’ So, he follows the bull and Mian sahib also goes upstairs. His sister is saved and only receives some scratches. The bull morphs into an engine on the roof. The guest hits it with a baton and it is smashed into smithereens. They come downstairs and the guests have tea. When they take their leave to go Mian sahib asks them who they are so that he can tell his father. This is when they both smile slightly; the one with black beard says his name is Muhammad and the other person’s name is Ahmad. On hearing this Mian sahib holds onto the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and asks him to advise him. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) says something in Arabic which he understands to mean that some days of his life will be spent in comfort. They then leave. Mian sahib related this dream to his father and they were advised to write it in a letter and send it to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). In response the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said to bring Mian sahib to the Jalsa. In Qadian the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) met Mian sahib most affectionately and asked him to recount the dream.
Hadhrat Syed Saif Ullah sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He took his Bai’at in 1906 and personally saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in 1908. He saw a dream at the age of 12 or 13 in which thousands of people are gathered and there is an Ahmadi mosque. A person is sitting on a six meter high ridge and people are greeting him as they pass by. Someone tells Saif sahib that this is the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). He climbs on the ridge and says his Salaam and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) reciprocates. Saif sahib sits in front of him and wonders that there could not be a better or higher place to be. He asks the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) that he wishes to take Bai’at. The Prophet asks him to hold out his hand and holds his right hand in his own blessed right hand and asks him to repeat ‘Allahu Rabbi’ which he repeats. This is where he woke up and was very sad that he woke up too quickly. He relates that he ever remembered the holy face; it was imprinted on his mind. A long while later he eventually had the chance to go to Qadian and see the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). When he set eyes on his blessed face he saw the very face of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) that he had seen in the dream.
Hadhrat Chaudhry Ghulam Ahmad Khan (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in person in 1908 but did not take Bai’at. He took Bai’at in 1909 on the hand of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him). He relates that when he was a student he saw a dream in which he is walking from the school playing field to the boarding house. On the way they see the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) in a street. He goes up to him, says his salaam and shakes his hand. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is wearing a simple white turban, long black robe and white loose trousers. His skin tone is light brown, he has a wide forehead, straight nose, beautiful eyes and his blessed hair is straight and black. He is of average height and his face is resplendent. Meeting him in the dream fills Ghulam Ahmad sahib with elation and ecstasy which he felt even after waking up. In fact as he relates the dream he says he can still feel the rapture. He had received Tabligh and had accepted the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) but for some reason he once again became a detractor. So much so that he saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in person more than two years after this dream. When that moment came he found the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) look exactly as the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had appeared in his dream, even his clothes were exactly the same. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) gestured him to shake hand. There were a few people in between them so as Ghulam Ahmad sahib stretched his hand he could not quite reach, so the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) raised on his knees to shake his hand.
Hadhrat Abdul Aziz sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He recounts that Mirza Ayub Baig sahib came to him and related a dream he had seen that morning. He said he was saying his morning Prayer when his condition changed. He saw that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is walking briskly. He stops when he comes near Mirza Ayub Baig who asks him where he is going. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) says that he is going to Qadian to protect Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Later, Mirza Ayub Baig wondered what was happening in Qadian that day. In the evening they found out that the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) house was searched by the police that day in connection with the murder of Lekh Ram.
Syed Muhammad Shah sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): Recounting the same dream he relates that in the days following Lekh Ram’s murder the police was carrying our searches. One day Ameer Khan sahib and others were offering their Fajr Salat behind Mirza Ayub Baig. When Salat was over Mirza Ayub Baig told the congregation that he had seen in the prostration posture that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is dressed in military outfit and is rushing somewhere holding a sword. Upon asking he says that today Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is going to be searched so I am going to Qadian for his protection.
Hadhrat Ameer Khan sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates a dream he saw in January 1915 in which kings address Ahmadis and say that they cannot be kings anymore and want to hand over their kingship to Ahmadi but Ahmadis should first try through Tabligh to make the public think on their lines. In the dream he starts doing Tabligh to Hindus presenting historical facts with reasoning and tells them how at the time of Krishan a metaphorical dangerous war took place and destruction came to pass.
Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih said this fact stands even today; any power or any triumph that we may attain will be through Tabligh and prayers.
Hadhrat Dr Muhammad Tufail Khan sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He took Bai’at in 1896. He relates that after the debate ‘Jang e Moqaddas’ which took place between Christians and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) large number of people used to gather around his father and discussions would ensue. At the end of the debate the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had made a prophecy about Abdullah Atham. When only a few days remained to the deadline of the prophecy, detractors started saying how could a high ranking official like Atham be targeted in this way. Tufail sahib’s father found such conjectures very unpleasant and he would suggest that no assumptions should be made before the set duration expired. When only one day remained his father became extremely anxious that a prophecy regarding triumph of Islam was not being fulfilled. He started prayer and saw a dream in which a human form is covered with grass and dust so much so that it is not possible to identify the person. Another person is sitting with his face towards the form covered with grass and is taking the grass off, blade by blade with extreme love and care. After a while the person clears all the grass and the dust and from underneath appears a face as resplendent as the sun. In the dream Tufail sahib’s father is informed that this was Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and the person removing the grass etc. was the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Next morning the detractors came to Tufail sahib’s father and said that Atham was still alive and that ‘Mirza’s’ prophecy had not fulfilled. Tufail sahib’s father told them that Atham had certainly died for his co-religionists and relatives [as he had given up making his usual assertions]. His father told them that until all facts were disclosed they should entrust their doubts and misgiving to God. He also told them had they seen what he had seen the night before they would realise the high stature of the man they were disparaging.
Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih said that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was defending Islam and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) while the Muslims and their clergy was siding the others. Today they are taking out rallies to commemorate the birth of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) whereas true happiness is in spreading his message and in invoking blessings and salutations on him (Durud). Abdullah Atham’s death was averted because he had in a way repented but he died after a few years.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote about the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him: ‘I always wonder how high was the status of this Arabian Prophet, whose name was Muhammad, (thousands of blessings and peace be upon him). One cannot reach the limit of his high status and it is not given to man to estimate correctly his spiritual effectiveness. It is a pity that his rank has not been recognized, as it should have been.He was the champion who restored to the world the Unity of God which had disappeared from the world; he loved God in the extreme and his soul melted out of sympathy for mankind. Therefore, God, Who knew the secret of his heart, exalted him above all the Prophets and all the first ones and the last ones and bestowed upon him in his lifetime all that he desired. He is the fountainhead of every grace and a person who claims any superiority without acknowledging his grace is not a man but is the spawn of Satan, because the Holy Prophet has been bestowed the key to every exaltation and he has been given the treasury of every understanding. He who does not receive through him is deprived forever. I am nothing and possess nothing. I would be most ungrateful if I were not to confess that I have learnt of the true Unity of God through this Prophet. The recognition of the Living God we have achieved through this perfect Prophet and through his light. The honour of converse with God, through which we behold His countenance, has been bestowed upon me through this great Prophet. The ray of this sun of guidance falls like sunshine upon me and I continue illumined only so long as I am adjusted towards it.(Haqiqat-ul-Wahi, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 22, pp. 118-119 – Essence of Islam, Vol. I, pp. 197 – 198)
Such was the lofty stature of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) as described by the Promised Messiah. We should profusely engage in Durud and continue to progress in this. We should also try and follow his blessed model and keep improving. Today others are taking our rallies etc. but are not presenting his blessed teachings. The rally they are taking our in Rabwah would probably only be about hurling abuse at the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and the Jama’at. On the one hand is this treatment of our detractors and on the other hand is God’s favour on the companions that He showed them the beings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) as one and thus reassured them. Pure-natured people are being enabled by God to have such experiences even today and as a result of this they are coming in the fold of Jama’at. They are adopting true servitude of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) by taking Bai’at of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). May the eyes of the detractors be opened and rather than be so-called Muslims, may they be real Muslims and listen to the voice of God.