Munawar A. Saeed
The Ahmadiyya Gazette, May 1997
The Proof of the Truth of Ahmadiyyat for those who have an open mind
In Sura Al-Noor of the Holy Quran Allah the Exalted has given the glad tidings to the sincere Muslims that Khilafat will be established among them:
"Allah had promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely make them Successors in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who were before them; and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them; and that He will surely give them in exchange security and peace after their fear: They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me. Then whoso is ungrateful after that, they will be the rebellious." (24:56)
In this verse we learn several aspects of the promise of Khilafat among the Muslims:
In accordance with this promise, the Muslims were blessed with Khilafat at the time of their greatest fear. Never were the Muslims in a greater state of fear than at the time when the Holy Prophet (saw) passed away. The brave companions whose advancing steps were a terror for the mighty kingdom of Persia and Rome were, at that time, totally shaken and fear-stricken. Even a man as brave and level-headed as Hazrat Umar lost control of his balance and declared that anybody who said that the Holy Prophet (saw) had died would die with his sword. This surely was the time for the fulfillment of the promise by God; and the promise was fulfilled in a grand way. Allah chose Hazrat Abu Bakr to lead the Muslims in this 'state of fear' and did, in a matter of moments, changed their fear into state of security. The mission of the Holy Prophet (saw) was continued by the four righteous Khalifas (Successors). Within a matter of thirty years the worship of One God was established not only in Arabia but also in distant lands.
Unfortunately, there were some rebellious ones who introduced personal interests and tribal affiliations and succeeded in influencing many sincere Muslims, resulting in civil wars among the Muslims. Three of the righteous Khalifas: Hazrat Umar, Hazrat Uthman, and Hazrat Ali, were martyred. Because of this ungratefulness, Muslims lost the blessing of Khilafat and became the victims of internal dissension. A prolonged state of fear ensued and lasted for one thousand dark years, in which Muslim sects declared each other infidels. Muslims fought other Muslims, foreign dominated Muslim countries and only the name of Islam was left.
Luckily, we are born in an age when the Almighty God has once again fulfilled His promise by transforming the long state of fear into the promised, ever-lasting state of security. Through the appearance of the Promised Messiah and after him the establishment of the institution of Khilafat among the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, we have witnessed the fulfillment of Allah's promise in our own time. In his book 'Al-Wasiyyat', the Promised Messiah gave the glad tiding of the "second manifestation" which will be everlasting and unending until the Day of Judgment.
Along with so many other signs, the establishment of Khilafat in the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is proof of the truth of Ahmadiyyat. The promise of Allah is that "those among you who believe and do good works" shall be blessed with Khilafat. After the thirty years of Khilafat-i-Rashida many people tried to establish Khilafat. At one time, a strong political movement was launched to reintroduce Khilafat. In spite of the leadership of some of the most renowned orators like Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauher, the movement failed miserably because it did not fulfill the Quranic criterion of entitlement to Khilafat - true belief in God and good deeds. The firm establishment of Khilafat among the Ahmadis and the unflinching support and deep seated love that every Ahmadi has for the Khalifa is a blessing of God and a sign of truth of Ahmadiyyat for those who have an open mind.
May Allah the Exalted enable all of us to be truly grateful for this blessing and may He grant us the ability to faithfully abide by the commandments of the Khalifa of the time. May He grant a long and prosperous period of Khilafat upon our beloved leader, Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IV (Fourth Successor to Promised Messiah), and enable the Community to march forward under his leadership and direction. Ameen!