“ breathed and they were scattered” 1 - New Light on Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad & the Agapemonites

Rehan Qayoom

It has recently been alleged that the Prophecy made by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community about John Hugh Smyth-Pigott in 1902 remained unfulfilled and reference is made to an early announcement sent to Pigott. Hazrat Ahmad passed away in 1908 and Pigott died in 1927. It is said that because Hazrat Ahmad passed away before Pigott the Ahmadis have maintained a silence about this incident and their literature does not refer to it. The opponents exploit the fact that none of Hazrat Ahmad‟s pronouncements about Pigott have ever been available in English. As will become evident from the pronouncements presented below for the first time there was no unequivocal Prophecy pertaining to Pigott‟s death. The initial Prophecy stated that if Pigott continues to claim godhead then he would die within the lifetime of Hazrat Ahmad. Within weeks of this Pigott was accosted by the crowds as he left the Ark of the Covenant and required police assistance to go home to St John‟s Wood. When challenged by a jeering mob to prove his Godhead by walking across Clapton Pond, Pigott escaped post-haste to in to live in comparative anonymity at his Abode of Love: thus forfeiting the conditions set out in the original advertisement sent to him from Qadian, India. Hazrat Ahmad subsequently made reference to him based on Divine revelations he had received as to the cult's future. This included the Prophecy that his own spiritual Ark would triumph in London whilst Pigott and his false Ark would no longer be remembered. In 1924 (when Pigott was still living), London‟s first mosque was founded by the Second Caliph, Hazrat al-Hajj Mirza Bashirudeen Mahmood Ahmad with Hazrat Ahmad‟s Divine revelation „There is peace in this Abode of Love‟2 painted onto its façade.

The headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Community have been based in London since 1984 from where the Khalifatul Masih, the Caliph and Spiritual Head of the Community is in touch with members in over 200 countries via MTA (Muslim Television Ahmadiyya). The Jamia Ahmadiyya, a religious and theological college is situated in St. John‟s Wood where Pigott lived; his house is, strangely, always a source of horror and loathing to visitors.3

In answer to the misconceptions of opponents, research has been conducted in recent years by Asif M. Basit. He has visited the estate at Spaxton and conducted interviews with researchers and specialists. An article by Asif M. Basit published last year in Al Fazl (22nd July 2011) and newly translated into English in The Review of Religions (February 2012) offers an elaborate summary of the background and most of the basic facts. He was also instrumental

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1 Queen Elizabeth I, 1588. 2 Ahmad, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam. Tadhkirah [Tadhkirah Dreams, Visions & Revelations]. (English: 1976, 2009). 3 Betjeman, Sir John. Metro-Land. (BBC, 1973). in contacting Pigott‟s granddaughter Ann Buckley who attended the annual Peace Symposium on 26th March and met with Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad – Khalifatul Masih V on 22nd April 2011 in an audience lasting half an hour. She said “I never knew such spiritual people still exist. I have just met a very beautiful personality. It looks as if he can see the inside of people.” Asif M. Basit writes:

This was a very faith-inspiring sight. The light which the Promised Messiah desired to show Pigott did not go in vain. Indeed, it could not have gone in vain because it was that light which spouted from one who had been truly commissioned by God Almighty. Although Pigott deprived himself of this light, a woman from his progeny experienced it for herself. After this, Ms Ann Buckley wrote a letter of gratitude to His Holiness.4

Ann Buckley with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Hazrat Ahmad's own writings and statements about Pigott answer any allegation in themselves. They are now being presented here in English for the first time.

Rehan Qayoom. March 2012.

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4 Basit, Asif M. „Rev. John Hugh Smyth Pigott, His Claim, Prophecy and End‟. al-Fazl International, 22nd July 2010, (10-12). English Translation: The Review of Religions, February 2012. 50-63. On 7th October 1902 a notice from The Freethinker was read out in the presence of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be upon him) which reported that Pigott was attacked by a mob but was saved by the police.

On the eve of 14th October 1902 Maulvi Muhammad Ali M. A. read out a notice about Pigott from The Freethinker in the presence of Hazrat Ahmad. 5

On 22th October 1902 during the daily walk it was mentioned that Pigott should be in receipt of our booklet by the end of this month. Hazrat Ahmad remarked:

One wonders whether he will mention it in a newspaper or remain silent his maintaining a silence will reveal whether this God has any courage or not. If he does not mention it then it will become evident that he himself is in doubt about this belief and is himself ignorant of what he has proposed for the person who disbelieves in the Unity of God is proven false by his own heart these people [Christians] have argued a thousand things and even held conferences but have been unable to prove any exclusivity of Christ beyond his being a [mere] human. These people are so anxious that in their anxiety they are crying out for the Messiah. The newspapers are the basis of their prominence. The newspapers of the Punjab are but in name as compared to theirs whereby they can inform hundreds of thousands of people a day over there. If Pigott opposes us more than Dowie it will prove to be very effective. The Antichrist is just a metaphor for a group of people and Messiah means the one who travels. Both of them claimed Prophethood and cut and perverted the books of God according to their own desire and then claimed Godhead in a philosophic way. Their example is like the pupil who was learning from his teacher. When he came across the phrase „Zaid beat Umaro‟ the pupil asked his teacher why Zaid hit Umaro? The teacher replied „it is only an expression‟ [but] the pupil said „No it actually happened. Tell me why did it lead to a thrashing?‟ In the end the teacher saw that he will not let go. He said „I remember the reason now it was because Umar had snatched the letter O [from something Zaid had written] and used it in his own work.‟ Only then did the pupil say „All right. At least I know the reason now.‟ Pigott should definitely be written a letter. If he competes it will be very beneficial and people will also pay attention [to us].

Mufti Muhammad Sadiq replied that we have written to him. Hazrat Ahmad replied:

Compared to the Americans the British are more linked with us. If he is challenged and in print then it is hoped that Allah Almighty will show some sign. Dowie has opted for a lower status like that of slaves. If he (Pigott) shows some bravado then he (Dowie) is within his grasp now because he has come within his own appointed period. He should say that the Messiah has taken the form of water and come into me from the heavens. It is written in the Hadith [Traditions] that when it was enquired whether the Antichrist will have so great a reputation as to control the moon and sun as well and bring the dead back to life? The Holy Prophet said that „It is not so he will not have an iota of power. All that he possesses will be trickery and wile.‟ 6

In November 1902 Hazrat Ahmad wrote the following on a piece of paper and instructed his

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5 Malfuzat ii [Discourses], 349. 6 Malfuzat ii [Discourses], 438-440. Companion Maulvi Muhammad Ali M.A. to translate it into English and get it published and sent to England. The announcement was published in newspapers in England:

My secretary has received the announcement containing your claim. You are false in making this claim. If you have the power, come and compete with me. God has informed me that I am the Promised Messiah and Islam is the true faith. 7

For the reason that there has been no end to cursing and blaspheming. These people have repeatedly in their advertisements blasphemed against previous Signs and demand a Sign for the future I have those papers saved in a large sack so we give them this Sign as for the Christians who have also repeatedly addressed me writing that the Gospels state that false Messiahs will come. In this way they declare me to be a false Messiah although in these days a false Messiah named Pigott is present among the Christians themselves in the very centre of London who claims to be God and the Messiah and is fulfilling the Prophecy of the Gospel. However if someone desires to call me a liar in future it is incumbent upon them to contest my Signs. Many apostates [from Islam] from among the Christians now claim to be Maulvis [Clerics/Scholars]. If the Padres are true in this rejection they should commission an Ode akin to this in 5 days from those Maulvis and obtain RS 10000 to spend in the projects of the Mission.8 But if any person utters obscenities after the appointed date or presents anything in writing their writing will be deemed worthy of throwing into a common sewer. 9

On 11th November 1902 Mufti Muhammad Sadiq read out a letter in reply to that written to Pigott by himself asking for more information about his claim 10 – He received this reply from his Secretary, Douglas Hamilton along with 2 leaflets which he also read out before Hazrat Ahmad. The heading of one of the leaflets was Noah’s Ark. Hazrat Ahmad remarked:

Rational converse is respected and has lasting effect but irrational thought loses its innovativeness in the space of 2 or 3 lines. Now our true Ark of Noah will dominate the false Ark. The Europeans used to say that false Messiahs are yet to come so firstly falseProphets and Messiahs stepped out in London and this will be followed by the voice of the true Messiah reaching London. It is also recorded in the Traditions that the Antichrist will claim Prophethood and Godhead for himself so this nation has also manifestly fulfilled this Dowie is claiming to be a Prophet in America and Pigott is claiming to be God in London and calls himself God in other words Pigott as God is an embodiment of the Gospels and one benefit he has gained from this is that he escapes belief in Christ as God for he himself became God for the rest of his life. 11

Following the evening prayer in congregation on 18th November 1902 Dowie‟s newspaper Leaves of Healing was read out after which Hazrat Ahmad remarked that „Pigott‟s fame is far

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7 Note by Jalaluddin Shams in Tadhkirah (Islam International Publications, Second English Edition, 2009), 567. 8 Ode titled „al-Qasidatul Ejaziyya‟ composed under the Power of the as explained in the book. 9 Ejaz e Ahmadi; Zamima ‘Nuzulul Masih’ [The Miracle of an Ahmadi: Appendix to ‘The Second Coming of the Messiah’]. (Ziyaul Islam, 1902). Written on 8th November and published on 15th November 1902. 10 Mufti Muhammad Sadiq‟s letter was printed in the al-Hakam, 17th November 1902 and his book Zikr e Habib (108, 109) where he notes that he never received a reply to his letter. 11 Malfuzat ii [Discourses], 512. greater than that of Dowie‟. 12

During the morning walk the following day Pigott was mentioned again upon which the Hazrat Ahmad said:

[People from] these nations dare to make such claims because they have collectively accepted that this is the time for the Messiah to come otherwise if people had largely been under the impression that it is not yet time he would not have made his claim. Satan also has manifestations. So as such Satan has only chosen to prefer Pigott through whom to manifest himself in this age. What a great need there is in this age for photography to deal with these people. People are influenced in this day and age in every gathering and meeting through the medium of photography. Pigott‟s photograph has also been published. In this age (spiritual) warfare is pointless without a Photo. Almighty God states that one should have ready such weapons as the enemy has prepared and this justifies the use of photography the use of guns and cannons in war is permissible under the same justification otherwise it is forbidden to kill by firepower and the Divine revelation permits such things in cases where the demands of truth be productive and didactic and it is sheer tomfoolery to cite evidence for the condemnation of .a picture of Hazrat Aisha ﷺ pictures. Gabriel himself showed the Holy Prophet The root of the name Pigott is related to the word for swine. Now let us comprehend this Christian God as to whether he ascends to the heavens or is buried in the Earth in actual fact Almighty God has a great sense of honour against those who claim Godhead his sense of honour does not need such people. In his estimation Moses and all the Prophets (God forbid) are people of this Pigott and the other strange aspect is: for 2 claimants to have arisen from one empire. A false one and the true one and just as the plague is beneficial for us similarly Pigott has poked his neck out and everything that has been decided by God shall certainly be made evident in its entirety. 13

On 20th November 1902 Hazrat Ahmad mentioned that:

I prayed about Pigott during the night and also during the day and saw in a dream that someone gave me some books on which it was written 3 times: „Holy, Holy, Holy‟ and then received a revelation: „Allah is severe in retribution. They are not acting righteously. This revelation indicates that his present condition is not good or that he would not repent in future. It can also mean that he would not believe in Allah, or that what he has done by telling such a lie against Almighty Allah and planning against Him, is not good. The part „Allah is severe in retribution‟ shows that his end will be doomed and he will be afflicted with God‟s chastisement. Indeed, it is really such an enormity to claim Godhead. 14

On 21st November 1902 Hazrat Ahmad enquired from his Companion Sheikh Rehmatullah about his recent visit to London as to whether he had opportunity to meet with Pigott, he replied that had had tried very hard to meet him but was not able to do so. The conversation drifted onto the child his European wife recently bore who was named Abdullah by Hazrat Ahmad who said that „He is the first Muslim to be born in London.‟15

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12 Malfuzat ii [Discourses], 528. 13 Malfuzat ii [Discourses], 529-530. 14 Malfuzat ii [Discourses], 535, 536. 15 Malfuzat ii [Discourses], 537.

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Chief of Qadian, Punjab, the Promised Messiah.

During the daily walk on 1st December 1902 in reply to somebody mentioning the spread of , Hazrat Ahmad observed:

They have already achieved whatever they were to achieve. They turning a human into being fully God. If man can become God then why are they upset with Pigott? The more the the more powerful they will become. 16

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16 Malfuzat ii [Discourses], 537. On 20th January 1903 Mufti Muhammad Sadiq read from an English newspaper which had reported news about Pigott. Hazrat Ahmad remarked:

who were destroyed ﷺ Such claimants were also born during the time of the Holy Prophet soon after this will also be his fate. There is a revelation about him „Allah is severe in retribution‟. 17

During an evening audience on 27th April 1903, the Hazrat Ahmad observed whilst speaking of the significance of names in coincidental events:

Once I was going on a journey and pondering in my heart upon Pigott that it is a great opposition and wondering what the result will be when one person [who was] not from the Community said „Assalamo Alaikum‟ [„Peace be to you‟] in the pathway. I took it to mean that we will be victorious. 18

17 Malfuzat iii [Discourses], 41. 18 Malfuzat iii [Discourses], 278.

When the Earth is polluted with sin and idolatry and becomes ignorant of the reality of one‟s purpose in being created then God‟s Grace demands that the Earth be purified and re-cleansed through granting a relationship with His own being to a man of perfect nature by honouring him with His converse and by allowing him to reach the of His love. One cannot become God but one can reach great stages in a relationship with Him so as to become wholly for God and like a clear mirror through constant cleansing of oneself. Then the face of God is reflected in this mirror to become a bridge connecting human with Divine attributes and sometimes he carries out works of a Divine nature because the face of God is reflected in his personal mirror and sometimes he carries out works of a human nature because he is a human and those who see such people sometimes see only one side of their being and mistake them for God and this is the very reason why worship of the creation is found in the world and hundreds of people are made into gods because of this very delusion. However in this age of ours those Christian sects which believe Jesus Christ to be God are deluded as no other nation is and believers of those who were made into Gods hundreds of years before Christ such as Ramchandra, Krishna, Gautama Buddha are convinced in this age of ours that they were mistaken in this assumption but unfortunately the believers of Jesus Christ still grant him this office of Godship to this day in this age for no reason even though this thought was so obviously false that no argument was required but unfortunately the Christians are still sitting far aloof from this age and in fact when people saw that this very age is falsifying this thought day by day they became disheartened from their usual methods and came up with this new method so that from among them one became Elijah and another claimed to be the Messiah Son of Mary and God Himself. I am alluding in this packed sentence to Mr Pigott who claims Divinity and to be the Christ in London and Mr Dowie became Elijah in America and prophesied that the Messiah Son of Mary will come into the world within 25 years. The difference between them both is that Dowie showed cowardice in fearing word getting out of his being Elijah and did not become the Christ but a servant of the Christ and Pigott showed great courage to have become the Christ himself and not just the Christ but also claimed to be God. So Londoners need have no fear of disease, calamity and torment for God has descended in their city but I have heard that some Jews also dwell in London so it is feared that they may naturally think that this is the same Messiah who was mistakenly taken off from the cross whilst unconscious and found opportunity to escape to the eastern countries. 19 We should now at last crucify him so as to finish him for once and for all so he may never run away again and it is also a matter of concern that the Christians may remember that the previous sacrifice has become dated and rotten and an abundance of alcohol and impiety and wickedness have made evident that the effects of this salvation have disappeared so fresh blood is now in demand. Thus I say in sympathy that Mr Pigott ought to beware of these 2 groups, in short when such false and impure claims are made on Earth in these days God who does not like sin and impurity to spread has sent me as His Messiah so that He may brighten the darkness of the world with His light and to emancipate the world from the filth of idolatry so I am that same Promised Messiah who was to come at such a time and I do not say from my own mouth alone that I am that same Promised Messiah but the God who created the heavens and the Earth testifies me and He has shown and is showing hundreds of Signs for me in fulfilment of this testimony and I say in all truth that His blessing is with me more than it was with that Messiah who has passed before me and His face reflects in my mirror far more resplendently than it did in his mirror if I say

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19 A synagogue was built directly opposite Pigott‟s Ark of the Covenant in 1915. this merely from my own mouth then I am a liar. But if He testifies in my favour then none can call me a liar for he bears witness in my favour thousands of times which I cannot count. Inclusive of these there is one other testimony that this audacious liar by the name of Pigott who claims Divinity in London will be uprooted and destroyed before my eyes. Secondly there is the testimony that if Mr Dowie accepts my offer of a Mubahala [Prayer-duel] and opposes me openly or by insinuation he will leave this mortal world in great regret and pain. These are the 2 Signs which have been appointed for Europe and America if only they would ponder upon them and derive benefit therefrom. It should be remembered that Dowie has not made any reply to my offer of a Mubahala. Nor has he alluded to it in his newspaper so from today‟s date which is 23 August 1903 I grant him leave to do so for a full 7 months. If he opposes me during this period of time, and prints a general advertisement in accord with my offer in acceptance of it. The world will then see very soon what the result of this duel would be. I am nearing 70 years and he is a robust 50 as he states and is a child compared to me, but I have no care for my older age. Because the verdict of this duel will not depend upon these ages, but upon God the most Decisive of Judges who will decide, and if Dowie runs away from this duel. Then behold I call to witness all the dwellers of Europe and America that if he shows such an attitude it will be understood as the very state of his defeat and the Public ought to believe that all his claim of being Elijah was a mere deception and trick of the tongue and although he will wish to escape death in this way. It is in fact a death in itself to run away from such a heavy contest. So believe it certainly that very soon his Zion will see turmoil because either of these 2 situations will befall him. Now I shall end this topic with this prayer that O Omnipotent and Perfect God! Who has always and always will be manifested through prophets. Decide Fast. So as to reveal the lies of Pigott and Dowie to the people. Because your humble people in this age have gone far astray from you by being imprisoned in the worship of people such as themselves. So O our beloved God grant them emancipation from the worship of creatures. And fulfil your promises. Which all your prophets have made concerning this age. Release the wounded from these thorns and replenish them with the fountainhead of true salvation. For all salvation lies in your wisdom and love. Salvation does not lie in the [sacrificial] blood of a human. O Merciful and Gracious God a great age has passed in this creature-worship so show mercy to them and open their eyes. O Omnipotent and Gracious God grant people the freedom from this prison for everything is in your hands, save their minds from the cross and the blood of Christ. O Omnipotent and Bountiful God hear my prayer for them and send a light from heaven to fall upon their hearts so that they may see you. Who can ever think of seeing you. Who can make a conscious decision to leave aside the worship of creatures to hear your voice. But O God! You can do everything. Do not destroy them as in the days of Noah for they are after all your people. But show mercy to them and open their hearts so they may accept the truth. The key to every lock is in your hand and I beseech the refuge of your countenance from dying in dismay for you have sent me and I believe that you will certainly fulfil those promises which you have granted to me in your revelation because you are our God the true God. O my Gracious God what is my Paradise in this world. Only that your people may be free from the worship of creatures. So grant me my Paradise, reveal this truth to the men and the women and the children of these people, they are unaware of the God to whom the Torah and other holy scriptures call. O the Omnipotent and the Bounteous hear me for you have all power. Amen Amen.

End 20

© Rehan Qayoom, 2012.

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20 Printed by the Steam Press in Lahore and published in the New York Commercial Advertiser. Maktoobat e Ahmad i [Correspondence of Ahmad]. 3 Vols. (Nazarat Isha‟at, 2008). 267 - 270. Works Cited

Ahmad, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam. Ejaz e Ahmadi; Zamima ‘Nuzulul Masih’ [The Miracle of an Ahmadi: Appendix to ‘The Second Coming of the Messiah’]. (Ziaul Islam, 1902). Maktubat e Ahmad. 3 vols, (Nazarat Isha‟at, 2008). Malfuzat. 5 vols. Nuzullul Masih [The Second Coming of the Messiah]. (Ziaul Islam, 1909). Tadhkirah (Islam International Publications, Second English Edition, 2009). A Warning to a Pretender to Divinity. (Artistic Printing Works, 1902). Basit, Asif M. „Rev. John Hugh Smyth Pigott, His Claim, Prophecy and End‟. al-Fazl International, 22th July 2010, (10 - 12). English Translation: The Review of Religions, February 2012. 50- 63. Betjeman, Sir John. Metro-land. (BBC, 1973). The Freethinker. al-Hakam, 17th November 1902. 12. Sadiq, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad. Zikr e Habib.