THE ESSENCE OF VOLUME IV Extracts from the Writings, Speeches, Announcements and Discourses of the Promised Messiah Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian [May peace be upon him] Published under the auspices of Hadrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad Fifth Successor to the Promised Messiah [May Allah be his help] The Essence of Islam Volume IV A rendering into English of extracts from the writings, speeches, announcements and discourses of Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, the Promised Messiah, and Founder of the Ahmadiyyah Muslim Jama‘at. First Edition: 2006 Islam International Publications Ltd. Translated into English by: Chaudhry Muhammad Zafrullah Khan Revised by: Munawar Ahmad Sa‘eed © Islam International Publications Ltd. Published by: Islam International Publications Ltd. ‘Islamabad’ Sheephatch Lane, Tilford, Surrey GU10 2AQ United Kingdom Printed in UK at: Clays Ltd, St Ives plc ISBN: 1 85372 771 7 CONTENTS VOLUME IV PUBLISHERS’ NOTE ................................................................. VII FAMILY AND PERSONAL BACKGROUND .............................. 1 GENEALOGY .................................................................................... 1 FAMILY HISTORY............................................................................. 1 EARLY LIFE ..................................................................................... 8 EARLY SERVICES TO FATHER AND FAMILY ................................... 10 LAST DAYS OF HIS FATHER........................................................... 13 EARLY REVELATIONS .................................................................... 15 AS STATUS OF THE PROMISED MESSIAH .............................. 19 ALL BOUNTIES EARNED THROUGH THE HOLY PROPHETSA AND THE HOLY QUR’AN ............................................................................... 20 DIVINE SOURCE OF THE REVELATIONS.......................................... 20 WONDERS EXPERIENCED THROUGH FASTING................................ 24 PHYSICAL DISCIPLINE AND HARDSHIP........................................... 25 SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE ................................................................... 27 BOUNTIES AND TITLES................................................................... 29 Reformer of the Fourteenth Century........................................ 30 Messiah and Mahdi .................................................................. 32 To Chiefs, Leaders, Wealthy individuals and Officers of the Government .............................................................................. 33 as Resemblance to Jesus son of Mary ........................................ 33 Fulfilment of the Need of the Time.......................................... 35 AS MISSION OF THE PROMISED MESSIAH ......................................... 36 Reform, not Innovation ............................................................ 38 Fighting the Satanic Forces of the Age.................................... 43 sa Denial amounts to disobedience of the Holy Prophet ............ 45 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TITLE ‘MAHDI’........................................... 52 AS COMPARISON WITH THE MIRACLES OF JESUS ............................. 52 PROOF OF TRUTHFULNESS ............................................................. 60 TITLES OF ‘PROPHET’ AND ‘MESSENGER’ ..................................... 67 TRIUMPH OF ISLAM........................................................................ 73 A FOLLOWER AS WELL AS A PROPHET .......................................... 75 NAMES OF OTHER PROPHETS......................................................... 79 SA THE HOLY PROPHET’S TESTIMONY THROUGH VISIONS .............. 86 KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY QUR’AN ............................................. 87 iv Essence of Islam—IV ACCEPTANCE OBLIGATORY........................................................... 87 DIVINE MANIFESTATIONS UPON THE PROMISED MESSIAHAS.......... 89 FAVOURS OF GOD UPON THE PROMISED MESSIAHAS ...................... 90 PROMISED ONE OF LATTER DAYS .................................................. 95 BLESSINGS OF ACCEPTING THE PROMISED MESSIAHAS ................. 96 THE PURPOSE OF THE PROMISED MESSIAH’S ADVENT......................................................................................... 107 ALL PROPHETS COME FOR THE SAME PURPOSE ........................... 108 BLESSINGS OF THE IMAM OF THE AGE ......................................... 108 STRENGTHENING OF THE FAITH................................................... 110 GRAND DESIGN FOR THE VICTORY OF ISLAM.............................. 113 as Coming of the Promised Messiah for the Revival of Islam. 114 Sacrifice Necessary for the Revival of Islam......................... 116 Branches of the Scheme for the Propagation of Islam........... 117 HEAVENLY SIGNS ........................................................................ 119 THE STATUS OF THE MESSIAH AND MAHDI................................. 123 TWO ASPECTS OF THE PERFECTION OF FAITH .............................. 127 REFORMATION OF THE EVIL DOCTRINE OF TRINITY.................... 129 CALL TO THE TRUTH ..................................................................... 134 PROPAGATION, ESTABLISHMENT OF A HOLY JAMA‘AT, AND INSTRUCTIONS ................................................................. 139 GREATNESS OF THE MOVEMENT AND THE NEED OF HELPING IT. 140 Prevalence of Error and Misguidance.................................... 140 False Devices of the Christian Missionaries.......................... 142 Miracles of the Messiah to Counteract the Devices of the Christians................................................................................ 143 CALL OF THE PROMISED MESSIAHAS ............................................ 149 A Call to All Muslims ............................................................ 150 A Warning to Selfish Divines and Men of Barren Piety ....... 151 TIME OF THE PROMISED MESSIAHAS ............................................. 152 NEED FOR PURIFICATION TO FIND THE TRUTH ............................ 155 OPPONENTS DESTINED TO BE HUMILIATED ................................. 158 Blessings upon Those who Accept ........................................ 159 Conveying the Message to All and Sundry............................ 164 DIVINE BLESSINGS OF ISLAM....................................................... 168 DIVINE REVELATION NOT SEALED UP ......................................... 171 PLEAS TO THE WEALTHY, THE RULERS AND THE WISE ............... 173 TRUE WORSHIP............................................................................ 175 Contents Essence of Islam—IV v FAVOURS UPON THOSE WHO ARE ACCEPTED INTO THE SERVICE OF GOD ............................................................................................. 177 APPOINTMENT OF THE PROMISED MESSIAHAS FOR REJUVENATION OF ISLAM...................................................................................... 177 Promised Messiah from Among the Muslims........................ 179 Other Similarities between the Islamic and Mosaic Dispensations ......................................................................... 184 Time of the Promised Messiah............................................... 189 AS IDENTIFICATION OF THE PROMISED MESSIAH ........................... 192 as Personal Signs of the Promised Messiah ............................. 194 RESEMBLANCES BETWEEN JESUSAS AND THE PROMISED AS MESSIAH ................................................................................... 197 A PLEA IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE GLORIOUS AND THE LORD OF HONOUR, TO RELIGIOUS LEADERS, DIVINES, AND RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE OF PUNJAB AND INDIA. .................................................... 209 BLESSINGS UPON THOSE WHO ACCEPT THE PROMISED AS MESSIAH ................................................................................... 214 CAN THE REVILING AND THE ENMITY OF THE PEOPLE DESTROY HIM WHO IS FROM GOD?...................................................................... 218 TESTAMENT................................................................................... 226 WARNINGS OF EARTHQUAKES..................................................... 230 GLAD TIDINGS FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE.................................... 234 PROPAGATION............................................................................... 235 Significance of Bai‘at............................................................. 236 Complete Fullfilment of Propagation .................................... 237 Purpose of the System of Bai‘at............................................. 240 Admonitions to Those who have Pledged the Allegiance of Bai‘at ...................................................................................... 244 SPREAD OF THE JAMA‘AT............................................................. 271 RESEMBLANCE OF THE JAMA‘AT TO THE COMPANIONS OF THE SA HOLY PROPHET ......................................................................... 272 PURPOSE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE JAMA‘AT ................. 274 PRAYERS FOR MEMBERS OF THE JAMA‘AT .................................. 302 NAME OF THE JAMA‘AT AND ITS SIGNIFICANCE .......................... 305 THE NEED FOR ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE AND USING IT WISELY......................................................................... 307 Avoid Needless Debates ........................................................ 309 INDEX OF REFERENCES OF THE HOLY QUR’AN ............ 313 SUBJECT INDEX.......................................................................... 314 vi Essence of