From his childhood days, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih(ru) had an unrelentess passion for acquiring knowledge. He would question the existence of everything including God. His travels and journeys around the world not only enabled him to gain a mass of information but wherever he travelled, people were amazed at his level of understanding of so many subjects as he had the unique ability to expound on any topic.
Today his knowledge, understanding, wisdom and views are captured for posterity and seekers of knowledge can benefit from many of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru)’s discourses in the form of archival material (video and audio broadcast) available on the community’s website. In addition, the greatest resource of his knowledge can be found in the many books he authoured.
Listed below is a brief synopsis of just some of his books.
Murder in the Name of Allah
This was the first book written by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru). He wrote this in 1955, thirty years before he became Khalifa, as a consequence of the wide-spread anti-Ahmadi riots in 1953. It was originally written in Urdu under the title Madhhab ke Naam Par Khun, but changed to its present title when the English translation was made available.
Christianity – A Journey from Facts to Fiction
The book was first published in 1994. Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad discusses current Christian beliefs on the basis of logic and reason. Among others, the subjects of the ‘Sonship’ of Jesus Christ, Atonement, Trinity and the second coming of the Messiah are examined. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru) described the purpose of the book in the following words:
‘My purpose is not to drive a wedge between Christians and Christ. On the contrary, I wish to help Christians come closer to the reality of Jesus Christ(as) and away from the myth created around him.
‘Time can distort reality into myths and legends. Influences of such legends only serve to distance man from realities of life. As a result, faith becomes imaginary and unreal…..
In the endeavour to understand the true faith and teachings of Jesus, it is essential to sift out the fact from the fiction and truth from myth. The search for truth is the ultimate purpose of this exercise…
A critical approach is essential to save the world of Christianity from unfortunate moral degradation.’
Absolute Justice, Kindness and kinship – The Three Creative Principles
This book’s originates were from a speech made by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru) during his first Jalsa Salana (Annual Gathering) as Khalifa held in 1982 at Rabwah, Pakistan.
The book is a series of four volumes – the first being his maiden speech in Rabwah and the remaning three were speeches made at later Annual Gatherings
Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru) deals with three principles that govern the universe as outlined in the Holy Qur’an – ‘Adl (Absolute Justice), Ihsan (Kindness) and Itai-Dhil-Qurba (Kinship). In 1998, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru) started to revise the English text of the first volume and this resulted in the rewriting of all four speeches in English as well as Urdu.
Islam’s Response to Contemporary Issues
To commemorate the Centenary of Jama’at Ahmadiyya, world-wide celebrations were organised by the community. One such major event was a lecture, delivered on 24 February 1990, at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre Central London by Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad(ru).
This keynote lecture was attended by 800 distinguished guests including politicians, journalists, professors, teachers, men and women from other professions and vocations and eminent religious scholars.
This book is based upon the original manuscript of this lecture and expanded by his notes. The book discusses the challenges in modern society today such as inter-religious harmony, socio-economic, political and individual peace and examines how Islamic teachings and attitudes guarantee peace in every sphere of human interest and aspiration.
It also contains a comprehensive discussions on interest, financial aid, international relations and the role of Israel, America and the United Kingdom in a new world order.
The message of this book is timeless, like so many of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV’s other books and discourses, as it relates to the future prospects for peace.
The Gulf Crisis and the New World Order
Following the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq on 2 August 1990, the very next day, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih(ru) began a series of seventeen Friday sermons on this significant world event. These sermons have been compiled and are presented in this book.
Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru) elaborated on the solution to this crisis in light of the Holy Qur’an. He voices a deep yearning for peace in the world. His words are free from any personal motives or political bias.
This is the only book of its kind, in which a Muslim Spiritual leader addresses a world issue in such depth. The author unmasks the injustices and double standards of both Eastern and Western nations.
The Gulf Crisis divided the Muslim world during a period in which many injustices were seen around the world. The advice given by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru) is seen as the most valuable piece of advice to prepare the Muslim world for the next millennium.
An Elementary Study of Islam
The Department of Islamic Studies of Seville University, Spain, invited Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad(ru) to deliver an address entitled: Islam – A Discourse on its Elementary and Fundamental Teachings.
The address was delivered on 12 March 1990. As most of the audience was drawn from other departments of the University other than the Department of Islamic studies and the general public who would have very little knowledge of Islam, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru) was advised to introduce Islam at an elementary level, with a time allocation of one hour.
This book is a brief introduction to the five fundamental articles of the Islamic faith in which all Muslims believe: Unity of God, Angels, Prophets, Holy Books and Life after Death.
Throughout the book, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru) emphasises the areas of similarities between Islam and other relig-ions. He shows how religious teachings evolved through the ages culminating in the complete, perfect and universal teachings of Islam.
Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru) further argues that it is this universal nature of Islam which renders it the religion capable of uniting people from all the nations of the world under one banner of Peace and Submission to the Will of Allah.
Revival of Religion
This is the text of an address delivered by Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad(ru) in 1983 in Sydney, Australia. The issue of revival of Islam is the difference which sets the Ahmadiyya Muslim com-munity apart from other Muslims. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru) explains the background of the prophecies concerning the second coming of the Messiah and appearance of the Mahdi. He also goes on to explain the Ahmadiyya philosophy of revival of religion supported by Qur’anic verses.
The Spiritual Discovery of Australia
This is the text of an address delivered by Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad(ru) on the auspicious occasion of the laying of the Foundation Stone Ceremony of the first Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosque at Richmond Road, Black Town, Sydney, Australia on 30 September, 1983. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru) called this day ‘an important milestone in Australian history’, affording the Australian community an ‘opportunity to build for the first time in this great continent a House for the worship of the One and only Allah….
This day marks the first spiritual and religious discovery of Australia…..remember that this day on which we are laying the foundation stone of our first mosque and first Mission House is most surely the greatest day in the history of the Australian continent. This indeed is the day whose lustre and splendour will increase with the passage of time. The day on which Captain Cook set foot on the soil of Australia shall pale and fade before the bright light of this new day. The Time is not far off when the Australian citizens will flock to this mosque in large numbers to worship Allah and to remember this great day when a humble servant of God laid its foundation-stone with heartfelt prayers, soaked in tears. With tears in their eyes, they too will stand in this mosque and pray for the devoted members of the Community who offered sacrifices to build this first symbol of Islamic victory, and wish they too had lived in these times, to be listed among the pioneers who participated in the triumph of Islam in Australia.’
The Seal of Prophets – His Personality and Character
This is the text of a lecture delivered by Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad(ru) on 15 October, 1989 at Heathland School, Hounslow, UK to celebrate the annually held Holy Prophet(saw) Day, where members of the local community including Members of Parliament and the Mayor were present.
The lecture is an inquiry into the life of Prophet Muhammad(saw), a man who has long been subjected to a misrepresentation campaign by some of those who refuse to acknowledge his excellence.
The Holy Prophet’s(saw) character has been illustrated in this address by several incidents from his life. His reaction to blasphemy against himself; his treatment of prisoners of war; his attitude towards followers of other religions are all a guiding light to the peoples of the world. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru) implores the congregation at the end:
‘Please whenever you judge people, do not judge them by the legends, judge them by their realities.’
In light of recent events in Denmark and Holland concerning the media portrayal of the Holy Prophet(saw), this book illustrates the high spiritual status and character of the Holy Prophet(saw). Readers of this lecture will appreciate and understand the strong resentment felt by Muslims all over the world over recent media events.
Homoeopathy, Vols. 1 and 2.
Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad(ru) was a skillful and practising homoeopath. Apart from his free lectures on MTA on the remedial effects of homoeopathy, he also gave free consultations during his meetings and through correspondence, and he also administered homoeopathic medicines free of charge.
This book is a compilation of lectures on the subject of Homeopathy delivered by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru) broadcast on Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International over a span of a number of years. It was first published in 1996, with subsequent editions in 1998 and 1999.
Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth,
This book was first published in 1998 and was Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV’s last and what can best be described as his Piece de Resistance incorporating a lifetime’s work
Any divide between revelation and rationality, religion and logic has to be irrational. If religion and rationality cannot proceed hand in hand, there has to be something deeply wrong with either of the two.
Does revelation play any vital role in human affairs? Is not rationality sufficient to guide man in all the problems which confront him? Numerous questions such as these are examined with minute attention.
The book examines a very diverse and wide range of subjects including the concept of revelation in different religions, the history of philosophy, cosmology, extraterrestrial life, the future of life on earth, natural selection and its role in evolution. It also elaborately discusses the advent of the Messiah, or other universal reformers, awaited by different religions. Likewise, many other topical issues that have been agitating the human mind since time immemorial are also incorporated.
The main emphasis is on the ability of the Qur’an to correctly discuss all important events of the past, present and future from the beginning of the universe to its ultimate end.
Aided by strong incontrovertible logic and scientific evidence, the Qur’an does not shy away from presenting itself to the merciless scrutiny of rationality.
It will be hard to find a reader whose queries are not satisfactorily answered. Its readers will testify that this will always stand out as a book among books.
Many eminent scholars who read the book gave glowing tributes both to the work and the author, and none more so than the Honourable Tom Cox, Member of Parliament for Tooting with whose words we conclude the chapter on Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru) as an author.
On Saturday 1 August 1998 at the Annual Convention at Islamabad, Tilford, Surrey, Mr. Cox addressing Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ru) stated:
‘…you distinguish yourself from all others in the deep and profound understanding of the teachings of Islam as laid down in the Qur’an….
..Your arguments against the sceptics and atheists are unanswerable and should make them rethink their so-called theories of “imponderable incredulities”…
This sort of knowledge of the scriptures cannot be simply acquired by just simple studies. This is a gift from God that is granted to few and it is a gift to be called revelation. I have no hesitation in asserting that you are the recipient of that revelation that is given to few – very few whom He chooses. I can safely say that you are indeed the prince of the learned of the world of Islam today and I salute you.’
References
Further reading
For a more comprehensive list and details of the books written by Hahdrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IV, please visit
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