Raziullah Noman- Canada
Recently, there has been a storm of allegations against Islam Ahmadiyyat in Pakistan. One of the false allegations which has been made many times before and continues to be raised to this day is that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) believed in a different Kalima (creed or declaration of faith). This is false. To understand the view of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, let us turn to the writings of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam (as).
He (as) states:
‘O revered ones! O clerics! And O leaders of the people! May God Almighty open your eyes. Do not transgress the limits in your wrath and anger. Study both parts of this book of mine carefully, for therein lies light and guidance. Fear God Almighty and hold back your tongues from denouncing me as a disbeliever. God Almighty knows well that I am a Muslim.
آمنت بالله وملائكته وكتبه ورسله والبعث بعد الموت، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله. فاتقوا الله ولا تقولوا لستَ مسلما. واتقوا الملك الذي إليه ترجعون
I believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His Messengers and Resurrection after death. I bear witness that there is no God except Allah, the One without associate; and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. Fear Allah and say not: You are not a Muslim. Fear the King to Whom you will be brought back.
If, even after studying this book, you still continue to harbour doubts, then come and test him who is supported by God. O ye opposing clerics, sufis and religious leaders, who reject me and denounce me as an impostor, I have been assured that if all of you together, or individually, stand against me and wish to compete with me in respect of the heavenly signs that are manifested in support of the friends of the Gracious One, God Almighty will put you to shame and will unmask you, and you will see that He is with me. Is there anyone among you who is prepared to come into the field for such a trial, and to compete with me, after a public announcement, about the close relationship that God has with me? Remember, God helps the righteous. Lay aside your tricks for He is close to me. Will you then fight Him? Can anyone rise in stature merely by jumping arrogantly? Will you rip the truth apart with your sharp tongues? Fear Him Whose wrath is greater than all wraths!’ (Izala-e-Auham, Ruhani Khazain, Volume 3, Page 102)
He (as) then states:
لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّااللهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ الله
(There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.) ‘Our belief, which we hold in this life here on earth and to which we will continue to adhere firmly till the time that we pass on to the next world, is that our spiritual leader and master, Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, is the Seal of the Prophets and the Best of the Messengers. At his hands religion has been perfected and blessing of Allah has been consummated which lead man to the right path and further on to God Himself. We hold this positive belief with absolute certainty that the Holy Quran is the seal of all Divine books and not an iota can be added to or subtracted from its prescribed teachings, inhibitions, commands and injunctions. There will be no revelation or word from God which may amend or abrogate or change or alter any of the injunctions of the Holy Quran. If anyone subscribes to such views, in our opinion, he ceases to belong to the body of believers and becomes an infidel thereby.’ (Izala e Auham: Ruhani Khaza’in Vol. 3:, pg. 170)
He (as) also states:
‘We admonish our Jamaat that they must adhere tenaciously to the fundamental article of Islamic faith.
لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّااللهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ الله
‘There is no God but Allah, Muhammad is His Messenger” as long as they live and that they should die holding fast to the same belief. Also they must have firm faith in all the Messengers of Allah and revealed Books which have been authenticated by the Holy Quran. They should abide strictly by the Quranic injunctions. They should strictly observe Prayers and Fast, pay Zakat and perform the Haj (pilgrimage). They should observe Islam by fully complying with all the injunctions, obligations and prohibitions pronounced by God and His Messenger.’ (Ayyamus Sulh, 1st Edition: Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 14, p 323)
Speaking on the high status of our beloved Prophet, Hazrat Muhammad (sa), Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) writes:
‘Today, there is no book on the face of the earth for mankind except for the Quran. The sons of Adam have no Messenger and Intercessor but Muhammad, the Chosen One, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Endeavour, therefore, to cultivate true love for this Prophet of glory and majesty, and do not give precedence to anyone over him, so that in heaven you may be counted as those who have attained salvation.’ (Noah’s Ark Page 22-23)
When inviting the Queen to Islam, the Promised Messiah (as) wrote:
‘Almighty God! As Thy Wisdom and Providence has been pleased to put us under the rule of our blessed Empress enabling us to lead lives of peace and prosperity, we pray to Thee that our ruler may in return be saved from all evils and dangers as Thine is the kingdom, glory and power. Believing in Thy unlimited powers we earnestly ask Thee, All-Powerful Lord, to grant us one more prayer that our benefactress the Empress, before leaving this world, may probe her way out of the darkness of man-worship with the light of la-ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah. [There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His Prophet]. Do Almighty God as we desire, and grant us this humble prayer of ours as Thy will alone governs all minds. Amen!’ (Gift of the Queen Page 50)
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) in his profound book, Lecture Ludhiana states:
‘There was a time when these very clerics used to shout that if there were ninety nine reasons to call someone a disbeliever and only one reason to call him a Muslim, he would still be a Muslim and not a disbeliever. What has gone wrong now? Am I worse off than even this? Do my Jama‘at and myself not solemnly pronounce,
أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله
Do I or my followers not observe the prescribed prayer? Do we not fast in Ramadan? Do we not follow the rules and articles of faith laid down by the Holy Prophetsa? I swear by God that I and my followers are Muslims and have firm faith in the Holy Prophetsa and the Holy Qur’an, as is incumbent on all true Muslims. I solemnly believe that even the slightest deviation from Islam results in damnation. I also believe that all bounties and blessings man can possibly receive and the closest he can ever get to God is only, repeat only, possible through genuine submission to and consummate love for the Holy Prophetsa. Without him there is no path to piety.’ (Lecture Ludhiana Pages 15-16)
In fact, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam (as) has stated that his sole mission was to spread the message of Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (sa). He (as) states:
‘I have been sent only to convey the message to Allah’s creation that from among all of the world’s existing religions, the only religion that is true and acceptable in the sight of God Almighty is the one brought by the Holy Quran, and the door to enter the abode of salvation is:
لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّااللهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ الله
and no other.’ (A Conclusive Argument in Favour of Islam, Page 26)
From these writings, it is evident that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community believe in the Kalima taught by Hazrat Muhammad (sa).
On Friday February 21st, 1986, Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (rh) delivered a sermon titled Attack on Sahiwal Mosque, We will Protect the Kalima at every cost. This is the reality. Ahmadi Muslims not only believe in the Kalima, but will continue to protect it, even if they have to give away their lives. This is something we will never compromise.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) stated:
‘Laa ‘ilaaha ‘il-lal-laah Muhammad-ur-Rasuu-lullaah– “There is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad(sa) is His Messenger.” These are the foundational words upon which the teachings of Islam are based and the respective pledges of our auxiliary organisations, including your Khuddam pledge, all begin with this declaration of faith…. The second part of the Kalima requires a firm belief that “Muhammad-ur-Rasuu-lullaah,” that “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” The Promised Messiah(as) has explained that the essence of the second part of the Kalima is that the Holy Prophet(sa) is the best example for all of mankind, because he was the perfect embodiment of following the commands of Allah the Almighty. Indeed, in the Holy Qur’an, Allah the Almighty has deemed the Holy Prophet(sa) to be the perfect role model and guide for all humanity. Hence, at all times, every Ahmadi Muslim should keep the blessed example of the Holy Prophet of Islam(sa) at the forefront of his mind and seek to follow his noble character. Certainly, our youth must realise that this is the golden key with which we can unlock the doors to success and is our only hope and means of presenting the true reality of Islam to the people of the world’ (Address to Khudammul Ahmadiyya UK, Delivered on Sunday September 17,2017)
As for a change in the Kalima, if we turn to the sects like the Barelwis and the Deobandis, we see that they have the Kalima changed in their books, and their scholars have defended these Kalimas. We will in the future, God Willing, provide these references from their own books. It is something they do not deny. Instead of a fatwa against the Ahmadiyya Muslims Community, there should be a fatwa on these sects.
I end with a beautiful quote and couplet of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as). He (as) states:
‘If I had not been part of the Holy Prophet’s(sa) Ummah, and had not been his follower, then, even if my good deeds had matched all the mountains of the world, I would never have received this honour of converse with God, for all Prophethood has come to an end except the Prophethood of Muhammadsa. No law-bearing Prophet can come after him. A Prophet who does not bring a new law can come, but he has to be a follower of the Holy Prophetsa first.’ (Divine Manifestations Page 28)
بعد از خدا بعشق محمدؐ مخمرم. گر کفر ایں بود بخدا سخت کافرم
Next to God, I am intoxicated with the love for Muhammad; If this is disbelief, then by God I am a firm disbeliever. (Izala Auhaum, Ruhani Khazain Volume 3, Page 185)
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