Raziullah Noman, Canada
لعَمْرُك ذُقنا دون ذنبٍ رِماحَهم
فما سَرَّنا إلا دُعاءٌ يُكرَّرُ
‘I say it by Your name my Lord that I have been injured by their spears in return for no wrong,
And for my part I have chosen only to pray for them. [1]
Recently, many of the anti-Ahmadis have spread a lot of hatred regarding the Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba). They have been triggered by the fact that when searching the ‘Caliph of Islam’ on Google, the top results show the Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. A person with a YouTube account called ‘Smile2Jannah’ has released a video raising false allegations against the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and its founder, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian. He ventures to present various out of context and misquoted references along with complete falsities in an attempt of swaying people to believe that Ahmadis are non-Muslim. It is interesting, however, that the character of such detractors contradicts the basic teachings of Islam.
The Prophet Muhammad (sa) stated:
إِنَّ مِنْ أَخْيَرِكُمْ أَحْسَنَكُمْ خُلُقًا
‘The best among you are those who have the best manners and character. [2]
The opponents of the Prophets have always defamed holy personalities. If we examine the history of religions, we come to know that every Prophet was mocked. Allah the Almighty states:
يَا حَسْرَةً عَلَى الْعِبَادِ ۚ مَا يَأْتِيهِمْ مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ
‘Alas for My servants! there comes not a Messenger to them but they mock at him. [3]
Allegation Against Recitation of the Holy Qur’an
This person has raised many allegations against Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba), including allegations against his recitation of the Holy Qur’an. It is such anti-Ahmadis who give fuel to those involved in events like Charlie Hebdo and draw cartoons about the Prophet Muhammad (sa).
In his Friday Sermon of September 11 2020, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) quoted the Second Caliph Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad (ra) whilst making mention of Hazrat Bilal (ra). He said,
‘The Holy Prophet (sa) appointed Bilal (ra) to call the Azan [call for prayer]. When this Abyssinian slave would say as-hadu an la ilaha illallahu instead of ash-hadu an la ilaha illallahu [I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah] during the Azan, the people of Medina, who were not aware of his circumstances, would start laughing. Once, when the Holy Prophet (sa) saw the people of Medina laughing at Hazrat Bilal’s (ra) Azan, he turned to them and said, ‘You laugh while Bilal (ra) calls the Azan but God hears his Azan in the heavens and is pleased.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) was indicating towards the fact that all they saw was that Bilal (ra) was unable to pronounce the [Arabic letter] sheen, but what value is there in a mere sheen or [Arabic letter] seen. God Almighty knows that when he was made to lay on burning sand with his bare back, and those treacherous people would stomp on his chest with their shoes and would ask whether or not he had learned his lesson, he would respond in his broken [Arabic] language and announce his continued belief in the Unity of God Almighty by saying ‘Ahad! Ahad!’ [God is One, God is one], thus proving his dedication, his belief in the Unity of God and his resoluteness of heart. Thus, his ‘as-hadu’ was of much greater value than the ‘ash-hadu’ of many people.’ [4]
Ahmadi Muslims Deny the Prophet Muhammad (sa) as the Seal of All Prophets?
His first allegation was that Ahmadi Muslims do not believe in the Prophet Muhammad (sa) as the Seal of Prophets. This is not true. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) himself stated:
‘The charge advanced against me and my Jama‘at, that we do not believe in the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as the Seal of Prophets, is altogether false. The strength, certainty, comprehension and insight with which we acknowledge and believe in the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) as the Seal of the Prophets, cannot even be dreamed of by the other Muslims; they do not have the capacity to comprehend the reality and the mystery comprised in the Seal of Prophethood. They have merely heard an expression from their ancestors but they are unaware of its import and do not know what it signifies and what is meant by believing in it. But we believe with full comprehension—and God Almighty knows this well—that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is the Seal of the Prophets. God Almighty has disclosed the reality of the Seal of Prophethood in such a manner that we derive special delight from its contemplation which cannot be conceived of by anyone except those who have drunk deep at this fountain.
We can illustrate the Seal of Prophethood by the example of the moon, which begins as a crescent and arrives at its perfection on the fourteenth night when it is called the full moon. In the same manner, the excellences of Prophethood reached their climax in the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.) Those who believe that Prophethood has been closed compulsorily and that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) should not be regarded as being superior even to the Prophet Jonas have not understood the reality of the Seal of Prophethood and do not have true knowledge of his superiority and excellences. Despite their own ignorance and lack of understanding, they charge us with denying the Seal of Prophethood. What shall I say concerning such invalids and how shall I express my pity for them!’ [5]
Has Divine Revelation Ended?
The next allegation made by this person was that Ahmadis believe that Divine revelation can still occur whilst apparently Islam says that revelation has ended. However, the notion that Divine revelation had ceased is not supported by the Qur’an, ahadith [sayings of the Holy Prophet (sa)] nor their own scholars. According to the Qur’an, one of the qualities of Allah is that He will always speak. Allah states:
وَاتَّخَذَ قَوْمُ مُوسَىٰ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ مِنْ حُلِيِّهِمْ عِجْلًا جَسَدًا لَهُ خُوَارٌ ۚ أَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّهُ لَا يُكَلِّمُهُمْ وَلَا يَهْدِيهِمْ سَبِيلًا ۘ اتَّخَذُوهُ وَكَانُوا ظَالِمِينَ
‘And the people of Moses made, in his absence, out of their ornaments a calf — a lifeless body producing a lowing sound. Did they not see that it spoke not to them, nor guided them to any way? They took it for worship and they were transgressors.’ [6]
Allah also states:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا رَبُّنَا اللهُ ثُمَّ اسْتَقَامُوا تَتَنَزَّلُ عَلَيْهِمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ أَلَّا تَخَافُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَبْشِرُوا بِالْجَنَّةِ الَّتِي كُنْتُمْ تُوعَدُونَ نَحْنُ أَوْلِيَاؤُكُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَشْتَهِي أَنْفُسُكُمْ وَلَكُمْ فِيهَا مَا تَدَّعُونَ
‘As for those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah,’ and then remain steadfast, the angels descend on them, saying: ‘Fear ye not, nor grieve; and rejoice in the Garden that you were promised We are your friends in this life and in the Hereafter. Therein you will have all that your souls will desire, and therein you will have all that you will ask for’ [7]
Allah Almighty also states:
وَمَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَنْ يُكَلِّمَهُ اللهُ إِلَّا وَحْيًا أَوْ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ رَسُولًا فَيُوحِيَ بِإِذْنِهِ مَا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّهُ عَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ
‘And it is not for a man that Allah should speak to him except by revelation or from behind a veil or by sending a messenger to reveal by His command what He pleases. Surely, He is High, Wise.’ [8]
How can we as Muslims believe that the nations of other Prophets were blessed with revelation and this ummah is bereft of it? The early Muslim scholars agreed that divine communion with Allah continues.
Regarding revelation in the ummah, Ibn Hajr al-Asqalani (rh) writes:
وَكَانَ السِّرُّ فِي نَدُورِ الْإِلْهَامِ فِي زَمَنِهِ وَكَثْرَتِهِ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ …لِمَنِ اخْتَصَّهُ اللهُ بِهِ لِلْأَمْنِ مِنَ اللَّبْسِ
‘we do not find an abundance of inspiration during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (sa) which we see in the later time, and the reason Allah Decided this was so no other wahi is confused with the Qur’anic wahi’ [9]
Claim of Being the Seal of Prophets?
The next allegation levelled is that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) supposedly claimed to be the seal of Prophets. This is categorically false and a complete fabrication. Never has Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) made any such claim nor is this belief held by any Ahmadi Muslim. In fact, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) states:
‘Approach God with sincere hearts, and pure tongues, eyes and ears, for He will then accept you. What God requires of you, in the matter of belief, is that God is One and that Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is His Prophet and Khaatam-ul-Anbiyaa [the Seal of the Prophets] and that he is the greatest of them all’. [10]
Comparison with the Prophet Muhammad (sa)?
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) wrote:
له خَسَف القمرُ المنير وإنّ لي
غسا القمرانِ المشرقان أَتُنْكِرُ
‘For him was shown the Sign of a lunar eclipse and for me, of lunar and solar both, Will you persist in your denial?’ [11]
This person then made the allegation stemming from the above couplet that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) compared himself to the Holy Prophet (sa) by saying that both the lunar and solar eclipse manifested for his sake whilst only the lunar for the Holy Prophet (sa). However, in this passage, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) has not made any comparison. It was in fact a prophecy of the Prophet Muhammad (sa) made for the Imam Mahdi of the latter days, as he prophesied,
إن لمهدينا آيتين لم تكونا منذ خلق السماوات والأرض ينكسف القمر لأول ليلة من رمضان وتنكسف الشمس في النصف منه ولم تكونا منذ خلق الله السموات والأرض
‘For Our Mahdi, there are two Signs which have never appeared before since the creation of the heavens and the earth, namely, the moon will be eclipsed on the first night of Ramadhan (i.e, on the first of the nights on which a lunar eclipse can occur) and the sun will be eclipsed on the middle day (i.e on the middle one of the days on which a solar eclipse can occur), and these signs have not appeared since God Created the heavens and the earth.’ [12]
Regarding his signs, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) stated:
‘No prophet has shown as many signs as were manifested by our Holy Prophet (sa). The miracles of our Holy Prophet (sa) are being manifested even today and shall continue to manifest themselves until the day of resurrection. All that which is manifested in my support is in actuality counted among the miracles of the Holy Prophet (sa).’ [13]
God Called Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) His Son?
The Youtuber tried to raise an allegation against the fact that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) stated that God referred to him as His son. Thus he tries to imply that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) did not believe in the Unity of God. Nothing could be further from the truth.
‘Of the attributes of God to which the Holy Qur’an calls us is that Allah is Single and He Begets not, nor is He Begotten.’ [14]
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) explains that this revelation which he received was in the metaphorical sense. He stated:
‘Holy is God Almighty from having sons and this expression has been used as a metaphor’ [15]
The scholars of the very people who raise such allegations in fact have the same belief regarding this.
Hazrat Jalal Ud Din Rumi (rh) stated:
‘The apostles of God are symbolically His sons’ [16]
Hazrat Shah Wali Ullah Dehlvi stated:
‘if God employs the word son for His beloved then one should not be surprised since it is not meant in the literal sense.’ [17]
Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Qasim Nanotwi stated:
‘If God calls a pious man His son, it only means that He is graciously inclined to him and is kind to him. It would be totally wrong to interpret such a statement literally.’ [18]
There are examples of such metaphorical speech being used in the Holy Qur’an as well. Allah Almighty states,
فَمَنْ شَرِبَ مِنْهُ فَلَيْسَ مِنِّي
‘So he who drinks therefrom, is not of me’ [19]
فَمَنْ تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي
‘So whoever follows me, he is certainly of me’ [20]
It is narrated in hadith that the Holy Prophet (sa) said regarding the Ashari tribe,
هُمْ مِنَّيّْ وَ أَنَا مِنْهُمْ
‘They are from me, and I am from among them’ [21]
It is recorded in another hadith,
إِنَّ الْعَبَّأسُ مِنّيْ و أَنَا مِنْهُ
‘Verily, Abbas is from me and I am from him’ [22]
Seeing Himself as the Lord in a Dream and Believing It?
The next allegation raised is that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) saw himself as God in a dream and believed himself to be so.
This was a vision and it is absolutely possible for a person loved by Allah to see such.
من رأى في المنام كأنه صار الحق سبحانه تعالى اهتدى الى صراط المستقيم
In fact, there is a consensus among the Muslim scholars that one can see God in their dream. It is written in the commentary of Sahih Muslim. Hazrat Imam Nawawi (rh) writes:
قَالَ الْقَاضِي وَاتَّفَقَ الْعُلَمَاءُ عَلَى جَوَازِ رُؤْيَةِ اللهِ تَعَالَى فِي الْمَنَامِ وَصِحَّتِهَا
‘Al Qadi Iyaad said that the scholars have agreed that it is possible to see Allah the Almighty in a dream, and that the dream would be true’ [24]
The Muslim scholars agree that a person’s writings will be interpreted through his own words and Hazrat Ahmad (as) explained this vision. He writes:
‘We do not interpret this experience according to the meanings in the books of the believers in wahdat-ul-wujud nor according to the beliefs of the Hulul. On the contrary, this experience is in accordance with the hadith of the Holy Prophet Muhammad contained in Bukhari explaining the rank of nearness to God that is attained by His righteous servants.’ [25]
It is also narrated that the Holy Prophet (sa) said,
إِنَّ اللهَ قَالَ مَنْ عَادَى لِي وَلِيًّا فَقَدْ آذَنْتُهُ بِالْحَرْبِ، وَمَا تَقَرَّبَ إِلَىَّ عَبْدِي بِشَىْءٍ أَحَبَّ إِلَىَّ مِمَّا افْتَرَضْتُ عَلَيْهِ، وَمَا يَزَالُ عَبْدِي يَتَقَرَّبُ إِلَىَّ بِالنَّوَافِلِ حَتَّى أُحِبَّهُ، فَإِذَا أَحْبَبْتُهُ كُنْتُ سَمْعَهُ الَّذِي يَسْمَعُ بِهِ، وَبَصَرَهُ الَّذِي يُبْصِرُ بِهِ، وَيَدَهُ الَّتِي يَبْطُشُ بِهَا وَرِجْلَهُ الَّتِي يَمْشِي بِهَا، وَإِنْ سَأَلَنِي لأُعْطِيَنَّهُ، وَلَئِنِ اسْتَعَاذَنِي لأُعِيذَنَّهُ، وَمَا تَرَدَّدْتُ عَنْ شَىْءٍ أَنَا فَاعِلُهُ تَرَدُّدِي عَنْ نَفْسِ الْمُؤْمِنِ، يَكْرَهُ الْمَوْتَ وَأَنَا أَكْرَهُ مَسَاءَتَهُ ’.
‘Allah said, ‘I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of Mine. And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing Nawafil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection (Refuge), I will protect him; (i.e. give him My Refuge) and I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death, and I hate to disappoint him.’ [26]
According to the Qur’an and ahadith, the pious are spoken to in this manner as they lose themselves in God.
Allah states in the Qur’an:
فَلَمْ تَقْتُلُوهُمْ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللهَ قَتَلَهُمْ ۚ وَمَا رَمَيْتَ إِذْ رَمَيْتَ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللهَ رَمَىٰ ۚ وَلِيُبْلِيَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مِنْهُ بَلَاءً حَسَنًا ۚ إِنَّ اللهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
‘So you killed them not, but it was Allah Who killed them. And thou threwest not when thou didst throw, but it was Allah Who threw, that He might overthrow the disbelievers and that He might confer on the believers a great favour from Himself. Surely, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.’ [27]
Allah also States:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ اللهَ يَدُ اللهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ ۚ فَمَنْ نَكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنْكُثُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ ۖ وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِمَا عَاهَدَ عَلَيْهُ اللهَ فَسَيُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًا
‘Verily, those who swear allegiance to thee indeed swear allegiance to Allah. The hand of Allah is over their hands. So whoever breaks his oath, breaks it to his own loss; and whoever fulfils the covenant that he has made with Allah, He will surely give him a great reward.’ [28]
Then in another hadith it is narrated:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَقُولُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ مَرِضْتُ فَلَمْ تَعُدْنِي . قَالَ يَا رَبِّ كَيْفَ أَعُودُكَ وَأَنْتَ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ . قَالَ أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ عَبْدِي فُلاَنًا مَرِضَ فَلَمْ تَعُدْهُ أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّكَ لَوْ عُدْتَهُ لَوَجَدْتَنِي عِنْدَهُ يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ اسْتَطْعَمْتُكَ فَلَمْ تُطْعِمْنِي . قَالَ يَا رَبِّ وَكَيْفَ أُطْعِمُكَ وَأَنْتَ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ . قَالَ أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّهُ اسْتَطْعَمَكَ عَبْدِي فُلاَنٌ فَلَمْ تُطْعِمْهُ أَمَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّكَ لَوْ أَطْعَمْتَهُ لَوَجَدْتَ ذَلِكَ عِنْدِي يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ اسْتَسْقَيْتُكَ فَلَمْ تَسْقِنِي . قَالَ يَا رَبِّ كَيْفَ أَسْقِيكَ وَأَنْتَ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ قَالَ اسْتَسْقَاكَ عَبْدِي فُلاَنٌ فَلَمْ تَسْقِهِ أَمَا إِنَّكَ لَوْ سَقَيْتَهُ وَجَدْتَ ذَلِكَ عِنْدِي
‘Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, would say on the Day of Resurrection: O son of Adam, I was sick but you did not visit Me. He would say: O my Lord; how could I visit Thee whereas Thou art the Lord of the worlds? Thereupon He would say: Didn’t you know that such and such servant of Mine was sick but you did not visit him and were you not aware of this that if you had visited him, you would have found Me by him? O son of Adam, I asked food from you but you did not feed Me. He would say: My Lord, how could I feed Thee whereas Thou art the Lord of the worlds? He said: Didn’t you know that such and such servant of Mine asked food from you but you did not feed him, and were you not aware that if you had fed him you would have found him by My side? (The Lord would again say: ) O son of Adam, I asked drink from you but you did not provide Me. He would say: My Lord, how could I provide Thee whereas Thou art the Lord of the worlds? Thereupon He would say: Such and such of servant of Mine asked you for a drink but you did not provide him, and had you provided him drink you would have found him near Me.’ [29]
Thus there is no room for such allegations to be levelled against a dream which was in the metaphoric sense.
Seeing Himself as Mary (as) and Jesus (as) in a Dream?
This person then raises the allegation that in a dream, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) saw himself to be likened to Mary (as) and being impregnated with Jesus (as), and then later giving birth to, and becoming Jesus (as), This was also taken completely out of context. The Promised Messiah (as) explains on the very same page that it was metaphorical. The Youtuber added his own statements to the quotation. In reality, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) stated:
‘So although God referred to me as Mary in the third part of Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, and as is evident from the treatise itself, for two years I was nurtured in the likeness of Mary and continued to develop in the cloak of secrecy. Then after two years had passed, as it is recorded in the fourth part of Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya on page 496, like Mary, the soul of Jesus was breathed into me, and in metaphorical terms, I was impregnated. Then, after a period of no more than ten months, through the revelation recorded towards the end of the fourth part of Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya on page 556, from Mary I was transformed into Jesus. And thus, I became the Son of Mary. However, God did not inform me of this hidden secret at the time of the publication of Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, even though all the divine revelations in which these hidden secrets were found were sent down to me and were recorded in Barahin. But, I was not made aware of their meaning and sequence.’ [30]
Their own scholars have supported this including Maulana Rumi,
‘The body is likened to Mary (as) and every single person is like Jesus (as). Whenever one experiences pain, then the aspect within us likened to Jesus (as) becomes manifest. However, if we do not experience pain, then the aspect of Jesus (as) within us does not manifest, rather Jesus (as) returns to the same hidden path from which he came while we remain devoid and helpless.’ [31]
Not Even an Insect Nor the Son of Man?
This person then proceeded to quote a poem of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) in which he expressed his extreme level of humility and selflessness, yet this person ignorantly took these words completely out of context and make a mockery out of it. The couplet is as follows:
‘I am neither an earth-worm nor a human being. I am the most hated organ of the human body and a shame for humanity’. [32]
Firstly, it must be understood that such a statement by a holy personage is nothing new or out of the ordinary. In fact, this couplet is the Urdu rendering by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of a statement made by the Prophet David (as). It is stated in Psalms,
‘But I a worm, and no man, a reproach of men and despised of the people. [33]
Regarding this, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) has stated:
‘Non-Ahmadis object to a description the Promised Messiah (as) once used for himself, ‘Kirm-e-khaki’ i.e. ‘Worm of the Earth’. They also cite the words, ‘Bashar ki jay-e-nafrat’ [a target of hate for man] and ‘Insanon ki aar’ [who people hate] and say, ‘How can such a one be the Promised Messiah, who considers himself to be so low?’ However, these are words that were used by the Promised Messiah (as) for himself in his humility. Those with foul minds later began using profanities against him. [34]
Abandoning Sunnah and Shaving Beard?
This person then raised the allegation that the Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) said that those who grew their moustaches and dressed like Europeans had nothing to do with him. He then proceeded to show various images of members from Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s (as) family. However, this too was gravely taken out of context and mistranslated. In reality, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) stated:
‘We see their youth—they have discarded the lifestyle of the Islamic nation and have obliterated the marks of the sunnah of the Prophet. They shave their beards, take pride in their moustaches and let them grow, along with dressing like the Christians. They are the unluckiest people under the canopy of the heavens, for whom the earth provides a shelter in this age.’ [35]
It is clear here that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) was referring to those who begin to resemble the disbelievers in every possible manner. However, the Youtuber completely twisted the quotation.
All Prophets Must Have Single Names?
The Youtuber accepts that there have been 124,000 Prophets and then claims that they all had single names. This criteria which he mentioned has absolutely no founding or basis in the Holy Qur’an or the ahadith, rather this is something which he has come up with on his own. The Qur’an has only named 25 Prophets and even of those Prophets, they are not all single-barreled names.
Regarding the full name of Jesus (as), Allah states:
إِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَا مَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِنْهُ اسْمُهُ الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَجِيهًا فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَمِنَ الْمُقَرَّبِينَ
‘When the angels said, ‘O Mary, Allah gives thee glad tidings of a word from Him; his name shall be the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, honoured in this world and in the next, and of those who are granted nearness to God’ [36]
The name of Ismael (as) is also made of up two separate names. The name Ismael means that Allah heard my prayer. Dhul al-Kifl is another example.
Similarly, it is well known that Noah (as) was a prophet and that he built an Ark; does this then also become a prerequisite for prophethood? In that case, no other prophet is known to have built such an Ark. Would this render them all false as well? [God forbid]. Hence such foolish conditions cannot be stipulated.
Prophets Do Not Have Teachers?
The Youtuber then says that the Prophets do not have teachers, while Hazrat Ahmad (as) had teachers. Firstly, regarding his teachings, there was no one who taught Hazrat Ahmad (as). He only learned simple grammar from them, not the meanings of the Qur’an or ahadith.
The other Prophets were educated, and it was only the Prophet Muhammad (sa) who was the unlettered Prophet. The Muslims sometimes confuse this to mean that every Prophet was illiterate.
إِذَا كَانَ بِهَا أَهْلُ أَبْيَاتٍ مِنْهُمْ، وَشَبَّ الْغُلاَمُ، وَتَعَلَّمَ الْعَرَبِيَّةَ مِنْهُمْ
‘So, they settled there, and later they sent for their families who came and settled with them so that some families became permanent residents there. The child (i.e. Ishmael) grew up and learnt Arabic from them…’ [37]
Regarding Moses (as), it is written:
‘Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.’ [38]
In Surah al-Kahf, we find the story of Moses (as) and Khidr (as). These verses say that Moses (as) learned from Khidr (as).
Regarding Jesus (as), it is written:
‘Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.’ [39]
The commentaries of the Muslim scholars, including Tafsir al-Baidawi mention that the Prophet Muhammad (sa) was illiterate and this was his unique quality which made him different than other Prophets. It is written;
لأن حاله يخالف حال موسى وداود وعيسى حيث كان نبي صلى الله عليه و سلم أميا وكانوا يكتبون
That the condition of the Holy Prophet (sa) was different than that of Moses (as), David (as) and Jesus (as) because the Holy Prophet (sa) was unlettered while they used to write. [40]
In Tafsir al-Kabeerby Imam Fakhruddin al-Razi, it is written:
أَنَّهُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ لَمْ يَكُنْ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْقِرَاءَةِ وَالْكِتَابَةِ فَلَوْ نَزَلَ عَلَيْهِ ذَلِكَ جُمْلَةً وَاحِدَةً كَانَ لَا يَضْبِطُهُ وَلَجَازَ عَلَيْهِ الْغَلَطُ وَالسَّهْوُ، وَإِنَّمَا نَزَلَتِ التَّوْرَاةُ جُمْلَةً لِأَنَّهَا مَكْتُوبَةٌ يَقْرَؤُهَا مُوسَى
‘The Prophet Muhammad (sa) was not among those who can read and write. So whenever a verse was revealed, he could not take control over it and make mistakes or omissions, but the Torah came down and was written, and Hazrat Musa (as) could read it.’ [41]
The Qur’an only says the Prophet Muhammad (sa) was the unlettered Prophet. The allegation of the opponent is not supported by the Qur’an, ahadith, nor his own commentaries.
All Prophets Were Given Books?
The Youtuber then claimed that all Prophets are given books, whereas Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) wrote his own books. This is not true nor proven from the Qur’an and ahadith. Some Prophets brought laws while others did not. Regarding the latter-day Messiah, the Prophet Muhammad (sa) prophesied that he would revive the faith. The Youtuber believes it would be done by the sword while the Ahmadi Muslims say it would be done by the pen.
The Promised Messiah (as) wrote over 80 books in the defence of Islam. The Youtuber claimed the Messiah (as) only wrote 23 books which further proved he did not investigate the sources himself.
Furthermore, the YouTuber compared the revealed books of previous prophets to in comparison to the books written by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as). However, never once has any such claim been made, that these writings are to compare to the divine scripture. These books of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) are in fact based entirely on the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and an elucidation thereof.
Allegation Regarding Angels
The Youtuber lastly raised some allegations on angels. The disbelievers did the same to the Prophet Muhammad (sa). How can those who never witnessed angels recognize them?
Allah states that there is an angel on the right and left of every human being,
إِذْ يَتَلَقَّى الْمُتَلَقِّيَانِ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ قَعِيدٌ
‘When the two Recording angels record the deeds of men, one sitting on the right and the other on the left’ [42]
It is obvious that we do not know the names of all angels. No reference says ‘Tichi Tichi’ as the YouTuber suggests. The passage only mentions a dream of the Promised Messiah (as) and the word ‘Tichi’ means a person who comes at the right time in Punjabi. The dream signified help from Allah and was fulfilled. He (as) only said it appeared as though he was an angel and did not say that it was an angel for certain.
He then mentioned the name of another angel which is not found anywhere in Tadhkirah [compilations of revelations received by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as)].
Such people raise allegations on the Ahmadiyya Muslim community when their own views regarding angels make a mockery of Islam. Regarding this, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra) writes:
‘The angels affirm that they only praise God and extol His Wisdom, Power and Holiness. The story of Harut and Marut, a complete invention, has found currency in Muslim theology. It is said that God sent two angels masquerading as men. They fell in love with an evil woman. For punishment, they were hung in a well, head downwards (God save us). It is also said, God forbid, that Iblis or Satan was a leader among angels. Another belief about angels which has crept into the Muslim mind is that angels are physical beings engaged in crude physical activities. They run hither and thither on errands of different kinds. The angel Izrael has to run here and there. Being the angel of death he has to take now this man’s life, now that man’s.’ [43]
May Allah enable all opponents of Islam Ahmadiyyat to study the books of the Promised Messiah (as), rather than simply cherry-picking allegations from the anti-Ahmadi websites.
ENDNOTES
[1] The Miracle of Ahmad, Page 93
[2] Sahih al Bukhari, Book of Good Manners and Form, Hadith #6029
[3] The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 36 Verse 31
[4] Friday Sermon, September 11, 2020
[5] Malfuzat, volume 1, Pages 342-343
[6] The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 7, Verse 149
[7] The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 41, Verses 31-32
[8] The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 42, Verse 52
[9] Fath al-Bari, vol. 12, p. 376
[10] Noah’s Ark, Page 26
[11] The Miracle of Ahmad, Page 133
[12] Sunan Dar Qutni, Volume 2, Page 419
[13] Tatimmah Haqiqatul Wahi, p. 35
[14] Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam , p. 58, Ruhani Khazain, vol. 10, p. 372
[15] Haqeeqatul Wahi, p. 86; Ruhani Khazain vol. 22, p. 89
[16] Rumi, Hadhrat Jalal al Din, Mathnavi, vol iii, p. 13
[17] Shah, Hadhrat Wali Ullah, vide. AI Fauz al Kabeer, p. 8
[18] Nanauta Muhammad Qasim. vide. Hujjatul Islam, p. 14
[19] The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 2, verse250
[20] The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 14 Verse 37
[21] Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Partnership, Hadith #2486
[22] Al Tabaqat al Kubra, Volume 4, Page 17
[23] Ta’tirul Anam fi Tabeer al Manam, Bab alif, p. 14
[24] Sharh of Sahih Muslim by Imam Nawawi, vol. 15, p. 25
[25] Aina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam, Ruhani Khazain, vol. 5, p. 566
[26] Sahih al-Bukhari, Book: To Make the Heart Tender, Chapter : The Humility or Modesty or Lowliness, Hadith #6502
[27] The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 8 Verse 18
[28] The Holy Qur’an Chapter 48 Verse 11
[29] Sahih Muslim, the Book of Virtue, Enjoining Good Manners, and Joining of the Ties of Kinship, Chapter : The Virtue of Visiting the Sick, Hadith #2569
[30] Noah’s Ark, Page 81
[31] Malfuzat of Rumi, Fihi ma fihi, Urdu Edition, p. 47
[32] Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Part 5, Ruhani Khazain Volume 21, Page 127
[33] Psalms, 22:6
[35] Haqiqatul Wahi, English, page 829
[36] The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 3 Verse 46
[37] Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Prophets, Hadith #3364
[38] Acts, 7:22
[39] Luke 4:20
[40] Tafsir al-Baidawi, with Takhreej of Ahadith, p.577
[41] Tafsir al-Kabeer, vol. 24, p. 457
[42] The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 50, Verse 17
[43] Invitation to Ahmadiyyat, Page 244
Mashallah…This is the most blessed way to answer to allegations in such a sophisticated and humble manner