Bliss of Khilafat

28 BLISS OF KHILAFAT (A.M.Chaudhary) The universal and celestial system was planned and organised by the Providence with a very prominent purpose in view – His personal recognition and worship by the masterpiece of His creation – man. He did not leave him in the lurch for the attainment of this purpose but provided guidance for him through His chosen ones as is the custom prevelent and practised also by the worldy governments which are run on the providential pattern. Accurate guidance is the crux of the problem and the pivot on which the attainment of the purpose of the creation of man and his spiritual existence depends. The practical operation of the universe is perfect in every aspect. The marvellous mysteries involving infinitesimal billions of stars, the numberless, galaxies and black holes; and the awe inspiring operation of the Lunar and Solar systems, and their effects on every particle of this planet surely invoke an instinctive inclination, of admiration for the Innovator and urge on the onlooker to prostrate before Him in adoration, submission and devotion as does every atom in silence. The heavenly side of the creation is so perfect and flawless that the Holy Quran says: “He it is who created the seven heavens in order, one above the other. Thou canst not discover a flaw in the creation of the Gracious One.Then look again. Seest thou any disparity? Look again and yet again, thy sight will return to thee frustrated and fatigued.”(67:4-5) Similar perfection has also been showerd on the spiritual side by the Supreme Being with the permanent promise of providing right guidance initially through His prophets who would be succeeded by Caliphs who would carry on their work, They are appointed by God and regarded as His vicegerents. The combination of the most appropriate and excellent qualities and characteristics such as moral excellence, consultation in all affairs, promise of Divine protection, abiding strictly to the laws of God, an unprecedented sense of justice and the spirit of non-alignment to any political party make the Khalifa an ideal personality to lead and establish peace and harmony not only among his own followers but also among the whole of humanity without any discrimination. The continuation of the blessings of khilafat has been clearly promised in the Holy Quran : “Allah has promised to those among you who believe and BLISS OF KHILAFAT 29 who do good works that He will, surely make them Successors in the earth, as he made Successors from among those who were before them, and that He will, surely, establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them: and that after their state of fear He will grant them peace and security. They will worship Me, then who disbelieves thereafter, they will be the rebellious ones.” (24:56) The notable points which emerge from this verse are : (1) God will continue to appoint Successors in the future as He did in the past. (2) God will definitely establish and make prevalent His chosen and perfected religion -Islam through Successors. (3) Periods of fear and insecurity will also be experienced by the followers of the khalifas. Due to their persistent preaching of Islam and steadfastness in its observance they will be persecuted and tortured at the hand of their opponents. It will, however, be a transitory and temporary phase which will surely give place to peace and security. This planet will at last, be transformed into haven of peace and paradise where God will be worshipped according to the rites He has described and which He deserves. Moreover the training of the righteous khalifas will have developed in their followers the habit of trusting and depending only on God and not on any material resources. During all this difficult journey some unfortunate ones whom God regards as rebellious, will desert the khalifa and earn His wrath. Commenting on this Quranic decree The Holy Prophet of Islam (peace be on him) foretold in a Hadith : “Prophethood shall remain among you as long as God wills. He will bring about its end and follow it with Khilafat on the precepts of Prophethood for as long as He wills and bring about its end. Kingship shall then follow to remain as long as God wills and then come to an end. There shall then be tyranny which shall remain as long as God wills and then come to an end upon His decree.There will then emerge Khilafat on the precepts of Prophethood .” (Musnad of Ahmad bin Hambal). 30 REVIEW OF RELIGIONS Khilafat on the precept of prophethood as prophesied in this hadith, emerged after the demise of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, The Promised Messiah and Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam. We are fortunate to be able to enjoy the glorious guidance of the fourth Khalifa – Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad. The Promised Messiah also deliberated on the perpetual blessings of Khilafat from God. ” It is necessary for you to see the second manifestation whose appearance is better for you for it is ever lasting and unending till the Day of Judgement. The second manifestation cannot occur untill 1 depart. Then God will send the second manifestation for you which will abide whith you for ever. It is therefore, necessary for you to see the day of my departure so that the day may follow which is the day of everlasting promise … I have appeared from God as a glory and I am one of his glories duly.personified, but there shall be other persons after me who shall bear the glory of His second manifestation.” (Alwasiyyat , page 6 ) Stressing on the importance and glad tidings of the continuation of the Khilafat the Promised Messiah further said: “Khalifa means successor, ~tid a Messenger’s successor in real terms is he who possesses the Messenger’s virtues by way of reflection. The Holy Prophet, may peace and blessings of God be upon him, did not wish to apply the title of Khalifa to wayward monarchs because a Khalifa is, infact, a reflection of the Messenger. Since it is not possible for any man to live for ever and God willed to keep alive until the Day of Judgement the reflection of Messengers who are noblest and highest among mankind. He, therefore, designed Khilafat so that the world may never remain devoid of the blessings of Messengership.” (Shahadat-ul-Quran . pages 57,58) What a convincing statement for the need of Khilafat! and what a noble aim behind it! O that our opponents could understand its significance! The second successor to the Promised Messiah – Hazrat khalifatul Masih II further said: “By the grace of God, the times of our Community’s BLISS OF KHILAFAT 31 advancement are drawing closer. The days are not far off when multitudes upon multitudes will join the Community. They will come from different lands and an era will dawn when whole villages and towns will accept Ahmadiyyat (The True Islam ). I am a man and the one in whose times these glories will occur; and he who succeeds me will also be a man. He alone would not be able to teach Ahmadiyyat to all those new adherents. You will have to help in their religious education. You should, therefore, try to learn now so that you may impart your knowledgs to others. God has decreed that you will become the professors of the faculty, so therefore it is absolutely necessary that you become well versed in your faith so that you may be able to teach it to others.” (Anwari-Khilafat) He also advised the Community in the following immortal words: ” Brethren! It is my last advice to you that all blessings are enshrined in Khilafat. Prophethood is a seed after which Khilafat spreads its munificences throughout the world. Therefore hold fast to Khilafat and shower the world with its blessings.” (Alfazal. 20.5.59) In The Holy Quran, its commentaries, the traditions, the exhortatations of the Promised Messiah and literature of the Khalifas we find that emphasis has been laid on three points in connection with Khilafat. (1) Khilafat is permanent and a source of limitless blessings of all kinds for the whole of humanity . (2) God Himself appoints the Khalifa, protects him and makes him successful in his task . (3) Those who sincerely and selfiessly keep contact with the Khalifa in a spirit of serenity and complete obedience are the blessed and favourite ones of God. There is no doubt that Ahmadi Muslims have enjoyed Divine blessings during the blissful Khilafat of the past Khalifas and they are experiencing a time of torrential blessings under the present Khalifa 32 REVIEW OF RELIGIONS Hazarat Khalifatul Masih IV. The personality of a Khalifa has, in general, a halo of holiness, a crown of innocence, a magnetic magnificence and a forceful inner Divine spiritulism which enchants and attracts unprejudiced and unpolluted hearts whenever they come in contact with him. During Hazrat Khalifatul Masihi’s tours and travels hundreds of such examples can be cited of people whose hearts have been changed towards God: In short there is no doubt about the good fortune of those people among whome a purifying Khalifa of God is residing and competently performing his duties with the community of the faithful. Rare is the era and scarce are not the recipients of Rizwan-i-Ilahi. (Divine Happiness). May God enable us to serve His religion and His creatures under His guide! QURAN WORD OF GOD “This is a perfect Book; there is no doubt in it; it is a guidance for the righteous.” (2:3) “Verily We Ourself have sent down this exhortation, and most surely We will be its Guardian.” (15:10) “And truly it is a mighty Book. Falsehood cannot approach it either from before it or from behind it. It is a revelation from the Wise, the Praiseworth.” (41:42,43)