Monday, February 20, 2017

Remembering 'Musleh Maoud'

Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (as) was the second successor of the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as). He was a distinguished Khalifa because his birth was foretold by a number of previous prophets and saints. Moreover, the Promised Messiah (as) received a Divine Sign for the truth of Islam as a result of his forty day's prayers at Hoshiarpur (India). God Almighty told him that a pure son would be born to him within the period of nine years. He had already published this prophecy regarding his Muslih Ma'ud (Promised Reformer) on 20 February 1886. In accordance with this divine prophecy and within the specified period, the Promised Son, was born to the Promised Messiah (as) on 12 January 1889 at Qadian. He was named Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad. 

The prophecy about Muslih Ma'ud had also specified some special qualities of the promised son and reformer. For instance, it was foretold that he would be extremely intelligent and highly learned. His fame will spread to the ends of the earth and nations would be blessed through him.


Let us now study a short account on his life and see how magnificently this grand prophecy was fulfilled in the person of Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra).

He got his primary education in a school of Qadian and then in the Taleemul Islam School when it started in 1898. He could not do well in his studies due to his persistent ill-health. His academic career came to an end in March 1905, when he failed in the matriculation (Grade 10) examination. About two years before this in October 1903, he had married Sayyidah Mahmooda Begum Saheba (Hazrat Umm-e-Nasir (ra)). 

He started learning the translation of the Holy Quran and the Ahadith from Hazrat Maulana Nuruddin (ra). Moreover, he began his independent study of religion, history, literature and various other subjects. He developed into a great scholar and had mastery over many subjects.

Thus, the following prophecy of the Promised Messiah (as) regarding Muslih Ma'ud was clearly fulfilled in his person: "… He will be extremely intelligent and understanding and will be meek of heart and will be filled with secular and spiritual knowledge."

He received his first divine revelation in 1905, when he was only sixteen years old: "I will place those who follow you above those who disbelieve until the day of Resurrection."

In 1907, an angel taught him the commentary of Surah Al-Fatiha, the first chapter of the Holy Quran. From then onward, he was gifted with an unusual knowledge of the commentary of the Holy Quran.

When the Promised Messiah (as) passed away, Hazrat Muslih Ma'ud (as) was only nineteen years old. On this critical occasion, he stood by the body of his deceased father on 26 May 1908, and made the following pledge: "Even if all the people should abandon you (the Promised Messiah), I will stand alone against the whole world, not caring for any opposition or enmity."

In February 1911, he founded Anjuman Ansarullah. In September 1912, he performed pilgrimage to Mecca. In 1913, he started the publication of the Newspaper Al-Fazl. On 14 March 1914, the day after the death of first successor of the Promised Messiah (as), i.e., Khalifatul-Massih I (ra), Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin was unanimously elected as Khalifatul Massih II, when he was only 25 years old. About 2000 Ahmadi Muslims present at that occasion took the oath of allegiance (Bai'ah) at his hand. Under the great leadership of Hazrat Khalifatul Massih II, the Ahmadiyya Community progressed by leaps and bounds. His 52-year long period of Caliphate was full of unusually great achievements and landmarks that demonstrated Divine help. From the very first day of his Caliphate, he started taking all necessary steps to organize and unite the community. Soon the crisis was over and stability prevailed. Then, he began making elaborate plans for the spread of Islam throughout the world. So, the prophecy regarding Muslih Ma'ud was fulfilled with great perfection. Alhamdulillah, Summa Alhamdulillah.

 ---Friday Sermon of 17 February 2017(19 Jamad'ul Awwal 1438 AH) delivered by Khalifatullah Hadhrat Munir Ahmad Azim Saheb (atba) of Mauritius.