Al Fazl, 26 February 1920
On 24 February 1920, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra was sitting amongst the gathering after leading the Zuhr prayer, when three ghair muba‘i [those who did not take Bai‘at at the hand of the second Khalifa] gentlemen who are [under the influence of] Maulvi Muhammad Ali Sahib came to meet Huzoorra.
Below are their names:
1. Hafiz Muhammad Hassan Sahib BA
2. Mr Zahur Sahib BA, former editor of Paigham [magazine]
3. Mr Ataullah Sahib, an MA student
After their introduction, one of them said to Huzoorra that Ahmadiyyat has become a kind of enigma and ordinary people despise it.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih: Generally, people are always repugnant to the truth.
Gentleman: I mean to say that people were not despised of Ahmadiyyat in the past but now they are, owing to the dissentions because they are unable to understand Ahmadiyyat.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih: This might be your experience because people are joining us in far greater numbers than before.
Second gentleman (Mr Zahur Ahmad): Who is called Ulul Amr [the person who possesses command or authority] in Islam?
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih: The one who possesses authority is called [Ulul Amr].
Gentleman: The word minkum [from among you] comes with respect to Ulul Amr in the Holy Quran. What is meant by it?
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih: The word min [at this place] in the Holy Quran is giving the meaning of ala [on/over]. Therefore, minkum means that the person who rules over the Muslims.
Gentleman: If someone says that a certain person is a Khalifa, then could he be considered a Khalifa like Hazrat Abu Bakrra, Hazrat Umarra, Hazrat Usmanra and Hazrat Alira?
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih: The authenticity of each claim is proven by the arguments. The reasons possessed by the person who claims to be a Khalifa shall be examined.
Gentleman: Please, explain those arguments yourself!
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih: Why do you not say it clearly that you are referring to me by that claimant of Khilafat!
Gentleman: The fact of the matter is that recently, I have read in Al Fazl that your Khilafat is similar to the four Rightly Guided Khulafa.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih: The reasons for the truthfulness of my Khilafat are the same as that of the four Rightly Guided Khulafa. You may present any argument of their truthfulness.
Gentleman: They were elected by Shura.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih: What do you mean by Shura?
Gentleman: The companions elected them.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih: Did each and every companion [elect them]?
Gentleman: No, the majority of companions [elected them].
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih: The exact same reason is present in the truthfulness of my Khilafat.
Gentleman: Can we say that your Khilafat is exactly similar to their Khilafat.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih: You cannot say that it is exactly similar to their Khilafat. They had an army, a country and an empire but I do not have [these things].
Gentleman: The attribute of Ulul Amr was also present in the four Rightly Guided Khulafa, but you do not possess it. So, how can you be called a Khalifa?
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih: Look! The definition of “rich”, is that person who has wealth. Now, the one who is in France, he will possess the coin of France as wealth. The one who will be in America, he will have the coin of America and the one who will be in China, he will have the coin of China. All of them shall be called rich and we cannot say that the American or the Chinese is not wealthy. Now, a person who is spiritually Ulul Amr, his Khalifa will also be spiritual [Ulul Amr] and the one who will be spiritually and physically [Ulul Amr], his Khalifa will also be spiritual and physical Ulul Amr. As the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was Ulul Amr both spiritually and physically, therefore, his Khulafa were spiritually and physically Ulul Amr. On the other hand, as Hazrat Sahibas was [only] spiritually Ulul Amr, therefore, his Khalifa will also be spiritual Ulul Amr.
Gentleman: Such a Khalifa is incomplete then!
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih: By this, if you mean that we do not possess a government, then we ourselves admit that our Khilafat is spiritual and not material.
Gentleman: There are kings of various countries, like France, England and Austria. All of them are called kings. Similarly, whoever becomes a Khalifa, he should be similar to those who passed earlier.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih: You must be aware of this fact that there is a difference in the authorities of the kings of various countries and their powers are not the same.
Gentleman: Yes, I know that their authorities are different but their names are all the same.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih: Thus, regardless of the difference in their authorities, their names do not differ and there is no problem in calling them kings. Likewise, understand this about Khilafat. As the four Rightly Guided Khulafa were the Khalifa of the Holy Prophetsa and he possessed a government as well, therefore, his Khulafa also had governments. On the other hand, as I am the Khalifa of the one who did not possess a government, then how is it possible for me to have a government! As I am the Khalifa of a spiritual king, therefore, I am a spiritual Khalifa.
Thereupon, the discussion of the two gentlemen concluded and then, Hafiz Muhammad Sahib BA said:
“Non-Ahmadis raise objections against the prophecies of Hazrat Mirza Sahib and prove him false. I have inquired about this matter from the (ghair muba‘i) friends here but they were unable to give any satisfactory answer. So please, shed some light on it.”
In response, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra delivered a detailed address on the subject of prophecies. He presented the prophecy of Ahmad Baig and explained its truth and reality. This lecture will be published separately in detail, Insha-Allah!