A series looking at the high standard of morals of the Promised Messiahas and his Khulafa when receiving visitors in Qadian
Awwab Saad Hayat, Al Hakam
On 23 October, on behalf of Muhammad Abdul Haqq Sahib, Mian Mirajuddin Sahib stated that today, he [Muhammad Abdul Haqq] was listening to a commentary of the Holy Quran from Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin Sahibra. And, after hearing him, his [Muhammad Abdul Haqq’s] opinion was that there was a great need for this kind of translation. Most men had been deceived by other translations and he [expressed his] desire for [the Holy Quran’s] translation to be published by the Promised Messiahas.
The Promised Messiahas: It is also my intention that a translation of the Holy Quran should be published by the Jamaat.
Muhammad Abdul Haqq Sahib: No one from among the Europeans feels the need for it more than I do. By reading wrong translations, every person, like me, after searching for the truth and exerting great effort for it, is led to error.
The Promised Messiahas: In actuality, [for a man in search of truth] the Holy Quran alone is not sufficient unless it is accompanied by its commentary. For example, with regard to:
غَيۡرِ الۡمَغۡضُوۡبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَ لَا الضَّآلِّيۡنَ
how can anyone understand that it refers to the Jews and Christians until it is openly revealed. And then also, why was this prayer taught to Muslims? The reason for this was that just as the Jews, by denying the Messiah [of Nazareth], received the wrath of God, in the same way, during the Latter Days, the [Muslim] ummah would earn the wrath of God by denying the Promised Messiah. That is why, firstly, by way of prophecy, [the Muslim ummah] was informed that only the blessed souls would be saved from His wrath.
Muhammad Abdul Haqq Sahib: Muslims, as well as some tafsirs [of the Holy Quran], with regard to
مَا قَتَلُوۡهُ وَ مَا صَلَبُوۡهُ وَ لٰكِنۡ شُبِّهَ لَهُمۡ
say that another man was given the image of the Messiah and was hanged, whilst the Messiah [Prophet Jesusas] ascended to Heaven.
The Promised Messiahas: [This issue] is very easy to understand. In common parlance, if it is said that someone was crucified or hanged, it means that he died on the cross. If a guilty person is hanged [on a cross] but does not die and he is taken off [the cross] alive, will the word “hanged” or “crucified” be used for him? Not at all.
On the contrary, it would be a crime to utter these words. A crucified person is one whose life is taken on the cross, and such a one who does not die on [the cross] will not be called crucified, even though he may have been hanged and taken off the cross.
Jews are alive [today]; ask them if the meaning of crucifixion is as we understand it to be or as our opponents comprehend. Then, one should also look at [the usage of] idiomatic language. [In this verse, the phrase] مَا صَلَبُوۡهُ has come withمَا قَتَلُوۡهُ so that it may be understood that crucifixion meant murder, which did not take place. Death by crucifixion did not occur. [The words] شُبِّهَ لَهُمۡ (Surah al-Nisa, Ch.4: V.158) means that he was made to appear to like one crucified.
People’s claim that someone else was given the image of Christ [and put on the cross] is utterly false. Even one’s intellect does not accept it, nor is there any correct narration about it. Consider that if another man had become the image of the Messiah, he would not be free from two conditions – either he was a friend of the Messiah or an enemy. If he was a friend, then the objection is that why was the curse, which God saved the Messiah from, given to his friend? This makes God unjust. And if he was an enemy, what was the need for him to be placed on the cross instead of the Messiah? He must have cried out and shouted, “Ask my wife and children, my name is (so and so) and I am not the Messiah”. Then, there would have been a decrease in the number of people present which would have made it clear that this person was not the Messiah. So, in every way, this idea is false; and [in reality] شُبِّهَ لَهُمۡ means that [he] was made to resemble the one crucified.
Muhammad Abdul Haqq Sahib: This theory [of crucifixion] will create a great revolution in Europe because people there have been deceived and the story has been entirely misconstrued.
The Promised Messiahas: What is commonly said by people is by no means the intention of the Holy Quran and through such misunderstandings, people have been deceived.
Muhammad Abdul Haqq Sahib: The Islamic tenets have reached us through Christians, and [after hearing about Islam] I have come out [in search] of the true face of Islam.
The Promised Messiahas: This is a great grace of God and very fortunate for you that you have come here. It is true that those who are Muslims [today] do not understand the Holy Quran at all. But now, Allah intends to reveal the true meanings of the Quran. Allah has commissioned me for this, and I understand the Holy Quran through His divine revelations and explanations.
The teachings of the Holy Quran are such that no objection can be raised against it, and it is filled with such words that not even a philosopher can get the chance to raise objections. However, Muslims [of today] have abandoned the Holy Quran and have attributed to the Holy Quran, of themselves, such statements which gradually become objections; and they make such claims, from themselves, which are not mentioned in the Holy Quran and are totally against its [teachings].
For example, ponder over the incident of the crucifixion; observe how much interpolation there is in this story. And [ponder over how much] the Holy Quran has been opposed. This [belief] is also against reason and against the Holy Quran.
After this, the Promised Messiah explained the word “tawaffi” and [stated how] the Muslim ummah had faulted in [understanding its true meaning] and said:
Only in the case of the Messiah do [Muslims today] take it to mean physical ascension. However, in the same Quran, and wherever this word appears in dictionaries and other Arabic books, it is translated as “death”.
Muhammad Abdul Haqq Sahib: This is an important task that you have taken on and it is needed not only by the Muslims but also by Christians. I have found, from coming to Qadian, that this Jamaat is very useful; and I desire that may Allah make me a tool for great work such as this, and that I also have a share in it.
The Promised Messiahas: I always pray, and I always desired that a person among Europeans to come forth and dedicate his life for this cause. However, it is necessary for such a person to stay in my company for some time and gradually learn all the necessary Islamic principles that can clear Islam of all blemishes. He should understand all the powerful and majestic arguments, which would enable this.
Then such a person will be able to go to other countries and perform this service. To endure this service, one needs a pure and strong soul; he who possesses this will be a highly useful person and, in the sight of God, will be declared a great man in heaven.
Muhammad Abdul Haqq Sahib: I will be leaving here tomorrow and will be visiting various places in India till the end of December to perform an essential service which is based on the service of mankind. That [service] is the removal of the restriction placed on Indian traders in Australia. After this visit, I will see which path I take.
The Promised Messiahas: The exegesis of the Holy Quran will be done at its appointed time, but if God so inspires you and you come to stay here, then we can immediately do the commentary of portions of the Holy Quran against which all other religions have raised allegations due to a lack of understanding, or Muslims have misunderstood them.
First, a list [of objections raised by others] will be prepared. The list shall not be too long because the same objection has been repeatedly raised by each sect. Thus, if its truth could be impressed on your mind, then that would result in the exegesis of that portion. And in this way, every objection [against Islam which is raised] in Europe can be answered and, in this way, the deception of the people of Europe will be removed.
The newspaper, Badr, in its 29 October 1903 issue, whilst mentioning Hazrat Ahmad’sas engagements of 24 October 1903, wrote that Muhammad Abdul Haqq Sahib returned on the same day and after Zuhr, the Promised Messiahas delivered a speech in which he mentioned making sacrifices for the sake of religion.