Meekail Ahmed, Student, Jamia Ahmadiyya Canada
In 1905, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, wrote:
ہیں درندے ہر طرف میں عافیت کا ہوں حصار
“Wild beasts abound in every direction – I am the Citadel of Security.” (Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part V [English], p. 203)
In a world often characterised by anguish, chaos and disorder, the pursuit of inner peace becomes an invaluable endeavour. The metaphorical “beasts” that surround us represent the various external factors, ranging from societal pressures to global crises, that threaten our tranquillity.
The concept of a “Citadel of Security” stands as an ideal, an aspiration and a beacon of hope. The term evokes the image of a sanctuary, a place where harmony, cooperation, and understanding reign supreme. The Promised Messiahas and his teachings are a citadel of peace in this day and age needed to combat religious crises, to find a solution for global crises and for self-realisation and identity.
Throughout human history, doctrines and ideologies have played a pivotal role in shaping societies. However, one undeniable truth is that teachings change over time. Teachings are often subject to interpretation and communities seek to apply them to new contexts and situations. As the human mind keeps evolving, the real essence of the teachings might get lost. People always start to divide based on their interpretations while rejecting others.
The same can be seen in the history of Islam, as the Holy Prophetsa said, “And my Ummah will split into 73 sects. All of them are in the Fire except one sect.” (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2641)
Each different sect interprets Islam and its teachings in its own way and has developed enmity for each other. Though they say there are more than one billion Muslims in the world, they call each other infidels and disagree with one another in ideology. Mullahs have directed people to extremism and they have diverted some people away from the true religion. They use this as a tool for their own purposes and to keep people with them. The best way to sell your product is under the umbrella of religion. The Promised Messiahas states:
“It should be remembered that today’s Islamic scholars (who are called maulavis) completely misunderstand jihad and misrepresent it to the general public. The public’s violent instincts are inflamed as a result and they are stripped of all noble human virtues. This is in fact what has happened. […] May God bring these ignorant maulavis back to the right path. They have misled the populace into believing that the keys to Paradise lie in beliefs that are oppressive, cruel and completely immoral.” (The British Government and Jihad, pp. 8 and 13)
So-called Islamic ideologies, which are led by clerics, have gone towards a very extreme side, which is not the true image of Islam. Due to these statements, Islam is being attacked from every side. In this very age, God made sure to protect Islam by sending the Messiah to strengthen the walls of Islam. As the Promised Messiahas writes:
“Reason requires that in this time of peril when forces of opposition have erupted in the world and the internal condition of Muslims has seriously deteriorated, some reformer should appear to repel the mischief of the cross and to purify the internal condition of Muslims.” (Tohfah Golarhviah, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 17, p. 129; Essence of Islam, Vol. 4, p. 190)
Even though Islam had been perfected, the real teachings were lost and a reformer was needed to bring the truth to light. The evolution of teachings through reform is an integral part of human intellectual and spiritual development. Reformers, driven by deep understanding and moral courage, reshape teachings to address contemporary needs and challenges.
Self-realisation and identity are fundamental aspects of human existence, shaping our understanding of who we are, what we value and how we navigate the world. The journey towards self-realisation involves discovering our authentic selves, understanding our values and beliefs, and aligning our actions with our inner truths. Especially during this day and age, when people are going away from God and trying to find pleasure in worldly pursuits, people are forgetting their true purpose in life.
Thus, a lot of people question if God is real and if one can reach Him. The Promised Messiahas beautifully explained how the Holy Prophetsa brought a change in his society through the true teachings of Islam. He states:
“None but the Holy Prophetsa could have brought about this great reformation. He taught human values to people who were savages and brutes. In other words, he transformed brutes into men, men into civilised men, and civilised men into godly men. He infused spiritual qualities into them and established their communion with the True God.” (Lecture Sialkot, p. 6)
How did this great phenomenon occur? Firstly, it was due to his fervent prayers. Secondly, people saw a great example of a godly person in the character of the Holy Prophetsa. As the Promised Messiahas brought a true spiritual reformation for mankind, his writings have helped people to be fortified from the evils of this world. When a person truly becomes aware of their Creator and truly finds peace in this citadel, they can connect with their Creator and find their true identity.
The world today faces an array of interconnected global crises. The enormity of these challenges often leaves individuals feeling powerless, as if they alone cannot make a significant impact. However, history has shown that the power of individuals and their communities, when driven by passion, determination and a vision for change, can indeed be a catalyst for addressing and even stopping global crises.
Most global crises arise due to the immoral values or actions of a group or society or due to a certain mindset of people. When the Holy Prophetsa first migrated to Medina, his first action was to create a charter of Medina to ensure that everyone lived in peace. Huzooraa stated:
“The Holy Prophetsa immediately stated that it was essential that they all lived together in peace and harmony, and so he proposed a covenant of peace between them. According to the terms of this treaty, each group and each tribe were given their due rights. The lives and wealth of all parties were guaranteed, and any preexisting inter-tribal customs were also respected.” (Keynote Address at the 11th National Peace Symposium, 8 November 2014)
When people truly understand the rights they owe to their fellow human beings, societies can truly prosper. As Huzooraa states:
“The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community has also taught us that the majority of Muslims and non-Muslims have forgotten their fundamental teachings and have gone far away from God. This growing distance from God and religion is increasing the restlessness in the hearts of people.
“And he said that he had come, therefore, to remove such distance so that the rights of God may be discharged and the rights of God’s creation may also be discharged with feelings of love and sympathy. When these teachings are acted upon, then we will observe real peace; otherwise, agitation will once again bring about utter destruction in the world.” (Keynote Address at the 7th National Peace Symposium, 20 March 2010)
When people stray away from the true purpose of their creation, great problems arise. A true reformer is needed to fortify societies and their real teachings. The Promised Messiahas, driven by moral conviction and resilience, inspired the communities to address pressing global issues. Communities, in turn, provide support, shared goals and collective action to amplify the impact of individuals.
God Almighty has sent a reformer who truly was a “Citadel of Security” in time of peril. Through his teachings, the Promised Messiahas abolished extremism and brought out the true face of Islam, displayed various solutions for global crises and helped people find the true purpose of our creation and identity.
Since the time of the Promised Messiahas, society has gone through many problems and situations, from economic crises to one’s endeavour for truth. People need a philosophy, teaching or an ideology that can save them from this land of “beasts” and bring them into a citadel of peace. Every answer can be found in the teachings of Islam as explained by the Promised Messiahas, and coming to him, people can find true protection.