M Adam Ahmad, Al Hakam
Sitting in the tranquil atmosphere of Darul Aman Qadian, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas observes two of his blessed sons engaged in a reflective conversation. The young Mahmudra and Bashirra are earnestly debating whether knowledge or wealth is more valuable. The Promised Messiahas gently offers his insight, saying:
“My son, neither knowledge nor wealth holds real worth. It is the grace of God that is truly valuable.” (Al Badr, 31 October 1902, p. 1)
Through this wise counsel, Hazrat Ahmadas imparted the most essential truth in his young son’s mind that without God’s grace, knowledge and riches are of no true value – for if employed to bad ends, they become evil themselves.
In the current world, with all its technological advancements and economic prosperity, it is quite easy to understand that knowledge and wealth are the ultimate measure of progress and success.
The superpowers of our time – nations that drive global discourse, hold enormous military arsenals, and possess exceptional educational institutions – apparently have both in abundance. And yet, despite their wisdom and wealth, the world remains engulfed in wars, injustices, and immense suffering.
Why is it that those who have attained the heights of worldly achievement are so often the very perpetrators of global injustice? The answer lies in this profound truth: neither knowledge nor wealth is of any benefit unless accompanied by the blessings and grace of Allah the Almighty.
The leading nations of today have made record advances in science, medicine, and technology. They are incredibly wealthy, their economies enormous, and their power seemingly unstoppable. However, they fail miserably when it comes to the moral compass of human dignity, compassion, and justice. They spend billions on exploring space while millions of people on our planet starve. They profess to uphold freedom and democracy, and yet they support – openly or covertly – conflicts that reduce whole countries to rubble, leaving widows, orphans, and ruin in their wake.
The world has seen this kind of brutality in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine and now in Gaza. Children have been bombed in their beds, hospitals destroyed, and water and electricity cut off as instruments of siege. All this is done or allowed by those who call themselves the champions of modern civilisation. The irony is stark – the most knowledgeable, the most affluent, and the loudest voices are the ones who have committed the most atrocities against humanity.
Such actions also expose the spiritual darkness of our time. Without God’s blessing, knowledge and riches are powerless. Unaccompanied by divine grace, knowledge turns into conceit and wealth into a tool of oppression. In the absence of divine mercy, power corrupts absolutely. The conscience gets numbed, and policy is directed, not by justice, but self-interest, greed, and ideological dominance.
The distinguishing factor
Real gain does not come from material wealth but from the closeness and grace of the Almighty God. His blessing changes hearts, guides behaviour, and gives sense to each action. When His grace falls on someone, they are raised above the boundaries of power and possession. They are moved by compassion, and acting with justice, they uphold the truth – even when the world looks the other way.
God’s grace is the distinguishing factor between the empty shell of worldly power and the essence of spiritual guidance. And in our age, this contrast is clearly visible in the character and institution of the Khilafat of Islam Ahmadiyyat.
Divine grace and Khalifat
At a time when world leaders are complicit, and fail to openly condemn oppression or defend the innocent, the Fifth Khalifa of the Promised Messiahas, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, may Allah be his Helper, is a lone voice of moral clarity. He has no military, no earthly throne, and no political power. However, by the grace of God, he is loved and respected throughout nations, and followed by millions. His leadership is not of material possessions or academic achievement but of divine mandate and continued through divine favour.
While the leaders of the world seek popularity through rhetoric and controlling narratives, the Khalifa speaks only for the truth. He emphasises the dire need of peace on global platforms, writes letters to heads of states, and calls on world powers to forsake the road of ruin. His messages are consistent – justice, peace, and compassion must reign.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa does not seek political gain in tragedies; he laments the suffering of every innocent soul irrespective of race or creed. Whether it is the Rohingya Muslim tragedy, the innocent lives lost in Ukraine, or the Palestinian suffering, he speaks out against all that is unjust without fear or favour. He said:
“Certainly, it is my opinion that there should be a full ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and also in the war between Russia and Ukraine. Thereafter, instead of inciting their respective allies towards further warfare, all members of the international community should prioritise ensuring relief efforts are stepped up to help those in desperate need and focus on bringing about a lasting and peaceful settlement.” (“Global Muslim leader calls for ceasefire in Gaza and Ukraine, says privileged nations are wielding their veto ‘like a trump card’”, www.pressahmadiyya.com)
Such moral consistency can only be achieved by one who is guided by God’s grace. The love and respect that Ahmadis possess for their Khalifa is not coerced, nor is it artificially engineered through propaganda. It is the natural response of hearts to the sincerity, compassion, and affection they receive from their Khalifa. The relationship of the Khalifa with the people is a unique one – a living proof of God’s blessings that keeps on binding, inspiring, and uplifting.
Impact of Allah’s blessings
The efforts of the Khalifa don’t exist solely on the international forums. Through his Friday sermons, correspondence, and supplications, he constantly cultivates a world community to lead lives of righteousness, service, and selflessness. Under his guidance, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community constructs hospitals, schools, and relief initiatives in some of the world’s most forsaken areas. This global effort isn’t funded by oil wealth or political influence – it’s supported and sustained by the special grace and blessing of Allah the Almighty.
Where the superpowers of the world send drones and raze houses, the Khalifa dispatches physicians and constructs villages. Where others foment division, he builds unity. Where they seek gain, he looks for prayers. Where they sow seeds of terror, he plants hope.
All of this serves to drive home the fundamental truth: without God’s grace, knowledge and wealth are of no true value. It is only by Allah the Almighty’s blessings that hearts are melted, lives are transformed, and real peace is established.
What world leaders can learn from Khilafat
The lesson is simple and straightforward. While the world is swiftly drawing close to a huge catastrophe – with war, environmental disasters, and societal discontent looming large – it needs to comprehend that its remedies are not additional knowledge or additional wealth. The solution lies in turning back to God, seeking His grace, and in following the example of those upon whom His blessings are showered day and night.
In this regard, the Khilafat of Islam Ahmadiyyat offers a living example. It is not a symbolic title, but rather a divinely ordained institution that continues to light the path of peace, justice, and righteousness in a world otherwise plunging deeper into darkness and evil.
At the end of the day, history will care little about the magnitude of economies or the number of patents owned. It will remember the legacies of compassion, the calls for justice, and the leadership that united with the oppressed. And in that memory, the Ahmadiyya Khilafat shall stand out as a beacon of light – not for material wealth or worldly knowledge, but for God’s continued grace.
Let the world wake up before it is too late and let it know that without the blessings of God, even the most powerful empires become empty and bound to collapse. But with His grace, even the humblest of individuals can alter the course of history.