Demba Bah, Missionary, The Gambia
When the beautiful picture of Islam became dusty, Allah sent Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Messiahas as the Promised Messiah and Mahdi of this age, to clean this picture and restore the true Islam. In 1889, under divine guidance, the Promised Messiahas laid down the foundation of his community, which was later given the name Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat.
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdias stated in one of his writings that Allah the Almighty revealed to him that God shall accept him and demonstrate his truthfulness with mighty assaults. “I shall bless you greatly, so much so that kings will seek blessings from your garments,” Allah revealed to Huzooras. (The Will, p. 4)
This advent was foretold by the Holy Prophetsa of Islam; Huzoorsa stated that Khilafat would be established with the advent of a Prophet and would begin after his death, as it did after the death of our Holy Master Muhammadsa. The Holy Prophetsa declared that the Khilafat of the Promised Messiah would be eternal, continuing until the day of resurrection. (Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Kitab al-Riqaq, Bab al-andhar wa al-tahdhir)
In this regard, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa states: “The fact that the Holy Prophetsa remained silent after mentioning the second establishment of Khilafat upon the precepts of prophethood shows that this second manifestation and system of Khilafat would remain for a long time.’’ (Friday Sermon 27 May 2022)
The Holy Prophetsa has also stated that “Khilafat always follows Prophethood.” (Kanzul Amal [Arabic], 1981, Narration 32240, Vol. 11, p. 476) Similarly, the Holy Quran has also given us glad tidings of Khilafat. (Surah an-Nur, Ch.24: V.56) This promise is only with those who comply with faith and acts of goodness. Thus, it has long since been the practice of Allah to establish the institution of Khilafat after Prophethood.
The Promised Messiahas established a religious movement and set forth a legacy that serves as a living testimony to his truthfulness and divine mission. After his death in 1908, the institution of Khilafat was established to ensure the continuity of his mission. In this regard, it was revealed to the Promised Messiahas that:
ستائیس کو ايک واقعہ
“An event on the 27th.” (Tadhkirah [English], p. 1017)
Thus, under Divine Will, on 27 May 1908, amongst the trees and foliage of the Bahishti Maqbara in Qadian, the second Manifestation took root in the world. Khilafat was re-established on the precepts of Prophethood, fulfilling the prophecies and traditions found in divine scriptures.
The Promised Messiahas had already addressed his community and foretold: “For it is essential for you to witness the second Manifestation also, and its Coming is better for you because it is everlasting the continuity of which will not end till the Day of Judgment. And that second Manifestation cannot come unless I depart.
“But when I depart, God will send that second Manifestation for you which shall always stay with you […] I am a personification of His Power. And after I am gone there will be some other persons who will be the manifestation of the second Power [of God]. So, while waiting for the second Manifestation of His Power, you all together keep yourselves busy praying. And let a Jama‘at of righteous people, one and all, in every country keep themselves busy in prayers so that the second Manifestation may descend from the Heaven and show you that your God is such Mighty God.” (The Will, pp. 7-8)
Thus, Khilafat is not merely a leadership structure; it is a divinely ordained institution that safeguards the teachings of Islam. In this regard, the Holy Quran states:
اَلَّذِیۡنَ اِنۡ مَّکَّنّٰہُمۡ فِی الۡاَرۡضِ اَقَامُوا الصَّلٰوۃَ وَاٰتَوُا الزَّکٰوۃَ وَاَمَرُوۡا بِالۡمَعۡرُوۡفِ وَنَہَوۡا عَنِ الۡمُنۡکَرِ وَلِلّٰہِ عَاقِبَۃُ الۡاُمُوۡرِ
‘’Those who, if We establish them in the earth, will observe Prayer and pay the Zakat and enjoin good and forbid evil. And with Allah rests the final issue of all affairs.” (Surah al-Hajj, Ch.22: V.42)
As a case study, take the case of Zakat. There was a regular system of Zakat at the time of the Holy Prophetsa. When he passed, Hazrat Abu Bakrra became the Khalifa. The majority of Arabs refused to pay Zakat. They were under the misconception that it was a command only during the period of the Holy Prophetsa, but not for the period of later Khulafa.
Hazrat Abu Bakrra refused to accept this and was determined to fight those who refused to pay Zakat, and vowed that he would not stop fighting until he received Zakat from them the same way they used to pay in the period of the Holy Prophetsa.
Thus Khilafat plays an essential role in upholding and spreading the teachings of Islam. It serves as spiritual guidance, where the Khalifa offers direction to members of the Jamaat, reinforcing their faith and commitment to the tenets of Islam.
Allah, the Almighty creates extraordinary courage and bravery in the hearts of the believers, and they fear none other than Allah the Almighty and work for His pleasure alone. Despite constant abuse and violent persecution, prophets of God react with patience and prayer and are always triumphant in their mission.
Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya is living proof of these promises. Not only has Islam Ahmadiyyat continued to win the hearts of millions, despite 136 years of opposition toiling to end it, but security and peace have been around the corner at every difficult turn. Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya is thus a beacon of divine peace and security. For who can stop the works of God?
The era of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira
Huzooraa states: “It is a great favour of Allah the Almighty that although the Jamaat experienced a great shock at the time of the demise of the Promised Messiahas, Allah the Almighty immediately took care of the Jamaat through Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira.” (Friday Sermon 26 May 2017)
Baseless allegations were raised, for example, claiming that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira was “too old” and should not lead the Jamaat (Hayat-e-Nur, p. 687)
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira would openly challenge them to try and snatch the divine mantle of Khilafat from him, while also guaranteeing their failure to do so. He said, “Khilafat is a matter of Shariah. Without Khilafat, the Jamaat cannot succeed. Allah has told me that if anyone from amongst them leaves, then He shall give me a whole Jamaat in return […] I believe in the grace of God, that He shall help me.” (Ibid., pp. 378-379)
The era of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra
Thereafter, the Jamaat experienced another shock when Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira passed away, and certain prominent and leading members of the Jamaat abstained from taking the Bai’at [oath of allegiance] and rejected the Khalifa, and the Jamaat endured a very difficult period during this time.
Then, there was the episode of the partition, which was extremely grave and marred with danger. Moving hundreds of thousands of Ahmadi Muslims from India to Pakistan without harm is an unimaginable feat that Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra achieved with Allah’s help.
There was nationwide political unrest and the fear of being murdered, beaten and looted was very real. It was not an individual move for Jamaat members. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra had to replant a whole garden in another land. Today, Rabwah stands as an example of how a model town should be in Pakistan.
The era of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh
Then, the Jamaat faced very hostile periods during the era of Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmadrh, and despite the government of Pakistan’s dangerous plans, Allah the Almighty bestowed His grace, and they could not hinder the progress of the Jamaat.
A strong intellectual proof based on the Holy Quran, sunnah and ahadith presented by a team led by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh in front of the National Assembly of Pakistan, the government decided to label Ahmadis as non-Muslims. What could have transpired if this were done to a community that didn’t possess a divinely appointed leader draws our imagination into dark and horrible places.
When this resolution was passed, conditions for Ahmadis across Pakistan instantly became dangerous. There was no government protection, and Ahmadis rightly feared for their lives and safety. They stopped attending schools, colleges and universities due to the harassment and violence that the constitutional amendment had released.
However, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh urged them to keep their heads up high, not to lose faith in their Lord, nor be afraid of anyone. He instructed students to go back to their schools, colleges and universities and continue their lives.
The era of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh
During the time of Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmadrh, the Pakistani government intensified its persecution, and again Allah the Almighty granted the means to provide comfort. Moreover, the Jamaat continued to scale new heights, and newer means emerged for tabligh [propagation of the message of Islam].
In 1974, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s government declared Ahmadi Muslims as non-Muslim through the National Assembly of Pakistan. Ironically, Bhutto, who used to say that Ahmadis would be wasted, was hanged by his own handpicked General Zia ul Haq in 1979.
Although General Zia took over the government of Pakistan and executed Bhutto, he too tried to hatch a plot to arrest Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh, but Allah frustrated and rendered futile his efforts. As the persecution of the Ahmadis continued, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh issued a Mubahilah, or a prayer duel, against General Zia. A direct challenge to the general, the Mubahilah would only be resolved when either leader outlived the other in this world.
In his statement, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh prayed: “Whichever of us in Thy sight are liars and fabricators, let Thy Wrath descend upon them within one year. May Thou inflict such disgrace, torment and punishment upon them that all people can witness their debasement and utter destruction.” (Ian Adamson, A Man of God, p. 120)
The power of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV’srh message caused an international stir, as copies of his sermon were made in multitudes and sent to various nations. Yet the persecutions in Pakistan did not abate, and General Zia took no notice that he had been warned.
On 17 August 1988, five minutes after being airborne in his presidential plane, he crashed to his death. The exact reasons for the crash remain unknown, but it was of significant interest that all that was left of General Zia after he was blown to “smithereens” were his teeth. (The Sun, 18 August 1988)
The Holy Quran states:
وَاعۡتَصِمُوۡا بِحَبۡلِ اللّٰہِ جَمِیۡعًا وَّلَا تَفَرَّقُوۡا
“And hold fast, all together, by the rope of Allah and be not divided.” (Surah Aal-e-`Imran, Ch.3: V.104)
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh said: “When a nation divides into two sects or splits into three, four or five sects, and none of them attach with Khilafat or hold fast to this rope of God in a way that they are all united and joined at one hand, then, according to the decree of the Holy Quran, their bond with the rope of Allah breaks. The fact of the matter is that, except for the institution of Khilafat, no other system in this world can unite [people]. You must have seen many sects, but no sect possesses the unity that you observe under the institution of Khilafat.” (Friday Sermon 13 November 1987, Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 6, p. 84)
Progress of Ahmadiyyat in the era of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa
Now, in the era of the fifth Khalifa, the modes of tabligh further expanded, and not just thousands or hundreds of thousands, but the message of the Jamaat has begun to reach millions. All of this shows that despite the temporary hurdles, the victory of Islam is destined to happen through the Promised Messiahas and the institution of Khilafat, which was established after him.
One of the most significant affirmations of the Promised Messiah’s truthfulness is the existence of countless miracles and signs attributed to him, which continue to manifest under the institution of Khilafat. Khilafat has transcended geographical boundaries, with Ahmadis actively working in various parts of the world. The rapid and widespread growth of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and its ability to foster peace in society bear witness to the divine support behind this institution.
In conclusion, the institution of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya does not just stand as a relic of history; rather, it is relevant today as proof of the truthfulness of the Promised Messiahas. I invite Ahmadi Muslims today to reflect on the role of Khilafat in our own lives and the greater community. Let us embrace the guidance provided by our Khalifa and strengthen our bond with the mission of the Promised Messiahas as we continue to work together to create a better world.
