Ata-ul-Haye Nasir, Al Hakam
Today, we witness that the Muslim world is facing many turmoils and problems, due to the fact that they are not holding unto the ‘Rope of Allah’ which has been sent by Him to save them from these troubles. This ‘rope’ is the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas of Qadian.
In 1933, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud, Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmadra wrote an article and called the Muslim world to accept the Imam of this Age, the Promised Messiahas.
Background of this article: Ahmadiyya fellowship of youth
In 1932, the Ahmadi youth of Lahore established an organisation namely “Young Men Ahmadiyya Association”, for the purpose of preaching the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat. Its first president was Syed Mahmud Ahmad Sahib BA. The aims of this organisation included holding conventions for tabligh (preaching the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat), and publishing a monthly religious tract. The organisation was renamed a few months later to the “Ahmadiyya Fellowship of Youth”, and for the years 1933-34, Malik Abdur Rahman Sahib Khadim BA was appointed as its president. Prior to the foundation of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya, it was this youth organisation that led the efforts to spread the true teachings of Islam. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 6, p. 112)
Ahmadiyya Fellowship of Youth grew in numbers and eventually spread outside of Lahore. Its president, Abdur Rahman Sahib Khadim, announced that this organisation will aim to refute the objections of the opponents and propagate the message of the Promised Messiahas far and wide. (Al Fazl, 22 December 1932, p. 2)
The Call of Heaven
In a complement to the praiseworthy efforts of this organisation, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud, Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmadra wrote an article in 1933, titled “Pukarnay Walay Ki Aawaz”, and gave it to this association for publication on “Yaum-e-Tabligh” (preaching day). The original Urdu article was published in Al Fazl on 26 October 1933, and its English translation was first published in the November 1933 issue of The Review of Religions, titled “Heaven Calls You”.
The English article has now been published in book form as well. In this article, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra said:
“I say to those who will listen: where does the call of heaven guide you? A mother does not neglect her children. How can God Almighty neglect His people?
“Your instruments—your flutes, drums and conches—have raised a din. Be silent! For now, your creator speaks to you.
“Blessed are you who live on the earth. Heaven has opened its doors for you. And blessed are you who dwell in darkness. The sun of spiritual life rises from the eastern horizon. The same message of hope delivered 1300 years ago is proclaimed again today; the pure teaching of Tawhid (Oneness of God) is conveyed again as it once was before.
“Do those who profess to love Muhammadsa not recognise the voice of their beloved? Listen to what the most handsome of all beings has to say:
“‘Heed the one who comes in my name and convey to him my greetings. And even if you have to crawl on your knees over mountains of ice, go to him still.’
“But alas you have given little thought to this, and you reject the voice of one who calls you not from himself, but in the name of his master—Muhammadsa. He has raised this cry in the towns, but it was as though a cry in the jungle. And this was so that a previous prophecy—‘listen to him who cries in the wilderness’—could be fulfilled.
“Do you consider yourselves free of fault? Or do you think that the soul of the Holy Prophetsa will not suffer at your plight? Perhaps you labour under these misapprehensions. Sadly, both these errors hinder you from hearing the voice raised in the name of the Prophet Muhammadsa. If this is the case, then in the first instance, do you not overestimate your own virtue, and in the second instance, do you not belittle the Prophet’ssa concern for your predicament?
“Remember that the pages of history bear witness to the fact that no community of heaven was brought to life, except through the voice of God Almighty. When the Hindus were recipients of His word; who raised them to the pinnacle of their glory? Was it not Krishnaas, Ramchandaras or Buddhaas? Or was it instead a worldly leader? Who awakened the Jews? Was it not the likes of Davidas, Elijahas, Danielas and Jesusas? Or was it a self-appointed guide [from among them]?
“Think not that mortal voices can rouse the Muslims, without the sounding of the horn of heaven? Those souls that come from heaven hear only the divine voice. […] Yet one can also see that to claim to hear the word of God is no small thing. Those who are false or make haste in their claims are bereft of divine support.” (The Call of Heaven, [Pukarnay Walay Ki Aawaz], pp. 1-5)
Huzoorra continued by saying that for more than 40 years, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, declared that he is the recipient of divine discourse:
“In all this time, not a single day dawned which did not bring with it progress and success and in which new pathways of divine help were not opened. What a momentous sign!” (Ibid., pp. 5-6)
Huzoorra further said that the Holy Quran makes it clear that a false claimant is bound to incur divine wrath, “whereas the true chosen ones of God Almighty always receive His support. They continue to succeed despite all opposition to them. Thus this is a fresh sign from God, which He has caused to descend from heaven, to prove to you the truth of the Promised Messiahas and the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Community. If only you could perceive this so that God would look upon you with pity and transform your present state.
“Listen then those who will! A voice raised by heaven is no ordinary thing. The greatest source of pride a person can have is to be remembered by their creator; and the greatest danger one can face is to turn a deaf ear to the Word of God Almighty or be unmindful of it. Therefore, be warned and amend your idle ways. Listen to and accept the voice raised by God in heaven, in the name of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa, to awaken humankind from their slumber and to revive Islam and re-establish its teachings in the world.
“Remember that to tarry in accepting the truth is to delay the hour of progress and to afford the enemies of Islam the opportunity to ridicule and defile it. God Almighty calls to you from heaven, while on the earth your own hearts bear witness that they no longer possess the truth of Islam. It can only be restored through external help. Why then do you not turn towards the voice of God Almighty? Why do you not look upon the state of your hearts? Do you require a greater testimony in this world than the verdict of your own hearts, and a greater testimony in heaven than the decision taken by God Almighty?
“Can those who deal in falsehood receive the kind of support which the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Community received from God? Can a community founded by an imposter, ever be endowed with the zeal to serve Islam, in the way that distinguishes the followers of the Promised Messiahas? Do you think that those who follow a liar can succeed in propagating Islam in the same way that the Ahmadiyya Community has? […] Do you consider such proclamations a thing of insignificance and that God does not punish false claimants?
“If not, it is your duty to forgo your cowardice and indifference, and enter the fold of the Ahmadiyya Community with true courage to serve the cause of Islam and its founder through the sacrifice of your lives and wealth. Do not tarry, for every minute that is delayed is a grave danger.
“Again, I say to those of you who possess erudition and understanding, can there be a more emphatic worldly testament than that of your inner heart? Be honest with yourselves and truthfully admit that your hearts bear witness that you have deviated far from Islam. […] If this is the truth, as it most certainly is, then do not seek to conceal it and squander any justness you might have had. You may be able to deceive others, but you cannot deceive yourselves. Your affairs rest with Allah the Exalted Who knows what dwells within the hearts of people. Worldly prestige is nothing; true honour is that which comes from God Almighty. What shame is there in accepting the truth?
“Therefore, do not tarry and accept the truth, so that the hour of Islam’s victory might draw near. The voice raised by the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Community is not his own, but has been raised for the glory of the Holy Prophetsa. Know also that he spoke not of his own accord, but through the will of God Almighty. So heed the call of God for your own entreaties to be heard. Listen to the one who speaks in the name of the Holy Prophetsa so that your own names may be honoured and blessed. And the conclusion of our prayer shall be, all praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.” (Ibid., pp. 6-11)
