The fate of those who rejected Khilafat

Ata-Ul-Haye Nasir, Al Hakam

After the demise of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I^ra, a large number of Ahmadis in Qadian had sincerely pledged their allegiance to Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad^ra. By doing so, they unanimously declared their allegiance with the divine system of Khilafat.

But still, those who rejected Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya – who are commonly known as Paighamis or “Lahoris” – held important positions in the Jamaat at that time. They were in control of most of the press. They had access to the treasury and many well-known and seemingly great personalities were their allies. They used the Jamaat’s publication system to launch a campaign against the system of Khilafat. This propaganda was, in fact, silently brewing during the life of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I^ra.

Even in the life of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I^ra, various debates about Khilafat were arising. But he always gave apt answers to those who objected to Khilafat. Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin, may Allah be pleased with him, stated:

“Allah the Almighty, through His grace, united you through our king, the Promised Messiah^as, after the Holy Prophet Muhammad^sa and then saved you from division by uniting you at my hands. Show gratitude for this blessing and do not occupy yourselves in futile discussions […]

“I cannot understand what type of spiritual or moral benefit you will achieve from these useless debates. Allah the Almighty has appointed me as a Khalifa according to His will and made you all bow your heads before me. It is utter folly if you continue to argue about it, even after this act of Allah the Almighty. I have told you many a time and shown from the Holy Quran that to appoint a Khalifa, is not the work of a human being, but the work of God Almighty […] Allah the Almighty has appointed me as a Khalifa, just as He made Adam^as, David^as, Abu Bakr^ra and Umar^ra a Khalifa.

“If anyone says that the Anjuman has made me the Khalifa, then he is a liar. Such thoughts lead to destruction. Beware of them. Listen, no human being or anjuman has made me the Khalifa, nor do I consider any anjuman capable of making the Khalifa. Thus, no anjuman has made me the Khalifa and if that was the case, I would have never valued it, nor would I have bat an eyelid for it. Now, no one has the power to take away the cloak of this Khilafat from me.” (Khitabat-e-Nur, pp. 470-472)

Regarding the situation following the demise of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I^ra, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra stated:

“Then came the time when Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I^ra passed away. At that time, a rift arose within the Jamaat. A group of people – who were regarded as the administrative setup of the Jamaat, who occupied Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya and were responsible for the treasury and under whose influence were the influential figures of the Jamaat – began to say that there is no need for Khilafat. Eloquent speakers like Khawaja Kamaluddin Sahib, famous writers like Maulvi Muhammad Ali Sahib, famous traders like Sheikh Rahmatullah Sahib, famous scholars like Maulvi Ghulam Hussain Sahib who has many students in the border area, Dr Mirza Yaqub Baig Sahib who is a wealthy man and a property holder and doctor Syed Muhammad Hussain Shah Sahib, all gathered on one side and said that people wished to destroy the Jamaat by making a child a Khalifa.

“The child they were referring to was me and at the time, I was 20 years old. God is my Witness that I had no idea that questions were being raised about me becoming the Khalifa of the Jamaat. Allah is my Witness that neither was I involved in these things, nor did I know anything of it. This came to my knowledge first and foremost through Sheikh Rahmatullah Sahib, owner of the English Warehouse. I heard him saying in the mosque with great enthusiasm that the Jamaat was being destroyed for the sake of a child.” (Mein hi Musleh-e-Maud ki Peshgoi ka Misdaaq hun, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 17, p. 204)

Those who shunned Khilafat spread the notion within the Jamaat that Mirza Mahmud Ahmad Sahib^ra and his peers were using the system of Khilafat for their own personal gain and that the real successor to the Promised Messiah^as was Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya.

Another misunderstanding that also spread was that the likes of Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Mahmud Ahmad^ra had already started corrupting religion and if the leadership of this young child was accepted by the Ahmadiyya Jamaat, then very soon, Ahmadiyyat would be shattered to pieces and Qadian would be taken over by Christianity.

They even went on to say that Christianity would take over the buildings of the Jamaat in ten years. Those who were desirous for such dangerous and false propaganda went to different parts of the country to spread their views. Every effort was made to prevent Ahmadis from pledging allegiance to Khilafat. But God Almighty had destined the system of Khilafat for the development and propagation of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat and for the stability of Khilafat, Allah showed great signs of His power in support of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II^ra and a large number of Ahmadis present in Qadian pledged their allegiance to Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad^ra and recognised him as Khalifatul Masih.

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra said:

“The poor section of the Jamaat pledged allegiance to me and the so-called ‘big figures’ were separated from the Jamaat. One of them was Dr Mirza Yaqub Baig Sahib. As he left, he pointed to our buildings and said, ‘We are leaving because the Jamaat has not treated us well, but you will see that in ten years’ time, these places will be occupied by Christians and all these properties will be taken from the hands of Ahmadis.’” (Mein hi Musleh-e-Maud ki Peshgoi ka Misdaaq hun, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 17, p. 206)

Those who rejected Khilafat had a strange kind of pride and arrogance over their power in terms of numbers and wealth. They even wrote that 95% of the Jamaat was with them and only 5% was with Mirza Mahmud Ahmad^ra. They continued to consider this majority as a great pride for themselves and a proof of their success and truthfulness.

But after a while, they changed their views and started writing that although they were in fact only 5% in comparison to the 95% that was with Mirza Mahmud Ahmad Sahib’s^ra Jamaat, “the fact is that we are the ones who stand for the truth because it has always been the rule that the number of truthful people is smaller.”

There was a time when they were proud of their majority and used it as an argument for their truthfulness. But then came a time when they began to consider themselves proud of being the minority and used it to justify their truthfulness. This is but another proof that they had no other argument in their support.

Regarding this, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra stated:

“About 2,000 people pledged allegiance to me at that time, while most of the outside Jamaats had not yet performed Bai‘at. Even Paigham-e-Sulh [the magazine of the Paighami group] wrote that 95% Jamaat is with them and only 5% is with Mirza Mahmud Ahmad. But then two months had passed – in fact only a month had passed when the whole Jamaat joined in my allegiance and Paigham-e-Sulh began to write that 95% of the Jamaat is with Mirza Mahmud Ahmad^ra and only 5% is with them.” (Mein hi Musleh-e-Maud ki Peshgoi ka Misdaaq hun, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 17, p. 206)

He states at another place:

“I see that there are signs of division in the Jamaat and some people are inciting others against Khilafat or at least insisting that the Khalifa should be as a president only and that there has not been any Khalifa in the Jamaat yet. But I inform the whole Jamaat through this announcement that it is necessary to have a Khalifa, as I have proved, and that pledging allegiance to him is as necessary as it was with Khalifatul Masih I^ra. It is wrongly said that no Khalifa of the Jamaat has been appointed so far; God Almighty has assigned Khilafat to he who was to be appointed and now, he who opposes him, in fact, opposes God.” (Kaun hay jo Khuda ke kaam ko rok sakey, Anwarul-Ulum, Vol.2, p. 14)

He continues:

“It was the act of God Almighty to make the necks of most people submit before me. How can I reject the command of God Almighty for your sake? He made me the Khalifa in the same way as He made those who came before. But I wonder how a humble person like me became His chosen one. Whatever the answer, He has chosen me and now, no man can take off the cloak that He has bestowed to me. This is the gift of God; who can take away this gift of God from me? God Almighty will be my Helper. I am weak, but my Master is very strong; I am weak, but my master is very Powerful; I am without any means, but my King is the Creator of all means; I am helpless, but my Lord will send down the angels to help me, insha-Allah. I do not have any refuge save in my Protector alone, in Whose presence there is no need for any other refuge.

“People accuse me of being a liar, that I have been seeking a high rank for a long time, that I was proud and desired to get a high status, so much so that it made me restless. I say to them that your objection is what Thamud did to Saleh^as:

بَلۡ ہُوَ کَذَّابٌ اَشِرٌ

‘Nay, he is a boastful liar’. (Surah al-Qamar, Ch.54: V.26)

“Now, I will also respond to you in the same way as Hazrat Saleh^as did:

سَیَعۡلَمُوۡنَ غَدًا مَّنِ الۡکَذَّابُ الۡاَشِرُ 

‘Tomorrow will they know who is the boastful liar!’ (Surah al-Qamar, Ch.54: V.27)” (Kaun hay jo Khuda ke kaam ko rok sakey, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol.2, p. 15)

While giving the glad tidings of victory to the mubai‘een [those who had performed Bai‘at of the Khalifa], Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra stated:

“There are trials and tribulations, but rejoice, for the end will be better for you who have bound yourselves in the ropes of unity and that you will be God’s chosen people. The rain of His bounty will descend upon you, insha-Allah, with such force that you will be amazed.” (Ibid, p. 19)

In one of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s^ra dreams, a man named Abdul Samad told him:

“Congratulations to the poor Jamaat of Qadian! The blessings of Khilafat descend upon you.” (Mansab-e-Khilafat, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol.2, p. 50)

When Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad^ra assumed the office of Khilafat, the financial condition of the Jamaat was very weak. All administrative positions were in the hands of those who were in denial about Khilafat. However, God Almighty strengthened the system of Khilafat and showed His support and help. Today, the great progress of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat is a reflection of the blessings of Khilafat itself and is a conclusive proof of the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah^as.

Regarding the financial condition of the Jamaat at that time and the actions of the opponents of Khilafat, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra says:

“The world tried as hard as it could, but in spite of its efforts, God made us grow and granted progress in a way that was beyond our imagination.

“When I became the Khalifa, we had only 14 annas in our treasury and a debt of 18,000 rupees. Even when I wrote the first announcement in my Khilafat, whose title was, ‘Who can stop the work of God?’, I did not have any money to publish it.

“At that time, our maternal grandfather had with him donations that he had collected from people for the mosque. He gave 200 rupees out of that donation to publish the announcement and said that when the money started to come in, then the 200 rupees could be returned. The announcement was published by borrowing that money from him.

“But at that time, when the prominent members of the Jamaat were against me, when the leaders of the Jamaat were against me, when the treasury was empty with only 14 annas in it, when there was a debt of 18,000 rupees, when the majority of the Anjuman was against me, when the secretary of the Anjuman was against me, when the headmaster of the Madrasa was against me, I published the following words in that announcement under the will of God Almighty:

‘God Almighty wants the Jamaat to be united at my hands and no one can stop this will of God now. Do they not see that there are only two ways open for them? Either they should pledge allegiance to me, to prevent the Jamaat from division, or they should follow their baser desires and uproot and throw away the sacred garden, which was watered by pious people with tears and blood. Whatever has happened, it is in the past now, but there is no doubt now that the unity of the Jamaat is possible in only one way and that is to pledge allegiance to the one whom God has appointed as the Khalifa. Otherwise, every person who goes against him will cause division.’

“I then wrote:

‘Even if the whole world accepts me, the status of my Khilafat will not be affected and if everyone abandons me (God forbid), even then there will be no effect to my Khilafat. Just as a prophet remains a prophet when he is alone, so is the khalifa a khalifa even if he is alone. Therefore, blessed is he who accepts God’s decree. The burden which God Almighty has placed on my shoulders is a great one and I cannot do anything without His help. But I believe in the Holy One that He will always help me.’” (Mein hi Musleh-e-Maud ki Peshgoi ka Misdaaq hun, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 17, pp. 209-210)

In the time of a prophet, the humble become the influencers and the influential ones are made to appear humble. So, since the Khalifa of a prophet is also sent by God Almighty to fulfill his purpose, in the time of a Khalifa, this tradition of God Almighty continues; humble people become the influencers and the influential are made to appear weak.

In keeping with this principle, the leading people among the deniers of Khilafat, who were apparently big, influential and seemingly learned people, were reduced after their rejection of Khilafat to such an extent that their names ceased to remain in common reference and those who were seemingly weak and small, by pledging allegiance to Khilafat, became so great that today, their names are written in bold letters and the world prays for them.

It was in the life of the Promised Messiah^as that Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad^ra received a revelation from God Almighty:

اِنَّ الَّذِیْنَ اتَّبَعُوْکَ فَوْقَ الَّذِیْنَ کَفَرُوْٓا اِلیٰ یَوْمِ الْقِیٰمَۃِ

“I will surely place those who follow you above those who disbelieve, until the Day of Resurrection.”

Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad^ra narrated this revelation to the Promised Messiah^as and Hazrat Ahmad^as noted it down.

In relation to this, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra states:

“I have been narrating this revelation to my friends for a long time. As a result, notice in how many ways I was opposed, but Allah the Almighty granted me victory. The ghair mubai‘een [those who denied to perform Bai‘at] spread false propaganda in the time of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I^ra, that there was an attempt to destroy the Jamaat for the sake of a child. But this proved to be ineffective.” (Al-Maud, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 17, p. 547)

When members of the Jamaat performed Bai‘at at the hand of Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad^ra, the opponents of Khilafat saw that they could not leave Khilafat under any circumstances, so they took on a new colour. By using an excerpt from the booklet of the Promised Messiah^as, The Will, wherein he states, “Hence if 40 believers agree that a person is competent to accept Bai‘at in my name, he will be entitled to accept Bai‘at”, they tried to make their own Khalifa in opposition to Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad^ra.

Master Abdul Haq Sahib, who was earlier associated with those who rejected Khilafat and later pledged allegiance to Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra, informed Huzoor^ra that to attain this purpose, Maulvi Sadruddin Sahib, Master Abdul Haq Sahib and another person went door to door of nearly 2,000 Ahmadi houses so that 40 men could be gathered to support this idea. But he could not find the sufficient number to support them and in the end, only 13 people did.

They had suggested the name of a certain person for this purpose, but they faced such embarrassment that eventually, that person pledged his allegiance to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II^ra.

The fact is that the deniers of Khilafat failed in all their plans and continue to do so today. Under the shadow of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya and with the support and succour of God Almighty, the Ahmadiyya Jamaat continues to progress and has spread all over the world.

Just ponder upon the plight of those who said, “We do not need the Khilafat”. On the contrary, however, under the shadow of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya:

“ہم تو ہر دَم چڑھ رہے ہیں اِک بُلندی کی طرف”

“We continue to soar to new heights with every passing moment.” (Durr-e-Sameen)