Dr Nasim Rehmatullah, Naib Amir USA and in-charge alislam.org
Being in the presence of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa from 26 September through to 17 October 2022, was heaven on earth here in the USA. Words fail to describe the spiritual elation.
With the help of Allah Almighty, we, in the USA, plan to capitalise on this and achieve higher levels of spiritual sobriety and stability. We commit to doing good deeds and worshipping and remembering Allah much. Being attached to Khilafat fosters this. For such people, there are two heavens. One here and one in the hereafter. As Allah says in the Holy Quran:
وَلِمَنۡ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهٖ جَنَّتٰنِ
“But for him who fears to stand before his Lord there are two Gardens.” (Surah ar-Rahman, Ch.55: V.47)
The ultimate al-Jannah (heaven) on earth was the coming of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa. The advent of the Holy Prophetsa is described metaphorically as the appearance of God Almighty. He was al-Abd. The Holy Quran calls him Abdullah (Surah al-Jinn, Ch.72: V.20) — The Servant of Allah; the exemplar par excellence.
In the Latter Days, God in His Mercy sent us the most ardent devotee of and servant of that Servantsa of Allah — Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiahas. It was revealed to the Promised Messiahas:
إنِّيٓ اَنْزَلْتُ مَعَكَ الْجَنَّةَ
‘I have sent down paradise with you.’ (Tadhkirah [English], p. 962)
Although the presence of prophets of God amongst mankind is Paradise on earth, the revelation to the Promised Messiahas would indicate that God would, through the Promised Messiahas institute a dynamic system that would lead to God and Paradise for the coming generations.
Today, Khilafat is heaven on earth. Being attached to Khilafat and being obedient to it keeps us in a heavenly state.
The difference between heaven on earth and heaven in the hereafter is that we can be expelled from this heaven because of our disobedience. This does not happen in the hereafter (Surah Hud, Ch.11: V.109) where we are inoculated against mishaps and our only efforts are to say, ‘Our Lord, perfect our light for us and forgive us; surely Thou hast power over all things. (Surah at-Tahrim, Ch.66: V.9)
So, as we transition from this world to the next, the focus should be on taqwa (righteousness) and striving to achieve the state where Allah says:
“And thou, O soul at peace! Return to thy Lord well pleased with Him and He well pleased with thee.; So, enter thou among My chosen servants; And enter thou, My Garden.” (Surah al-Fajr, Ch.89: V.28-30)