This is the chronicle of a man who stood alone, yet was never alone; forsaken by many, yet supported by the Divine. A Messiah who did not fear isolation, for his strength lay not in numbers, but in an unbreakable bond with the One Who sent him.
The arrival of the Promised Messiah stands as one of the most profound fulfilments of latter-day prophecies. Foretold to arise from the men of Persian descent (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4897), he emerged as a divinely commissioned reformer, resolute in purpose and fearless in the face of universal opposition.
There are many who falter when abandoned by the world – yet this stalwart Messiah declared, with unshakable certainty, that even if the whole world abandoned him and not a single person stood by him, he would remain unmoved. (Anwar-ul-Islam, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 9, p. 23)
The Promised Messiah and Mahdi, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) said:
“I know that God Almighty is with me. Should I be trampled upon, crushed and reduced to a state more insignificant than the least mote of dust; should I be beset on every side with injury, reproach, and bitter revilement – still shall I, in the end, emerge triumphant.
“None truly knows me save the One Who is with me. I can by no means be brought to ruin. The endeavours of my enemies are vain, and the designs of the envious shall assuredly come to naught.
“O foolish and blind people! Who among the truthful before me was ever ruined that I should be ruined? Which true and loyal servant did God ever destroy in humiliation that He should destroy me?
“Remember this with certainty and listen attentively: my soul is not one that will perish, and the very fabric of my nature contains no element of failure. I have been granted such courage and truthfulness before which mountains are insignificant. I care not for anyone. I was alone, and I was not displeased at being alone.
“Will God ever abandon me? Never will He abandon me. Will He ever ruin me? Never will He ruin me. My enemies will be disgraced, the envious will be ashamed, and God will grant victory to His servant in every field. I am with Him, and He is with me; nothing can sever our bond.
“By His honour and majesty, I swear that there is nothing dearer to me in this world or the Hereafter than the manifestation of the greatness of His religion, that His majesty should shine forth and His supremacy be established. With His grace, I fear no trial – even if there are not one but a million trials. In the arena of trials and in the wilderness of suffering, I have been granted strength.” (Ibid.)
Then, in Persian, he expressed this sentiment in a couplet, saying:
مَن نہ آنستُم کہ روز جنگ بینی پشت من
آن منم کاندر میانِ خاک و خوں بینی سرے
“I am not of those who, on the day of battle, turn their backs; I am he whose head thou shalt behold in the middle of dust and blood.” (Ibid.)
The Messiah’s mission and our responsibility
Highlighting his mission, Hazrat Ahmad (as) writes:
“I have been sent so that the age of truth and faith may return, and that taqwa (righteousness) be established in the hearts.” (Kitab-ul-Bariyyah, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 13, p. 293, footnote)
Mentioning the above words of the Promised Messiah (as), Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V (aa) states:
“An Ahmadi who claims to have entered into the bond of bai‘at with the Promised Messiah (as) ought to keep these words ever before him. He should reflect deeply upon them and strive to mould his life in accordance with them.
“Only when an Ahmadi does so can he be regarded as one who fulfils the pledge of allegiance in its true spirit. Otherwise, it remains a mere claim that we are Ahmadis.
“The truth and faith which the Promised Messiah (as) sought to revive – or for which God Almighty sent him, and through which righteousness is cultivated in hearts – is not something new. As is evident from his own words, ‘that the age of truth and faith may return,’ it signifies that such an age of truth, faith, and righteousness once existed but has since been lost. It is, therefore, the mission of the Promised Messiah (as) to restore it once again.” (Friday Sermon, 22 April 2011; Khutbat-e-Masroor, Vol. 9, p. 198)
Allah the Almighty says:
یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِنۡ تَنۡصُرُوا اللّٰہَ یَنۡصُرۡکُمۡ وَیُثَبِّتۡ اَقۡدَامَکُمۡ
“O ye who believe! if you help [the cause of] Allah, He will help you and will make your steps firm.” (Surah Muhammad, Ch.47: V.8)
Explaining this verse, Hazrat Amirul Momineen (aa) highlights:
“In this verse, there is both counsel and admonition for the Muslims of the era following the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). It teaches that mere belief is not sufficient; rather, it is incumbent upon you to help the religion of Allah.
“It is this very endeavour that will enable you to partake of the blessings of Allah and grant you His divine help. Your faith will be strengthened, and you will come to be recognised as a Jamaat.
“Particularly in the age of the Promised Messiah (as), when the revival of the religion [of Islam] is destined to occur, it becomes obligatory upon Muslims to support the one sent by God Almighty. If they render this support, they shall witness the manifestations of divine assistance; and those who fail to believe [in him] will meet a fate similar to that of the deniers of earlier prophets.
“Even today, this is a matter for Muslims to reflect upon. As has been stated repeatedly before, the promise of Allah is one of help and victory – a promise to lead towards [divine] light. Yet, despite calling themselves believers, even contemporary columnists lament in newspapers that we are moving towards weakness in faith, drifting from light into darkness, and even declining materially rather than progressing. They themselves write that there is scarcely any moral failing that is not present among us.
“Thus, it is evident that, somewhere, we have incurred the displeasure of that God Who is the Guardian of the believers.
“Even now, the time remains to reflect: to rekindle the light of faith within ourselves, to step forward in support of the religion of Allah and recognise the Imam of the age.” (Friday Sermon, 23 October 2009; Khutbat-e-Masroor, Vol. 7, p. 499)