Other Prophets
Overview Our universe and all that it contains is the creation of Allah, the Wise. He has created everything with a purpose and to achieve that purpose He has provided all necessary guidance and means. He has created man in His own image and has made him the chief of His creation. Both good and bad have been made manifestly clear to man. He has also been blessed with wisdom by which he can find out the right path, can sift right from wrong and truth from falsehood. The Holy Quran tells us that man has been endowed with both spiritual and physical eyes by which he can distinguish good from evil and has been given a tongue and two lips that he might ask for guidance, and above all God has placed before him a supreme object of his life that he may devote all his faculties and energies to achieve it. Man has been granted the choice of both selection and action. Hence he is the master of his own destiny. To achieve the object of life, God, out of His benevolence raises prophets, who serve as models. These prophets have been appearing in every people and in all parts of the world. Their mission has always been to guide mankind to its Creator, through their example and model. The guidance revealed through each prophet was designed to cater for the specific needs of the time and location; hence they were essentially temporary in nature. With the advancement and maturity of mankind God sent advanced and matured teachings suitable to their time. God’s guidance for human race commenced through Adam (peace be upon him) and reached the zenith through Mohammed (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). God says, “This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed my favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as religion.” – Holy Qur’an, 5:4 Thus the revelation of Law, or Shariah, was perfected and completed by Islam. According to one saying of the Prophet Muhammadsa the number of prophets who were chosen to convey the message of God to mankind is 124,000. The names of all of them are not mentioned anywhere. However the Holy Quran states in very clear words, “There are no people (in the world) to whom We have not sent a Warner.” – Holy Qur’an 35:25 It also mentions the following twenty-eight prophets by name: Adam (peace be upon him), Noah (peace be upon him), Abraham (peace be upon him), Lot (peace be upon him), Ishmael (peace be upon him), Isaac (peace be upon him), Jacob (peace be upon him), Joseph (peace be upon him), Hud (peace be upon him), Salih (peace be upon him), Shuaib (peace be upon him), Moses (peace be upon him), Aaron (peace be upon him), David (peace be upon him), Solomon (peace be upon him), Elias (Elijah) (peace be upon him), Jonah (peace be upon him), Ezekiel (Dhul-Kifl) (peace be upon him), Elisha (Alyasa) (peace be upon him), Idris (Enoch) (peace be upon him) (19:57), Job (peace be upon him) (4:164), Zechariah (peace be upon him) (19:3),John (Yahya) (peace be upon him) (3:40), Jesus (peace be upon him) (3:46), Luqman(peace be upon him) (31:13), Ezra (peace be upon him) (9:30), Dhul-Qarnain (peace be upon him) (18:84), Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) (48:30). Belief in all the prophets and their messages is an integral part of the belief of every Muslim. The Holy Quran states, “This messenger of Ours believes in that which has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers; all of them believe in Allah, and in His angels, and in His Books, and in His Messengers, saying, ‘We make no distinction between any of His Messengers.’ ” –Holy Qur’an, 2:286. In prophethood all are equal but their ranks are different as is clear from the following verse of the Holy Quran, “These Messengers have We exalted some of them above others; among them there are those whom Allah spoke; and some of them He exalted in degrees of rank…’ – Holy Qur’an, 2:254 So Wherever and to whichever people prophets have been sent, they are our (Muslims) prophets as well, and we hold them in great reverence. The following brief histories of a few of them is given for the benefit of the reader. This overview was written by Daud A. Hanif, as originally published by the Muslim Sunrise. Other Prophets Adam This article was first published on alislam, titled Quran, Adam and Original Sin by Belal Khalid. An extract was also taken from an interview by Professor Wraig of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas . *** Evolution and History of Mankind from Quran The Holy Quran says that God desired to bring into existence a universe which should serve as a manifestation of His Majesty and His Light and that this was the cause of the creation of universe. It says that God created the heavens and the earth in six periods. Before that God ruled over water. God`s object in creating the heavens and the earth out of water was to bring into existence a being endowed with the will to choose between good and evil. These beings would pass through various trials and would seek to outstrip one another in doing good and thus show which of them had attained to perfection (11:8). This verse shows that before matter assumed its present form, it existed in liquid shape. With regard to the pre-material stage the Quran says: “Do not the disbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were a closed up mass, then We opened them out? And We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?” – (Holy Qur’an, 21:31) The verse purports to say that the heavens and the earth were at first an amorphous mass and God then split them and formed them into a solar system and form the beginning He has always created life out of water. Stages of the Universe According to the Quran the universe passed from stage to stage till the earth assumed a shape
The Promised Messiah
Introduction HAZRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMAD OF QADIAN While the beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community can be explored in detail here, these pages will focus on the life and times of the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. His was a special life, one of immense success in the face of immense hardship, leaving a legacy that resonates more and more strongly in every region of the world. Before moving directly presenting a life sketch, this page presents various different sources for learning about the life of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Sources For the reader seeking an impartial view, the biography by a non-Muslim, Iain Adamson, is perhaps the first port of call. Ahmad, The Guided One is a review of his life and claims. Ahmad’s life and Adamson’s skill makes for a stirring read. A biography of more detail is Life of Ahmad — Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement, written by Abdur Rahim Dard. Dard was a companion of the Promised Messiah, and the first Imam of the historic London Mosque. The biography leaves no stone unturned in bringing you to witness the remarkable life of Ahmad. Another invaluable source is a collection of revelations of the Promised Messiah, named Tadhkirah. This volume, with a page count numbering over 1000, gives an intimate sketch of Ahmad’s spiritual life. Tadhkirah is composed of Ahmad’s own recounting of God’s revelations, stretching from his early life to his last days. This unique volume allows one to glimpse into the soul of a Prophet. Finally we have Essence of Islam Vol. 4. This volume again collects writings from Ahmad’s own corpus, this time exploring his claims and arguments in detail. This volume is perfect for those wishing to explore the specific theological claims of the Promised Messiah. Further resources can be found here. Videos Below are some videos from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community on the life of the Promised Messiah: Promised Messiah And The Timeline Of History Messiah of the Age Second Coming of the Messiah THE PROMISED MESSIAH HAZRAT MIRZA GHULAM AHMAD OF QADIAN Hazrat Ahmad By Mirza Bashirrudin Mahmood Ahmad Second Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community The following pages give a life sketch of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah. The material is directly adapted from a book written by Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad, the son of the Promised Messiah and the second Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The foreword is written by Hazrat Muhammad Zafrullah Khan, one of the companions of the Promised Messiah and a renowned scholar, jurist and statesman. The book constitutes a perfect introduction to the life and times of His Holiness — “Hazrat” — Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Foreword The closing years of the nineteenth and the opening years of the twentieth century witnessed the transition from one epoch of human history to another. Since then man’s daily increasing knowledge of the laws of nature and his growing mastery of its forces have added a new dimension to human life on earth. This tremendous upheaval has released a bewildering variety and complexity of problems in every sphere of life. While some sort of adjustment and co-ordination are in the process of being worked out in the physical sphere, moral and spiritual values are demonstrably fighting a losing battle and there does not appear to be much chance of their making a firm stand, leave alone advancing boldly forward against the forces of disintegration. The prospects are bleak and cheerless. The safeguarding of these values is pre-eminently the task of religion, and religion appears supine on the ground and helpless in this confrontation. It seems more than likely that it may soon be swept out of the way by the surging forces of so-called modernity and progress. The terrible truth is that all progress is impelling mankind towards chaos and annihilation rather than towards security and prosperity. The physical and the material have become the sole concern and pre-occupation of man. He is totally beguiled, and has no thought to spare for the morrow and the Hereafter. Yet, what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul? Is there, then no help, while the guides and guardians of the spirit are beginning to repudiate God Himself, by asserting that God is no more than the centre of our being, and proclaiming boldly: God is dead? Indeed, there is: “Allah-there is no God but He, the living, the Self-Subsisting and All-Sustaining. Slumber seizes Him not, nor sleep. To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is in the earth. Who is he that will intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He pleases. His knowledge extends over the heavens and the earth; and the care of them burdens Him not; and He is the High, the Great”(The Quran 2:256) THE OPENING CHAPTER OF THE HOLY QUR’AN If this is so, why does God not manifest Himself in this age as He has done so in the past? Why are His attributes not in operation today, as they were in the past? When it is said: ‘God is dead’, why does not God proclaim: ‘I am not, 1 am the Ever-Living, the Self-Subsisting, the All-Sustaining’? God’s attributes are eternal and are in operation all the time. He manifests Himself today as He did in ages past, and by the same tokens, He furnishes guidance, adequate for all contingencies, at all times. He reveals Himself constantly to those of His servants who strive after Him. All the contingencies and complexities of this epoch lie open before Him, and He has, in His perfect wisdom, made provision for all of them. Only He has left it to the free choice of each of His creatures to choose and follow the Path of guidance and security or that of error and ruin. The comprehensive guidance is contained in the Quran, the verbal revelation vouchsafed to the Prophet of Islam
The Prophet Muhammad
Introduction The Prophet Muhammadas, peace be upon him (sa), was the founder of Islam. On these pages, we will briefly outline his life story, drawing upon the sources listed below. By tracing the life story of the Holy Prophetsa , one can separate myth from reality, and perceive the radiant character of the Prophetsa shining through. To begin with, we will present some excerpts from the writings of his greatest lover, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi: “That light of high degree that was bestowed on perfect man was not in angels, was not in stars, was not in the moon, was not in the sun, was not in the oceans and the rivers, was not in rubies, emeralds, sapphires, or pearls; in short, it was not in any earthly or heavenly object. It was only in perfect man whose highest and loftiest and most perfect example was our lord and master, the Chief of the Prophets, the Chief of all living ones, Muhammad, the chosen one (sa). That light was bestowed on this man and, according to their ranks, upon all those who bore the same colour to some degree…. This dignity was found in its highest and most perfect form in our lord and master and our guide, the immaculate Prophet, the righteous one, testified to by the righteous, Muhammad, the chosen one (sa).” “O all ye who dwell upon the earth, and O all human souls that are in the east or in the west, I announce to you emphatically that the true reality in the earth is Islam alone,and the True God is the God Who is described in the Qur’an, and the Prophet who has everlasting spiritual life and who is seated on the throne of glory and holiness, is Muhammad, the chosen one (sa). The proof of his spiritual life and holy majesty is that by following him and loving him we become recipients of the Holy Spirit and are favoured with the bounty of converse with God and witness heavenly signs.” “When we estimate justly, then out of the whole series of Prophets, we find one of high courage and alive and greatly dear to God, the Chief of the Prophets, the pride and the crown of the Messengers, whose name is Muhammad Mustafa and Ahmad Mujtaba [peace and blessings of Allah be on him]. By walking under his shadow for ten days one obtains that light which before him could not be obtained in a thousand years…. We have found every light by following the immaculate Prophet and whoever follows him will also find it and he will become so accepted of God that nothing will be impossible for him. The Living God, Who is hidden from people, will be his God and all false gods will be trodden under his feet. He will be blessed everywhere and Divine Power will be with him. Peace be on him who follows the guidance.” “I always wonder how high was the status of this Arabian Prophet, whose name was Muhammad, (thousands of blessings and peace be upon him). One cannot reach the limit of his high status and it is not given to man to estimate correctly his spiritual effectiveness. It is a pity that his rank has not been recognized, as it should have been. He was the champion who restored to the world the Unity of God which had disappeared from the world; he loved God in the extreme and his soul melted out of sympathy for mankind. Therefore, God, Who knew the secret of his heart, exalted him above all the Prophets and all the first ones and the last ones and bestowed upon him in his lifetime all that he desired. He is the fountainhead of every grace and a person who claims any superiority without acknowledging his grace is not a man but is the spawn of Satan, because the Holy Prophet has been bestowed the key to every exaltation and he has been given the treasury of every understanding. He who does not receive through him is deprived forever. I am nothing and possess nothing. I would be most ungrateful if I were not to confess that I have learnt of the true Unity of God through this Prophet. The recognition of the Living God we have achieved through this perfect Prophet and through his light. The honour of converse with God, through which we behold His countenance, has been bestowed upon me through this great Prophet. The ray of this sun of guidance falls like sunshine upon me and I continue illumined only so long as I am adjusted towards it.” Sources: The main bulk of biography over the following pages was from A Book of Religious Knowledge by Waheed Ahmed. Some very minor amendments have been made. The description of the Prophet’ssapersonal qualities comes from Life of Muhammed by Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmadra Miscellaneous articles on https://www.alislam.org/holyprophet/ were also consulted during this process. N.B.: The use of ‘pbuh’ signifies ‘peace be upon him’ and is an honorific given in Islam to prophets of God. It is especially important to say this after mentioning the Prophet Muhammadsa . The use of ‘ra’ signifies the Arabic for ‘may Allah be pleased with him/her’ and is often used after mentioning the name of a companion of the Prophetsa . The Prophet’s Early Life The Holy Prophet Muhammadsa, was the Founder of Islam, and the one to whom the final religion was revealed by Allah. He was born in a noble family in 570 CE in Makkah, Arabia, and was a descendent of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him). The word ‘Muhammad’ literally means ‘praiseworthy’. Family Background The Holy Prophet Muhammadsa belonged to the tribe of Quraysh, the leading tribe of Makkah. The Quraysh were descendants of Prophet Abrahamsa through his son, Prophet Ismail. The Ka’bah, which is considered by Muslims to be the first house of God, was rebuilt by Abraham and his son Ismail some 2600 years before the Holy Prophetsa . Pre-Islam Arabia At the time of the birth of the Prophet Muhammadsa , the whole world seemed to be passing through a period of extreme
