A Gift for Baghdad

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A Gift for Baghdad

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A Gift for Baghdad (Tu h fa-e-Baghd a d) Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi as Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jam a ‘at Islam International Publications LTD.

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ISLAM INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS LTD A Gift for Baghdad (An English rendering of Tu h fa-e-Baghd a d) Written by Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi, peace be upon him, Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jam a ‘at First published in Arabic in India, 1893 First English translation published in the UK, 2022 © Islam International Publications Ltd.All rights reserved.No part of this publication may be repro- duced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from the Publisher, Islam International Publications Ltd.Photos from Makhzan-e-Tasaweer are subject to their copyright For further information please visit www.alislam.org Published by Islam International Publications Ltd.Unit 3, Bourne Mill Business Park, Guildford Road, Farnham, Surrey, UK GU9 9PS Printed in UK at Cover design by Salman Muhammad Sajid ISBN: 978-1-84880-961-1 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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Contents About the Author.......................................................ix Foreword.....................................................................xi A Gift for Baghdad Introduction............................................................2 The Announcement from As-Sayyid al-Baghd a d i.....6 The Letter of As-Sayyid Al-Baghd a d i.....................14 Reply to the Announcement & Letter....................18 Publisher’s Note......................................................123 Biblical and Quranic Names..................................127 Glossary..................................................................129 Index.......................................................................131

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Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian The Promised Messiah & Mahdi as

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About the Author Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as was born in 1835 in Qadian, India.From his early life, he dedicated himself to prayer, and the study of the Holy Quran and other scriptures.He was deeply pained to observe the plight of Islam, which was being attacked from all directions.In order to defend Islam and present its teachings in their pristine purity, he wrote more than ninety books, thousands of letters, and participated in many religious debates.He argued that Islam is a living faith, which can lead man to establish com- munion with God and achieve moral and spiritual perfection.Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as started experiencing divine dreams, visions, and revelations at a young age.In 1889, under divine command, he started accepting initiation into the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.The divine revelations contin- ued to increase and he was commanded by God to announce that God had appointed him to be the same Reformer of the Latter Days as prophesied by various religions under different titles.He claimed to be the same Promised Messiah and Mahdi whose advent had been prophesied by the Holy Prophet Muhammad s as.

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x The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is now established in more than 200 countries.After his demise in 1908, the institution of Khilafat (Successorship) was established to succeed him, in fulfilment of the prophecies made in the Holy Quran and by the Holy Prophet Muhammad s as.Hadrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad aba is the Fifth Successor to the Promised Messiah as and the present head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

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Foreword The Promised Messiah as wrote in Arabic in 1893 as a response to a poster and letter written in Arabic by As-Sayyid ‘Abdur Razz a q al-Q a dir i of Baghdad (residing in Hyderabad, India at the time) maligning the Promised Messiah as and accusing him of disbelief (God forbid).In this book, the Promised Messiah as aims to dispel the misunderstandings and misconceptions of al-Q a dir i by elucidating his claims and beliefs.Further, he advises al-Q a dir i not to accept the edicts of disbelief issued against him without proper investigation and invites him to Qadian to discern the truth first-hand.The Promised Messiah as also says that if he is unable to undertake this journey, then he should perform the Istikh a rah Prayer from one Friday to the next and to inform him so that the Promised Messiah as can accompany him in prayer.As such, the Promised Messiah as not only presents a clarification of his claims and beliefs but also extends a hand of kindness and affection towards al-Q a dir i of Baghdad.He writes: O righteous brother! May Allah gladden you, take care of you, protect you, and support you.May He also open your eyes and guide you.Do not attempt to frighten me with a sharp sword, spear, or fire; for, I have already been killed by a sword of which you have no knowledge, long before you had even drawn your sword.And I have tasted

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xii a fire with which you are unacquainted.Verily, after this, God willing, I became amongst those who are especially blessed by God.The English translation of this book was performed by Ibrahim Ikhlaf and reviewed by Reem Shraiky.Secondary reviews were performed by Qadhi Zafar Ahmad Bhatti, Adam Walker, Tooba Khokhar, Naveed Ahmed Malik, and Naser-ud-Din Shams.Valuable assitance was provided by Sabahat Ahmad Cheema, Mirza Abdul-Wahab, and Dawood Ahmad Abid.An earlier trans- lation was drafted by Abid Haneef of USA.May Allah bless them all for their efforts.al- Ha j Munir-ud-Din Shams Additional Wak i lut-Ta s n i f, London July 2022

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Facsimile of the original Arabic & Persian title page, printed in 1893.

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And say not to anyone who greets you with the greeting of peace, ‘Thou art not a believer.’ Nor would Allah reveal to you the unseen.But Allah chooses of His Messengers whom He pleases.Believe, therefore, in Allah and His Messengers.If you believe and be righteous, you shall have a great reward.The Treatise In the holy month of Muharram, 1311 Hijrī published in Punjab Press, Sialkot by Munshi Ghulam Q a dir Fasih, owner of the press Translation of the original title page for Tu h fa-e-Baghd a d.

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بِسْم ِ الل ِّٰ الرَّحْٰن ِ الرَّحِيْم ِِّٰ وَالسَّلَم ُ عَلٰى عِبَادِه ِ الَّذِين َ اصْطَفَى، وَبـَعْدُ: لل ُ ُ الَْمْد ُ فَإِن ِّ رَأَيْت ُ ف ِ هَذِه ِ الَْيَّم ِ اشْتِهَارًا وَمَكْتُوب ً أَرْسَل َ إِل ََّ السَّيِّد ُ عَبْد ُ الرَّزّاق ِ الْقَادِرِي ُّ الْبـَغْدَادِي ُّ مِن ْ حَيْدَرآبَد دَكَّن.فـَلَمَّا قـَرَأْت الِشْتِهَار َ إِذ َا هُو َ مِن ْ أَخ ٍ مُؤْمِن ٍ يَُوِّفُن ِ كَم َا يَُوِّف ُ الْمَلِك الْمُقْتَدِر ُ الْمُرْتَد َّ الْكَافِر َ الْفَجَّارَ، وَيَسُل ُّ لِقَتْلِي السَّيْف َ الْبـَتَّارَ، وَقَد ْ صَال َ عَلَي َّ كَرَجُل ٍ يـَهْجُم ُ عَلَى رَجُل ٍ، فـَزَفـَر َ زَفـْرَة َ الْقَيْظ ِ، َكَاد َ يـَتَمَيـَّز ُ مِن َ الْغَيْظِ، وَنَظَر َ إِل ََّ كَالْمُحَمْلِقِنيَ.ِ و وَرَأَيْت ُ أَنَّه ُ مَا مَس َّ وَسَائِل َ الْعِرْفَانِ، وَمَا دَن َ أَوَاصِر َ تَْقِيق َكَفَّرَن ِ وَسَبَّنِ، وَحَسِبَن ِ مِن َ الَّذِين َ كَفَرُوا أَو ِ ارْتَدَوْا، َ الْبـَيَانِ، و َ فَأَرَاد َ أَن ْ يَكُون َ أَوَّل َ اللَّعِنِني َ وَالْقَاتِلِنيَ.وَإِنَّه ُ قَد ْ فـَت ََ قـُلُوب بـَعْض ِ النَّاسِ، وَأَدْنَهُم ْ مِن ْ شَر ِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ، فَسَنَح َ ل ِ أَن ْ أَكْتُب

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1 ِمْسِب ِهّٰللا ِنٰمْحَّرلا ِمْيِحَّرلا All praise belongs to Allah alone and peace be upon His chosen servants.I will now proceed: I recently came across an announcement and a letter addressed to me by As-Sayyid ‘Abdur Razz a q al-Q a dir i al-Bagh- d a d i from Hyderabad Deccan.Upon reading the announcement, I discovered it to be from a fellow believer who was attempting to intimidate me, as if he were a powerful king seeking to strike fear in an apostate, disbeliever, or transgressor.He has unsheathed his sword in an attempt to kill me—attacking aggressively, fuming with rage, bursting with fury, glaring with anger.He appears to me like someone who is unaware of the means to acquire true knowledge and one who has not yet grasped the art of investigating and distinguishing the truth.He accuses me of disbelief and maligns me and counts me among those who have disbelieved or apostatized.He desires to be the foremost of those who curse me and attempt to annihilate me.Moreover, he has caused conflict and doubt to arise in the hearts of some, resulting in them falling prey to the machinations of the Whisperer.1.In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.[Publisher]

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4 ِْ وَيَسُر ُّ النَّاظِرِيْنِ.ني ُ ف ِ هَذِه ِ الرِّسَالَة ِ مَا يـَنـْفَعُه ُ وَيـَنـْفَع ُ عَرَب َ الَْرَمَ فَالْن َ نَكْتُب ُ أَوَّل ً اِشْتِهَارَه ُ وَمَكْتُوبَهُ، ث َُّ نَكْتُب ُ جَوَابَه ُ وَنـُهَذِّب ِ أُسْلُوبَهُ.فَأَيـُّهَا الْقَارِئُ! اُنْظُر ْ فِيه ِ بِنَظَر ِ الْوِدَادِ، زَادَك َ الل ُّٰ ف ِ الصَّلَح وَالسَّدَادِ، وَهُنِّيْت َ بَِا أُوتِيْتَ، وَمُلِّيْت َ بَِا أُوْلِيْتَ، وَمَا تـَوْفِيقِي.ِْ ني إِل َّ بِلل ِّٰ النَّصِري ِ الْمُعِ

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T U H FA-E-B AGHD A D 5 Therefore, it occurred to me that in this treatise I should write that which will benefit him and the Arabs of the two Holy Cities, and that which will delight the beholders.First, I shall copy out his announcement and letter, after which I shall reply to it in the best manner.Dear reader, examine it with a favourable disposition; may Allah increase you in righteousness and integrity.Rejoice for that which has been bestowed upon you! May it prove to be a blessing for you.Indeed, my success comes from Allah alone, the Helper and the Ultimate Support.

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6 ُ الِشْتِهَار ُ مِن َ السَّيِّد ِ الْبـَغْدَادِي ِّ رَحِمَه ُ اللّٰه ُ وَهَدَاه ِ بِسْم ِ الل ِّٰ الرَّحْٰن ِ الرَّحِيْم ِِّٰ وَحْدَه ُ، وَالصَّلَة ُ وَالسَّلَم ُ عَل َى مَن ْ ل َ نَب َِّ بـَعْدَه ُ، لل ُ الَْمْد ِ وَعَلَى آلِه ِ وَصَحْبِه ِ وَحِزْبِهُ، وَبـَعْدُ: فَمِمَّا ل َ يَْفَى عَلَى أَسَاطِني ِ الدِّيْن ِ الْمَتِنيِ، وَعُلَمَآء ِ أَئِمَّة الْمُسْلِمِنيَ، مَا ظَهَر َ ظُهُور َ الشَّمْسِ، وَمَا بَن َ بـَيَان َ الَْمْسِ، َكُفْرِيَّت ِ الْمِرْزَا غُلَم أَحَْد الْقَادْيَن ِّ الْبـَنْجَابِّ، ُ مِن ْ خُرَافَات ِ و ُ وَمَا ادَّعَاه ُ مِن ْ أَنَّه ُ الْمَسِيْح ُ بْن ُ مَرْيََ، وَأَنَّه ُ يـُلْقَى إِلَيْه ِ الِْلَْامَات ِ مِن ْ حَضْرَة ِ الَْق ِّ ، وَيُوحِي إِلَيْه ِ وَيُكَلِّمُه ُ كِفَاحًا وَيَُاطِبُه شِفَاه ًا، وَأَن َّ هللا َ أَرْسَلَه ُ لِكَسْر ِ الصَّلِيْب ِ وَقـَتْل ِ الِْنْزِيْر ِ وَإِقَامَة ِ الُْدُود ِ الشَّرْعِيَّةِ، وَالل ُّٰ تـَعَال ٰ يَُاطِبُه ُ وَيـُنَاجِيه ِ بِقَوْلِهِ: ي َ عِيسَى َ بْن َ مَرْي ََ إِن ِّ أَرْسَلَتُك َ لِلنَّاس ِ كَافَّة ً فَاصْدَع ْ بَِا تـُؤْمَر ْ وَأَعْرِض ْ عَن الَْاهِلِنيَ، وَأَن َّ بـَيـْعَتَه ُ حَقٌ، وَأَن َّ عِيسَى تـَوَفَّاه ُ الل ُّٰ وَلَيْس بَِيٍّ، وَأَنَّه ُ هُو َ عِيسَى بِذَاتِهِ، وَغَيـْر ُ ذَلِك َ مَِّا تـَرْتَج ُّ مِنْه ُ الَْضَالِعُ، وَتَسْتَك ُّ مِنْه ُ الْمَسَامِعُ، كَمَا رَأَيـْتُه ُ مَسْطُورًا ف ِ كِتَابِه ِ الْمُسَمَّى شتهار من السيد ل ا البغدادي

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Announcement from As-Sayyid al-Baghdadi 7 The Announcement from As-Sayyid al-Baghd a d i May Allah have mercy on him and guide him aright! 1 ِمْسِب ِهّٰللا ِنٰمْحَّرلا ِمْيِحَّرلا All praise is due to Allah alone, and may peace and bless- ings be upon him after whom there is no Prophet, upon his household, his companions, and his party.I will now proceed: The lies and blasphemies of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, Punjab, are not unknown to the great masters and Muslim scholars of the Firm Religion.In fact, they are crystal clear and as plain as day.Among them are his claims that he is the Messiah, son of Mary; that revela- tions are conveyed to him from the True Lord, Holy is He and Exalted, and that He speaks to him face to face and addresses him verbally.Furthermore, that Allah has sent him in order to break the cross, kill the swine, establish the Divine ordi- nances of the Shariah, and that Allah addressed him, say- ing: ‘O Jesus, the son of Mary, verily, I have sent you to the whole of mankind; therefore, proclaim publicly that with which you have been commanded and turn away from the ignorant.’ He further claims that it is to him that bai‘ah [oath of allegiance] is due, that Allah caused Jesus as to die and he is not alive, that he himself is Jesus, and other claims that cause the heart to tremble and compel us to cover our ears.I have read all this myself in his book entitled Mir’ a t 1.In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.[Publisher] [ Announcement from As-Sayyid al-Baghd a d i ]

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8 ِ الَّذ ِي عَارَض َ بِه ِ الْقُرْاٰن َ، وَهَتَك َ بِه بِمِرْآة ِ كَمَالَت ِ الِْسْلَمِ، ْ شَرِيعَة َ سَيِّد ِ وُلْد ِ عَدْنَنَ، عِلَوَة ً عَلَى مَا ذَكَرَه ُ فِ كُتُبِه ِ السَّابِقَةِ، مِن ْ أَسَاطِريِه ِ الْكَاذِبَةِ.وَهَذَا مَِّا ل َ يُطِيق ُ الصَّبـْر َ عَلَيْه ِ إِل َّ مَن ِ طَمَس َ الل ُّٰ بَصَرَه ُ وَطَبَع َ عَلَى بَصِيـْرَتِهِ.وَالْعَجَب ُ الْعُجَاب ُ أَن َّ ف ِ دِيَر ِ الِْنْد ِ عَامَّة ً، وَف ِ رِيَسَة حَيْدَرآبَد خَاصَّةً، مِن ْ فُحُول ِ الْعُلَمَآء ِ وَأَشْبَال ِ الْفُضَلَء ِ مَا َ يَضِيق ُ عَن ْ كَثـْرَتِِم ْ نِطَاق ُ الَْصْرِ، هَذَا مَع َ كَوْنِِم ْ عَلِمُوا وَاطَّلَعُوا عَلَى شَقَاشِق ِ ذَلِك َ الدَّجَّال ِ الْمُضِل ِّ الضَّال ِّ الْبَطَّالِ، الَّذِي ل ِّ يُطَهِّرُه ُ ف ِ الدُّنـْيَا إِل َّ السَّيْف ُ الْبـَتَّارُ، وَل َ ف ِ الْخِرَة ِ إِل َّ النَّارُ، فـَلَم ْ أَر َ مَن ْ شََّر َ عَن ْ سَاعِد ِ جِدِّهِ، وَأَرْوَى ف ِ مََال ِ مَيْدَان ِ الَْق َكَفَحَه ُ بِصَارِم ِ هَِّتِه ِ وَبـَيَانِهِ، وَطَعَنَه ُ بِسِنَان ِ قـَلَمِه ِ وَتِبـْيَانِهِ، َ فِرَنْدَهُ، و وَرَد َّ أَقـْوَالَهُ، وَأَوْقـَفَه ُ عَلَى شُؤْم ِ أَفـْعَالِهِ، وَأَنـْقَذ َ عِبَاد َ الل ِّٰ الْمُؤْمِنِني ِِّٰ مِن ْ شَر ِّ فِتـْنَتِه ِ، وَنَصْر َ دِيْن َ رَسُول ِ الل ِّٰ صلعم وَشَرِيعَتَه ُ.فـَوَا لل َّ أَسَفَاهُ! وَوَا أَسَفَاهُ! ث َُّ وَا أَسَفَاهُ، عَلَى أَهْل ِ هَِّة ِ الْبُطُونِ، إِن وَإِن َّ إِلَيْه ِ رَاجِعُونَ.

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Announcement from As-Sayyid al-Baghdadi 9 Kam a l a til-Isl a m 1 [ The Mirrors of the Excellences of Islam ], in which he opposed the Quran and debased the Shariah of the foremost son of Adnan [i.e.Muhammad s as ],2 in addition to the false fables which he has already men- tioned in previous books.All this is intolerable except for one whose vision Allah has obliterated and upon whose insight Allah has set a seal.The strangest thing is that in the country of India, gen- erally, and in the princely state of Hyderabad, particularly, there are outstanding and noble scholars who cannot be enumerated, but despite their being knowledgeable and informed about the nonsense of this misleading, errant, and idiotic imposter—who should not be chastened in this world except with a sharp sword or in the next with fire—I have not found anyone who has rolled up his sleeves with a firm resolve [to confront him], pulled out his sword [against him] in the battlefield of truth, struck him with the sabre of his determination and clear speech, pierced him with the sharp point of his pen and elo- quence, rebutted his claims, and stopped his evil actions, in order to save the believers, the servants of Allah, from the wickedness of his dissensions and to help the religion and the Shariah of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.Alas and woe to the peo- ple whose only concern is filling their stomachs! Verily, we belong to Allah and to Him shall be the return.1.Initial title of the book A ’ina-e-Kam a l a t-e-Isl a m [ The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam ].[Publisher] 2.Adnan is the ancestor of the Adnanite Arabs of Northern, Western, and Central Arabia.[Publisher] [ Announcement from As-Sayyid al-Baghd a d i ]

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10 َ وَحَيْث ُ إِن ِّ اطَّلَعْت ُ عَل َى كُل ِّ صَفَحَات ِ كِتَاب ِ ذَلِك الضَّالِّ، الْمَمْسُوخ ِ الدَّجَّالِ، وَمَا هَتَك َ بِه ِ شَرِيعَة َ سَيِّد ِ الَْنَمِ، وَمَا تـَعَدَّى بِلِزْدِرَآء ِ عَلَى سَيِّدِن َ عِيس َى ، وَوَقـَفْت ُ عَلَى تََام ِ عِبَارَاتِه ِ الَّت ِ ل َ يـَتـَفَوَّه ُ بَِا إِل َّ كُل ُّ مَْذُولٍ، أَو ْ زِنْدِيـْقًا شَاكًّا ُ ف ِ رِسَالَة ِ الرَّسُول ِ، مَع َ تـَنَاقُض ِ أَقـْوَالِه ِ عَن ْ بـَعْضِه َا بـَعْض ٍ، ُْ، أَن ْ أَرُد َّ كِتَابَه ني ُْ، إِذ ْ هُو َ النَّاصِر ُ وَالْمُعِ ني ِ اِلتـَزَمْتُ، وَبِلل ِّٰ أَسْتَعِ ُّٰ حَرْفًا بَِرْفٍ، وَصَفًّا بِصَفٍّ، بِكِتَاب ٍ أُسَِّيْه ِ “كَشْف ُ الضَّلَل وَالظَّلَم ِ عَن ْ مِرْآة ِ كَمَالَت ِ الِْسْلَم”ِ، رَدًّا يَسُر ُّ إِن ْ شَآء َ الل َح ُ بِفَضْل ِ الل ِّٰ الْقَلْب َ وَالَْاطِرَ.ِ نَظَر َ النَّاظِرِ، وَيَشْر ْ ث َُّ عَزَمَت ُ أَن ْ أُرْسِل َ كِتَاب َ الْمَرْدُود ِ عَلَيْه ِ إِل َ الْعِرَاق ِ وَبـَغْدَاد َ، لِيَحْكُمُون َ الْعُلَمَآء ُ الَْعْلَم ُ عَل َى مُصَنَّفِه ِ كَوْنَه ُ مِن ِ أَهْل ِ الزَّيْغ ِ وَالِْلَْادِ، فَأَكُون ُ إِن ْ شَآء َ الل ُّٰ السَّبَب َ الَْقـْوَى لَِسْم ِ مَادَّة ِ هَذَا الْفَسَادِ، وَجَلَء ِ تِلْك َ الْغُمَّة ِ الْمُدْلَِمَّة ِ عَن ْ سَائِر الْعِبَادِ، خِدْمَة ً مِن ِّ لِلشَّرِيعَة ِ الَْحَْدِيَّةِ، وَغِيـْرَة ً عَلَى نَمُوس ِ الْمِلَّة ِ الْمُحَمَّدِيَّةِ.وَأُؤَمِّلُ، وَالَْمَل ُ بِلل ِّٰ قَوِيٌّ، أَن ْ يَكُون َ إِكْمَال ُ هَذَا الرَّد ِّ عَلَى الْمَرْدُود ِ بِظَرْف ِ ثَلَثَة ِ أَشْهُرٍ، فـَوَجَب َ أَوَّل ً شَهْر ُ الَْال بِوَجْه ِ الِشْتِهَار ِ لِكَافَّة ِ مَن ْ وَقَف َ عَلَيْهِ، أَن ْ يـَعْلَمُوا عِلْمًا يَقِيـْنًا شتهار من السيد ل ا البغدادي

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Announcement from As-Sayyid al-Baghdadi 11 Since I have read in detail every page of the book that has been written by this errant and distorted imposter—who has dishonoured the Shariah of the Chief of Mankind— and have also read in detail what he has alleged against our master, Jesus, on whom be peace, and have deliberated upon his statements, which could only have been uttered by a forsaken one or a heretic who doubts the Messenger’s teaching; and moreover, his statements are mutually con- tradictory; I resolve—seeking the help of Allah, as He alone is the Helper and the Ultimate Support—to refute his book, letter by letter and line by line, in a book which shall be entitled Uncovering the Falsehood and Darkness in the Mirrors of the Excellences of Islam —a refutation which should delight, God willing, the beholders’ senses, and open the hearts and minds, through the grace of Allah.Thereafter, I have resolved to send the refuted book to Iraq and Baghdad in order that the eminent ulama might condemn its author as a deviant and heretic.Consequently, I shall become, God willing, the principal means of removing this corruption that has cast its shadow over the people like a dark cloud.This will be my service to the law of Islam, born out of protective jealousy for the canon of the religion of Muhammad s as.I hope, with high expectations of Allah, that this rebut- tal of the refuted work will be completed within a period of three months.I felt that it was important to first declare my intention through this announcement, so that all who become apprised of it can rest assured there is no doubt that this distorted one and those of his ilk are repudiated [ Announcement from As-Sayyid al-Baghd a d i ]

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12 ُ ل َ مِرْيَة َ فِيه ِ مِن ْ أَن َّ هَذَا الْمَمْسُوخ َ وَأَمْثَالَه ُ يُطْلَق ُ عَلَيْهِم ْ قـَوْل النَّب ِِّ ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص دَجَّالُون َ كَذَّابُون َ يَْتُونَكُم ْ بِلَْحَادِيث ِ بَِا ل َْ تَسْمَعُوا ُكُمْ، فَإِيَّكُم ْ وَإِيَّهُمْ، ل َ يُضِلُّونَكُم ْ وَل َ يـَفْتِنُونَكُمْ.ُ أَنـْتُم ْ وَل َ آبَؤ َكِيل هَذَا وَالل ُّٰ الَْادِي إِل َ سَوَآء ِ السَّبِيلِ، فـَهُو َ حَسْبـُنَا وَنِعْم َ الْو ُّ فـَقَطْ.الْمُشْتَهِر ُ السَّيِّد ُ عَبْد ُ الرَّزَّاق ِ الْقَادِرِي ُّ النـَّقْشَبـَنْدِي ُّ الرِّفَاعِي الْبـَغْدَادِيُّ، وَارِد ُ حَال ِ بـَلْدَة ِ حَيْدَرآبَد.شتهار من السيد ل ا البغدادي

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Announcement from As-Sayyid al-Baghdadi 13 according to the statement of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: ‘There will come some impostors and liars who will bring narrations never heard by you and your forefathers, so beware of them lest they misguide you and afflict you with tribulation.’ Allah is the True Guide of the right path.He is sufficient for us and He alone is for us an excellent Guardian.The undersigned, As-Sayyid ‘Abdur Razz a q al-Q a dir i an-Naqshband i ar-Rif a ‘ i of Baghdad, currently residing in the city of Hyderabad [ Announcement from As-Sayyid al-Baghd a d i ]

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14 ِّ ُمَكْتُوب ُ السَّيِّد ِ الْبـَغْدَادِي رَحَِه ُ الل ُّٰ وَهَدَاه ِ بِسْم ِ الل ِّٰ الرَّحْٰن ِ الرَّحِيْم ِِّٰ، وَالصَّلَة ُ وَالسَّلَم ُ عَل َى رَسُول ِ الل ِّٰ وَآلِه ِ وَصَحْبِه لل ُ ِ الَْمْد ّ وَمَن ْ وَالَهُ.الْوَصِيَّة ُ ل ِ وَلِِخْوَان ِ بِتـَقْوَى الل ِّٰ مِن َ الْعَبْد ِ الْمُفْتَقِر انِ، الْمَدْعُو ِّ بِلسَّيِّد ِ عَبْد ِ الرَّزَّاق ِ الْقَادِرِي َّ ُ إِل َ رَحَْة ِ الْمَلِك ِ الَْن ِ النـَّقْشَبـَنْدِي ِّ الْبـَغْدَادِيِّ، أَنَلَه ُ الل ُّٰ شَفَاعَة َ نَبِيِّه ِ الَْادِي، وَحَفِظَه ِ مِن ْ كَيْد ِ الشَّيَاطِني ِ وَالَْعَادِي، إِل َ خِدْمَة ِ الَْجَل ِّ وَالْمُطَاع الْمُبَجَّل ِ الْعَال ِِ الْفَاضِلِ، وَالْمُجْتَهِد ِ الْكَامِلِ، حَلَّل ِ رُمُوز الْمُشْكِلَت ِ بَِلْطَف ِ الْمَعَانِ، وَأَظْرَف ِ التـَّرْصِيف ِ وَالْمَبَانِ، الْمَوْلَوِي ّ مِرْزَا غُلَم أَحَْد الْقَادْيَنِ، حَفِظَه ُ الل ُّٰ مِن ْ زَلَّة ِ الْقَدَمِ، وَعَثـْرَة ِ اللِّسَان ِ وَالْقَلَمِ، بُِرْمَة ِ النَّب ِِّ الَْكْرَم ِ ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص، آمِني.مكتوب السيد البغدادي

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Letter of As-Sayyid Al-Baghdadi 15 The Letter of As-Sayyid Al-Baghd a d i May Allah have mercy on him and guide him aright 1 ِمْسِب ِهّٰللا ِنٰمْحَّرلا ِمْيِحَّرلا All praise belongs to Allah.May blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, his household, his Companions, and whoever supports him.This is an admonition for me and my brothers to fear God, from a servant who is a beggar for the mercy of the Compassionate Sovereign, whose name is As-Sayyid ‘Abdur Razz a q al-Q a dir i an-Naqshband i of Baghdad, may Allah grant him the intercession of His Prophet, the true guide, and protect him against the stratagems of devils and adversaries, in order to serve the venerable and revered one, who is entitled to obedience, the eminent scholar and perfect thinker, who is able to resolve difficulties with sub- tlety of meaning and elegance in content and form.As for Maulaw i Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, may Allah— for the sake of His Exalted Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him—protect him from slipping into error or stumbling by means of his tongue or pen.A m i n! 1.In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.[Publisher] [ Letter of As-Sayyid al-Baghd a d i ]

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16 ُ َكَاتُه ِ أَمَّا بـَعْد ُ فَالسَّلَم ُ عَلَيْكُم ْ وَرَحَْة ُ الل ِّٰ وَبـَر ِ ل َ يَْفَى أَنَّه ُ قَد ِ اطَّلَعْت ُ عَلَى كِتَابِكُم ُ الْمُسَمَّى بِِرْآة كَمَالَت ِ الِْسْلَمِ، وَعَلِمْت ُ بَِا فِيهِ، وَأَحَطْت ُ فـَهْمًا بَِعَانِيه َّ وَفَحَاوِيهِ، وَنِكَاتِه ِ وَمَبَانِيهِ، وَالَْوَاب ُ مَا تـَرَى ل َ مَا تَسْمَعُ، عَلَى مَن ِ اطَّلَع َ عَلَى ذَلِك َ الْكِتَاب ِ بَِن ْ يـَرُد 1 َ ْ وَلَو ْ ل َْ تُقسِمُون خَطَأَهُ، وَيـُوَضِّح َ لَفْظَهُ، لَمَا صَرَفـْنَا عِنَان َ الْقَلَم ِ إِل َ رَدِّهِ.وَقَد ِ الزَّمَان ِ وَحَادِثِه ِ ف ِ الرَّد ِّ عَلَى ي ِ ِ جَرَت ْ سُنَّة ُ أَهْل ِ الْعِلْم ِ مِن ْ قَد الْبَاطِلِ، وَبِلتـَّزْيِيف ِ عَلَى الْعَاطِلِ.وَلَعَل َّ وَرَدَكُم ْ الِشْتِهَار ُ ف ْ هَذَا الْبَابِ، فَل َ تَكُونُوا بِلْوَجَلِ، وَارْفـَعُوا عَنْكُم ْ نِقَاب َ الَْجَلِ.َ فـَلَعَل َّ أَن ْ ل َ يـَتـَيَسَّر َ طَبْع ُ كِتَابِنَا لِقُرْب ِ سَفَرِن َ إِل َ الْوَطَنِ، لَكِن ُ أَرْجُو أَن ْ تـُتْحِفُون َِ بِنُسْخَة ٍ مِن ْ مِرْآتِكُمْ، فَإِن َّ النُّسْخَة َ الَّت ِ هِي بِِرْسَالَِا ف ِ الْبَِيدِ، وَالسَّلَم 2َ عِنْدِي عَارِيَةٌ، بِشَرْط ِ أَن ْ تُسْرِعُون ُّ خَيـْر ُ الِْتَامِ.ُّ النـَّقْشَبـَنْدِي ِ الْقَادِرِي ُ الرَّزَّاق ُ عَبْد السَّيِّد مُلْتَمِسُهُ: الْبـَغْدَادِيُّ، غَفَر َ الل ُّٰ لَهُ.مُؤَرَّخَة ٌ 28 ذِي الِْجَّة ِ سَنَة َ 1310 هـ.هَكَذَا فِي اشْتِهَار ِ الْبـَغْدَادِيّ.(النَّاشِرُ).1 هَكَذَا فِي اشْتِهَار ِ الْبـَغْدَادِيّ.(النَّاشِرُ).2 مكتوب السيد البغدادي

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Letter of As-Sayyid Al-Baghdadi 17 After which I will proceed further: Peace be upon you as well as the mercy of Allah and His blessings.It is obvious that I am acquainted with your book entitled Mir’ a t Kam a l a til-Isl a m, and that I am familiar with its contents.I have comprehended its meaning, tenor, points, and concepts.As the response [to any claim] is what you can see and not what you hear, had you not entreated the reader of that book to refute its errors and to critically exam- ine its expressions, we would not have engaged our pen in its refutation.It has been the practice of learned people in both ancient and modern times to refute error and rebut the mistaken.Perhaps the announcement regarding this matter has reached you.Therefore, do not be timid; rather, lift the veil of shame from your face.It might not be straightfor- ward to publish my book, as I will soon be return- ing to my homeland.Nevertheless, I do request that you present me with a copy of your book, Mir’ a t Kam a l a til-Isl a m, as the copy in my possession is a borrowed one—provided of course that you mail it promptly.Finally, peace is the best conclusion.As-Sayyid ‘Abdur Razz a q al-Q a dir i an-Naqshband i of Baghdad May Allah grant forgiveness to him! 28 Dhil Hijjah 1310 A.H.[ Letter of As-Sayyid al-Baghd a d i ]

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ِ جَوَابُ الِشْتِهَار ِ وَالْمَكْتُوب ِ بِسْم ِ الل ِّٰ الرَّحْٰن ِ الرَّحِيْم ِِّٰ رَب ِّ الْعَالَمِنيَ، وَالصَّلَة ُ وَالسَّلَم ُ عَلَى رَسُولِه لل ُ الَْمْد َْ وَخَات َِ الْمُرْسَلِنيَ، وَفَخْر ِ الَْوَّلِني َ وَالْخِرِينَ، ني َ مَُمَّد ٍ سَيِّد ِ النَّبِيِّ وَمَنـْبَع ِ كُل ِّ فـَهْم ٍ وَحَزْم ٍ وَنُور ٍ وَهُد ًى وَسِرَاج ٍ مُنِري ٍ لِلسَّالِكِني الْمُتَّبِعِنيَ، وَعَلَى آلِه ِ الَْادِينَ، وَأَصْحَابِه ِ الَّذِين َ شَادُوا الدِّينَ، وَعَلَى كُل ِّ مَن ْ تَبِعَه ُ مِن َ الَْوْلِيَآء ِ وَالشُّهَدَآء ِ وَالصُّلَحَآء ِ أَجَْعِنيَ.الصُّلَحَآءُ الْمُعَزَّرُونَ الْمُوَقـَّرُونَ الْمُعَظَّمُونَ، أَيـُّهَا السَّلَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ، ِ مِن ْ إِخْوَانِكُم ُ الْمُحَقَّرِين َ الْمُكَفَّرِين َ الْمَطْرُودِين َ الْمَهْجُورِيْنَ.فَإِنَّه ُ قَد ْ بـَلَغَن ِ مَكْتُوبُك َ وَاشْتِهَارُك َ ي َ أَخِي بِقَرْيَت وَبـَعْدُ..ِ ، فَأَشْكُرُك َ وَأَدْع ُو لَك َ، فَإِنَّك َ ذَكَّرْتَن ِ وَذَاكَرْتَن ’’ َ قَادِيَن ‘‘ ِ َ سُبُل ً تَْسَبـُه َا مُسْتَقِيمَة ً، وَلُمْتَن ِ غِيـْرَة ً عَل َى دِين ِ الل ِّٰ وَرَسُولِه كَالْمُغْضَبِنيَ، فَجَزَاك َ الل ُّٰ أَحْسَن َ الَْزَآءِ، وَأَحْسَن َ إِلَيْك َ وَهُو

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 1.ِمْسِب ِهّٰللا ِنٰمْحَّرلا ِمْيِحَّرلا All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger, Muhammad, the Master of the Prophets; the Seal of the Messengers; the Pride of the people of the early and latter days; the Fountainhead of all wisdom, light, and guidance; and a Bright Lamp that lights the path for spiritual travellers.Furthermore, may peace and blessings be upon his household, the ones who guide; his Companions, who fortify the True Religion; and upon everyone who follows him from among the Saints, the Martyrs, and the Righteous.And peace be unto you—O righteous, honoured, and exalted ones—from your brothers who have been branded infidels, despised, ostracized from the Faith, and abandoned! I will now proceed.O my brother! Your letter and announcement have reached me in my village of Qadian.I thank you and pray for you.You have reminded me and mentioned to me some points that you have deemed appropriate.You have harshly rebuked me as one consumed by anger out of his jealous regard for the religion of Allah and His Messenger—may Allah 1.In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.[Publisher]

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20 ْ خَيـْر ُ الْمُحْسِنِني َ.وَأَرَى أَنَّك َ رَجُل ٌ صَالِح ٌ طَيِّب ٌ، فَإِنَّك َ م َا صَبـَرْت َ عَلَى مَا حَاك َ ف ِ صَدْرِكَ، وَل َْ تَْل ُ نُصْحًا وَل َْ تُدَاهِن َكَذَلِك َ سِيـَر ُ الصَّالِِنيَ.قـَوْلً، و وَلَكِنْ، أَيـُّهَا الِْل ُّ الْوَدُود ُ وَالِْب ُّ الْمَودُودُ! عَفَا الل ُّٰ عَنْكَ، َكِتَابِه ِ مُرْتَدًّا َ قَد ِ اسْتـَعْجَلْت َ وَحَسِبْت َ أَخَاك َ الْمُؤْمِن َ بِلل ِّٰ وَرَسُولِه ِ و وَمِن َ الْكَافِرِينَ.وَلَوَّمْتَن ِ وَرَمَيـْتَن ِ بِلسِّهَام ِ قـَبْل َ أَن ْ تـُفَتِّش َ حَقِيقَة ٍ الَْمْر ِ وَتـَفْهَم َ سِر َّ الْكَلَمِ، أَو ْ تَسْتـَفْسِر َ مِن ِّ كَدَأْب ِ الْمُحَقِّقِنيَ.ْ وَالْعَجَب ُ مِنْك َ - وَمِن ْ مِثْلِك َ رَجُل ٍ صَالِحٍ، تَقِي ٍّ نَقِيٍّ، حَلِيم ٍ - أَنَّك َ تَكْتُب ُ ف ِ اشْتِهَارِك َ أَن َّ جَزَآء َ هَذَا الرَّجُل ِ الْمُرْتَد ِّ أَن ي ِ كَر كَمَا هُو َ جَزَآء ُ الْمُرْتَدِّينَ.يـُقْتَل َ بِلسَّيْف ِ الْبـَتَّارِ، أَو ْ يـُلْقَى ف ِ النَّارِ، َأَيـُّهَا الَْخ ُ الصَّالِحُ! أَسَرَّك َ الل ُّٰ وَرَعَاكَ، وَحَفِظَك َ وَحََاكَ، ٍ وَفـَتَح َ عَيـْنَك َ وَهَدَاكَ، ل َ تَُوِّفْن ِ مِن ْ سَيْف ٍ بـَتَّار ٍ وَل َ رُمْح ٍ وَل نَرٍ، وَقَد ْ قُتِلْنَا قـَبْل َ سَيْفِك َ بِسَيْف ٍ ل َ تـَعْلَمُهُ، وَذُقـْنَا طَعْم َ نَر ل َ تـَعْرِفـُهَا، وَإِن َّ إِن ْ شَآء َ الل ُّٰ بـَعْد َ ذَلِك َ مِن َ الْمُنـْعَمِنيَ.ِِّٰ، وَأَسْلَمُوا لل ْ أَيـُّهَا الْعَزِيزُ! إِن َّ الَّذِين َ أَخْلَصُوا قـُلُوبـَهُم كَأْسًا مِن ْ حُب ِّ اللِّٰ، فَل َ يُضَيِّعُهُم ُ الل ُّٰ رَبـُّهُمْ، ِِّٰ، وَشَرِبُوا لل ْ وُجُوهَهُم

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 21 reward you with the best of rewards! May He be beneficent to you, for He is the Best Benefactor.I have observed that you are a righteous-natured person, because you have not concealed that which is troubling your mind.Neither have you refrained from offering your advice, nor have you offered false praise.This is the manner of the righteous.Nevertheless—O affectionate friend and dear beloved—may Allah pardon you—you have been hasty in considering your brother, who is a believer in Allah, His Messenger, and His Book, as an apostate and one of the disbelievers.You have accused me and fired a volley of arrows in my direction, prior to investigating the truth of my claim and understanding the reality of my dis- course, or prior to seeking an explanation from me, as one would expect a true scholar to undertake.It is astonishing that someone like you—who is righteous, God-fearing, pure, forbearing, and noble—should write in your announcement that the reward for this ‘apostate’ is that he should be killed with a sharp sword and hurled into the fire, for this is the recompense of the apostates.O righteous brother! May Allah gladden you, take care of you, protect you, and support you.May He also open your eyes and guide you.Do not attempt to frighten me with a sharp sword, spear, or fire; for, I have already been killed by a sword of which you have no knowledge, long before you had even drawn your sword.And I have tasted a fire with which you are unacquainted.Verily, after this, God willing, I became amongst those who are especially blessed by God.O dear one! Verily, those whose hearts are sincere in their obe- dience to Allah, who submit themselves completely to Allah, and drink from the chalice of the love of Allah, their Lord does not

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22 ِ َكُل ُّ قَطْرَة ُكُهُم ْ مَوْلَهُمْ، وَلَو ْ عَادَاهُم ْ كُل ُّ وَرَق ِ الَْشْجَارِ، و وَل َ يـَتـْر َ َْ.بَل ِ الَّذِين ني ِ َكُل ُّ مَا ف ِ الْعَالَم َكُل ُّ ذَرَّة ِ الَْحْجَارِ، و الْبِحَارِ، و ْ يُطِيعُونَه ُ وَل َ يـَبـْتـَغُون َ إِل َّ مَرْضَاتَهُ، هُم ْ قـَوْم ٌ ل َ يَزُنـُهُم ْ إِل َّ فِرَاقُهُ، َّ وَإِذَا وَجَدُوا مَا ابـْتـَغَوْا فَل َ يـَبـْقَى لَُم ْ هَم ٌّ وَل َ غَم ٌّ بـَعْد َ ذَلِك َ وَلَو ِ قُتِلُوا وَأُحْرِقُوا، وَل َ يَضُرُّهُم ْ سَب ُّ قـَوْم ٍ وَل َ لَعْن ُ فِرْقَةٍ، وَيَْعَل ُ اللُّٰ كُل َكُل َّ سَب ٍّ رَحَْة ً ف ِ حَقِّهِمْ.أَل َ يـَعْلَم ُ رَبـُّنَا مَا ف َكَة ً عَلَيْهِمْ، و لَعْنَة ٍ بـَر صُدُورِنَ؟ أَأَنْت َ أَعْلَم ُ مِنْهُ؟ فَل َ تَكُن ْ مِن َ الْمُسْتـَعْجِلِنيَ.َكْت ُ السَّبِيلَ، وَمَا عَاصَيْت ُ الرَّب َّ الَْلِيلَ، َّ ي َ أَخِي! مَا تـَر َ، وَلَيْس َ نَبِيـُّنَا وَمَْبُوبـُنَا إِل ي ِ ِ وَلَيْس َ كِتَابـُنَا إِل َّ الْفُرْقَان َ الْكَر َّ الْمُصْطَف َى الرَّحِيم َ، وَلَعْنَة ُ الل ِّٰ عَل َى الَّذِين َ يَْرُجُون َ عَن ْ دِينِه مِثـْقَال َ ذَرَّةٍ، فـَهُم ْ يَدْخُلُون َ جَهَنَّم َ مَلْعُونِنيَ.وَلَكِن ْ ي َ أَخِي، إِن ف ِ كِتَاب ِ الل ِّٰ نِكَات ً وَمَعَارِف َ ل َ يـُزَاحُِهَا عَقِيدَة ٌ وَل َ يـُنَاقِضُهَا ٍ حُكْم ٌ، وَل َ يـُلَقَّاهَا مِن َ الُْمَم ِ إِل َّ الَّذ ِي وُجِد َ وَقْت َ ظُهُورِهَا، ِِّٰ أَسْرَار ٌ وَأَسْرَار ٌ وَرَآء َ أَسْرَار لل َ َكَان َ مِن َ الْمُنـْقَطِعِني َ الْمَبـْعُوثِنيَ.و ُ و ل َ تَطْلُع ُ نُُومُهَا إِل َّ ف ِ وَقْتِهَا، فَل َ تَُادِل ِ الل َّٰ ف ِ أَسْرَارِهِ.أَتَْتَِئ عَلَى رَبِّك َ وَتـَقُول ُ لِمَا فـَعَلْت َ كَذَا وَل َِ مَا فـَعَلْت َ كَذَا؟

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 23 allow them to come to naught, nor does He abandon them as their Protector, even if every leaf on every tree, every drop in all the oceans, every granule from all the rocks, and everyone else in the world becomes their adversary.On the contrary, those who render obedience to Him and seek only His pleasure are a people whose grief lies only in separation from Him.When they find what they seek, neither anxiety nor affliction remain, even if they are killed or incinerated.Neither the insults of people nor the curses of any sect harm them.Allah makes every curse a source of blessing for them and every offense a source of mercy.Does not our Lord know what is in our hearts? Are you more knowledgeable than Him? Do not, therefore, be among those who are hasty.O my brother! I have not abandoned the Path, nor have I disobeyed the Exalted Lord.Our Book is naught but the Noble Furq a n [the Holy Quran] and our Prophet and beloved is none but the Merciful Mu st af a [the Chosen One, i.e.the Holy Prophet Muhammad s as ].The curse of Allah is upon those who deviate from His religion by even one iota; they shall enter hell as accursed ones.But—O my brother! —there are subtleties and insights in the Book of Allah which do not contradict any doctrine nor conflict with any commandment.They are not vouchsafed to anyone except he who is one of the devoted emissaries during the time destined for their revelation.And Allah has secrets, and secrets beyond secrets, whose stars do not rise except at their appointed time.So, do not argue with Allah regarding His secrets.Would you be so audacious as to question your Lord: ‘Why did You do this and why did You not do that?’

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24 َ َ ي َ أَخِي! فـَوِّض ْ غَيْب َ الل ِّٰ إِل َ الل ِّٰ وَل َ تَدْخُل ْ ف ِ غُيُوبِهِ، وَل ْعِ، وَل ُخ َّ دَقَائِق َ الْمَعَارِف َ الَّت ِ دَق َّ مَأْخَذُهَا ف ِ ظَوَاهِر ِ الشَّر تـَز ِ تـَقْف ُ مَا لَيْس َ لَك َ بِه ِ عِلْمٌ، وَثـَبِّت ْ نـَفْسَك َ عَلَى سَبِيل ِ الْمُتَّقِنيَ.مَا كَان َ إِميَان ُ الَْخْيَار ِ مِن َ الصَّحَابَة ِ وَالتَّابِعِني َ بِنـُزُول َكَانُوا يـُؤْمِنُون َ بِلنـُّزُول ِ مُْمَلً، الْمَسِيح ِ  إِل َّ إِجَْالِيًّا، و ْ وَيـُفَوِّضُون َ تـَفَاصِيلَهَا إِل َ الل ِّٰ خَالِق ِ السَّمَاوَات ِ وَالَْرْضِنيَ.َكَيْف َ يَُوز ُ نـُزُول ُ الْمَسِيح ِ  عَلَى الْمَعْن َ الَْقِيقِيِّ، وَالل ُّٰ قَد و أَخْبـَر َ ف ِ كِتَابِه ِ الْعَزِيز ِ أَنَّه ُ تـُوُف َِّ وَمَاتَ؟ وَقَالَ: 1 ﴿ي َ عِيسَى إِن ِّ مُتـَوَفِّيك َ وَرَافِعُك َ إِلََّ﴾ وَقَالَ: 2 ﴿فـَلَمّا تـَوَفـَّيـْتَن ِ كُنْت َ أَنْت َ الرَّقِيب َ عَلَيْهِمْ﴾ وَقَالَ: 3 ﴿فـَيُمْسِك ُ الَّت ِ قَضَى عَلَيـْهَا الْمَوْتَ﴾ آل عمران: 56.1 المائدة: 118.2 الزمر: 43.3

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 25 O my brother! Leave the unseen to God and do not try to interfere in His domain, and do not ignore the subtleties of knowledge whose sources are to be found deeply rooted in the apparent meaning of the sacred law, and do not follow that of which you have no knowledge; rather, tread only upon the path of the righteous.The eminent Companions of the Prophet s as and the T a bi‘ i n 1 were in agreement regarding the generalities of the descent of the Messiah, peace be on him, but they left the details for Allah, the Creator of heaven and earth, to reveal.Furthermore, how can the descent of the Messiah, peace be upon him, be taken literally while Allah has already declared in His Great Book that he has died and passed away? He says: 2 ىٰۤسْيِعٰي ْيِّنِا َكْيِّفَوَتُم َو َكُعِفاَر َّيَلِا Then He says: 3 اَّمَلَف ْيِنَتْيَّفَوَت َتْنُك َتْنَا َبْيِقَّرلا ْمِهْيَلَع And He states: 4 ُكِسْمُيَف ْيِتَّلا ىٰضَق اَهْيَلَع َتْوَمْلا 1.The generation of Muslims who met or saw the blessed Companions ra of the Holy Prophet s as but not the Prophet s as himself.[Publisher] 2.O Jesus, I will cause you to die a natural death and will exalt you to Myself ( S u rah A l-e-‘Imr a n, 3:56).[Publisher] 3.But since You caused me to die, You have been the Watcher over them ( S u rah al-M a ’idah, 5:118).[Publisher] 4.And then He retains those against which He has decreed death ( S u rah az-Zumar, 39:43).[Publisher]

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26 وَقَالَ: 1 ﴿و َ حَرٰم ٌ عَلٰى قـَرْيَة ٍ اَهْلَكْنـٰهَا ۤ اَنـَّهُم ْ ل َ يـَرْجِعُوْنَ﴾ وَقَالَ: 2 ِ ﴿و َ مَا مَُمَّد ٌ اِل َّ رَسُوْل ٌ قَد ْ خَلَت ْ مِن ْ قـَبْلِه ِ الرُّسُلُ﴾ ِ يـَعْن ِ مَاتُوا كُلُّهُم ْ كَمَا اسْتَدَل َّ بِه ِ الصِّدِّيق ُ الَْكْبـَر ُ عِنْد َ وَفَاة النَّب ِِّ ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص، فَمَا بَقِي َ شَك ٌّ بـَعْد َ ذَلِك َ ف ِ وَفَاة ِ الْمَسِيح ِ وَامْتِنَاع رُجُوعِه ِ إِن ْ كُنـْتُم ْ بِلل ِّٰ وَاٰيَتِه ِ مُؤْمِنِنيَ.َْ، وَقَد ِ انـْقَطَع َ وَحْي ُ النـُّبـُوَّة ِ، ني ً وَقَد ْ خَتَم َ الل ُّٰ بِرَسُولِن َا النَّبِيِّ ِيء ُ مُعَطَّل ي َ َّ فَكَيْف َ يَِيء ُ الْمَسِيح ُ وَل َ نَب َِّ بـَعْد َ رَسُولِن َا؟ أ ِّٰ ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص أَن ِ مِن َ النـُّبـُوَّة ِ كَالْمَعْزُولِني َ؟ وَقَد ْ بَشَّرْن َ رَسُول ُ الل ِ الْمَسِيح َ الْت َِ يَظْهَر ُ مِن ْ أُمَّتِه ِ وَهُو َ أَحَد ٌ مِن َ الْمُسْلِمِنيَ.وَف الصِّحَاح ِ أَحَادِيث ُ صَحِيحَة ٌ مَرْفُوعَة ٌ مُتَّصِلَة ٌ شَاهِدَة ٌ عَلَى وَفَاة عِيسَى ، خُصُوصًا ف ِ الْبُخَارِي ِّ بـَيَان ٌ مُصَرَّح ٌ ف ِ هَذَا الَْمْرِ.نبيآء: 96 ل ا.1 آل عمران: 145.2

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 27 Further, He says: 1 َو ٌمٰرَح ىٰلَع ٍةَيْرَق ۤاَهٰنْكَلْهَا ْمُهَّنَا اَل َنْوُعِجْرَي Moreover, He states: 2 َو اَم ٌدَّمَحُم اَّلِا ٌلْوُسَر١ۚ ْدَق ْتَلَخ ْنِم ِهِلْبَق ُلُسُّرلا Meaning that: All of them [i.e.the Messengers] have died, just as the Great S idd i q [i.e.Abu Bakr] concluded upon the death of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.Thereafter, no doubt can remain regarding the death of the Messiah and the impossibility of his return—if indeed you are believers in Allah and His holy verses.Allah has set a seal upon Prophethood with our Messenger and prophetic revelation has ceased; how, then, can the Messiah come while there can be no Prophet after our Messenger? Will he turn up as one deposed and stripped of Prophethood? Our Messenger s as has given us the glad tidings that the future Messiah will appear from among his community and that he will be a Muslim.In the authentic a ha d i th, there are ones that are marf u ‘ 3 and mutta s il, 4 which bear witness to the death of Jesus, on whom be 1.And it is an inviolable law for a township which We have destroyed that they shall not return ( S u rah al-Anbiy a ’ , 21:96).[Publisher] 2.S u rah A l-e-‘Imr a n, 3:145 [Publisher] 3.Lit.‘elevated’.A hadith classification denoting that its chain of trans- mitters connects directly to the Holy Prophet s as.[Publisher] 4.Lit.‘connected’.A hadith classification denoting that there is no inter- ruption in the chain of reporters.[Publisher]

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28 َ َ فَالْعَجَب ُ كُل ُّ الْعَجَب ِ عَل َى فـَهْم ِ رَجُل ٍ يَشُك ُّ ف ِ وَفَاتِه ِ بـَعْد كِتَاب ِ الل ِّٰ وَرَسُولِه ِ وَيـَتَذَبْذَب ُ كَالْمُرْتَبِنيَ.وَبَِي ِّ حَدِيث ٍ بـَعْد ْ الل ِّٰ وَاٰيَتِه ِ نـَتـْرُك ُ مُتـَوَاتِرَات ِ الْقُرْاٰنِ؟ أَنـُؤْثِر ُ الشَّك َّ عَلَى الْيَقِنيِ؟ َ وَالْقَوْم ُ ل َ يـَتَّفِق ُ عَلَى صُعُود ِ الْمَسِيح ِ حَيًّا إِل َ السَّمَآءِ، بَل لَُم ْ آرَآء ٌ شَتَّ، بـَعْضُهُم ْ يـَقُول ُ بِلْوَفَاة ِ وَبـَعْضُهُم ْ بِلَْيَاةِ.وَلَن ْ تَِد مِن َ النُّصُوص ِ الْفُرْقَانِيَّة ِ وَالَْحَادِيث ِ النـَّبَوِيَّة ِ دَلِيل ً عَلَى حَيَاتِهِ، بَل ْ تَسْمَع ُ مِن َ الَْخْبَار ِ وَالْثَر ِ وَمِن ْ كُل ِّ جِهَة ٍ نـَعْي َ الْمَوْت ِ.ِ وَقَد ْ تـُوُف َِّ رَسُولُنَا ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص، أَهُو َ خَيـْر ٌ مِنْهُ، أَم ْ هُو َ لَيْس َ مِن َ الْفَانِنيَ؟ ْ وَرَآه ُ رَسُول ُ الل ِّٰ ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص ف ِ لَيـْلَة ِ الْمِعْرَاج ِ ف ِ الْمَوْتَى مِن َ الَْنْبِيَآء عَلَيْهِم ُ السَّلَمُ، أَفـَتَظُن ُّ أَن َّ رَسُول َ الل ِّٰ ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص أَخْطَأ َ ف ِ رُؤْيَتِهِ، أَو قَال َ مَا يَُالِف ُ الَْقَّ؟ حَاشَا! بَل ْ إِنَّه ُ أَصْدَق ُ الصَّادِقِنيَ.ِ فـَهَذَا هُو َ السَّبَب ُ الَّذِي أَلَْأَن َ إِل َ اعْتَِاف ِ وَفَاة ِ الْمَسِيحِ، َ وَشَهِد َ عَلَيْه ِ إِلَْامِي الْمُتـَوَاتِر ُ الْمُتـَتَابِع ُ مِن َ الل ِّٰ تـَعَالٰ.وَمَا نـَرَى ف هَذِه ِ الْعَقِيدَة ِ مَُالَفَة ً بِقَوْل ِ رَسُول ِ الل ِّٰ ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص وَل َ بِعَقِيدَة ِ الصَّحَابَة ِ وَل

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 29 peace.Particularly in [ S a hih ] al-Bukh a r i, we find a clear expla- nation regarding this matter.It is a matter of great astonishment that a sensible man could entertain doubt concerning the death of Jesus—despite the statements of the Book of Allah and His Messenger—and waver distrustfully.After learning about these verses of Allah, which statement can then cause us to abandon the endless proofs of the Quran? Should we prefer doubt to certainty? There is no consensus about the ascent of the Messiah into the heavens whilst still being alive; on the contrary, there are divergent opinions.Some believe in [his] death, while others insist he is alive.But you will never find in the texts of the Quran and the Hadith of the Holy Prophet s as any argument for his being alive.Rather, you will learn from reports, traditional sources, and from all sides, the declaration of death.Our Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has died.Is Jesus better than him or is he immortal? The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, saw him during the Night of the Ascension among the deceased Prophets, peace be on all of them.Do you think the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, made a mistake about his vision or said that which was contrary to the truth? God forbid! On the con- trary, he was the most veracious of the truthful ones.As such, these are the reasons which have compelled us to acknowledge the death of the Messiah.Furthermore, I have also received profuse and continuous revelations from God which confirm this.We do not see in this belief any conflict with the statements of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, the belief of the Companions, or the T a bi‘ i n

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30 َ َكَذَلِك َ التَّابِعِنيَ.وَالصَّحَابَة ُ كُلُّهُم ْ كَانُوا يـُؤْمِنُون َ بِوَفَاة ِ الْمَسِيحِ، و الَّذِين َ جَاؤُوا بـَعْدَهُم ْ مِن ْ عِبَاد ِ الل ِّٰ الْمُتـَبَصِّرِينَ.أَل َ تـَنْظُر ُ صَحِيح اٰيَةَ:  ٍ الْبُخَارِيِّ كَيْف َ فَسَّر َ فِيه ِ عَبْد ُ الل ِّٰ بْن ُ عَبَّاس 1 ِ ﴿يٰعِيْسٰۤى اِن ِّْ مُتـَوَفِّيْك َ و َ رَافِعُك َ اِلََّ﴾ ِ فـَقَالَ: مُتـَوَفِّيكَ: مُِيتُكَ.وَأَشَار َ الِْمَام ُ الْبُخَارِي ُّ إِل َ صِحَّة ِْ مَلِّهِ، وَهَذِه ري هَذَا الْقَوْل ِ بِِيرَادِه ِ اٰيَةَ: ﴿إِن ِّ مُتـَوَفِّيكَ﴾ ف ِ غَ عَادَة ُ الْبُخَارِي ِّ عِنْد َ الِجْتِهَاد ِ وَإِظْهَار ِ مَذْهَبِه ِ كَمَا ل َ يَْفَى ُّٰ عَلَى الْمَاهِرِينَ.أَيـُّهَا الَْخ ُ الصَّالِحُ! اُنْظُرْ كَيْف َ أَشَار َ الْبُخَارِي ُّ - رَحَِه ُ الل ِْ الْمَحَل ِّ وَإرَآءَة ِ تَظَاهُرِهَِا.ري َف ِ غ ِْ ني - إِل َ مَذْهَبِه ِ بَِمْع ِ الْيـَتـَ ِ وَاعْتـَرَف َ بَِن َّ الْمَسِيح َ قَد ْ مَاتَ، فـَتَدَبـَّر ْ فَإِن َّ الل َّٰ يُِب ُّ الْمُتَدَبِّرِينَ.وَمَا كَان َ ل ِ مَنـْفَعَة ٌ وَرَاحَة ٌ ف ِ تـَرْكِ كِتَاب ِ الل ِّٰ وَسُنَن ِ رَسُولِه ِ وَحَْل ٌ أَوْزَار ِ خُسْرَان ِ الدُّنـْيَا وَالْخِرَةِ، وَسََاع ِ لَعْن ِ اللَّعِنِنيَ.ُ! لَلْحَق ُّ أَحَق ُّ أَن ْ يـُتـَّبَعَ، وَالصِّدْق ُ حَقِيق ي ِ ُّ أَيـُّهَا الَْخ ُ الْكَر بَِن ْ يـُقْبَل َ وَيُسْتَمَع َ، وَيَد ُ الَْق ِّ تَصَدَع ُ رِدَآء َ الشَّك ِّ، وَالَْق آل عمران: 56.1

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 31 [subsequent generation].All of the Companions used to believe in the death of the Messiah; and, in like manner, those who came after them from among the perceptive servants of Allah.Have you not observed in S a hih al-Bukh a r i how Abdullah ibn Abbas ra explained the verse: 1 ىٰۤسْيِعٰي ْيِّنِا َكْيِّفَوَتُم َو َكُعِفاَر َّيَلِا He stated: َ مُتَوَفِّیْك [ mutawaff i ka ] means to cause you to die nat- urally.Imam Bukhari indicates the validity of this statement by quoting the verse ْيِّنِا َكْيِّفَوَتُم [ inn i mutawaff i ka— I will cause you to die] in other places as well.This is the methodology employed by Bukhari in exercising independent judgement and presenting his viewpoints, which is well known to the learned.O righteous brother! Observe how Bukhari, may Allah have mercy on him, indicated his viewpoint.Combining two verses from different locations and demonstrating their resem- blance, he acknowledged that the Messiah had died.Reflect, therefore, upon what I have presented; verily, Allah loves those who reflect.I find no advantage or comfort in abandoning the Book of Allah and the sunan [practices] of His Messenger; and thereby not only having to bear loss in this world but also in the next; and further having to bear listening to the curses of the imprecators.O noble brother! Truth is more worthy of being followed, and it is that which should be accepted and heeded; for, the hand 1.O Jesus, I will cause thee to die a natural death and will exalt you to Myself ( S u rah A l-e-‘Imr a n, 3:56).[Publisher]

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32 ُ هُو َ الَْوْهَر ُ الَّذِي يَظْهَر ُ عِنْد َ السَّبْكِ، وَيـَتَلَْل َُ ف ِ وَقْتِه ِ الَّذِي َ قَدَّر َ الل ُّٰ لَهُ، وَلِكُل ِّ نـَبَأ ٍ مُسْتـَقَرٌّ، وَلِكُل ِّ نَْم ٍ مَطْلَعٌ، وَل َ تـُعْرَف َ الَْسْرَار ُ إِل َّ بـَعْد َ وُقُوعِهَا.فَطُوب َ لِمَن ْ فَهِم َ هَذ َا السِّر َّ وَأَدْرَك َّ الَْمْر َ كَالْعَاقِلِنيَ.وَإِن ِّ أَتـَيـَقَّن ُ أَن َّ مِثـْلَك َ - مَع َ كَمَال ِ فَضْلِك ِ وَتـَقْوَاك َ - لَو ْ كَان َ مُطَّلِعًا عَلَى مَعَارِف َ أُطْلِعْت ُ عَلَيـْهَا لَكَف َ لِسَانَه ُ مِن ْ لَعْن ِ وَطَعْن ِ، وَلَقَبِل َ م َا قـُلْت ُ مِن ْ مَعَارِف ِ الْمِلَّة ُ وَالدِّين ِ، وَلَكِن ِّ أَظُنُّك َ مَا فَهِمَت َ حَقِيقَة َ مَقَال ِ، وَمَا عَلِمْت صُورَة َ مََالِ، وَمَا ظَن ِّ فِيك َ إِل َّ الَْيـْرُ، وَأَسْأَل ُ الل َّٰ لَك َ فَضْلَه ٌّ وَرَحَْتَه ُ وَهُو َ أَرْحَم ُ الرَّاحِِنيَ.َكَة ٍ وَسُلَلَة َ أَهْلِهَا! أَنْت َ بَِمْد ِ الل ِّٰ تَقِي َ ي َ قـُرَّة َ أَرْض ٍ مُبَار َكِي ٌّ، وَإِن ِّ أُحِبُّك ُ وَأُصَافِيْك َ كَالْمُخْلِصِني َ.وَأُوتِيْك ِ وَنَقِي ٌّ وَز مَوْثِقًا مِن َ الل ِّٰ عَلَى أَن ِّ أُوَافِقُك ُ وَأَقـْبَل ُ قـَوْلَكَ، إِن ْ تُرِن ِ اٰيَت ٍْ.وَم َا ني ِ ُ الْفُرْقَان ِ عَل َى صِحَّة ِ زَعْمِك َ، وَتَْتِن ِ بِسُلْطَان ٍ مُب أَبـْتَغِي إِل َّ الَْقَّ، وَقَد ْ شَقَقْت ُ عَصَا الشِّقَاقِ، وَارْتَضَعْت َ أَفَاوِيق َ الْوِفَاقِ، فَجَادِلْن ِ بِلِْكْمَة ِ وَاٰيَت ِ كِتَاب ِ الل ِّٰ السَّبَاقِ، ٍ وَسَتَجِدُن ِ إِن ْ شَآء َ الل ُّٰ مِن َ الْمُنْصِفِنيَ.وَإِن ْ كُنْت َ أَن ْ تَشْتَهِي أَن ْ تَسُبَّن َِ أَو ْ تـَلْعَنَن ِ أَو ْ تُكَذِّبَن ِ أَو ْ تـَقْتـُلَن ِ بِسَيْف ٍ بـَتَّار

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 33 of truth can easily rip the robe of doubt.Truth is that gem which emerges from the foundry and glitters at the time that Allah has decreed for it.There is an appointed time for every tiding and there is a time of ascension for every star.None become cogni- zant of the mysteries until after their occurrence.So, blessed is the one who understands this secret and perceives the matter in a sensible way.I am thoroughly convinced that a person such as your- self, with your consummate excellence and piety, is someone who, if he were acquainted with the knowledge I have been acquainted with, would restrain his tongue from cursing and maligning me and would accept what I have said about the knowledge of religion and faith.But, I think you have not truly understood my statements nor truly know the nature of my claim.I think only well of you and I entreat Allah for His grace and mercy on your behalf, for He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.O pleasure of a blessed land and its scion! You are, by the grace of Allah, a pious, immaculate, and pure person.Truly, I love you and am completely genuine, like a sincere friend.I swear by Allah that if you show me verses of the Quran in support of your position and produce clear authority, then I will agree with you and accept your point of view.I only desire the truth.I have resisted everything that may cause dissension or division, as I have drunk from the milk of unity.Therefore, argue with me with wisdom and the verses of the Book of Allah, which is the final authority.You will find me, God willing, among the fair-minded.However, if instead you wish to abuse me, to curse me, to

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34 َّ أَو ْ تـُلْقِيَن ِ ف ِ نَر ٍ، فَاصْنَع ْ م َا شِئْت َ، وَم َا أَرُد ُّ عَلَيْك َ إِل ِْ وَالْعَافِيَة ِ.ي َ أَهْل َ الْبـَيْت ِ! يـَرْحَُكُم ُ الل ُّٰ ف ِ الدُّنـْي َا ري َْ دُعَآء َ ال َّٰ وَالْخِرَةِ، وَآوَاكُم ْ ف ِ الْمَرْحُومِنيَ.أَيـُّهَا الشَّيْخُ! دَع ِ النِّزَاعَ، وَمَا يـَنـْبَغِي النِّزَاعُ، فَاتَّق ِ الل ْ وَأَدْرِك ْ فـُرْصَة ً ل َ تُضَاع ُ، وَارْتَِل ْ إِل ََّ رِحْلَة َ الصَّادِق ِ الْمُعِد ِّ، َكُل ُ وَسِر ْ نَْو ِي سَيـْر َ الْمُجِد ِّ، وَتـَفَضَّل ْ وَتََشَّم ْ إِل َ بـَيْت ِ، و ُِيك َ الل ُّٰ حَال ً ل َ يـَنْكَشِف ري ٍ إِل َ شَهْرَيْن ِ مِن ْ قـُرْصِي ْ وَزَيْتِ، سَ ِْي مِن ْ أَهْل ِ الْبـُلْدَان ِ وجَوَّابَتِه َا، وَل َ مِن ْ تَْلِيفَات ري َ عَن ْ يَد ِ غ ِْ الْيَقِني ِ.وَإِن ْ تـَقْصِدْن ِ مُْلِص ًا ني َّ مَْدُودَة ِ الْبـَيَان ِ، فـَتـَعْرِفُن ِ بِعَ فَأَدْعُو لَك َ ف ِ آنَء ِ اللَّيْل ِ وَأَطْرَاف ِ النـَّهَارِ، وَأَرْجُو أَن ْ يَطْمَئِن قـَلْبُك َ وَأَرَى آثَر َ الِْسْتِجَابَةِ، وَتـَنْجَاب َ غِشَاوَة ُ الِْسِتـْرَابَةِ،.ٌْ ني ِ وَالل ُّٰ قَدِير ٌ وَنَصِيـْر ٌ وَمُعِ ُ أَيـُّهَا الَْخ ُ الشَّرِيف ُ الصَّالِحُ! ل َ تـَنْظُر ْ إِل َ تَكْفِري ِ الْعُلَمَآء ِ وَتَكْذِيْبِهِم ْ، فَإِن ِّ أَعْلَم ُ مِن َ الل ِّٰ م َا ل َ يـَعْلَمُون َ، وَقَد ْ عَلِمَت ِّ حَقِيقَة َ الَْمْر ِ مِن ْ رَب ِّ وَهُم ْ مِن َ الْغَافِلِني َ.وَل َ تـَنْظُر ْ إِل َ ذِلَّت ُِ إِخْوَانِ، فَإِن َّ ل ِ مِن َ الل ِّٰ تـَعَال ٰ فِ كُل ني وَهَوَانِ، وَحَقَارَت ِ ف ِ أَعْ

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 35 brand me a liar, to execute me with a sharp sword, or to hurl me into the fire, then do as you please.I will respond only with prayers for your well-being and beneficence.O people of the sacred household! May Allah have mercy on you in this world and the next and grant you refuge among those who are shown mercy.O Respected Sheikh! Abstain from conflict as it ought not to arise; fear Allah and take advantage of an opportunity which should not be lost; embark upon a journey to me as an hon- est and well-prepared man and come to me diligently.Come hither and take upon yourself the trouble to reach my home, be my guest, and break bread with me for two months.Allah will demonstrate a phenomenon which cannot be shown by anyone else in the entire world, nor can it be found in books which do not have the power to clearly discern the truth.Then you will come to know me with the eye of certainty.Should you come to me in sincerity, I will pray for you night and day and I hope that your heart will be softened during your stay and that I will begin to see signs of the acceptance of my prayer and that the veil of your suspicion will be lifted, for Allah is All-Powerful, the Helper, and the Ultimate Support.O noble and righteous brother! Do not pay any attention to the edicts of disbelief or to my rejection by the ulama.I have learned from Allah that which they do not know.I have been taught the reality of the matter by my Lord; however, they are among the heedless.Do not look upon me through the eyes of my brethren who see me as insignificant, contemptible and wretched; for, Allah continually looks upon me with mercy.I

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36 ِْ ني َ ٌ يـَوْم ٍ نَظْرَةً.أُقـَلَّب ُ نَْو َ الشِّمَال ِ وَنَْو َ الْيَمِنيِ، وَأَتـَقَلَّب ُ ف ِ الَْال َع ٍ وَرُخَآء ٍ، وَالْعَاقِبَة ُ خَيـْر ِْ زَعْز ني َْ َ بـُؤْس ٍ وَرَخَآء ٍ، وَأُنـْقَل ُ مَع َ الرِّي ٌ ل ِ إِن ْ شَآء َ اللُّٰ، وَإِن ِّ مِن َ الْمُبَشَّرِيْنَ.الْيـَوْم َ يَُقِّرُون َ وَيُكَذِّبُون َْ لَوْ كَانُوا قَادِرِينَ، وَسَيَأْت ِ زَمَان ني ِ َ وَيُكَفِّرُونَ، وَأَرَاهُم ْ عَلَي َّ حَرِيْص يَظْهَر ُ صِدْقِي فِيه ِ ويُرِي الل ُّٰ عِبَادَه ُ اٰيَت ِ فَضْلِه ِ عَلَيَّ، فـَيَجْتـَلُون ِ أَنـْوَار َ عِنَايَتِه ْ وَمَطَارِف َ تـَفَضُّلَتِهْ، فِيأتُونَن ِ مُنْكَسِرِينَ.ٍْ رَأَتْن ِ قـَبْل َ وَقْت ِ، وَطُوب َ لِسَعِيد ٍ جَآءَن ني ْ فَطُوب َ لِعَ َ كَالْمُخْلِصِنيَ.أَيـُّهَا الشَّيْخُ! الْوَقْت ُ قَد ْ دَنَ، وَمُعْظَم ُ الْعُمُر ِ قَد فـَنَ، فَأْتِن ِ عَلَى شَرِيطَة ِ الصَّب ِْ وَالتـَّوَقُّف ِ وَقـَبُول ِ الُْدَى، وَعُد ْ إِل ِ الَْق ِّ وَدَع ِ الْعَدَآءَ، وَل َ تـَنْس َ حَقَّك َ ف ِ الْعُقْبَ، وَل َ تـُبَارِز ِ الْمَوْلَ، ِع ْ إِل ََّ مُرْتَدِعًا، لِيـَغْفِر َ لَك َ الل ُّٰ مَا سَلَف َ وَمَا مَضَى، وَطَاوِع وَسَار َكُن ْ مِن َ الْمُطَاوِعِنيَ.ٌ الَْق َّ و وَإِن ْ كُنْت َ ل َ تـَقْدِر ُ عَلَى هَذَا السَّفَر ِ الْبَعِيدِ، فـَلَك َ طَرِيق ِّ أُخْرَى.فَإِن ْ كُنْت َ فَاعِلَهَا، فَأَخْرِج ْ أَوَّل ً مِن ْ صَدْرِك َ كُل َّ م َا ِْ، وَصَل ني َكْعَتـَ دَخَل َ فِيه ِ مِن ْ سُوء ِ الظَّنِّ، ث َُّ قُم ْ وَتـَوَضَّأ ْ وَصَل ِّ ر وَسَلِّم ْ وَاسْتـَغْفِر ِ اسْتِغْفَار َ التَّائِبِنيَ، ث َُّ اضْطَجِع ْ مُسْتـَقْبِل ً عَلَى

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 37 am pushed left and right.I am scrutinized under conditions of misery and prosperity and I am shifted by winds both violent and comforting.However, God willing, I will meet a good end, as I am one who has been given the glad tidings of victory.Today they despise, calumniate, and reject me; and I see that they ardently desire [to kill] me were they capable of doing so.The time will come when my truth becomes manifest and Allah will demonstrate to His servants the Signs of His grace upon me.Thereupon, the bril- liance of His Providence and the extent of His grace will become manifest.They will then come to me full of remorse.Blessed, indeed, is the eye that has seen me before the time [of my victory], and blessed, indeed, will be the fortunate one who comes to me in sincerity.O Sheikh! The time has drawn nigh and the major part of the time allocated for the life of this world has passed.So come to me, providing you are patient and willing to reflect and accept guidance.Return to truth and eschew enmity.Do not forget the consequences and engage not in a duel with the Lord.Hasten to me and restrain yourself in order that Allah might grant you forgiveness for that which has preceded, as well as that which has passed.So accept the truth and be among the obedient.If you are not able to undertake such a long journey, there is an alternative method if you wish to take it.First, expel from your heart every evil thought that has entered it.Next, arise, perform wu du’ [ritual ablution] and offer two rak‘ a t [units of prayer].Invoke blessings on the Holy Prophet and ask for forgiveness sincerely as one who truly repents.Then, lie on your side, turn your face towards the Qiblah [in Makkah] and focus your entire

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38 ِ مُصَلَّكَ، وَتََل َّ بُِنَاجَاة ِ مَوْلَكَ، وَاسْأَل ِ الل َّٰ لِسْتِكْشَاف ِ حَالِ، َ وَحَقِيقَة ِ مَقَالِ، ث َُّ ن َْ قَائِلً: ي َ خَبِيـْر ُ أَخْبِْن ِ ف ِ أَمْر ِ أَحَْد َ بْن َ غُل َم مُرْتَض َى الْقَادَيَن ِِّ، أَهُو َ مَرْدُود ٌ عِنْدَك َ أَو ْ مَقْبُول ٌ؟ أَهُو مَلْعُون ٌ عِنْدَك َ أَو ْ مَقْرُونٌ؟ إِنَّك َ تـَعْلَم ُ مَا ف ِ قـُلُوب ِ عِبَادِكَ، وَل تُْطِئ ُ عَيـْنُكَ، وَأَنْت َ خَيـْر ُ الشَّاهِدِيْنَ.نَآ آتِنَا مِن ْ لَدُنْك َ عِلْمًا جَاذِب ً إِل َ الَْقِّ، وَنَظَرًا حَافِظًا َّ رَبـ مِن ْ نـَقْل ِ الُْطُوَات ِ إِل َ خُطَط ِ الَْطِيَّاتِ، وَأَدْخِلْنَا ف ِ الْمُوَفَّقِنيَ.َْ يَدَيْكَ، أَو ْ نـَتَصَرَّف َ ف ِ سَرَائِر ِ عِبَادِكَ، ني َ مَا كَان َ لَنَا أَن ْ نـُقَدِّم َ بـَ نَآ اغْفِر ْ لَنَا ذُنُوبـَنَا وَإِسْرَافـَنَا ف ِ أَمْرِنَ، وَافـْتَح ْ عُيُونـَنَا، وَل َّ رَبـ تَْعَلْنَا مِن َ الَّذِين َ يـُعَادُون َ أَوْلِيَآءَكَ، أَو ْ يُِبُّون َ الْمُفْسِدِينَ.آمِني ْ ث َُّ آمِني.وَاسْتَخِر ْ ي َ أَخ ِي مِن ْ جُُعَة ٍ إِل َ جُُعَة ٍ أُخْرَى، وَعَقِّب َع َ ف ِ هَذَا ِْ، وَأَخْبِْن ِ إِذَا أَرَدْت َ أَن ْ تَشْر ني َّكْعَتـَ َ تـَهَجُّدَك َ بَِذِه ِ الر لُِرَافِقَك َ ف ِ دُعَائِكَ، وَأَدْعُو َ لَك َ ف ِ اِبْتِغَائِكَ، وَأَرْجُو أَن ْ يَسْمَع

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 39 concentration on your Lord, supplicating silently.Ask Allah to unveil to you the truth about my claim and the reality of my state- ments.Then, go to sleep while saying: O All-Aware One! Inform me about the claim of Ahmad, son of Ghul a m Murta da of Qadian.Is he accepted by you or rejected? Is he accursed or beloved? Verily, You know what is in the hearts of Your servants; nothing is veiled from Your purview.You are the Best of Witnesses.O Our Lord! Grant us from Yourself knowledge that leads us towards the truth, grant us insight in order that we may avoid stepping into the path of error, and count us among those who are granted success.It is unbecoming that we should become audacious in Your presence or judge ignorantly the secrets of Your servants.Our Lord, grant us forgiveness for our sins and excesses in our affairs and open our eyes.Do not let us be among those who oppose Your Auliy a ’ [Friends] or among those who incline towards wrongdoers.A m i n, again A m i n.O my brother! Recite the Istikh a rah Prayer1 from one Friday until the next and follow your Tahajjud [optional prayer offered at night] with these two rak‘ a t.Inform me when you intend to com- mence this [supplication] so that I may join you in fellowship with your prayer.I will pray for you in your endeavour because I antic- ipate that my Lord will hear my plea and accept my supplication.1.A special prayer to seek divine guidance in important affairs.[Publisher]

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40 ِ رَب ِّ نِدَائِي، وَيـَقْبَل َ دُعَائِي، إِنَّه ُ كَان َ ب ِ حَفِيًّا، وَإِنَّه ُ نُور ُ عَيْن.َْ ني وَقـُوَّة ُ أَعْضَائِي، وَالل ِّٰ إِن ِّ لَمِن َ الْمُقَبَّلِ َ أَيـُّهَا الْعَزِيزُ! أَرَاك َ فـَت ً صَالًِا، فَأَرْجُو أَن ْ تـَقَبَل َ مَا ِكَك َ رِقَّة ٌ عَلَى دِين ِ سَيِّدِي وَسَيِّدِك قـُلْت ُ لَكَ، وَأَرْجُو أَن ْ تُدْر وَجَدِّك َ ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص، وَتَسْلُك َ مَسْلَك َ الْعَارِفِنيَ.َ التَّنَادِي يـَوْم َ أَخِي ْ ي ِتَذَكَّر َ الْمَعَاد ِ إِل َ الرَّحِيل ْ قـَبْل ٍوَتُب ْ جَنَان َ مِن َّ حِقْدِك ْ كُل ِِفَأَخْرِج ِّ الْعِنَاد ْ سُم َ مِن ِّ النَّفْس ٍوَزَك َ ذَنْب ِ عِنْد َ الْمُهَيْمِن ْ قـَهْر ِوَخَف َ الرَّشَاد ْ سُبُل َُّ انـْتَهِج ْ ث ِوَقِف َ الْكِرَام َ ابْن ِ ي ُ أَنَّن ِوَأُقْسِم ِّ الْعِبَاد ْ رَب ُ مِن ْ أُرْسِلْت ٍلَقَد َ عِلْم ُ عِلْم ًا بـَعْد ْ أُعْطِيْت وَقَد ْ جَوَادِي ٍ مِن َ كَأْس بـَعْد َكَأْسًا و

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 41 Assuredly, He is indeed gracious to me.He is the light of my eyes and the strength of my body.By Allah, I am one of those who have achieved nearness to Him.O revered one! I see you as a righteous young man; there- fore, I sincerely hope that you will accept what I have said to you.Moreover, I hope that your heart will be filled with compassion for the religion of my master and yours and your grandfather, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.May you tread the path of knowledge.Remember, O my brother, the day of mutual calling and wailing, And repent before the journey to the hereafter.Hence, let all rancour be expelled from thy heart, And purify thy soul from the venom of obstinacy.At the time of wrongdoing, fear the vanquishing power of the Protector; Halt! Then, pursue the path of rectitude.I swear that verily I—O son of the honourable ones— Have been sent by the Lord of humanity.I have been conferred knowledge upon knowledge, And chalice after chalice of magnanimity.

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42 ِ ٍْ يَْتَبِين َّ حِي ِّ كُل وَحِب ِ مُرَادِي ِ وَيـُعْطِين وَيُدْنِين ِ اللَّعِنِيْنَا بِلَعْن أَشْقَى ِفَمَا ِ الْبِلَد ُ ف َ يُذْكَر ٍوَصِدْق ِي سَوْف ِ وِهَاد َا ف ْ شَرِبـْن ٍ قَد َكَأْس ِ و َ الْمَصَاد ْ فـَوْق نَشْرَبَن وَأُخْرَى ْ مَوْت ِى وَقـَتْلِي ُ مِن ُ أَخَاف ِوَلَسْت ِ الِْهَاد ِ ف َ مَوْت كَان مَا ٍإِذَا حَيَاة َ عَلَى َ الَْبِيْب ِوَاٰثـَرْن ِ بِلْعَتَاد لِلشَّهَادَة وَقُمْنَا ٍ بِتَقْوَى ِ مَوْت ُ ف ِوَم َا الُْسْرَان ِ الْفَسَاد ِ سُبُل ِ ف ُ الْمَرْء ٍوَخُسْر َ ذُكَآء ُ إِل ْ خَرَجَت ِّ قَد وَإِن ْ فـُؤَادِي ٍ مِن ُْ نُور ْ عَي فـَفَارَت َّ مَعنَا َّ الِْب إِن ِّٰ ِ الل ِبَِمْد بِلْكَسَاد مَتَاعِي يـَرْمِي ٍوَمَا ِ بِلُطْف ِ بَِضْرَتِه ِوَيُدْنِيْن َ الِتَِّاد ِ مُدَام وَيَسْقِين

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 43 At all times, my Beloved exalts me, draws me close, and grants my desire.How can I be aggrieved by the curses of imprecators, When my truth will soon be proclaimed throughout the world? We have drunk a goblet in the ravines, And another we shall drink in the high plateau.I fear not my death nor my murder, Since my death would have been expended in the course of Jihad.We have cherished the Beloved over life itself; And we stand ready for martyrdom with open arms.What is to be lamented in a pious death? The loss is in taking the road to perdition.Indeed, I came out into the sun, And a fountain of light sprang forth from my heart.By the grace of Allah, verily, the Beloved is with us; He does not cause my goods to be unsaleable.He gently draws me close to His Presence, And makes me drink the wine of Unity.

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44 ِ ِ دِين َ الْفُرْقَان َّ هِدَايَة ِوَإِن ِ السَّدَاد َ نـَهْج ْ إِل كُم وَأَدْعُو ِ طَوْعًا ْ شِئْت َ كَالَْحْبَاب ْ إِن فـَقُم ٍوَإِمَّا شِئْت َ فَاجْلِس ْ ف ِ الَْعَادِي ِ حَرْب ُّ بِعَزْم ْ بَر َى الْعَدُو ِ وَقَد بَدَاد قـَوْمِي فـَيَا وَبَرَزْنَ، ِِّٰ فـَرْضِي لل ً َ نَصِيحَة َكَان و ِ بِلْوَدَاد ُ فـَرْضِي ْ بـَلَّغْت فـَقَد ِ أَيـُّهَا الَْخ ُ الْعَزِيزُ! مَا جِئْت ُ كَطَارِق ِ لَيْلٍ، أَو ْ غُثَآء ِ سَيْلٍ، ِ إِن ْ جِئْت ُ إِل َّ ف ِ وَقْت ِ الضَّرُورَة ِ وَعَل َى رَأْس ِ الْمِائَة ِ، وَجَعَلَن ْ الل ُّٰ لَِذِه ِ الْمِائَة ِ مَُدِّد ًا لُِجَدِّد َ الدِّين َ، وَقَد ْ جَآء َ ف ِ الَْخْبَار َّٰ الصَّحِيحَة ِ أَن َّ الل َّٰ يـَبـْعَث ُ لَِذِه ِ الُْمَّة ِ عَلَى رَأْس ِ كُل ِّ مِائَة ٍ مَن يَُدِّد ُ دِينـَهَا، فـَتَحَسَّس ْ مِن ْ مَُدِّد ِ هَذِه ِ الْمِائَة ِ وَتـَفَكَّر ْ فَإِن َّ الل َِّ يـُؤَيِّد ُ الْمُتـَفَكِّرِينَ.وَقَد ْ جَآء َ ف ِ أَخْبَار ٍ أُخْرَى أَن َّ رَسُول َ الل ِّٰ ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص لَمَّا تـُوُف

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 45 Truly, the guidance of the Furq a n is my creed, And I invite you to the right path.Arise, therefore, if you please, like an obedient lover; If not, then sit among the enemy.The enemy competes with me, determined to wage war; I have repulsed the attacks; therefore—O my people—come to the duel! My duty was to give you this sincere admonition for the sake of Allah; Thus, I have discharged my obligation with love! O distinguished brother! I have not come like an unexpected visitor during the hours of the night, nor like the sudden waters of a flood; rather, I have come only during the time of dire neces- sity and at the beginning of the century.Allah has made me a Mujaddid [Reformer] for this century to revitalise the religion.In the authentic narrations it is related: ‘Verily, Allah will raise up for this ummah, at the beginning of each century, a person who will revitalise their religion.’ Therefore, search for him, [inquiring] who is the Mujaddid of this century? So reflect, for verily Allah supports those who reflect.In other narrations it is related: ‘When the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, died, the earth

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46 ِ ٰ صَحَت ِ الَْرْض ُ فـَقَالَتْ: ي َ رَب ِّ بَقِيْت ُ خَالِيَة ً إِل َ يـَوْم ِ الْقِيَامَة مِن ْ أَقْدَام ِ الَْنْبِيَآء ِ صَلَة ُ الل ِّٰ عَلَيْهِم ْ أَجَْعِنيَ.فَأَوْحَى الل ُّٰ تـَعَال َ إِلَيـْهَا وَقَالَ: إِن ِّ أَخْلُق ُ عَلَيْك ِ أُنَسًا قـُلُوبـُهُم ْ كَقُلُوب ِ الَْنْبِيَآءِ، ُ مِنـْهُم ُ الَْقْطَابُ، وَمِنـْهُم ُ الَْبْدَالُ، وَمِنـْهُم ُ الْغَوْثُ، وَمِنـْهُم ْ دُون َكُل ٌّ مِن َ الْمُكَلَّمِني َ الْمُلْهَمِنيَ، وَمِنـْهُم ْ مَن ْ يَكُون ُ قـَلْبُه ِ ذَلِكَ، و كَقَلْب ِ نُوح ٍ وَإِبـْرَاهِيم َ وَمُوسَى، وَمِنـْهُم ُ الَّذِي كَان َ قـَلْبُه ُ كَقَلْب َ عِيسَى، وَيَِيئُون َ عَلَى أَقْدَام ِ النَّبِيِّنيَ.ٌ فَانْظُر ْ، ي َ أَخ ِي، آثَر َ رَحَْة ِ الل ِّٰ كَيْف َ أَكْرَم َ هَذِه ِ الُْمَّة َْ.وَإِن ْ تـَعْجَب ْ فـَعَجَب ني ِِ ِ وَجَعْلَهُم ْ بَِنْبِيَآء ِ بَن ِ إِسْرَائِيل َ مُشَاب َ قـَوْل ُ الَّذِين َ يـَقُولُونَ: كَيْف َ جَآء َ مَثِيل ُ الْمَسِيحِ، وَإِن ْ هَذِه إِل َّ كَلِمَة ُ الْكُفْر ِ؟ وَل َ يـَنْظُرُون َ إِل َ م َا قَال َ الل ُّٰ وَرَسُولُه ُ، وَل َ يـَتـَفَكَّرُون َ ف ِ الْٰيَت ِ وَالْثَر ِ وَيَعِيشُون َ كَالنَّائِمِنيَ.كَيْف َ بَشَّر ِْه ِ مِن َ الصِّحَاحِ، ري ْ ي َ أَخِي، اُنْظُر ْ ف ِ الْبُخَارِي ِّ وَغَ نَبِيـُّنَا وَرَسُولُنَا ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص وَقَالَ: إِنَّه ُ سَيَكُون ُ ف ِ أُمَّتِه ِ قـَوْم ٌ يُكَلَّمُون َ مِن ِْ أَن ْ يَكُونُوا أَنْبِيَآء َ وَيُسَمَّون َ مُْدَّثِنيَ.وَقَال َ الل ُّٰ جَل َّ شَأْنُهُ: ري َ غ

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 47 cried out: “O Lord, I have become bereft of the footsteps of the Prophets, may peace and blessings be on all of them till the Day of Judgement!” Thereupon, Allah revealed to it: “Verily I will create upon you persons whose hearts will be like those of the Prophets; among them will be Aq ta b and Abd a l, and among them will be the Ghauth, 1 and among them are those that are otherwise.Each one will be a recipient of verbal revelation and inspiration.Among them will be one whose heart is like that of Noah, Abraham, and Moses.Also, among them will be he whose heart is like Jesus; and they will tread the footsteps of the Prophets”.’ Observe, O my brother, evidence of the mercy of Allah, how He has honoured this ummah and has made them analogous to the Prophets of Israel.If this astonishes you, equally astonish- ing is the statement of those who say: ‘How can a likeness of the Messiah come?’ This is nothing but a statement of disbelief.They do not reflect upon what Allah and His Messenger have said, nor do they deliberate upon the verses and traditions—passing their lives in indolence.O my brother! Observe in al-Bukh a r i and other authentic books of Hadith how our Prophet and Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, gave us glad tidings and said that there would be within his ummah a people who, despite not being Prophets, Allah would speak to.They would be called Mu h addath i n [recipients of divine revelation].Allah, Glorified is He, says: 1.Ghauth (saint), qu t b (spiritual guiding stars), and abd a l (saints, sub- stitutes, i.e.vicegerents appointed for carrying out the will of God Almighty) are various designations used for Auliy a ’ull a h —i.e.the Friends of God.[Publisher]

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48 1 خِرِينَ﴾ ل َوَّلِني َ * وَثـُلَّة ٌ مِّن َ ا ل ﴿ثـُلَّة ٌ مِّن َ ا وَحَث َّ عِبَادَه ُ عَلَى دُعَآءِ: 2 َ ﴿اهْدِن َ الصِّرَاط َ الْمُسْتَقِيم َ * صِرَاط َ الَّذِين َ أَنـْعَمْت َ عَلَيْهِمْ﴾ ْ فَمَا مَعْن َ الدُّعَآء ِ لَو ْ كُنَّا مِن َ الْمَحْرُومِنيَ؟ وَأَنْت َ تـَعْلَم ُ أَن َّ الَّذِين ٍ أَنـْعَم َ الل ُّٰ عَلَيْهِم ْ أَوَّل ً هُم ُ الَْنْبِيَآء ُ وَالرُّسُلُ، وَمَا كَان َ الِْنـْعَام ُ مِن َكَات قِسْم ِ دِرْهَم ٍ وَدِينَارٍ، بَل ْ مِن ْ قِسْم ِ عُلُوم ٍ وَمَعَارِفَ، وَنـُزُول ِ بـَر ٓ وَأَنـْوَارٍ، كَمَا تـَقَرَّر َ عِنْد َ الْعَارِفِنيَ.ِ وَإِذ َا أُمِرْن َ بَِذِه ِ الدُّعَآء ِ ف ِ كُل ِّ صَلَة ٍ فَم َا أَمَرَن َ رَبـُّنَا َ إِل َّ لِيُسْتَجَاب َ دُعَاؤُنَ، وَنـُعْطَى مَا أُعْطِي َ مِن ْ الِْنـْعَامَات َ لِلْمُرْسَلِني َ.وَقَد ْ بَشَّرَن َ - عَز َّ اِسُْه ُ - بِعَطَآء ِ إِنـْعَامَات ٍ أَنـْعَم ْ عَلَى الَْنْبِيَآء ِ وَالرُّسُل ِ مِن ْ قـَبْلِنَا وَجَعَلَنَا لَُم ْ وَارِثِنيَ.فَكَيْف ُْكِن ُ أَن مي َ َكَيْف َْ؟ و ني ِ نَكْفُر ُ بَِذِه ِ الِْنـْعَامَات ِ وَنَكُون ُ كَقَوْم ٍ عَم ْكِيدِهَا وَيَْعَلَنَا مِن َ الْمُخَيَّبِنيَ؟ ُ يُْلِف َ الل ُّٰ مَوَاعِيدَه ُ بـَعْد َ تـَو َْ عَلَيْهِم ْ هُم ُ الَْنْبِيَآء ني ِ أَنْت َ تـَعْلَم ُ ي َ أَخِي أَن َّ سُرَاة َ الْمُنـْعَم الواقعة: 40–41.1 الفاتحة: 6–7.2

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 49 1 َو ٌةَّلُث َنِّم َنْيِرِخٰاْلا۰۰ ٌةَّلُث َنِّم َنْيِلَّوَاْلا۰۰ And He enjoins His servants to pray: 2 اَنِدْهِا َطاَرِّصلا َمْيِقَتْسُمْلا۰۰ َطاَرِص َنْيِذَّلا َتْمَعْنَا ْمِهْيَلَع۰۰ So, what is the meaning of this prayer if we are meant to be among those who have been excluded [from these blessings]? And you know that the foremost of those upon whom Allah has bestowed blessings are the Prophets and the Messengers.The blessing is not dirhams or dinars, but knowledge, gnosis, and the descent of grace and light, as is well established among the wise.Moreover, if we have been commanded to recite this prayer in every S al a h [obligatory Prayer], then our Lord has only com- manded us so that our prayers may be answered and that we might be bestowed those blessings that He bestowed upon the Messengers.He has given us the glad tidings—Exalted be His name—that we have been made the heirs of those blessings that were bestowed upon the Prophets and Messengers before us.How, then, can we deny these blessings and become like blind people? How can it be possible for Allah to leave us disappointed by failing to fulfil His promises after having assured us? O my brother, you know that the best among those upon 1.A large party from among the early Muslims, and a large party from the later ones ( S u rah al-W a qi‘ah, 56:40–41).[Publisher] 2.Guide us in the right path—the path of those on whom You have be- stowed Your blessings ( S u rah al-F a ti h ah, 1:6–7).[Publisher]

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50 ِ ُّٰ وَالرُّسُلُ، وَقَد ْ بَشَّرَن َ الل ُّٰ بِعَطَآء ِ هُدَاهُم ْ وَبَصِريَتِِم ُ الْكَامِلَة ِ الَّت ِّٰ ل َ تَْصُل ُ إِل َّ بـَعْد َ مُكَالَمَة ِ الل ِّٰ تـَعَال ٰ أَو ْ رُؤْيَة ِ اٰيَتِهِ.عَفَا الل عَنْكَ! كَيْف َ زَعَمْت َ أَن َّ أَوْلِيَآء َ الل ِّٰ مَْرُومُون َ مِن ْ مُكَالَمَة ِ الل ِ وَمَُاطَبَاتِه ِ وَلَيْسُوا مِن َ الْمُكَلَّمِنيَ؟ َ ي َ أَخِي أَنْت َ تـَعْلَم ُ أَنَّ كُتُب َ الْقَوْم ِ مَْلُوَّة ٌ مِن ْ ذِكْر ِ مُكَالَمَات ُ الل ِّٰ بَِوْلِيَائِهِ، وَمَُاطَبَات ِ حَضْرَة ِ الَْق ِّ بِعِبَادِه ِ الْمُقَرَّبِنيَ، وَهُو ُ الَّذ ِي يـُلْق ِي الرُّوح َ عَل َى مَن ْ يَشَآء ُ مِن ْ عِبَادِه ِ وَيَزِيد ي ِ الْكَر ’’ ِ فـُتُوح ِ الْغَيْب ‘‘ ِ َ مَن ْ يَشَآء ُ ف ِ الِْميَان ِ وَالْيَقِني ِ.أَم َا قـَرَأْت َ ف كَيْف َ ذَكَر  ِّ ٍ الَّذِي لِسَيِّدِي الشَّيْخ ِ عَبْد ِ الْقَادِر الِْيلَن ْ حَقِيقَة َ الْمُكَالَمَاتِ؟ وَقَالَ: إِن َّ الل َّٰ تـَعَال ٰ يُكَلِّم ُ أَوْلِيَآءَه ُ بِكَلَم ِ بَلِيغ ٍ لَذِيذٍ، وَيـُنْبِئـُهُم ْ مِن ْ أَسْرَارٍ، وَيُْبُِهُم ْ مِن ْ أَخْبَارٍ، وَيـُعْطِيهِم ِ عِلْم َ الَْنْبِيَآءِ، وَنُور َ الَْنْبِيَآءِ، وَبَصِريَة َ الَْنْبِيَآءِ، وَمُعْجِزَات َ الَْنْبِيَآءِ، وَلَكِن ْ وِرَاثَة ً ل َ أَصَالَةً، وَيَْعَلُهُم ْ مُتَصَرِّفِني َ ف ِ الَْرْض وَالسَّمَاوَات ِ وَف ِ جَِيع ِ مَلَكُوت ِ الل ِّٰ.فَانْظُر ْ إِل َ مَرَاتِبِهِم ْ وَل تـَتـَعَجَّبْ، فَإِن َّ الل َّٰ فـَيَّاض ٌ يـُعْطِي عِبَادَه ُ مَا يَشَآء ُ وَلَيْس َ بِضَنِنيٍ.

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 51 whom blessings have been bestowed are the Prophets and Messengers.Allah has given us glad tidings of the bestowal of their guidance and their perfect perspicacity, which is unattain- able except after verbal communication with Allah the Exalted or witnessing His Signs.May Allah forgive you.How can it be alleged that the Auliy a ’ [Friends] of Allah are debarred from verbal communication with Him, His conversation, and are not among those addressed by Him? O my brother, you are aware that our peoples’ books are full of accounts of the conversations between Allah and His Auliy a ’, as well as communication between the True [God] and His close servants.He is the Generous One who causes His word to descend by His command upon whomsoever of His servants He pleases, and strengthens thereby whomsoever He pleases in faith and certainty.Have you not read in the book Fut uh al-Ghaib [Revelations of the Unseen], composed by my master Sheikh Abdul Qadir al-Jilani ra, how he mentions the true nature of verbal communication? He states: Verily, Allah speaks to His Auliy a ’ in the most eloquent and delightful manner, reveals unto them secrets, and informs them of future events.He bestows upon them the knowledge of Prophets, their light, their insight, and their miracles, but as a heritage and not as the owner.He makes them His representatives in the earth and the heavens and in the entire kingdom of God.Observe, therefore, their status and do not be surprised; for, surely, Allah is overflowing with munificence, which He bestows upon His servants as He pleases—and He is not miserly.

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52 َ وَالل ُّٰ قَص َّ عَلَيـْنَا قَصَص َ الْمُلْهَمِني َ ف ِ كِتَابِه ِ الْعَزِيزِ، وَأَنـْبَأَن َكَلَّم َ الَْوَارِيِّنيَ.و ،ِْ ني َكَلَّم َ ذَا الْقَرْنـَ ِ أَنَّه ُ كَلَّم َ أُم َّ مُوسَى ، و َ وَم َا كَان َ أَحَد ٌ مِنـْهُم ْ نَبِي ًّا وَل َ رَسُول ً، وَلَكِن ْ كَان ُوا مِن ْ عِبَادِه الْمَحْبُوبِني َ.أَلَيْس َ مِن ْ أَعْجَب ِ الْعَجَائِب َ أَن ْ يُكَلِّم َ الل ُّٰ نِسَآء بَن ِ إِسْرَائِيل َ وَيـُعْطِي لَُن َّ عِزَّة َ مُكَالَمَاتِه ِ وَشَرَف َ مَُاطَبَاتِهِ، وَمَا ِْ الْمُرْسَلِنيَ؟ ري َ يـُعْطِي لِرِجَال ِ هَذِه ِ الُْمَّة ِ نَصِيبًا مِنـْهَا وَهِي َ أُمَّة ُ خ وَقَد ْ سََّاهَا خَيـْر َ الُْمَمِ، وَخَتَم َ بَِا الُْمَم َ كُلَّهَا، وَقَالَ: 1 خِرِينَ﴾، ل ا َ مِّن ٌ ثـُلَّة ﴿ 2 َ يـَعْن ِ فِيهَا كَثِري ٌ مِن َ الْمُكَمَّلَت ِ وَالْمُكَمَّلِنيَ.وَأَنْت َ تـَرَى ي َ أَخِي - عَافَاك َ الل ُّٰ ف ِ الدَّارَيْن ِ - كَيْف ْ اشْتَدَّت ِ الَْاجَة ُ ف ِ هَذِه ِ الَْيَّم ِ إِل َ ظُهُور ِ مَُدِّد ٍ يـُؤَيِّد ُ الدِّينَ، ْ وَيُقِيم ُ الْبـَرَاهِنيَ، وَيـَرْجُم ُ الشَّيَاطِنيَ.أَل َ تـَرَى أَن َّ الضَّلَلَة َ قَد َكَم ْ مِن ْ أُمَم ٍ تـَبَّت غَلَبَتْ، وَغَارَات ِ الْكَافِرِين َ عَمَّت ْ وَأَحَاطَتْ، و وَهَلَكَتْ؟ أَل َ تـَنْظُر ْ هَذِه ِ الْمَفَاسِدَ؟ أَلَسْت َ مِن َ الْمُتَأَلِّمِني َ عَلَى مَصَائِب ِ الِْسْلَمِ؟ أَل َ تَْتِك َ أَخْبَارُهَا أَو ْ أَنْت َ مِن َ الْغَافِلِنيَ؟ أَمَا الواقعة: 41.1 صل وربما حصل هنا سهو من الناسخ، والصحيح: المكلَّمات والمكلَّمين.ل هكذا ورد في ا.2 (الناشر)

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 53 Allah has narrated to us the accounts of those who were the recipients of revelation in His magnificent Book.He has informed us that He spoke to the mother of Moses, peace be on him; Dhul- Qarnain; and the Disciples [of Jesus]—none of whom were a Prophet or Messenger, but they were among His beloved servants.Is it not a source of great wonder that Allah spoke to the women of the Children of Israel, bestowing upon them the privilege of speaking with Him and the honour of conversing with Him, but He did not bestow upon men of this ummah a share thereof, despite it being the ummah of the Best of Messengers? And [despite] naming it Khairul-Umam [the Best of Communities], sealing thereby all communities, and saying: 1 ٌةَّلُث َنِّم َنْيِرِخٰاْلا۰۰ Meaning that: Among them will be many male and female recip- ients of revelation.O my brother—may Allah grant you forgiveness in both abodes—you are a witness to the increasing need for the advent of a Mujaddid in the current age, who should strengthen the true religion, establish arguments, and stone satanic forces.Do you not see that aberrance has prevailed? Do you not see that the attacks of the disbelievers have engulfed and encompassed us? How many communities have been doomed to perdition and perished? Do you not see these evils? Are you not among those who are sorely distressed by the misfortune that has befallen Islam? Have you not heard this 1.S u rah al-W a qi‘ah, 56:40–41, [Publisher]

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54 ِ ِ تَكَاثـَرَت ْ فِت َُ الْكُفَّارِ؟ أَمَا جَآء َ وَقْت ُ ظُهُور ِ الْثَرِ؟ أَمَا عَمَّت ِ الْفِت َُ ف ِ الْبـَرَارِي وَالْبِلَد ِ وَالدِّيَرِ؟ أَمَا جَآء َ وَقْت ُ رَحَْة ِ أَرْحَم الرَّاحِِنيَ؟ أَمَا عَن َّ لَنَا ف ِ زَمَنِنَا هَذَا قِبَل ُ الذِّيَبِ، ف ِ لَيـْلَة ٍ فَتِيَّة الشَّبَابِ، غُدَافِيَّة ِ الِْهَابِ، وَصِرْن َ كَالْمَحْصُورِينَ؟ ُ اُنْظُر ْ ي َ أَخِي كَيْف َ أَحَاط َ بِلنَّاس ِ ظَلَم ٌ وَظُلْم ٌ وَمَظْلَمَةٌ، َ وَخُوِّفـْنَا مِن ْ كُل ِّ طَرَف ٍ بَِنـْوَاع ِ النـُّبَاحِ، وَارْتـَفَعَت ِ الَْصْوَات بِلَْرْنَن ِ وَالنِّيَاحِ، وَضُرِبَت ْ عَلَيـْنَا الْمَسْكَنَة ُ بِلِكْتِسَاحِ، وَصَال الْكُفَّار ُ كَالَْني ِ الْمُجْتَاحِ، وَعَفَت ْ آثَر ُ التـَّقْوَى وَالصَّلَحِ، َكَسَّرَتـْهَا ِ وَصُبَّت ْ عَلَيـْنَا مَصَائِب ُ لَو ْ صُبَّت ْ عَلَى الِْبَال ِ لَدَكَّتـْهَا و َكَذِب ً وَزُورًا وَمِن َ الَْفـْعَال ْكًا و كَالرِّدَاحِ، وَامْتَلََت ِ الَْرْض ُ شِر ِ الْقِبَاحِ، وَتـَرَآءَت ْ صُفُوف ُ الطَّالِِنيَ.َكُنْت ُ أَبْك ِي بُكَآء َ الْمَاخِض ِ عَل َى ضَعْف ِ الِْسْلَم ِ ف و ُ تِلْك َ الَْيَّمِ، وَأَرَى مَسَالِك َ الُْلْكِ، وَأَنْظُر ُ إِل َ عَوْن ِ الل ِّٰ الْعَلَّمِ، ُ فَإِذَا الْعِنَايَة ُ تـَرَآءَت ْ وَهَبَّت ْ نَسِيم ُ أَلْطَاف ِ الل ِّٰ الْقَسَّامِ، وَبُشِّرْت كَمَا تـُبَشَّر ُ الَْامِل كَأْس ِ الْمُدَامِ، ْ بَِعْلَى مَرَاتِب ِ الِْلَْامِ، وَأَصْفَى عِنْد َ مََاضِه َا بِلْغُلَم ِ، فَصِرْت ُ مِن َ الْمَسْرُورِين َ.فَأُمِرْت ُ أَن َكَان َ عَلَى الل ِّٰ ثِقَتِ، فَكَفَّرُوْن ِ وَلَعَنـُوْا ِْي عَلَى رِفـْقَتِ، و ري أُفـَرِّق َ خَ

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 55 news, or are you among the indolent? Has the mischief of the disbelievers not intensified? Has the time not come for the ful- filment of the [prophetic] narrations? Has disorder not become widespread throughout villages, countries, and continents? Has the time not come for the mercy of the Most Merciful One? Has the might of the wicked not become manifest in this time of darkness, leaving us beleaguered? Observe, O brother of mine, how mankind has become enveloped by darkness, injustice, and oppression.We are fright- ened on all sides by a clamour of sharp sounds and voices wail- ing and lamenting all around us.We have been afflicted by wretchedness.The disbelievers’ assault has been like a sweeping destruction, obliterating all traces of godliness and righteous- ness.Such calamities have befallen us that would make the mountains crumble.The earth has become filled with polythe- ism, falsehood, lies, and repulsive deeds.The ranks of the wicked appear as far as the eye can see.On observing the weakness of Islam during these times, I shed tears of agony like a woman in labour.I could see the paths leading to destruction and I waited for the help of Allah, the Omniscient, to arrive.It was at this time that Divine providence was manifested for me and I felt the breeze of the Provider’s grace.I was given glad tidings through revelations of the high- est degree, like the glad tidings of a son given to an expectant mother.At this I rejoiced and became delighted, following which I was commanded to distribute these blessings to my associates, placing my complete trust in Allah alone.However, they accused me of disbelief, cursed me, abused me, hurt me,

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56 َ وَسَبـُّوْا وَأَضْرَوا ب َِ الُْطُوب َ وَأَلَّبـُوْا، وَأُوْذِيْت ُ مِن ْ أَلْسِنَة ِ الْقَاطِنِني وَالْمُتـَغَرِّبِنيَ.وَرَأَيْت ُ أَكْثـَر َ الْعُلَمَآء ِ أُسَارَى ف ِ أَيْدِي أَنـْفُسِهِم ْ وَأَهْوَائِهِمْ، ِ وَرَأَيـْتـُهُمْ كَغُلَم ٍ عَلَيْه ِ سََلٌ، وَف ِ مِشْيِه ِ قـَزَلٌ، وَف ِ آذَانِه ِ وَقـْرٌ، وَعَلَى عَيْنِه ِ غِشَاوَةٌ، وَف ِ قـَلْبِه ِ مَرَضٌ، وَهُو َ كَل ٌّ عَلَى مَوْلَهُ، وَلَيْس َ فِيه َ خَيـْر ٌ يَسُر ُّ الْمُشْتَِينَ.يُظْهِرُون َ عَلَى الِْخْوَان ِ شَبَآءَة َ اعْتِدَائِهِمْ، َ وَيـَنْسَوْن َ صَوْلَة َ أَعْدَائِهِمْ، وَأَرَى قـُلُوبـَهُم ْ مَائِلَة ً إِل َ الصِّلَت ِ ل ِسْتِهْدَآء ِ ل َ لِلِْسْتِهْدَآءِ، وَيـُؤْثِرُون ل ْ إِل َ الصَّلَةِ، وَيَسْتـَعْجِلُون َ لِ ثـَوْب َ الُْيَلَء ِ عَلَى ثـَوَاب ِ مُوَاسَاة ِ الَْخِلَّءِ، وَيَْبِرُوْن َ إِخْوَانـَهُم كَالْعَقَارِبِ، وَلَو ْ كَانُوا مِن َ الَْقَارِبِ، ل َ يََافُون َ رَب َّ الَْرْبَبِ، ْ وَل َ يـَتـَّقُونَه ُ ف ِ أَسَالِيب ِ الِكْتِسَابِ، وَيَسْعَوْن َ إِل َ بَب ِ الُْمَرَآءِ، وَيـَنْسَوْن َ حَضْرَة َ الْكِبِْيَءِ، ث َُّ يُكَفِّرُون َ إِخْوَانـَهُم ْ وَيَْسَبُون َ أَنـَّهُم َ مِن َ الْمُحْسِنِنيَ.ُّٰ وَالَّذِين َ يـُؤْثِرُون َ الل َّٰ عَل َى نـُفُوسِهِم ْ وَأَعْرَاضِهِم ْ وَأَمْوَالِِم ْ ل ُ يَضُرُّهُم ْ إِكْفَار ُ الْمُكَفِّرِين َ وَل َ تَكْذِيب ُ الْمُكَذِّبِني َ.أَلَيْس َ الل بِكَاف ٍ عَبْدَه ُ؟ وَمَن ْ يُصَاف ِ مِثـْلَه ُ بَلْمُصَافِني َ؟ سَبـَقَت ْ رَحَْتُه ْ حَسَنَات ِ الْعَامِلِنيَ، وَل َ يُضِيع ُ فَضْلُه ُ سَعْي َ الْمُجَاهِدِينَ.أَيـُّهَا الَْخ ُ الْمُكَرَّمُ! اُرْفُق ْ فَإِن َّ الرِّفْق َ رَأْس ُ الَْيـْرَاتِ، وَمِن

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 57 and turned people against me.I have been maligned both at home and abroad.I have observed that most Muslim scholars are enslaved by their own evil inclinations.I perceive them to be like a bonds- man in tattered clothes, limping in his gait, with deafness in his ears, a covering over his eyes, and a disease in his heart—both a burden for his master and with no redeeming features so that he may be sold.They direct their venom towards their own brethren, for- getting the attacks of their enemies.I see that their hearts are inclined towards gifts, not prayer.They hasten to request endow- ments, not guidance.They prefer the raiment of conceit rather than the raiment of comfort as between bosom friends.They strike their brethren like scorpions, even if they are their own relatives.They neither fear the Lord of lords nor show regard for Him in the way in which they earn their livelihood.They hasten to the gates of rulers, forgetting the Majestic Presence.Despite all this, they accuse their brethren of disbelief and regard themselves as benefactors! But accusations of disbelief and falsehood cannot harm those who prefer Allah more than their own souls, their own honour, and their own wealth.Is not Allah sufficient for His servant? Who is comparable to Him in love and sincerity towards those who love Him? His beneficence far surpasses what is due to those who do good, and He does not withhold His grace from those who strive in His cause.O honoured brother! Be kind, for verily, kindness is the

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58 ْ َ عَلَمَات ِ الصَّالِِني َ.وَعَلَيْك َ أَن ْ تـَعْرِض َ عَلَي َّ شُبـُهَاتِك َ لِكَي ْ أُعْطِيَك َ مَا فَاتَكَ، وَسَتَجِدُن ِ إِن ْ شَآء َ الل ُّٰ صَدِيقًا صَادِقًا وَرَفِيق ِ الطَّرِيق ِ كَالَْادِمِنيَ.وَقَد ْ أَعْطَان َِ الل ُّٰ مِن ْ لَدُنْه ُ قـُوَّة ً فَأَدْرَأ ُ بَِا عَن َّ قـُلُوب ِ النَّاس ِ شُبـْهَة ً، وَفـَتَح َ عَلَي َّ أَبـْوَاب َ تـَعْلِيم ِ الَْلْق ِ وَإِتَْام ِّٰ الُْجَّة ِ وَإرَآءَة ِ الَْق ِّ، وَإِن ِّ مِن ْ فَضْلِه ِ لَمِن َ الْمُؤَيَّدِين َ.وَلَكِن الَّذِين َ ل َ يـَبـْتـَغُون َ الَْق َّ فـَهُم ْ ل َ يـَعْرِفُونَنِ، وَقَد ْ رَأَوْا اٰيَت ٍ مِن َ الل َكَادُوا ِّ تـَعَال ٰ ث َُّ هُم ْ مِن َ الْمُنْكِرِينَ.يَصُولُون َ وَيَسُبـُّوْن َ وَيَُمْلِقُون َ و يـَتَمَيـَّزُون َ مِن َ الْغَيْظ ِ، وَل َ يـُفَكِّرُون َ كَالْمُسْتـَرْشِدِين َ.وَوَهللا ِ إِن َ صَادِق ٌ وَلَسْت ُ مِن َ الْمُفْتَِينَ.وَوَهللا ِ إن ِّ لَسْت ُ خَاطِب َ الدُّنـْيَا الدَّنِيَّة ِ وَجِيفَتِهَا، فـَيَا حَسْرَة ً عَلَى الظَّانِّني َ ظَن َّ السَّوءِ، وَي ِ حَسْرَة ً عَلَى الْمُسْرِفِنيَ! إِنََّا مَثَلِي كَمَثَل ِ رَجُل ٍ اٰثـَر َ حِبًّا عَلَى كُل ِّ شَيْءٍ، وَتـَبـَتَّل َ إِلَيْه ِ وَسَعَى ف ِ مَيَادِين ِ الِْقْتَِابِ، وَاقـْتـَعَد َ لِلِقَائِه ِ غَارِب َ الِغْتَِابِ، َ وَتـَرَك َ تـُرَاب َ الْوَطَن ِ وَصُحْبَة َ الَْتـْرَاب ِ، وَقَصَد َ مَدِينَة َ حَبِيبِه َ وَذَهَب َ، وَتـَرَك َ لِِبِّه ِ الْبـَيْت َ وَالْفِضَّة َ وَالذَّهَب َ، وَتـَرَك َ النـَّفْس ِّ لِمَحْبُوبِه ِ حَت ّٰ صَار َ كَالْفَانِنيَ.وَبِعِزَّة ِ الل ِّٰ وَجَلَلِه ِ إِن ِّ اٰثـَرْت ُ وَجْه رَب ِّ عَلَى كُل ِّ وَجْه ٍ، وَبَبَه ُ عَلَى كُل ِّ بَب ٍ، وَرِضَآءَه ُ عَلَى كُل

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 59 foundation of goodness and one of the signs of the righteous.You should present to me your misgivings in order that I might give you that which has evaded you and is lost to you.You will find me—God willing—a sincere friend and a good companion along the path of the servants [of God].Allah has bestowed upon me power from Himself to dispel suspicions from the hearts of people.He has opened unto me the doors of educating mankind, completing the argument, and demonstrating the truth.I am, by His grace, among those who are supported by divine help.But those who do not aspire to truth cannot recognize me.Although they perceive the Signs from Allah, they are nevertheless among the deniers.They attack, insult, glare, and are bursting with fury.They do not ponder or reflect like those in search of guidance.I swear by Allah that I am truthful and not of those who invent lies.I swear by Allah that I am not a suitor of this mundane world and its carrion.So, woe to those who entertain evil thoughts about me! Pity on those who exceed the bounds.My case is like the case of a man who has fallen in love with someone, preferring that love over everything else.Like one who has fully devoted himself to his beloved, continuously seeking their nearness, and for the sake of meeting them, he has forsaken his own homeland.Like one who has left the soil of his native land, the comradeship of his friends and proceeded to the city of his beloved.Like one who has abandoned his house, silver, and gold for the sake of his beloved.Like one who has lost him- self for the sake of his beloved to the extent that he has become annihilated.

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60 رِضَآءٍ.وَبِعِزَّتِه ِ إِنَّه ُ مَعِي ف ِ كُل ِّ وَقْتِ، وَأَن َ مَعَه ُ ف ِ كُل ِّ حِنيٍ.ِ وَاٰثـَرَت ُ دَوْلَة َ الدِّين ِ وَهِي َ تَكْفِينِ، وَلَو ْ ل َْ يَكُن ْ حَبَّة ٌ لِتَجْهِيزِي ِغ ٌ مِن َ الَْنـْفُس ُ وَتَكْفِين ِ.وَإِن ِّ مُنـْعَم ٌ مَع َ يَد ِ الِْمْلَق ِ، وَفَار وَالْفَاقِ، وَشَغَفَن ِ رَب ِّ حُبًّا، وَأُشْرِب َ ف ِ قـَلْب ِ وَجْهُهُ، وَأَن َ مِنْه.َْ ني ِ بَِنْزِلَة ٍ ل َ يـَعْلَمُهَا أَحَد ٌ مِن َ الْعَالَم َ أَيـُّهَا الْعَزِيزُ! كَان َ بـَعْض ُ الَْسْرَار ِ ف ِ أَوَائِل ِ الزَّمَان ِ مَسْتُورًا، ِح ََّ الْقَضَآءُ، وَبَر ني َكَذَلِك َ كَان َ قَدَرًا مَقْدُورًا، ث َُّ ف ِ زَمَانِنَا تـَبـَ و َ الَْفَآءُ، وَظَهَر َ خَطَأ ُ الْعَاسِفِنيَ.َكَذَلِك َ فِعْل ُ رَبِّنَا لِيـَقُم َّ الْمُتَكَبِِّين َ مِن ْ عُلَمَآء ِ السُّوء ِ وَلِيُظْهِر ِ و َّ قُدْرَتَه ُ عَل َى رَغْم ِ أَنْف ِ الْمُتـَعَصِّبِني َ.وَإِن َّ مَثَل َ نـُزُول ِ الْمَسِيح َ كَمَثَل ِ نـُزُول ِ إِيْلِيَّا قَد ْ وَعَد َ الل ُّٰ لِنـُزُولِهِ، ث َُّ جَآء َ يَْي َ مَقَامَهُ، إِن ف ِ ذَلِك َ لَُدًى لِلْمُتـَفَكِّرِينَ.وَإِن ْ كُنْت َ ل َ تـَعَلَم ُ فَاسْأَل ِ الْيـَهُود وَالنَّصَارَى، وَقَد ْ تـَوَاتـَرَت ْ هَذِه ِ الْقِصَّة ُ عِنْدَهُم ْ وَمَا اخْتـَلَف َ فِيهَا ِ اِثـْنَانِ، فـَفَتِّش ْ وَل َ تَكُن ْ مِن َ الْمُتـَقَاعِسِنيَ.أَيـُّهَا الَْخ ُ الْعَزِيزُ! إِن َّ قِصَّة َ إِيْلِيَّا مِن َ الْمُتـَوَاتِرَات ِ الْقَطْعِيَّة َكَشَف َ الل ُّٰ تِلْك َ الَْقِيقَة َ عَل َى الْيَقِينِيَّة ِ ف ِ أَهْل ِ الْكِتَاب ِ، و

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 61 I swear by the might of Allah and His majesty that I have pre- ferred the face of my Lord over every other face, His door over every other door, and His pleasure over every other pleasure.I swear by His might that He is with me at all times and I am with Him at all times.I have chosen the wealth of religion as it is suf- ficient for me, even if I do not possess anything at all, not even to prepare my coffin.Truly, I am blessed with favours in spite of my poverty and am devoid of selfish desires and worldly aspira- tions.My Lord has filled me with an ardent passion and my heart is infused with His Countenance.I have a standing with Him of which no one in the entire world has any knowledge.O noble one! Some of the mysteries of the former times were concealed.This was in accordance with a determinate decree.Then, during our time their fulfilment has become evident, the ambiguity has been removed, and the errors of the fanatics have become manifest.Thus, my Lord acted in order to expose the haughtiness of the evil ulama and to show His power in the face of the bigots.The case of the descent of the Messiah is like the case of Elijah’s descent.Allah had promised his [Elijah’s] descent, then John came in his place.In that surely is guidance for those who reflect.If you are uninformed, then ask the Jews and Christians, as this narrative is well known among them and all of them agree to its veracity.Therefore, investigate and be not among the indolent.O revered brother! Certainly, the narrative of Elijah is one of the established truths recurring among the People of the Book, and Allah has revealed the reality of that matter to their Prophets.

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62 أَنْبِيَائِهِمْ، فَبِهُدَاهُم ُ اقـْتَدِه ْ وَل َ تَكُن ْ مِن َ الْمُبْدِعِنيَ.ث َُّ اعْلَم ْ أَنـَّنَا قَد ِ اعْتَصَمْنَا وَتََسَّكْنَا بِِثَال ٍ قَد ِ انَْلَى مِن ْ قـَبْلُ، وَل َ مِثَال َ لَكُمْ، فَأَي ُّ فَرِيق ٍ أَحَق ُّ بِلَْمْنِ؟ فَل َ تَْتَِئُوا عَلَى الْمُحْدَثَت ِ وَاسْأَلُوا.َْ ني ْ أَهْل َ الذِّكْر ِ إِنْ كُنـْتُم ْ ل َ تـَعْلَمُون َ سُنَن َ الل ِّٰ إِنْ كُنـْتُم ْ مِن َ الطَّالِبِ وَإِن َّ أَرَيـْنَاكُم ْ سَنَة َ الل ِّٰ ف ِ الَّذِين َ خَلَوْا مِن ْ قـَبْلِكُمْ، وَمَا بـَيـَّنـْتُم ْ مِن سُنَّة ٍ عَلَى دَعْوَاكُمْ، وَلَن ْ تَِدُوا لِسُنَن ِ الل ِّٰ تـَبْدِيلً، فَل َ تَُالِفُوا كَالْمُجْتَِئِنيَ.َ وَأَنـْتُم ْ تـَعْلَمُون َ أَن َّ الل َّٰ قَد ْ رَد َّ عَل َى أَقـْوَالِكُم ْ ف ِ كِتَابِه ِ، َ وَذَكَر َ مَوْت َ الْمَسِيح ِ بِلَفْظ ِ التـَّوَف ِّ كَمَا ذَكَر َ مَوْت َ نَبِيِّنَا بِذَلِك اللَّفْظِ، فَأَنـْتُم ْ تـُؤَوِّلُون َ ذَلِك َ اللَّفْظ َ ف ِ الْمَسِيحِ، وَأَمَّا ف ِ سَيِّدِن ِ فَل َ تـُؤَوِّلُونَه ُ، فَتِلْك َ إِذ ًا قِسْمَة ٌ ضِيزَى وَخِيَانَة ٌ ف ِ دِين ِ الل ِّٰ، ِ وَلَكِنَّكُم ْ ل َ تـَتـَّقُونَه ْ، وَل َ تُِيبُون َ تَدَبـُّرًا بَل ْ تَذْرِقُون َ كَطَائِر ٍ ف ٍ وَقْت ِ طَيـَرَانِه ِ وَل َ تـَنْزِلُون َ لِتَصْفِيَة ٍ، وَل َ تََافُون َ حَبْض َ قِيَاس َ الصَّادِقِنيَ.وَإِنْ كُنـْتُم ْ عَلَى حَق ٍّ مُبِني ٍ فَلِم َ ل َ تَْتُونَن ِ بِٰيَة ٍ شَاهِدَة َكَيْف َ عَلَى حَيَاة ِ الْمَسِيح ِ وَنـُزُولِه ِ وَعَلَى سُنَّة ٍ خَلَت ْ مِن ْ قـَبْلُ؟ و نـَقْبَل ُ بِدْعَاتِكُم ْ الَّت ِ تَُالِف ُ كِتَاب َ الل ِّٰ وَسُنَن َ رَسُولِه ِ وَسُنَن

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 63 Therefore, follow their guidance and do not become one of the innovators.Thus, you should understand that we have held fast and adhered to the example which has previously been made clear, but there is no such precedent in support of your argument.So which side has a greater claim to be trusted? Thus, do not ven- ture into the realm of that which has no precedent.Rather, if you are unsure of the past practice of Allah, then enquire from those who possess the Reminder, if you are truly a seeker after truth.Verily, I have shown to you the practice of Allah with reference to those who have passed away before, but you have not shown from the practice of Allah any evidence in support of your claim and you will never find any change in the practice of Allah.So, do not dispute like an insolent one.You know that Allah has rebutted your statement in His Book and has mentioned the death of the Messiah with the word توفّي [ tawaff i ], as He has mentioned the death of our Prophet with that identical word.Yet, you interpret that word in one way regard- ing the Messiah and in a different way regarding our Master.That indeed is an unfair division and treason in the religion of Allah.But, you neither fear Him nor do you reply thoughtfully; rather, you drop excrement like birds flying high, without descending to reach any understanding.You do not fear the powerful arches of the honest ones.If your position is clearly true, then why do you not produce a verse testifying to the life of the Messiah and his descent; produce a similar precedent which has operated in the past.How can we accept your innovations which contradict the Book of Allah, the practice of His Messenger, and the practice of the Truthful who

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64 َ الصَّادِقِني َ الَّذِين َ خَلَو ْا مِن ْ قـَبْل ُ؟ أَنـَقْبَل ُ قـَوْلَكُم ْ وَنَذَر ُ قـَوْل أَصْدَق ِ الْمُعَلِّمِنيَ؟ َ فَأَيـُّهَا الشَّيْخ ُ الصَّالِحُ! ل َ تُكَذِّبُوا اٰيَت ِ اللِّٰ، وَل َ تـَغْمِطُوا ْ نِعَمَه ُ بـَعْد َ نـُزُول َِا، وَل َ تـَزْدَه ُوا الْمَأْمُورِين َ.وَإن َّ الَّذِين َ يـُنـَوَّرُون ِ مِن ْ نُور ِ رَبِِّم ْ ل َ يََافُون َ أَحَدًا إِل َّ اللَّٰ، فَل َ تُسَم ِّ أَحَدًا مِنـْهُم ِ وَجِل ً وَل َ خَجِلً، وَل َ تـُبَارِز ِ الل َّٰ وَل َ تَْتَِئ ْ عَلَى رَب ِّ السَّمَاوَات ُ وَالَْرْضِ، وَل َ تـَقْف ُ ظُنُون ً ل َ تـَعْلَم ُ حَقِّيـَّتـَهَا، وَإِن َّ الظَّن َّ ل َ يـُغْن ِ مِن َ الَْق ِّ شَيـْئًا، فـَيَظْهَر َ الَْق ُّ وَتَكُون َ مِن َ الْمُتـَنَدِّمِني َ.إِن ْ أَك كَاذِب ً فـَعَلَي َّ وَبَل ُ كَذِبِ، وَإِن ْ أَك ُ صَادِقًا فَالل ُّٰ يُعِينُن ِ وَيـَنْصُرُن وَيُرِي الَْلْق َ صِدْقِي وَنُورِي، وَالل ُّٰ ل َ يُضِيع ُ عِبَادَه ُ الصَّادِقِنيَ.ْ وَقَد ْ كُفِّر َ مِثْلِي كَثِري ٌ مِن َ الَْوْلِيَآء ِ وَالَْقْطَاب ِ وَالَْئِمَّةِ، فـَبـَعْضُهُم ْ صُلِبُوا وَقُتِلُوا، وَبـَعْضُهُم ْ أُخْرِجُوا مِن ْ أَوْطَانِِم ْ وَدِيَرِهِم وَأُوذُوا، حَت ّٰ جَآءَهُم ْ نَصْر ُ اللِّٰ، فَمَا أُضِيعُوا وَمَا خُيِّبُوا، َكَة ً وَعِزَّة ً وَجَعَل َ كَثِريًا مِن ْ أَفْئِدَة ٍ تـَهْوِي إِلَيْهِم ْ، وَزَادَهُم ْ الل ُّٰ بـَر َكَذَلِك َ بَشَّرَن ِ رَب ِّ وَقَالَ: َكَاتِِم ْ إِل َ قـَرْن ٍ آخَرِينَ، و وَبـَلَّغ َ آثَر َ بـَر

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 65 have passed away? Shall we accept your statement and repudiate the statement of the most veracious teacher? O righteous sheikh! Do not deny the Signs of Allah.Do not repudiate His blessings after their descent and do not be con- temptuous towards His appointed ones.Those illumined with the light of their Lord do not fear anyone except Allah.So, do not call any of them timorous or humiliated.Do not fight with Allah nor become emboldened against the Lord of heaven and earth.Do not follow conjectures of whose true reality you are igno- rant; for, conjecture cannot stand against truth.The truth will ultimately become manifest, and then you will be among the remorseful.If I am a liar, then the penalty of my lie will be upon me, but if I am truthful, Allah will support me and demonstrate to all creation my truth and my light.Allah does not cause His truthful servants to come to naught.Like myself, many of the Auliy a ’, Aq ta b, and Imams1 had been accused of disbelief.Some of them were even crucified and slain and some of them were driven from their homelands and dwellings and persecuted until the help of Allah came to them.Thus, they did not perish, nor were they unsuccessful.Allah aug- mented them with His blessing and might.He made many hearts incline towards them and caused the effects of their blessings to reach subsequent generations.In a similar manner, my Lord gave me glad tidings and said: 1.In this context, the term refers to the Imam of the Age, the one for whose spiritual training God Almighty Himself assumes charge.[Publisher]

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66 ُ َكَة ً وَأُجَلِّي ْ أَنـْوَارهَا حَت ّٰ يـَتـَبـَرَّك َ بِثِيَابِك َ الْمُلُوك بـَر 1 َ إِن ِّْ سَأُؤْتِيْك ‘‘ ’’ َ وَالسَّلَطِنيُ.يَاتِهِ، فـَقَد ْ وَجَب َ عَلَيْه ِ أَن ْ يـُؤْمِن َ بِأَن َّ اللَّه اٰ مَن ْ كَان َ يـُؤْمِن ُ بِاللَّه ِ وَ حَاشِيَةٌ: 1 ُ يُوحِي إِلَى مَن ْ يَشَآء ُ مِن ْ عِبَادِه، رَسُولً كَان َ أَو ْ غَيـْر َ رَسُولٍ، وَيُكَلِّم ُ مَن ْ يَشَآءُ، نَبِيًّا كَان َ أَو ْ مِن َ الْمُحَدَّثِينَ.أَل َ تـَرَى أَن َّ اللَّه َ تـَعَالٰى قَد ْ أَخْبـَر َ فِي كِتَابِه ِ أَنَّه كَلَّم َ أُم َّ مُوسَى وَقَالَ: 1 َ ﴿ل َ تَخَافِي وَل َ تَحْزَنِي إِنَّا رَادُّوه ُ إِلَيْك ِ وَجَاعِلُوه ُ مِن َ الْمُرْسَلِينَ﴾.َكَلَّم َ ذَا الْقَرْنـَيْن ِ وَأَخْبـَرَنَا بِه ِ فِي كِتَابِهِ، ثُم َّ بَشَّر َكَذَلِك َ أَوْحَى إِلَى الْحَوَارِيِّين َ و و لَنَا وَقَالَ: 2 خِرِينَ﴾.ل َوَّلِين َ * وَثـُلَّة ٌ مِّن ا ل ﴿ثـُلَّة ٌ مِّن َ ا 28:8 القصص:.1 40–41 الواقعة:.2

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 67 ُ ْن ی ِ َابِك َ الْمُلُوْك ُ وَالسَّلَط ی ي ْ أَنْوَارَهَا حَتّٰى يَتَبَرَّك َ بِثِ ِّ بَرَكَة ً وَأُجَل 1 ْكَ ی ي ْ سَأُوْتِ ِّ إِن [I shall bestow My blessing on you and shall illumine its light, so much so that kings and rulers will seek blessings from your garments.] 1 Footnote: Whoever believes in Allah and His Signs should believe that Allah sends revelation unto whomsoever He pleases among His serv- ants, whether he is an apostle or not, and speaks to whomsoever He pleases, whether he is a Prophet or one of the Mu h addathīn [recipients of divine revelation].Have you not observed that Allah has informed [us] in His Book that He spoke to the mother of Moses? He said: 1 اَل ْيِفاَخَت َو اَل ْيِنَزْحَت١ۚ اَّنِا ُهْوُّدٓاَر ِكْيَلِا َو ُهْوُلِعاَج َنِم َنْيِلَسْرُمْلا۰۰ Similarly, He sent revelation to the Disciples and He spoke to Dhul- Qarnain.He has informed us of this in His Book; then, He gave us glad tidings by saying: 2 ٌةَّلُث َنِّم َنْيِلَّوَاْلا۰۰ َو ٌةَّلُث َنِّم َنْيِرِخٰاْلا۰۰ 1.‘…Fear not, nor grieve; for We shall restore him to thee, and shall make him one of the Messengers’ ( S u rah al-Qa s a s , 28:8).[Publisher] 2.‘A large party from among the earlier people.And a large party from the later ones.’ ( S u rah al-W a qi ‘ah, 56:40–41) [Publisher]

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68 كُلِّمَت ِ الُْمَم ُ مِن ْ قـَبْلُ، وَفِي هَذِه ِ الْٰيَة ِ أَشَار َ إِلَى أَن َّ هَذِه ِ الُْمَّة َ يُكَلَّم ُ كَمَا ِ َ فَمَنْ كَان َ لَه ُ صِدْق ُ رَغْبَة ٍ فِي الِتِّعَاظ ِ بِالْقُرْاٰن ِ فَل َ يـَتـَرَدَّد ُ بـَعْد َ بـَيَانِ كِتَاب ِ اللَّه وَل َ يَكُون ُ مِن َ الْمُرْتَابِينَ.وَمَن ْ لَم ْ يـُبَال ِ امْتِثَال َ أَوَامِرِه ِ وَانْتِهَآء َ نـَوَاهِيه ِ فَمَا آمَن كَان َ مِن َ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ.ٍ بِه ِ وَمَا وَقَد ِ اتـَّفَق َ الَْوْلِيَآء ُ كُلُّهُم ْ عَلَى أَن َّ لِلَّه ِ تـَعَالٰى مُخَاطَبَات ٍ وَمُكَالَمَات بِالْمُحَدَّثِينَ، كَمَا قَال َ سَيِّدِي وَحَبِيبِي الشَّيْخ ُ عَبْد ُ الْقَادِر ِ الْجِيلَنِي ُّ  تـَعْلِيمًا لِلسَّالِكِينَ.وَمِن ْ مُلَخَّصَات ِ كَلَمِه ِ أَنَّه ُ قَالَ: ’’ الْفُتُوح ‘‘ ِ ُ فِي كِتَابِه إِن َّ لَِهْل ِ اللَّه ِ عَلَمَات ٍ يـُعْرَفُون َ بِهَا، فَمِنـْهَا الْخَوَارِق ُ وَالْكُشُوفُ، وَمُكَالَمَات َكُل ُّ مَا يَجِب ُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ.َ اللَّه ِ تـَعَالٰى، وَخَوْف ُ اللَّه ِ وَخَشْيـَتُهُ، وَإِيثَارُه ُ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ، و َ وَقَالَ: إِذَا مِت َّ عَن ِ الْخَلْق ِ قِيل َ لَكَ: رَحِمَك َ اللَّه ُ وَأَمَاتَك َ عَن ْ إِرَادَتِك َ وَمُنَاكَ، وَإِذَا مِت َّ عَن ِ الِْرَادَة ِ وَمُنَاك َ قِيل َ لَكَ: رَحِمَك َ اللَّه ُ وَأَحْيَاكَ، فَكُنْت ُ مِن َ الْمَرْحُومِينَ.فَحِيـْنَئِذ ٍ تُحْيَى حَيَاة ً ل َ مَوْت َ بـَعْدَهَا، وَتـُغْنَى غِنَآء ً ل َ فـَقْر ُ بـُعْدَهُ، وَتـُعْطَى عَطَآء ً ل َ مَنْع َ بـَعْدَهُ، وَتـُرَاح ُ بِرَاحَة ٍ ل َ شَقَآء َ بـَعْدَهَا، وَتـُنـْعَم َ بِنَعِيم ٍ ل َ بـُؤْس َ بـَعْدَهُ، وَتـُعَلَّم ُ عِلْمًا ل َ جَهْل َ بـَعْدَهُ، وَتـُؤَمَّن ُ أَمْنًا ل َ تَخَاف بـَعْدَهُ، وَتُسْعَد ُ فَل َ تَشْقَى، وَتـُعَز ُّ فَل َ تُذَلُّ، وَتـُقَرَّب ُ فَل َ تـُبـْعَدُ، وَتـُرْفَع ُ فَل َ ْنَاك ی َ كَف وإِنَّا إِن ِّ مُهِني ٌ مَن ْ أَرَاد َ إِهَانـَتَكَ، ‘‘ وَقَالَ:

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 69 In this verse, He indicates that this ummah will be spoken to [by God] just as the previous ummahs were.Therefore, he who sincerely desires to seek guidance from the Quran will not remain in a state of confusion, nor will he be among those who entertain doubts once he has heard the explanation provided by the Book of Allah.However, he who does not adhere to the commandments of the Book nor refrains from its prohi- bitions is one who neither believes in it nor can he be considered to be among the believers.All Auliy a ’ are in agreement that Almighty Allah addresses and en- gages the Mu h addath i n in conversation, just as my respected and be- loved Sheikh Abdul-Q a dir al-Jilānī, may Allah be pleased with him, has stated in his book Fut uh al-Ghaib, to teach the spiritual wayfarer.Summarizing his statement, He said: The people of Allah possess Signs through which they are recognised.Of them are: preternatural phe- nomena, visions, communication with Allah, true fear and reverence for Allah and holding Him above everything else.They manifest all that which behoves the righteous.He also said: When you are dead to creation, it will be said to you, ‘May Allah have mercy on you,’ and He will put to death your will and desire, and when you are dead in your will and desire, it will be said to you, ‘May Allah have mercy on you,’ and He will restore you to [a new] life, then you will be among those who are shown mercy.At that time you will be given a life after which there is no death and you will be enriched with a wealth after which there is no poverty, you will be given a gift after which there will be no obstruction, you will be blessed with a comfort after which there will be no misery, you will be blessed with a blessing after which there will be no distress, you will be taught a knowledge after which there will be no ignorance, you will be granted security after which there is no fear, you will be made to prosper so as not to be unfortunate, you will be honoured so as not to be dishonoured, you will be brought near And He said: I shall humiliate him who designs to humiliate you.Verily, We shall suffice against those who

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70 ْ تُوضَع ُ، وَتـُعَظَّم ُ فَل َ تُحَقَّر ُ، وَتُطَهَّر ُ فَل َ تُدَنَّس ُ، وَنَجَّاك َ اللَّه ُ وَطَهَّرَك َ مِن أَدْنَاس ِ طُرُق ِ الْفَاسِقِينَ.فـَيـَتَحَقَّق ُ فِيك َ الَْمَانِيُّ، وَتَصْدُق ُ فِيك َ الَْقَاوِيلُ، فـَتَكُون ُ كِبْرِيتًا أَحْمَر فَل َ تَكَاد ُ تـُرَى، وَعَزِيزًا فَل َ تُمَاثَلُ، وَفَرِيدًا فَل َ تُشَارَكُ، وَوَحِيدًا فَل َ تُجَانَسُ، وَتَكُون ُ عِنْد َ رَبِّك َ مِن ْ أَهْل ِ السَّمَآء ِ ل َ مِن ْ أَهْل ِ الَْرْضِينَ، فـَرْد َ الْفَرْدِ، وِتـْر َ الْوِتْرِ، ِ غَيْب َ الْغَيْبِ، سِر َّ السِّرِّ، فَحِينَئِذ ٍ تَكَون ُ وَارِث َ كُل َّ رَسُول ٍ وَنَبِي ٍّ وَصِدِّيقٍ، َكَات ِ وَالْمُخَاطَبَاتِ، وَالْوَحْي كُل َّ مَا أُعْطُوْا مِن َ الَْنـْوَار ِ وَالَْسْرَارِ، وَالْبـَر َ فـَتـُعْطَى َ وَالْمُكَالَمَاتِ، وَغَيْرِهَا مِن ْ اٰيَات ِ رَب ِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ.وَبِك َ تُخْتَم الْوِلَيَةُ، وَإِلَيْك تَصْدُر ُ الَْبْدَالُ، وَبِك َ تـَنْكَشِف ُ الْكُرُوبُ، وَبِك َ تُسْقَى الْغُيُوثُ، وَبِك ِ تـَنـْبُت ُ الزُّرُوعُ، وَبِك َ تُدْفَع ُ الْبَلَيَا وَالْمِحَن ُ مِن َ الْخَاص ِّ وَالْعَام ِّ وَأَهْل ِ الثـُّغُورِ، ِ وَالرَّاعِي وَالرَّعَايَا، وَالَْئِمَّة ِ وَالُْمَّةِ، وَسَائِر ِ الْبـَرَايَا، فـَتَكُون ُ شِحْنَة َ الْبِلَد ِ وَالْعِبَاد ِ وَمِن َ الْمَأْمُورِينَ.فـَيـَنْطَلِق ُ إِلَيْك َ الَْرْجُل ُ بِالسَّعْي ِ وَالتـَّرْحَالِ، وَالَْيْدِي بِالْبَذْل ِ وَالْعَطَآء ِ وَالْخِدْمَة ِ بِإِذْن ِ خَالِق ٍ الَْشْيَآء ِ فِي سَائِر ِ الَْحْوَالِ، وَالَْلْسُن ُ بِالذِّكْر الطَّيِّب ِ وَالْحَمْد ِ وَالثـَّنَآء ِ فِي جَمِيع ِ الْمَحَالِّ، وَل َ يَخْتَلِف ُ إِلَيْك َ اِثـْنَان ِ مِن ْ أَهْل الِْيمَانِ، وَتـَهْوِي إِلَيْك َ أَفْئِدَة ٌ مِن َ الْعُلَمَآء ِ وَالُْمِّيِّينَ، وَيَدْعُوك َ لِسَان ُ الَْزَلِ، َّ ْت َ وَلكِن ی ْت َ إذ ْ رَمَ ی ْكَ، مَا رَمَ ی يَا أحْمَد ُ بَارَك َ هللا ُ فِ.َ ن ی ِ الْمُسْتَهْزِئ

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 71 [to Allah] so as not to be kept away, you will be exalted so as not to be abased, you will be honoured so as not to be humiliated, and you will be purified so as not to be defiled.Allah will deliver you and purify you from the defilements of the ways of the sinful.Then you will be the fulfilment of all hopes, and all testimonies will assume a reality in you.Then you will become the philosopher’s stone, so much so that you will be hardly recognizable.You will be exalted to a state such that there will be none like yourself, you will be unique in that you will have no equal, and you will be singular without peer.Thereupon, you will become, in the sight of your Lord, one of the inhabitants of heaven, not an inhabitant of the earth; you will become the most unique and peerless, the most hidden and the most secret.At that time, you will become heir to every Messenger, Prophet, and Truthful one.You will be granted everything that they have been given of illumination, mysteries, blessings, verbal commu- nication, revelation, discourses, and other Signs from the Lord of all the worlds.You will bear the seal of Wil a yah [Friendship with God], and the living Saints will flock towards you.Difficulties will be removed through you; through you, clouds of nourishing rain will be sent and crops will grow.Through you will be removed the afflictions of the rank and file of the people [of the country] including the inhabitants of the seashores and fron- tiers, even rulers, subjects, leaders, and followers, and all other creatures.Thus, you will become the fort of your country and people and you will be one who is commissioned.People will flock towards you from afar, their hands bearing gifts and dona- tions and rendering service in every condition by the permission of the Creator of all things.Tongues will be engaged in compli- ment and praise for you in every situation.And no two persons of the people of faith will differ with regard to you.The hearts of scholars as well as illiterates will incline towards you.The tongue of eternity will be calling you and the Lord of the universe will be mock you.Allah has placed blessing in you, O Ahmad.Whatever you did let loose, it was not you but it was Allah

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72 َ وَيـُعْلِّمُك َ رَب ُّ الْمُلْكِ، وَيَكْسُوك َ أَنـْوَارًا مِنْه ُ وَالْحُلَلَ، وَيـُنْزِلُك َ مَنَازِل َ مَن ْ سَلَف مِن ْ أُولِي الْعِلْم ِ الُْوَلِ، مِن َ الَْنْبِيَآء ِ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ.ٍ فَحِينئِذ ٍ يُضَاف ُ إِلَيْك َ التَّكْوِين ُ وَخَرْق ُ الْعَادَاتِ، فـَيـُرَى ذَلِك َ مِنْك َ فِي ْ ظَاهِر ِ الْعَقْل ِ وَالْحُكْمِ، وَهُو َ فِعْل ُ اللَّه ِ وَإِرَادَتُه ُ حَقًّا فِي الْعِلْمِ، فـَتَدْخُل ُ حِينَئِذ َكُسِرَت فِي قـَوْم ٍ مُوجَعٍ، وَفِي زُمْرَة ِ الْمُنْكَسِرِين َ الَّذِين َ انْكَسَرَت ْ قـُلُوبـُهُمْ، و ْ إِرَادَاتـُهُم ُ الْبَشَرِيَّةُ، وَأُزِيلَت ْ شَهَوَاتـُهُم ُ الطَّبِيعِيَّةُ، فَاسْتُؤنِفَت ْ لَهُم ْ إِرَادَة ٌ رَبَّانِيَّةٌ، َكَانُوا مِن ْ الْمُبَدَّلِينَ.وَيُكْشَف ُ لِلَْوْلِيَآء ِ وَالَْبْدَال ِ مِن وَشَهَوَات ٌ وَظِيفِيَّةٌ، و ِ أَفـْعَال ِ اللَّه ِ مَا يـُبْهِر ُ الْعُقُولَ، وَيَخْرِق ُ الْعَادَات ِ وَالرُّسُومَ، وَيُكَلِّمُهُم ْ اللَّه ُ تـَعَالٰى بِالْكَلَم ِ اللَّذِيذِ، وَالْحَدِيث ِ الَْنِيسِ، وَالْبِشَارَة ِ بِالْمَوَاهِب ِ الْجِسَامِ، وَالْمَنَازِل الْعَالِيَةِ، وَالْقُرْب ِ مِنْه ُ مِمَّا سَيـَؤُول ُ أَمْرُهُم ْ إِلَيْه ِ وَجَف َّ بِه ِ الْقَلَم ُ مِن ْ أَقْسَامِهِم ْ فِي سَابِق ِ الدُّهُور ِ فَضْل ً مِنْه ُ وَرَحْمَة ً وَإِثـْبَاتًا مِنْه ُ لَهُم ْ فِي الدُّنـْيَا إِلَى بـُلُوغ ِ الَْجَلِ، وَهُو َ الْوَقْت ُ الْمُقَدَّر ُ لَهُم ْ مِن ْ أَرْحَم ِ الرَّاحِمِينَ.وَقَال َ اللَّه ُ تـَعَالٰى فِي بـَعْض ِ كُتُبِهِ: يَا بْن َ اٰدَم َ أَنَا اللَّه ُ ل َ إِلَه َ إِل َّ أَنَا.ْ أَقُول ُ لِشَيْءٍ: كُنْ، فـَيَكُونُ.أَطِعْنِي أَجْعَلْك َ تـَقُول ُ لِلشَّيْءِ: كُنْ، فـَيَكُونُ.ِ قَد ْ جَعَل َ اللَّه ُ أَوْلِيَآءَه ُ أَوْتَاد َ الَْرْضِ، وَجَعْل َ الدُّنـْيَا لَهُم ْ جَنَّة َ الْمَأْوَى، فـَلَهُم جَنـَّتَانِ: الدُّنـْيَا وَالْخِرَةُ.وَهُم ْ كَالْجَبَل ِ الَّذِي رَسَا، وَتـَفَرَّدُوا فِي الصِّدْق ْنَ.ی ْل ُ الْمُجْرِمِ ی ْن َ سَبِ ی ِ هللا َ رَمَى، لِتُنْذِر َ قَومًا مَّا ۤ اُنْذِر َ اٰبَآؤُهُمْ، وَلِتَسْتَب

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 73 teaching you and will clothe you with light and [spiritual] vest- ments from Himself.He will install you to the ranks of your pre- decessors from among the first possessors of knowledge; namely, the Prophets and the Truthful.After this, you will be granted the power of creation and the ability to perform miracles.These supernatural phenomena will be observed to be proceeding from you, whereas, in fact, they will be the acts of Allah and His will.Then you will be caused to become among people who are anguished [in the love of God] and among the group of those who are fully submissive [to Him] and whose hearts have become humble—whose natural passions and carnal desires have been shattered and obliterated and in their place has been placed Divine will, such that even their daily desires and needs function under the command of God— and who have become completely transformed.Some of Allah’s workings are revealed to His Auliy a ’ [Friends] and to the Abd ā l in a way that astounds the minds and breaks normal customs and conventions.Further, Allah—Exalted is He—will speak to them pleasant words; grant them intimate conversation; bestow glad tidings of immense gifts, lofty ranks, and nearness to Himself, so that all their affairs will end up with Him; they will achieve the goal that He has already decreed for them as a favour and mercy from Himself and by way of a Sign from Himself to them in this world, and this will continue till the end of time as predetermined by the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.Allah the Exalted has said in some of His Books: O son of Adam, I am Allah; there is no other deity besides Me.I say to a thing, ‘Be’, and it comes into being! Obey Me and I will enable you to say to a thing, ‘Be’, and it will likewise come into existence! Allah has made His Auliy a ’ like pegs for the earth and has made this world for them as the Garden of Eternal Abode.Thus, they have two paradises: this world and the next.They are like moun- tains which stand firm; they are unique with respect to truth, who let it loose so that you should warn the people whose ancestors have not been warned, and that the way of the guilty ones might become manifest.Say: ‘I have been

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74 َ ُ وَالْوَفَآء ِ وَالتـَّقْوَى، فـَتـَنَح َّ عَن ْ طَرِيقِهِم ْ وَل َ تـُزَاحِم ْ يَا مِسْكِينُ.الرِّجَال َ الَّذِين ُ مَا قـَيَّدَهُم ْ أَحَد ٌ عَن ْ قَصْد ِ الْحَق ِّ مِن َ الْبَآء ِ وَالُْمَّهَات ِ وَالْبـَنَات ِ وَالْبَنِينَ، فـَهْم َكَاتُه خَيـْر ُ مَن ْ خَلَق َ رَبِّي وَبَث َّ فِي الَْرْض ِ وَذَرَأَ، فـَعَلَيْهِم ْ سَلَم ُ اللَّه ِ وَتَحِيَّاتُه ُ وَبـَر أَجْمَعِينَ.ِح َ صَدْرُك َ وَقَوِي َ نُور ُ قـَلْبِكَ، ِ أَيـُّهَا السَّالِكُ! إِذَا قَوِي َ عِلْمُك َ وَيَقِينُكَ، وَشُر َ وَزَاد َ قـُرْبُك َ مِن ْ مَوْلَك َ، وَمَكَانُك َ لَدَيْه ِ، وَأَمَانـَتُك َ عِنْدَه ُ وَأَهْلِيـَّتُك َ لِحِفْظ ُ الَْسْرَارِ، فـَعُلِّمْت َ مِن ْ لَدُنْهُ، وَيَأْتِيك َ قَسْمُك َ قـَبْل َ حَينٍ.وَتِلْك َ كَرَامَة ٌ لَك وَإِجْلَل ٌ لِحُرْمَتِكَ، فَضْل ً مِنْه ُ وَمِنَّة ً وَمَوْهِبَةً، ثُم َّ يَرِد ُ عَلَيْك َ التَّكْوِينُ، فـَتُكَوِّن ْ بِالِْذْن ِ الصَّرِيح ِ الَّذِي ل َ غُبَار َ عَلَيْهِ، وَالدَّلَلَت ِ اللَّئِحَة ِ كَالشَّمْس ِ الْمُنِيرَةِ، وَبِكَلَم ٍ لَذِيذ ٍ أَلَذ َّ مِن ْ كُل ِّ لَذِيذٍ، وَإِلْهَام ِ صِدْق ٍ مِن ْ غَيْر ِ تـَلَبُّسٍ، مُصَفًّى مِن ٍ هَوَاجِس ِ النـَّفْس ِ وَوَسَاوِس ِ الشَّيْطَان ِ اللَّعِينِ.َ تَمَّ كَلَم ُ السَّيِّد ِ الْجَلِيل ِ قُطْب ِ الْوَقْت ِ إِمَام ِ الزَّمَان ِ، وَقَدْ كَتـَبـْنَاه ُ بِتـَلْخِيص إِن ْ كُنْت َ مِن َ الْمُرْتَابِينَ.وَقَد ْ ظَهَر ’’ ِ فـُتُوح الْغَيْب ‘‘ ُ مِنَّا، فَارْجِع ْ إِلَى كِتَابِهِ: مِن ْ كَلَم ِ الِْمَام ِ الْمَوْصُوف ِ أَن َّ الْوَحْي َ كَمَا يـَنْزِل ُ عَلَى الَْنْبِيَآء ِ كَذَلِك َ يـَنْزِل عَلَى الَْوْلِيَآءِ، وَل َ فـَرْق َ فِي نـُزُول ِ الْوَحْي ِ بـَيْن َ أَن ْ يَكُون َ إِلَى نَبِي ٍّ أَو ْ وَلِيٍّ، ِجِ.وَلِكُل ٍّ حَظ ٌّ مِن ْ مُكَالَمَات ِ اللَّه ِ تـَعَالٰى وَمُخَاطَبَاتِه َ عَلَى حَسَب ِ الْمَدَار نـَعَمْ! لِوَحْي ِ الَْنْبِيَآء ِ شَأْن ٌ أَتَم ُّ وَأَكْمَلُ.وَأَقـْوَى أَقْسَام ِ الْوَحْي ِ وَحْي ُ رَسُولِنَا خَاتَم ِ النَّبِيِّينَ.ُ ْنَ، قُل ْ جَآء َ الْحَق ُّ وَزَهَق َ الْبَاطِل ی ِ قُل ْ إنِّي ْ أُمِرْت ُ و َ أَنَا أوَّل ُ الْمُؤْمِن

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 75 loyalty, and piety.O ye helpless man, step aside from their path and do not stand in the way of these men whom no one can divert from seeking the truth, whether they be fathers, mothers, daugh- ters, or sons; for, they are the best among those whom my Lord has created and spread throughout the earth.May the peace of Allah, His salutation, and His blessings be upon them all.O spiritual wayfarer! When your knowledge and certainty have been strengthened, your heart has been expanded and illu- mined, your nearness to your Master, your position in His Sight, and your trustworthiness with Him have increased, and your worthiness to be the custodian of His secrets is enhanced, then you will be given knowledge from Him, and you will be bestowed your reward prior to your death as a Sign in your support and as exaltation of your dignity.This is a favour from Him, a grace, and a gift.Then you will be granted a new being, which you will be with a clear permission that has no ambiguity, with crystal clear arguments, with pleasant words that are more pleasing than any pleasantry and with true, unequivocal revelation, purified from all premonitions of the inner self or whispers of the accursed Satan.The discourse of the Revered Master, the Qu t b of his time, Imam of his age, may Allah be pleased with him, is completed and we have recorded it concisely.Refer, therefore, to his book Fut uh al-Ghaib if you are in doubt.It is obvious from the aforementioned words of this Imam that the revelation that descends upon the Prophets similarly descends upon the Auliy a’ and that there is no difference in the descent of revelation whether it is to a Prophet or Wal i , and each is given a share of Allah’s revelation and conversations according to his own sta- tion.However, the revelation of the Prophets is more comprehensive and perfect.The most intensive type of revelation was the one revealed to our Messenger, the Seal of the Prophets.commissioned and I am the first of the believers.’ Say: ‘The truth has come and falsehood has vanished away; and

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76 ُ وَقَال َ الْمُجَدِّد ُ الِْمَام ُ السَّرْهَنْدِي ُّ الشَّيْخ ُ أَحْمَد  فِي مَكْتُوب ٍ يَكْتُب َ فِيه ِ بـَعْض َ الْوَصَايَا إِلَى مُرِيدِه ِ مُحَمَّد صِدِّيق:: َ اِعْلَم ْ أَيـُّهَا الصِّدِّيقُ، أَن َّ كَلَمَه ُ سُبْحَانَه ُ مَع َ الْبَشَر ِ قَد ْ يَكُون ُ شِفَاهًا، وَذَلِك ِ لَِفـْرَاد ٍ مِن َ الَْنْبِيَآءِ، وَقَد ْ يَكُون ُ ذَلِك َ لِبـَعْض ِ الْكُمَّل ِ مِن ْ مُتَابِعِيهِمْ، وَإِذَا كَثـُر هَذَا الْقِسْم ُ مِن َ الْكَلَم ِ مَع َ وَاحِد ٍ مِنـْهُم ْ يُسَمَّى مُحَدَّثًا، وَهَذَا غَيـْر ُ الِْلْهَام وَغَيـْر ُ الِْلْقَآء ِ فِي الرَّوْع ِ وَغَيـْر ُ الْكَلَم ِ الَّذِي مَع َ الْمَلَكِ، إِنَّمَا يُخَاطَب ُ بِهَذَا الْكَلَم ِ الِْنْسَان ُ الْكَامِلُ، وَاللَّه ُ يَخْتَص ُّ بِرَحْمَتِه ِ مَن ْ يَشَآءُ.كَلَمِه ِ إِنْ كُنْت َ مِن َ الْمُنْكِرِينَ.تَمَّ كَلَمُهُ، فَارْجِع ْ إِلَى كَان َ مِن َ الْمُرْسَلِينَ.وَمَا 1 وَاذْكُر ْ قِصَّة َ مَن ْ قَالَ: ﴿ وَمَا فـَعَلْتُه ُ عَن ْ أَمْرِي﴾، ِ وَاذْكُر ُ مَا قَال َ اللَّه ُ تـَعَالٰى: ﴿ فَأَرْسَلْنَا إِلَيـْهَا رُوحَنَا فـَتَمَثَّل َ لَهَا بَشَرًا سَوِيًّا * قَالَت ْ إِنِّي أَعُوذ ُ بِالرَّحْمن 2 * َكِيًّا ﴾ َمًا ز ل َهَب َ لَك ِ غُ ل ِ مِنْك َ إِنْ كُنْت َ تَقِيًّا * قَال َ إِنَّمَا أَنَا رَسُول ُ رَبِّك الكهف: 83.1 مريم: 18-20.2 ُ عَلَیْہ ِ وَسَلَّمَ.هللا ى َّ إِن َّ الْبَاطِل َ كَان َ زَهُوقًا.كُل ُّ بَرَكَة ٍ مِّن ْ مُحَمَّد ٍ صَل

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 77 The Mujaddid, Imam as-Sirhindi ash-Sheikh Ahmad, may Allah be pleased with him, stated in a letter in which he wrote some of his admo- nitions to his disciple, Muhammad Siddiq: Know, O Siddiq, that His discourse—Holy is He—with men can be oral and that it is bestowed upon some of the Prophets; it can also be bestowed upon some of their perfect followers.When this type of discourse with one of them is copious, he is desig- nated a Mu h addath.This discourse is different from revelation or the impression upon the mind and heart or speech, which is through the agency of an angel.This speech is addressed only to the Perfect Man, and Allah chooses for His mercy whomsoever He pleases.His words end here, but you can refer to his discourses if you are in doubt regarding what I have quoted.Furthermore, consider the story of the one who said: 1 َو اَم ٗهُتْلَعَف ْنَع ْيِرْمَا.Yet he was not one of the Messengers.Consider also when Allah the Exalted said: َلاَق ۤاَمَّنِا اَنَا ُلْوُسَر ْتَلاَق ْۤيِّنِا ُذْوُعَا ِنٰمْحَّرلاِب َكْنِم ْنِا َتْنُك اًّيِقَت۰۰ ۤاَنْلَسْرَاَف اَهْيَلِا اَنَحْوُر َلَّثَمَتَف اَهَل اًرَشَب اًّيِوَس۰۰ 2 ِكِّبَر١ۖۗ َبَهَاِل ِكَل اًمٰلُغ اًّيِكَز۰۰ 1.…and I did it not of my own accord ( S u rah al-Kahf, 18:83).[Publisher] 2.…then We sent Our angel to her, and he appeared to her in the form of a perfect man.She said, ‘I seek refuge with the Gracious God from you if indeed you do fear Him ’.He replied, ‘I am only a Messenger of your Lord, that I may bestow on you a righteous son.’ ( S u rah Maryam , 19:18–20) [Publisher] falsehood was bound to vanish.’ Every blessing is from Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him; so, highly blessed is he who taught and he who has been

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78 َ كَانَت ْ نَبِيَّةً، فَاتَّق ِ اللَّه َ وَل َ تَكُن ْ مِن فَانْظُر ْ كَيْف َ كَلَّم َ مَلَك ُ اللَّه ِ مَرْيَم َ وَمَا ُ الْمُعْتَدِينَ.ْ وَقَد ْ جَآء َ فِي الْحَدِيث ِ الصَّحِيح ِ عَن ْ عَمْرِو بْن ِ الْحَارِث ِ قَالَ: بـَيـْنَمَا عُمَر ُ يَخْطُب ُ يـَوْم َ الْجُمُعَة ِ إِذَا تـَرَك َ الْخُطْبَة َ وَنَادَى يَا سَارِيَة ُ الْجَبَل َ مَرَّتـَيْن ِ أَو ِ ثَلَثًا، ثُم َّ أَقـْبَل َ عَلَى خُطْبَتِهِ.فـَقَال َ نَاس ٌ مِن ْ أَصْحَاب ِ رَسُول ِ اللَّه ِ ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص: إِنَّه.فَدَخَل َ عَلَيْه ِ عَبْد ُ الرَّحْمَن ’’ يَا سَارِيَة ُ الْجَبَلَ ‘‘ َ لَمَجْنُونٌ، تـَرَك َ خُطْبَة ً وَنَادَى َكَان َ يـَنـْبَسِط ُ عَلَيْه ِ فـَقَالَ: يَا أَمِير َ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ! تَجْعَل ُ لِلنَّاس ِ عَلَيْك ٍ بْن ِ عَوْف ٍ و.أَي ُّ شَيْء ’’ يَا سَارِيَة ُ الْجَبَلَ ‘‘ َ مَقَالً؟ بـَيـْنَمَا أَنْت َ فِي خُطْبَتِك َ إِذ ْ نَادَيْتَ: هَذَا؟ قَالَ: وَاللَّهِ، مَا مَلَكْت ُ ذَلِك َ حِين َ رَأَيْت ُ سَارِيَة َ وَأَصْحَابَه ُ يـُقَاتِلُون يَا ‘‘ َ عِنْد َ جَبَل ٍ وَيـُؤْتَون َ مِن ْ بـَيْن ِ أَيْدِيهِم ْ وَمِن ْ خَلْفِهِمْ، فـَلَم ْ أَمْلِك ْ أَن ْ قـُلْتُ: ، لِيـَلْحَقُوا بِالْجَبَلِ.فـَلَم ْ تَمْض ِ الَْيَّام ُ حَتّٰى جَآء َ رَسُول ُ سَارِيَة ’’ َ سَارِيَة ُ الْجَبَل بِكِتَابِه ِ أَن َّ الْقَوْم َ لَقُونَا يـَوْم َ الْجُمُعَةِ، فـَقَاتـَلْنَاهُم ْ مِن ْ حِين ِ صَلَّيـْنَا الصُّبْح َ إِلَى أَن ْ حَضَرَت ِ الْجُمُعَةُ، فَسَمِعَنَا صَوْت َ مُنَاد ٍ يـُنَادِي: الْجَبَل َ مَرَّتـَيْنِ، فَلِحَقْنَا بِالْجَبَلِ، فـَلَم ْ نـَزَل ْ لِعَدُوِّنَا قَاهِرِين َ حَتّٰى هَزَمَهُم ُ اللّٰه ُ تـَعَالٰى وَتـَرَآءَى فـَتْح ٌ مُبِيْنٌ.(الْمُؤَلِّفُ) َ فَتَبَارَك َ مَن ْ عَلَّم َ وَتَعَلَّمَ، وَقُل ْ إِن ِ افْتَرَيْتُه ٗ فَعَلَي َّ إِجْرَامِيْ.وَيَمْكُرُون

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 79 Observe how the angel of Allah spoke to Maryam though she was not a prophetess.So, fear Allah and be not of the transgressors.Moreover, a report appears in an authentic hadith from Amr bin al- Ha rith, who said: ‘While Umar was delivering the sermon on Friday, he digressed from his sermon and cried out two or three times, “O S a riyah, the mountain!”, then he reverted to the sermon.So, some peo- ple from among the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “He is, indeed, an insane person to depart from his sermon and cry out, ‘O S a riyah, the mountain!’ ” So, ‘Abdur-Ra h m a n bin Auf went to him and inquired about the incident.He said: “O Commander of the Faithful, why have you behaved in such a manner that people spoke about you? During your sermon you cried out: ‘O S a riyah, the mountain!’ What does this mean?” He [Umar] re- plied: “I swear by Allah I could not help it, for I saw at that time S a riyah and his companions fighting near the mountain and [the enemy] was advancing from the front and the rear.That is why I was compelled to say: ‘O S a riyah, the mountain!,’ in order that they might seek cover at the mountain.” Subsequently, when some days had passed, S a riyah’s courier brought a letter which stated: “We encountered the enemy on Friday and we fought them after the morning Prayer until the arrival of the time for al-Jumu‘ah [the Friday Prayer].Then we heard a voice advising us, ‘The mountain!’, twice.Therefore, we sought refuge at the mountain, and thereafter we became victorious over our enemy in a way that Allah vanquished them and manifested a clear victory.” ’ (Author) taught.And say: ‘If I have invented it of myself, the sin thereof is on me.’ These people will devise their plans and

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80 ْر ُ الْمَاكِرِيْنَ.هُو َ الَّذِي ْ أَرْسَل َ رَسُوْلَه ُ بِالْهُدٰى ی َ ْ وَيَمْكُر ُ هللا ُ وَهللا ُ خ ُظْهِرَہ ٗ عَلَى الدِّيْن ِ كُلِّهِ، ل َ مُبَدِّل َ لِكَلِمَات ِ اللِّٰ.إِنِّي ی وَدِيْن ِ الْحَق ِّ لِ ْثُمَا كُنْتَ.أَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوْا ی َ َ مَعَك َ وَكُن ْ مَّعِي ْ أَيْنَمَا كُنْتَ، كُن ْ مَع َ الل ِّٰ ح ْنَ.وَل ی ِ ْر َ أُمَّة ٍ أُخْرِجَت ْ لِلنَّاس ِ وفَخْرًا لِّلْمُؤْمِن ی َ فَثَم َّ وَجْه ُ هللاِ.كُنْتُم ْ خ وْح ِ هللا ِ أَل َ إِن َّ رَوْح َ هللا ِ قَرِيْبٌ.أَل َ إِن َّ نَصْر َ هللا ِ قَرِيْبٌ.َّ ْئَس ْ مِن ْ ر ی ٌ تَ ْقٍ، يَنْصُرُك َ هللا ُ مِن ْ عِنْدِهٖ، يَنْصُرُك َ رِجَال ی ِ ْك َ مِن ْ كُل ِّ فَج ٍّ عَم ی يَأْتِ َوْم َ لَدَيْنَا ی ْ ْهِم ْ مِّن َ السَّمَآءِ.ل َ مُبَدِّل َ لِكَلِمَات ِ هللاِ.وَإِنَّك َ ال ی َ ْ نُّوْحِي ْ إل ُم ْ فِي ه ْ اِخْتِلَقٌ.قُل ِ الل ُّٰ ثُم َّ ذَر َّ ٰذَا إِل ه ْ ْنٌ.وَقَالُوْا إِن ی ِ ْن ٌ أَم ی ِمَك َّ الل ِّٰ كَذِبًا.وَإِن ى َ َلْعَبُوْنَ.وَمَن ْ أَظْلَم ُ مِمَّن ِ افْتَرٰی عَل ي ْ َ خَوْضِهِم ْنَ.بُشْرٰی لَك ي ِ ْن ِ وَإِنَّك َ مِن َ الْمَنْصُوْر ي َ عَلَیْك َ رَحْمَتِي ْ فِي الدُّنْیَا وَالدِّ َرَامَتَك َ بِیَدِيْ.اَكَان ك ُ مَعِيْ.غَرَسْت َ َا اَحْمَدِيْ.أَنْت َ مُرَادِي ْ و ي َ شَآء ُ مِن ْ عِبَادِهٖ، ل َّ ْبٌ.يَجْتَبِي ْ مَن ْ ي ی ُو َ هللا ُ عَجِ ه ْ لِلنَّاس ِ عَجَبًا.قُل ام ُ نُدَاوِلُھَا بَیْن َ النَّاسِ.َّ ي َ ْأ ُسْئَلُوْنَ.وَتِلْك َ ال ي ْ ُم ه َ َفْعَل ُ و ي ُسْئَل ُ عَمَّا ي

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 81 Allah will devise His plan and Allah is the Best of plan- ners.Allah is the God who has sent His Messenger and His Appointed One with guidance and the True Faith so that He should make this faith prevail over all diverse faiths.No one can avert the words of Allah.I am with you; so be with Me wherever you might be.Be with Allah wherever you are.In whatever direction you turn there will be the countenance of Allah.You are the best people who have been raised for the benefit of mankind and as a source of pride for the believers.Despair not of the mercy of Allah.Hearken, indeed the mercy of Allah is near.Hearken, the help of Allah is near.Help will come to you by every distant track.Allah will help you from Himself.Such people will help you whom We shall inspire from Ourself.No one can change the words of Allah.Today you are in a position of high standing and trust with Us.They will say: ‘This is all his own invention.’ Say, ‘Allah is the Source of all this,’ and then leave them being beguiled by their sport.And who is guilty of greater wrong than one who invents a lie and utters falsehood against Allah? My mercy is upon you in [matters of ] the world and the Faith and you are among the people who have been granted the succour of Allah.Good news for you, O My Ahmad! You are My purpose and are with Me.I have planted your hon- our with My own hand.Is this a matter of wonder for peo- ple? Tell them, ‘Allah is the Possessor of Wonders.He chooses whom He wills from among His creatures.He is not questioned about that which He does, but people are

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82 ْ تَلَطَّف ْ بِالنَّاس ِ وَتَرَحَّم ْنَ.ي ِ وَإِذَا نَصَر َ الل ُّٰ المُؤْمِن َ جَعَل َ لَہ ُ الْحَاسِد.فَاصْبِر ْ عَلٰى جَوْر ِ الْجَآئِرِيْنَ.ى ٰ ُ عَلَیْھِم.أَنْت َ فِیْھِم ْ بِمَنْزِلَۃ ِ مُوْس ا وَهُم ْ ل َ يُفْتَنُوْنَ.اَلْفِتْنَۃ َّ قُوْلُوْا اٰمَن َّ َّ أَحَسِب َ النَّاس ُ أَن ْ يُتْرَكُوْا أَن ْ ي ھَا فِتْنَۃ ٌ مِّن َ اللِّٰ.لِیُحِب َّ إِن َآ الْعَزْمِ.أَل ٰھُنَا.فَاصْبِر ْ كَمَا صَبَر َ أُوْلُو ه ْ ُتِم ُّ اسْمَكَ.وَإِن ي َ ك َ و ُّ عَنْك َ رَب ى َ َرْض ي َ ى الل ُّٰ أَجْرَك َ و َّ ْ حُبًّا جَمًّا.وَف َاتِي ي ٰ ا فَانْتَظِرُوْا ْنَ، ی ِ ي ْ مِن َ الصَّادِق ِّ هُزُوًا، قُلْ: إِن َّ ْ يَتَّخِذُوْنَك َ إِل قُل َمَ.ي ْ ِِّٰ الَّذِي ْ جَعَلَك َ الْمَسِیْح َ ابْن َ مَر لل ُ حِیْنٍ.اَلْحَمْد ى ّٰ ْ حَت ي ِّ ي ْ أُجَرِّد ُ نَفْسِي ْ مِن ْ ضُرُوْب ِ الْخِطَابِ، وَإِن ِّ ي ْ وَإِن ِّ ُّ هَذَا فَضْل ُ رَب ْنَ.يُرِيْدُوْن َ أَن ْ يُّطْفِئُوْا نُوْر َ هللا ِ بِأَفْوَاهِهِم ْ وَهللا ُ يُتِم ی ِ َ أَحَد ٌ مِّن َ الْمُسْلِم ن َ السَّمَآء ِ وَنُمَزِّق ِّ ْك َ اٰيَات ٍ م ی يْنَ.نُرِيْد ُ أَن ْ نُنَزِّل َ عَلَ ِّ ِي الد ی نُوْرَہ ٗ وَيُحْ ْفَة ِ هللا ِ السُّلْطَانِ.ی مُمَزَّقٍ.حُكْم ُ هللا ِ الرَّحْمَان ِ لِخَلِ َّ َعْدَآء َ كُل َ الْأ ِنَا، إِن َّ الَّذِيْن َ يُبَايِعُوْنَك ی ْ ُنِنَا وَوَح ی فَتَوَكَّل ْ عَلَى هللا ِ وَاصْنَع ِ الفُلْك َ بِأَعْ ْهِم ُ الْعَذَابُ.ی إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُوْن َ هللا َ يَد ُ هللا ِ فَوْق َ أَيْدِيْهِمْ، وَأُمَم ٌ حَق َّ عَلَ

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 83 questioned.And such days We cause to alternate among men.When Allah the Almighty helps a believer He makes many in the earth jealous of him.Deal kindly with people and be compassionate towards them.You are to me like M u s a [Moses].Then be steadfast under the oppression of the oppressors.Do people imagine that they should be left alone to say: ‘We have believed’; and that they should not be tried? A trial will arise here, then be steadfast as Prophets of high resolve were steadfast.Hearken! This tribulation is from God Almighty so that He might love you—the love of God.God will bestow your reward in full and will be pleased with you and will perfect your name.They only mock you.Say: ‘I am of the truthful ones.So wait a while for My Signs.’ All praise belongs to Allah who has made you Mas ih Ibn-e-Maryam [the Messiah, Son of Mary].Announce: This is the grace of Allah and I eschew every kind of title.I am one of the Muslims.They desire to put out the light of Allah with the breath of their mouths but Allah will perfect His light and will revive the Faith.We intend to send down to you Signs from heaven and to scatter your enemies completely.The command of Allah, the Gracious, for the vicegerent of Allah who is invested with authority.Then put your trust in Allah and construct the ark under Our supervision and direction.Those who enter into a covenant with you enter into a covenant with Allah; Allah’s hand is above their hands.There are many groups who have become deserving of punishment.They plan and Allah is the Best of planners.

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84 ْ ْر ُ الْمَاكِرِيْنَ.قُل ْ عِنْدِي ْ شَهَادَة ٌ مِّن َ هللا ِ فَهَل ی َ َّ وَيَمْكُرُوْن َ وَهللا ُ خ ْ أَنْتُم ْ مُؤْمِنُوْنَ؟ قُل ْ عِنْدِي ْ شَهَادَة ٌ مِّن َ هللا ِ فَهَل ْ أَنْتُم ْ مُسْلِمُونَ؟ إِن ِي الْمَوْتٰى.رَب ِّ اغْفِر ی ْف َ تُحْ ی َ َهْدِيْنِ، رَب ِّ أَرِنِي ْ ك ی َ ِّ مَعِي َ رَبِّي ْ س ْنَ.رَب ی ِ ْر ُ الْوَارِث ی َ ُ وَارْحَم ْ مِّن َ السَّمَآءِ.رَب ِّ ل َ تَذَرْنِي ْ فَرْدًا وَّأَنْت َ خ ْر ی َ ْن َ قَومِنَا بِالْحَق ِّ وَأنْت َ خ ی ْنَنَا وَبَ ی نَآ افْتَح ْ بَ َّ أَصْلِح ْ أُمَّة َ مُحَمَّدٍ.رَب ْتُك َ الْمُتَوَكِّلَ.ی ُنِنَا.سَمَّ ی ْنَ.وَيُخَوِّفُوْنَك َ مِن ْ دُوْنِهِ.إِنَّك َ بِأَعْ ی ِ َ الْفَاتِح َ يَحْمَدُك َ هللا ُ مِن ْ عَرْشِهِ.نَحْمَدُك َ وَنُصَلِّيْ.يَا أَحْمَد ُ يَتِم ُّ اسْمُك َ وَل ْلٍ، وَكُن ْ مِّن ی َا كَأَنَّك َ غَرِيْب ٌ أَو ْ عَابِر ُ سَبِ ی يَتِم ُّ اسْمِيْ.كُن ْ فِي الدُّنْ يْ.ِّ ة ً مِن َّ ْك َ مَحَب ی ْت ُ عَلَ ی َ ْنَ، أَنَا اخْتَرْتُك َ وَأَلْق ی ِ يْق ِّ د ِّ ْن َ الص ی ِ ْ الصَّالِح ْد َ يَا أَبْنَآء َ الْفَارِسِ.وَبَشِّر ِ الَّذِين َ اٰمَنُوْا أَن َّ لَهُم ی ْد َ التَّوْحِ ی خُذُوْا التَّوْحِ قَدَم َ صِدْق ٍ عِنْد َ رَبِّهِمْ.وَل َ تُصَعِّر ْ لِخَلْق ِ هللا ِ وَل َ تَسْأَم ْ مِّن َ النَّاسِ، ْنَ.أَصْحَاب ُ الصُّفَّة ِ وَمَا أَدْرَاك َ مَا ی ِ وَاخْفِض ْ جَنَاحَك َ لِلْمُسْلِم ْكَ.ی ْض ُ مِن َ الدَّمْعِ.يُصَلُّوْن َ عَلَ ی ُنَهُم ْ تَفِ ی أَصْحَاب ُ الصُّفَّةِ، تَرٰی أعْ

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 85 Say: ‘I have with me proof from Allah, then will you believe or not?’ Say: ‘I have with me proof from Allah, then will you accept it or not?’ My Lord is with me; He will soon open for me the way.Lord, show me how You bring the dead to life.Lord, forgive and send mercy from heaven.Lord, do not leave me alone and You are the Best of inheritors.Lord, reform the people of Muhammad.Our Lord, judge between us and our people with truth; You are the Best of judges.They frighten you by someone other than Allah.You are in Our sight [under Our watchful care].I have named you Mutawakkil [the one trusting in God].Allah praises you from His Throne.Your name will come to an end O Ahmad, but My name will not come to an end.Be in the world like a stranger or a traveller and be of the righteous and the faithful.I have chosen you and have poured My love over you.Hold fast to Tau hi d [the Oneness of God], hold fast to Tau hi d, O sons of Persia.Give glad tidings to those who have believed that they have the station of righteousness before your Lord.Do not turn away from Allah’s crea- tures and be not tired of people and deal kindly with the Muslims.They are A sha bu s - S uffah 1 in the eyes of Allah.Do you realize how magnificent in status the A sha bu s- S uffah will be? You will see their eyes shedding tears; 1.In one corner of the Prophet’s mosque in Madinah, a covered platform was prepared which was known as ‘ S uffah’.This served as the resting place of indigent Emigrants who dedicated themselves to the worship of Allah, the company of the Holy Prophet s as , and recitation of the Holy Quran.They became known as A sha bu s - S uffah.[Publisher]

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86 َ نَآ اٰمَنَّا فَاكْتُبْنَا مَع َّ يْمَان ِ رَب ِ ْإ نَادِي ْ لِل ُّ ُ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا ي َ جُنْد وَمَعَك وَأَجْرُك َ قَرِيْبٌ، ْبٌ، ی َ عَجِ شَأْنُك َ الشَّاهِدِيْنَ.ْدِي ْ وَتَفْرِيْدِيْ، فَحَان ی ي ْ بِمَنْزِلَة ِ تَوْحِ ِّ ْنَ.أَنْت َ مِن ی َرْضِ ْأ َ السَّمَاوَات ِ وَال َا أَحْمَد َ وَكَان َ مَا بَارَك ي َ بُوْرِكْت ْن َ النَّاسِ.ی أَن ْ تُعَان َ وَتُعْرَف َ بَ َ.أَنْت َ وَجِیْہ ٌ فِي ْ حَضْرَتِيْ.اِخْتَرْتُك َ لِنَفْسِيْ، الل ُّٰ فِیْك َ حَقًّا فِیْك ى ّٰ َتْرُكَك َ حَت ی ي ْ بِمَنْزِلَة ٍ ل َ يَعْلَمُهَا الْخَلْقُ.وَمَا كَان َ هللا ُ لِ ِّ ٌ وَأَنْت َ مِن ِّبِ.أُنْظُر ْ إِلٰى يُوْسُف َ وَإِقَبَالِهِ، وَهللا ُ غَالب ی َّ ْز َ الْخَبِيْث َ مِن َ الط ی ِ َ يَم أَن ْ أَسْتَخْلِف ُّ ِ عَلٰى أَمْرِہ ٖ وَلٰـكِن َّ أَكْثَر َ النَّاس ِ ل َ يَعْلَمُوْنَ.أَرَدْت ذُو الْفِقَار ِّ ِي الدِّيْنَ.كِتَاب ُ الْوَلِي ی ْم َ الشَرِيْعَة َ وَيُحْ ی ِ ُق ی ِ فَخَلَقْت ُ اٰدَم َ لِ ٗ رَجُل ٌ مِن ْ أَبْنَآء وَلَو كَان َ الْإ ِيْمَان ُ مُعَلَّقًا بِالثُّرَيَّا لَنَالَہ ، ٍّ ِ عَلِي الْفَارِسِ.يَكَاد ُ زَيْتُہ ٗ يُضِيْٓء ُ وَلَو ْ لَم ْ تَمْسَسْه ُ نَارٌ.جَرِي ُّ هللا ِ فِي ْ حُلَل ِّ بِعُوْنِي ْ يُحْبِبْكُم ُ هللاُ.وَصَل َّ ْنَ.قُل ْ إِن ْ كُنْتُم ْ تُحِبُّوْن َ هللا َ فَات ی َ الْمُرْسَلِ ْنَ.يَرْحَمُك یِّی د ِ وُلْد ِ اٰدَم َ وَخَاتَم ِ النَّبِ یِّ َ اٰل ِ مُحَمَّد ٍ س َّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّد ٍ و

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 87 they will call down blessings on you.They will suppli- cate: ‘Our Lord we have heard a Caller, calling people unto faith and a Summoner to Allah.Our Lord, we have believed, then write us down among the witnesses.Your rank is wonderful and your reward is near.With you are the hosts of the heavens and of the earth.You are to Me as My Tau hi d and Tafr i d [Uniqueness].The time has come that you should be helped and be made well known among people.You have been blessed, O Ahmad, and you alone deserved the blessing that Allah has bestowed upon you.You have a high station in My Presence.I have chosen you for Myself and you have a standing with Me of which people have no notion.Allah would not leave you till He separates the unclean from the clean.Look at Y u suf [ Joseph] and his glory.Allah is supreme over His commands, but most people know it not.I willed that I should create My Vicegerent, so I created Adam; so that he might establish the law and revive the Faith.The book of [My] friend is the dhulfiq ar [sword] of Ali.Had faith ascended to the Pleiades, a man from among the Persians would have brought it down.Its oil would well-nigh glow forth even though fire touched it not.The Champion of Allah in the mantle of Messengers.Say: If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will then love you.Call down blessings on Muhammad and the people of Muhammad, the Chief of all mankind and the Seal of the Prophets.Your Lord will have mercy on you and will safeguard you Himself even if men will not safeguard

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88 ُ م ْ يَعْصِمْك َ النَّاسُ.يَعْصِمُك َ هللا َّ ْ رَبُّك َ وَيَعْصِمُك َ مِن ْ عِنْدِہ ٖ وَإِن ْ ل ْنَ.تَبَّت ْ يَدَآ أَبِي ی َرْضِ ْأ ن ْ أَهْل ِ ال ِّ م ْ يَعْصِمْك َ أَحَد ٌ م َّ َ مِن ْ عِنْدِہ ٖ وَإِن ْ ل ْهَآ إِل َّ خَآئِفًا.وَمَآ أَصَابَك َ فَمِن ی تَبَّ، مَا كَان َ لَہ ٗ أَن ْ يَّدْخُل َ فِ َّ لَهَب ٍ و ا َّ ْنَ، إِن ی ِ َقْرَب ْأ ْنَ.وَأَنْذِر ْ عَشِيْرَتَك َ ال ی ِ تَق ُّ هللاِ، وَاعْلَم ْ أَن َّ الْعَاقِبَة َ لِلِم ن ْ لَّدُنَّـآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ِّ ْكَ، أَمْر ٌ م ی َ هَآ إِل ُّ بَة ِ وَنَرُد ِّ ن ْ اٰيَاتِنَا فِي الثَّي ِّ سَنُرِيْهِم ْ اٰيَة ً م ْنَ.ی ِ ْنَ.إِنَّهُم ْ كَانُوْا يُكَذِّبُوْن َ بِاٰيَاتِي ْ وَكَانُوْا بِي ْ مِن َ الْمُسْتَهْزِئ ی فَاعِلِ مِن َ الْمُمْتَرِيْنَ.َّ كَاحِ، اَلْحَق ُّ مِن ْ رَّبِك َ فَل َ تَكُوْنَن ِّ َ فَبُشْرٰى لَك َ فِي الن ْكَ، إِن َّ رَبَّك ی َ جْنَاكَهَا، ل َ مُبَدِّل َ لِكَلِمَات ِ هللاِ، وَإِنَّا رَآدُّوْهَا إِل َّ ِ إِنَّا زَو شَاتَان َكُوْن َ اٰيَة ً لِلنَّاظِرِيْنَ.ی ن ْ لَّدُنَّا لِ ِّ ال ٌ لِّمَا يُرِيْدُ، فَضْل ٌ م َّ ْ فَع وَنُرِيْهِم ْ اٰيَاتِنَا فِي الْٰفَاق ِ وَفِي تُذْبَحَانِ.وَكُل ُّ مَن ْ عَلَیْھَا فَانٍ.ْنَ.إِذَا جَآء َ نَصْر ُ هللا ِ وَالْفَتْحُ، ی ِ وَنُرِيْهِم ْ جَزَآء َ الْفَاسِق ْ.ْ أَنْفُسِهِم ْنَا، ألَيْس َ هذَا بِالْحَقِّ، بَل ِ الَّذِيْن َ كَفَرُوْا فِي ی َ ِ وَانْتَهَى أمْر ُ الزَّمَان ِ إِل ًّا فَأَحْبَبْت ُ أَن ْ أُعْرَفَ.إِن َّ السَّمَاوَات ی ْنٍ.كُنْت ُ كَنْزًا مَّخْفِ ی ِ ضَلَل ٍ مُّب

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 89 you.Allah will safeguard you Himself even if no one from the dwellers of the earth will safeguard you.Perished be the two hands of Abu Lahab; he too has per- ished.It did not behove him to interfere in this matter except with extreme caution.Whatever befalls you is from Allah and know that the end is for the righteous.Warn your near relatives.We shall show them a Sign from among our Signs in the matter of the widow and shall return her to you.This has been settled from Our side and We shall certainly do it.They used to reject Our Signs as false and were of the scoffers.Good tidings to you on the marriage.The truth is from your Lord, then be not of the doubters.We have married her to you.No one can avert the words of Allah.We shall return her to you.Your Lord is All-Powerful and does whatever He determines.This is grace from Us so that it should be a Sign for the beholders.Two goats will be slaughtered and everyone upon the earth will ultimately perish.And We will show them Our Signs in all corners of the inhabited world, and Our Signs shall appear among themselves and shall show them the punishment of the disobedient.When the help of Allah comes, and victory, and the hosts turn to us, it will be asked: ‘Was this not true?’ Those who have disbelieved are in patent error.I was a hidden treasure and I willed to be recognized.The heavens and the earth were a solid mass and We split them asunder.Reply to them: I am but a mortal like you.It is revealed to me that your God is One God, and that

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90 ْ مَآ إِلٰهُكُم َّ أَن َّ َرْض َ كَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنَاهُمَا.قُل ْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا بَشَر ٌ يُّوْحٰى ٓ إِلَي ْأ ْ وَال ه ُ إِل َّ الْمُطَهَّرُوْنَ.وَلَقَد َّ ْر ُ كُلُّه ُ فِي الْقُرْاٰنِ، ل َ يَمَس ی احِدٌ، وَالْخَ َّ َ إِلٰه ٌ و ن ْ قَبْلِه ِ أَفَل َ تَعْقِلُوْنَ.قُل ْ إِن َّ هُدَى هللا ِ هُو ِّ ْكُم ْ عُمْرًا م ی لَبِثْت ُ فِ َهْدِينِ.رَب ِّ اغْفِر ْ وَارْحَم ْ مِّن َ السَّمَآءِ.ی َ ِ الْهُدٰى، وَإِن َّ مَعِى َ رَبِّي ْ س ْ.� ی َ عَبْد َ الْقَادِر ی ِ ْ لَِا سَبَقْت�َن ی ِ ْل ي ْ إِ ی ِ ْل ي ْ مَغْلُوْب ٌ فَانْتَصِْ.إِ ی ّ ن �ِرَب ِّ ا َ َدِي ْ رَحْمَتِي ْ وَقُدْرَتِيْ، وَإِنَّك ی ِ َ، أَسْمَع ُ وَأَرٰى.غَرَسْت ُ لَك َ ب ْ مَعَك ی ِّ ن �ِإ َ َ مُْیِیْك َ نَفَخْت ُ فِیْك ن أ�َ ْنٌ.أَنَا بُدُّك َ اللَّزِمُ، ی ْن ٌ أَمِ ی َوْم َ لَدَيْنَا مَكِ ی ْ ال نِّيْ.وَلِتُصْنَع َ عَلٰى ِّ ْك َ مَحَبَّة ً م ی ْت ُ عَلَ ی َ وَأَلْق دْقِ.ِّ ْ رُوْح َ الص ی ِّ ن مِن ْ لَّد�ُ ْنِي ْ كَزَرْع ٍ أَخْرَج َ شَطْـَٔه ٗ فَاٰزَرَه ٗ فَاسْتَغْلَظ َ فَاسْتَوٰى عَلٰى سُوْقِهٖ.إِنَّا ی عَ َغْفِر َ لَك َ هللا ُ مَا تَقَدَّم َ مِن ْ ذَنْبِك َ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ، ی ِّ بِيْنًا ل ُّ فَتَحْنَا لَك َ فَتْحًا م ْمًا ی ِ فَكُن ْ مِن َ الشَّاكِرِيْنَ.أَلَيْس َ هللا ُ بِكَاف ٍ عَبْدَهُ.أَلَيْس َ هللا ُ عَل ْهًا.ی أَه ُ مِمَّا قَالُوْا وَكَان َ عِنْد َ هللا ِ وَجِ َّ بِالشَّاكِرِيْنَ.فَقَبِل َ هللا ُ عَبْدَه ُ وَبَر ْد َ الْكَافِرِيْنَ.ی فَلَمَّا تَجَلّٰى رَبُّه ُ لِلْجَبَل ِ جَعَلَہ ٗ دَكًّا وَّهللا ُ مُوْهِن ُ كَ

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 91 all goodness and virtue is contained in the Quran.The verities of the Quran are only disclosed to those whom Allah has cleansed and purified with His own hand.I have been living among you for a lifetime, will you not then understand? Say: Therefore, the guidance of Allah alone is True Guidance.And indeed my Lord is with me.He will show me the way.Lord, forgive and send mercy from heaven.O God! I am overcome; do Ye avenge me.O my Lord, my Lord, why have You forsaken me? O ‘Abdul-Q a dir I am with you, I hear and I see.I have planted the tree of My mercy and omnipotence for you with My own hand and today you have with Us a high rank and a position of trust.I am your inevitable support.I am the One who brings you to life.I have breathed into you the Spirit of truth.And I have conferred My own love upon you so that you might be treated well in My presence, like a seed that sends forth its sprout, then it grows stronger until it stands firmly on its stem.We will bestow upon you a manifest victory so that God Almighty may forgive your shortcomings, past and future.Then be of the grateful.Is God not sufficient for His servant? Is not Allah aware of those who are grateful? Allah has accepted His servant and cleared him of what they spoke of him.And he was honourable in the sight of Allah.So when God mani- fested Himself on the mountain, He shattered it into pieces and God Almighty will frustrate the design of the disbelievers, so that We might make him a Sign for the

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92 َ َ كَذَلِك و ن ْ لَّدُنَّا ِّ َه ُ مَجْدًا م ی ا وَلِنُعْطِ َّ ن ِّ لنَّاس ِ وَرَحْمَة ً م ِّ ُ وَلِنَجْعَلَہ ٗ اٰيَة ً ل ْنَ.أَنْت َ مَعِي ْ وَأَنَا مَعَكَ.سِرُّك َ سِرِّيْ.ل َ تُحَاط ی ِ ِ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِن ٰخِرَة ل َا وَا ی الدُّنْ ْهًا فِي ی ْنٍ.وَجِ ی ِ مُّب ٍّ َآءِ، إِنَّك َ عَلٰى حَق ی َوْلِ ْأ ْ أَسْرَار ُ ال ي ِّ ْه ُ إِل َّ ضَرْبَة َ الْإ ِهْلَكِ.عَدُو ٌّ ل ی ق ُ السَّفِ ِّ ْنَ.ل َ يُصَد ی ِ َ وَمِن َ الْمُقَرَّب ن ِّ قُل ْ أَتَى أَمْر ُ هللا ِ فَل َ تَكُن ْ م عِجْل ٌ جَسَد ٌ لَہ ٗ خُوَارٌ.وَعَدُو ٌّ لَّكَ، ْنَا ی ى، وَكَان َ حَقًّا عَلَ َّ َآء ِ وَأَمْرُك َ يَتَأَت ی َنْبِ ْأ ْك َ قَمَر ُ ال ی ْنَ.يَأْتِ ی ُ الْمُسْتَعْجِلِ دْق ُ وَيَخْسَر ِّ ْٓء ُ الْحَق ُّ وَيَنْكَشِف ُ الص ى ْنَ.يَوْم َ يَجِ ی ِ نَصْر ُ الْمُؤْمِن الْمَسَاجِدِ، َ عَلَى َ يَخِرُّوْن ْن ی الْغَافِلِ وَتَرٰى ْ الْخَاسِرُوْنَ.َوْمَ، يَغْفِر ُ هللا ُ لَكُم ی ْ ْكُم ُ ال ی ل َ تَثْرِيْب َ عَلَ نَآ اغْفِر ْ لَنَا اِنَّا كُنَّا خَاطِئِیْنَ.َّ ْ رَب ْكُم ْ طِبْتُم ی ْنَ.تَمُوْت ُ وَأَنَا رَاض ٍ مِنْكَ.سَلَم ٌ عَلَ ی ِ وَهُو َ أَرْحَم ُ الرَّاحِم ْنَ.ی ِ فَادْخُلُوْهَا اٰمِن ئی1893ء ل 30جو

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 93 people and a mercy from Ourself and so that We might bestow upon him glory from Ourself and thus do We reward those who do good.You are with Me and I am with you.Your secret is My secret.The mysteries that God Almighty has granted to His Auliy a’ [Friends of Allah] cannot be encompassed.You are based on clear truth, of high standing in the world and in the hereafter, and of those who are close to Allah.A foolish one does not confirm anything except the stroke of destruction.My enemy and your enemy.He is just a lifeless body of a calf out of which issues a disagreeable sound.Say: The command of Allah is approaching, so do not be of those who are in a hurry.The Moon of the Prophets will come and your affair will be completed.And, from the begin- ning, it is binding upon Us to help the believers.1 So on the day the truth arrives and is laid open and the losers suffer loss and see the neglectful fallen into prostration and supplicating, ‘Lord, forgive us, we were in error’, there will be no blame on you this day, for you have believed.God will forgive your sins for He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.You will die when Allah will be pleased with you.Peace be upon you! You have been cleansed of idolatry, so enter Paradise in peace.1.The Promised Messiah as has identified 30 July 1893 as the date of this revelation.[Publisher] 30 July 1893

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94 ِّٰ ا بِلل َّ ِ وَأَمَّا عَقَائِدُن َ الَّت ِ ثـَبـَّتـَنَا الل ُّٰ عَلَيـْهَا، فَاعْلَم ْ ي َ أَخِي أَن َّ اٰمَن ا بِلْفُرْقَان َّ ا بَِنَّه ُ خَات َُ النَّبِيِّنيَ.وَاٰمَن َّ ُ رَبًّ، وَبُِحَمَّد ٍ ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص نَبِيًّا، وَاٰمَن َ أَنَّه ُ مِن َ الل ِّٰ الرَّحَْنِ، وَل َ نـَقْبَل ُ كُل َّ مَا يـُعَارِض ُ الْفُرْقَان َ وَيَُالِف ِ بـَيِّنَاتِه ِ ومُْكَمَاتِه ِ وَقَصَصَه ِ وَلَو ْ كَان َ أَمْرًا عَقْلِيًّا، أَو ْ كَان َ مِن َ الْثَر ِ الَّت ِ سََّاهَا أَهْل ُ الَْدِيث ِ حَدِيثًا، أَو ْ كَان َ مِن ْ أَقـْوَال َ كِتَاب ٌ قَد ْ ثـَبَت ي ِ َّ الصَّحَابَة ِ أَو ِ التَّابِعِنيَ؛ لَِن َّ الْفُرْقَان َ الْكَر ُ تـَوَاتـُرُه ُ لَفَظًا لَفْظًا، وَهُو َ وَحْي ٌ مَتـْلُو ٌّ قَطْعِي ٌّ يَقِينٌِّ، وَمَن ْ شَك ٍ ف ِ قَطْعِيَّتِه َ فـَهُو َ كَافِر ٌ مَرْدُود ٌ عِنْدَن َ وَمِن َ الْفَاسِقِني َ.وَالْقُرْاٰن ِ مَْصُوص ٌ بِلْقَطْعِيَّة ِ التَّامَّة ِ، وَلَه ُ مَرْتـَبَة ٌ فـَوْق َ مَرْتـَبَة ِ كُل ِّ كِتَاب َكُل ِّ وَحْي ٍ، م َا مَسَّه ُ أَيْد ِي النَّاس ِ، وَأَم َّا غَيـْرُه ُ مِن َ الْكُتُب َ و وَالْثَر ِ فَل َ يـَبـْلُغ ُ هَذ َا الْمَقَام َ، وَمَن ْ آثـَر َ غَيـْرَه ُ عَلَيْه ِ فـَقَد ْ آثـَر ِ الشَّك َّ عَلَى الْيَقِنيِ.َكَم ْ مِن ْ فِرَق ِ الِْسْلَم ِ يَُالِف ُ بـَعْضُهُم ْ بـَعْضًا ف ِ أَخَذ ِ بـَعْض َ و ْكِهَا، فَالَْحَادِيث ُ الَّت ِ يـَقْبـَلُهَا الشَّافِعِيَّة ُ ل الَْحَادِيث ِ أَو ْ تـَر ٍ يـَقْبَل ُ أَكْثـَرَهَا الَْنَفِيَّةُ، وَالَّت ِ يـَقْبـَلُهَا الَْنَفِيَّة ُ ل َ يـَقْبـَلُهَا الشَّافِعِيَّةُ، َكَم ْ مِن ْ حَدِيث َكَذَلِك َ حَال ُ فِرَق ٍ أُخْرَى مِن َ الْمُسْلِمِني َ.و َ و ذَكَرَه ُ الِْمَام ُ الْبُخَارِي ُّ ف ِ صَحِيحِه ِ - وَهُو َ أَصَح ُّ الْكُتُب ِ عِنْد

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 95 As for our beliefs, which Allah has established for us, know, O my brother, that we believe in Allah as Lord; in Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, as a Prophet; and we believe that he is Kh a tamun-Nabiyy i n [the Seal of the Prophets].We believe in the Furq a n [Holy Quran] to be from Allah the Most Gracious.We do not accept anything that opposes the Furq a n and differs with its indisputable evidence, its decisive verses, and its narratives, whether it is an intellectual matter from one of the traditions that the Ahlul-Hadith considered to be a true hadith, or whether it is from one of the statements of the Companions or their Subsequent Generation, because the Noble Furq a n is a Book whose being taw a tur has been proved word by word, and it is recitable, doubtless, and certain revelation.He who doubts its decisiveness is in our opinion a renegade disbeliever and is among the disobedient.The Quran is characterized, specifically, by consummate per- fection, and it has a status which is superior to the status of every Book and every revelation.The hand of man has not tampered with it.As far as other Books and traditions are concerned, they cannot approach this sublime position; and whoever prefers any- thing else over it, indeed prefers doubt over certainty.How many sects in Islam have differed with each other in accepting some a ha d i th whilst rejecting others! For instance, most of the a ha d i th which the Sh a fi‘ i sect accept are rejected by the H anaf i s, and those accepted by the H anaf i sect are rejected by the Sh a fi‘ i s, and so it is with other Muslim sects.How many a ha d i th are mentioned by Imam Bukhari in his S a hih, which is the most authentic book after the Book of Allah in the opinion of the Ahlul-Hadith.On the other hand, however, the H anaf i sect

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96 ُ ِ أَهْل ِ الَْدِيث ِ بـَعْد َ كِتَاب ِ الل ِّٰ - وَلَكِن ْ ل َ يـَقْبَل ُ الْفِرْقَة ُ الَْنَفِيَّة أَكْثـَر َ أَحَادِيثِهِ، كَحَدِيث ِ قِرَآءَة ِ الْفَاتَِة ِ خَلْف َ الِْمَام ِ وَالتَّأْمِني ِْهِ، وَل َ يَكُونُون َ إِل َ تِلْك َ الَْحَادِيث ِ مِن َ الْمُلْتَفِتِنيَ.ري َ َ بِلَْهْر ِ وَغ وَلَكِن ْ مَا كَان َ لَِحَد ٍ أَن ْ يُسَمِّيَهِم ْ كَافِرِين َ أَو ْ يَْسَبـَهُم ْ مِن َ الَّذِين ّ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلَة َ وَمِن َ الْمُبـْتَدِعِنيَ.ِ فَالَْق ُّ أَن َّ الَْحَادِيث َ أَكْثـَرُهَا آحَاد ٌ وَلَو ْ كَانَت ْ ف ِ الْبُخَارِي ِْهِ، وَل َ يَِب ُ قـَبُولَُا إِل َّ بـَعْد َ التَّحْقِيق ِ وَالتـَّنْقِيد ِ وَشَهَادَة ري َ َ أَو ْ ف ِ غ َ كِتَاب ِ الل ِّٰ بَِن ْ ل َ يَُالِفَهَا ف ِ بـَيِّنَاتِه ِ ومُْكَمَاتِهِ، وَبـَعْد َ النَّظَر ِ إِل ٍ تـَعَامُل ِ الْقَوْم ِ وَعِدَّة ِ الْعَامِلِنيَ.فَإِذَا كَان َ الَْمْر ُ كَذَلِك َ فَكَيْف يُكَفَّر ُ أَحَد ٌ لِتـَرْك ِ حَدِيث ٍ يـُعَارِض ُ الْقُرْاٰن َ أَو ْ لَِجْل ِ تَْوِيل ِ يَْعَل ُ الَْدِيث َ مُطَابِق ًا بِلْقُرْاٰن ِ وَيـُنَج ِّي الْمُسْلِمِني َ مِن ْ أَيْد ِي َكِتَابِه ِ لَِجل َكَيْف َ تُكَفِّرُون َ الْمُؤَمِن َ بِلل ِّٰ وَرَسُولِه ِ و الْمُعْتَِضِنيَ؟ و َ حَدِيث ٍ مِن َ الْحَاد ِ الَّذِي يُْتَمَل ُ فِيه ِ شَائِبَة ُ كَذِب ِ الْكَاذِبِنيَ؟ فَانْظُر ْ مَثَل ً إِل َ مَسْأَلَة ِ وَفَاة ِ الْمَسِيح ِ ، فَإِنـَّهَا قَد ْ ثـَبَت بِبـَيِّنَات ِ كِتَاب ِ الل ِّٰ الْمُتـَوَاتِر ِ الصَّحِيحِ، وَتَشْهَد ُ عَلَى وَفَاتِه ِ قَرِيبًا ’’ ِ إِزَالَة الَْوْهَام ‘‘ مِن ْ ثَلَثِني َ اٰيَة ً بِلتَّصْرِيح ِ قَد ْ كَتـَبـْنَاهَا ف ِ كِتَابِنَا:

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 97 do not accept most of his a ha d i th, such as the hadith concern- ing the recitation of S u rah al-F a ti h ah after the Imam and saying ‘ A m i n’ in a loud voice, and so forth.They pay no heed to these a ha d i th.However, no one designates them as disbelievers or con- siders them from among those who have abandoned Prayer or as innovators.In fact, most of the a ha d i th are a ha d, 1 whether they are in al-Bukh a r i or other [collections], so they should not be accepted until after verification, appraisal, confirmation from the Quran that they do not violate its clear statements and decisive verses, and after considering who and how many narrated it consec- utively.Therefore, how can anyone be accused of disbelief for abandoning a hadith that opposes the Quran, or for presenting an interpretation which makes the hadith congruent with the Quran, while by doing so he delivers the Muslims from the critics’ attacks? How can you accuse a believer in Allah, His Messenger, and His Book of disbelief, for the sake of denying one hadith which was reported by a single narrator and which may suffer from the blemish of man’s prevarications? Consider, for example, the subject of the death of the Messiah, peace be on him.It has been confirmed by indisputable evidence in the authentic and mutaw a tir Book of Allah.His death is clearly attested to in approximately thirty verses, which I have recorded in my book entitled Iz a la-e-Auh a m [ The Removal of Misconceptions ] for the benefit of the seekers after truth.Should 1.A tradition in which there is only one chain of narrators connected to the same, single source.Such a tradition may nevertheless be authentic and reliable; however, it cannot be regarded as reliable as those tradi- tions that have more than one chain of reliable narrators.[Publisher]

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98 ُ إِفَادَة ً لِلطَّالِبِنيَ.فَإِن ْ تَذَكَّرْت َ بـَعْد َ ذَلِك َ حَدِيثًا دِمَشْقِيًّا اَلَّذِي ، فَاعْلَم ْ أَنَّه ُ فُسِّر َ عَلَى ظَاهِرِهِ، وَل َ شَك َّ أَنَّه ’’ ٍ مُسْلِم ‘‘ ِ ُ ذُكِر َ ف ْ يـُعَارِض ُ الْفُرْقَان َ عَلَى تـَفْسِريِه ِ الظَّاهِر ِ وَيَُالِف ُ بـَيِّنَاتِه ِ وَيَُالِف ، وَل َ يـَرْضَى مُسْلِم ٌ أَن ’’ ِ الِْزَالَة ‘‘ ِ ِ أَحَادِيث َ أُخْرَى قَد ْ ذَكَرْنَهَا ف َ يـَتـْرُك َ الْقُرْاٰن َ الْيَقِين َِّ الْقَطْعِي َّ بَِدِيث ٍ وَاحِد ٍ ل َ يـَبـْلُغ ُ إِل َ مَرْتـَبَة َّ الْيَقِنيِ.وَلَو ْ فـَعَلْنَا كَذَلِك َ وَآثـَرْن َ الْحَاد َ عَلَى كِتَاب ِ الل ِّٰ لَفَسَد َ الدِّينُ، وَبَطَلَت ِ الْمِلَّةُ، وَرُفِع َ الَْمَانُ، وَتـَزَلْزَل َ الِْميَانُ، وَاشْتَد عَلَيـْنَا صَوْلَة ُ الْكَافِرِينَ.نـَعَمْ! نـُؤْمِن ُ بِلْقَدْر ِ الْمُشْتـَرَك ِ الَّذِي ل ُ يَُالِف ُ الْقُرْاٰن َ، وَهُو َ أَنَّه ُ يَِيء ُ الْمَسِيح ُ الْمَوْعُود ُ مَُدِّد ًا عَل َى ُج ُ رَأْس ِ الْمِائَة ِ عِنْد َ غَلَبَة ِ النَّصَارَى عَلَى ظَهْر ِ الَْرْضِ، وَيَْر ف ِ أَرْض ٍ أَفْسَدُوهَا وَجَعَلُوا مُسْلِمِي أَهْلِهَا مُتـَنَصِّرِين، فـَيَكْسِر ِ صَلِيبـَهُم ْ وَيـَقْتُل ُ خَنَازِيرَهُمْ، وَيُدْخِل ُ السَّعَادَة َ ف ِ الْبَاقِنيَ.َ وَإن ْ حَاك َ ف ِ صَدْرِك َ شَيْء ٌ مِن ْ لَفْظ ِ نـُزُول ٍ عِنْد َ مَنَارَة دِمَشْق َ، فـَقَد ْ أَثـْبـَتـْن َا أَن َّ النـُّزُول َ مِن َ السَّمَآء ِ مَُال ٌ بَطِل ٌ ل ِ يُصَدِّقُه ُ الْفُرْقَان ُ بَل ْ يُكَذِّبُه ُ بِقَوْل ٍ مُبِنيٍ.ِْه ِ، فَآمِن ْ بِوَفَاة ري ِّ فَإِن ْ كُنْت َ تـُؤْمِن ُ بِلْفُرْقَان ِ وَتُؤثِرُه ُ عَلَى غَ ُ الْمَسِيح ِ وَعَدَم ِ نـُزُولِه ِ مِن َ السَّمَآء ِ، كَم َا تـَقْرَأ ُ ف ِ كَلَم ِ رَب َْ.وَالْعَجَب ُ أَن َّ لَفْظ َ النـُّزُول ِ مِن َ السَّمَآء ِ ل َ يُوجَد ني الْعَالَمِ

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 99 you mention a hadith pertaining to Damascus, cited in [ S a hih ] Muslim, then know it has been interpreted literally.There is no doubt that its literal interpretation opposes the Quran, conflicts with its indisputable evidence, as well as other a ha d i th which we have mentioned in Iz a la-e-Auh a m.A Muslim could never be content with abandoning the absolute certainty of the Quran for the sake of a single hadith which does not even have a high degree of certainty.Had we acted in this manner, preferring a single narrated hadith to the Book of Allah, then the Religion would have been corrupted, the Islamic creed would have been destroyed, the impregnability of the Faith would have disappeared, belief would have been violently shaken, and the attack of the disbelievers against us would have intensified.Yes, we believe in that part of the hadith which does not conflict with the Quran; i.e.the part that states that the Promised Messiah will appear as a Mujaddid at the beginning of the century during the time of the Christians’ dominance over the earth.He will appear in a land that they have corrupted and whose inhabitants they have converted from Islam to Christianity.Then, he will break the cross, kill the swine, and will bring happiness to the rest.If the expression ‘ nuz u l [descent] near a minaret in Damascus’ agitates you, we have established that descent from heaven is preposterous and untenable.The Furq a n does not confirm it; on the contrary, it denies it in a clear statement.If you believe in the Furq a n and prefer it to everything else, then you should believe in the death of the Messiah and the implausibility of his descent from the skies, as you read in the words of the Lord of all the worlds.The surprising thing is that

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100 ِ َ ف ِ حَدِيث ٍ وَإِن ْ هُو َ إِل َّ فِرْيَة ُ الْمُفْتَِين َ.وَالَْحَادِيث ُ كُلُّهَا قَد اتـَّفَقَت ْ عَلَى أَن َّ الْمَسِيح َ الْمَوْعُود َ مِن ْ هَذِه ِ الُْمَّةِ، فَإِن َّ النـُّبـُوَّة َ قَد ْ خُتِمَت ْ وَإِن َّ رَسُولَنَا خَات َُ النَّبِيِّنيَ.ِ وَالنـُّزُول ُ ف ِ الَْدِيث ِ بَِعْن َ نـُزُول ِ الْمُسَافِر ِ مِن ْ مَكَان ٍ إِل ْ مَكَانٍ، فَإِن َّ النَّزِيل َ هُو َ الْمُسَافِرُ، فـَلَو سُلِّم َ صِحَّة ُ الَْدِيث ُ فـَيـَثـْبُت ُ أَن َّ الْمَسِيح َ الْمَوْعُود َ أَو ْ أَحَد ٌ مِن ْ خُلَفَائِه ِ يُسَافِر ُ مِن َ أَرْض ٍ وَيـَنْزِل ُ بِدِمَشْق َ ف ِ وَقْت ٍ مِن َ الَْوْقَاتِ، فَلِم َ يـَبْكُون َ النَّاس عَلَى لَفْظ ِ دِمَشْقَ؟ بَل ْ يـَثـْبُت ُ مِن ْ لَفْظ ِ النـُّزُول ِ عِنْد َ مَنَارَة ِ دِمَشْق َ أَن َّ وَطَن َ الْمَسِيح ِ الْمَوْعُود ِ الَّذ ِي يَْرُج ُ فِيه ِ هُو َ مُلْك ٌ آخَر ُ، َ وَإِنََّا يـَنْزِل ُ بِدِمَشْق َ بِطَرِيق ِ الْمُسَافِرِينَ.هَذَا إِذَا سَلَّمْنَا الَْدِيث بَِلْفَاظِهِ، وَفِيه ِ كَلَمٌ، لَِن َّ الَْحَادِيث َ مِن َ الظَّنِّيَّات ِ إِل َّ الِْصَّة ِ الَّت ِ ثـَبـَتَت ْ مِن ْ تـَعَامُل ِ الْمُؤْمِنِنيَ.ِْه ِ مِن َ الْيَقِينِيَّات ري ِ وَلَوْ كَانَت ِ الْثَر ُ الْمُدَوَّنَة ُ ف ِ الْبُخَارِي وَغَ ِ لَلَزِم َ مِن ْ إِنْكَارِهَا الْكُفْر ُ كَلُزُوم ِ الْكُفْر ِ مِن ْ إِنْكَار ي ِ كَالْقُرْاٰن ِ الْكَر ْع ِ الْمَتِنيِ.َ اٰيَت ِ الْقُرْاٰن ِ كَمَا ل َ يَْفَى عَلَى الْمَاهِرِين َ ف ِ الشَّر ْ فَحِينَئِذ ٍ يـَلْزَم ُ أَن ْ يَكُون َ الْمُسْلِمُون َ كُلُّهُم ْ كَافِرِينَ، وَيـَلْزَم ُ أَن ْ ل ِ يـَنْجُو َ مِن ْ وَرْطَة ِ الْكُفْر ِ أَحَد ٌ مِن ْ أَكَابِر ِ الْمُسْلِمِني َ وَأَصَاغِرِهِم بَل ْ مِن َ الَْئِمَّة ِ السَّابِقِني َ الْمُتـَقَدِّمِنيَ؛ لَِن َّ تـَرْك َ بـَعْض ِ الَْحَادِيث

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 101 the expression ‘descent from the skies’ is not found in any hadith and is only a perversion of the fabricators.All a ha d i th agree that the Promised Messiah will be from this ummah, for Prophethood has been terminated and our Messenger is Kh a tamun-Nabiyy i n.The word nuz u l, which is mentioned in the hadith , has the meaning of a traveller alighting from place to place, because naz i l [in Arabic] means a traveller.Even if we do accept the authen- ticity of this hadith, then it only establishes that the Promised Messiah or one of his Caliphs will travel from a certain place and will alight in Damascus.So, why should people bemoan the use of the word ‘Damascus’? Nay, it is confirmed, by using the phrase nuz u l near a minaret in Damascus, that the homeland from where the Promised Messiah will come forth is in another dominion and he will only alight in Damascus in his travels.This is if we accept the hadith in the literal sense, although that in itself is debatable, because the Hadith in general are speculative except that portion which is confirmed by the continuous prac- tice of the believers.Had the a ha d i th that are recorded in al-Bukh a r i and other books been certain, like the Holy Quran, then whoever would reject them would become liable to disbelief, just as denying the verses of the Quran makes one liable to disbelief, as is known by those who are well acquainted with the Firm Shariah.If this was the case, then it would necessarily mean that all Muslims should be deemed disbelievers, and it would be unavoidable for any of the Muslims, whether distinguished or ordinary, to escape from the dilemma of disbelief; nay, not even the foremost among our imams would be safe from this predicament.Because it is a gen- eral affliction which all fuqah a ’ [jurists], imams, and mu h addith i n

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102 َ وَإِنْكَار َ بـَعْضِهَا بَلَٓء ٌ عَام ٌ أَحَاطَت ِ الْفُقَهَآء َ وَالَْئِمَّة َ وَالْمُحَدِّثِني ُ أَجَْعِنيَ.ْ وَمَع َ ذَلِكَ، إِذَا كَان َ نَبِيـُّنَا ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص خَات ََ الَْنْبِيَآءِ، فَل َ شَك َّ أَنَّه َ مَن ْ آمَن َ بِنـُزُول ِ الْمَسِيح ِ الَّذِي هُو َ نَب ٌِّ مِن ْ بَن ِ إِسْرَائِيل َ فـَقَد ُ كَفَر َ بَِات َِ النَّبِيِّني َ.فـَيَا حَسْرَة ً عَلَى قـَوْم ٍ يـَقُولُون َ إِن َّ الْمَسِيح ِ عِيسَى بْن َ مَرْي ََ نَزِل ٌ بـَعْد َ وَفَاة ِ رَسُول ِ اللِّٰ، وَيـَقُولُون َ إِنَّه ُ يَِيء ُ وَيـَنْسَخ ُ مِن ْ بـَعْض ِ أَحْكَام ِ الْفُرْقَان ِ وَيَزِيد ُ عَلَيـْه َا، وَيـَنْزِل ُ عَلَيْه الْوَحْي ُ أَرْبَعِني َ سَنَة ً، وَهُو َ خَات َُ الْمُرْسَلِني َ.وَقَد ْ قَال َ رَسُول ، وَسََّاه ُ الل ُّٰ تـَعَال ٰ خَات ََ الَْنْبِيَآءِ، ’’ ل َ نَب َِّ بـَعْدِي ‘‘ الل ِّٰ ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص: ُْ فَمِن ْ أَيْن َ يَظْهَر ُ نَب ٌِّ بـَعْدَهِ؟ أَل َ تـَتـَفَكَّرُون َ ي َ مَعْشَر َ الْمُسْلِمِنيَ؟ تـَتَّبِعُون َ الَْوْهَام َ ظُلْمًا وَزُورًا، وَتـَتَّخِذُون َ الْقُرْاٰن َ مَهْجُورًا، وَصِرْت َّ مِن َ الْبَطَّالِنيَ.وَإِن َّ نـُؤْمِن ُ بَِلَئِكَة ِ الل ِّٰ وَمَقَامَاتِِم ْ وَصُفُوفِهِم ْ، وَنـُؤْمِن ُ أَن ْ نـُزُولَُمْ كَنـُزُول ِ الَْنـْوَارِ، لَ كَتـَرَحُّل ِ الِْنْسَان ِ مِن َ الدِّيَر ِ إِل َ الدِّيَرِ، ل َ يـَبـْرَحُون َ مَقَامَاتِِم ْ وَمَع َ ذَلِك َ كَانُوا نَزِلِني َ وَصَاعِدِينَ.وَهُم ْ جُنْد ُ الل ِّٰ وَجِريَة ُ السَّمَاوَات ِ وخُلَطَاؤُهَا، ل َ يـُفَارِقُون َ مَقَامَاتِِمْ، وَإن ْ مِنـْهُم ْ إِل َّ لَه ُ مَقَام ٌ مَعْلُومٌ، يـَفْعَلُون َ مَا يـُؤْمَرُونَ، وَل َ يَشْغَلُهُم.ِْ ني َ شَأْن ٌ عَن ْ شَأْن ٍ وَيـُؤَدُّون َ طَاعَة َ رَب ِّ الْعَالَم

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 103 [Hadith scholars] suffer from—that they abandon and reject some of the a ha d i th.However, since our Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is Kh a tamul-Anbiy a ’ [the Seal of the Prophets], there can be no doubt that whoever believes in the descent of a Messiah who is a Prophet of the Children of Israel, has indeed denied Kh a taman-Nabiyy i n.Woe to people who say that the Messiah, Jesus Son of Mary, is to descend after the death of the Messenger of Allah, and say that he will appear and abrogate some of the commandments of the Holy Quran and add oth- ers, that revelation will descend upon him for forty years, and that he will be the last of the Messengers! The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: َّ ل َ نَبِي بَعْدِي [There will be no Prophet after me]; and Allah has called him Kh a tamul-Anbiy a ’.Therefore, wherefrom shall a Prophet appear after him? Will you not then reflect, O Muslims? You are following delusions borne out of injustice and untruth, and you treat the Quran as a discarded thing, and thus you have become slothful.We believe in the Angels of Allah and in their stations and ranks.We believe that their descent is like the descent of rays of light, not like the travel of human beings from one abode to another.They do not depart from their fixed stations; nevertheless, they do descend and ascend.They are the army of Allah, inhabit- ants of the heavens and their fellow dwellers; they do not become separated from their positions.There is none that does not possess an assigned station.They do what they are commanded.No one issue can distract them from other issues and they duly obey the Lord of all the worlds.

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104 َ وَلَوْ كَان َ مَدَار ُ انْصِرَام ِ مُهِمَّاتِِم ْ تـَبَاعُدَهُم ْ مِن ْ مَقَامَاتِِمْ، لَمَا َُوت مي َ ُ جَاز َ أَن ْ تـُتـَوَف َّ الَْنـْفُس ُ ف ِ آن ٍ وَاحِدٍ، بَل ْ وَجَب َ أَن ْ ل َغ َ مَلَك ٌ مَيِّت ٌ ف ِ الْمَشْرِق ِ ف ِ الْن ِ الَّذِي قَدَّر َ الل ُّٰ لَه ُ قـَبْل َ أَن ْ يـَفْر الْمَوْت ِ مِن ْ قـَبْض ِ نـَفْس ِ رَجُل ٍ ف ِ الْمَغْرِب ِ الَّذ ِي هُو َ شَرِيك ِّٰ بِلْمَائِت ِ الَْوَّل ِ ف ِ الْن ِ الْمَذْكُور ِ وَقـَبْل َ أَن ْ يـَرْحَل َ إِل َ الْمَشْرِقِ، ِ وَإِن ْ هَذَا إِل َّ كَذِب ٌ مُبِنيٌ.إِنََّا أَمْرُهُم ْ إِذَا أَرَادُوا شَيـْئًا بُِكْم ِ الل أَن ْ يـَقُولُوا لَه ُ كُن ْ فـَيَكُونُ، وَمَا كَان َ لَُم ْ أَن ْ يـَنْزِلُوا بِشِق ِّ الَْنـْفُس وَصَرْف ِ الْوَقْت ِ وَنـَقَل ِ الُْطُوَات ِ وَتـَرْك ِ مَكَانٍ كَسُكَّان ِ الَْرضِنيَ.وَنـُؤْمِن ُ بَِن َّ حَشْر َ الَْجْسَاد ِ حَقٌّ، وَالَْنَّة َ حَقٌّ، وَالنَّار َ حَقٌّ، َكُل َّ مَا عَلَّمَنَا رَسُول ُ الل ِّٰ ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص َكُل َّ مَا جَآء َ ف ِ الْقُرْاٰن ِ حَق ٌّ، و و حَق ٌّ، وَهُو َ خَيـْر ُ الَْنْبِيَآء ِ وَخَتْم ُ الْمُرْسَلِني َ.وَمَن ْ عَزَا إِلَيـْن َا م َا ْع َ وَالْفُرْقَان َ مِثـْقَال َ ذَرَّة ٍ فـَقَد ِ افـْتـَرَى عَلَيـْنَا وَأَتَى َ يَُالِف ُ الشَّر بِبـُهْتَان ٍ صَرِيح ٍ كَالْمُفْتَِينَ.أَل َ إِن َّ بَرِيئُون َ مِن ْ كُل ِّ أَمْر ٍ يـُنَاف ِ قـَوْل رَسُولِنَا ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص، وَإِن َّ مُؤْمِنُون َ بَِمِيع ِ أُمُور ٍ أَخْبـَر َ بَِا سَيِّدُن َ وَنَبِيـُّنَا، وَإِن ْ ل َْ نـَعْلَم ْ حَقِيقَتـَهَا أَو ْ نـُوْدَع مَعَارِفـَهَا بِِلَْام ٍ مُبِنيٍ.ْعُ، وَاعْتَصَمْنَا وَإِن َّ بَرِيئُون َ مِن ْ كُل ِّ حَقِيقَة ٍ ل َ يَشْهَدُهَا الشَّر بَِبْل ِ الل ِّٰ بَِمِيع ِ قـَلْبِن َا، وَجَِيع ِ قـُوَّتِن َا، وَجَِيع ِ فـَهْمِن َا، وَأَسْلَمْن َا ِغ َ عَلَيـْنَا صَبـْرًا نَآ أَفْر َّ الْوَجْه َ لَك َ رَبـَّنَا فَاجْعَلْنَا مِن َ الْمُحْسِنِنيَ.رَبـ عَلَى مَا نـُؤْذَى وَتـَوَفـَّنَا مُسْلِمِنيَ.

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 105 Had it been necessary to be separated from their stations in order to execute their tasks, then it would not be possible for some souls to die at the same moment.It would be mandatory that a person in the East should not die at the time Allah had decreed for him, before the Angel of Death had finished taking the soul of a man in the West who was destined to die at the same moment as the other man, and before travelling to the East.This is noth- ing except a clear lie.Their only command, when they intend a thing by the permission of Allah, is to say to it ‘Be!’, and it is.They do not have to descend with great hardship to their selves, nor to expend time, walk away, or leave their station, like the dwellers of the earth.We believe that the assembly of the bodies [i.e.the Resurrection] is true; that Heaven is true; that Hell is true; that everything that is mentioned in the Quran is true; that everything that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has taught us is true; and that he is the Best of the Prophets and the Seal of the Messengers.He who imputes to us even one iota that differs with the Shariah and the Furq a n has lied against us and has slanderously produced a manifest calumny.Hearken! We are innocent of every matter that contradicts a statement of our Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and we believe in all matters which our Master and our Prophet has men- tioned, even if we do not know their true nature or have not been taught further information about them through clear revelation.We are innocent from every reality which the Shariah does not support, and we cling to the Rope of Allah with all our heart, all our might, and all our understanding.We have submitted our- selves to You, our Lord—make us among the doers of good.Our Lord, pour forth upon us steadfastness for what we have suffered

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106 ْ َّ وَم َا أُفَضِّل ُ رُوح ِي عَل َى أَرْوَاح ِ إِخْوَان ِ، وَلَكِن َّ الل َّٰ قَد ْ مَن َّ عَلَي َّ وَجَعَلَن ِ مِن َ الْمُنـْعَمِني َ.فَمِن ْ آلَئِه ِ أَنَّه ُ أَنـْعَم َ عَلَي بِلْمُكَالَمَات ِ وَالْمُخَاطَبَاتِ، وَعَلَّمَن ِ مِن ْ أَسْرَار ٍ مَا كُنْت ُ أَن ِ أَعْلَمَهَا لَوْل َ أَن ْ يـُعَلِّمَن َِ اللُّٰ، وَجَعَلَن ِ لِلَْنْبِيَآء ِ مِن َ الْوَارِثِنيَ.وَمِن ْ آلَئِه ِ عَلَي َّ أَنَّه ُ وَجَد َ قـَوْم َ النَّصَارَى يـُفْسِدُون َ ف ِْ الَْق ِّ، وَيُضِلُّون َ عِبَاد َ الل ِّٰ، ري َ الَْرْض ِ وَيـَتَّخِذُون َ الْعَبْد َ إِل ًَا بِغَ فـَبـَعَثَن ِ لَِكْسِر َ صَلِيبـَهُم ْ وَأُمَزِّق َ بَعِيدَهُم ْ وَقَرِيبـَهُم ْ وَأَجُذ َّ هَام َ الْمُجْرِمِنيَ.ِّ وَمِن ْ آلَئِه ِ أَنَّه ُ آتَن ِ اٰيَت ٍ مِن َ السَّمَآء ِ، وَأَت ََّ الُْجَّة ِ عَلَى الَْعْدَآءِ، وَخَجَّل َ كُل َّ بَِيل ٍ وَضَنِنيٍ.فـَوَعِزَّتِه ْ وَجَلَلِه ِ إِن ِ عَلَى حَق ٍّ مُبِنيٍ.وَتـَرٰى كَالْوَابِل ِ اٰيَت ِ صِدْقِي إِن ْ تُصَاحِبَن ِ كَالطَّالِبِنيَ.وَوَاللِّٰ، ث َُّ تَللِّٰ، إِن ْ جَآءَن ِ أَحَد ٌ عَلَى قَدَم ِ الصِّدْق وَالطَّلَب ِ، لَرَأ َى شَيـْئ ًا مِن ْ اٰيَت ِ رَب ِّ إِل َ أَرْبَعِني َ.وَأَكْفَرَن الُْسَدَآء ُ قـَبْل َ أَن ْ يـُبَارُون ِ لِلنِّضَالِ، وَيـَتـَوَازَنُوا ف ِ الْكَمَالِ، وَيتَحَاذَوا ف ِ الْفِعَالِ، وَعَيـَّرُون ِ طَاغِنيَ.وَلَمَّا رَأَوا الْٰيَت ِ قَالُوا ٌْ أَو ْ جَفْر ٌ وَنُُومٌ، فَمَشَوْا خَبْط َ عَشْوَآءَ، ني إِن ْ هَذَا إِل َّ سِحْر ٌ مُبِ َكَانُوا قـَوْمًا عَمِنيَ.أَشْرَقَت ِ الشَّمْس ُ وَمَا كَان َ مَعَهَا غَيْمٌ، ُ و وَلَكِن ْ ل َ يـَنـْفَع ُ الْعُمْي َ نُور ٌ وَل َ ضَوْءٌ، وَاسْتَخْلَصَهُم ُ الشَّيْطَان لِنـَفْسِهِ، فـَهُو َ لَُم ْ قَرِينٌ.

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 107 and cause us to die resigned unto You.My soul possesses no prece- dence over the souls of my brethren; however, Allah has conferred favours upon me and has made me among the blessed.Among the favours that He has bestowed upon me are His conversation and discourse.He has taught me secrets that I would have been unable to decipher had He not been my Teacher, and He has made me one of the heirs of the Prophets.Another blessing that He has conferred upon me was that [when] He found the Christian people creating disorder in the earth, taking a human being as God without any justification, and leading the servants of Allah astray, He sent me to break their cross, to tear asunder their stratagems, distant and near, and to cut off the roots of the sinners.Also among the blessings that He has conferred upon me are Signs from heaven, completion of the argument against the enemies, and disgrace for every miserly and greedy person [who opposes me].Therefore, I swear by His might and glory that I stand on manifest truth.You would see the Signs of my truth like showers were you to accompany me like seekers of truth.I swear by Allah, repeatedly, that should anyone come to visit me for forty days, committed to the acquisition of truth and the quest for knowledge, he will see some of the Signs of my Lord.The envious accused me of disbelief before contending with me, equal- ling my excellences, and matching my deeds, but they rebuked me as transgressors.Yet, when they witness the Signs they say, ‘This is nothing but clear deception or numerology or astrology.’ So, they walk about blundering and are indeed a blind people.The sun has risen and the sky is clear, but neither its light nor its radi- ance benefits the blind, as Satan has chosen them for himself, for he is their companion.

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108 ِ ي َ أَخِي، تَْسَبُن ِ كَافِرًا، وَإِن ِّ مُؤْمِن ٌ مُوَحِّد ٌ، أَتَّبِع ُ رَسُول ِ وَسَيِّد ِي ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص، وَجَعَلَن َِ الل ُّٰ وَارِث ً لِعُلُومِه ِ وَبَعِه ِ وَبـَعَاعِهِ، وَأَرْجُو َِ أَن ْ يُشَيِّع َ نـَعْشِي ْ ف ِ اتِّبَاعِه ِ، وَمَع َ ذَلِك َ أَخْضَع ُ لَك َ بِلْكَلَم ُ وَأَسْتـَنْزِل ُ مِنْك َ رِفْق َ الْكِرَام ِ، فَل َ تـُغْلِظ ْ عَلَي َّ وَل َ تُشْمِت ْ ب َ الْكُفَّارَ، وَل َ تُرِين ِ النَّارَ، وَل َ تَسْلُل ْ سَيـْفَك َ الْبـَتَّارَ، وَالْمُؤْمِن ٌْ، وَالصَّالُِون َ يَْمِلُون َ أَوْزَار َ إِخْوَانِِمْ، وَيُسَارِعُون َ إِل ني َل ٌْ ني هَ تَسْلِيَة ِ قـُلُوبِِمْ، وَتَسْرِيَة ِ كُرُوبِِمْ، وَل َ يُرِيدُون َ أَن ْ يـُقَتِّلُوهُم ْ تـَقْتِيلً،.َْ ني ٌ وَأَن ْ يَْعَلُوهُم ْ عِضِ وَالِخْتِلَف ُ ف ِ فِرَق ِ الِْسْلَم ِ كَثِريَةٌ، وَلَكِن ْ ل َ تـَنـْهَض ُ فِرْقَة لِقَتْل ِ فِرْقَةٍ، وَقَد ْ قَال َ رَسُول ُ الل ِّٰ ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص: إِن َّ اخْتِلَف َ أُمَّت ِ رَحَْةٌ.ْ فَأَطْفِئ ْ ي َ أَخِي نَرَكَ، وَأَغْمِد ْ بـَتَّارَكَ، وَاقـْتَد ِ بِسُنَن ِ الصَّالِِنيَ.َ ل َِ تـُؤْذِي مَن ْ يُِب ُّ خَيـْر َ الْوَرَى؟ أَتَسُر ُّ بِه ِ رُوح َ الْمُصْطَفَى؟ أَو ِ تـُرْضِي بِه ِ رَبـَّنَا الَْعْلَى؟ فَاعْلَم ْ أَن َّ الل َّٰ وَرَسُولَه ُ بِرِيَّن ِ مِن َ الَّذِين َ يـُعَادُون َ أَوْلِيَآءَه َُا، فَإِن ْ كُنْت َ تـَرْج ُو شَفَاعَة َ رَسُولِن َا فَل َ تـُؤْذ الْمُحِبِّني َ الْمُصَافِنيَ، وَاتَّق ِ اللَّٰ، ث َُّ اتَّق ِ اللَّٰ، ث َُّ اتَّق ِ اللَّٰ، لِيـَغْفِر ْ ذُنُوبَك َ وَيُِلَّك َ مَقْعَد َ الْمُنـْعَمِنيَ.أَيـُّهَا الِْنْسَان ُ الضَّعِيف ُ الْمُحْتَاجُ، إِن َّ مَقْت َ الل ِّٰ أَكْبـَر ُ مِن َكُن ْ مِن َ الْمُرْتَعِشِنيَ.مَقْتِكَ، فَخَف ْ فَأْسَه ُ و

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 109 O my brother! You think me to be a disbeliever but I am a believer who professes the Oneness of Allah; I follow my Messenger and Master, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.Allah has made me the heir to his knowledge, his noble capacity, and his excel- lences.I hope to die as one of his followers.However, I am so soft with you in my words and I request you to soften your words with me.So, do not be rough with me and do not make the disbelievers rejoice over me.You should neither show me the fire, nor unsheathe your sharp sword, for the believer is gentle and kind.The righteous bear the heavy burdens of their brethren, hasten to console their hearts and alleviate their distress, and they do not desire to kill them and cut them into pieces nor to pronounce them to be liars.Differences between the sects in Islam are numerous, but not- withstanding, one sect does not advocate the murder of another.The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: تِي ْ رَحْمَة َّ ِاخْتِلَف أُم [Differences of opinion among my followers are a blessing.] So, extinguish your fire, O my brother, sheathe your sword, and follow the practice of the righteous.Why do you vex the one who loves the Best of All Mankind? Is this the way to console the soul of Mu st af a [the Chosen One] or to please our Lord, the Most High? Know that Allah and His Messenger have disavowed those who oppose their Auliy a ’.If you hope for the intercession of our Messenger, you should not harass the beloveds who are at peace with their Lord.Fear Allah.Fear Allah.Fear Allah so that He might forgive your sins and allow you to take a seat among the blessed ones.O frail, destitute human being! Truly the abhorrence of Allah is greater than your repugnance, so fear His axe and be among those who tremble!

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110 ُ يـُبَاح ْ قـَتْلِي هَل ُّٰ َ الل ُهَدَاك ْ يَُاح ُ أَو ِي يُدَمَّر ْ مِثْل ِّوَهَل ِ أَن ِ الِْسْلَم ِ مَذْهَب ْ ف ُوَهَل ْ جُنَاح َْ يـَثْبُت ً وَل َى خِزْي أَر ٌِّ لِلنَّاظِرِينَا بـَي ُوَصِدْقِي ُ وَالصِّحَاح ِّٰ يَشْهَد ُ الل ِكِتَاب َ الْكِرَام خُلْق َ الَْذَى كَان ُوَمَا ْ رِيَح َا هَبَّت ْ هَكَذ ٍّوَلَكِن َ حُر ُ قـَوْل َّ يـَفْهَم َّ الُْر ُوَإِن ُ الْفِصَاح ُ الْكَلِم صَدْرَه ِّوَتَشَفِي ِ رَب ِ سُبْل َ أَخْش َى الْعِد َا ف ُوَل ٌ بَدَاح ِّٰ وَاسِعَة ُ الل ِوَأَرْض َ حَبِيْب ِ ي َ الْمَصَائِب َا عِنْد ُلَن ٌ وَارْتِيَاح َُّ ذَوْق ٌ ث ِرِضَآء ْ مَآل وَانْظُر ُ الَْوَى َ تـَقْف ُفَل ٌ قـَرَاح ُ نُصْح ِّ إِنَّه وَرَب ْ وَأَدْعُو ٍ، أُشَرِّفُكُم ْ عَجَب ُوَمِن ُ وَالرِّمَاح َ الْمَشْرَفِيَّة وَمِنْك

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 111 May Allah guide thee aright! Is my murder permissible or should a person like me be destroyed and swept away? Is it consistent with the Religion of Islam, That I be disgraced without any proven fault? My truth is evident for the beholders; The Book of Allah and the S i hah also bear witness to it.Insulting and inflicting harm is uncharacteristic of a noble person, But thus do winds rage.The pure will understand the words of the pure, And their heart will be healed by eloquent discourse.I fear not the enemy in the cause of my Lord, For, the land of Allah is extensive and ever widening.In the face of misfortune, O my Beloved, We are content, we are grateful no matter what, and we are in a state of serenity.Follow not the desires of the self, and reflect upon my intention; I swear by my Lord, this is only sincere advice.How strange! On my part, I honour and pray for you, But on your part, there is naught but swords and piercing lances.

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112 ٍْ ِّ خَي ُ كُل ْ حَدِيقَة ُوَبـَلْدَتُكُم الصَّلَح يـُرْجَى ْ سَيِّدِي فَمِنْكُم ِ، عَجَبٌ! ٌ يـُؤْذِيْن َ سَيِّد ُكَمِثْلِك ٌ كِفَاح َ خَيَْات ِ بـَغْدَاد ٍّوَف ِ بِسَب ُّ! تَذْكُرُن َ حِب ُأَر َى ي ْ سََاح َتُكُم ي وَسِ هَذَا؟ فَمَا َ تُْفًا َا أَعْطَيْت َّ م َ كُل ُأَخَذْن ِنْشِرَاح ل َ ا وَزَاد َوَصَافـَيْنَا ِ كَالَْدَاي ِّ جَوَاب ْ مِن ُفَخُذ َ الِْفْتِتَاح َ مِنْك ْ كَان ٍوَلَكِن بَِصْم ِي ي ْ أَظَافِ اعْتَلَقَت ُإِذَا ْ طَلَح ٌ أَو ُ نَكَال فَمَرْجِعُه وَسِلْمًا ِ حُبًّا ْ وَافـَيْتَن ُوَإِن وَالنَّجَاح ِ بُشْرَى ٍفَلِلزُّوَّار َ مَآء ْ أَنـْهَار َْ تـَقْرَبَن ْ ل ُوَإِن ٍ رِيَح ْ مَآء َ مِن َ تـُعْطِيْك ٍفَل َ جَهْد ٌ عِنْد ِ سَهْل ُ الصَّلْد ُوَرَشْح ٌ وَانْسِطَاح ْ قـُعُود وَيُوبِقُكُم

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 113 Your country is a garden of beneficence; Accordingly, Sir, godliness is expected from you.How strange that a gentleman like you would inflict harm on me, While in Baghdad many blessings are encountered.I have observed, O beloved, that you have mentioned me with insult; Why is this so, when your normal behaviour is characterized by kindness? We have taken everything that you have offered as a precious gift, And acted with sincerity towards you and have become exceedingly delighted.So, accept my response as a gift from me, But remember the initial step was taken by you.When my talons clutch the opponent; Then, his only recourse is exemplary punishment or submission.However, if you approach me amicably and peacefully, Then there will be glad tidings and success for the visitors.If you approach not the flowing rivers, You cannot expect to be given water from the wind.Extracting water from solid ground is easy if you dig hard, But you will perish if you remain sitting or supine.

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114 ِ َ حَبِيْب ًا ي َ نُصْح َا نَْلُوك ُوَم َ النِّصَّاح َ لِيَْتَبِط ٍوَجَاهَدْن ُ هَزْل َ نـَوْع ٌ ل ُوَنُصْح ِي خَالِص ُ الْمِزَاح َ يَُالِطُه ٌّ ل وَجِد ِ كَلَمِي ْ ف تـَفَكَّر حِبِّ! ُفـَيَا وِشَاح َ لِلتَّقْوَى َّ الْفِكْر ٍفَإِن َ وَجْد ِي فـَوْق ٌ لِقَوْم ِْ وَجْد ُوَل ِ وَالنِّيَاح ُ الثَّوَاكِل وَجْد ْوَمَا ٍ إِلَيْكُم ِ مَْد َ أُول ْ ي ُإِلَيْكُم ُ لَح ُوا فَالْوَقْت َْ تـَنْتَه ْ ل ِّ وَإِن َ رَب ٌ عِنْد ٌ عَظِيم ِ قَدْر ُوَل َ يـُزَاح ُّ وَل َ يـُرَد ِ ل ٍ وَسُؤْل ِ دُعَآء ِي ف َ يـَبْك ي ِي حِ ُوَمِثْل ٌ مُتَاح ُ فَضْل َى نَْوَه فـَيَسْع ُ شَْسِي ْ أَنـْوَار ْ تـَلْمَعَن َكَادَت ُو َّ الْوَقَاح إِل الْوَرَى ٍ فـَيَتْبَعُهَا َ بـَرْق ِّ مِثْل ُ رَب ِ يـَوْم ُوَيَْت َ النُّبَاح ُ وَل الْكِلَب َ تـَبْقَى فَل

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 115 O my beloved, we have spared no effort in offering our advice to you, And we have struggled in order that you might heed these important counsels.My advice is sincere, not frivolous; Serious and significant, not corrupted with jest.So, O my beloved, reflect upon my statements; For, verily, reflection is an ornament of piety.My grief for my people exceeds every other grief— Even more than bereaved mothers or lamenting mourners.Come on, O possessor of nobility, come on; But if you desist not, the time of punishment is near.I have great worth in the sight of my Lord; My entreaties are not rejected or refused.When a person like me cries during supplication, A destined grace hastens towards him.And the light of my sun will soon shine forth; And mortals will follow it, except the insolent.And the Day of my Lord will come like lightning; Then, neither the dogs nor their yelps will remain.

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116 ٍ َّ يـَوْم ِّ كُل ِ رَب ْ لُطْف ِ مِن ُوَل افْتِضَاح فِيهَا ُ لِلْعِدَا ٌّمَرَاتِب ِ تَم ٌ كَالْبَدْر ٌ كَامِل ُوَنُور َ يُلَح ُ وَل ي ِ ٌ يَسْتَن ٍوَوَجْه ْ غَبُوق َ نُسْق َى مِن ُ الْيَوْم ُوَنَْن ٌ وَاصْطِبَاح ِ عِيد َ اللَّيْل ٍوَبـَعْد َّ نُور ُ كُل ِ الْمُهَيْمِن ُوَأَعْطَان ٌ وَرَاح ِ رَوح ْ فَضْلِه ِ مِن ٍوَل ِ جُرْم ِْ ثـُبُوت ِ بِغَي أَتـَقَتُلُن ِّ جُنَاحُ؟ ْ مِن ْ م َا يَصْدُرَن ٍفـَقُل ِ حُجَج َ بِسَيْف الْكَافِرِين ُقـَتَلْنَا فَلَح لِقَاتِلِنَا َ يـُرْجَى ٌفَل مَلَذ الْبَارِي سَوَى َ لَنَا ُوَلَيْس َ السِّلَح ُ وَل ٌ يَصُون َ تـُرْس وَل ُ بِلنَّوَاصِي َ يَسْفَع ُ كَيْف ُأَتـَعْلَم ُ الطِّمَاح َ يـُنَاوِحُه ٌ ل ٍمَلِيك ِّ طَوْد َ كُل ُّ ذِرْوَة ُّ الرَّب ُيـَهُد ُ وَالصِّفَاح ُ الَْسِنَّة وَتـَتْبَعُه َ خَصِيمِي؟ ٍ ي ِ بِسَيْف ُأَتـَقْتُلُن ٌ مُبَاح ْ أَمْر ِي عِنْدَكُم وَقـَتْل

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 117 Every day, I have from my Lord’s grace, Spiritual ranks in which there is ignominy for the enemies.I have been granted a perfect light like the full moon, And a face which is illumined and never fading.Today we are drinking the evening drink, But after the night there will be a festive morning.The Protector has given me every kind of light, And I have received—by His grace—comfort and serenity.Would you kill me without any proof of the crime? Tell me, then, what is the offence that I have committed? We have slain the disbelievers with the sword of arguments; Our supposed killer will never meet any success.We have no refuge except in the Originator, As no shield or weapon can protect [us].Do you know how He drags one by the forelocks? A Sovereign such that even those who reach a great height will not be able to confront.The Lord demolishes the summit of every towering mountain; Every bayonet and sword are subservient to Him.O my adversary, do you seek to kill me with a sword? And my murder, in your opinion, is a legitimate thing.

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118 ٍ ْ حَبِيب ٍ مِن َا بِسَيْف ْ مِتْن ُوَقَد الرِّيَح تَسْفِي ذَرَّاتِنَا عَلَى َ قـَوْمٍ! َ شَيْخ َ سُيُوفُكُم ْ؟ ي ُوَأَيْن ٌ شِحَاح ْ حِزْب َّ بِقَاعِكُم ٍوَحَل ُ وَاخْتَلَسُوا كَذِئْب َ الِْزْب ُوَصَال َّ اكْتِسَاح ْ إِل ُ أَمْرُهُم َْ يَك ٍوَل ُّ رُزْء ْ كُل ْ عَلَيْكُم ْ صُبَّت ُوَقَد َّ الرَّدَاح ْ إِل ِ بـَيْتِكُم ف ٍفَمَا ُوا بُِوع ٍ ذَاب ْ مُسْلِم ْ مِن َكَم و اسْتََاحُوا َ وَمَا ي ِ جَائِع وَعَاشُوا َ بَْرِي ُ مَوْج ِ يـَعْرِف ُ الْعِلْم ُوَبَْر ٌ وَجَاح ْ مَآء ْ عِنْدَكُم ٍوَلَكِن ْ اِرْتَِال ِ مِن ُ قَصِيدَت ُنَظَمْت َ الِْقْتَِاح ُ لَوْل َ الْفَضْل ِوَأَيْن ٍ كَالْكِرَام ِّ بِعَفْو ْ مِن ُفَخُذ ُّ الصُّرَاح َ الَْق هُو َ مَا وَدُونَك ِ نُصْحِي ْ بـَعْد ِ مِن ْ بَرَزْتَن ُوَإِن ٌ شَنَاح ِ بَطَل ْ أَنَّن فـَتَعْلَم

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 119 We have [already] been slain by the sword of our Beloved, And the wind has blown away our particles.But O chieftain of the people, where is your sword? A ravenous party has settled in your land.That party has assaulted you, sneaking up like a wolf; Their case was nothing short of a raging flood.Every misfortune has befallen you; There is nothing left in your homes but calamities.Yet, how many Muslims suffer the pangs of hunger, And spend their lives in hunger without repose? The ocean of knowledge knows the waves of my ocean, But you possess only stagnant water.I have composed my poem extemporaneously; Where lies its excellence if it was not improvised? So, take my advice kindly, like the noble ones; You have been offered a pure truth.If you still wish to engage me in combat, notwithstanding my sincere advice, Then know for sure that I am a stalwart champion.

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120 َّ ي َ أَخ ِي، حَفِظَك َ الل ُّٰ! إِن ِّ قَد ْ كَتَبت ُ هَذ َا الْمَكْتُوب َ، تـَرَح ًُّا عَلَى حَالِكَ، وَإِصْلَحًا لَِيَالِكَ، فَاسْتَشِف َّ لَلِيْهِ، وَالْمَح ِ السِّر ُّ الْمُودَع َ فِيه ِ، وَقَد ْ أَسَْع ُ أَن َّ أَخْلَقَك َ تَُب ُّ، وَبِعَقْوَتِك َ يـُلَب ُّ، َ وَأَنْت َ بَذِل ٌ خِرْق ٌ ذُو سََاحَة ٍ وَفـُتـُوَّة ٍ مِن َ الْمُحْسِنِنيَ.فَل َ أَظُن ِّ فِيك َ أَن ْ تَرِد َ مَوْرِد َ مَأثََة ٍ، وَتَقِف َ مَوْقِف َ مَنْدَمَة ٍ، وَتـَتَّبِع َ سُبُل ِ تَبِعَة ٍ وَمَعْتـَبَة ٍ، بَل ْ أَظُن ُّ أَن ْ تَِيل َ إِل َ مَعْذِرَة ٍ عَن ْ بَدِرَة ٍ.وَظَن فِيك َ جَلِيلٌ، فَحَقِّق ْ حُسْن َ ظَنِّ، وَاتَّق ِ الل ََّ إِن ِّ أَرَاك َ مِن ْ وُلْد َ الصَّالِِنيَ.َج ٍ عَلَيْك وَإِن ْ كُنْت َ ف ِ شَك ٍّ مَِّا كَتـَبـْنَا ف ِ كُتُبِنَا، فَأَي ُّ حَر ِ مِن ْ أَن ْ تَسْأَلَن ِ كُل َّ مَا ل َ تـَعْرِف ُ حَقِيقَتَهُ، وَل َ تـَفَهَم ُ مَاهِيـَّتَهُ، َ وَعَس َى أَن ْ تَْسَب َ كَلِمَة ً مِن َ الْكُفْر ِ وَهُو َ مِن ْ مَعَارِف ِ كِتَاب ْكَزِه ِ عِنْد الل ِّٰ وَحَقَائِق ِ الدِّينِ.وَالْعَاقِل ُ يـَتَأَهَّب ُ دَائِمًا لِمُزَايـَلَة ِ مَر وِجْدَان ِ الَْق ِّ الْمُبِنيِ.فـَقُم ْ وَأَفْعِم ْ لَك َ سَجْل ً مِن ْ مَائِنَا الْمَعِنيِ.ِِّٰ رَب ِّ الْعَالَمِنيَ.لل ُ وَآخِر ُ دَعْوَان َ أَن ِ الَْمْد

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Reply to the Announcement & Letter 121 O my brother, may Allah protect you! I have written this treatise out of compassion for your condition and as a means of reforma- tion and to rid you of your delusions; so, marvel at its pearls and take notice of the deep secrets that lie within it.I have heard that your natural disposition is amicable, it is pleasant to be in your company, and that you sacrifice yourself for the sake of others, are generous, have tolerance, chivalry, and are one of the beneficent ones.I do not think that you would take up an erroneous position or one which leads to regret and remorse or that you should follow blindly the paths that end in censure and blame.On the contrary, I think you will be inclined to seek pardon for the blunder.My opinion of you is sublime, so prove true to my good estimation and fear Allah.Verily, I regard you as a son of the righteous.If you are in doubt about anything which I have written in my book, you are at liberty to ask me about any point, the true nature of which you do not know or whose essence you do not understand.May you be cautious regarding the statement of dis- belief as it [my book] is a portion of the knowledge of the Book of Allah and the essence of the Religion.The wise one is always ready to give up his position when confronted with clear truth.Arise, therefore, and fill your cup with our clear-flowing water.Our last supplication is: All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

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Publisher’s Note Please note that, in the preceding translation, any words given in parentheses ( ) are the words of the Promised Messiah as.If any explanatory words or phrases are added by the translators for the purpose of clarification, they are put in square brackets [ ].Footnotes given by the publisher are marked ‘[Publisher]’.References to the Holy Quran contain the name of the s u rah [i.e.chapter] followed by a chapter:verse citation, e.g.S u rah al-Jumu‘ah, 62:4, and count Bismill a hir-Ra h m a nir-Ra hi m [‘In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful’] as the first verse in every chapter that begins with it.The following abbreviations have been used: s as s allall a hu ‘alaihi wa sallam ( ملسو هيلع هللا ىلص / صلعم / ؐ ), meaning ‘may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him’, is written after the name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad s as.as ‘alaihis-sal a m (  / ؑ ), meaning ‘peace be on him’, is written after the names of Prophets other than the Holy Prophet Muhammad s as.

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124 ra ra d iyall a hu ‘anhu/‘anh a /‘anhum (  / ؓ ), meaning ‘may Allah be pleased with him/her/them’, is written after the names of the Companions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad s as or of the Promised Messiah as.rta ra h matull a h ‘alaih/‘alaih a /‘alaihim (  / ؒ ), meaning ‘may Allah shower His mercy upon him/her/them’, is writ- ten after the names of those deceased pious Muslims who are not Companions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad s as or of the Promised Messiah as.aba ayyadahull a hu Ta‘ a la bina s rihil-‘Az i z , meaning ‘may Allah the Almighty help him with His pow- erful support’, is written after the name of the pres- ent head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hadrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad aba, Khal i fatul- Mas ih V.Readers are urged to recite the full salutations when reading the book.In general, we have adopted the following system estab- lished by the Royal Asiatic Society for our transliteration.ا at the beginning of a word, pronounced as a, i, u preceded by a very slight aspiration, like h in the English word honour.ث th – pronounced like th in the English word thing.ح h – a guttural aspirate, stronger than h.خ kh – pronounced like the Scottish ch in loch.

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Publisher’s Note 125 ذ dh – pronounced like the English th in that.ص s – strongly articulated s.ض d – similar to the English th in this.ط t – strongly articulated palatal t.ظ z – strongly articulated z.ع ‘ – a strong guttural, the pronunciation of which must be learnt by the ear.غ gh – a sound similar to the French r in grasseye, and to the German r.It requires the muscles of the throat to be in the ‘gargling’ position to pronounce it.ق q – a deep guttural k sound.ء ’ – a sort of catch in the voice.Long vowels by: a for __ ٰ ___ or آ (like a in father ).i for ی __ ِ ___ or __ ٖ ___ (like ee in deep ).u for و __ ُ ___ (like oo in root ).Other vowels by: ai for ی __ َ ___ (like i in site ).au for و __ َ ___ (resembling ou in sound ).The consonants not included in the above list have the same pho- netic value as in the principal languages of Europe.As noted above, the single quotation mark ‘ is used for transliterating ع which is distinct from the apostrophe ’ used for ء.We have not transliterated some Arabic words which have

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126 become part of the English language, e.g.Islam, Quran, Mahdi, jihad, Ramadan, and ummah.The Royal Asiatic Society’s rules of transliteration for names of persons, places, and other terms, are not followed throughout the book as many of the names contain non-Arabic characters and carry a local transliteration and pro- nunciation style.

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Biblical and Quranic Names N a m e s o f P r o p h e t s Adam — A dam Abraham —Ibr a h i m Son of Mary —Ibn Maryam Elijah —Ily a s Jesus — ‘I s a Messiah —Mas ih Muhammad —Muhammad Moses —M u s a Christ —Yas u ‘ Joseph —Y u suf

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Glossary A ha d (pl.Aha d ), refers to those a ha- d i th that have a solitary chain of narration and are not related by others.A ha d i th Plural of hadith.Reported statements of the Holy Prophet Muhammad s as.A m i n A term which literally means, ‘may it be so’ and is used at the end of a supplication to pray that God may accept it.It is similar in mean- ing to ‘amen’.A s - S i hah as-Sittah The title given to the six authentic books of a ha- d i th.Hadrat A term of respect used to show honour and reverence for a person of established righteous- ness and piety.The literal mean- ing is: His/Her Holiness, Worship, Eminence, etc.It is also used for God in the superlative sense.Holy Prophet s as A title used exclu- sively for the Founder of Islam, Hadrat Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.Holy Quran The final and per- fect Scripture revealed by Allah for the guidance of mankind for all times to come.It was revealed word by word to the Holy Prophet Muhammad s as over a period of twenty-three years.Istikh a rah A special Prayer to seek guidance from Allah before mak- ing an important decision.Maghrib Refers to the evening Prayer, immediatley after sunset (one of the five daily Prayers in Islam).Marf u‘ Applied to those ah a d i th whose chain of narrators reaches up to the Holy Prophet s as himself.

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130 Mu h addath A recipient of divine revelation who is not a Prophet.Plural is mu h addath i n.Mujaddid Reformer.Holy person- ages within Islam who appeared at the head of every century.Mutaw a tir See Taw a tur.Mutta s il Lit.‘Continuous’ or ‘unin- terrupted’.Applied to those a ha- d i th where there is no break in the chain of narrators.Qiblah Direction of the Ka‘bah in Makkah, toward which Muslims face to offer formal prayers.Rak‘ a t Plural of rak‘ah, which refers to one cycle of the formal Prayer, consisting of standing, bowing, sitting, and prostration.S a hih Lit.‘Correct or authentic.’ A grade applied to a ha d i th that are deemed authentic.S u rah A chapter of the Holy Quran.Tahajjud Optional Prayer of great merit offered in the latter part of the night.Taw a tur —Lit.Recurrence.Refers to information that is transmitted by such a multiplicity of sources that it leaves no doubt as its authenticity.

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Index

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Index 133 Index of the Verses of the Holy Quran Chapter 1, al-F « a »ti « h » ah verses 6–7.........................48, 49 Chapter 3, « A »l-e-‘Imr « a »n verse 56................24, 25, 30, 31 verse 145...........................26, 27 Chapter 5, al-M « a » ’idah verse 118...........................24, 25 Chapter 18, al-Kahf verse 83......................76, 77, 92 Chapter 19, Maryam verses 18–20.............76, 77, 92 Chapter 21, al-Anbiy « a »’ verse 96.............................26, 27 Chapter 28, al-Qa « s » a « s » verse 8...............................66, 67 Chapter 39, az-Zumar verse 43.............................24, 25 Chapter 56, al-W « a » qi‘ah verses 40–41.............................................48, 49, 52, 53, 66, 67

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Index 135 Index of Revelations of the Promised Messiah Allah has accepted His servant and cleared him of what they spoke of him.And he was honourable in the sight of Allah.91 Allah has placed blessing in you, O Ahmad.Whatever you did let loose, it was not you but it was Allah who let it loose so that you should warn the people whose ancestors have not been warned, and that the way of the guilty ones might become manifest.71 Allah is supreme over His commands, but most people know it not.87 Allah is the God who has sent His Messenger and His Appointed One with guidance and the True Faith so that He should make this faith prevail over all diverse faiths.81 Allah praises you from His Throne.85 Allah will help you from Himself.81 Allah will safeguard you Himself even if no one from the dwellers of the earth will safeguard you.89 Allah would not leave you till He separates the unclean from the clean.87 All praise belongs to Allah, Who has made you Masi « h » Ibn-e- Maryam.83 Announce: This is the grace of Allah and I eschew every kind of title.I am one of the Muslims.83 A trial will arise here, then be steadfast as Prophets of high resolve were steadfast.Hearken! This tribulation is from God Almighty so that He might love you—the love of God.83 Be in the world like a stranger or a traveller and be of the righteous and the faithful.85 Be with Allah wherever you are.81 Call down blessings on Muhammad and the people of Muhammad, the Chief of all mankind and the Seal of the Prophets.87 Despair not of the mercy of Allah.81 Do not turn away from Allah’s creatures and be not tired of people and deal kindly with the Muslims.85 Do people imagine that they should be left alone to say: ‘We have believed’; and that they should not be tried? 83

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136 Every blessing is from Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him; so, highly blessed is he who taught and he who has been taught.77 Give glad tidings to those who have believed that they have the station of righteousness before your Lord.85 God will bestow your reward in full and will be pleased with you and will perfect your name.83 God will forgive your sins for He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.93 Had faith ascended to the Pleiades, a man from among the Persians would have brought it down.87 Good news for you, O My Ahmad! You are My purpose and are with Me.I have planted your honour with My own hand.81 Hearken, indeed the mercy of Allah is near.81 Hearken, the help of Allah is near.81 Help will come to you by every distant track.81 Hold fast to Tau hi d [the Oneness of God], hold fast to Tau hi d , O sons of Persia.85 I have named you Mutawakkil [the one trusting in God].85 I am the One who brings you to life.91 I am with you; so be with Me wherever you might be.81 I am your inevitable support.91 I have breathed into you the Spirit of truth.And I have conferred My own love upon you so that you might be treated well in My presence like a seed that sends forth its sprout then it grows stronger until it stands firmly on its stem.91 I have chosen you and have poured My love over you.85 I have chosen you for Myself and you have a standing with Me of which people have no notion.87 In whatever direction you turn there will be the countenance of Allah.81 Is God not sufficient for His servant? 91 I shall humiliate him who designs to humiliate you.69 Is not Allah aware of those who are grateful? 91 Is this a matter of wonder for people? Tell them, ‘Allah is the Possessor of Wonders.He chooses whom He wills from among His creatures.He is not questioned about that which He does, but people are questioned.81

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Index 137 Its oil would well-nigh glow forth even though fire touched it not.87 I willed that I should create My Vicegerent, so I created Adam; so that he might establish the law and revive the Faith.87 Look at Yusuf [ Joseph] and his glory.87 Lord, do not leave me alone and You are the Best of inheritors.85 Lord, forgive and send mercy from heaven.85 Lord, forgive and send mercy from heaven.O God! I am overcome; do Ye avenge me.O my Lord, my Lord, why have you forsaken me? 91 Lord, reform the people of Muhammad.85 Lord, show me how You bring the dead to life.85 My enemy and your enemy.He is just a lifeless body of a calf out of which issues a disagreeable sound.93 My Lord is with me; He will soon open for me the way.85 My mercy is upon you in [matters of ] the world and the Faith and you are among the people who have been granted the succour of Allah.81 No one can avert the words of Allah.81 No one can avert the words of Allah.We shall return her to you.Your Lord is All-Powerful and does whatever He determines.This is grace from Us so that it should be a Sign for the beholders.89 No one can change the words of Allah.81 O ‘Abdul-Q « a » dir I am with you, I hear and I see.I have planted the tree of My mercy and omnipotence for you, with My own hand and today you have with Us a high rank and a position of trust.91 Our Lord, judge between us and our people with truth; You are the Best of judges.85 Peace be upon you! 93 Perished be the two hands of Abu Lahab he too has perished.It did not behove him to interfere in this matter except with extreme caution.89 Say: ‘If I have invented it of myself, the sin thereof is on me.’ 79 Say: ‘If you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will then love you.’ 87 Say: ‘I have been commissioned and I am the first of the believers.’ 73

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138 Say: ‘I have with me proof from Allah, then will you accept it or not?’ 85 Say: ‘I have with me proof from Allah, then will you believe or not?’ 85 Say: ‘The command of Allah is approaching, so do not be of those who are in a hurry.’ 93 Say: ‘Therefore, the guidance of Allah alone is True Guidance.And indeed my Lord is with me.He will show me the way.’ 91 Say: ‘The truth has come and falsehood has vanished away; and falsehood was bound to vanish.’ 75 So on the day the truth arrives and will be laid open and the losers will suffer loss and will see the neglectful fallen into prostration and supplicating: Lord, forgive us, we were in error.93 Such people will help you whom We shall inspire from Ourself.81 The book of [My] friend is the dhulfiq « a »r [sword] of Ali.87 The Champion of Allah in the mantle of Messengers.87 The command of Allah the Gracious, for the vicegerent of Allah who is invested with authority.83 The heavens and the earth were a solid mass and We split them asunder.Reply to them: ‘I am but a mortal like you.It is revealed to me that your God is One God, and that all goodness and virtue is contained in the Quran.89 The moon of the Prophets will come and your affair will be completed.And, from the beginning, it is binding upon Us to help the believers.93 The mysteries that God Almighty has granted to His auliy « a »’ [friends of Allah] cannot be encompassed.93 Then put your trust in Allah and construct the ark under Our supervision and direction.83 There are many groups who have become deserving of punishment.83 There is no blame on you this day, for you have believed.93 These people will devise their plans and Allah will devise His plan and Allah is the Best of planners.79 The time has come that you should be helped and be made well known among people.87 The verities of the Quran are only disclosed to those whom Allah has cleansed and purified with His own hand, and I have been living among you for a long time, then do you not understand? 91

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Index 139 They are A « s »« h »« a » bu s - « S »uffah in the eyes of Allah.Do you realize how magnificent in status A « s »« h »« a »bu s - « S »uffah will be? You will see their eyes shedding tears; they will call down blessings on you.85 They desire to put out the light of Allah with the breath of their mouths but Allah will perfect His light and will revive the faith.83 They frighten you by someone other than Allah.85 They only mock you.Say: ‘I am of the truthful ones.So wait a while for My Signs.’ 83 They plan and Allah is the Best of planners.83 They will say: ‘This is all his own invention’.Say: ‘Allah is the Source of all this; and then leave them being beguiled by their sport.And who is guilty of greater wrong than one who invents a lie and utters falsehood against Allah?’ 81 They will supplicate: ‘Our Lord we have heard a Caller, calling people unto faith and a Summoner to Allah.Our Lord, we have believed, then write us down among the witnesses.87 This has been settled from Our side and We shall certainly do it.They used to reject Our Signs as false and were of the scoffers.Good tidings to you on the marriage.The truth is from your Lord, then be not of the doubters.We have married her to you.89 Those who enter into a covenant with you enter into a covenant with Allah; Allah’s hand is above their hands.83 Today you are in a position of high standing and trust with Us 81 Two goats will be slaughtered and everyone upon the earth will ultimately perish.And We will show them Our Signs in all corners of the inhabited world, and Our Signs shall appear among themselves and shall show them the punishment of the disobedient.89 Verily, We shall suffice against those who mock you.69 Warn your near relatives.We shall show them a Sign from among our Signs in the matter of the widow and shall return her to you.89 We intend to send down to you Signs from heaven and to scatter your enemies completely.83 We will bestow upon you a manifest victory so that God Almighty may forgive your shortcomings, past and future.Then be of the grateful.91

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140 Whatever befalls you is from Allah and know that the end is for the righteous.89 When Allah the Almighty helps a believer He makes many in the earth jealous of him.Deal kindly with people and be compassionate towards them.83 When the help of Allah comes, and victory, and the hosts turn to us, it will be asked: ‘Was this not true?’ Those who have disbelieved are in patent error.I was a hidden treasure and I willed to be recognized.89 With you are the hosts of the heavens and of the earth.87 You are based on clear truth, of high standing in the world and in the hereafter and of those who are close to Allah.A foolish one does not confirm anything except the stroke of destruction.93 You are in Our sight.85 You are the best people who have been raised for the benefit of mankind and as a source of pride for the believers.81 You are to Me as My Tau « h »« i »d [Oneness] and Tafr « i »d [Uniqueness].87 You are to me like Mus « a » [Moses].Then be steadfast under the oppression of the oppressors.83 You are with Me and I am with you.93 You have a high station in My Presence.87 You have been blessed, O Ahmad, and you alone deserved the blessing that Allah has bestowed upon you.87 You have been cleansed of idolatry, so enter Paradise in peace.93 Your Lord will have mercy on you and will safeguard you Himself even if men will not safeguard you.87 Your name will come to an end O Ahmad, but My name will not come to an end.85 Your rank is wonderful and your reward is near.87 Your secret is My secret.93 You will die when Allah will be pleased with you.93

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Index 141 Index of Topics Ab « u » Lahab likened to writers of edict of apostasy against Promised Messiah 89 Allah addresses and engages mu « h » addath « i »n 69 belief in Angels of, 103 beneficence of, 57 champion of, 87 commandments of, 91 converses with His dear ones 51, 53 doesn't abandon the obedient 21 favours of, upon Promised Messiah 107 gave Promised Messiah glad tidings 65 signs of, for those committed to acquisition of truth 107 signs of Grace upon Promised Messiah 37 spoke to women among Children of Israel 53 subtleties and insights in Book of, 23 Angels belief in, 103 of death 105 Announcement Promised Messiah’s answer to, of As-Sayyid ‘Abdur Razz « a » q al-Q « a »dir i of Baghdad 19 Ascent of Messiah 29 As-Sayyid 'Abdur Razz a q al-Q a dir i of Baghdad announcement of, v, 3, 7 attitude towards Promised Messiah 3 Believer qualities of, 109 Children of Israel Allah spoke to women among, 53 Christians time of, dominance over earth 99 Companions (of Holy Prophet Muhammad) agreement on descent of Messiah 25 believed in death of Jesus 31 Cross Promised Messiah to break, 107 Damascus hadith pertaining to, 99 Disbelief edicts of, 35 Elijah, Prophet descent of, 61 Furq a n see Quran God Almighty see Allah Hadith absolute certainty of Quran above, 97

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142 bear witness to death of Jesus 27 classification of, 27 pertaining to Damascus 99 sects in Islam have differed in accepting some, 95,97, 99, 101 Holy Prophet Muhammad aftermath of death of, 45 Imam as-Sirhindi ash-Sheikh Ahmad 77 letter of, about revelation of Allah 77 Imam Bukhari on death of Jesus 31 Islam misfortune has befallen, 53 sects in, have differed in accepting some Hadith 95 Istikh « a »rah advice of Promised Messiah to recite, 39 Jesus.see also Messiah a « h »ad « i »th which bear witness to death of, 27 descent of, 103 has passed away 25 Letter answer to, of As-Sayyid ‘Abdur Razz « a »q al-Q « a »dir i of Baghdad 19 of As-Sayyid ‘Abdur Razz « a » q al-Q « a »dir i of Baghdad 15 Mankind enveloped by darkness 55 Marriage good tidings to Promised Messiah on, 89 Messenger(s) champion of Allah in mantle of, 87 gave us glad tidings 47 blessings bestowed upon, also on Ummah 49 Messiah death of, 27, 29, 63, 97 Mu « h »addath « i »n Allah addresses and engages, 67, 69 recipients of divine revelations in Ummah 47 Mujaddid (Reformer) need for advent of, 53 of this century 45 Promised Messiah will appear as, 99 Muslim(s) can never abandon Quran for hadith 99 Messiah will appear from among, 27 most, enslaved by their own evil inclinations 57 sects rejecting other sects 95 Mutawaff « i »ka meaning of, 31 Nuz u l meaning of, 101 Polytheism earth has become filled with, 55 Promised Messiah advice of, 41 advice to As-Sayyid ‘Abdur Razz « a » q al-Q « a » dir « i » of Baghdad 37, 61, 65, 109 ascent of, 29

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Index 143 attitude towards As-Sayyid ‘Abdur Razz « a »q al-Q « a »dir « i » of Baghdad 21, 33, 41, 59 beliefs of, 95, 105 claims of, 107 descent of, 25, 61, 99,103 enmity against, 55 fallen in love with God 59 favours of Allah upon, 35, 107 future, will appear from among his community 27 has received revelations from God confirming death of Jesus 29 is supported by divine help 59 sorrow at weakness of Islam 55 will appear as Mujaddid 99 Prophethood seal has been set upon, 27 Prophets are never unsuccessful 65 foremost of those upon whom Allah has bestowed blessings 49 gave us glad tidings 47 guide us 51 Quran benefits for one who sincerely seeks guidance from, 69 characterized by consummate perfection 95 does not confirm Messiah’s descent from heaven 99 subtleties and insights in, of Allah 23 Religion Allah will revitalise, 45 Revelation(s) accounts of recipients of, 53 Promised Messiah given glad tidings through, 55 that descends upon Prophets similarly descends upon auliy « a »’ 75 Saints Allah and His Messengers have disavowed those who oppose their, 109 Sariyah incident of, 79 Scholars Muslim, enslaved by their own evil inclinations 57 reject some a « h »ad « i » th 103 Sects in Islam have differed in accepting some Hadith 95 numerous differences in, 109 Sheikh Abdul-Qadir al-Jilānī advice in Fut u h al-Ghaib 69 mentions true nature of verbal communication 51 Truth significance of 31 Ulama haughtiness of, 61 Umar while delivering sermon on Friday 79 Ummah is Khairul-Umam (the Best of Communities) 53 Allah has honoured this, 47

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