Hallmarks of the Saints

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Hallmarks of the Saints

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Hallmarks of the Saints (S i ratul-Abd a l) by Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi as, Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Islam International Publications LTD.

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ISLAM INTERNATIONAL PUBLICATIONS LTD Hallmarks of the Saints English translation of S i ratul-Abd a l Written by Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad The Promised Messiah and Mahdi, peace be on him, Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community First published in Urdu in Qadian, India, 1903 First English translation published in the UK, 2021 © Islam International Publications Ltd.Published by Islam International Publications Ltd.Unit 3, Bourne Mill Business Park, Guildford Road, Farnham, Surrey, GU9 9PS, UK Cover design: Sehrish Ahmed For further information please visit www.alislam.org ISBN: 978-1-84880-896-6 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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Contents About the Author.......................................................................ix Foreword....................................................................................xi Hallmarks of the Saints ( S i ratul-Abd a l )......................1 Blessings of S u rahs an-N ū r, al-F ā ti h ah, al-M ā i’dah.........2 Signs of righteousness.............................................................3 Saints are commissioned at the time of darkness...............4 Saints’ hearts are not overawed by anyone’s grandeur......5 Saints show benevolence upon Allah’s servants.................6 Saints are granted glad tidings of Allah’s help....................7 Saints race towards the ways of Allah..................................8 Saints are like a sagacious person..........................................9 Saints are helped, never forsaken.......................................11 Saints inspire the hearts of seekers after truth.................14 Saints cannot survive without their Lord........................17 Their advent signifies daybreak..........................................19 Saints are granted guardians by their Lord......................22 Saints have thirst of perfect knowledge............................23

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS vi Saints remain steadfast on the battlefield.........................26 Saints receive an abundant share of piety.........................31 Saints are cleansed of human wickedness.........................33 Saints remain undaunted by the strike of trials...............35 Saints remain submissive to their Lord............................37 Publisher’s Note........................................................................39 Glossary....................................................................................43 Index........................................................................................45

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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 to 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 (suc- cessorship) 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 S i ratul-Abd a l ( ) is a continuation of the third Arabic pamphlet— ‘Al a m a tul-Muqarrab i n ( The Signs of those Granted Nearness to God )—included in Tadhkiratush- Shah a datain ( The Two Martyrs ) in which the Promised Messiah as discusses the traits of people who have attained nearness of Allah.This booklet spells out the characteristics of those who have attained the status of Abd a l —i.e.those sincere followers of God’s Prophets who have brought about such a holy change in them- selves for the sake of Allah and through obedience to the Prophets that they, too, are commissioned for the reformation of mankind.A close study of S i ratul-Abd a l shows that it is a descrip- tion of the characteristics of true believers as given in the Holy Quran.Indeed, the Promised Messiah as himself attained this station through his complete obedience to the Holy Prophet Muhammad s as.God granted the Promised Messiah as such a special knowledge of the Arabic language that he was able to write books in highly eloquent and classical Arabic.S i ratul-Abd a l employs rich and rare

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xii Arabic vocabulary, drawing upon the style and rhetorical devices in currency in ancient Arabic literature, and while concise, the Arabic prose is considered particularly formidable.Although this translation can never fully reproduce the rhetorical force or elo- quence of the original, we pray it nonetheless benefits and inspires its readers to strive towards spiritual growth.al- Ha j Munir-ud-Din Shams Additional Wak i lut-Ta s n i f, London April 2021

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Facsimile of the original Arabic title page for S i ratul-Abd a l, printed in 1903.

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Translation of the original Arabic title page for S i ratul-Abd a l.Saints I have written this blessed treatise with the help of Allah the Glorious.I have set out herein the Signs, knowledge, and excellences of the servants of the Gracious Lord.Everyone who is in the prison of misguidance is ignorant of their status and rank.I have named it: Published at D iy a ul-Islam Press, Qadian, under the care of H ak i m Fa d l-ud-D i n of Bhera, in the holy month of Rama da n 1321, and December 1903, after the death of Jesus, peace be on him Copies 400 Price one anna Hallmarks of the

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In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.We praise Him and invoke blessings upon His Noble Messenger.O people! Verily, I convey to you what has been revealed to me from the Lord of all the worlds.I have been commissioned by the Gracious God, so come to me with all of your families.I have been blessed with heavenly wisdom, not gold and silver.The angels have descended for me from the heavens to the earth, and Qadian has been likened to the Sacred Land and its Town of Security [i.e.Makkah].My Lord protected me from the mischief of the igno- ble and made me from among the high-ranking.I attained perfect ِ ِبِسۡم ِ الل ِّٰ الرَّحۡمٰن ِ الرَّحِیۡم نَحۡمَدُہ ٗ وَنُصَلِّي ۡ عَلٰی رَسُوۡلِه ِ الۡكَرِیۡم كم ما أُوحي َ إيل ّ من رب ّ العاملني.إن ّ أُمِّرت ُ من الرمحان، أُذكِّر ن ْ أيها الناس..إ أبهلكم أمجعني.وأُعطيت ُ احلِكم من السماء، وال دجّال َ وال رقنيَ.احنطّت ن فأْتو َّ يل املالئكة من اخلضراء إىل الغرباء، وجُعلت ْ قاداين كالقادسية وبلدها األمني.وعصمين ريب من شر ّ الرُّضع ِ وجعلين من العالني.وشنَصْت ُ به كل َّ الشُّنوص وحُل

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 2 communion with Him, and for the love of that Companion, my flesh dissolved from every bone.So, thereafter, I fear neither the one with a drawn sword nor the mighty foe, for my Lord stands as my defender.I follow His revelation with deep insight and I have no ambiguity regarding my affair, nor am I an impostor.I pay no heed to those who oppose the truth and whose faces appear like the miserly.I am not at all concerned about any of my enemies even though he may threaten me with deadly conse- quences; I do not appear before him trembling like the cowardly.This world, for me, is nothing but a repulsive woman who has grown old, yet lacks devotion to her husband; he, thus, loathes her and abhors her coquettish manners and vainglorious super- ficiality, and deems her to be a worthless creature and the worst companion.Whosoever opens S u rahs an-N u r, al-F a ti h ah, and al-M a ’idah and then recites them continuously—reflecting upon them like seekers—progresses from shallow waters to deep waters beneath َْمي عن أوصاله للحِب ِّ القرين.فال أخاف مُشِّنًا بعده وال أَرْعَن َ العِدا مبا قام حل ُ أتّبع وحيه على البصرية، وما ارْتـَثَأ َ علي ّ أمري وما كنت ن يل ريب كاملداكئني.وإ من املفرتين.وال أُرغِن ُ إىل مَن خالف احلق وأرى الوجه َ كالضنني.وال أابيل أحدًا َ من العدا ولو خوّفين خبوف ٍ أَدْف َ وال أحضُره كاملتزَأْزِئني.وليست الدنيا عندي إال كجَهْبَلة ٍ إذا جَرْشَبَت ْ مث ما تـَبـَعَّلَتْ، فبَذَأَها بعلُها وبَذَأ َ رَوْسَها ودَقْشَها، ونـَزَّر أمرَها، وحسِبها بِئْس َ القرين.ومَن افتتح سورة النور والفاحتة واملائدة فسجَّلها وتدبـّرَها كالطالبني، وانتقل

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H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 3 him, dissolving his own comprehension, and obliterating his self, and abstains from drylands—failing to remain content with an insignificant pool of water and remaining undaunted by the harsh terrain, while tiring not in the quest for sweet flowing waters— such a person will thereafter witness the truth of my claim, will see what I have seen, and will be counted among those who have attained certainty.I am, indeed, the Promised Messiah and I am the very one who was destined to finish off [disbelief ] and gen- erously distribute [spiritual treasures].I am that man who is on a quest to find the righteous seeker after truth—wherefore glad tidings be for the righteous! Without a doubt, righteousness is not easy; for, by Allah, it surely resembles death, because the one who chooses righteousness is—so to speak—akin to the one who chooses death.O brave young people! Among the signs of righteousness is that it is a very steep ascent that is difficult to surmount.It is a death which consumes in different kinds of fire.But, then again, it is a magnificent steed that carries one to the gardens of Paradise.من غَلَل ٍ إىل غَمْر ٍ هو حتته، وأذاب َ فـَهْمَه ورَعْبَل َ وجودَه، وجتنّب َ الصِّالل َ وما قنع على مِْكَل ٍ وما هاب َ شَزَنً، وما لغب يف ابتغاء ماء ٍ معني، فيشاهد صدق ن املسيح املوعود، وأ ن أ ن ما ادّعيتُ، ويرى ما رأيت ُ، ويكون من املستيقنني.وإ َ الذي يدفو وجيود، ويستقري التّقي َّ الذي يبغي احلق ويرود، فبُشرى للمتّقني.إن ْ.ومَن آثر َ التُّقاتَ، فهو ظَأْب ُ رجل ٍ آثر ني ْ، ووهللا إهنا تُضاهي احلَ ني التُّقات َ ليس هبَ املماتَ.وهي عقبة ٌ كَئُود ٌ أيها الفتيان، وهي املوت احملرق ابلنريان، مث هي الطِرْف ِام اإلنسان.إذا بلغت َ منتهاها مح املوصِل إىل اجلِنان.أحتسب كم أَمْت ُ بينها وبني

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 4 Do you realize how close righteousness is to the death of man! When one reaches its apex and fully comprehends it, such indeed is the stage described as death by those who are granted cognition of God.Indeed, a righteous one is not afraid of satanic uproar and he deems the shedding of his blood in the way of Allah to be like a drink mixed with water from a mountain lake.The righteous have distinguishing signs by which they are recognized.O brave young people! There is no wal i [i.e.Friend of God] except the righteous.These are the very ones from whom a group is raised by Allah, the Gracious, for the reformation of mankind at the time of satanic mischief.Among their signs is that they are commissioned at the time of darkness which prevails all around.Their advent takes place when noble men and women have become exceedingly rare and the world is brimful of swine-natured and beastly people.There is an abundance of licentious people and a paucity of those who ََب َ الشيطانِ، جل واستوعبتها فهي املوت عند أهل العرفان.إن التّقي ّ ال خياف وحيسب انثعاب َ دمه يف هللا كشراب ٍ مُشَعْشَع ٍ ابلثِّغْبان.ولألتقياء عالمات يُعرَفون َِّ إال التقيّ، اي فتيان.منهم قوم يُرسَلون إلصالح الناس عند مفاسد يل َ هبا، وال و ّ اخلنّاس من هللا الرمحان.َّ فمِن عالماهتم أهنم يُبعثون عند ظالم حييط الزمان، ويظهرون إذا قل كثر رجال ٌ يـُبـَغْسِلون، وقَل الكرام والكرائم، وأتج ّلت اخلنازير والبهائم، و قوم يتهجّدون، وبقي الناس كَحَسْكَل ٍ ال يعلمون وال يعملون، وفسد الزمان

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H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 5 wake up for Tahajjud [i.e.a supererogatory prayer during the night].People become so vile that they neither possess virtuous knowledge nor practice good deeds.When the era deteriorates and wipes out the perfect ones and breeds only emaciated chil- dren [i.e.bereft of spirituality], the eye of heaven dries up and sheds no more tears.The earth becomes barren and does not pro- duce vegetation.The people become like the one who possesses a strong camel but cannot mount it, or the one who has kohl but does not apply it to his eyes.They completely depart from truth.The valley is flooded by a torrent [of sins].They [the saints] arrive at [the time of ] this famine and dispel the evil condition and shoot an arrow through the belly of Satan.They sew together what had been torn apart, and enlighten the era.Among their signs is that they are a people whose hearts are not overawed by anyone’s grandeur.He who neither submits nor drinks even a handful of water from their cloud is not even worth وأهلك َ كُمَّال ً، وما ولد إال زُعْبَالً، ونَزِفت ْ عني السماء وما ازْمَهَلّتْ، وصارت األرض جدبة وما أَبـْقَلت ْ، أو صار الناس كمثل رجُل ٍ له جَعَنْدل ٌ وال أيتبلُ، َ وعنده كحل ٌ وال يكتحلُ، ومالوا عن احلق كل ّ املَيْل، فحفل الوادي ابلسَّيْل.جيايئون اجلَدب، ويزيلون الوَدب، وحيشَئُون الشيطان، ويرفـَئُون ما اخرَوْرَق ويُنوِّرون الزمان.ّم قوم ال جيدون أحدًا أيخذ جاللتُه بقلوهبم، وال يعُدّون هن ومن عالماهتم أ كدودة ٍ مَن مل يتطأطأ ومل يغرتف من شُئـْبُوهبم.ويقعون يف أُلْانيّة الرب ِّ ويؤْثرونه

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 6 a worm to them.They are devoted entirely to the divinity of their Lord and give Him precedence in every possible manner.They alleviate the overburdened, and through their persistent efforts, save the one who stumbles.They tremble not before any [worldly] ruler.They cry and supplicate in the cause of Allah, who sent them during a time of widespread corruption and pervasiveness of self- ish passions.They are moved to do so only out of their sympathy for mankind and the command of the Glorious God.Among their signs is that when their relationship with their Munificent Lord seems to weaken, they revitalize it by bestow- ing acts of benevolence upon His servants.They soar high and do not alight suddenly.They are served such a drink from which they neither indulge in foul talk nor suffer from headache.Rather, they keep asking, ‘Is there more?’, without getting satiated.Their secrets are not understood on account of their profundity, as if they were speaking a foreign language.They withhold themselves كون مَن هَوَى بوُظوهبم.ال ء به احلِمْلُ، ويدر ن يف مجيع أسلوهبم، وينصرون مَن َُلُّون يف سبيل هللا الذي أشرطَهم عند أي أيخذهم أَفْكَل ٌ أمام أحد ٍ من األمراء، و فساد الزمان وشيوع األهواء، وما حيملهم على ذلك إال مواساة الناس وأمر حضرة الكربايء.ّم اجلواد، فيبلّلونه ابإلحسان هب ومن عالماهتم أنّه إذا استشن َّ ما بينهم وبني ر ً ال يـَهْذرون به وال اب على العباد، ويطريون إىل العُلى وال يُدثِّنون، ويُسقَون شرا يُصَدَّعون، ويقولون هل من مزيد وال يقنعون.وال تـُفْهَم ُ أسرارُهم مبا دَقّت ْ كأهنم

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H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 7 from everything that displeases their Lord and remain steadfast in truth.Even if they were to be burnt alive, they would never speak a lie.They do not conceal the truth even if they are torn into pieces.They never frown at the hardships that befall them and always place their trust in Allah.They regard the world as worth- less, so they never incline towards it.Among their signs is that they are informed of [their future] prestige even before the appearance of its physical means.They are granted glad tidings of Allah’s help in times of despair, gen- eral disregard of the people, and lack of the mundane means in this worthless world, so much so that fools ridicule them upon their disclosure of these prophecies and consider them mad, blab- bers, and impostors who chase their own selfish desires.They [i.e.their opponents] do everything in their power to annihilate them and reduce them to dust.At such a time the command of Allah descends from heaven and they are taken into the lap of the Lord of Grandeur’s favour and the whole web [of schemes] spun by ُّم وعلى احلق يثبتون.ولو أُحرقوا ال هب ا ال يرضى به ر م يرطُنون.ويُكْفِئون نفوسهم َقِلون، وال يكفرون ابحلق ولو يُبزَّلون.وال يتبسّل ُ وجوههم مبا أصابتهم مَكاره رب ُ يـ كّلون، وحيسبون الدنيا كَحَسْكَل ٍ فال يتوجّهون.ٍ وعلى هللا يتو م قبل وجود األسباب املادّية، ويبشّرون بنصر ل ّم ينبئون إبقبا هن ومن عالماهتم أ من هللا يف أايم اليأس وإعراض الناس وفقدان الوسائل املعتادة يف هذه الدنيا الدنيّة، حىت إن السفهاء يضحكون عليهم عند إظهار تلك األنباء، وحيسبوهنم جمانني هاذرين أو مفرتين لتحصيل األهواء، ويسعون كل السعي ليعدموهم وجيعلوهم

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 8 their opponents out of conceit and arrogance is torn apart and thus the matter is decided; the surging flood of mischief is dried up, and in the end they emerge victorious with honour and glory.Among their signs is that you see them racing through the ways of Allah like a strong she-camel; as for worldly affairs, they perform them reluctantly and do not give precedence to them except with disdain.Through them, God exposes the good morals of the people as well as that which is like a hidden disease; for, they are like the rain that reveals the true nature of the land.1 َو ُدَلَبْلا ُبِّيَّطلا ُجُرْخَي ٗهُتاَبَن ِنْذِاِب ٖهِّبَر١ۚ َو ْيِذَّلا َثُبَخ اَل ُجُرْخَي اَّلِا اًدِكَن By this parable, God Almighty relates the condition of the believ- ers and the transgressors.1.And as for the good land, its vegetation comes forth plentifully by the command of its Lord; and that which is bad, its vegetation does not come forth but scantily ( S u rah al-A‘r a f, 7:59).[Publisher] َباء، فينـزل أمر ُ هللا من السماء، ويُقعَدون يف حِجر عناية ِ حضرة الكربايء، ويُزَّق ل ُ كا ُعَل جت ّ واخليالء، ويُقضَى األمر ُ ويُغاض سيل الفنت و رب كل ّ ما نسج العِدا من التك خامتة أمرهم فوز املرام مع الغلبة والعزّة والعَالء.ومن عالماهتم أنّك تراهم يف سُبُل هللا مسارعني كالدِّعْكنة، وأمّا أمور الدنيا فيتزحّنون عنها وال يؤثروهنا إال ابلكراهة.ويُظهِر هللا هبم ما صلح من أخالق الناس وما كان كالدّاء ِ الدفني، فيشاهبون مَطرًا يُظهِر خواص ّ األرضني، كذلك ضرب هللا مثال َو ُدَلَبْلا ُبِّيَّطلا ُجُرْخَي ٗهُتاَبَن ِنْذِاِب ٖهِّبَر١ۚ َو ْيِذَّلا َثُبَخ اَل ُجُرْخَي اَّلِا اًدِكَن ، للمؤمنني والفاسقني.

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H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 9 Among their signs is that you find them like a sagacious man, a firm leader, and a trader who is the chief of the caravan.They stand out among their contemporaries.They spend their lives exerting themselves in crying and supplication.They spend their nights standing and prostrating before their Lord.They protect themselves against the wolf of selfish desires and continue wor- shipping their Lord until death overtakes them.Even when vile people abuse them, pounce upon them like dogs, and make them like a land covered by fog, you will find them forbearing.Among their signs is that they are raised at a time when utter darkness prevails—trees bearing scanty fruit and becoming like dry firewood—and in an era when people fall into a deep slum- ber and their faith becomes like a leafless branch of a palm tree.Such is the age that feeds worthless food to its children and fails to take responsibility for the hungry; it keeps the people mired in ُ ومن عالماهتم أنّك جتدهم كرجل ٍ رزين، وعمود ٍ رصني، واتجر ٍ هو بَدْء ّ زَحْنتِه وقـَيْل ُ املعاصرين.ويزجّون عيشتهم يف حَذَل ٍ وأَننيٍ، ويبيتون لرهبم قائمني وساجدين، وجيتنبون حِطْل َ الشهوات ويعبدون رهبم حىت أيتيهم يقني.وإن َم هت التُّحوت َ إذا سبّوا وأضبُّوا كالكالب، وجعلوهم كأرض حتت الضباب، وجد َ صابرين.ّم يُبعَثون يف عصر ٍ ادْجَوْجَنَ، ووقت ٍ قَل َّ مثاره وشابه َ احلطب هن ومن عالماهتم أ اهنم كإهان ٍ ما بقي له ي َ املُدْرِنَ، ويف زمان أخذت الناس َ نـَعْسة ٌ أُرْدُنٌّ، وبقي إ َا، ويف حِني ٍ ماطَل َ الناس هن َا، وما كفلت ْ جَوعا هن غُصْنٌ، ويف بُرهة أَحْثـَلَت ْ صبيا

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 10 misguidance so that the buffaloes of their own selves eat away the verdure of good deeds.Moreover, they are not ill-tempered like the ignoble; rather, they suppress their anger and forgive the ignorant who hurt them.Nonetheless, they are so brave that they never surrender to extreme oppression, even when they are unarmed in the battlefield.They fear their Lord and persevere in righteousness.Should a temp- tation from Satan cross their mind, they seek forgiveness.Thus, cravings that assail like mobs are defeated, and peace descends upon them, and Satan the accursed flees away.Among their signs is that they recognize the liars and naked hypocrites who resemble chameleons.You will find them sound in judgement and brave like lions in all their affairs, albeit they never prey upon people.You will find their hearts self-sufficient, الضّاللُ، وقَضِمت ْ جواميس ُ النفوس ما نـَعَمت ْ من األعمال.مث هُم ْ ال يكونون دَخِن َ اخلُلق ِ كاألَرْذال، بل يكظمون الغيظ، ويعفون عمَّن آذى، من اجلُهَّال.ومع َ، ولو كانوا كباهِل ٍ يف موطن ىت ذلك هم قوم ٌ شَجِعَة ٌ ال يـُرْغِنون إىل سِلْم ٍ لظُلْم ٍ عَ ّم وعلى التقوى يواظبون، وإذا مسّهم طائف من الشيطان هب ّ الوغى.وخيافون ر يستغفرون، فتُهزَم األهواء ُ اليت جاءت كأوشاب ٍ يهجمون، وتنـزل السكينة ويفر الشيطان امللعون.ّم يعرفون الرُّهْدُونَ، واملنافق َ البـُهْصُل َ الذي يضاهي احلِرْذُونَ، هن ومن عالماهتم أ كمثل هَصُور ٍ بـَيْد َ أهنم ال يفرتسون.وجتد قلوهبم كَنون، و وجتدهم كغَيْذان ٍ يف كل ما يز

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H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 11 yet they appear poor.They are fast in the ways of Allah and do not need to be spurred.You see their tears flowing endlessly.They neither incline towards indolence nor do they walk arrogantly.Among their signs is that destiny approaches them gently and whenever a trial is set to befall them, God apprises them of it in advance.Death comes to them slow and it never occurs like a sudden accident, as if God dislikes to cause them to die and hesi- tates to take their peaceful souls.Among their signs is that they are helped, never to be for- saken.No desire intervenes between them and their Lord and they are never abandoned.They do not part with their Lord even if they are ripped apart.Nor are they like those who boast despite being ignorant; rather, they are endowed with knowledge and enlightenment.God Himself manifests their light and they are ْكَلون.وترى دموعهم مُرْمَغِلّة ً ال أغنياء مث يتمسكنون، ويـُرْقِلون يف سُبُل هللا وال يـُر يلون إىل أَوْن ٍ وال يتـَبَخْرتون.ي تَرقَأ ُ وال شي إليهم على قدم املخاتَلةِ، ويُنبّئهم هللا بقدره إذا ي ومن عالماهتم أن ّ القدر َُتْعِل ُ إليهم املوت وال أييت كاحلوادث املفاجئة، كأن ّ هللا خي قُدِّر َ عليهم نزول البليّة، و يعاف ُ أن يهلكهم ويرتدّد عند قبض نفوسهم املطمئنّة.ّم هب ُذَلون، وال حيجز هوًى بينهم وبني ر خي ّم يُنصَرون وال هن ومن عالماهتم أ َُرْذَلون.وال يكونون كخرقاء َ ذات ِ نيِقَة ٍ بل خي وال يُرتَكون.وال يُفارقون احلَضْرة َ ولو

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 12 not ostentatious.They perform good deeds in the most befitting manner.You will find them like a tender plant even if they are wounded.The day and night bear witness that they are the Auliy a ’ [Friends] of the Gracious Lord, even though an ignorant one may call them heretics.Whenever a calamity befalls them, they rush toward their Lord.Allah does not leave them in obscurity; rather, they are recognized and honoured among people.They are not like hyenas, but rather, they resemble an extraordinary man—ele- gant and youthful.They walk upon the earth in a dignified man- ner and do not stagger like the old.Among their signs is that a group of fools entertains evil sus- picions about them but God acquits them of all such accusations.They do not mourn or grieve over the calamities that befall them and there is a close affinity between them and the Prophets.They drink from that which the Prophets drank.Whenever a calamity يُعطون العلم ويُنوّرون.ويُري هللا ُ بريقَهم وهم ال يُراءون، ويف احلسنات يتنوّقون.م األَثـْرَمان ِ أهنم من أولياء الرمحن، ل وتراهم كنبات ٍ خَضِل ٍ ولو يُكلمون.يشهد َْفِلون، وال خي ّم مُلحِدون.وإذا ضاق عليهم أمر ٌ فإىل هللا هن ولو حيسبهم خَطِل ٌ أ كهم هللا كخامل، بل يُعرَفون يف الناس ويُبجَّلون.وال تراهم كَأُم ِّ خَنـْثَلٍ، بل هم يرت َُنْشِلون.خي شون يف األرض هون ً وال ي كَبَب ٍّ عَبـْقَرِي ٍّ يُشاهَدون.و ومـن عالماهتـم أن ّ خُنطولـة مـن السـفهاء يظنّـون فيهـم ظـن َّ السَّـوْء وهـم األنبيـاء ـني عنـد هللا يـُبـَـرَّأُون.ال يغتمّـون بدُؤْلُـول ٍ وال هـم حيزنـون.وبينهـم وب ـا كانـوا يشـربون.وإذا دَبـَلَتْهـم دُبـَيْلـة ٌ فقامـوا وإىل هللا يرجعـون.م خُئولـة يشـربون

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H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 13 befalls them, they stand upright and to God alone do they turn.They liberally spend whatever they possess for the sake of God and they never show miserliness.They distance themselves far from the pit of the world—they neither stand on its edge nor come close to it.In fact, they are God’s lions and lie concealed in the lair of the unseen.There is no ferocious lion or hawk like them.They pounce on their enemies and destroy them.They are the branches of the Holy Tree and whosoever dares to crush them is himself crushed by the Almighty.Those who besiege them are themselves afflicted with painful suffocation.No one torments them except the ignorant one who is like the purslane that is carried away by the floodwater, or the one who is more vicious than a snake.They are the people for whose sake God Himself fights.Their enemies never succeed against them even if they run so fast that their feet ache, for they have chosen to fight the One from whom the trans- gressors are not hidden.ٌ وينــزحون مـا عندهـم هلل وال يبخلـون.جيتنبـون دَحْلـة َ الدنيـا وال يقومـون علـى َـة ِ الغيـب يُكتَمـون.ليـس هَصـور مج َ ّـم رايبيـل ُ هللا ِ ويف أ هن حُفْرهتـا وال يقربـون.وإ ّـم أغصـان شـجرة هن تشـقون.وإ ي كمثلهـم وال ابزي، يصولـون علـى العـدا و القـدس، فمَـن هَصَرَهـم يكسـره هللا، والذيـن حيصروهنـم فهـم يف غَتْـم ٍ يَضجَـرون.ّـم قـوم ٌ حيـارب هن وال يؤذيهـم إال مَـن كان أمحـق مِـن رِجْلـة ٍ وأخْنَـس َ مِـن حيّـةٍ، فإ يرهتشـوا، فإهنـم عارضـوا الـذي ال ـىت ـم، وال تفلـح عِداهـم، وإن يفـرّوا ح ل ُ هللا ختفـى منـه اجملرمـون.

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 14 Among their signs is that they inspire the hearts of seekers after truth with their knowledge, and nourish them as birds feed their young and are affectionate to them, and safeguard them against all that is inappropriate for them, and listen to their cries with loving kindness, never becoming indifferent to them.Indeed, they are like shepherds in the land and when they see a wolf, they cry out.They never rely on their selves; rather, they keep glorifying and praising their Lord.They do not lead a life of a bulky animal; rather, as misfortunes befall them one after the other, they become more tender-hearted.They are purified by their Lord in such a way that all of their carnal desires vanish one by one, leaving behind only the soul, and thus they become peerless.Then they are sent to the people and invite them to vir- tue and success.That is the station of Abd a l [Saints], who chose the paths whereby they do not have to suffer remorse in the end, nor grieve.ّم يـُلْقون علومَهم يف قلوب قوم ٍ يطلبون، ويربّوهنم كما هن ومن عالماهتم أ ا ال يرصُف هبم، ويسمعون م يـُزْغِل ُ الطائر فـَرْخَه وعليهم يُشفقون، وحيفظوهنم بتحنّن ٍ صَرْخ َهم، وال يغفلون.وإهنم رعاة ٌ يف األرض إذا رأوا سِرْحان ً فبِشائِهم كّلون على أنفسهم ويُسَبْحِلون.وال يعيشون كَسَبَحْلَلٍ، بل ُ ينعِقون.وال يتو ّم، فتتساتل هب كَّى أنفسُهم من ر تتواىل عليهم األحزان ُ فهم فيها يذوبون.وتُز جذابهتم حىت يبقى الروح فقط ويـُفْرَدون، مث يُرس َلون إىل الناس، فيدعون الناس َُيْعِلون.ذلك مقام أبدَال ٍ الذين اختاروا سُبال ً ال يعتقبون منه حي إىل الصالح و

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H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 15 They traverse through canyons that the obese could never cross.They die only after they are to be succeeded by a people who are bestowed true knowledge and are righteous.Without fatigue they continue inviting the ignorant to their fountainhead.Everyone who hears their call hastens to them except those who are deaf and whose tongues are afflicted with disease and whose hearts are veiled so that they pay no heed.Such has been the practice of disbelievers that they turn a deaf ear to the call of the Messengers, no matter how painfully they call out to them; neither are they awakened by a faint sound nor by a vehement voice until the day of chastisement overtakes them unawares.Prophets strive hard to remove the cloud of dust from their eyes so that they might see, yet they sit still like a divorced woman, and disobey their Lord and turn away as if they know not, and lose their senses like the one whose speech is incomprehensible, and become immoral and foul-mouthed.وتون إال بعد أن ي ً ال جيوزها املثقَلون.وال اب ندامة ً وال يتأسّفون، وجازوا شِعا ُلِّفوا أَزْفَلة ً من الذين يُرزقون معرفة ً ويتّقون.ويدْعون كل َّ دائق إىل عينهم وال خي َّ ُم وجُن هن يسأمون، فيأتيهم كل من مسع نداءهم إال الذين صمّوا وذحَق لسا كذلك جرت عادة الكفرة، ما مسعوا نداء املرسلني ُم فهم ال يتوجّهون.و هن جَنا وإن كانوا يَصْلِقون، ومل يتيقّظوا حبسيس ٍ وال بصَهْصَلق ٍ حىت أخذهم العذاب وهم ال يشعرون.وجاهد النبيون لعل هللا يزيل صِيْقتَهم ولعلّهم يبصرون، ّم وأعرضوا كأهنم ال يعلمون.وطارت حواسّهم هب فقعدوا كامرأة ٍ طالق ٍ وعصوا ر

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 16 They abuse the Prophets and find fault with them.They eat vora- ciously yet remain insatiable.Verily, those who believe strive hard in the cause of Allah, and, they reproach their legs despite them moving hastily and think they are falling behind.They endure hardships for the sake of Allah so that they may be accepted.Thus the mercy of Allah supports them and they are not left in the straitened life; rather, they emerge victorious.The ignoble take them for discarded food which is spoilt, whereas [the truth is that] creation is saved on their account.They seek the pleasure of Allah and cry out [before their Lord] like a woman in the pangs of childbirth; only then are they included among the accepted ones.Among their signs is that God removes the severity of intense كانوا يسبّون النبيّني وينقرون، كانوا ذوي حُسَاس ٍ وذوي وَنْش ٍ و كاحلُكْل ِ و ويرتعون ويَلع َصون.إن الذين آمنوا هم يف هللا جياهدون، ويلومون األرجل َ مع كهم طَهْقِها ويظنّون أهنم متقاعسون، ويؤْثرون الشدائد هلل لعلّهم يُقبَلون، فيدر رُحْم ُ هللا وال يـُبْقون يف أَزْل ٍ من العيش وابلفوز يـَقْفِلون.وحيسبهم زَهْدَن ٌ كزِوَانٍ، واخلَلْق ُ هبم يَسلمون.يبتغون رضا هللا ويصرخون كامرأة ٍ ماخض ٍ فيُدخَلون يف املقبولني.َع َ عن القلوب، ومن عالماهتم أن ّ هللا يكشف عنهم رُونة َ الكروب، ويَزحَن الفَز

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H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 17 grief from them, and rids their hearts of fear.Thus, their faces ever shine forth and they fear not.They are granted such morals as are not to be found in others, and their character is revealed when they meet people.They behave humbly with visitors even if they be lowly helpers in a monastery or savages like wild donkeys.This is how they conduct themselves.Among their signs is that they cannot survive without their Lord; they keep away from their pillows.In the way of Allah even foul-smelling water is pure and fresh to them.They seek the pleas- ure of Allah.In their eyes the world is like excretion, and its seeker is good for nothing or is a hyena similar to the father of Abraham.And, on account of their renunciation of the world, they are sup- plied with clusters of fresh fruit and great gifts.The world to them is like the piece of cloth with the help of which Allah takes down the cooking pot of their subsistence to save them from harm.This ففي كل آن ٍ تتهلّل ُ وجوههم وال يتخوّفون.ويُعطَون أخالقًا ال يوجد مثلها يف غريهم، وعند املُساحَنة يُعرَفون.يتواضعون للزَّيرِ، ولو كان أحد منهم سادِن َ الدَّيْرِ، كذلك يفعلون.و ،ِْ ري َ أو وحشيًّا كالع ّم حُنـْتَأْلٌ، يستأجزون عن الوسادة هب م عن ر ل ّم قوم ما هن ومن عالماهتم أ واآلسن ُ عندهم يف سُبُل هللا زُالل ٌ.يبغون رضا هللا والدنيا يف أعينهم دَمالٌ، كها قُطوف دانية وجِزالٌ، والدنيا م برت ل وطالبُها بَطّالٌ، أو كأيب إبراهيم جَيالٌ، و م ل سُّهم خَبالٌ، هذا مِن رهبم، و ي ُعِل ُ هللا هبا قِدْر َ معيشتهم فال جي م جِعالٌ، ل

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 18 is [the bounty] from their Lord since they detach themselves from the world and forget it.In fact, they rush towards Allah and their tears continually flow in His remembrance.They are the peo- ple who consider this world to be as negligible as the amount a tiny ant can lift with its mouth.Since inciting the soul for this [material world] is misguidance, wherefore these are those knives through which the [sacrificial] slaughter is made.Its [the world’s] seekers are lambs [which need to be slaughtered]; its water is little and its food is fatal.The world is like a woman who is in the habit of refusing her husband under the pretext of menstruation.Its face is like a with- ered old man who has completely lost his elegance.Its beginning is ease but its end is hardship; you will not find anything more wicked than it.Beware! It is the tree of Zaqq u m; 1 do not, there- fore, mistake it for a cluster of grapes.That is why the servants of God have drawn a sharp sword against it; they neither grab it with their hands nor do they seek to milk it; they have divorced 1.Zaqq u m denotes the tree of disbelief.The Quran has compared true belief to a good tree which brings forth its fruit at all times (14:25–26) and disbelief to an evil tree— Zaqq u m (14:27).[Publisher] وإِذهالٌ، وإىل هللا إِرْقالٌ، ويف ذِكره ارْمِعْالل ٌ.هم قوم حيسبون أن منها اخلزال الدنيا زِابلٌ، وإزعال ُ النفس به ضاللٌ، وإهنا مُدًى يُذبَح هبا وطالِبوها سِخالٌ، ُا كَقِحْل ٍ ما هت ُا اإلعراض كمُفسِّلة ٍ وصور هت وماؤها ضَهْل ٌ وطعامها اغتيالٌ، وسري بقي فيه مجالٌ، وأوّلُا أَوْن ٌ وآخرها اقْذِعْاللٌ.ال جتد كمثلها قـُرْزُالً، وإهنا زقّوم ٌ فال حتسبها قُعاالً، ولذلك سَل َّ عليها عباد ُ الرمحن سيفًا قَصّاالً، وما أخذوها بيديهم

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H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 19 it thrice and they are not like a woman suffering from miscar- riages.They have perfected their words and deeds and they are never afraid of any shameless man, for they are ever ready to face death.Among their signs is that they are nurtured like a child fed on a good diet and, by nature, swim like fish.Their blessings are like incessant rain.They appear when truth becomes like an uprooted tree.When an age is devoid of such people, it is as if it were with- out rain.Chaos and calamities, when they abound, serve as the sweet smell of their advent and betoken their approaching light.They run in the ways of Allah like a noble horse.They reveal the people’s secrets like a belly that is being slit open.Their advent signifies daybreak and their departure signifies darkness.They are the beacons of faith and religion, and serve as the proof of God on the earth.Their message spreads across the sky like flashes وما بغوا إِمْصاالً، وطلّقوها بثالث ٍ وما شاهبوا مُْغِالً، وأمتّوا قوال ً وحاالً، وما ابلَوا ُ طَمْال ً فيما بلغوا إِبْساالً.ُم يف سباحتها تُشابه هت ّم يُنشَّأون كصيب ٍّ عُلْهَدٍ، وفطر هن ومن عالماهتم أ كات كمطر ٍ إذا أَلَثَّ، يَظهَرون إذا كان الصدق كشجر اجتُثَّ.م بر ل ُ العَنْكَدَ.و َنابِثُ، فهي أرائج ل ّ إذا فـَقَدَهم الزمان، فكأنه فـَقَد َ التـَّهْتانَ.إذا كثرت الفنت وا َْزَجُ، ويكشفون سر أي ٍ ظهورهم، وإرهاص ُ نورهم.يسعون يف سبل هللا كطِرْف الناس كبطن ٍ يُبعَجُ.جميئهم بلجةٌ، وذهاهبم ظلمةٌ.هم بـَهْجة ُ امللّة والدين، وحُجّة

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 20 of lightning and as the surging of the sea.Good-natured people hasten towards them much like gazelles emerge from their hide- outs, and, except for the crooked, all good-natured people of the ummah accept them.Those who reject them will definitely come to realize [the enormity of their rejection] during the pangs of death, even though at present they flare up like a blazing fire.They prefer this world and make it a temple for their hearts.They strut towards it as a rooster rushes towards a hen with ruffled feathers in order to mate with her.They show great stupidity and are hardened like a well-twisted rope.They are unlike a fresh and tender branch but are rather like food that has gone mouldy; they are devoid of good and are like misers.Verily, the case of those who believe in the Prophets of Allah is akin to a pure tree on a fertile sand hill; it is they who are taken to be the helpers of this purified religion.They move like an هللا على األرضني.يُشاع ُ أمرهم كالربق إذا تبوّجَ، والبحر إذا متوّجَ.خترُج إليهم َِها، وتقبَلهم خيار ُ األمّة مِن غري ِ أَعْوَجِها.جل ْ السُّعداء كظيب ٍ إذا خرج مِن تـَو َ والذين ينكروهنم فسيعلمون عند احلَشْرَجة، وإن الْتهبوا اليوم َ كالنار املُنْحضِجة.ّم يؤثرون الدنيا وجيعلوهنا لقلوهبم معبدها، ويتمايلون عليها كالديك إذا حَلَج هن إ ُْلِجَ، وليسوا كَغُصْن ٍ رَأُود ٍ بل مح ومشى إىل أُنْثاه ليَسْفدها.قد رَهَدوا كاحلبل إذا احلِنْبِجَ.إن ّ الذين يؤمنون برسل ٍ كطعام ٍ إذا تَكَرَّجَ.ليس فيهم خري ٌ ويضائهون هللا مثلهم كمثل شجرة طيّبة، يف حَنادِج ِ حُرّةٍ.هم الذين يتّخذون عَضُدًا لِمِلّة

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H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 21 able-bodied youth in the ways of Allah because their [spiritual] eyes are opened and their cloaks of human [weakness] are peeled off, and divine light causes the blossom of their faith to bear fruit.Indeed, they are like lions yet they are never guilty of any mis- conduct.Having renounced the world, they are not burdened; therefore, they fly towards Allah and are not among those who drag their feet.They sweep away all the dust of their inner selves leaving behind no trace of this transient world.Whatever they do, they do for the hereafter and for it alone do they strive.They are blessed with the unbored pearls of wisdom and they constantly grasp such profound subtleties that a conceited ignoramus con- siders them to be heretics.Their faces are like a soft and tender branch and, by virtue of recognizing their Lord, they are not cov- ered with darkness and they despair not.They are honoured in heaven; therefore, Allah fights those who damage their reputation or shed their blood, so that they are seized and destroyed.They مُطهّرةٍ.يسعون كثـَوْهَد ٍ يف سُبل هللا مبا فقّحوا وقُشِّروا عن جرادة ٍ بشريّة، وأمثر َ فيهم يّة.إهنم كأُسود ٍ ومع ذلك ليسوا كشُحْدُودٍ، وليسوا مبثقَلني ل ان بنور ٍ إ ي نـَوْر ُ اإل لرتك ِ الدنيا، ولذلك يطريون إىل هللا وال يُكَرْمِون.يكسَحون البواطن َ وال يغادرون ا جياهدون.ل فيها مثقال ذرّة ٍ من هذه العاجلة، ويعملون ما يعملون لآلخرة و َِغْد ٌ أهنم مُلحِدون.مس ّ يـُعْطَون خُرَّد َ املعارف ِ ويتلقّفون أدق َّ بعد أدق َّ حىت يظن م عزّة يف ل وترى وجوههم كغُصْن ٍ عُبـَرِّد ٍ ال ترهقها قرتة ٌ مبا عرفوا رهبم وال ييأسون.

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 22 [i.e.those who insult God’s servants] are deaf, dumb, and blind and—due to extreme animosity—they are afflicted with the dis- ease of the heart.Among their signs is that the water of their pool is never exhausted; rather, they are always provided with fresh, flowing water; they have no idea what muddy water is, for they are unceas- ingly supplied with sweet and fresh water from the Lord of all the worlds.Their Lord grants them guardians so that they are saved from the wilderness and the wolves that dwell therein.The recep- tacle of their selves is filled with light and insight, and what lies hidden from the veiled ones is made manifest to them.This is so because they surrender their selves to Allah like the sacrificial calf; they either fulfil their vow or remain ready to do so.It is also so because they spend all that they possess in the ways السماء، فالذين يـَهْرِدون أعراضهم أو يسفكون دماءهم، حيارهبم هللا فيؤخَذون ُتاحون.صم ٌّ بكم ٌ عمي ٌ ومن شدّة العناد يكمَدون.جي و ّم قوم ال يُطَّمَل ُ ما يف حوضهم، ويُعطون كل َّ آن ٍ من ماء هن ومن عالماهتم أ م زالل ٌ عَذْب ٌ من رب ّ العاملني.ويُصْفِدهم ل ُ معني.وال يعلمون ما احلِنْضِجُ، ويُسرَد ّا فيها من السَّراحنيِ.وتُزمَج ُ قِربة ُ نفوسهم م ّم خفريًا، فيُعصَمون من مَوامِي َ و هب ر م ما ختفَى من احملجوبني.ذلك أبهنم يُسلّمون نفوسهم إىل ل نورًا وفهمًا، وتلوح هللا كأَرْخ ٍ يُذبَح، ويقضون حنبهم أو يكونون من املنتظرين، وأبهنم يُنفقون يف هللا

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H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 23 of Allah and are not like miserly people.They yield fruit like a long fresh branch so the poor and needy seek shelter under them.Without any toil and insistence on their part, they are provided with sustenance from Allah who protects the righteous.Among their signs is that God Almighty inspires them with extreme thirst for perfect knowledge; their chests are opened and all human impurities are removed from them so that they are filled with the love of Allah, and, for His sake, they slaughter their own selves like a cow.They pile up the provision of right- eousness and spend out of it at every moment as needed.They turn away from every ignorant person, repel evil with good, and live like a dishevelled and dusty person, out of humility for God.Likewise, they consummate their spiritual journey the way that bread is baked over hot coals.Despite having many brothers and ٍ َع ْ، وال يكونون كرجل ٍ جَعْد ِ اليدين، ويثمرون كغُصْن ٍ سَرَعْر ني م من العَ ل ما كان غَزِيدٍ، فتأوي إليهم املساكني، ويُرزَقون مِن غري الكَد ِّ واإلحلاح يف احملاولة ِ من هللا الذي يتوىل الصاحلني.ًَا للمعرفة التامّة، وتُضرَح ُ صدورُهم جم َ ومن عالماهتم أن ّ هللا خيلق يف نفوسهم أ َُون مِن ْ حُب ّ هللا ويذحبون له أل ْ ُرَج ُ منها كل ّ ما كان من الغوائل اإلنسيّة، فيُم خت و َ أنفسهم كاجلَلْمَدة، ويرضُدون متاع التقوى وينفقونه يف كل ساعة بقدر الضرورة، ويُعرِضون عن كل صِلْغَدٍّ، ويدفعون السيئات ِ ابحلسنة، ويعيشون كأَشْعَث َ أَغْبـَر

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 24 children, they live like a solitary person who has neither brother nor son.In following the injunctions of God, they resemble a land that produces forth quick yields.They neither care for the aspersions of the unjust nor do they deviate an inch from their chosen paths on account of their threats.They adorn the abode of their hearts for Allah like a good, housekeeping woman.They stand before Allah, hastening towards Him, and firmly hold on to that which is given by Allah.Among their signs is that if you stay in their company for a while you will witness wonders at their hands.As for their gen- erosity, you will find them like a great, milk-yielding she-camel.Their discourse cleanses hearts and their speech penetrates them.In fact, their attire is adorned with righteousness by the command of Allah the Gracious and the superfluous part of their sensual passions is cut off from them, and whatever has accumulated of ٍ كهم كما تـُفْأَد ُ اخلُبْزة ُ يف املَلّةِ.ويعيشون كقَحّاد كذلك يُنضِجون سلو تواضعًا لِِّ، و ِ مع كثرة اإلخوان والذريّة، ويكونون كأرض ٍ مِبْكار ٍ عاملني أبوامر احلضرة، وال كون بتهديدهم ذرّة ً من السُّبل املنتخَلة، ويزيّنون هلل يبالون رَعْل َ الظاملني وال يرت بيت قلوهبم كاالمرأة املفَرْن ِسة، ويقومون هلل ابهشني، وأيخذون ما أُويت َ من هللا ابلقوّة.ومن عالماهتم أنّك ترى عجائب منهم إن ْ لبثت َ فيهم برهة ً من الزمان، وص ُ القلوب َ قولُم ويدخل نُطْقُهم يف ي وجتدهم كناقة ٍ فَشوش ٍ عند الفيضان.

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H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 25 their sins is removed.Through them, many blind and ignorant persons begin to see and are educated and transformed into men of piety and learning.Woe betide those who mock such persons just like a shrew who barks at her husband.They know not that they will be ruined by divorce, because Allah has attached the salvation of people to their love and grace.Thus, whoever parts ways with them perishes because he has turned his back on those who were his guardians.This misfortune is the lot of the one who is, by nature, extremely lazy, reckless, and arrogant, and is not among those who fear Allah and reflect.All this springs from the filth of the world, so woe to those who are polluted by it.They spurn and ridicule the men of God and strive to do them harm, thinking they are doing some- thing good.The most unjust among the worldly at this time is the one who is bent upon doing harm to me.He is wicked and arrogant like ْة ٌ زائدة ٌ من الشهوات رب َ اجلَنان، فتُنيـَّر ُ بِنِري ِ التقوى إبذن هللا الرمحان، وتـُهْبـَر ُ ه كم من عُمْي ٍ مستهرتين يُبصرون ويُهذَّبون حو كل ّ ما يُؤبَش ُ من العصيان.و ي ٍ و هبم، فإذا هم من أهل التقاة والعرفان.فويل ٌ للذين يضحكون عليهم كامرأة ُار ُّ زوجَها، وال يعلمون أهنم بطالق ٍ يهلكون.فإِن ّ هللا علّق جناة الناس حبُبّهم هت ُ وعنايتهم، فقد هلك مَن قطع العُلَق َ منهم مبا ترك قومًا حيرُسون.وال تُصيب تلك الشِّقوة ُ إال رجال يف فطرته هُزَيْرةٌ، ومع ذلك عجلة ٌ وخنوةٌ، وليس من الذين كل ّ ذلك تتولّد مِن وَضَر ِ الدنيا، فويل ٌ للذين هبا يتّسخون.خيافون هللا ويتدبّرون.و

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 26 Satan.He has tried to frighten me with his rustling and hissing like a serpent.Allah is my Witness that I am under the protection of the Gracious Lord, and whosoever intends to destroy me will him- self be destroyed by the Lord of Reckoning; I live before His eyes and the Messengers are never afraid in His presence; He causes the schemes of deceivers to recoil upon them, if they only knew! Among their signs is that they do not slip in the battlefield; rather, they remain steadfast and never exhibit cowardice.They lead people like an expert guide so as to save all those who fear the wolf.Like someone who wishes the very best for his people, they return to their people with insights and verities.They are not content with their own efforts and fear that the edifice of their life might collapse and break down any day; therefore, they keep ِ ُسِنون.ومِن أظلم حي يسعون إليذاء أهل هللا ذائِبني مستهزئني، وحيسبون أهنم أبناء ِ الزمان يف هذا األوان، مَن تصدّى إليذائي وهو ضِبْس ٌ وأَشْوَس ُ كالشيطان، َِى الرمحان، فمَن أراد أن مح ن ّ وخوّفين مِن كَشِيشِه وفَحِيحِه كالثعبان.ووهللا إ أبعيُنِه وال خياف لديه املرسلون، ويرُد ن ّن.وإ اي َّ يقطعين فسيُقطَع من أيدي الد اجلَرْبَزة َ على أهلها لو كانوا يعلمون.ّم ال يكونون كداحِضٍ، بل يقومون يف مَآقِطَ، وال يضائهون هن ومن عالماهتم أ اجلبانَ، ويـَؤُمُّون الناس كخَوْتَع ٍ ليحفظوا مَن خاف السِّرْحانَ، وينقلبون مبعارف

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H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 27 seeking an heir from their God and find him in the shape of a baby boy.They crush their own passions in seeking the pleasure of the Lord of the universe.They are sincere towards their Lord beyond any trace of adulteration.They never leave the Lord’s court and become remote [from Him]; love for Him clings to their hearts and they unite their selves with their Beloved.They never flare up at people; rather, they guard their tongues, and if a harsh word happens to proceed from them, they make up for it with tenderness.They speak like an eloquent orator and their words are made eloquent by the grace of God.They spend their wealth on the poor and forge ahead in the face of trials and trib- ulations like a brave and courageous soldier.You will never see their faces turn red when angry, and in times of distress you will find them raising their heads towards their Lord like fish.Around كالذي للقوم إعتانٌ.ال يقنعون على جهد أنفسهم وخيافون هدم بنيان العمر ويوم َ انقضاضٍ، فيطلبون الوارث َ من هللا وجيدونه كابن خماضٍ، ويفهَضون اجلذابتِ، ابتغاء رضا رب ّ الكائناتِ.وخيلصون لرهبم وال يسُوطون، وال يربحون احلضرة وال يَشْحَطون.ويليط ُ حب ُّ هللا ِ بقلوهبم، ويـَنُطُّون أنفسهم مبحبوهبم، وال كون.ُافظون، ولو بدَر منهم مُْفِظ ٌ فبِاللِّني ِ يتدار حي ُْفِظون الناس َ وعلى اللسان حي ٍّ.يُذَعْذِعون املال َ على ن ّ اب ٍّ، وتفصح كَلِمُهم مِن فضل ٍ ر ن ينطقون كرجل بـَلْتَعا الفقراء، ويبارزون كزَمِيع ٍ مِقْدام ٍ يف مواطن االبتالء.ال ترى يف وجوههم سُفْعة ً عند ظرين إىل رهبم عند الكُرَب، وعلى شِراعِهم ن ٍ الغضب، وجتدهم كحيتان ٍ شُروع

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 28 their necks is a rope of God’s love—not a twisted noose made of sinew.None but the mean-spirited would attack them and none would injure them except the one who is more wretched than a cuckold.Their resolve is so firm and unyielding that whenever they are determined to do something they persevere with utmost steadfastness, and when they have to fight a snake they cut it into pieces.Whoever comes to them thirsty is quenched by their water and is cleansed of every kind of doubt.Lo! The time of satiation has come close! Let there be glad tidings for the righteous seekers.Do you not see that this era has become corrupt and filled with all kinds of serpents flicking their tongues and its walls are about to collapse, and diseases are breaking out and lives are being lost and death is spreading in all directions? The sixth millennium has passed and now I have come at the turn of the seventh millennium.O brave and young people! This is what the Prophets had foretold.So, how حبل ٌ من حُب ّ هللا وال كشِرْعة ِ العَقَبِ.ال يصول عليهم إال الذي هو كقَرْثَعٍ، وال ة قاهرة، إذا قصدوا أمرًا جلَّحوا، ي م عز ل يؤذيهم إال الذي هو أشقى من قـُنْذَعٍ.ُوَى مِن مائهم ويُنـزَّه ُ مِن كل ري وإذا حاربوا ظَرْبَغانة ً قتَّلوا، ومَن جاءهم ابلرَّغْرَغة، ف ُ نوع الشبهة.وقد أَزِف َ زمان ُ اإلرواء، فطوىب للطلباء األتقياء.أال ترون أن ّ الزمان قد فسد، ومُلِئ َ مِن أنواع نَضْناض ٍ، وقرب جدرانه إىل انقضاض، واألمراض تشاع على رأس ن والنفوس تضاع، واحلُتوف مُالقية على أوفاضٍ.وقد صلَغ الزمانُ، وأ

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H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 29 long will you continue to call me a liar and not fear the Lord of Reckoning? Among their signs is that they seek Paradise in their aspira- tion to meet God rather than to eat grapes and the meat of birds.You will find that their primary aim is to hasten towards the com- mandments of the Lord of both worlds with outstretched hands.They lifted the veils of human nature and burst asunder, with their truthfulness, that which had been inaccessible of divine nature.This was the result of God sending down a host of manifestations upon them by which they demolished the very foundation of their being and ceased to be moved by their self, and entered under the protection of God against the snakes.They entered gardens and their faces were illuminated like a flash of lightning.They found the worldly people dark-faced, so they strove to brighten them and set about to reform them akin to a hen that incubates its eggs.كذلك قال النبيّون أيّها الفتيان، فإِالم َ تكذّبون األلف السابع يف هذا األوان، و ّن؟ اي ِ وال تتّقون الد ّم يرُودون اجلنّة َ ابتغاء لقاء احلضرة، ال للحم ِ الطري ِ وعني هن َ ومن عالماهتم أ البقرةِ، وجتد عُرْضتَهم ابسطة َ اليدين، لتلقُّف أوامر رب ّ الكونني.عَلْهَضُوا قارورة حُجب ِ الناسوت، وفتَقوا بصدقهم رَتْق َ الالهوت، وذلك أبن هللا قَض َّ عليهم خيل التجلّيات، فقوّضوا بناء وجودهم وما بقي نَضْنضة ُ النفس ِ ودخلوا يف أمان هللا من ضَ.ووجدوا وجوه أهل ن احلَيَوات، ودخلوا الرايضَ، وهتلّلت وجوههم كربق إذا

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 30 They help every one who cries out for help even if one is faking, except for those among whom Satan has spawned and hatched his offspring.Indeed, they are men of God, and whosoever accuses them of lying is himself a liar, who, shaving off the hair from his head, has shed all the beauty of righteousness.Those who bear enmity towards them resemble a shameless woman, but the assault of a rude and foul-mouthed woman can do them no harm.At the time of confrontation, the hands of their opponents are ripped apart, causing them to run away from the battlefield like foxes.You will find the discourse of these noble princes like a drink that easily flows down the throat, and is firmly planted within hearts, washing away sins.Allah the Almighty exonerates them from all false accusations that are meant to stain their honour.For their friends and brothers, He makes them as the she-camel that is lent for the sake of her milk.Through them, He delivers people from blindness and cures the arrogant and الدنيا وجوهًا مسودّة ً فسعوا للتبييض، وقاموا إلصالحهم كما تَرِض ُ الدجاجة على البيض.وإهنم يعينون كل صارخ ولو تصرَّخَ، إال الذين ابض َ فيهم الشيطان وفـَرَّخَ.ّنيون ال يكذّهبم إال الذي جَلَطَ، وأزال زينة التُّقى وجَلْمَطَ.الذين يعادوهنم اب قوم ر كامرأة ٍ جَلِعَةٍ، وال يضرّهم صَوْل ُ سَلْفَعَةٍ.تتزلّع ُ يداهم عند املقابلة، ويفرّون إن ْ هم إال كثعالب من موطن املناضلة.وجتد بيان هؤالء السادات كشراب ٍ عُماهِج ٍ حيكأ ُ يف َ القلوب، ويبعِّد عن الذنوب.ويضرَح هللا عنهم تـُهَمًا كاذبة ً يف شأهنم، وجيعلهم كمنيحة ألحباهبم وإخواهنم، ويُذهِب هبم طَخْش َ الناس، وسَقام َ مَن تفجَّس َ وتبعَّل

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H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 31 victims of satanic temptations.None but a fool bears them enmity and only the righteous and humble accept them; their house is prohibited for the sinful who deliberately hasten towards evil, are content with scum, and remain distant from flowing water.Among their signs is that they take very little from this world, but they receive abundantly from faith.They benefit from worldly blessings as little as an ant’s mouthful, but they partake abundantly from piety.They straighten their selves as a bow maker straightens his arrow and they eradicate all their selfish desires so that only the pleasure of God is left, which is like the strong trunk of a tree, and they hold fast to it.They prefer Him in every way.They pay no heed to the fools’ uproar nor care about them; and regard their [coarse] whip as a smooth plant, and do not fear it.Whatever knowledge they are granted is granted solely on account of love, not owing to any toil on their part.They are made to drink وساوس َ اخلنّاس.وال يعاديهم إال اتفِهٌ، وال يقبَلهم إال تقي ٌّ دافِهٌ.وحُرّم دارهم على الفاسقني الذين يـُزَقْفِلون إىل الشر ّ متعمّدين، ويرضون ابلغَلْفَق وينأَون عن ماء معني.ّم أيخذون من الدنيا كفتيل، ومن الدين يَدْغَفون، هن ومن عالماهتم أ أنفسهم ويقوِّمون جيرتفون.التُّقات ومن آالئها كزِابلٍ، من ويتمتّعون ُيحون كل ما فيهم من أهوائهم، ويبقى هوى جي َ كمُقَمْجِر ٍ يُقوِّم ُ سَهْمه، و َْرة جم َ الرب ِّ كجُذْمُور ٍ وعليها يثبتون.ويؤثرونه يف كل سبيل، وال يبالون ز

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 32 from the unseen so they drink their fill.With a sharp spearhead, they sever [ties] with everything other than God.For the sake of Allah alone, they choose to tread on the narrow paths and it is not possible for the devil to lure them into any trap from which they cannot escape; they repel him through their light; therefore, Satan cannot take away so much as a single drop from the water- skin they carry with them.He [the devil] fears their bows which they have exposed to the fire to straighten and strengthen them.You will find no dry verbosity in their discourse; rather, you will find it filled with inspiration and divine cognizance.They waged war on their selfish desires and fought valiantly.These are those people who are the wise and guided ones.They drank eagerly from the vessel of the spiritual path, for they lie prostrate before their Lord like a mendicant and because [in their spirit- uality] they are like an avaricious one remaining unsatiated, and prefer what is best and most savoury.Allah empties their selves السفهاء وال يبالون أَي ُّ الْوَمَى هُمْ، وحيسبون سوطهم كنـَبْت ٍ صَيـْهُوج ٍ وال خيافون.ويعلمون كل ّ ما يعلمون مِن الوَد ِّ ال من الكَدِّ، ويُسقَون من الغيْب فيَصْأَمون.ويقطعون غري هللا بسِنان ٍ هُذام ٍ وهلل ِ يـَرْصِمون.وما كان إلبليس أن يَرطُمهم، ويَدْرَأُونه أبنوارهم، فال ينقص الشيطان من قِربة ٍ زأَبوها وخياف قِسِيَّهم اليت يُضهِّبون.وما ترى فيهم هَذْرَبة ً ايبسةً، بل ترى روحًا ومعرفةً.وحاربوا أهواء النفس ودشوا، أولئك هم قوم دُهاة ٌ وأولئك هم املهتدون.ء السلوك، مبا خرّوا أمام احلضرة كالص ُّعلوك، ومبا كانوا ن ّ ما يف إ قعزوا كل

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H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 33 of all desires other than Him and cuts off all other ties and ena- bles them to throw away everything other than Him and helps them to tread gracefully in His path so that every wrongdoer may know that they alone are the truthful.Among their characteristic traits is that they are cleansed of human wickedness the way a woman is cleansed at the end of her menstrual cycle.Allah turns towards them, so they are drawn closer [to Him].They lay waste to the abode of the self on their own and with the help of God.They see God with the eyes of their soul and are purified of all doubts and are perfected in knowledge.They have a station before their Lord closer than that of the angels, for they oppose their selves and, despite carry- ing a heavy burden, stand firmly like a sturdy person.The fire of their love flares up and the sting of their self is removed and the edge of their sword is sharpened.Hence, they tear apart every ٍ كضَعْرَس ٍ وال يَشبَعون.آثروا األَمَز َّ واأللذ َّ، وأخرج هللا منهم أهواء غريه واجتزَّ، ووفّقهم بزَجْل ِ ما سِواه، وحَسَّن َ مَشْيَهم إىل هللا، ليعلم كل ُّ قُمَيـْثَل أهنم هم الصادقون.ومن خواصّهم أهنم يطهّرون من الغوائل البشريّة كما تـُقْرِئ ُ املرأة ُ من حيضها، ويتوب هللا إليهم فيُجذَبون.خيرّبون دار النفس أبيديهم وأبيدي هللا، ويرون هللا أبعني م مقام أصْقَب ُ من املالئكة ل روحهم، وينـزهون من كل رِيبةٍ، ويف العلم يكملون.و بّتهم، م ُ ر ن ْ عند هللا مبا خالفوا أنفسهم واعْلَنـْبَأُوا ابحلِمل ورسَخوا كَحِبْطُونٍ.وسَنَت

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 34 veil and lose themselves completely in the service of their Lord.They let not a moment pass in which they are not in worship.Almighty Allah turns their hearts away from everything other than Himself and makes them fall deeply in love with Him.Thus, every particle of their being bows before their Lord, and the love of Allah becomes their food which they are fed.Thus, they eat greedily so that others may not take it, for they are a people who jealously protect their honour.They shed tears for their Beloved until their eyelashes fall out, and the distress caused by their concern for Him consumes their hearts, and their selves are filled with His remembrance like a waterskin, and they remain restless for Him all the time.In their love for God their hearts become like a hot stone which increases their extreme thirst [for Him].They have a status with Allah of which peo- ple know nothing; therefore, people look down upon them and bring filthy accusations against them.ِ وعدِمت ْ شباة ُ نفوسهم، وزادت ظُبَة ُ سيوفهم، فقطعوا كل حجاب وفنوا يف قـَتْو ضي هِنـْو ٌ من أواهنم إال وهم يعبدون.وخَتَأ َ هللا قلوهبم عن غريه وشغفهم ي احلضرة، فال ّم، وصار حب ُّ هللا طعامهم الذي يُطعَمون.فجَرْدَبوا هب ُم كلّها لر هت حُبًّا، فخذَأت ْ ذرّا ِِبِّهم حَذَال ً ويََض ُّ قـَلْبَهم حل ٍ على طعامهم لئال ّ يتناوله غريهم، فإهنم قوم ٌ يغارون.يبكون َِيت ْ قلوهبم كرَضْف مح مهُّه، وقد اضْجَحَرّوا كالقِربة مِن ذِكره، وله كل آن ٍ يضجَرون.م مقام عند هللا ال يعلمه اخلَلق، ولذلك يزدروهنم ل حبب ّ هللا وزاد منها سُهافُهم، و ويُنطِّفون.

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H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 35 Among their signs is that they remain undaunted by the strikes of trials; rather, they sail across the oceans of trials and trib- ulations like ships.They do not confound truth with falsehood and abhor all that is impure, and seek immaculate righteousness and commit themselves wholly [to it].They do not want any other colour to be mixed with it.Their land is one on which rain falls unceasingly that renders them green and fresh.They possess a spear that kills the wolf, and their sublime nature resembles lofty hillocks.Their pot [intrinsic nature] boils with love [for Allah] and so they become thoroughly cooked.Whoever comes to them—despite being like a hefty camel that is weighed down by the love of this world—will be able to go through the eye of a needle with the blessing of this righteous company.And if someone who was the servant of the Devil vis- its them, he will be transformed into one who transgresses not, and if an arrogant and devilish one comes to them faithfully, َ الفنت، ويقطعون حبار البالء ّم ال خيافون تالطُث هن َ ومن عالماهتم أ كمَواخرَ، وال أيشُبون احلق ابلباطل، ويعافون العَرْزَب َ ويبتغون تقاة ً ال شِيَة م أرض ال تفارق وابِلَها ومنه ل شامال، و ن ْ فيها وخيلصون.ال يريدون لو ُم العالية يشابه النَّهابِرَ، وَائـْتـَزَّت هت َْهَري ٌّ يقتل النـَّهْسَرَ، وفطر مس م ل خيضَّرون.و قِدْرُها حبُب ٍّ يُنضِجون.ومَن ضَفَن َ إليهم، ولو كان العُراهِن ُ املتقل حبُب ّ الدنيا، يلِج يف سم ّ اخلياط بيُمْن ِ قوم ٍ يتّقون.ومَن كان مِن عَبَدة الطاغوت ِ وحَضَرَهم،

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 36 he definitely will humble himself to the command of Allah and become among the righteous.O ye who hear! Do not be surprised at this for their station is even loftier, and how can I describe it when you cannot under- stand? They are a people who cry so profusely that their tears far exceed the water that you drink.Among their signs is that they separate true and good deeds from the accumulated heap of actions and leave the chaff for the misguided.They take what is pure and never practice miserliness and keep seeking the truth.They continue to shake everything until it reveals what lies beneath it and discloses what they were looking for right before their eyes.They do not deny what the ignorant deny, but conduct a thorough enquiry into it.They do ُغَم ري انً، ف ي ٌ فإذا هو من الذين ال يفسُقون.ومَن كان متكبـّرًا شيطانً، ووافاهم إ م شأن ل أنفُه ألمر ِ هللا ويكون من الذين يتّقون.فال تـَهْكر ْ أيها السامع، و كيف أبيّنه وإنكم ال تفهمون؟ قوم ابكون هتمِر دموعهم أكثر أرفع من ذلك، و َ من ماء ٍ تشربون.كون فَضْلَة ّم ينقحون أصل الصالح مِن كُدْس ِ األعمال، ويرت هن ومن عالماهتم أ العَرَمة ِ ألهل الضالل.أيخذون قُحًّا وال يتّبعون شُحًّا، وعن احلق يُفحِصون.وينعَصون كل ّ شيء حىت يظهر ما حتته ويَبِض َّ أمام أعينهم ما يطلبون.وال يُنكِرون

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H A D R AT M IR Z A GHU L A M AH M AD A S 37 not live like the poor and mean, but secure the best from the mar- ket of the hereafter and are never negligent.In fact, you can hear the sound of their hearts’ restlessness like that of a boiling pot; this is the rod with which they beat the Devil.They abstain from every evil for the sake of their Beloved whom they prefer [over everything].They broke the fangs of the snake that had misled Adam and they beat it with a whip which is most lacerating.Thus was it no longer possible for it to attack them; rather, it fled away from those who pelted it with stones.They pounced upon it like a lion and took it upon themselves to extirpate it, and to redeem and deliver the people from its evil.They removed its hair by boil- ing it just like the wool is removed from a lamb leaving its skin bare.They injured it with spears.Their necks bow down before their Lord and they remain sub- missive to Him alone.They are the ones on whose account the eyes of creation are dazzled, and they surprise even the angels with أمرًا ينكره اجلهالء بل حيقّقون.وال يعيشون كالصَّعافقة، بل جيمعون خري َ سُوق ِم كغَقيق ِ القِدر، وبتلك العصا يَْتَأُون هب اآلخرة، وال يغفلون.وتسمع ضَجَر َ قلو ِِب ٍّ يـُؤْثِرون.كسروا طواحن َ ثعبان ٍ أغوى آدمَ، ومَسَنُوه حل ٍ إبليس، وجيتنبون كل َّ تَغب ُون.وصالوا عليه مج بسوط ٍ أَكْلَمَ، فما كان له أن يَدْرَه َ عليهم، وفـَر َّ من قوم ير ُلصون.خي ُيحون أصله ويُنجون الناس من شرّه و جي كضِرْغَم ٍ وأَوْذَموا على أنفسهم أهنم ّم هب يسمِطونه كما يُسْمَط ُ احلَمَل ُ لِيـُرَى عراين ً وابألسنّة يَهِطُون.وخنعت ْ أعناقهم لر وله يُسلِمون.هم قوم سُكّرت ْ عني ُ اخللق منهم، وأعجبوا املالئكة َ بفعل يفعلون.

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 38 their feats.They dished out their flesh to their Lord, so that He ate what was offered on the table; they were consumed with the fingertips of love and were annihilated for their Chosen Beloved.T h e E n d Author Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian Dated: 14 December 1903 f مل احملبّة، ن وضعوا حلومهم يف فاتور ِ احلضرة، فأَرَم َ هللا ما على املائدة، وأُكلوا أب ّون.ري ِِب ٍّ يتخ حل وفنوا تــــمَّـــت املؤلِّف مريزا غالم أمحد قادايين مؤرّخة 14 ديسمرب سنة 1903م f

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Publisher’s Note Please note that, in the translation that follows, 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-Ju- mu‘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, meaning ‘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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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 40 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 hi ‘alaihi/‘alaih a /‘alaihim, meaning ‘may Allah shower His mercy upon him/her/them’, is written 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.ذ dh – pronounced like the English th in that.

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Publisher’s Note 41 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.Short vowels are represented by: a for _ َ __ as in خَلق (like u in bud ), as in فَن (or e in bed ).i for _ ِ __ as in مِن (like i in bid ).u for _ ُ __ as in جُزء (like oo in wood ).Long vowels by: a for _ ٰ __ or آ as in مٰلك (like a in father ).i for ي _ ِ __ or _ ٖ __ as in حكِيم (like ee in deep ).u for و _ ُ __ as in نُوح (like oo in root ).Other vowels by: ai for ي _ َ __ as in بَيت (like i in site ).au for و _ َ __ as in صَوت (resembling ou in sound ).

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H AL L M AR KS OF T HE S AIN TS 42 The consonants not included in the above list have the same phonetic 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 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.Acknowledgements The booklet was originally translated from Arabic into Urdu by Hadrat Maul a n a Ghul a m Ras u l R a jaik i ra and revised by the Central Arabic Board.This Urdu translation was then rendered into English by Kashif Imran and revised by Zulqarnain Bharwana.The English translation was then compared thoroughly with the original Arabic text by Dr.Bilal Ahmed Tahir.The booklet was finalized and formatted for publication by the English Translation Section of Additional Wak a lat Ta s n i f.Valuable services were ren- dered by al- Ha j Munawar Ahmed Saeed, Naser-ud-Din Shams, Naveed Ahmed Malik, Abdul Wahab Mirza, and Bilal Ahmad Rana.May Allah reward them all.A m i n.

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Glossary Abd a l Literally, ‘substitutes’.Those who have brought about a holy change in themselves for the sake of Allah.We have translated the term in this book as ‘saints’.A m i n A term which literally means, ‘so let it be’ and is used at the end of a supplication to pray that God may accept it.It is similar in mean- ing to ‘amen’.Hadrat A term of respect used to show honour and reverence for a person of established righteous- ness and piety.The meaning is: His/Her Holiness, Eminence, etc.It is also used for God in the super- lative sense.Holy Prophet s as A title used exclu- sively for the Founder of Islam, Hadrat Muhammad s as.Holy Quran The final and perfect Scripture revealed by Allah for the guidance of mankind for all times to come.It was revealed word by word to the Holy Prophet Mu- hammad s as over a period of twen- ty-three years.Khalifah Caliph is derived from the Arabic word khal i fah, which means ‘successor’.In Islamic termi- nology, the term righteous khal i fah is applied to each of the first four khulaf a ’ who continued the mis- sion of Hadrat Muhammad s as , the Holy Prophet of Islam.Ahmadi Muslims refer to a successor of the Promised Messiah as as Khal i fatul- Mas ih.Khulaf a ’ is the plural of khal i fah.Tahajjud A supererogatory prayer of great merit performed between midnight and dawn.Muhammad s as Founder of Islam.see Holy Prophet s as.S u rah A chapter of the Holy Quran.Wal i Literally, ‘friend’.In the ter- minology of Islamic mysticism, it refers to a very pious person or a friend of Allah.The singular form is wal i [friend] or waliyyull a h [friend of Allah], the plural form is auliy a ’ull a h which is sometimes abbreviated as auliy a ’.

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Index Abd « a »l a close affinity between Proph- ets and, 12 Almighty Allah exonerates, from all false accusations 30 are always worshipping their God 34 are proof of God on earth 19 are recognized and honoured among people 12 blessings of, are like incessant rain 19 bow before their Lord with complete submission 34 bravery and trust in God of, 5 characteristics of those who reject, 20 condition of the world at the time of their commission- ing 5 consider world as negligible as the amount a tiny ant can lift with its mouth 18 darkness prevails at the time of commissioning of, 9 filled with light and insight 22 functions of, 5 generous like a great milk-yielding she-camel 24 good-natured people hasten towards, 20 granted glad tidings of events before their appearance 7 granted knowledge on account of love 31 high spiritual standard of, 6 keep seeking an heir from God 26 mercy of Allah manifested repeatedly for, 16 no dry verbosity in the dis- courses of, 32 opponents of, wants to annihi- late them 7 persevere with utmost stead- fastness, 28 protection given to, by God 7

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46 renunciation of the world is an essential characteristic of, 17 sail across the oceans of trials and tribulations like ships 35 seek Paradise in their aspira- tion to meet God 29 status higher than angels 33 thirst for perfect knowledge is a sign of, 23 worship of Allah is a constant habit of, 9 Allah the Almighty mercy of, manifested repeated- ly for abd « a » l 16 the abd « a »l serve as the proof of, on earth 19 worship of, constant habit of abd « a » l 9 Angels abd « a » l have a status higher than 33 Darkness prevalence of, at time of com- missioning of abd « a »l 9 Dry verbosity not found in abd « a »l's discourse 32 False accusations Allah the Almighty exonerates the abd « a »l from, 30 Holy Quran blessings of S « u » rahs an-N « u »r, al- F « a »ti« h » ah, and al-M « a »’idah 2 parable given in, about believ- ers and transgressors 8 Knowledge to abd « a »l , granted solely on account of love 31 Parable in Holy Quran about believers and transgressors 8 Paradise abd« a »l seek, in their aspiration to meet God 29 Perfect knowledge thirst for, a sign of abd « a »l , 23 Promised Messiah courage of, 1 divine commissioning of, 1 under the protection of the Gracious Lord 26 wickedness of the opponent of, 26 Prophets a close affinity between abd « a »l and, 12 qualities of true believers in, 20 Rejectors of abd « a »l characteristics of 20 Renunciation of the world an essential characteristic of abd « a »l , 17 Righteousness a magnificent steed to travel to gardens of Paradise 3 is a peak difficult to surmount 3 surely resembles death 3 Saints see also Abd « a »l steadfastness of 7 sympathy for mankind is a characteristic of, 6

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Index 47 Satan defeat of, 10 Satanic mischief reformers raised by Allah at the time of, 4 Sixth millennium Prophets had foretold the events of, 28 Steadfastness of saints 7 Sympathy for mankind a characteristic of saints 6 Wal « i » defined 4 none except the righteous 4 World frailty and wickedness of, 18 insignificance of 18 unattractiveness of this, to Promised Messiah 2 Worldliness the filth of 25 Worship of Allah constant habit of abd « a »l 9 Zaqq « u »m meaning of, 18

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