By Muhammad Mbaye
(United Kingdom)
Non-Ahmadi Argument
Non-Ahmadis present a verse of the Holy Qur’an, in order to prove the concept on the unconditional finality of the Holy Prophet (saw). The verse is as follows:
“This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed
My favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam as religion.” (5:4)
Our opponents claim that in this verse Allah the Almighty has categorically announced that religion has been perfected and the Holy Qur’an which is the ultimate source of guidance has been fully revealed upon the Holy Prophet (saw). Therefore, in the presence of a perfect shari’ah and an infinite treasure chest of divine wisdom, there is no need for the advent of a prophet after the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw). Therefore, the claim of Ahmadis that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) has appeared as a prophet is completely unwarranted and contradicts this verse of the Holy Qur’an.
A proof for the continuation
of prophethood
Contrary to what our opponents would have us believe, this verse is a wonderful proof of the continuation of prophethood. There is no doubt that Ahmadis believe in the Holy Qur’an as being the Most Perfect Book. Undoubtedly, until the end of time, it is this very Book which has been sent to mankind for their guidance and this is the only Book which contains a perfect teaching for all times to come. The Holy Qur’an is the source of infinite guidance and divine wisdom and anyone who desires salvation must follow the teachings of this Perfect Book.
It is obvious that the purpose behind the revelation of any divine scripture is for the spiritual and moral development of mankind. The purpose of any divine scripture is to develop a living relationship with Allah the Almighty. Therefore, it is only appropriate that perfect teaching must also possess the ability to enable its followers to develop a perfect relationship between man and God. The Holy Qur’an categorically states, and no true Muslim would object, that there is no spiritual rank which is greater than prophethood.
Therefore, if we are to accept that the Holy Qur’an is a perfect book of guidance, we must also accept that it possesses the ability to elevate a man who follows this perfect Book to the highest possible level of spirituality – that is, prophethood.
Do our opponents, who are quick to raise allegations against Ahmadiyyat, not realise that virtuous men of the past were able to attain the lofty station of prophethood by following the law of the Torah? There were many prophets raised among the Bani Isra’il, who practiced and taught the law of the Torah to the people. It is strange that on one hand, our opponents assert that the Holy Qur’an is a perfect law and possesses the means and ways to guide a man to the summit of spirituality, yet no one can attain the station of prophethood by following the Holy Qur’an – this was a quality enjoyed by the Torah, but not the Holy Qur’an. What a grave injustice!
The need for a spiritual teacher
As we have already mentioned, there is no doubt that the Holy Qur’an is a perfect book of guidance; however, this does not do away with the need for spiritual teachers or prophets. If the perfect teaching was sufficient why then was there a need for “Khulafa” after the demise of the Holy Prophet (saw)? It cannot be said that the Khulafa’ after the Holy Prophet (saw) were merely political leaders, because the Holy Qur’an clearly refers to this office as a spiritual one. Secondly, after the Khulafa’ why was there a need for the various Imams, who are keenly followed by millions of Muslims throughout the world? Today, our non-Ahmadi friends quote Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Shaf’i, Imam Malik and Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, among others. However, we ask them that if the perfect teaching was enough, what was the need of these religious teachers? As a matter of fact, why then would Allah need to send the Imam Mahdi and Messiah (as) in the latter days at all? There would be no need for the Mujaddidin either. As a matter of fact, if this non-Ahmadi logic is accepted as correct, then there would be no purpose for the advent of even the Holy Prophet (saw) himself. If a perfect book or teaching was enough, and everyone could attain guidance by following that teaching on their own accord, the need for prophets would cease to exist all together. The truth is, that the existence of a perfect teaching in itself is not sufficient, until and unless someone commissioned by Allah is raised to teach the deeper meanings and wisdoms of the book. This is why the Holy Qur’an has stated that one of the prime duties of the Holy Prophet (saw) was to teach the book and expound its wisdom. As such, it is stated in the Holy Qur’an:
“He it is Who has raised among the Unlettered people a
Messenger from among themselves who recites unto them His Signs, and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and wisdom, although they had been, before, in manifest misguidance.”
This verse of the Holy Qur’an clearly states that there are four main duties of the
Holy Prophet (saw) and in essence, for any prophet. The Prophet recites the signs of the Lord before the people. The task of any messenger is to convey the divine word of Allah the Almighty to the people.
Secondly, in the above-mentioned verse, the Arabic word Yuzakkihim elaborates the fact that the prime duty of a prophet is to purify the hearts and souls of the people. In other words, we learn from the Holy Qur’an that it is beyond the ability of a person to purify himself without the aid of a Divinely appointed messenger. Even if a perfect teaching is present, a Divinely appointed spiritual teacher is needed to purify the souls of mankind through the teachings of that perfect book.
Moreover, Allah the Almighty has mentioned in this verse that the Holy Prophet (saw) teaches them the Book and wisdom, although they had been, before, in manifest misguidance.” Hence, it is clear that the purpose of a prophet is to teach the book and the deeper wisdoms hidden within the book to the common man. The argument which is presented by non-Ahmadis that since the Muslims possess a perfect teaching in the form of the Holy Qur’an, therefore, now there is no need for another prophet to come in the latter days is a seriously flawed argument. Not only does this argument contradict the Holy Qur’an, but also contradicts their own belief, because if the Holy Qur’an is sufficient there would be no need for the Khulafa’, the famous Imams or the Mujaddidin. There would be no need for Jesus (as) to descend in the latter days for the guidance of mankind, or for the advent of any Prophet in the history of the world for that matter.
This point can be understood in light of a very simple example. If a perfect teaching, code of conduct, set of rules or knowledge contained in a book was sufficient and no teacher was required then there would be no use for doctors and physicians either. Of course, it is completely illogical to assume that an ill patient, when presented with a medical textbook would be able to diagnose himself and administer the correct medicine for his own illness. Just how a medical textbook is useless without someone qualified and knowledgeable in order to administer the correct medicine, so too spiritual texts cannot fulfill their purpose without a spiritual teacher, who is guided by Allah the Almighty Himself, to administer the correct spiritual medicine.
Therefore, undoubtedly, a new law is not needed in the presence of a perfect law.
However, a spiritual guide to teach, propagate and to remove the disagreements between the followers of that perfect law is needed. Hence, a divinely appointed messenger who does not bring a new law can come, and has come in accordance with the prophecy of our beloved Master, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw). The name of that man is Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (as) and he is the Promised Messiah and Mahdi of the latter days.
Non-Ahmadi argument
Another verse which is presented by non-Ahmadis in order to substantiate their concept on the finality of prophethood is as follows:
“And We have not sent thee but as a bearer of glad tidings and a
Warner, for all mankind, but most men know not.” (34:29)
Our opponents assert that in this verse, Allah the Almighty has clearly alluded to the fact that Prophet Muhammad (saw) has been sent for all of mankind, and therefore, no prophet can appear in any part of the world, because the universality of the Holy Prophet (saw) has fully encompassed all the four corners of the earth. Now, there is no further need for the advent of any prophet, since the Holy Prophet (saw) has already been sent for the whole of mankind.
Rebuttal
The fundamental logic of this argument is also seriously flawed. The universality of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) does not at all bar the advent of non-law-bearing prophets who appear in subservience to the Holy Prophet (saw) and to serve the law of the Holy Qur’an.
Prophet Moses (as) was a messenger sent for the whole of the Bani Isra’il, but the
Holy Qur’an categorically affirms that many prophets appeared after Prophet Moses (as) in order to serve the law of the Torah. For example, there was Prophet David (as), Prophet Solomon (as) and Prophet Jesus (as). Therefore, if the Holy Qur’an teaches us that prophets appeared in the Bani Isra’il, despite the advent of Moses (as) to all of the Bani Isra’il, why can a prophet not be sent to the Muslim Ummah in subordination to the Holy Prophet (saw)?
The fact of the matter is that Prophets are sent by Allah the Almighty whenever the need exists. The history of religion bears testimony to the fact that after the demise of a Prophet, the followers of that respective prophet begin to move further and further away from the original teachings and as a result the natural process of degeneration takes its toll. It is at this juncture that Allah the Almighty sends a divinely commissioned leader to reform the people. Hence, just as Allah the Almighty sent many prophets to the Bani Isra’il in order to re-establish the law of the Torah and to reform the people, so too in accordance with the prophecy of the Holy Prophet (saw), when Muslims would have forgotten the Qur’an, a prophet was to be sent for their reformation and for the rejuvenation of Islam. This prophet was to be from among the Ummah of the Holy Prophet (saw). Remember, when there is disease or sick people there must be a doctor and there is no sickness that has no cure, so, for spiritual disease we need spiritual doctors and the best of all doctors are the Prophets. If you belief that there will be no doctor or there is no need for a doctor then assure me that there would be no disease. The stars cannot do the work of a moon; no matter how many they are, so scholars cannot bring changes on the earth as the Prophets does. Scholars can be corrupt but Prophets can never err or deceive. I shall stop here for now, this essay will be continued Inshallah. And I shall end my essay with the holy writing of the founder of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Arabic language:
—اما حال علماء ھذہ الدیار فھو شرّ من ذلک ما بقی لاکثرھم شغل من غیر انْ یکذّّّبوا صدوقا او یکفّروا مؤمنا و لیس معھم من العلم الا کنغبۃ طیر اصغر الطیور او اقل منھا ولکن الکبر اکبر من کبر الشیاطین یعلون انفسھم بغیر حق و من کان تبوّأ ذروۃ فی الفضل و العلم فھو لیس فی اعینھم الا جاھل غبیّ و من ملیٔ قلبہ ایمانا و معرفۃ فھو لیس عندھم الا کافر دجاّل ——-و سمّونا کافرین وما کان لھم ان یتکلمون فی مسلمین الا خاءفین ولکنھم لا یبا لون نھی ذی الجلال بل لھم اعمال دون ذلک یقولون للمسلم لست مؤمنا و یعلمون انھم ترکوا القرآن بقولھم ھذا واتخذوہ مھجورا فبعدوا عن الحق فقست قلوبھم یفعلون ما یشاءون —-و کفّرونا من غیر علم ولا برھان۔( نور الحق الحصۃ الاولی صفحۃ ۳-۴)
This is based upon my personal opinion it has nothing to do with the official reply of the Jamaat and therefore, if there is any mistake I am fully responsible.
May Allah continue to bless our beloved motherland.
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