In our previous two issues, I tried explain that the problem with the media, particularly in the West, is that they do not reach out to experts of Islam but would rather focus on self-proclaimed experts who know next to nothing about the religion of Islam. They, as a result, end up spewing wrong information about our dear religion of Islam. Consequently, the ordinary people – who know very little about Islam and its history – end up believing erroneously that Islam is a religion that supports terrorism and extremism. I showed that as long as the Holy Prophet (SAW) was alive, and after him, his rightly guided Khulafah, the issue of fanaticism and extremism was held in check. After their demise though, a gap was created and as such cracks began to appear among the Muslims. But that also was not to last forever. Allah and His Messenger had plans to reinstitute Khilafat.
The Holy Qur’an clearly spelt out a system of successorship which will continue the spread of the light that the Holy Prophet (SAW) started. This light is the light of Allah the Almighty and has to be protected at all times. He made arrangements for its continuation till the end of time. Allah says:
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,
And among others from among them who have not yet them. He is the Mighty, the Wise.
While deliberating on these words ‘And among others from among them who have not yet them’, the Holy Prophet Muhammad Mustapha (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said ‘…. even if faith were to ascend to the highest heavens, a man from the Persians will restore it to earth.’ (Bukhari)
Here one may tend to ask that if Islam is a complete and perfect religion as clearly stated in the Holy Qur’an, why the need for this Reformer and Messiah? This seems to be a very plausible question, fortunately for me; I do not have to answer it. Well, at least not in my own words as the same question was put to our Lord and Master Hadrat Muhammad Mustapha, the Founder of Islam himself. In answer, he told the questioner, ‘were the Jews not given a book and a law?’ The reference was that in spite of the fact that Moses (AS) brought a Book, a Law and that they would be passing these from one generation to another, they still went astray and needed a savior who came in the person of Jesus Christ (AS).
Verily, We have sent to you a Messenger, who is a witness over you, even as We sent a Messenger to Pharaoh. (Qur’an 73 Verse 16)
Thus the Holy Qur’an has likened the Dispensation of Muhammad (SAW) to that one of Moses (AS). It follows that whatever happened in the dispensation of Moses is likely to also happen in the dispensation of Muhammad (saw). This likeness is also mentioned in the earlier scriptures. For instance in the book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 18 Verse 18 it is said: ‘I will raise them up a Prophet from among their bretheren , like unto thee,…’
What happened in the Dispensation of Moses (Jesus coming to revive the religion) will be the case of Islam and that is the very reason the prophecies the reformer is referred to as the Messiah.
Time being dynamic, changes and additions, however little, were bound to creep into the holy teachings of Islam. It was to remove these alterations and minor additions that the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi (AS) was to appear. That is why the Holy Prophet said, ‘Yuhyud deen wa yuquumus Shariah (He will revive religion and restore the law.
It is clear that the world stands in need of spiritual, moral and political leadership in the form of a Khalifah. The lack of this leadership has caused movements to spring up in different parts of the world. The likes of Boko Haram, Islamic State and others all claiming to provide this leadership.
The truth is that our Holy Prophet (SAW) had already given the solution to this need. Says he: “Prophethood shall remain among you as long as Allah shall will. He will bring about its end and follow it with Khilafat on the precepts of Prophethood for as long as He shall will and then bring about its end. A tyrannical monarchy will then follow and will remain as long as Allah shall will and then come to an end. There will follow thereafter monarchial despotism to last as long as Allah shall will and come to an end upon His decree. There will then emerge Khilafat on precept of Prophethood.” The Holy Prophet said no more (Masnad Ahmad)
In this saying he has informed us that the Promised Messiah and Mahdi will be succeeded by Khulafah.
We will endeavor in our next issue, to show that that Khilafat has been established and that it is continuing the revivalist work started by the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi (AS).
By Musa Bah
