Written by: Deeba Chaudhry
Source: Calgary Ahmadiyya Muslim Examiner
The Promised Messiah and Mahdi of this age was Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) of Qadian, India, who came at the appointed time from Allah in accordance with the Prophecy of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. He was sent to revive the true Islam as revealed to the Holy Prophet by Allah in the Holy Quran. He was an ummati Prophet. During his life on this earth he wrote more than eighty books which are truly a running commentary of the Holy Quran and show his dedication to the cause of Islam for the love of Allah and the Holy Prophet. Under Allah's command he established his jamaat as Ahmadiyya Movement In Islam to unite all humanity in love and peace under the banner of his master, Muhammad Mustafa Sallallaho alaihe wasallam, the Khataman-Nabiyyeen A very important aspect of the life of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as), the Promised Messiah(as), the Imam of the Age and Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, relates to his unparalleled and boundless love for the Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw). The Promised Messiah(as) possessed such immense love for his Master, the Seal of the Prophets, the Beloved of Allah, the Holy Prophet Muhammad(saw), that no one in history since the Holy Prophet(saw)’s demise has possessed so much love for the Holy Prophet(saw), and to express it in words is almost impossible. The Promised Messiah’s love for the Holy Prophet(saw) was like food for his soul, and every single moment of his life was spent in this very love and perfect obedience and submission to him. It was merely through this submission and obedience to the Holy Prophet(saw) that Allah conferred Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) the titles of Messiah and Mahdi, whose advent had been prophesied by the Holy Prophet(saw) himself. The different ways in which he would express his love are so abundant that to encompass every aspect is impossible. The writings of a person are a perfect reflection of his thoughts and heartfelt feelings. The writings of the Promised Messiah(as) with regards to his love for the Holy Prophet(saw) are like a garden with hundreds of flowers. Which quotations should I present, and which should I find the courage to leave out? Two examples from the soul-nourishing and spiritually insightful writings of the Promised Messiah(as):
That light of high degree that was bestowed on the perfect many was not in angels, was not in stars, was not in the moon, was not in the sun, was not in the oceans and the rivers, was not in rubies, emeralds, sapphires, or pearls; in short, it was not in any earthly or heavenly object. It was only in the perfect man whose highest and loftiest and most perfect example was our lord and master, the Chief of the Prophets, the Chief of all living ones, Muhammad, the chosen one, [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him]. (A’ina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol.5, pp.160)then lets look at a Persian couplet of the Promised Messiah(as): ‘My beloved! If in your alley the heads of your lovers were being cut off; the first man to announce his love for you would be myself.’ (Aina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol.5, p.658) Witness the intense love of the Promised Messiah(as) from this couplet, such that he could not bear to remain apart from his beloved for even a moment’s time. He says: ‘My heart is but a sacrifice for every land upon which you have stepped; O! If only I was born in your blessed homeland.’
12. O (you who are) the Fountain of Allah's munificence,
Many innovators (of vices) would (rather) converse with their lutes
But surely you (O Holy Prophet, by your spiritual power) caused them to converse with Rahman (the Gracious God). The Arab nation was blindly obsessed with two things
Savouring (intoxicating) drinks, and (pursuing) a lot of women. You found them to be a group of people who They cleansed their hearts thoroughly (of all sins) and eagerly advanced
To benefit from (the wealth of) firm belief and faith.
Mention not any king to me,
For I have placed my hopes at another threshold.
The Lord God, Who has granted life to the universe,
He is the Originator, the Creator, the Sustainer.
The Generous, All-Powerful, Reliever of problems,
The Merciful, the Compassionate, Who fulfils all needs.
I lie prostrate at His door, because it is said
'In this world one thing leads to another.'
Whenever I remember that Faithful Friend,
I forget all my friends and relatives.
How can I tie my heart to other than Him;
For I am so restless without Him!
Search not for my heart in my wounded bosom;
For I have pinned it to the apron-strings of the Beloved.
My heart is the Throne of the Beloved;
My head is an offering in the way of the Friend.
How can I describe the extent of His bounties on me;
For His grace is boundless!How can I ever be able to count His favours;
For His favours are uncountable!
The kind of relationship I have with the Beloved,
Is beyond the comprehension of all.
I cry at His door,
As a woman cries in the pangs of childbirth.
All my time is saturated with His love;
How happy is the time! How blissful the days!
O the garden of my Beloved! I sing Your praises;
For You have freed me from the beauty of gardens and the joy of
spring.[Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Hujjat-Ullah, Ruhani Khaza'in, Vol.12, p.
149]
The Imam Mahdi(as) has written in a Persian poem,The kind of relationship I have with the Beloved,
Is beyond the comprehension of all.
I cry at His door,
As a woman cries in the pangs of childbirth.
All my time is saturated with His love;
How happy is the time! How blissful the days!
O the garden of my Beloved! I sing Your praises;
For You have freed me from the beauty of gardens and the joy of
spring.[
O my beloved, you are the ending fountain-head of Allah's blessings and knowledge and the whole humanity is now looking up to you to quench their spiritual thirst.(1)
Those who seek and discover that the cups of their life are empty come running towards the ocean of your blessings filled by Allah's Grace.(2)
You are the spiritual sun who has brought light to the four corners of the world.(3)
Your face reflects the glory of Allah and His attributes find expression through your excellent character.(41)
Allah has bestowed upon you all the best and the highest qualities of man and He has perfected the gift of prophethood in your person as Khataman-Nabiyyeen.(46)
I have received the gift of spiritual life through you, O my Master and Perfect Leader, and I am nothing but your humble servant. What a miracle! How well he raised me to life.(62)
O Lord, My Creator, Your everlasting blessings be upon the Holy Prophet in this world and in the hereafter.(63)
Look at me, O My Master, with mercy and grace. I am your most humble servant.(67)
1. Oh you the fountain of the beneficence of Allah, Of the knowledge of Allah;
People throng to you like The thirsty thronging to the water
2. Oh you the ocean of the Bounty of the Bounteous;
People flock to you with Empty cups.
3. Oh you the sun of the Kingdom of beauty, of the Kingdom of grace;
You have illuminated the Deserts and the cities.
4. Many have seen and Many have been told;
Of this moon which has Bewitched me.
5. People shed fond tears when they speak of your graces;
And a fire consumes their Hearts because they are away from you.
6. I see hearts mounting to The throats;
I see eyes flowing with Tears.
7. Oh you the sun and the Moon of light;
Oh you the light of day And night.
8. Oh you the moon, the sign of Rehman;
Oh you the best of guides, the bravest of the brave.
9. I see the beauty of your face;
The light not given to be mortals.
10. The wise choose you and are true in their faith;
They forget their hearts and their homes.
11. They choose you and Withdrew from their Friends;
And removed themselves From their kith and kin.
and perfect understanding of Allah,
People rush towards you, thirstily.
13. O (you who are) the Ocean of God's grace
Who is the Bestower of Favours, exceedingly Beneficent,
Hordes of (thirsty) people hurry towards you holding their bowls (in hand).
14. O (you who are) the Sun of the (spiritual) Kingdom of Beauty and Grace!
You have (spiritually) illuminated (the inhabitants of) the deserts as well as the
15.
while others simply heard about you:
The (enchantingly beautiful) Full Moon which has cast a spell over me.
Inspired by (your) love (O Holy Prophet), people tearfully recall your beauty,
And their aching hearts are afire, due to being distant from you.
16. I see that (their) hearts (are beating) in (such) anxiety (as if they)
have reached their throats,
And I see that (their grieving) eyes shed tears.
17. O you whose Divine Light and luminescence has rendered him like
The twin luminaries --- the Sun and the Moon --- lighting up day as well as night.
18. O our Full Moon, O Sign of the Gracious God!
O (you who are) the Greatest (spiritual) Guide, the Bravest among the brave.
I certainly see such glory in your sparkling face,
Which transcends all (known) human attributes. A (group of) people (was fortunate that they) saw you,
(Blessings of Prayer, pp.10-11)
Thy boundless blessings of peace
Be upon Mustafa, O God;
Verily through him we receive Thy Light.
My soul is eternally bonded
To the soul of Muhammad,
I made my heart drink deep,
Of the brimful cup of his love.
It was because of you that we
Became the best of all the peoples,
O Prophet of God who
Is the best of all the prophets.
As you marched ahead of all the rest,
We too stepped forward.
Let alone the human beings,
Even all the angels in the Heavens
Follow suit and join me,
As I sing thy praise.
(Roohani Khazain, V. 5, Pp 225-226, A'eena-e-Kamalate Islam).
Our Perfect Leader
That leader of ours,
From whom radiates all light,
His name is Muhammad.
He is the one,
Who has captivated my heart.
All prophets are holy,
One better than the other.
From God on high he is,
The crown of all creatures.
Today he is the sovereign,
Of the world of religion,
The crown of all the Messengers.
The healthiest influence;
The purest, the most comely;
The most trustworthy,
The most dependable:
Allah this superlative praise,
Befits him alone.
(Roohani Khazain, V. 20, P. 456, Qadian Ke Ariya Aur Ham)
while others simply heard about you:
The (enchantingly beautiful) Full Moon which has cast a spell over me.
Inspired by (your) love (O Holy Prophet), people tearfully recall your beauty,
And their aching hearts are afire, due to being distant from you.
16. I see that (their) hearts (are beating) in (such) anxiety (as if they)
have reached their throats,
And I see that (their grieving) eyes shed tears.
17. O you whose Divine Light and luminescence has rendered him like
The twin luminaries --- the Sun and the Moon --- lighting up day as well as night.
18. O our Full Moon, O Sign of the Gracious God!
O (you who are) the Greatest (spiritual) Guide, the Bravest among the brave.
I certainly see such glory in your sparkling face,
Which transcends all (known) human attributes. A (group of) people (was fortunate that they) saw you,
Have you any notion what was that strange event that occurred in the wasteland of Arabia when hundreds of thousands of the dead were revived within a few days, and those who had been misguided through generations exhibited a Divine complexion, and those who were blind began to see, and those who had been dumb began to utter words of Divine wisdom, and the world underwent a revolution which no eye had seen before and no ear had heard. Do you know how all this came about? It was the supplications during dark nights of one who had lost himself in God, which caused a revolution in the world and showed such wonders as could never have been expected from that unlettered and helpless one [the Holy Prophet(saw)]. Invoke Thy blessings and peace O Allah on him and his people, according to the amount of pain and anguish he felt for his ummah, and pour down upon him the light of Thy mercy forever.”
The life of the Promised Messiah(as) was so full of the examples of true love, just as the sky is full of stars. The difficulty is finding the words to do justice to this love. The Promised Messiah Alaihislam also wrote many beautiful poems to express his love and devotion to the Holy Prophet of Islam. Here are a few samples:
Be upon Mustafa, O God;
Verily through him we receive Thy Light.
My soul is eternally bonded
To the soul of Muhammad,
I made my heart drink deep,
Of the brimful cup of his love.
It was because of you that we
Became the best of all the peoples,
O Prophet of God who
Is the best of all the prophets.
As you marched ahead of all the rest,
We too stepped forward.
Let alone the human beings,
Even all the angels in the Heavens
Follow suit and join me,
As I sing thy praise.
(Roohani Khazain, V. 5, Pp 225-226, A'eena-e-Kamalate Islam).
Our Perfect Leader
That leader of ours,
From whom radiates all light,
His name is Muhammad.
He is the one,
Who has captivated my heart.
All prophets are holy,
One better than the other.
From God on high he is,
The crown of all creatures.
Today he is the sovereign,
Of the world of religion,
The crown of all the Messengers.
The healthiest influence;
The purest, the most comely;
The most trustworthy,
The most dependable:
Allah this superlative praise,
Befits him alone.
(Roohani Khazain, V. 20, P. 456, Qadian Ke Ariya Aur Ham)
The true sign of a lover is that he is willing to die and sacrifice everything for the sake of his beloved. This desire and true heartfelt wish was found in the Promised Messiah(as), with such intensity, that its example can be found nowhere else. After his love for Allah the Exalted, the most shining characteristic of his life was love and devotion to the Holy Prophet(saw). The desire to sacrifice himself for his beloved and the extent of his devotion to him had reached their pinnacle in the life of this true lover. The ardour to sacrifice himself for the religion brought by his beloved Muhammad(saw) would come from the depths of his heart in the form of a prayer: “May my heart be sacrificed for the sake of Muhammad(saw)’s religion; This is the desire of my heart. O, if only I could attain this purpose.” All kinds of persecution were afflicted upon him, but due to his love for Prophet Muhammad(saw), this true lover endured all of this, and his devotion to the cause of Islam did not diminish in the least. He stated: ‘We effaced our being in your love; We spent every particle of our body in your way.’ If this life of the Promised Messiah(as), full of service to Islam, is not a clear manifestation of his love for the Holy Prophet(saw), then what is? Everything associated with the Holy Prophet(saw) was loved by the Promised Messiah(as) Another sign of a true lover is that he “sells” himself, as it were, for the sake of his beloved and sacrifices everything belonging to him for his sake. He even begins to love those things associated with his beloved. Lets cast a glance upon the life of the Promised Messiah(as) in this regard. The Promised Messiah(as) states in a persian couplet: ‘My life and my heart, everything is but a sacrifice for the beauty of my beloved Muhammad(saw); I am as if, the dust of the alley of Muhammad(saw)’ It has become a superficial technique in poetry to express love with the streets in which the beloved one of a lover walks and lives. But if one wishes to see a true and sincere example of this,
The feelings and emotions which the Promised Messiah(as) expressed with regards to his master and beloved, Muhammad(saw) is an endless ocean. It can be stated with full conviction and belief that the love the Promised Messiah(as) has expressed for his beloved master, and the manner in which he had annihilated himself in his love, is such that its like cannot be found in the entire history of Islam. It can be confidently said that the love this true lover the Promised Messiah(as) , has expressed for his master is such that it is unprecedented and unparalleled in every respect. Every word of the writings of the Promised Messiah(as) possesses the fragrance of this love. His every action reflects the beauty of Muhammad(saw). There are such beautiful examples of love which can be seen in his life, which amaze one so, that one questions, is it possible for someone to feel love to such a degree? His every thought revolved around his beloved. He was free from limitations of body and time, and his soul moved towards his beloved master announcing: ‘My body is craving to fly towards you due to my enormous longing for you; I wish I actually had the capacity and power to fly.’ If one reads his poetry, it can be seen that every single verse was satiated in the love of the Holy Prophet(saw). They are verses from the depths of his heart and full of devotion. The Promised Messiah(as) states:
Then, he addresses his true beloved in the following words:
The Persian poetry of the Promised Messiah(as) is also full of extra-ordinary love. One witnesses new and unprecedented kinds of expression. The Promised Messiah(as) states:
One sign of true love is that a true lover always remains engaged in the remembrance of the one he loved. This was true of the Promised Messiah(as). Constantly remembering his beloved was nourishment for the Promised Messiah(saw)’s soul. Moreover, invoking blessings and salutations upon his master and speaking about him was the Promised Messiah’s occupation, day and night. What a beautiful picture has the Promised Messiah painted in this poetic verse: ‘Remembrance of Muhammad Mustafa(saw) is the soul of my heart, and speaking of the Holy Prophet is like food for my body, without which I cannot remain alive.’ In addition to his own example, the Promised Messiah(as) would always encourage his followers to send salutations upon the Holy Prophet(saw). Whenever someone would ask him for a spiritual exercise he would always say, seek forgiveness from Allah (Istighfar) and send salutations upon the Holy Prophet(saw) (Durud Sharif), abundantly. There is no greater spiritual exercise than this. At times he would say that the offering of the compulsory prayers or Salat and Durud Sharif is the greatest spiritual exercise. On one occasion someone inquired, how much Durud Sharif should one recite, and the Promised Messiah(as) responded, “One should recite it until ones tongue becomes fully satiated”. (Siratul Mahdi, vol.4, p.156). The significance of Durud Sharif can be understood that among the conditions of Bai’at, or initiation into the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, the third condition from among the ten conditions, as set by the Promised Messiah(as), is to send abundant salutations upon the Holy Prophet(saw), and remain consistent in doing so. Salutations upon the Holy Prophet(saw) and mention of him can be found in abundance throughout the writings, poetry and sayings of the Promised Messiah(as). No lover has ever made mention of his beloved to such an extent, as the Promised Messiah(as) has done to his beloved master, the Holy Prophet(saw). Indignation and love are two intertwined things. It is impossible for a true lover to hear anything against his beloved.
The Promised Messiah has written very extensively, about his beliefs and his devotion to God Almighty and his love for the Holy Prophet, primarily in Urdu but also in Arabic and Persian languages to inform all uslims about his claim and to show them back the way to Allah through true essence of Islam. Al-Qaseeda, a audatory poem, is composed in flawless and fluent Arabic and is a literary masterpiece in honor of Khataman-Nabiyyeen. This encomium has 70 couplets and is included in the part of Roohani Khazain, Vol. 5, P. 590-594, A'eenae Kamalate Islam. No one has dared to accept a challenge from the Promised Messiah till this day to produce such glowing tribute to the Holy Prophet of Islam in such an eloquent and elegant diction. The Qaseeda provides a unique spiritual experience to a discerning critic with a longing heart and a keen eye. The Promised Messiah's Arabic poem in praise of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) OH LORD! SHOWER BLESSINGS ON THE PROPHET IN THIS WORLD AND IN THE NEXT.
‘I do not know the name of any other teacher; for the acquisition of spiritual insight, I have only studied in the school of Muhammad(saw).
I do not know of any man, in both worlds; who possesses greater magnificence and grandeur than that of Muhammad(saw).
There is a flowing ocean of love for the Holy Prophet in my heart; He is such that there is no one like him in perfection and qualities.
After God I am inebriated with the love of Muhammad(saw); if this be infidelity, then by God I am a great infidel.’
‘O My beloved, I swear by your oneness,
We have lost ourselves in your love.
My every particle is satiated with your love,
We have as if populated an entire city in our heart.’
‘He is our leader, who is the source of all light;
His name is Muhammad(saw), he alone is my beloved.’
19.
20. The wise, no doubt, selected you (to submit themselves)
And it was due to their true sincerity that
They effaced even the memory of whatever reminded (them) of their homelands.
21. Indeed they preferred you (O Holy Prophet) over everyone else,
and gave up their (cherished) friends
And they distanced themselves from their circle of fraternity.
22. No doubt, they abandoned their worldly desires and their self-indulgence
And they became averse to all transitory material wealth.
23. The clear arguments (and signs) from their (Holy) Prophet
became manifest for them
So, the idols of their selfish desires were (completely) smashed.
24. They became (spiritually) lit up (by the Sun of Truth) at the time of darkness
(of sin and vices) And Allah (due to His grace) delivered them safely from this flood (of sin and vices).
25. No doubt, they were crushed by the persecution and tyranny of their opponents
Nevertheless, they endured steadfastly by the grace of the Gracious God.
26. The mean-spirited people robbed their valuables, and ravaged their homes
But (due to the spiritual wealth they acquired) their faces glowed from the (sparkling) pearls of the Holy Quran.
27.
28. They marched on, in their battles, following the advancing stride of
the Holy Prophet (And threw themselves) in the battlefield, like those (who are) driven, and inspired, by love.
29. So, the blood of these (brave) men, who were true
and sincere in their love (and devotion)
Was spilled under the swords (of their enemies) as if
(they were just) objects of sacrifice.
30. They came to you (O Holy Prophet) while they were robbed and deprived,
like those (who are spiritually) bare,
So you covered them with the drapes of faith.
(because of their sins) were despicable like dung.
But (due to your spiritual power) you transformed them into an ingot of pure gold.
31. Until the dry and parched desert (country of Arabia)
became a (lush green, spiritual) garden
In which rivulets of delectable water ran, and branches
(of trees) were laden with fruit.
32. (Due to the blessing of the Holy Prophet) the towns of
Arabia once again became verdent green
After (a long spell of) barrenness, drought, and devastation.
33. People of Hijaz (Arabia) were preoccupied with flirting with pretty women.
But (the spiritual power of) the Holy Prophet caused them to become lost in (the love of) the Gracious God.
34. As for women, their marriage was declared unlawful
To those men whose forbidden status is (described) in the Holy Qur'an.
35. And (by instituting the rule of prohibition of drinking)
you devastated their drinking-bars
And caused the closure of liquor-stores in their towns.
36. There were many drinkers who used to guzzle barrels full of liquor
But (O Holy Prophet) you made them drunk in (the love of the Islamic) faith.
37.
38. There were many who were driven by their love for fragrant beautiful women
But you (O Holy Prophet) attracted them (fully) towards Al-Furqan
(the Holy Qur'an).
39. (O Holy Prophet) You brought to life, with a single glimpse,
those who lay (spiritually) dead for centuries.
Who can compare with you in this glorious achievement?
40. (Following your instructions) they gave up their (habit of)
evening-drinking and, in exchange for its drinking pleasure.
They adopted the (practice of deriving) pleasure
from prayers in the nights of grief.
41. They were devoted to (playing) two-string musical instruments and
(producing) plaintive notes from them
Indeed they had a slavish attachment to it (as a pursuit).
42. Their parties were always marked by singing to the accompaniment of music.
They would either flirt with women or indulge in heavy drinking.
43. They had no worries (in life) except being preoccupied with
(the thoughts of) pretty female singers.
They either indulged in drinking, or kept dreaming of goblets.
44. They were very fond of creating disorder due to their ignorance
(and foolishness) And were (quite pleased) with (their) life
(that was spent) in filth and squalor.
and gave up their (cherished) friends
And they distanced themselves from their circle of fraternity.
22. No doubt, they abandoned their worldly desires and their self-indulgence
And they became averse to all transitory material wealth.
23. The clear arguments (and signs) from their (Holy) Prophet
became manifest for them
So, the idols of their selfish desires were (completely) smashed.
24. They became (spiritually) lit up (by the Sun of Truth) at the time of darkness
(of sin and vices) And Allah (due to His grace) delivered them safely from this flood (of sin and vices).
25. No doubt, they were crushed by the persecution and tyranny of their opponents
Nevertheless, they endured steadfastly by the grace of the Gracious God.
26. The mean-spirited people robbed their valuables, and ravaged their homes
But (due to the spiritual wealth they acquired) their faces glowed from the (sparkling) pearls of the Holy Quran.
27.
28. They marched on, in their battles, following the advancing stride of
the Holy Prophet (And threw themselves) in the battlefield, like those (who are) driven, and inspired, by love.
29. So, the blood of these (brave) men, who were true
and sincere in their love (and devotion)
Was spilled under the swords (of their enemies) as if
(they were just) objects of sacrifice.
30. They came to you (O Holy Prophet) while they were robbed and deprived,
like those (who are spiritually) bare,
So you covered them with the drapes of faith.
(because of their sins) were despicable like dung.
But (due to your spiritual power) you transformed them into an ingot of pure gold.
31. Until the dry and parched desert (country of Arabia)
became a (lush green, spiritual) garden
In which rivulets of delectable water ran, and branches
(of trees) were laden with fruit.
32. (Due to the blessing of the Holy Prophet) the towns of
Arabia once again became verdent green
After (a long spell of) barrenness, drought, and devastation.
33. People of Hijaz (Arabia) were preoccupied with flirting with pretty women.
But (the spiritual power of) the Holy Prophet caused them to become lost in (the love of) the Gracious God.
34. As for women, their marriage was declared unlawful
To those men whose forbidden status is (described) in the Holy Qur'an.
35. And (by instituting the rule of prohibition of drinking)
you devastated their drinking-bars
And caused the closure of liquor-stores in their towns.
36. There were many drinkers who used to guzzle barrels full of liquor
But (O Holy Prophet) you made them drunk in (the love of the Islamic) faith.
37.
38. There were many who were driven by their love for fragrant beautiful women
But you (O Holy Prophet) attracted them (fully) towards Al-Furqan
(the Holy Qur'an).
39. (O Holy Prophet) You brought to life, with a single glimpse,
those who lay (spiritually) dead for centuries.
Who can compare with you in this glorious achievement?
40. (Following your instructions) they gave up their (habit of)
evening-drinking and, in exchange for its drinking pleasure.
They adopted the (practice of deriving) pleasure
from prayers in the nights of grief.
41. They were devoted to (playing) two-string musical instruments and
(producing) plaintive notes from them
Indeed they had a slavish attachment to it (as a pursuit).
42. Their parties were always marked by singing to the accompaniment of music.
They would either flirt with women or indulge in heavy drinking.
43. They had no worries (in life) except being preoccupied with
(the thoughts of) pretty female singers.
They either indulged in drinking, or kept dreaming of goblets.
44. They were very fond of creating disorder due to their ignorance
(and foolishness) And were (quite pleased) with (their) life
(that was spent) in filth and squalor.
Many innovators (of vices) would (rather) converse with their lutes
But surely you (O Holy Prophet, by your spiritual power) caused them to converse with Rahman (the Gracious God). The Arab nation was blindly obsessed with two things
Savouring (intoxicating) drinks, and (pursuing) a lot of women. You found them to be a group of people who They cleansed their hearts thoroughly (of all sins) and eagerly advanced
To benefit from (the wealth of) firm belief and faith.
For I have placed my hopes at another threshold.
The Lord God, Who has granted life to the universe,
He is the Originator, the Creator, the Sustainer.
The Generous, All-Powerful, Reliever of problems,
The Merciful, the Compassionate, Who fulfils all needs.
I lie prostrate at His door, because it is said
'In this world one thing leads to another.'
Whenever I remember that Faithful Friend,
I forget all my friends and relatives.
How can I tie my heart to other than Him;
For I am so restless without Him!
Search not for my heart in my wounded bosom;
For I have pinned it to the apron-strings of the Beloved.
My heart is the Throne of the Beloved;
My head is an offering in the way of the Friend.
How can I describe the extent of His bounties on me;
For His grace is boundless!How can I ever be able to count His favours;
For His favours are uncountable!
The kind of relationship I have with the Beloved,
Is beyond the comprehension of all.
I cry at His door,
As a woman cries in the pangs of childbirth.
All my time is saturated with His love;
How happy is the time! How blissful the days!
O the garden of my Beloved! I sing Your praises;
For You have freed me from the beauty of gardens and the joy of
spring.[Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Hujjat-Ullah, Ruhani Khaza'in, Vol.12, p.
149]
Is beyond the comprehension of all.
I cry at His door,
As a woman cries in the pangs of childbirth.
All my time is saturated with His love;
How happy is the time! How blissful the days!
O the garden of my Beloved! I sing Your praises;
For You have freed me from the beauty of gardens and the joy of
spring.[
Another expression of a true lover is that in relation to his beloved, he considers himself to be nothing at all. He believes his beloved to be the source of every quality and considers himself to be completely subordinate to him in every way. Allah the Almighty granted the Promised Messiah(as) high stations of special nearness to Himself. He selected the Promised Messiah(as) as a rejuvenator of faith. He granted him the lofty station of the Promised Messiah and the Imam Mahdi. Allah expressed his immense love for him in his revelations to him, but short-sighted opponents of his do not pay attention to this fact. Has anyone ever seen such immense affection that a person erases his being completely and attributes every honour and respect of his, to be the fruits of his subordination to his beloved master(saw)? The Promised Messiah(as) states: “I swear upon His name (i.e., God), that he has granted me the honor of communion. But I have received this grace, merely due to my following the Holy Prophet(saw). Were I not from the Ummah (Muslim community), and did not follow him, even if my deeds were equivalent to all the mountains of the world, even then I would not have been blessed with this Divine communion.” With regards to his master and leader, the Promised Messiah(as) states:
‘I am but a sacrifice for his life, I have become his alone;
It is he who is everything, what am I, this is the decisive fact.’
The Promised Messiah(as) states:
‘It was impossible for me to attain this blessing, if I were not one to follow the ways of my leader and master, the pride of the Prophets, the best of creation, Muhammad(saw), the chosen one, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. As such, whatever status I have attained, I have attained through following him.’ (Haqeeqatul Wahi, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol.22, p.62)
Speaking of the innumerable divine blessings upon him, the Promised Messiah(as) states:
‘Whatever blessings of Allah there are upon us, these are all due to the grace of the Holy Prophet(saw). If we were to break apart from the Holy Prophet(saw), I truly say, that we would equate to nothing, not even dust.’ (Al-Hakam, 18 May 1908, p.4)
This is the lofty status of true love, devotion and obedience to the Holy Prophet(saw), which the Promised Messiah(as) was granted by Allah the Almighty. It is worth remembering that whatever the Holy Prophet(saw) received, was directly from God the Almighty. Whatever the Promised Messiah(as) received in status and divine blessings was due to his true and sincere, unparalleled and complete obedience to his master, the Holy Prophet(saw). It is for this reason that one received the title of being the master and perfect teacher(saw) and the other due to his obedience to his master, attained the office of Promised Messiah(as). How beautifully has the Promised Messiah(as) stated: ‘The magnificence of Ahmad(saw) (i.e. the Holy Prophet) is greater than can be fathomed; Whose humble servant, is the Messiah of the Age.’ The translation of the following Persian Poems, written in the praise of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), have been taken from The Essence of Islam`Vol.1, P.336 (available online at
My heart is aflame praising the Holy Prophet
Who has no peer in excellence
Who loves the Eternal Friend with all his heart,
And whose soul is in communion with the Beloved.
He who is the recipient of divine favours,
And has been brought up like a child in the lap of
God
He is an ocean of virtue and piety,
And is a unique pearl in all its splendour
In generosity and beneficence, he is like the spring
Rain;
His bounties and favours are like those of the sun.
He is ever merciful and is the sign of divine mercy;
He is gracious and is the manifestation of divine
Grace.
His countenance is so blessed that one glimpse of it
Transforms an ugly face into a beautiful one.
Like a star, his enlightened soul has lit up
Countless hearts which were full of darkness.
He is Ahmad of the latter days, it is for his light
That human hearts became brighter than the sun
He is more beautiful than all the progeny of Adam;
He is purer than the purest pearl,
From his lips issues forth the fountain of wisdom;
His heart overflows with the water of Kauthar - the heavenly stream
For the sake of God, he repudiated all else;
On land and sea there is none like him
God has granted him the lamp
Which is forever immune from any danger or
Windstorm
Champion warrior of the Lord God;
Wearing his dagger with great dignity.
His arrow has demonstrated its swiftness in every
Field;
His proved helplessness of idols to the world;
He plainly showed the power of the One, All-
Powerful God
Lest the idols, their makers, and worshippers
Should remain ignorant of the power of God.
He loves truth, straightforwardness and uprightness;
He is the enemy of falsehood and evil.
He is the master, yet, yet he is a servant to the helpless;
He is the king, yet he is like a servitor to the weak.
The compassion that the world received from him,
None has ever experienced even from a mother.
He is intoxicated with the wine of the Beloved`s
Love;
For His sake, he is so prostrate and humble.
His light reached out to every people
And lit up every country.
For everyone with insight, he is the sign of the gracious
God:
He is the proof of God for all who have eyes to see
We are humble servants of all the Prophets;
We lie like dust on their threshold.
May our life be sacrificed for the Prophet,
Who showed the way to the True God
O my Lord, by the host of the Prophets,
Whom you sent with your abundant grace;
Grant me wisdom, as You have granted me a
Yearning heart;
Grant me the wine, as You have granted me the
Globe
The love the Promised Messiah(as) held for the Holy Prophet was not only confined to his own life. Rather, this love continued even after his demise. His writings live on, so too does his model behaviour. After his demise, he has left behind a devoted community which under the shadow of Khilafat is satiated with the love of the Holy Prophet(saw). This community is known as the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. Today, by the grace of Allah, an endless ocean of love exists in the hearts of all Ahmadis. All this is the grace of Allah and his blessings. The lantern of the love of Muhammad(saw) is such a magnificent one, that today its light shines in the heart of every Ahmadi Muslim, and from this lantern many other lanterns have also become lit.Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Hujjat-Ullah, Ruhani Khaza'in, Vol.12, p. 149]
The Promised Messiah's face was glowing with joy, it is reported by his companions, when this Qaseeda was completed. Hazoor Aqdas addressing the Holy Prophet, conveys his salutations and love and obedience with such pathos and glowing tributes which has no parallel in human history. This empathy and the complete identification with the Holy Prophet of Islam in cause of Allah was the reason that the Holy Prophet is reported to have said that the Promised Messiah will reflect his second coming and will be buried in his grave. What a tribute! The Promised Messiah says (The number of couplet is given in the parenthesis at the end of the couplet):
Those who seek and discover that the cups of their life are empty come running towards the ocean of your blessings filled by Allah's Grace.(2)
You are the spiritual sun who has brought light to the four corners of the world.(3)
Your face reflects the glory of Allah and His attributes find expression through your excellent character.(41)
Allah has bestowed upon you all the best and the highest qualities of man and He has perfected the gift of prophethood in your person as Khataman-Nabiyyeen.(46)
I have received the gift of spiritual life through you, O my Master and Perfect Leader, and I am nothing but your humble servant. What a miracle! How well he raised me to life.(62)
O Lord, My Creator, Your everlasting blessings be upon the Holy Prophet in this world and in the hereafter.(63)
Look at me, O My Master, with mercy and grace. I am your most humble servant.(67)
Now, no rational person will fail to recognize the truth about the Promised Messiah and his love for the Holy Prophet, khataman-nabiyyeen. The Promised Messiah appeared at the right time according to the prophecy of the Holy Prophet and completed his mission under Allah's commands. A unique part of the beautiful Religion of Islam is the special love generated within the heart of a believer by the magnificent and perfect Attributes of Allah the Exalted. It is through the blessing of these Perfect Attributes that mankind is delivered each day from hardship and ignorance into the spiritual sanctuary of success. In times of great desperation, anguish, suffering, heartbreak and sadness ‘Bani Adam’ raises its hands arched and supplicates to the One deserving of all Praise. In a Persian poem the Imam Mahdi(as) beautifully encapsulates the emotion and feeling of a true lover and supplicant of Allah, the Loving One (Al-Wudud);
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