Khilafat Centenary Souvenir 1908-2008 — Page 100
Khilafat Centenary N izam-e-Wasiyyat: Its Requirment and Our Response -------------------------- Dr. Khaled Ahmad Ata According to the Arabic lexicon, the word 'Wasiyyat' has several meanings. Among the more commonly understood are: a commandment, a precept, mandate, injunction, charge, last will or testament. lnjama'at Ahmadiyya the term 'Nizam-e-Wasiyyat' denotes a special system of commitment to individual, spiritual progress combined with financial sacrifice which was initiated by Syedna Hadhrat Aqdas Masih- e-Mau'ood as (the Promised Messiah) in 1905. Inspired by the Divine, the system gives glad tidings of Paradise to those who join and participate in it with complete sincerity (henceforth referred to as Moosi, plural Moosian) striving to fulfill their commitment till the end of their lives. When Hadhrat Masih-e-Mau'oodas repeatedly received revelations about his departure from this world, he was very worried about the Ahmadiyya Jama'at. This is reflected in one of his writings, as follows: 'Distressing is the fact that the Jama' at is still not fully established but messages for my demise are coming. The J ama'at's condition is like unto a child who suckles but for a few days and its mother passes away. ' (Malfoozat, Vol. 4, p596-7). Huzur as then wrote a book called 'Risala Al-Wasiyyat' first published on December 24, 1905, comprising two important subjects, namely Qudrat-e- Thaniya (the Second Manifestation) that gives assurances and glad tidings for propagation and spiritual training of thejama'at through Nizam-e-Khilafat (system of succession after a prophet), and Nizam-e-Wasiyyat (system of the Will) that deals with a grand scheme of financial sacrifice with far- reaching and everlasting benevolence to mankind. Glad Tiding of Paradise About the Nizam-e-Wasiyyat, Huzur as received great glad tidings of Paradise from Almighty Allah. Huzur as writes, 'I was shown a place which was named Bahishti Maqbarah (Bahishti: of Paradise, Heavenly; Maq barah: cemetery), and it was conveyed to me that it contained graves of such selected members of the community as are destined for Heaven. ' (Roohani Khazain, vol. 20, p 316). A ll Ki nd s of Ble ss ings Elucidating upon these glad tidings Huzur as said, '- not only God revealed that this graveyard is Bahishti but also said every kind of blessing has descended onto this graveyard, and there is no single kind of blessing that the inhabitants of this graveyard have not partaken of. ' (Roohani Khazain, Vol. 20, p 318). Who Will Become the Inhabitants of Bahishti Maqbarah ? Nizam-e-Wasiyyat demands a pure spiritual change from believers to increase their level of Taqwa (righteousness). Allah Almighty grants His nearness and pleasure to the righteous, which is their real Paradise. The following special prayers of the Promised Messiah as reflect the characteristics of the inmates of Bahishti Maq barah: 'I pray that God may bless it and that He may make this very piece of land Bahishti Maqbarah; and make it the resting place of those members of the ]ama'at who are pure of heart and who have in reality given precedence to faith over the world and who have renounced love of the world and submitted themselves to God and who have brought about in themselves a holy change and who have, like the disciples of the Holy Prophefa w , set examples of faithfulness and truthfulness, Amen, 0 Lord of the worlds. ' 'I pray again: 0 rrry Mighty God! Make this piece of land fit for the graves of those of rrry Jama' at who are pure of heart and who have in reality become solely for You, and in their works there is no adulteration of worldly objectives , Amen. 0 Lord of the worlds'.