Khuddam USA Souvenir 1989 — Page 13
MESSAGE OF OUR BELOVED IMAM, HAZRAT MIRZA TAHIR AHMAD, KHALIFATUL MASIH IV One hundred years ago today, an amazing event took place in an obscure and tiny hamlet (Qadian), in the prov- ince of Punjab, Indi a. IL was an eve nt which was destined to change the course of history. There appeared a religious leader specifically commis- sioned by God to lead mankind as the Promised Reformer of the latter days. His name was Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908), the Founder of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Mushm Comm unit y. He laid the basis for the unification o f mankind in a unique manner. He resolved the con- Oi cts and para do xes prevailing in the religious world regarding the advent of a global Reformer. The followers of all great religions - Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Zoroastrians, and the fol- lowers of Confuciu s-a ll anxiously awaited the advent of a Promised Reformer, as predicted in their holy scripture s. The Jews ex pect ed the Messiah would rejuvenate Judaism; th e Christians claimed that the second advent of Jesus would bring nigh the Kingdom of Heaven; the Muslims believed that the Messiah and Mahdi would join forces to bring abo ut the final renaissance of Islam; the Hindus awaited the coming of God himself in the form of Krishna. and, the Buddhists were hopefully waiting for the reincarnation of Buddha. How could God send different Messengers simultane- ously -each calling to the same God in his own diverse way, in vi ting mankind unto divergent paths and con- flicting ideologies? That was the perplexing question addressed by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian under Divine guidance and revelation. It was revealed to him that all the prophecies regarding the advent of various reformers were no doubt true. They, however, in fact implied that only a single claimant would be raised who would combin~ in his person the qualities, role and spiritual powers of all the great World Reformers whose advent had been promised. Indeed, he would be a soldier from God wearing the garbs of different prophets. He also proclaimed that the religion chosen by Almighty God for the universal and final manifestation of His Unity was Islam. Thus. in accordance with the Divine command, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed to be that global Reformer who was destined Lo be raised in Islam in complete subordi- nation to Prophet Muhammad - the last Law- bearing prophet may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. This was an astonishing c laim. It was even more astonishing that this so lit ary voice, raised from a small, unk nown village, insignificant as it seemed to the world at large, was heeded al all. Some respond ed to this call with complete faith and devotion. There were many others who raised a storm of hostility, the like of which has seldom been witnessed in the history of mankind His followers were subjected to extreme persecution. They were deprived of religious freedom and fundamental human rights. Even laws were enacted in some countries to render them liable to severe punishment and prosecu- tion for the mere act of professing and practicing their faith. Yet all this phenomenal opposition utterly failed to arrest the progress of Ahmadiyyat, which is marching forward even faster today than ever before. All the efforts of hostile fanatics, be they individuals, groups or govern- ments, have totally failed in their purported objective of exterminating Ahmadiyyat from the face of the earth. God stood by His servant, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, ful- filled all His promises and, as prophesied in 1898, "caused his message to reach the corners of the earth. " Today, Ahmadiyyat stands established in 120 countries and the pace of its growth is destined to engulf the whole of mankind. God saved his followers (Ahmadis), protected them from all evil designs and showered His innumerable blessings upon them. It is, therefore, to extol the name of Allah and sing His praises for His innumerable bounties that Jamaat Ahmadiyya is celebrating the year 1989 as the Thanks- giving Centenary Year. On this auspicious occasion, I most humbly and sin- cerely invite all my fellow human beings to stu dy the Ahm- adiyya Movement in !slam seriously and to join its fold. I call upon God, Who is All- Knowing and Ever-Present, as my witness, that the message of Ahmadiyyat is nothing but Truth: It is Islam in its pristine purity. The salvation of mankind depends on accepting this religion of peace. Islam is the religion which does away with all discriminations between man and man, and demolishes all barriers of race, color and creed which divide humanity. Islam liberates man from the bondage of sin and strengthens his ties with his Creator. It is a religion so simple, yet so highly organized to meet the demands and the challenges of the changing world Islam permits no exploitation-be it social, political, economic or religious. The political philosophy of Islam has no room for false or deceptive diplomacy. It believes in absolute morality, and enjoins justice and fairness to friend or foe alike in every sphere of human interest. Islam neither permits coercion for the spread ofits own message nor gives license to other religions to do so. Indulgence in terrorism even in the name of the noblest objectives is entirely incompatible with the teachings of Islam. It is the firm belief of Jamaal Ahmadiyya that Islam is the panacea for all maladies and ailments of suffering humanity today. Islam teaches us that unless man learns Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya U. SA. - 13