The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 177
THE PROMISED MESSIAH AND MAHDI. I am devoted to That Light (the Holy Prophet). I am from Him. He is, I am nothing. That is the decision. . Alot of this dispute about prophethood is due to the fact that most people are unaware of the meaning of 'prophet'. Hadhrat Ahmad has written that most people do not pay attention to the literal meaning of 'prophet' which means one to whom God sends revelation frequently and informs him abundantly about unknown future events. . It is not necessary that a prophet must bring a new law (Sharia). . Hadhrat Ahmad was a prophet according to this definition and he attained this spiritual status due to perfect and complete obedience and love of the Holy Prophet. It is a grace of God. He bestows on whomsoever He wishes. . Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad took great pains that his status of subordinate and a follower prophet may not be misunderstood. . As a result he used many terms for his prophethood to be properly understood. He used the following terms: 1. Ghair Tashri'ei Prophethood (without a new law or Sharia). 2. Ummati Prophethood (one given to a follower of the Holy Prophet). 3. Zilli or Buroozi Prophethood (one which is a reflection or an image). 4. Ghair Mustaqil Prophethood (one which is not independent of the. Holy Prophet). . By the meaning and reality of this kind of prophethood should be clear to all thinking persons. The Holy Quran and Hadith are not against the coming of such a prophet, as we have explained in our article. . Now coming to specific points under discussion. I had given the argument that we Muslims are taught the prayer in Sura Fatiha, "Guide us along the right path, the path of those on whom. Thou hast bestowed Thy favours. " Who are those on whom God has bestowed His favours? The Quran itself gives the answer: beston "Who so obeys Allah and the Messenger shall be among those upon whom Allah has bestowed His favours the Prophets, the -177