Khilafat Centenary Souvenir 1908-2008 — Page 13
political unrest and instability reinforces the long- standing Western perception of Islam and Muslims as being violent, as well as directly benefiting the agenda of many Western nations who view Islam as not just a potential political adversary but as a threat to their religious or secular way of life. This has been termed by some Western scholars as a "clash of civilizations" doomed to end in a violent global conflict between Muslim and Christian nations. It is thus quite easy to see how this "Christian vs. Muslim" worldview is perpetuated and maintained by and for the benefit of the Western powers. to ask itself is: can Khilafat be established by the sole efforts of people? Can Khilafat be restored by oratory and crowds shouting at the top of their voices demanding its establishment? In many Muslim countries, very substantial and high level conferences have been held on this topic. So why has Khilafat not been established among the non-Ahmadi Muslims? Can Khilafat truly be established in this way? The answer plainly is that if it had been possible to establish Khilafat in this way then all the efforts by It is truly disheartening how quickly and easily the Muslim world and its leaders have fallen victim to and accepted this perspective as being valid. But is its inevitable, blood y conflict with the West the only door open to sincere but frustrated Muslims who desire the return of Khilafat? The answer from God Himself is , "No, of course not. " The answer to this dilemma comes only in the form of the fulfillment of God 's promise in the re-establishment of divinely-guided Khilafat founded on the precept of prophethood. WFROMALLAH ~ Allah has promised to those among you who believe and ~ do good works that He will, surely, make them successors ~ in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who , #"\. were before them; and that He will, surely, establish for '1#. J them their religion which He has chosen for them; and that {. rJ He will, surely, give them in exchange security and peace after their fear; They will worship Me and they will not LJ. I associate anything with Me. Then whoso disbelieves after ~ that, they will be the rebellious. < Surah Al -N u r, Vers e 56 As Ahmadi Muslims, we acknowledge and rejoice in the fulfillment of this promise following the demi se of the Promised Messiah, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as , and we have been guided, blessed and protected by it ever since. It is ironic that Muslims who claim to have firm faith that Allah hears their pra yers and has all power to answer them, can still remain blind and refuse to acknowledge the fulfillment of that promise, even when it stands before them as a clear Sign for well over a hundred years. The other Muslims have been speaking in favor of Khilafat and putting forth huge efforts to somehow establish Khilafat by worldly means among themselves for a very long time. Even today, despite the complete failure of all their own efforts, they still keep demanding that Khilafat be restored and re- established among them. The important question the Muslim Ummah needs millions upon millions of Muslims for centuries the world-over would by now have certainly resulted in Khilafat. But the lack of such success is an emphatic rebuttal of this idea. The fact of the matter is that Khilafat cannot be established by human effort. The Hol y Qur 'an tells us that it is God alone Who establishes the true, divinely- guided Khilafat, and that it is God alone Who bestows the mantle of Khilafat upon the one He chooses. This is how it has happened in the past and this is how it shall happen in the future. Since Allah has Himself retained the making and setting up of Khilafat in His Hands, so it shall be He Who shall cause it to become established. Here are the words of Allah in this regard: Allah has promised to those among you who believe and