Khilafat Centenary Souvenir 1908-2008 — Page 31
born among the Bani Israel, who spent their lives in the service of the Torah as sincere devotees. It should be remembered that Moses as was sent with a limited sharia' (law), which was not to survive up to the Day of Judgment. Neither was it meant for the entire world. God took precautions for this sharia' by bestowing thousands of Prophets for its support, The Holy Propher •w said that after him, there will be Khilafat for thirty years. After Khilafat-e-Rashida (rightly guided successors) many rulers were tyrants, and the word Khalifa is so sacred that the Holy Propher •w did not want this word associated with those tyrants. The Promised Messiah. . says: at times hundreds at a time. What about the Umma Khalifa means successor, and the successors of of the Holy Prophet '•w , which is considered the best Messengers in real meaning can only be he who reflects among all the Ummas? How ------------------- in himself excellences of the could that Umma, which is Messenger. under the protection of the one who is called the 'Chief of the Prophets' be so unfortunate, that God would turn His back on it by blessing it for only thirty years subsequent to the departure of the Holy Propher •w ? Many centuries have elapsed since the demise of the Holy Propher •w , and many trials, tribulations and hardships appeared for his Umma. His Umma was shattered, and all nations attacked it. Even then, did God not look upon his Umma? Did He not have mercy upon it? Did He ever consider that it may be as weak as the Bani Israel, and like that nation, did not the seeds and plants of Islam also need heavenly water to grow and flourish? Is it possible that our Gracious God would allow that to happen to us? Is it imaginable that God had mercy over previous Ummas, whereas the Umma of the Holy Propher •w incurred His displeasure? Is it imaginable that he sent the Holy Qur'an and then completely abandoned His Umma, at the mercy of the so- called scholars? No, our merciful God has promised us a permanent Khilafat, a Khilafat for eternity, a guide to follow until the Day of Judgment. The Promised Messiah as says: If any man casts a glance on these verses, then, how could he not follow that God the Exalted has made a clear promise of permanent Khilafat for this Umma? If the Khilafat were not a lasting one then what does it connote to assimilate it with the Khilafat of Moses as ? S ha h a dat u l Q. u r' an , p. 57 That is why the Holy Prophet'•w did not wish that the word Khalifa be applied to the cruel kings. God did not leave Ummat- e-Musalman (the Muslim nation) without Khilafat. Allah gave tidings of the advent of mujaddideen. The Holy Propher• w said: Verily God will appoint a reformer for this Umma in the beginning of every century, one who will restore its faith. Abu Da w ood , K it abu l Fitan The followers of the Holy Propher •w have been promised that God will appoint for them a mujaddid at the beginning of every century, one who will restore the faith. Consequently, this promise has been fulfilled in the past thirteen centuries with the advent of mujaddideen who were distinguished personifications of Islamic teachings and played a very important role in spreading and establishing Islam. The table to the right displays the names of mujaddideen chronologically over the last thirteen centuries. The mission of the Holy Prophet's s•w rightly guided Khulafa, the mujaddideen, and the Promised Messiah "' , and his successors is to protect the law and to bring back "the erring flock into the master's fold. " The Holy Qur'an also alludes to this point: By the heaven having mansions of stars.