Khilafat-e-Rashidah — Page 229
KHILAFAT-E-R A SHIDAH 229 excellence to the Holy Prophet sa which He gave to Hadrat Ibr a h i m as (Abraham) both in his person and to his offspring (i. e. He may become the father of Prophets and Prophethood be bestowed upon his spiritual descendants. Allah, the Almighty honoured this prayer. Just as there were four Prophets after Hadrat Ibr a h i m as (Abraham), so there were also four Khulaf a ’ after the Holy Prophet sa who excelled in religion. The Prophets were born in the race of Hadrat Ibr a h i m as (Abraham) and the glad tidings of the arrival of Prophets in the later period of the Holy Prophet sa was also given. The Holy Prophet sa was made superior in this matter too, i. e. Hadrat Ibr a h i m as (Abraham) educated two Khulaf a ’ directly and two indirectly, but the Holy Prophet sa trained his four Khulaf a ’ personally. If this is not resemblance, then what can be the meaning of “just as You bestowed blessings and generosity and just as You bestowed Your bounties”. Critics would then have to concede that status of Hadrat Ibr a h i m as (Abraham) might be higher than the Holy Prophet sa. In conclusion, the combination of the promise made to Hadrat Ibr a h i m as (Abraham) and the Dur u d clearly reveal that the same thing would also happen with the Holy Prophet sa , and the appointment of Khulaf a ’ for the honour of his religion is expected after him. If one objects that Hadrat Abraham’s as Khulaf a ’ were Prophets but the Holy Prophet’s sa were not, the reply is this that there were, in fact, two promises of leadership for the offspring of Hadrat Ibr a h i m as