Durr e Sameen English Translation
Durr e Sameen English Translation
Durr e Sameen English Translation
m-dash corrected
PRECIOUS PEARLS
English translation of
Translated by
Waheed Ahmad
Precious Pearls
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Translation copyright
2008 by Waheed Ahmad
All rights reserved
ISBN
Printed by
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LIST OF CONTENTS
Page
1. Help of God 23
Nusrat-e Ilahi
2. Invitation to ponder 23
Da’wat-e fikr
3. Beneficence of the glorious Quran 23
Fazail-e Quran
4. Addressing the Christians 24
‘Isaiyoon se khitaab
5. Excellences of the glorious Quran 25
Ausaaf Quran majeed
6. Praise to the Lord of the worlds 26
Hamd Rabbil ‘Alameen
7. The fleeting world 27
Sara-e khaam
8. The Vedas 27
Ved
9. Death of Jesus of Nazareth 28
Wafaat-e Masih Nasri
10. The Signs of near ones 29
‘Alamaat-il muqarrabeen
11. A plea to God Almighty 29
Qadir Mutlaq ke hazoor
12. Love with Islam and its founder 30
Islam aur bani-e Islam se ‘ishq
13. The Cloak of Baba Nanak 31
Chola Baba Nanak
14. The fruit of Truth 42
Taseer-e sadaqat
15. Mahmood’s Ameen 42
Mahmood ki ameen
16. In the words of Amman Jaan 47
… ba zubaan-e Amman Jaan
17. The Mother of Books 48
Ummul Kitaab
18. Knowledge of God 49
Ma’arfat-e Haq
19. Basheer Ahmad’s Ameen 49
Basheer Ahmad … ki ameen
20. The status of Ahmad of Arabia 58
Shaan-e Ahmad-e ‘Arabi
21. The spread of religion by sword … 58
‘Isha’at-e din ba-zor-e shamsheer …
22. Attachment with God 61
Ta’alaq billah
23. The fervour for truth 61
Josh-e sadaqat
24. The breeze of invitation 61
Naseem-e da’wat
25. Invitation to truth for the Aryas 62
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Aryon ko da’wat-e Haq
26. Prophecy of a great earthquake 63
Paishgoi zalzala-e ‘Azeemah
27. Warnings 63
Anzaar
28. Aryas of Qadian 64
Qadian ke Arya
29. The glory of Islam 64
Shaan-e Islam
30. Addressing the Hindus 71
Hinduoon se khitaab
31. An appeal to the honour of Islam 73
Ghayrat-e Islami ko appeal
32. Repentance 73
Tauba se ‘azab tal jata hai
33. God loves humility 74
Allah Ta’ala ko khaksari pasand hai
34. Completion of convincing proof 74
Atmaam-e hujjat
35. Warnings and glad tidings 75
Anzaar wa tabsheer
36. Untitled 76
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TRANSLATOR’S NOTE
Durr-e Sameen, literally meaning Precious Pearl, is a compilation of all the Urdu poems and
verses of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas of Qadian, India (1835-1908). The actual poetry was
composed over a period of approximately twenty-eight years, from 1880 to 1908, and was
included in the more than eighty books of prose that he wrote on various religious subjects.
The first edition of Durr-e Sameen was published in India in 1896 by Khalifa Nooruddin
Jamooni and included all the Urdu poems of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad written up to that
time. In the same year, a second edition was published, this time by Hakeem Fazluddin Bhervi.
Some five years later, in October 1901, Khalifa Nooruddin Jamooni published the third edition
under the title Durar-e Sameen Kaamil (meaning Perfect Precious Pearls). Since the publication
of these very early editions, the Urdu1 Durr-e Sameen has gone through numerous printings
over the past hundred years.
Other than occasional translations of individual poems that have been published in the
various magazines and newspapers of the Ahmadiyya Community, there have not been many
serious attempts at translating the entire work. Sufi A.Q. Niaz carried out the first systematic
English translation of the Urdu Durr-e Sameen in the mid nineteen-sixties. The translation is
now out of print and covered less than twenty percent of the Urdu poetry of Hadhrat Mirza
Ghulam Ahmad. Although beautifully and very elegantly rendered into English, Sufi Niaz’s
work falls into the category of explanatory or exegetic translations that aim to describe in great
detail the complete meaning of a verse. While such an approach succeeds admirably in
elucidating the full meaning of the Urdu verses, it makes the reading somewhat cumbersome
and verbose. Explanatory translations of poetic works frequently fail to convey the brevity,
melody and beauty that are so striking in the original language.
An attempt, therefore, has been made to present a new rendering of Durr-e Sameen into the
English language. The translation covers the entire Urdu poetry of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam
Ahmad and is carried out in prose, without any constraints imposed by rhyme or rhythm.
Although the original Urdu verses of Durr-e Sameen follow both rhyme and metre, it was felt
that a translation in prose would allow a more accurate rendering of the original text. The
objective of the present work is to convey to the reader not only the exact meaning of what
Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad has said in his Urdu poetry but also to provide a taste of how
beautifully he achieved it.
However, the translating of one language into another is a difficult task, particularly when it
relates to the field of poetry. Such attempts invariably involve some sacrifice of meaning as well
as of diction. It is practically impossible to render all aspects of a poetic work into another
language without affecting its overall literary quality. In this respect, the present translation is
not expected to be above such natural limitations.
Nevertheless it is hoped that this new translation of Durr-e Sameen will contribute to the
reader’s enlightenment and enjoyment and thus fulfil the purpose for which Hadhrat Mirza
Ghulam Ahmad originally wrote the verses more than a century ago.
The arrangement of poems in the present translation is exactly the same as in the recently
published versions of the Urdu Durr-e Sameen, following essentially a chronological order in
which the poems were actually written.
The poems of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad never bore any titles when they first appeared
as part of his original books. However, the editors included appropriate titles when these poems
were published as separate collections as Durr-e Sameen. For the sake of ease in reference, the
Urdu titles of the poems have been retained in the present translation. Also included for each
poem is the date of publication and the name of the book in which it first appeared.
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The reader should note that all capitalised pronouns, nouns and adjectivessuch as His,
Him, Dear, Darling, Belovèd, Love, the One, the Pure and the Friendare used strictly with
reference to God. When used for the prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) or for anyone
else, such pronouns are never capitalised.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge the gracious help of all those persons who reviewed
this translation and offered valuable advice and suggestions. The comments received from these
persons helped immensely in improving the final translation. Any shortcomings or errors that
still remain are the sole responsibility of the translator.
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INTRODUCTION
Born in India during the last century of the British rule, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad
practically spent his entire life in the north Indian hamlet of Qadian, devoting his time to the
seeking of knowledge and wisdom, and kindling the light of spirituality and righteousness
among the people. One could conceivably examine the life of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad
from several perspectives since he was a writer, a poet, a scholar, a preacher, a saint and a
prophet. However, if there is one single phrase that combines all these individual facets and
befittingly describes his entire life and works, it its clearly conveyed by the expression The
Reformer of the Age. Thus, his primary function was to bring a change in the social, moral and
spiritual values of the people whom he found grossly lacking in these traits.
Much of his reformatory effort was undertaken through the use of pen. Known as Sultan al-
Qalam, or Master of the Pen, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad wrote more than eighty books in
Urdu, Arabic and Persian languages. His proficiency and command extended equally to all three
languages and he was as comfortable composing a poem in Arabic as he was writing a treatise
in Persian, or producing a philosophical discourse in Urdu.
Much like his prose, the poetry of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is basically moralistic and
religious in nature, given essentially to expounding the excellence and beauty of the religion of
Islam. However, he seldom wrote a poem as a stand-alone composition. Practically all his
poetry is an integral part of his various treatise in the Urdu, Arabic and Persian languages. Thus,
his poems were basically intended to compliment the general theme of the book that he was
writing. Although it is an uncommon writing style to mix prose and poetry in a single treatise,
nevertheless it is very effective. Like jewels sewn in an elegant garment, his poems lace the
pages of his otherwise extremely serious and profound discourses on religion and philosophy.
But, despite the fact that his poetry would easily measure up to the highest of literary
standards, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was not a poet—not at least in the ordinary sense of
the word in which the image of a poet is conceived in many minds. His poetry is completely
free of the typical poetic construction adopted by many Urdu poets of his time. To him, poetry
was simply another medium in which to preach his message to the people. As he very aptly
states himself:
The writings of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad cover practically every aspect of the religion
of Islam. In these insightful and sagacious discourses, he takes on such varied subjects as the
need for religion, the pre-eminence of Islam among the world’s faiths, the nature of divine
revelation, man’s relationship with God, the purpose of sending prophets, the power of prayer,
the reality of the Hereafter, the source of knowledge, and the purpose of man’s life and his
progress through the physical, moral and spiritual states.
Despite their varied subjects, the gist of the entire writings of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam
Ahmad is the development of a personal relationship with Goda relationship that is based on
due respect for God’s powers and a proper understanding of His attributes. In this context, he
repeatedly emphasises the importance of faith and the need to cement an everlasting bond of
love and friendship with God.
Although the entire poetry of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is extremely moving and
elegant, it reaches its greatest height when he begins to speak of his true love—his Lord and
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Master. His love of God comes out so intense and forceful in his writings that it amounts to an
almost insane passion that leaves a lasting impression upon the reader. Without exaggeration,
his love for God has no like in its depth and intensity in the annals of poetic literature of Islam
or of any other faith. Much of his emotions in this respect are shown in the traditional symbolic
language of mysticism where God is frequently addressed and spoken of as one’s Dear and
Belovèd. A few of his verses below illustrate his constant restlessness for his Love:
Thus, the conventional mystical yearning for the Belovèd’s company and for His Face runs
as a steady theme throughout his poetry. Although Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad has clearly
found God, he continues to reach higher and deeper into this limitless ocean of ‘Irfaan, or the
Knowledge of God.
Having personally experienced revelations, visions and converse with God, Hadhrat Mirza
Ghulam Ahmad constantly encourages the reader to develop the same relationship of friendship
and love with the Creator that he has forged himself:
‘Tis the only way, my dear, that you ask Him for nearness;
Just seek His Hand and burn all other means! (22/3)
If love of God could be considered the noblest of all emotions, then self-negation would
amount to the greatest of all self-controls. The tendency towards pride is so deeply ingrained in
the human psyche and so destructive with respect to spiritual advancement, that Hadhrat Mirza
Ghulam Ahmad has frequently singled it out as one of the greatest stumbling blocks in our
moral progress. In this context, he writes:
Only they are close to Him who lose their own selves;
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The selfish ones have no access to His high court. (22/2)
They are far from God who are far from virtue
Constantly enslaved to egoism, pride and haughtiness. (37/112)
Aside from his love of God—that runs as a constant current through all his writings—his
poetry enumerates the excellence of Islam and its founder, the wisdom and beauty of the Quran,
genuine gratitude at God’s many favours upon his own person, good news to the righteous,
warnings to the wicked, and painful outcries at the attitude and response of the populace at large
towards his message.
After his love for God, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was truly given to the love of the
prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) whom he admired with the depth of his soul and to
whom he felt deeply indebted for all his own spiritual achievements. To him, the Prophet of
Islam was an ideal man whose character and traits were not only a credit to the entire humanity,
but also a perfect role model for every person to adopt. With God as the overall Master of
Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the prophet Muhammad was truly his master and mentor among
men. Thus, referring to the Prophet of Islam, he writes:
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Beholding thee we saw a strange display of light,
With light of thine the Satans did we scorch.
We are elect of men through thee, O elect of Messengers;
We moved our own step forward with thy stride. (12/26-30)
Because of his deep-seated love for his master, it pained him immeasurably when, due to
religious rivalry, non-Muslims frequently hurled all kind of insult and abuse at the person of the
noble Prophet. He compared this pain and anguish to something worse than seeing his own
family members cut to pieces in front of his eyes.
Although most intense and passionate by any standard, his love for the Prophet of Islam
went only as far as his sense of prudence would allow, and it always took second place to his
real love that was for God Almighty. Thus, he puts his two loves in proper perspective, in one of
his Persian verses:
If anything appears to exceed the intensity of his love of God, it is perhaps the depth of his
sincere and genuine gratitude towards Him for the many favours and blessings that God
Almighty bestowed upon Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Practically unknown in his youth, he
grew up in a little-known hamlet in northern Indiafar from any centre of social, business or
intellectual activity. Modest, retiring and given to solitude by nature, he would have been happy
and contented in his self-imposed state of seclusion if God had not expressly commanded him
otherwise. And then, in no time at all, he obtained such fame that his name was known not only
across the land of India, but also in parts of Europe and North America. But, most importantly,
at each stage of this remarkable transformation from a retiring mystic to an active reformer, he
witnessed the ever-present support of his Lord and his Belovèd. In the context of innumerable
favours that God bestowed upon him and the numerous Signs that He showed to the world in his
support, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad writes:
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I have no strength for gratitude a-now. (19/128)
Being the Reformer of the Age, the primary effort of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was
directed at improving the social, moral and spiritual standards of the peopleboth Muslim as
well as non-Muslim. In one form or another, his entire life was dedicated to this reformatory
undertaking in pursuit of which he sermonised the people, wrote personal letters, made poster
announcements, and penned more than eighty books to reach a wider audience. He constantly
exhorted the people to turn to righteousness and good deeds, and to give up the love and desire
for worldly things in favour of the Hereafter.
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O dear friends! Do not forget your afterlife
Take some provisions for the way; put in some work as well; (15/81)
Attach not your heart with itestrange your heart from it;
Remove your affection for it; in fact move far away from it; (15/83)
One particular claim of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was that he represented the second
coming of Jesus Christ. The Prophet Jesus, according to Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, had
survived the event of crucifixion and lived to a ripe old age before passing away from this
world. Prophesied in the Gospels as well as in the Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad, the
second advent of the Messiah was eagerly awaited not only by the Christians but also by the
Muslims. However, this representation of the Messiah’s second coming is strictly in a
metaphorical sensefor no dead person really comes back to this world. Referring to the need
of the times and the many Signs that were shown by God in his support, he writes:
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I’m the Son of Mary but I’ve descended not from the sky;
I am Mahdi4, too, but without sword and fighting.
I am not concerned with the country or the battles;
My task is to conquer the hearts, not the land. (39/268-269)
Much like the teachings of Jesus Christ himself, the exhortations of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam
Ahmad areto use a modern-day epithetpacifist in nature. He strongly abhors the use of
violence, particularly for achieving religious objectives. In fact, much like the person with
whose traits and characteristics he was supposed to be imbued with, he recommends turning the
other cheek. Following are a few examples:
Although Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed to be a prophet6 of God and the
manifestation of the second coming of Jesus Christ, he did not bring a new faith or religious
law. In fact he claimed, and prided in the fact, that he was subordinate to the Prophet
Muhammad (peace be upon him). He followed the religion of Islam to the letter and was totally
averse to changing even the smallest edict or command in this faith. If anything, he spent his
entire life proving the excellence of this faith and its obvious pre-eminence over all other
religions prevalent in the world:
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We observed and checked all the shops in the world,
Finally it was proved, this is the House of Healing. (29/5)
Despite his obvious piety and strong adherence to all Islamic injunctions, one persistent
allegation made by his opponents throughout his life was that he was not a true Muslim. In this
respect, he expresses his position very clearly and unambiguously in some of his verses, as
follows:
One specific message that Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad constantly preached throughout
his life was that God still conversed with His chosen people just as He spoke to them in the days
of old. He strongly believed that revelations, visions and converse with God were not only the
spiritual Signs of a living faith, but in fact great blessings bestowed unto mankind that
shouldand wouldcontinue forever. Thus, describing the various benefits of revelation, he
writes:
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Despite his constant and persistent efforts at raising the moral and spiritual standard of his
people, the masses by and large rejected his message. But then, such has been the treatment
rendered to practically every other reformer in history. The poetry as well as the prose of
Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is full of pain and disappointment at the continued heedlessness
of the people and he constantly prays to God for the re-greening of the orchard of Islam:
In the tradition of other reformers and prophets before him, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad
repeatedly warned the people as to the consequence of his rejection and their continued
wickedness and disbelief. In this respect, his prose as well as his poetry makes numerous
mentions of pestilences, earthquakes, bloodshed and other afflictions that could visit mankind.
However, close to the end of his lifein the years 1905 to 1908he made very specific
warnings about a great disaster that was about to befall as a direct result of his rejection and the
continued immorality of the peoples. His poems: Prophecy of a Great Earthquake, Warnings,
Warnings and Good News, Hymns and Preaching of Truth, and Prophecy of a Great War make
particular mention of such impending events:
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In a single instant, this earth shall toss and turn
The streams of blood will flow like water in a gulf.
Those who possessed white garments in the evening,
The morn will turn them like as the trees of sycamore
The people and the birds will lose all their senses
All doves and nightingales will forget their songs.
That time and hour shall be very hard on every traveller
They shall lose their waybefuddled and out of control.
With the blood of the dead, the waterways in the mountains
Will turn to red as if they were scarlet wine.
All men and Jinn will be distressed with this fearif Tsar
Were around, even he would be in a sorry state that moment.
That Sign of God will be like a catastrophe
The heavens will assail, drawing their daggers. (39/445-454)
Although he himself passed away from this world in 1908, later events unfolded the true
nature of this monumental tragedy that befell mankind in the form of the two World Wars.
These conflicts of unprecedented proportions spread like wild fire across the face of the earth
and claimed human life in the tens of millions. During the process, innumerable hamlets, towns
and cities were laid to utter waste, and the seeds of mistrust and suspicion sown in these
hostilities have lasted among the various nations until today. What price do we human beings
pay for rejecting the noble emissaries of God!
The poetry of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad can be best described as reformatory and
mystical in nature. In the Eastern culture, particularly in Islamic lands, mystical language is
laced with certain allegory and symbolism with which a Western reader may or may not be
completely familiar. For the benefit of the reader, therefore, some of these imageries are
described below:
To see the Face or Visage of the Belovèd is the ultimate objective of the mystic or the God-
seeker. This Face, that lies hidden and veiled, can only be seen through a persistent and often
life-long striving by the seeker.
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The belovèd’s lane is the street where the belovèd resides and where the love-stricken
seeker often raises a clamour to catch the belovèd’s attention.
The look of grace is the much sought-after attention, care and thoughtfulness that one
desires from one’s belovèd.
The heart is considered to be the seat of the soul just as the brain is the seat of the mind and
the intellect. Things that affect the soul are thus commonly described as affecting the heart.
The world and its attractions stand for greed and avarice. The world itself is considered only
a temporary place, while the Hereafter is the true abode that is to last for ever.
The faith is likened to an ark or vessel that helps the believer to cross the floods and storms
of evil in this world.
The condition of the faith in the world is frequently likened to a garden, an orchard or a
tree, that wilts with a decline in the peoples’ religiosity and whose greening is earnestly
awaited.
Likewise, hearts and populations that are devoid of spirituality are commonly referred to as
desert or barren lands.
Fruits received by the seeker as reward are invariably spiritual in nature, taking the form of
visions, true dreams, insights and converse with God.
Autumn and spring stand for the dark and bright periods for the glory of faith, while
breeze and spring-breeze stand for hope, God’s mercy and His blessings.
Similarly, day and night stand for periods of spiritual enlightenment and spiritual darkness.
Light invariably implies the light of spirituality that illuminates not only the possessor, but
also the people around.
The Signs of God are the miracles and marvels that He displays to prove the truthfulness of
His favoured ones.
The path and the way stand for the Way of Life of a true Muslim, and also for the arduous
undertakings through which the persistent seeker eventually finds God.
The pain of separation from one’s belovèd is like the real pain and suffering that one feels
in this world.
Stooping to dust, mingling with dust or being dust,all stand for humbleness, meekness
and humility that the pious use in describing themselves.
To perish on the way of God is to destroy and kill one’s ego and the baser self.
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Frequently, the author of Durr-e Sameen uses the first person pluraland not the
singularto refer to his own self. This is another aspect of the Eastern culture and language
wherein the so called ‘royal we’ may be used instead of the usual ‘I’.
Poetry—as a medium of communication—is often described as the most refined, potent and
elegant manner to express our feelings. While prose is said to inform the mind, poetry is said to
converse directly with the soul. For this reason, many a prophet, saints and men of God have
opted for the medium of poetry to convey their message.
One particular aspect of all poetry is its extreme brevity and ability to paint a vast picture
with only a few brush strokes. In this respect, the poetry of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad is no
exception. Quite frequently, a single word or a single phrase carries an immensity of meaning
that defies adequate translation without resorting to a lengthy exegesis. Thus, no translation can
do proper justice to the original verses in Urdu and there is no perfect alternative to enjoying
them except in their original language.
While all poetry requires close reading and concentration, the poetry of Hadhrat Mirza
Ghulam Ahmad is so deep and full of meaning that a cursory and superficial reading would not
do proper justice to it. The reader is therefore encouraged to reflect upon each word and each
versesavouring the profound philosophy, sagacity and beauty buried in these precious gems.
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Precious Pearls
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1.
HELP OF GOD
Nusrate Ilahi
Braheene Ahmadiyya, part 2, page 114, 1880
2.
INVITATION TO PONDER
Da’wate Fikr
Braheene Ahmadiyya, part 2, 1880
3.
BENEFICENCE OF THE GLORIOUS QURAN
Fazail Quran Majeed
Braheene Ahmadiyya, part 3, page 182, 1882
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Then how can he create this light of truth?
O people! Pray defer unto the eminence of God
And hold your tongues if you have a whit of faith.
It is great disbelief to make someone equal to God;
Pray fear your Lord, friends, what lie and slur is this?
If you do confess to the Unity of God’s Person,
Then why is such polytheism hidden in your heart? (10)
4.
ADDRESSING THE CHRISTIANS
‘Isaiyon se Khitaab
Braheene Ahmadiyya, part 3, page 268, 1882
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There is this strange trait in the Quran
That it makes one fond of the Belovèd (15)
5.
EXCELLENCES OF THE GLORIOUS QURAN
Ausaafe Quran Majeed
Braheene Ahmadiyya, part 3, page 274, 1882
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It turned out to be the only wine-cup of God’s knowledge.
With what can we compare this spiritual light in the world?
It was found to be unique in every trait and aspect! (5)
6.
PRAISE TO THE LORD OF THE WORLDS
Hamd Rabul-Aalameen
Surma Chashm Arya, page 4, 1886
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Lest some lovelorn lover may lose his life! (15)
7.
THE FLEETING WORLD
Sarai Khaam
Surma Chashm Arya, page 89, 1886
8.
THE VEDAS
Vaid
Surma Chashm Arya, page 172, 1886
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9.
DEATH OF JESUS OF NAZARETH
Wafaat Masih Naasri
Azalae Auhaam, part 2, page 764, 1891
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Is this the teaching of the Quran, really?
At least there should be some fear of God!
To think that righteous ones are disbelievers16,
Is this the trait of those possessing faith?
We follow the religion of the Muslim people
We are truly the servant of the Seal of Messengers17.
We are weary of partnership and innovation;
We are the dust on the path of Ahmad18 the mighty;
We believe in all the commandments;
We offer our heart and soul on this path. (25)
10.
THE SIGNS OF NEAR ONES
‘Alaamat-al-Muqarrabeen
Nishaane Aasmaani, page 46, 1892
11.
A PLEA TO GOD ALMIGHTY
Qdir Mutlaq ke Hazoor
Aasmaani Faisla, page 8, 1892
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12.
LOVE WITH ISLAM AND ITS FOUNDER
Islam aur Banie Islam se Ishq
Aina Kamalate Islam, page 224, 1893
30
We routed the ranks of foes with convincing proofs;
The work of sword we accomplished with just the pen.
Showing thy light we accused and debased them all
And all their hearts we scorched in consuming fire.
With love for thee we erased all signs of our existence;
Every bit of our self we offered on thy way.
When saw thy tavernpeople’s gathering place
We took to lips with greed cup after cup!
God’s Splendour can be seen in thy traits;
Through finding thee we found that Person. (25)
13.
THE CLOAK22 OF BABA NANAK23
Chola Baba Nanak
Sat Bachan, page 41, 1895
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It remains as a sign of that pious one:
A word of advice, the basis of reality.
The Granths27 are subject to some incertitude;
They are in bad shape by the hand of man28. (10)
32
He was of the Aryan29 peopleof noble descent
Wise, good mannered, with blessed traits.
Only a few years had passed away from his age
That he thought about religion in his heart.
He occupied himself in this endeavour constantly
As to which path could lead him to the whole truth.
He did not like the way of the Vedas
For he saw a lot of filth in their discourses.
When he saw that they were rancid and rotten,
His heart began to quiver and quaver. (35)
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“Pray show unto me one who is informed.
“After receiving Thy Sign I shall go to that person
“And whosoever is Thine, I shall make him as mine.
“Pray take mercy and show me that path
“In which, my Dear, lies Thy own pleasure.” (55)
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A cloak appeared from out of sight
With God’s Words upon itwithout a doubt.
In every place was the testimony for Islam,
That only this Faith is true and the guide.
It was written therein in bold letters
That God is One and Muhammad, a prophet.
It was commanded, “Wear it, O righteous one,
“All that dirt will be cleansed away by it.
“The error that related to keeping it hidden34,
“This shall be its redemption, O faithful one.” (80)
35
This lunacy is a sign of love;
No one understands it save the lovers.
In short, crazed with the fervour of love,
Nanak made this Cloak his habitual attire;
So that the Dearest may be pleased with it
Without Him the heart has no verve or vitality. (100)
36
And offered their life without any gain. (120)
37
The grace of God lifted him up;
He received a place of honour in both the worlds.
If you, too, will leave this world of avarice,
He would grant that station unto you as well.
You do not deem it fit even for an instant
To be away from your wife and the children.
But he used to wander like one crazed;
No rest in the heart or peace in the spirit. (145)
38
Without this, the heart cannot be purified;
Except for this, there is no escape from grief.
This is the standard for testing a Faith; the difference
Is clear between the Antichrist and the true one. (165)
39
This is the very path that you have forgotten;
Pray get up, friends, and do not lose the way now.
This is the light of God that came from God,
Pray touch it quickly to your eyes.
Hark, O people! You have no knowledge,
Pray keep an eye on what I am saying.
The times are always hued with prejudice,
Everyone denies the truth without hesitation,
Only he listens to the talk of the way of religion,
Who is a God-fearing man and pious. (190)
40
For the sake of God, pray give up spite and malice;
Pray think about these things being honest.
That sincerity and lovethat friendship and loyalty
That you maintained openly with Nanak
Pray show a little bit of its effect today
If you are sincere, pray hasten unto here. (210)
41
Who bow down their heads in obedience? (230)
14.
THE FRUIT OF TRUTH
Taseere Sadaqat
Sat Bachan, page 52, 1895
15.
MAHMOOD’S43 AMEEN44
Mahmood ki Ameen
Written 7 June 1897
42
All our comforts are through His grace and offering;
The heart is loyal to HimHis grandeur’s in the heart;
‘Tis better to submit to Himthere is piety in submission;
Pray bless this day; Holy is He Who watches over me.
43
By God! To live in grief for Thee is better than happiness;
Pray bless this day; Holy is He Who watches over me.
Thou fixest all affairs; we gained the boys from Thee, too;
It is all Thy bounty, we did not bring anything from home;
‘Tis Thee, O my Belovèd, Who hast shown these joyous days;
Pray bless this day; Holy is He Who watches over me.
These three boys that are, they are a bounty from Thee;
They are family unto mebut door-servants unto Thee;
Thou art One with true promisewhere are the deniers?
Pray bless this day; Holy is He Who watches over me. (30)
Pray grant them good fortune; give them Faith and wealth;
Pray protect them Thyself; may Thy mercy be upon them;
Give them virtue and guidancelongevity and respect;
Pray bless this day; Holy is He Who watches over me.
44
O the Dear of my heartO our Benefactor
Pray illuminate their nameslike as the stars are. (45)
Pray bless them all to become righteous gems;
Pray bless this day; Holy is He Who watches over me.
45
Pray bless this day; Holy is He Who watches over me.
They all cherish Thee, all those that are dear to me;
Thy graces are immensewe are tired counting them;
The heart’s dejected through grief, pray put our vessel ashore;
Pray bless this day; Holy is He Who watches over me.
Attach not your heart with itestrange your heart from it;
46
Remove your affection for it; in fact move far away from it;
O friends! It is a serpentpray save your life from it;
Pray bless this day; Holy is He Who watches over me.
16.
GRATITUDE IN THE WORDS OF AMMAN JAAN45
Shukr wa Dua ba Zubaan Hadhrat Amma Jaan
Al-Hakam, 17 November 1900
47
Who had such intentions?Who knew about it?
Who could say that this destiny could be so brilliant?
But, my Love, this is the way that Thy actions take place;
This is the bounty that lives up to Thy own grandeur.
With Thy grace, pray save me from every calamity;
We’ve taken hold of Thy cloak in our hand with sincerity.
He who is desirous of Thee is never lost
He is never disgraced who searches for Thee. (15)
17.
THE MOTHER OF ALL BOOKS
Ummul Kitaab
‘Ijaaz al-Masih, title page, page 2, 20 February 1901
48
Through its path, you reach the door of the Independent One.
I swear by Him Who has revealed this Chapter
On that purified heart whose visage is so handsome49, (5)
18.
KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
Ma’arfate Haq
Al-Hakam, 24 November 1901
19.
AMEEN OF BASHEER AHMAD ….
Basheer Ahmad, Sharif Ahmad aur Mubarka ki Ameen
Written 1901
49
Thou taught him the Discriminant52 Thyself
When he was tested at such young age
He fluently recited the Words of God. (5)
When he stepped into the seventh year,
His head was decked with the crown of Quran.
These are Thy bounties, O Lord of the worlds;
Then Thou made Mubarak shine as well.
When Thou called one son unto Thee,
Thou gave four others to make us happy.
One day of grieffour of joy
Holy is He Who has confounded my foes.
50
My childrenthat is a bestowal from Thee
I may see each one of them as a pious one
What limits are there concerning Thy might!
Pray give them everything that Thou hast given me!
A wonderful Benefactor art Thou, the Ocean of help;
Holy is He Who has confounded my foes.
51
He has given this reward to me through God-fearing
Holy is He Who has confounded my foes.
52
Thou gave brilliance to each thing I said
Thou removed each obstacle in my path
Thou fulfilled each prophecy of mine by Thyself,
Including this that, “Thou shalt see thy distant progeny.”
Who else gained such bounty that Thou gave me?
Holy is He Who has confounded my foes. (70)
53
To me, He bestowed bounties of every kind:
He gave piety, certitude and loyalty.
He healed me of all my sufferings
The illness diminished as medicine was dispensed. (90)
He erased all love for strangers in the heart
God knows what He said to my heart!
He gave it remedy, nourishment and a mantle.
Holy is He Who has confounded my foes.
54
Thou mended every affair of mine, my Dear
Thou showed Thy graces day and night. (110)
Thou gave me victories in every field
Thou vanquished all the ill seekers.
Thou fixed all my affairs that were amiss
Holy is He Who has confounded my foes.
55
It is the love through which I may be drawn
It is with godliness that I abase my ego.
To whom shall I tell of this thing that is love?
Unto whom do I state the secret of fidelity?
How can I now conceal this windstorm?
All I can do is blow my own dust to the winds!
What have we got to do with the worldly life?
Holy is He Who has confounded my foes.
56
After this insult, they reaped the fruit in like manner;
What things befell them for this disrespect!
God has now once again sent you a summon
To think of some respect for the “best of creation”63.
God Himself has shown this path to us
Holy is He Who has confounded my foes. (155)
57
20.
THE STATUS OF AHMAD68 OF ARABIA
Shaane Ahmad ‘Arabisaw
Daafe al-Balaa, page 20, 1902
21.
SPREADING OF FAITH BY SWORD69 IS FORBIDDEN
Isha’ate Deen Bazore Shamsheer Haraam hai
Appendix to Tohfae Golrvia, page 26, 1902
58
The same strength and courage is not in our people now.
Now you don’t possess the same might and power,
Nor is there the empire, the awe or the splendour. (15)
59
All the raiment of righteousness, they are now torn
All thoughts in the heart are now corrupted.
The few righteous men that were, they turned to dust
The rest became savage and reprobate.
You have now invited the wrath of God by yourself;
By the curse of the sins, you separated from that Dear.
What is the purpose now of fighting with the strangers?
You yourself became strangers to deserve this sentence.
Tell the truth: where is the trustworthiness in you now?
Where is that truth, that faith and that honesty now? (40)
60
22.
ATTACHMENT WITH GOD
Ta’allaq Billah
Appendix to Tiryaq al-Qulub, page 1, 1902
23.
THE FERVOUR FOR TRUTH
Joshe Sadaqat
I’jaaze Ahmadi, page 32, 1902
24.
THE BREEZE OF INVITATION
Naseeme Da’wat
Naseeme Da’wat, title page, 1903
61
It is a remedy for the poison of disbelief
Each page of it is a cup of well-being.
Pray read it with careful thought, dear ones
It is an advice, for the sake of God.
We have penned it with humbleness
There is no duress or compulsion (5)
25.
INVITATION TO TRUTH FOR THE ARYAS82
Ariyon ko Da’wate Haq
Sanatan Dharm, title page, page 2, 1903
62
They uselessly search for water in a mirage.
They deny the might of that Almighty One
They utter nonsense like one drunk with wine. (15)
It’s not in their heart that they should see that Pure One;
They fear their people that they might reproach them.
To us, O Mighty One, pray show that charm of Thine
How long will that Face remain in veils and coverings?
26.
PROPHECY OF A GREAT EARTHQUAKE
Paishgoi Zalzalai ‘Azeema
Ishtihar in Al-Badr, May 1905
27.
WARNINGS
Anzaar
Chashmae Masihi, title page, page 2, 1906
63
Who is there to believe with honesty and sincerity?
Whoever you see, he exceeds in distrust beyond limits;
If someone asks, he will point out a hundred faults.
They leave the Faith and love the world instead;
Much as we exhort and advise, who shows regret?
My heart is sinking after seeing the Faith’s misfortune
But God’s Hand is about to give support to the heart.
His sense of honour will show you something now
This blight is about to spread in all directions. (10)
28.
THE ARYAS85 OF QADIAN
Qadian ke Arya
Qadian ke Arya aur hum, title page, page 2, 1907
29.
THE GLORY OF ISLAM
Shaane Islam
Qadian ke Arya aur hum, page 48, 1907
64
This is the only Faith acceptable to God under the skies.
That Belovèd is hidden; by which way we find Him?
For all these difficulties, friends, this is the only solution.
Those whose insides are dark, they deny this Faith
But O ye in the darkness! This is the light for the heart.
We observed and checked all the shops in the world,
Finally it was proved, this is the House of Healing. (5)
65
Who shall we name? It is an epidemic all around.
Lekhoo’s89 foul language became a dagger upon him;
They still don’t understand; this is the folly and error. (25)
How well did Lekhoo reap the fruit of his deeds! After all
This is the punishment for evil in the House of God.
To show insolence to prophets, to call them foul names,
To open mouth like a dog, this is the seed of destruction.
Even when they are sweet, they continue to throw darts;
This is the deceit in the hearts of these unenlightened souls.
Even if we offer them our life out of graciousness,
Their habit is to be ungrateful; this is the grief and pain.
Hindus are so mistaken; hearts full of spite and malice;
With scorn for every thing; this is their way of conduct. (30)
66
What can one do if this is the directive?
Until there are eleven boys, such a custom is acceptable.
The Vedas give strange traits of God, O dear ones,
“He has no graciousness”, this is what we have heard.
“After forgiveness and salvation, He takes it all away”;
How gracious can He be if such is His benevolence?
He is God only in name; He has not created anything:
“All souls are from the beginning”, then why is He God?
Were the souls not there, God could not do anything;
This is the basis of all His sovereignty. (50)
Then how can they accept the pure teaching of the Quran,
While this96 remains the guide and leader for their hearts?
Being accused now, they have resorted to vituperation
This is the only means of malice in the ignorants’ hands.
These brutes don’t refrain from abuses for an instant
Day and night, this is their entire sport and vocation.
Though they ascribe to the Vedas, their hearts are all dark;
Pray remove the veil and seethis is all they have97.
They are animals by natureneither dead, nor alive
Always foul of language; this is the curse of God98. (65)
67
They have exceeded all boundsthis is now the limit.
The One we believed inthat Potent One is Mighty;
He shall show somethingthis is the hope from Him.
To confront them is to lose one’s own respect
To fraternise with themthis is the path of deception.
Thus, my friends, don’t ruin your afterlife
Accept this Faith; this is the moon for dark nights. (70)
68
“It rids of paganism”this is what hurts them!
Why all these misguided ones are now its foes? Because
It is the guidethis is the secret of their dilly-dallying. (90)
69
We abased our self to dust, hoping to find that Belovèd;
I live with this yearningthis is my very sustenance.
‘Tis only Thy love in the worldall else is darkness;
Thou art my Belovèdthis is the true love.
For Thy sake, we blew away our dust-remains105; since
We heard that this was the condition of love and loyalty.
We ache for the Belovèdwe erased our sense of ego;
When I died, it106 revived methis is the elixir of life.
There are a hundred woes at each step in this love
But what can I do, this is what He has given me! (115)
70
We found the eyes of every Faith devoid of sight
With the eye-salve108 of gnosis, this is the one adorned.
Saw the rubies of Yemen; saw the pearls of Aden, too;
We saw all the gemsbut found just this one pleasing.
After denying this, you will regret it deeply
This is the alchemy that turns things into gold.
But the eyes of the Aryas are blinded in such a way
They resorted to abuse; this is what their heart urged. (135)
30.
ADDRESSING THE ARYAS
Ariyon se Khitaab
Al-Hakam, 28 May 1942; Al-Fazl, 18 January 1963
71
That these worlds came to be without this might?
If you accept Him to be the Creator,
Then why do you consider Him powerless?
Pray say it plainly yourself with fairness
That are these the traits worthy of God
That He cannot create a single soul
Nor a single atom has manifested through Him (10)
72
Wherefrom will He bring additional souls, so that
The door of His might is opened once again? (30)
31.
APPEAL TO THE HONOUR OF THE MUSLIMS
Ghairate Islami ko Apeel
Haqeeqatul-Wahiy, page 342, 1907
32.
REPENTANCE
Tauba se ‘Azaab Tal Jata hai
Haqeeqatul-Wahiy, page 119, 1907
73
you are required to have some fear of God!
33.
GOD LOVES HUMILITY
Allah Ta’ala ko Khaksaari Pasand hai
Appendix to Haqeeqatul-Wahiy, page 115, 1907
34.
COMPLETION OF CONVINCING PROOF
Atmaame Hujjat
Appendix to Haqeeqatul-Wahiy, page 157, 1907
74
35.
WARNINGS AND GLAD TIDINGS
Anzaar wa Tabsheer
Appendix to Haqeeqatul-Wahiy, 1907
75
Since I lost my senses with grief for Faith, the world, too,
Changed its ways on this day of the crazed. (20)
The times are hard, and fear and peril are facing
But these, O friends, are the days to find that Belovèd!
There is a clamour in the skies for the help of Faith
The autumn time is gone; now are the days to bear fruit.
Give up that tune that is sung not by the heavens; now
Are the days, O blind of heart, to sing the praise of Faith.
Because of spite and malice,
you’ve lost the time to serve the Faith
Now, O people don’t let these days of regrets pass by.
36.
UNTITLED
Al-Fazl, 7 July 1943
Once in her childhood, Seyedah Nawab Mubarka Begum complained to the Promised Messiah that her
brother, Mirza Mubarak Ahmad, had become upset with her and could not be pleased in anyway. The
Promised Messiah, who was writing a book at the time, wrote the following verses which, when recited in
front of her brother by Seyedah Nawab Mubarka Begum, pleased him greatly.
37.
EPITAPH ON THE GRAVE OF MIRZA MUBARAK AHMAD
Lauhe Mizar Mirza Mubarak Ahmad
Written September 1907
76
He said that he felt sleepy
These were his last wordsbut he
Slept in such a way that he wouldn’t wake again,
Although we got tired trying to wake him up.
38.
VIRTUES OF THE NOBLE QURAN
Mahasane Quran Kareen
Braheene Ahmadiyya, part 5, page 1, 1908
77
Those people who shiver with the chills of doubts,
They obtain such wonderful warmth from this sun.
All that clamour there in the world through the Faiths,
They’re all folk-tales; no light have they, not a whit of it.
But this Writing shows the Light of God;
It brings one to Him through the display of Signs.
That Faith which depends entirely on legends,
It is not a religion but a narrative of fiction.
If you ask the truth, what credibility do the legends have?
Legends are full of errors and falsification. (20)
78
For this reason they are subject to disgrace and defeat.
Without seeing, my friends, the heart is never satisfied;
How can legends alone purify the imperfect self?
Such tales are not uncommon among the Jews;
But see how they became the like of Satan.
Man is constantly dependent upon a fresh Sign
What effect do the tales of miracles have? (40)
79
They gave disbelief and disgrace through paganism.
The one who is searching so that he may find God,
It is forbidden unto him to take the tales to heart. (60)
That path that shows the Revered and the Mighty One,
That path that makes the heart pure and clean,
That path that brings back the long-lost Belovèd,
That path that feeds the pure cup of certitude,
Those fresh Signs that are a proof for God,
Those living forces that are the means to certitude,
It is clear that these things are not effective in the tales;
The storyteller has no knowledge of the path to God.
The unveiling of that Spotless One is through the Signs;
Truly, the entire proof of Godhood is in the Signs. (70)
80
All the garments of righteousness became torn;
All the thoughts in the mind became impure;
The heart was veiled through continual filth and evil;
The sun of faith became hidden from their eyes.
He who believes not in the Revered and Mighty One,
That unfortunate person has no Faith at all.
But those fortunate ones who obtain the Signs,
They attach their hearts with Him after they find Him.
They have become His; they live through Him;
Constantly drinking the wine-cup through His Hand. (85)
81
You are free and daringno fear is in the heart;
This union with God is the cure for a hundred ills
In this confinement, one is rid of all the sins.
But that God of Whom there is no sign of existence,
How can a person ever cherish such a thing? (105)
82
Their tongue assails without any control
It displeases that Knower in an instant. (125)
83
That He did not grant me though His grace.
That He should deal in this way with such evil ones,
Is this not a miracle and something out of the ordinary?
Why is there such fidelity with a pretender?
Who can remember the like of such grace?
Everyone has assailed me in his own way
Finally, they were disgraced as a result of the conflict.
No one had any regrets left in their malice; it was
The wish of all that I go the way of extinction. (150)
84
He shall be killed; this is the punishment of this offence.
Then, its a strange lapse on the part of the Mighty Lord
That He sees that such and such is so mischievous,
That he is engaged in deception for twenty-five years,
He has been doing this thing every day and night, (170)
85
I was accused of murderthis was serious thing;
This was an accusation from a priest.
All the witnesses that were, they were against me;
There was a Muslim cleric who also made this boast:
“Look! This person will finally get his punishment now;
“Now he cannot escape without severe chastening;
“There are so many testimonies; his crime is evident;
“It’s either imprisonment or hanging, one thing is certain.”
Some diligently praying against me; praying so much
That their noses wore out in prostrations! (195)
86
But he received the punishment for his evil deed;
In addition, he got labelled as a liar.
His name, as a “liar”, remains in all the offices;
The one proud of his craftiness went down the drain.
O people with sense and wisdom! It is time to heed!
Guile is base; the deeds are made of virtue. (215)
87
39.
HYMNS AND PREACHING OF TRUTH
Munajaat aur Tableeghe Haq
Braheene Ahmadiyya, part 5, page 97, 1908
88
So the Signs are fulfilled which are the basis for truth.
All the excuses came to naught when that calamity came;
All the plans were blown to bits like as the dust.
Thou gave such fame to me in the land of India
As if the lightning makes its display all over at once.
Thou hast sent an Adam once again to this place
So the tree of virtue bears fruit in this country. (20)
89
Alas! What my people have earned by denying me
Hundreds of homes have caved in because of the quakes.
Virtue required that they should’ve watched this hour;
As well, that they be patient and calm for some days more.
Had they completed all the stages to gain knowledge?
Wasn’t a dark and obscure path in front of them?
All our heart’s desires just remained inside our heart
The ones we looked for support all the time
became our foes. (40)
They’ve astray such that it does not seem they will mend;
Ah me! What we wished for and what is now apparent!
Unto whom do we narrate this suffering of our heart?
They hate to meet with uslet alone say a few words.
What shall I do? How should I put my life upside down?
How can they turn to me who have enmity against me?
So many miracles have appeared by the grace of God
That even Satan is grief-stricken after seeing them.
But most of the opponents have no shame or modesty;
Having seen a myriad Signs they still deal in insults. (45)
90
the night is dark and gloomy.
For lack of Thy watering, an entire world has dried up;
Pray turn the course of the river to this side, my Master.
Our wits are not with us during these calamities;
Pray take mercy on Thy people so they obtain salvation.
How do we deal with it? No plan does come to mind;
These blights have spread to all sides and ways.
This Ark is about to sink; pray come, my Captain
This nation is in autumnduring springtime! (60)
91
Has God been deceived and you happen to know
my secrets? (75)
92
I can now smell the fragrance of my Joseph
You may call me possessed, but I wait for Him. (95)
93
They are not ashamed to call me a pretender
What scholars are they who are at odds with this world!
What stranger knows the love we have for the Dearest?
He became ourswe sacrifice our life for Him. (115)
94
The sparks of calling a disbeliever flew constantly. (135)
95
Was all this life just spent in pretension?
And greater wonder is this that oceans of help flowed out.
My Master gave me Signs at every step
The sword of convincing-proof of truth fell upon every foe.
My Master gave me such bounties with His grace
That the meanings of “I completed upon you125”
are apparent.
At the time of darkness, even the shadow parts company;
But He remained a Friend and Consoler in every darkness. (160)
96
Then what happened? Who came to my assistance?
You became disappointed and losers; I became fortunate.
There was a time when even my name was not known;
Even Qadian129 was incognito, as if hidden in a cave.
No one was acquainted with me or was my devotee
But now you see how much fame is every place.
God had given the news of fame in those days
That is now fulfilled after the passing of a long period.
Open and see the Braheen130, which is my book
This prophecy is written in it, pray read it once. (180)
97
Now till the Day of Judgment, this community relies
on tales.
Such belief is against the sayings of the just ones
But who will remove such old garland from one’s neck?
That God still makes one speakwhomsoever He wills;
He still talks to him, whomsoever He loves.
Pray heed! Why would God break the gem of revelation?
This is the only thing of respect and pride for the Faith!
‘Tis is that flower which has no equal in the garden;
‘Tis that fragrance which humbles the musk of Tatar131. (200)
98
With a hundred thousand gathering in an instant.
But it was God’s mercy that I appeared;
Had I not come, there would be fire; all peace thus gone.
Even the fire came, when after seeing so many Signs
The people called me a liar and an evildoer.
It is certain that the fire shall not go away for some time
Unless they repent with great humility and abasement.
This is not a chance happening that could be cured; all this
Doom and destruction is through God’s command. (220)
99
Without Thee, my Soul, this life is but naught;
Better than such living is to die and turn to dust.
Without Thy grace all worship is but useless
All striving and deeds depend upon Thy benevolence.
Those who receive Thy grace, they stay far from vices;
On the path of truth, their faculties are lined in a row. (240)
100
Alas! The virtuous ones have all passed away.
Their sermons from the pulpits are entirely abuses;
Their meetings are all given to cursing and backbiting.
Wherever you look, this world has become the goal
They constantly entice people unto it everywhere. (260)
101
One heart stoops down to prey upon the other!
No path is shorter than the path of love; through this path
The saliks139 cross a thousand thorny wilds. (280)
What kind of people are you that you see a hundred Signs,
But it’s the same obstinacy and prejudice, the same malice
and enmity?
Everything got fulfilled but you still remained imperfect;
Though in the garden, the fruits of Faith are not your luck.
See, how all the things have come to be fulfilled, that were
Considered far-fetched based on intellect and perception.
Pray think as to what my status was in those days
When I made the announcement regarding the Braheen142.
Now think for a while as to how my fame has flourished;
How my renown has spread so fast in every land. (295)
102
All the plans that were made for my ruin,
He quashed them as if they were a cloud of dust.
Pray ponder and see if it is the work of a human;
Would someone show an example if one wants to attack.
The planning of a human can be countered by another,
But how can someone ever nullify the doing of God?
The false pretender is eventually shamed in this world;
The matter of false pretension is quickly laid to waste.
False pretension never gets a respite such as the time given
To the Pride of the Messengers143
the Pride of the Righteous. (305)
103
It is not beyond Thy might if they become reformed.
They call me disbeliever, but I could call them faithful
Was it not the practice of religion to abstain from lying.
O sermoniser! The Dear cast His Eyes on me and not on thee;
Pity that Faith from which disbelief is a thousand times better.
That garden of Adam that was incomplete until now,
It became perfect with my advent with all the greenery.
That God Who gave the Prophet pure wealth, He is now
Making the Faith’s adornments like a jeweller. (325)
104
Are your eyes blind even after seeing everything? At least
Fear that day, O friends, that is the Day of Reckoning.
You possess insight; then ponder as to what is this secret:
How can that Holy One be a friend of a liar? (345)
Why is this grace on me; there must be some reason for it;
All these affairs of the Lord are not without purpose.
He Himself bestowed upon me the spring of pure Unity
So that He may plant anew a garden in the orchard of Faith.
The mantle on my shoulders is the one given by that Dearest;
If you have the might, O deniers, then remove this mantle.
Distrust is not much better than lack of modesty
In these days when the signs of calamity are evident.
The tempest of God’s wrath is now in full force
Only he shall be saved who enters the Ark of Noah. (350)
105
It is cruelty to sow the seeds of evil among mankind;
That evil comes to his lot who happens to sow it.
Leaving the Quran, they accepted conflicting Traditions149
Uselessly taking the burden of Muslim and Bukhari150
on their heads.
As the Traditions are prone to misquotes and lies,
Then it is stupidity to have total reliance on these.
While we have seen the light of Truth with our own eyes,
While God’s revelation has informed us time and again,
Then how can we give up certitude and follow assumptions,
Say yourself: is seeing better or tales shrouded in dust? (370)
106
The garden had wiltedall the fruits had fallen down;
I brought the grace of God the fruits grew anew.
The balm of Jesus had cured but Jesus alone
Through my balm, every country and land shall be cured.
They used to peek at the light through a crack in the wall
But when the doors were opened, they became like bats154.
Those treasures that were buried for thousands of years,
Now I disburse them if there is one who is desirous. (390)
But these people turned into a hidden serpent for the Faith;
They pleased the enemies but the Belovèd became grieved.
They raise a din that I am a disbeliever and an Antichrist; they
Took the pure for the impure, becoming consumers of dead.
Though calling us a disbeliever they have moved far away;
We still remain injured and heart-broken in their grief.
We accept that their hearts have turned to stone
But a spark of religiosity can still emerge even from a stone.
However stonehearted they may be, we are not dismayed
The verse “Despair not. …155” strengthens the heart. (395)
For me, that God is sufficientI care not for the status;
If you can, try being a Mahdi yourself with God’s command.
Pretending is a curse and every pretender is accursed;
He, too, is accursed who holds enmity against a truthful one.
What shame that you sit thirsty by the side of a sweet brook;
A lovely stream is flowing through the land of India!
Pray ponder over these Signs160 as to whose work are these;
What is the use of lashing into fury like a crazed one?
O deniers! Don’t become accused by God for no reason;
This is God’s handiwork and not that of a pretender. (405)
107
All your pretences are erased; no room is left for any objection;
Pray tell now, O deniers, as to who is the one accursed.
I am a servant in God’s Courtmy job is to worship; I have
No concern with victory or fear of defeat in heart. (410)
108
Once those high mansions, the frill and fancy of the masses,
Then they were a heap of bricks, full of dirt and dust.
Something like a pandemonium erupted all a sudden
Death was calling everywhere and there was restlessness.
Many a town and hamlet were buried under mounts
Thousands of people died, departing from the world.
The hearts have not softened even after seeing this Sign;
Thus, only God knows what havoc do they await now.
Those who were called pious, exceeded in malice the most;
Is this the trait in memory of the Sheikh of Ghazna161? (435)
We tell the people that we, too, are the elect of the pious
The sprinkling of revelation from the Gracious falls on us, too.
But those ignorant “receivers of revelation” became the first foes;
They had a cable from high heavens with respect to disbelief!162
All Signs came to naught in the presence of their malice
The dart of prejudice went right through their heart.
They do not see the might of that Coverer of Weaknesses163;
Even if we tell them, they continue to play their own tune.
O pious ones! Wailing like yours is now totally useless
My attestation has come from heavens time and again. (440)
109
Will turn to red as if they were scarlet wine.
All men and Jinn will be distressed with this fearif Tsar
Were around, even he would be in a sorry state that moment.
That Sign of God will be like a catastrophe
The heavens will assail, drawing their daggers.
Pray deny not in haste, O ignorant imbecile
For the basis of my entire truthfulness rests upon it. (455)
40.
A LESSON IN UNITY
Darse Tawheed
Tashheezul-azhaan, December 1908
41.
PROPHECY OF A GREAT WAR
Paishgoi Jange ‘Azeem
From the notebook of the Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad
110
To that calamity that is in the likeness of the Doomsday.
There is still time, repent quickly, so that mercy is shown;
Why are you sitting in lethargy as if you’ve eaten opium?
Your are not made of iron; why don’t you fear that moment
Which will at once cause gaping chasms in the mountains?
Such calamity shall visit the towns and the hamlets
Which never had a like in the world at all. (10)
111
Without God, there is no place in the world for refuge now
Or, if possible, you start looking for an escape route now.
‘Tis hidden from you but I see it every moment
That time and day moves in front of my eyes. (30)
42.
AVOID DISTRUST
Bad Zani se Bacho
From the manuscripts of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad
112
Not the vocation of the righteous or the believers.
The Satan propagates in your heart
It is for this reason that your deeds are feeble.
Without doubt, only he acts distrustfully
Who keeps this evil hidden in a veil. (5)
43.
RIDDANCE FROM DIFFICULTIES ….
Hajoome Mushkalat se Nijaat Hasil Karne ka Tariqa
Al-Fazl, 13 January 1928
The following poem was given by the Promised Messiah to Sheikh Muhammad Bakhsh of Karianwala,
District Gujrat, at a time when the latter was suffering from severe financial hardships. As a result of this
prayer, God removed his difficulties.
113
When does falsehood ever flourish against the truth?
What worth has a stone compared to a precious gem!
44.
MISCELLANEOUS VERSES
Mutafaraq Ash’ar
1.
The path of displaying of power is never limited
Setting limit on God’s might is proclamation of Godhood.
(Braheene Ahmadiyya, part 4, page 401, 1884)
2.
God provides proof of His Self through His might
This is the unveiling of that Incorporeal One.
Anything that He says that He would definitely do,
That thing is never deferredthis is what Godhood is!
(Ishtihaar I’laan, Amratsar, 22 March 1886)
3.
Only He can tell Who actually created
How can anyone else recognise it?
What would a stranger know about another stranger?
How effective can the sight be from a distance?
(Surma Chashm Arya, page 184, 1886)
4.
What burdens have we borne for the sake of Thy love!
What a vista have the heavens shown after displaying Thee!
(Ishtihaar Mahak Akhiaar wa Ashraar, Surma Chashm Arya, 1886)
5.
Whatever was ours, it now belongs to the Belovèd
Today, we belong to the Belovèd and the Belovèd is ours.
Thank God we obtained that matchless Gem
What if the heart of the people turned to a hard stone.
(Azaala Auhaam, part 2, page 665, 1891)
6.
When the outcome of the prophecy becomes evident,
It would be a strange display of God’s might.
Difference between lies and truth will become manifest:
Some would receive honoursome would be disgraced.
Aaina Kamalaate Islam, page 281, 1893)
7.
What can the malice and spite of people do?
He who does not have anyone, God is with him.
114
Besides God, there is no companion during hardship
Even the shadow leaves a person during the darkness!
(Sidenote to Ishtihar Mi’arul Akhiar wal Ashraar, March 1894)
8.
A thousand curses be upon such a religion
Whose teaching is such dishonesty.
(Arya Dharm, page 45, 1895)
9.
O friends! Some attention is due unto God
And for Mustafathe leader of all creation.
(Ishtihaar14 January 1897)
10.
Anyone who enters the realm of the dead,
He would find that path only if he is dead.
Say, what match is there between the dead and the living?
How can it be? Can someone explain it to us?
(Ayyamus-Suluh, page 143, 1899)
11.
The unfortunate one died of his own assault
The head was cut off through his own sword.
The entire reality of the sword became evident
Pray don’t pride yourselves on that dead one.
(Nazool-ul-Masih, page 224, 1909)
12.
What disbelievers are they that they don’t accept?
We have tried to explain it in a hundred ways.
With the objective that they may get revived,
We accepted in our heart even to die.
Now the garden is full of the flowers,
Let us depart172, O nightingale, the time has come.
(Tashheezul-Azhaan, December 1909)
13.
Since the time, O Dear, we made Thee our Dear,
We got given a new name173 each new day.
How can one threaten us with peoples’ cursing?
We have erased all such signs from our heart.
(From the manuscripts of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad)
14.
If they desire our life then so be itat least
The matter of the heart would get settled this way.
The heart is not afraid facing a thousand demons
115
Pray see how fearless the heart is.
(Al-Fazl, 31 December 1913)
15.
It was time for the Messiahnot someone else’s time
If I had not come, someone else would have come!
(From the manuscripts of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad)
16.
The breeze of mercy is blowing
Whatever you pray today will be accepted.
(Nazool-ul-Masih, page 225, 1909)
17.
I will remove darkness from that moon
I shall show that he transformed the world.
(Tadhkira, page 427)
45.
REVEALED VERSES
Ilhami Ash’ar
1.
“What doubt do you have in accepting this Messiah,
“Whose resemblance has been stated by God?
“You give the same title to accomplished physicians
“Thus you turn exceedingly good ones into Messiah.”
(Fatah Islam, title page, 1890)
2.
“The works of the Mighty have become manifest
“Those who called us disbeliever got arrested.
“Those who called us disbeliever, got shamed
“Whatever their numberthey all got arrested.”
(Appendix to Tohfa Golrwia, Footnote, page 27, 1902)
3.
“What an assault it turned out to be by the enemy
“Despite this, it penetrated right through.”
(Al-Hakam, 30 October 1902; Tadhkira, page 149)
4.
“That Lord is MightyHe mends broken affairs
“He breaks what is completenone knows His secret.”
(Al-Badr, 22 November 1906)
5.
“The splendour of Ahmad174 is beyond surmise and estimate,
116
Whose servant, you see, is the Messiah of the times!”
(Haqeeqatul-Wahiy, Footnote, page 274, 1907)
46.
REVEALED LINES
Ilhami Misre
These are individual lines (half a couplet) that were revealed to Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad:
1.
“He stands on your path, He Who is the Noble Lord.”
(Al-Badr, 20 April 1905)
2.
“Spring comes again, God’s Word is again fulfilled”
(Al-Badr, 11 Mat 1905)
3.
“The boats sail so that tussles may take place.”
(Al-Badr, 17 May 1906)
4.
“Again the spring comes and thus come the days of snowfall.”
(Al-Badr, 10 May 1906)
5.
“Pure Muhammad Mustafathe leader of the prophets!”
(Braheene Ahmadiyya, four volumes, page 522)
6.
“If you become Mine, the entire world will become yours.”
(Al-Badr, 25 April 1908)
7.
“That the love of God drips from the face,
this is the sign of the saints.”
(Al-Badr, 8 May 1903)
8.
“Wherever I look, Thou art there everywhere.”
(Al-Badr, 16 April 1904)
9.
“But the mercy of God is therethere is no fear from Him.”
(Al-Badr, 11 May 1905)
10.
“If this root is preserved, everything is saved.”
(Al-Hakam, 31 August 1901)
117
11.
“They will grow like pine trees in the gardens.”
(Written in 1901)
12.
“I shall display the flash of this Sign five times.”
(Tajalliyate Ilahiya, page 1; Haqeeqatul-Wahiy, page 93)
13.
“Were Tsar around, he will be in a sorry state that moment.”
(Braheene Ahmadiyya, part 5, page 120)
14.
“Go Mubarakmay you be blessed in the Paradise.”
(Khutba Eidul-Fitr, 6 May 1924 in Khutbatul-Mahmood, volume 1, page 83)
118
ENDNOTES
1
Similar to its Urdu counterpart, the Persian Durr-e Sameen is a compilation of all the Persian poems of
Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.
2
Literally meaning a “traveller”. In mysticism, the term refers to a mystic who, walking on the path of
love, seeks the nearness of God while at the same time maintaining a normal livelihood in society, as
opposed to a hermit.
3
A dervish is dedicated to a life of poverty, chastity and love of God.
4
In Islamic theology, the Mahdi is to appear in the Latter Days of Islam to unite all Muslims and
establish peace and justice in the world.
5
Addressing his own followers and community.
6
A dependent prophet, who strictly followed the religion of Islam and obeyed all the Traditions and
directives of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
7
Eye-salve or collyrium is a fine powdery substance that is put in the eyes to make them appear shiny
(popular custom in the eastern countries).
8
“Seal of the Prophets” is a title of the Prophet Muhammad.
9
“Ahmad” is a name of the Prophet Muhammad.
10
Alluding to the apparent strictness of the Quranic commandments and regulations on the pattern of the
Torah or the Books of Moses.
11
Alluding to the obviously more charitable, forgiving and kinder teachings of the Messiah.
12
Turks and Tatars, the supposedly handsome people of the Caucasus Mountains and Central Asia.
13
The Aryas here refers to the followers of the Hindu sect, Arya Samaaj.
14
Thirty verses of the Holy Quran.
15
Referring to God’s Tradition to cause everyone to die.
16
Alluding to frequent edicts by the Muslim clergy of the time against Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad
that denounced him as a kafir or disbeliever.
17
“Seal of the Prophets” is a title of the Prophet Muhammad.
18
“Ahmad” is a name of the Prophet Muhammad.
19
“Kafir” means a disbeliever or denier of the truth brought by the Prophet Muhammad.
20
Meaning the Prophet Muhammad.
21
Meaning the Prophet Muhammad.
22
Baba Nanak’s cloak, that is a sacred relic for the Sikhs, has numerous verses of the Holy Quran written
on it along with the Muslim declaration of faith: “There is none worthy of worship beside God;
Muhammad is a prophet of God”.
119
23
Baba Nanak, or also known as Guru Nanak, lived in the 15th century C.E. and was the founder of the
Sikh faith. Although the original teachings of Baba Nanak were based entirely on Islam, later innovation
and some misunderstandings created a separate faith that is presently followed largely by the residents of
eastern Punjab, in India.
24
One of the descendents of Guru Nanak in whose hands this cloak came to be.
25
Janamsakhis, literally meaning “birth stories”, are poetic biographical writings ascribed to the first Sikh
Guru, Baba Nanak.
26
Guru Angad Dev (1504-1552), the second of the eleven Sikh Gurus.
27
Commonly known as Guru Granth, it is the Scriptures of the Sikh faith.
28
Referring to interpolations that took place over time.
29
A prehistoric people that spoke the Aryan language that belongs to the Indo-European group of
languages. These people migrated from Asia Minor several thousand years before Christ and settled down
in the land of India. Initially, these were the people who brought much of the Hindu religious traditions to
India.
30
The Chishti Way is the mystical practice followed by the seekers of God in the tradition of its founder,
Mueenuddin Chishti.
31
Meaning Baba Nanak.
32
Sheikh was the common title of the religious leaders.
33
Meaning One Who covers and hides the errors and sins of men.
34
Referring to verses 62 and 64 where it mentions that Baba Nanak initially hid his true beliefs and
conducted his prayers in secrecy.
35
The word “physician” in classical languages was synonymous with a wise person.
36
In Islamic mysticism, God is perceived to be hidden behind numerous veils and it is the duty of the
God-seeker to peel these veils away to finally see the cherished Visage.
37
“Salik” is a term in mysticism. As opposed to the Sufis (mystics) who seek only God, the Saliks also
recognise the need for earning the daily bread.
38
The reference here and in the following verses is to the Vedas.
39
Meaning union with God.
40
Meaning glimpse of the Belovèd.
41
Addressing the Hindus, the followers of the Vedas.
42
Referring to the Cloak.
43
Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad, the oldest son of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.
44
“Ameen” is a religious ceremony in Islamic culture that is celebrated when a child completes the
reading of the Holy Quran.
120
45
Amman Jan, meaning dear mother, is the respectful title of Seyeda Nusrat Jehan Begum, the wife of
Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad writes this poem on behalf of his wife,
reflecting her emotions in his words.
46
Referring to the Holy Quran.
47
Referring to Surah al-Fatiha or the Opening Chapter of the Holy Quran.
48
Meaning the Prophet Muhammad.
49
Meaning the person of the Prophet Muhammad.
50
They give up the idols of stone only to take on the worldly things as their idols.
51
Finished reading the Quran.
52
“Discriminant”, meaning something that differentiates between truth and falsehood, is a commonly
used name for the Holy Quran.
53
Referring to the act of God-fearing.
54
Meaning this world.
55
Their ancestry can be traced back to the Prophet Muhammad.
56
Meaning the basis of hope and good changes in the world.
57
Instruments of bringing good changes in the world.
58
Meaning that God will show that Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s Promised Son will turn the world
around to a better direction from the one it is headed now.
59
According to mystic tradition in Islam, God is hidden from eyes behind numerous veils.
60
Dying in the sense of abasing one’s self in the path of God.
61
Meaning the Prophet Muhammad.
62
Referring to a common misconception among most Muslims that Jesus son of Mary is still alive in
Heaven while the Prophet Muhammad remains buried in the ground.
63
Meaning the Prophet Muhammad.
64
Alluding to one title of the Prophet Muhammad as the Seal of the Prophets, meaning the most excellent
prophet (also misinterpreted by mainstream Muslims as the Last Prophet).
65
Meaning Jesus son of Mary should return from the dead.
66
Referring to the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad.
67
The small hamlet where Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was born and lived most of his life.
68
Ahmad is another name of the Prophet Muhammad.
69
Referring to the common misconception among the Muslims that Jihadliterally meaning striving for
faithhas to be carried out by the sword and not by other means.
70
Referring to a Tradition of the Prophet Muhammad.
121
71
Referring to the most authentic collection of the Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad compiled by
Sheikh Isma’il Bukhari.
72
Referring to verse 5:106 of Surah al-Ma’idah in the Holy Quran.
73
Mahdiliterally meaning The Guided Oneis the long-awaited figure in Islamic tradition that is to
appear in the Latter Days of Islam to unify all mankind under one banner and faith.
74
Referring to the eclipses of the sun and the moon in 1894 in fulfilment of the prophecy by the Prophet
Muhammad relating to the advent of the Mahdi.
75
Alluding to the saying of the Prophet Muhammad that a Reformer and Renovator shall appear in Islam
at the head of every century.
76
Meaning “table laid with food”.
77
Referring to the Islamic (Hijra) century at the beginning of which a Reformer is expected to come
according to the Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad.
78
Partnership with God, meaning holding others equal unto Him.
79
Innovation is generally frowned upon since it introduces many undesirable changes in traditional
religion.
80
Referring to the followers of the Hindu sect, the Arya Samaaj.
81
Referring to the serious outbreak of plague in India at the end of the nineteenth century.
82
The followers of the Hindu sect, the Arya Samaaj.
83
Same theme as in the Quranic verse: “God is the Light of the heavens and the earth.”
84
Referring to the Faith of Islam.
85
The followers of the Hindu sect, the Arya Samaaj.
86
Lekh Ram was a leader of the Arya Samaaj, who persistently attacked the honour and character of the
Prophet Muhammad. Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad prophesied that if he does not desist, he would meet
with a terrible punishment within a specified number of years. As a result of this, Lekh Ram was
mysteriously murdered in his own home and the perpetrator was never caught.
87
Meaning earlier faiths.
88
The people who follow Niyog, a special custom among some Hindus to obtain a child.
89
Lekh Ram, a leader of the Arya Samaaj, who persistently attacked the honour and character of the
Prophet Muhammad. Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad prophesied that if he does not desist, he would meet
with a terrible punishment within a specified number of years. As a result of this, Lekh Ram was
mysteriously murdered in his own home and the perpetrator was never caught.
90
Referring to the Arya Samaaj, a sect of Hinduism.
91
Referring to disrespect for the prophets and other righteous people.
92
The following footnote is by the author himself:
“If there are such people among them who do not vilify the pious prophets of God, and possess ability
and nobility, they are not included in our address.”
122
93
Niyog is a special custom among certain Hindus wherein a woman may conceive a child by sleeping
with a man other than her husband.
94
The following footnote is by the author himself:
“At this place, what is meant by the word “Vedas” is that teaching that is published by the Arya Samaaj
according to their understanding. Otherwise, it should be remembered that we defer the true reality of the
Vedas unto God. We do not know as to the additions or deletions these people have made therein. While
there are hundreds of sects that claim submission to the Vedas in India and Punjab, how can we place the
blame of any specific sect upon the Vedas? Furthermore, this is also proved that the Vedas have been
altered, too. Thus, due to alteration, it is futile to hope for any good from them.”
95
The following footnote is by the author himself:
“It should be remembered that what we mean here by the teachings of the Vedas is those teachings and
those principles that the Aryas demonstrate and state that the teaching of Niyog is in the Vedas.
According to them, the Vedas announce loudly that if a person has no children, or has only girls, then it is
compulsory for him to allow his wife to sleep with another and thus obtain a boy for her salvation. This
relationship can be maintained until eleven boys have been conceived. If the husband is travelling, then
the wife herselfwith the intention of Niyogcan develop a relationship with another so that she can
obtain children in this way and, on the return of her husband, may make a present unto him and show to
him that while he went journeying in pursuit of goods, she earned such wealth in his absence.
“Thus, intellect and honour of mankind can never suggest such a shameful act to be permissible. How can
it do it while this wife has not been divorced from her husband and is not free of the confinement of
marriage with him?
“Alas! Alas! These are the things that the Arya people ascribe to the Vedas. However, we cannot say
whether this teaching is in reality that of the Vedas. It is possible that certain monks who remained
abstinent, and were overwhelmed by sexual emotions, made up these things by themselves and attributed
them to the Vedas. Or these things may have been included in the Vedas through alteration. The Hindu
scholars have written that the Vedas have endured a period when considerable alterations were made in
them and many of their pure religious edicts were altered. Otherwise, the intellect does not accept that the
Vedas would teach such a thing. Nor any sound mind accepts this thing that a person would make his
pious wife sleep with another for the sake of merely obtaining children and without giving her divorce or
separating from her in a legal manner. For such acts belong to dishonourable men. However, if a woman
has obtained a divorce, and she has no relation with her husband, then under the circumstances it is
possible for such a woman to marry another. There is no objection to it or blame against her chastity.
Otherwise, we announce loudly that the outcome of Niyog is not good.
“On one hand, the people of Arya Samaaj are opposed to the veiling of womenthat it is a Muslim
custom. On the other hand, the “chaste” principle of Niyog is reaching the ears of women every day and it
is established in the minds of these women that they can sleep with other men. Every wise one can now
understand that after listening to such thingsparticularly when they are mentioned with reference to the
Vedashow the base emotions of women will rage in them. They may even take several steps more.
Furthermore, when the bridge of veiling is gone as well, then everyone can understand the extent to which
the flood of these impious emotions will ruin a home. For this reason, several examples of this thing are
present in Jagan Naath and Benaras. How we wish that a person of understanding were born among these
people!
“We don’t understand as well why having children is necessary for obtaining salvation. Are persons such
as Pandit Dianandwho did not marry and had no childrenare deprived of salvation? Such salvation be
cursed if it is obtained by making one’s wife sleep with another and by making her commit such an act
that is like adultery in the eyes of the world, and but for such impious action no salvation is available.
“We do not understand as well that all those thousands of abilities and traits that are present in the souls,
and in the cells of the body, that they are all by themselves from the beginning and are not obtained from
God. Then what use is such a God for? And what is the proof of His existence? And why should He be
called God? And why should He be obeyed completely while His own upbringing is not complete? And
123
how did He come to possess the knowledge of those abilities that He did no create Himself? While He
does not possess the power to create a single soul, then in what sense is He called Almightywhile His
power is only limited to putting things together?
“My heart testifies that these impious teachings are not at all in the Vedas. God is only God if He is the
source of all graces. Although the Vedantists have also made errors, with a little reformation, their faith
does not remain objectionable. But the faith of Dianand appears to be total filth. Dianand has followed
those false philosophers and logicians who had nothing to do with the Vedas. They were in fact the
hidden enemies of the Vedas. It is for this reason that there is no such respect for God in their faith as
should be there. Nor does it have the teachings of pure-hearted monks to strive and find God. This
unfortunate person has only taught his disciples prejudice, and malice and vilification against the pious
prophets of God. Or you could say that he has administered unto them a bowl of poison.
“The gist of our talk is that our objection is against the suppositious Vedas of Dianand and not against any
Book of God.”
96
Referring to the teachings of the Vedas.
97
The following footnote is by the author himself:
“If there are such people among them who do not vilify the pious prophets of God, and they possess sense
and nobility, then they are excluded from our address.”
98
The following footnote is by the author himself:
“It should be remembered that this opinion of ours is concerning those followers of Arya Samaaj who
have proved the filth of their character through posters, magazines and newspapers. They have called the
pious prophets of God a thousand names. Their newspapers and books are present with us. We do not
include the persons of gentle disposition at this place. Nor do they like such method.”
99
Referring to Scriptures of other religions.
100
Meaning Scriptures of other religions.
101
The cave where the Prophet Muhammad used to meditate and received the first Quranic revelation.
102
The Prophet Muhammad is frequently called the Moon of Dark Nights since he appeared during an
age of darkness.
103
The following footnote is from the author himself:
“The meaning of the word ‘jande’ here is lock. It is not intended to demonstrate any skills in poetry nor
do I like this appellation for myself. For this reason, I have used some words of the Punjabi language at
some places. Our objective is not Urdu, per se, but to introduce the truth to the hearts and we have no
concern with poetry as such.
104
One of the rituals during Pilgrimage to the Ka’ba is to go around it seven times.
105
The dust that remains after the human body is totally consumed.
106
Meaning the Holy Quran
107
In the Urdu verse, the reference is actually to Kerbala, the field where the grandson of the Prophet
Muhammad, Hussain, was martyred at the hands of his enemies.
108
Eye-salve or collyrium is a fine powdery substance that is put in the eyes to make them appear shiny
(popular custom in the eastern countries).
109
The following footnote is by the author himself:
“It should be remembered that we are not at all attacking the Vedas. We do not know as to what excesses
were committed in their commentaries. Hundreds of Arya sects rely upon the Vedas for their beliefs,
124
although they are enemies of one another and have severe differences among themselves. Thus, at this
place, we mean from the Vedas those teachings and principles that have been published by the Arya
Samaaj.”
110
Referring to the Declaration of Islamic Faith: “There is none worthy of worship except God;
Muhammad is a Messenger of God”.
111
One claim of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was that he has come as the second coming of Jesus
Christ in a spiritual and metaphoric sense.
112
The following footnote is by the author himself:
“I am named Ghulam Ahmad who is the promised Messiah from God. Mubarak Ahmad, who is
mentioned above, was my son who died at the time of the Morning Prayer on Monday 7 Sha’ban 1325
A.H. (equivalent to 16 September 1907). He went and met his God according to a revealed prophecy.
This is so because God stated through my tongue that he had come into this world through God’s Hand
and will return unto Him at a young age.”
113
Referring to the incident mentioned in the Holy Quran where Khizer teaches some lessons to Moses
through several actions of the former but Moses questions the wisdom of each action.
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A constellation of several closely placed stars in the sky that is considered a symbol of eminence.
Also refers to a Tradition of the Prophet Muhammad in which he stated that in the latter days when Islam
will go to the Pleiades (meaning that it will leave the people of the earth), then a man of Persian descent
would bring it back.
115
The small hamlet where Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was born and spent most of his life.
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Martin Clark was a Christian missionary who accused Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of plotting to
kill him. The case was tried in the court of Captain Douglass who investigated the matter thoroughly and
determined that a witness had been coerced into making a false testimony against Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam
Ahmad. The case was then dismissed.
117
Referring to the eclipses of the sun and the moon in 1894.
118
In a camel caravan, the lead camel driver pulls on the nose-ring of his camel to change his direction
and all the camels that are connected to each other by strings running from the tail of one camel to the
nose of the one behind, follow the lead camel.
119
A name of the Prophet Muhammad.
120
Meaning the Community founded by the Prophet Muhammad (Ahmad was one of his names).
121
Again, meaning the garden of the Prophet Muhammad (Ahmad was one of his names)
122
Referring to the eclipsing of the sun and the moon as a Sign for the truth of the Promised Messiah.
123
Meaning the offices of the Government.
124
Meaning unto all the prophets.
125
Referring to the Quranic verse 5:4 that reads: “This day have I perfected your religion for you and
completed upon you My favour ….”
126
The Determiner of right and wrong, Meaning God.
127
Referring to the Quranic verse 7:24 where Adam and Eve confess to their own wrongdoing.
128
Meaning Traditions and Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad.
125
129
The small hamlet in northern India where Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was born and spent practically all his
life.
130
Referring to Braheene Ahmadiyya (The Proofs of Ahmadiyyat) that was published between 1882 and
1884, in four volumes.
131
The famous musk from the deer in Tatar (Central Asia).
132
Meaning death of one’s self and ego.
133
The promise in Islam of the advent of Mahdi in the Latter Days to unite all faiths and establish peace
in the world.
134
Meaning the fourteenth century of Islam when many Muslims awaited the advent of the Mahdi.
135
A dervish is dedicated to a life of poverty, chastity and love of God.
136
Meaning wandering in the wilderness.
137
In Islamic theology, the Mahdi is to appear in the Latter Days of Islam to unite all Muslims and
establish peace and justice in the world.
138
Referring to the King of Britain who also ruled India at the time.
139
Literally meaning a “traveller”. In mysticism, the term refers to a mystic who, walking on the path of
love, seeks the nearness of God while at the same time maintaining a normal livelihood in society, as
opposed to a hermit.
140
Meaning the Fire of Hell.
141
The Discriminant (meaning that which discriminates between good and evil), is another name for the
Holy Quran.
142
Referring to the early 1880s when the first book of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, Braheene
Ahmadiyya, was published.
143
It is a popularly held Islamic belief that any pretender to false prophethood will not survive the same
period that was the duration of Prophet Muhammad’s ministry, a period of about 22-23 years.
144
Referring to the Prophet Muhammad.
145
Addressing his own followers and community.
146
One of the most sought after musk comes from the secretions of the Central Asian deer.
147
A famous Iranian general known for his bravery and fighting skills.
148
An ancient Iranian king.
149
In Islamic literature, Traditions refer to the sayings and actions of the Prophet Muhammad that are a
model and illustration of true Islamic behaviour. However, there are many narratives included among the
various collections of such Traditions that are in contradiction to Quranic teachings due to inaccurate
reporting or falsification.
150
Muslim and Bukhari were the two earliest compilers of the Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad.
151
Meaning Faith of Islam.
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152
The following footnote is by the author himself:
“It is proved from the earlier books and the authentic Traditions that the age of the world is seven
thousand years from Adam (peace be upon him). It is to this that the Holy Quran points in the verse, “A
day by thy Lord is a thousand years of your reckoning” (Al-Hajj, 22:48), meaning that one day for God is
like a thousand years for you. God has revealed this unto my heart that the time passed in lunar reckoning
from Adam until the time of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) is the same as indicated by the
numeric value of the letters of this Chapter. According to this, it is the seven thousandth year from Adam
by lunar reckoning that provides proof for the end of the world. This reckoning that is obtained through
the numeric values of the letters in Surah al-‘Asr, corresponds very closely to that of the Jews’ and the
Christians’ reckonings. It is important to consider the lunar and solar reckonings. It is found in their books
that it is necessary for the promised Messiah to appear in the six thousandth yearand it has been many
years since the six thousandth year has passed.”
153
Referring to the Traditions.
154
Meaning that when light dawned upon them in full brilliancy, they shunned it like the bats.
155
Referring to the Quranic verse 12:88: “… and despair not of the mercy of God” with reference to
Jacob’s exhortation to his sons to go out and look for the lost Joseph.
156
Meaning stream of tears.
157
In the desire that the Messiah would appear among them.
158
Referring to the Braheene Ahmadiyya, the first book written by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in the
early 1880s.
159
Meaning the position of the Promised Messiah and Mahdi.
160
The following footnote is by the author himself:
“Until now, many thousands of God’s Signs have appeared through my hand. The earth has shown Signs
for me as well as the heavens. They appeared among the friends as well as among the enemiesfor
which hundreds of thousands of persons are witness. And if these Signs are counted individually in detail,
they reach about a million. Thus all praise belongs to Him.”
161
Referring to Hadhrat Ali Hujweri, a mystic from Ghazna, who is popularly known as Data Ganj
Bakhsh in the Indo-Pak subcontinent.
162
This verse is an accusatory one, meaning that there are people who act as if they receive revelations
and as if they have received direct word from God as to who is to be regarded a disbeliever.
163
One of the attributes of God Who covers or hides the sins and weaknesses of people from becoming
evident.
164
The following footnote is by the author himself:
“The word “earthquake” occurs repeatedly in God’s revelation. And He states that it would be a quake
that would be a likeness of Doomsday. In fact, it should be called the Doomsday Quake to which the
Surah al-Zilzal points. But, until now, I cannot apply this word of quake to its apparent meaning with
certainty. It is possible that it is not a usual quake but another severe calamity that displays a Doomsday
scenario whose likeness has not been seen during these times, and it brings a severe destruction upon the
living and the buildings.
“However, if such an unusual Sign does not appear and the people do not clearly mend their ways, then
under these conditions I will stand false. However, I have written it time and again that this severe
calamity that God has likened to an earthquake has nothing to do with religious differences nor can this
calamity visit someone for being a Hindu or a Christian. Nor by the fact that someone has not given his
allegiance unto me. All these people are safe from this anxiety. However, one who may otherwise belong
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to any Faith, if he practises the committing of crimes and is seeped in sin and error and is an adulterer,
murderer, thief, oppressor, unnecessarily evil-wisher, foul of tongue, and follows evil ways, he should
fear it. And if he repents, then even he has no fear. And this calamity can pass away by the people being
righteous and following the way of piety. It is not certain.”
165
Meaning bare, like the sycamore tree during autumn.
166
Meaning this world.
167
Ka’ba is the house of worship built by Abraham. Located in Mecca, it marks the direction towards
which the Muslims face during their ritual prayers.
168
Referring to verse 99:2, “When the earth is shaken with her (violent) shaking”.
169
Meaning that believing after seeing such a vivid Sign will decrement the value of faith that should
have been shown in the Unseen.
170
The following footnote is by the author himself:
“It should be remembered that the calamity to which this prophecy points, it has been repeatedly referred
to by God in the words of earthquake. Although apparently it is an earthquakeand the apparent words
do indicate it to be an earthquakebut because the metaphors are always present in God’s Tradition,
therefore it can be said that probably it is an earthquake or else it is some other life-threatening and
unusual punishment that carries a hue of earthquake in it. The need for repeatedly publicising it comes
from the fact that the earlier news of the earthquake that was not publicised well, led to the loss of many
lives. Therefore, I deemed it fit that the second prophecy concerning the earthquake should be conveyed
to the people to the best of my ability so that the hearts tend to reform through repeated publicising.
“For this calamity to pass by, it is not necessary for a person to be a Christian or a Hindu or a Muslim or
one who gives his allegiance to us. However, it is necessary that people adopt piety and give up criminal
activity.”
171
Meaning that there is also someone else besides God who could conceivably help.
172
The reference to departing here is with respect to the passing away of the author himself.
173
Names being called by the people in the form of invectives and vituperation.
174
Ahmad is another name of the Prophet Muhammad.
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