Thirty Liars?
Non Ahmadis try to argue is that Nabi(saw) said that there will be thirty liars after him and each of them would claim prophethood, but there is no prophet after me. Secondly you will say that we believe Nabi(saw) is the seal of the prophets meaning best, but here Nabi(saw) defines khataman nabiyeen as the last of the prophets.
Firstly, the second meaning in which the word ba’d is used is to say when one appears after the other in time. This supports Ahmadiyyat’s view on prophethood. Its basically referring to after the passing away of the Prophet(Saw)’s era, no prophet would come. This hadith shows that no prophet would come and start a new and independent era of his own, or in other words bring a religion. So now if ba’d is taken to refer to a specific time period, then la nabiyya ba’di would mean that no prophet would come who would bring a new religion or end the era of The Prophet(Saw). The era which is being referred to in the word ba’d is the spiritual era of Nabi(saw) and it proves to us that his era would last until the end time. Therefore no prophet will ever come that would put an end to his era or abrogate his law which Allah sent with him, meaning the Holy Quran. Therefore, as Quran proves and many hadith show us, if any prophet was to come he would come in complete obedience and be under the Prophet(saw), bringing nothing new to the law.
There is also a third meaning of the word ba’d which is supported by the Quran as to one who is in opposition of something. These verses are :
Chapter 45 Verse 7 literally states that In what word, then, after Allah and his signs will they believe? However its clear that the word after here refers to “besides”.
Again Allah states:
Again Allah literally states “Who, then, will guide him After Allah? Will you not then heed? (Chapter 45 Verse 24) Here as well its in the meaning of “besides Allah” as we know Allah has no end.
Using this definition of ba’d it shows that there can be no prophet who brings a teaching which contradicts and alters the law of Nabi(saw) This shows that if the only meaning of the word ba’d is after me in time, this means that Allah would also nauzobilla have an ending and that the after refers to Allah’s death nauzobilla. It would imply that there is something after the demise of Allah nauzobilla. It is obvious that ba’d is being used to mean besides Allah, meaning no one can guide a man aside from Allah not that Allah nauzobilla has an end.
A Bukhari Hadith which also supports our view is as follows:
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ أَبِي حُسَيْنٍ، حَدَّثَنَا نَافِعُ بْنُ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَدِمَ مُسَيْلِمَةُ الْكَذَّابُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَجَعَلَ يَقُولُ إِنْ جَعَلَ لِي مُحَمَّدٌ الأَمْرَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ تَبِعْتُهُ. وَقَدِمَهَا فِي بَشَرٍ كَثِيرٍ مِنْ قَوْمِهِ، فَأَقْبَلَ إِلَيْهِ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَمَعَهُ ثَابِتُ بْنُ قَيْسِ بْنِ شَمَّاسٍ، وَفِي يَدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قِطْعَةُ جَرِيدٍ، حَتَّى وَقَفَ عَلَى مُسَيْلِمَةَ فِي أَصْحَابِهِ فَقَالَ ” لَوْ سَأَلْتَنِي هَذِهِ الْقِطْعَةَ مَا أَعْطَيْتُكَهَا، وَلَنْ تَعْدُوَ أَمْرَ اللَّهِ فِيكَ، وَلَئِنْ أَدْبَرْتَ لَيَعْقِرَنَّكَ اللَّهُ، وَإِنِّي لأَرَاكَ الَّذِي أُرِيتُ فِيكَ مَا رَأَيْتُ ”. فَأَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ” بَيْنَمَا أَنَا نَائِمٌ رَأَيْتُ فِي يَدَىَّ سِوَارَيْنِ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ، فَأَهَمَّنِي شَأْنُهُمَا، فَأُوحِيَ إِلَىَّ فِي الْمَنَامِ أَنِ انْفُخْهُمَا، فَنَفَخْتُهُمَا فَطَارَا فَأَوَّلْتُهُمَا كَذَّابَيْنِ يَخْرُجَانِ بَعْدِي ”. فَكَانَ أَحَدُهُمَا الْعَنْسِيَّ وَالآخَرُ مُسَيْلِمَةَ الْكَذَّابَ صَاحِبَ الْيَمَامَةِ.
Narrated Ibn `Abbas: Musailama-al-Kadhdhab (i.e. the liar) came in the life-time of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) with many of his people (to Medina) and said, “If Muhammad makes me his successor, I will follow him.” Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) went up to him with Thabit bin Qais bin Shams; and Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) was carrying a piece of a datepalm leaf in his hand. He stood before Musailama (and his companions) and said, “If you asked me even this piece (of a leaf), I would not give it to you. You cannot avoid the fate you are destined to, by Allah. If you reject Islam, Allah will destroy you. I think that you are most probably the same person whom I have seen in the dream.” Abu Huraira told me that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ); said, “While I was sleeping, I saw (in a dream) two gold bracelets round my arm, and that worried me too much. Then I was instructed divinely in my dream, to blow them off and so I blew them off, and they flew away. I interpreted the two bracelets as symbols of two liars who would appear after me. And so one of them was Al-Ansi and the other was Musailama Al-Kadhdhab from Al-Yamama.”(Sahih Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 56, Hadith #817)
Here the word ba’di is used for two false prophets who both appeared in the time of the Prophet(saw) rather than after him. It is used in the sense of being in opposition, against, or besides. This makes it clear that these ahadith refer to a prophet coming against the shariah of Muhammad(saw).
Now another important fact to keep in mind is that this hadith states that there would be thirty not that all would be liars. The number of thirty itself shows that a prophet can come. The Holy Prophet(saw) did not say all who claim to be a prophet after me are all liars as he himself prophesied about a latter day messiah in many ahadith. For example:
لیس بینی و بینہ نبی و انہ نازل
There would be no prophet between me and him, and he would descend(Abu Dawood) Here the Prophet Muhammad(saw) has clearly called the latter day messiah a prophet.
The hadith quoted by the non Ahmadi Muslims is as follows:
حَدَّثَنِي زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ إِسْحَاقُ أَخْبَرَنَا وَقَالَ، زُهَيْرٌ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، – وَهُوَ ابْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ – عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي، هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يُبْعَثَ دَجَّالُونَ كَذَّابُونَ قَرِيبٌ مِنْ ثَلاَثِينَ كُلُّهُمْ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ” .
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying:Last Hour would not come until there would arise about thirty impostors, liars, and each one of them would claim that he is a messenger of Allah. (Sahih Muslim Book 54, Hadith #108)
This hadith in reality supports the Ahmadi Muslims. The Holy Prophet Muhammadsaw has tod us that there would be thirty liars that appear within the ummah, rather than saying all prophets who claim prophethood would be liars. The number of thirty itsself shows that prophethood is open. The Holy Prophe Muhammadsaw using the number of thirty itself gives the ummah glad tidings of prophethood. This hadith shows us that all prophets who make the claim would not be false, but that the messiah would appear after thirty false prophets have passed away.
Some non Ahmadi Muslims end to quote a different version of this hadith has well. They quote a narration of Tirmidhi which sttes “there is no prophet after me” after referring to the thirty liars. This is a clear addition as we see from the more authentic ahadith the same hadith is narrated, but this ending is not present. For example it is stated:
حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ هَمَّامٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يَقْتَتِلَ فِئَتَانِ، فَيَكُونَ بَيْنَهُمَا مَقْتَلَةٌ عَظِيمَةٌ، دَعْوَاهُمَا وَاحِدَةٌ، وَلاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يُبْعَثَ دَجَّالُونَ كَذَّابُونَ قَرِيبًا مِنْ ثَلاَثِينَ، كُلُّهُمْ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ”.
Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The Hour will not be established till there is a war between two groups among whom there will be a great number of casualties, though the claims (or religion) of both of them will be one and the same. And the Hour will not be established till there appear about thirty liars, all of whom will be claiming to be the messengers of Allah. ” (Sahih Al Bukhari, Hadith #3609)
In Bukhari, which is the most authentic book after the Qur’an, there is no mention of “La nabiyya Ba’di” in this hadith. Furthermore it is also absent in the version of Sahih Muslim. When we turn to Tirmidhi we find this narration which includes “La nabiyya Ba’di” but we also see a different narration of Tirmidhi which states:
حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ هَمَّامِ بْنِ مُنَبِّهٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يَنْبَعِثَ دَجَّالُونَ كَذَّابُونَ قَرِيبٌ مِنْ ثَلاَثِينَ كُلُّهُمْ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ” . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ وَابْنِ عُمَرَ . وَهَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allahsaw said:”The Hour shall not be established until nearly thirty imposters, Dajjal appear, each of them claiming that he is the Messenger of Allah.” (Jami’at Tirmidhi, Hadith #2218)
Now the version many non Ahmadi Muslims try to quote is:
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ أَبِي قِلاَبَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي أَسْمَاءَ الرَّحَبِيِّ، عَنْ ثَوْبَانَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم “ لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى تَلْحَقَ قَبَائِلُ مِنْ أُمَّتِي بِالْمُشْرِكِينَ وَحَتَّى يَعْبُدُوا الأَوْثَانَ وَإِنَّهُ سَيَكُونُ فِي أُمَّتِي ثَلاَثُونَ كَذَّابُونَ كُلُّهُمْ يَزْعُمُ أَنَّهُ نَبِيٌّ وَأَنَا خَاتَمُ النَّبِيِّينَ لاَ نَبِيَّ بَعْدِي ” . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Thawban narrated that the Messenger of Allah(s.a.w) said:”The Hour shall not be established until tribes of my Ummah unite with the idolaters, and until they worship idols. And indeed there shall be thirty imposters in my Ummah,each of them claiming that he is a Prophet. And I am the seal of the Prophets, there is no Prophet after me.” (Jami’at Tirmidhi Hadith #2219)
Despite this version being different then all others, it does not support the non Ahmadi Muslims. The Holy Prophetsaw in this hadith also uses the number of thirty rather than saying all prophets would liars. The meaning of khatam and ba’d has already been discussed in depth. This hadith is simply saying that there would be thirty liars within the ummah rather than all prophets being liars. And secondly, the Holy Prophetsaw made it clear that he is the seal of the prophets, meaning the best of all the prophets and because of him being the seal, no new law bearing prophet would ever arise. This shows that the latter day messiah would be an ummati nabi, would appear after the thirty liars and be under the seal of Holy Prophet Muhammadsaw. The interesting point is that according to the non Ahmadi Muslim ulama, the thirty liars have already came and passed long before Allah sent Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas.
Secondly, this narration is not reliable. Abu Qalaba is not reliable. About Abu Qalaba it means that he is not among the fuqaha Tabi’n and that he is considered stupid. It also says that he would make wrong statements (Mizanul Itidal, Tahzib ul Tahzib volume 5, Mizanul Itidal volume 2, page 39)
In other narrations, there are two other weak narrators. Abu Razaq bin Human(ra) and Mu’abir bin Rashid. Abdul Razaq bin Humam was a Shia and this is written in Tahzib ul Tahzib volume 6 page 314. It also says he took the narration from Mamar and states that Mamar bin Rashid is weak. Ibn Sa’d also said he was Shia and Abu Hatim said he had many false narrations.
Alamah Qastalani states: “Qadi ‘Ayad states the truth of this hadith has been established because if the number of the renowned false claimants of prophethood is counted from the time of the Holy Prophetsaw to the preent time, this number has been fulfilled”(Mawahibul Ladunniyyah, Volume 2, page 198)
It is also stated by Muhammad Bin Yusuf al Sannsi Al Hassani: “It would be evident to every student of history of Islam that the truth of this Hadith has been fully established. The number of imposters from the time of the Holy Prophetsaw till today has reached the count indicated by the Holy Prophetsaw in his prophecy” (Al Ikmal Al Ikmal, a Commentary of Al-Sahih Muslim Volume 7 Page 258)
Nawab Siddique Hassan Khan writes: “The prophecy made by the Holy Prophetsaw regarding the advent of Dajjal in this ummah has been fulfilled and their number as foretold has been completed.” (Hijaj Al Keramah Page 239) (Published in 1874 A.d before the claim of Ahmadas to Prophethood)
Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmadrh states:
“This Hadith is noted in Al-Sahi Muslim one of the books of the six most authentic compilations of Ahadith. It is to be noted that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) calls the Messiah who is to come as the prophet of God four times. In addition, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) calls the companions of the Messiah as ‘Sahaba’ followed by the appellation ‘Raziallaho Unhum’ – ‘Allah be pleased with them’.
Our opponents may say Jesus (peace be on him) was on old prophet. That is why he has been mentioned as prophet of Allah. How would they explain the use of words ‘Sahaba’ for the companions of the Messiah? According to them, ‘Sahaba’ is a term used exclusively for the companions of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). It is very obvious that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was referring to an event that was to take place in the future.
Irrespective of the fact whether we have thirty or thirty million dajjals or impostors, the fact remains that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) has called the Messiah of the latter days as a prophet of God. No one can change that.” (True meaning of Khatme Nabuwat Page 21)
Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as) has stated:
“Some so-called Mullahs raise the allegation upon me that our Prophet(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has given us the glad-tiding that thirty Anti-Christs would appear among you and each one would make a claim to prophethood. The answer to this is: O foolish ones! O unfortunate ones! Were thirty Anti-Christs the only thing written in your destiny and was there no truthful reformer decreed for you? A fifth of the 14th Century is about to reach its end and the moon of Caliphate has completed fourteen stages of its perfection to which the following verse of the Holy Qur’an is also alluding to: [ And for the moon we have appointed stages.] The world is at its end, but your Dajjals have not yet come to an end.Perhaps they would stay among you until death overtakes you. O foolish ones! That Dajjal which is known as satan is in fact within you;and therefore you do not recognize the time. You pay no attention to heavenly signs. But why should one lament upon you, for the one who appeared fourteen centuries after Moses(as) in my likeness was also named a dajjal by the wretched ones from among the Jews. Your hearts have also become similar. May Allah have mercy upon you”(Review Bar Mubhathah Batalwi Wa Chakralwi, page 7)