The non Ahmadis often quote two quotes of Ahmad(as). Firstly:
And Allah sent down upon me the bounty of the Holy Prophet and made it perfect; and he drew towards me the kindness and generosity of the merciful Prophet, so that I became one with him. Thus, he who joins my group, joins the group of the companions (Sahaba) of my Leader, the best of messengers. It is not hidden from those who have the ability to think that this is what the words “Akhareen Menhom” (others of them) mean. The person who makes a difference between me and the Mustafa has neither seen me nor recognized me.“(Khutba Ilhamiyah, Ruhani Khazain Volume 16, page 258-259)
Firstly no where here does Ahmad(as) claim to be better than the Holy Prophet(saw). He is basically saying that the same perfect man that the Holy Prophet(saw) was, Allah bestowed that same bounty and also made it perfect on Ahmad(as) which makes perfect sense for any Muslim who has read the Qur’an and ahadith. Ahmad(as) is referring to the ayah:
Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth glorifies Allah, the Sovereign, the Holy, the Mighty, the Wise. He it is Who has raised among the Unlettered people a Messenger from among themselves who recites unto them His Signs, and purifies them, and teaches them the Book and wisdom, although they had been, before, in manifest misguidance; And among others from among them who have not yet joined them. He is the Mighty, the Wise.(Chapter 62 verses 3-4)
The companions wondered who it is referring to by Allah saying Muhammad(saw) would also be with the people in the end times. Muhammad(saw) gave such a beautiful tafseer on it in Bukhari Kitabut Tafseer:
حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ بِلاَلٍ، عَنْ ثَوْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْغَيْثِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، رضى الله عنه قَالَ كُنَّا جُلُوسًا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأُنْزِلَتْ عَلَيْهِ سُورَةُ الْجُمُعَةِ {وَآخَرِينَ مِنْهُمْ لَمَّا يَلْحَقُوا بِهِمْ} قَالَ قُلْتُ مَنْ هُمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَلَمْ يُرَاجِعْهُ حَتَّى سَأَلَ ثَلاَثًا، وَفِينَا سَلْمَانُ الْفَارِسِيُّ، وَضَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَهُ عَلَى سَلْمَانَ ثُمَّ قَالَ ” لَوْ كَانَ الإِيمَانُ عِنْدَ الثُّرَيَّا لَنَالَهُ رِجَالٌ ـ أَوْ رَجُلٌ ـ مِنْ هَؤُلاَءِ ”.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
While we were sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ) Surat Al-Jumu’a was revealed to him, and when the Verse, “And He (Allah) has sent him (Muhammad) also to other (Muslims)…..’ (62.3) was recited by the Prophet, I said, “Who are they, O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)?” The Prophet (ﷺ) did not reply till I repeated my question thrice. At that time, Salman Al-Farisi was with us. So Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) put his hand on Salman, saying, “If Faith were at (the place of) Ath-Thuraiya (pleiades, the highest star), even then (some men or man from these people (i.e. Salman’s folk) would attain it.”(Bukhari, Volume 6 Book 60, Hadith #420)
This is just another baseless allegation of the anti Ahmadis and makes no sense at all of why they need to make such lies to deceive the less knowledgeable.
After this they quote another passage of khutbah ilhamiyya to state that the timing of the Promised Messiah is much more stronger and complete.
This is just another out of context allegation of one who has not read khutba Ilhaymiya in context. This is in reality referring to the victory of Islam. During the time of the Holy Prophet(saw) Islam was being attacked by mostly the Jews, Christians, Zoroastriaans and the saba’ites but now when we look at Islam it is being attacked by more religions including Hindhus, Buddhists and also the Atheists and agnostics.The latter day victory of Islam was to be greater than the earlier one in the terms of the religions and this will take place according to even Sunnis by the messiah(as) of the latter days.
Again Ahmad(as) here is even referring to the ayah:
And among others from among them who have not yet joined them. He is the Mighty, the Wise(Chapter 62 Verse 4)
And the Tafseer by Muhammad(Saw):
حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ بِلاَلٍ، عَنْ ثَوْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْغَيْثِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، رضى الله عنه قَالَ كُنَّا جُلُوسًا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأُنْزِلَتْ عَلَيْهِ سُورَةُ الْجُمُعَةِ {وَآخَرِينَ مِنْهُمْ لَمَّا يَلْحَقُوا بِهِمْ} قَالَ قُلْتُ مَنْ هُمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَلَمْ يُرَاجِعْهُ حَتَّى سَأَلَ ثَلاَثًا، وَفِينَا سَلْمَانُ الْفَارِسِيُّ، وَضَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَدَهُ عَلَى سَلْمَانَ ثُمَّ قَالَ ” لَوْ كَانَ الإِيمَانُ عِنْدَ الثُّرَيَّا لَنَالَهُ رِجَالٌ ـ أَوْ رَجُلٌ ـ مِنْ هَؤُلاَءِ ”.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
While we were sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ) Surat Al-Jumu’a was revealed to him, and when the Verse, “And He (Allah) has sent him (Muhammad) also to other (Muslims)…..’ (62.3) was recited by the Prophet, I said, “Who are they, O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)?” The Prophet (ﷺ) did not reply till I repeated my question thrice. At that time, Salman Al-Farisi was with us. So Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) put his hand on Salman, saying, “If Faith were at (the place of) Ath-Thuraiya (pleiades, the highest star), even then (some men or man from these people (i.e. Salman’s folk) would attain it.”(Bukhari, Volume 6 Book 60, Hadith #420)
Ahmad(As) then quotes:
He it is Who has sent His Messenger with the guidance and the Religion of truth, that He may cause it to prevail over all religions, even if those who associate partners with God hate it.(Chapter 61 Verse 10)
Many have said that the prophecy of this ayah meaning the perfection would take at the hands of the messiah(as) including Imam Al Razi and Ruh al Mani Al Qurtubi.
Tabari has narrated that the verse in regards to Islam prevailing over all religions is for the Messiah(as):
This allegation is once again misunderstood. Ahmad(as) talking about the spirituality of the prophet(saw) which would of course grow with another fulfillment of the prophecy. His spirituality will grow till the day of judgement. Someone who he, prophesied coming, proves his truthfulness even more. Ahmad(as) is not talking about himself here rather the spiritual power of the Prophet(saw) which has of course increased and will continue to increase till the day of judgement. How can a sincere Muslim reject this and believe that the spirituality of the Seal of Prophets can no longer increase? Of course when his prophecies continue to be fulfilled it shows his truthfulness showing his spirituality is indeed increasing.
Some non Ahmadi Muslims say how is it possible that someone is sent in the likeness of Holy Prophet(saw). They are not aware of this Quranic ayah and hadith nor are aware of what their scholars have stated. Hazrat Shah Wali’ullah Muhaddith Dehlvi(ra) states:
This quote is from Hujjatullahil-Baligah volume 1, chapter Haqiqatun Nabuwati wa Khawasuha. It states that the Prophet highest in rank is one who has a second advent, and the intention of Allah the Exalted for this second advent is that he may cause to bring the people out of every kind of darkness into light and that his people be the best of the ummah, established for the benefit of the mankind. Hence, his first advent would also include the purpose of the second.
This prophecy of the second advent of the Messiah was to take place by the way of reflection and was to be fulfilled in the person of the Promised Mahdi who would bring the faith back to this world.
Hazraat Imam Abdur Razzaq Kashani (ra) states:
This quote is from Sharah Fusuil Hikam printed in Egypt page 52. It states that the Mahdi who will come in the latter days would be an ummati of the Shariah of Muhammad(Saw. Apart from the Holy Prophet(saw) all other prophets and saints would be followers of the mahdi because his inner self is the inner self of Muhammad(saw).
Hazrat Imam Abdur Razzaq Kashani(ra) said the inner self of the mahdi is the inner self of the holy Prophet(saw) which shows the mahdi would be a shadow or reflection of the holy Prophet(saw) by the way of zill and buruz.
Hazrat Shah Wali’ullah Dehlvi (ra) in his book al Khairul Kathir states:
He basically states that the it is the right of the messiah in the ummah of Muhammad(Saw) to be his(saw)’s reflection. People think that when he descends he will be an ummati alone. This is not so. Rather he will be the complete elucidation of the name Muhammad and his second advent. There is a great difference between him and a ordinary ummati.
Sheikh Muhammad Ikram Sabri states in Iqtibasul Anwar Page 52 referencing Bayanul Mujahid page 150:
He states that it was none other than the Prophet(saw) who appeared as Adam(as) at the very beginning of life on earth, meaning the spirituality of the Holy Prophet(saw) was manifested in the form of Buruz in the person of Adam(as) and that it was none other than the Holy Prophet(Saw) who will appear in the latter days in the form of the seal of sainthood, khatamul wilayat as the Imam mahdi. In this way the spirituality of the seal of the prophets would be reflected in the mahdi.
This further proves that the claim of Ahmad(as) was accepted by many scholars as well and has nothing wrong in it.
“My beloved! If in your alley the heads of your lovers were being cut off; the first man to announce his love for you would be myself (Aina-Kamalat-e-Islam, Ruhani Khazain, Volume 5 page 658)
“That light of high degree that was bestowed on the perfect many was not in angels, was not in stars, was not in the moon, was not in the sun, was not in the oceans and the rivers, was not in rubies, emeralds, sapphires, or pearls, in shirt, it was not in any earthly or heavenly object. It was only in the perfect man whose highest and loftiest and most perfect example was our lord and master, the Chief of the prophets, the chief of all living ones, Muhammad, the chosen one, (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) (Aina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam, Ruhani Khazain Volume 5, page 160)
“Have you any notion what was that strange event that occurred in the wasteland of Arabia when hundreds of thousands of the dead were revived within a few days, and those who had been misguided through generations exhibited a Divine complexion, and those who were blind began to see, and those who had been dumb began to utter words of divine wisdom, and the world underwent a revolution which no eye had seen before and no ear had heard. Do you know how all this came about? It was supplications during dark nights of one who had lost himself in God which caused a revolution in the world and showed such wonders as could never have been expected from that unlettered and helpless one (Holy Prophet(saw)) Invoke Thy blessings and peace O Allah on him and his people, according to the amount of pain and anguish he felt for his ummah and pour down upon him the light of Thy mercy forever (Blessings of Prayer, page 10-11)
“There is a statement of Babu Muhammad Uthman Likhnawi, that he went to Qadian in 1918 and met a Hindu, Lala Badhu Mal, or perhaps Lala Malawamal, who is often referred to in the books of the Promised Messiah(as). He asked him if he had seen the Promised Messiah(as) in his early days, and what he thought of him. That Hindu responded : “to this day I have yet ot find a single Muslim who loves his prophet to such an extent(Siratul Mahdi, part 3 pg 19)
There have been millions of pure natured people in the world and there will be more in the future, yet the best of them all and the highest man of God was him whose name was Muhammad may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.”
(Chashma Marifat pg 288, Roohani Khazain Vol 23, pg 288)
No man can acquire the status bestowed upon the Holy Prophet may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him“
(Haqeeqatul Wahi pg 115, Roohani Khazain Vol 22, pg 118)
Not even the Prophets of yore can share equally, the excellences of the Holy Prophet may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him nor could the angels claim equality with him.
(Braheen-e-Ahmadiyya Pg 258, Roohani Khazain Vol 1)
The light of high degree that was bestowed upon the perfect man was not bestowed upon the stars or the moon. It was not bestowed upon the sun nor was it bestowed upon the ocean or the rivers. It was not bestowed upon rubies or emeralds nor upon sapphires. In short, it was not bestowed upon any earthly or heavenly object. It was only bestowed upon the perfect man whose highest and loftiest and most perfect example was our lord and master, the Chief of all creation, Muhammad, the Chosen One may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.(Aina Kamalat e Islam pg 161, Roohani Khazain Vol 5, pg 161)
I am ready to offer my heart and soul for the beauty of Muhammad(saw) My body is merely the dust of the lane treaded by the progeny of Muhammad(sa) . I have seen with my heart’s eye and heard with perceptive ears, That the trumpet of the beauty of Muhammad(sa) , echoes everywhere. This ever-flowing spring of divine verities which I am distributing freely among God’s creatures, Is but a drop from the ocean of the excellences of Muhammad(sa) .(Majmua-e-Istiharat vol 1. Page 97)In acquiring divine light, love for the members of the household of the Holy Prophet(saw) plays a great part. A person who attains nearness to God does so by virtue of spiritual inheritance from those righteous and holy ones and becomes their heir in respect of all his knowledge and spiritual insight. (Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, part 4, pp. 502–503 sub-footnote 3, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 1, pp. 597–598 sub-footnote 3)
This humble one is one of the lowly servants of the great Prophet(sa), who was the Chief of Messengers and the Crown of all Prophets. If the other Messengers are Hamid,4 he is Ahmad,5 and if they are Mahmud 6 he is Muhammadsa . 7 (Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 1, p. 594, sub-footnote 3)
Allah knows that I am a lover of Islam and a sacrifice for, and a servant of, the Best of Creation Ahmad Mustafa(saw) [the Chosen Prophet of God]. (A’ina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam, p. 388, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 5, p. 388)
All this honour has been conferred upon me solely by virtue of being a follower of a Prophet(sa) whose spiritual rank and high standard is largely hidden from the world, and he is none other than Muhammad Mustafa [the Chosen One], may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. (Chashma’-e-Masihi, p. 23–24, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 20. p. 254)
I have, by the sheer grace of God, and not on account of any merit of my own, been accorded a full measure of the bounty that was bestowed before me on the Prophets and Messengers(as) and the Chosen ones of God. It would not have been possible for me to be granted this bounty had I not followed the ways of my lord and master, the Pride of the Prophets, the Best of Mankind, Muhammad(sa). Whatever I have been given, I have been given due to this adherence and I know through my true and perfect knowledge that no man can reach God except through following the Holy Prophet(sa) nor can anyone arrive at a full understanding of God except through him. (Haqiqatul-Wahi, Ruhani Khaza’in, vol. 22, pp. 59–65)
Aside from the Greatest and Best of the Messengers, Hadrat Muhammad Mustafa(sa) [the Chosen One] and his pure and comprehensive Hadith, and the true Light of Allah and His undoubted Word, what other shelter is there for us to turn to, and whose face is more beautiful that would attract us. (al-Hakam, Nov. 8, 1898, p. 6)
Verily, loving of the Word of Allah, and acquiring love for the pure speech of the Holy Prophet(sa) and gaining of the pure love and relationship with the people of God is a blessing which is bestowed upon distinguished and sincere people of God. As a matter of fact, this is the basis of great advancements towards perfection, and the seed by which a tree of certainty and advancement of knowledge and strength of beliefs emerges, and indeed the fruit of deep personal love of God. (al-Hakam, March 3, 1899, p. 3)
I know it for certain that under all circumstances, my Community and I shall be granted the support and help of God, so long as we tread upon the straight path, follow the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa) earnestly and completely, make the sublime teachings of the Holy Quran our way of life, and exhibit these teachings through our practice and condition, and not just words. If we follow this path then surely remember that even if the whole world should come together to destroy us, we would not perish, because God will be with us. (al-Hakam, Sept. 24, 1904)