Claim of Krishna

Many anti Ahmadis raise the allegation against Ahmadi Muslims, that we believe Krishna to be a Prophet of Allah. Firstly, the Hindhus call Krishna an avatar. In the religion of Hinduism, the concept of a prophet is in reality referred to as an avatar. The word autaar in their language comes from “utara” and means the same thing as a messenger in the English language. Hadhrat Ahmad (as) explained that Krishna was also a prophet who had his message distorted after his death. We see that the same has happened with Hadhrat Isa(as).

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Now as for their allegation, we have to first remember that according to the Qur’an and ahadith, prophets and messengers were sent to every nation. Allah States that every people were sent a Messenger. Ahadith also mention that there were 124,000 prophets.

Allah States in the Qur’an:

إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ بِالْحَقِّ بَشِيرًا وَنَذِيرًا ۚ وَإِنْ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلَّا خَلَا فِيهَا نَذِيرٌ {25}

Verily, We have sent thee with the truth, as a bearer of glad tidings and as a Warner; and there is no people to whom a Warner has not been sent. (Chapter 35 Verse 25)

Allah States:

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلًا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْهُمْ مَنْ قَصَصْنَا عَلَيْكَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ لَمْ نَقْصُصْ عَلَيْكَ ۗ وَمَا كَانَ لِرَسُولٍ أَنْ يَأْتِيَ بِآيَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۚ فَإِذَا جَاءَ أَمْرُ اللَّهِ قُضِيَ بِالْحَقِّ وَخَسِرَ هُنَالِكَ الْمُبْطِلُونَ {79}

And We did send Messengers before thee; of them are some whom We have mentioned to thee, and of them there are some whom We have not mentioned to thee; and it is not possible for any Messenger to bring a Sign except by the leave of Allah. But when Allah’s decree came, the matter was decided with truth, and then there perished those who uttered falsehoods. (Chapter 40 Verse 79)

Now we also have proof from the ahadith that Krishna was in fact a prophet of God. Al Hafiz Al Dailami has a book called Tarikh Hamdhaan and it is mentioned:

قال صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: “كان في الهند نبياً أسوَد اللون، إسمه “كاهن”. (الحافظ شيرويه الديلمي، تاريخ همذان، باب الكاف)

Meaning, that the Prophet Muhammad (sa) said there was a Prophet of black color whose name was Kahan (Krishna is also called by this name) (Al Hafiz al Dailami, Tareekh Hamdaan, Bab Al-Kaaf)

Imam Dhahabi has mentioned Dailami in the following way:

“سير أعلام النبلاء” ضمن الطبقة السادسة والعشرين تحت “شيرويه” ذاكراً أيضاً كتابه “تاريخ همذان”، فقال الذهبي في تعريفه للحافظ الديلمي   
“هو ابن شهردار بن شيرويه بن فناخسره بن خسركان، المُحَدِّثُ العالِمُ، الحافظُ المؤرِّخ أبو شجاع الديلمي الهمذاني مؤلف كتاب “الفردوس” و “تاريخ همذان “. وُلِدَ سنة خمس وأربعين وأربعمائة.” أهـ

Hadhrat Maulama Qasim Nanotwi (rh) has mentioned this hadith during one of his discussions as well. He made it clear that Krishna was a Prophet of God. (Debate Shah Jahan Pur Page 31)

Then we see in the book of Tafsir al Mujam al-Ausat by Imam Tabarani:

“وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ : “أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى بَعَثَ نَبِيًّا أَسْوَدَ فَهُوَ مِمَّنْ لَمْ تُذْكَر قِصَّتَه في القُرآن.” أهـ

Hadhrat Ali (ra) said that Allah sent a Prophet who was of black colour and he is of those prophets whose story is not mentioned in the Qur’an.

Then we have in Tafsir Nasafi as well and in Zamakshari’s tafsir of Al Kashaf under the verse of some prophets not being mentioned to us:

“وَعَنْ عَلِيٍّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ : “أَنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى بَعَثَ نَبِيًّا أَسْوَدَ، فَهُوَ مِمَّنْ لَمْ يَقْصُصْ عَلَيْهِ.”” (تفسير الكشاف، الزمخشري، سورة المؤمن/غافر، تفسير قوله تعالى ولقد أرسلنا رسلا من قبلك منهم من قصصنا عليك ومنهم من لم نقصص عليك)

Meaning that verily Allah sent a black prophet and he was among those who were not mentioned in the Qur’an.

In the same way we find in Ruh ul Bayan that it is mentioned:

“وعن علي رضي الله عنه أن الله بعث نبياً أسود .. وهو ممن لم يقصص الله عليه” أهـ

Then in Jamiul Uloom it is said:

“وَاعْلَم أَن رجلا كَانَ فِي الْهِنْد اسْمه كَانَ وَله أَسمَاء شَتَّى عِنْد البراهمة كالكشن وَغير ذَلِك وولادته فِي متهرا ونشوءه ونماؤه فِي (كوكل) وكل مِنْهُمَا اسْم معمورة فِي الْهِنْد بَينهمَا وَبَين الدهلي مَسَافَة أَرْبَعِينَ فرسخا. قيل إِنَّه كَانَ صَاحب الاستدراج وَالْكفَّار يعتقدونه ويذكرون لَهُ خوارق الْعَادَات وَكَانَ أسود اللَّوْن سوادا شَدِيدا. قيل إِنَّه كَانَ نَبيا وتمسكوا فِي ذَلِك بِمَا فِي تَفْسِير المدارك فِي تَفْسِير قَوْله تَعَالَى: {مِنْهُم من قَصَصنَا عَلَيْك وَمِنْهُم من لم نَقْصُصْ عَلَيْك} . وَعَن عَليّ رَضِي الله تَعَالَى عَنهُ بعث الله نَبيا أسود فَهُوَ ممن لم يذكر قصَّته فِي الْقُرْآن. أَقُول لَا نَص فِيهِ على أَن ذَلِك الْأسود هُوَ كَانَ الْمَذْكُور فَإِنَّهُ يحْتَمل أَن يكون غير كَانَ المسطور. وَسمعت عَن من لَا وثوق عَلَيْهِ إِنَّه عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاة وَالسَّلَام قَالَ لَو كَانَ نَبيا فِي الْهِنْد لَكَانَ أسْوَد.” (جامع العلوم في اصطلاحات الفنون، لمؤلفه القاضي الأحمدنكري، الجزء: 3 باب الكاف ¦ الصفحة: 81)

He also explains that there was a Prophet in India who was called Kaana. He had many names like Barahma and Kushan. The author also quotes Tafsir al Madark. It is written by Abu Hafs Umar an-Nasafi and is quite famous.

So this is the view of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. Krishna was a Prophet and a true Prophet and the commentaries of other scholars also agree with us as I have shown.

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as states:

“God Almighty has disclosed to me repeatedly in my visions that a person of the name of Krishan, who appeared among the Aryas, was a chosen one of God and was a Prophet of his time. The expression Avatar which is current among the Hindus is in its essence synonymous with Prophet. There is a prophecy in Hindu scriptures that in the latter days an Avatar would appear, who will possess the qualities of Krishna and will be his reflection. It has been conveyed to me that I am that person. Krishan had two qualities; one, that he was Ruddar i.e. the slayer of wild beasts and swine, [evil characters] that is to say by reasoning and Signs; and, two, that he was Gopal i.e. the nourisher of cows, that is to say he was a helper of the virtuous through his spirit. Both of these are the qualities of the Promised Messiah and God has bestowed both of them upon me.”(Tohfah Golarhviyyah, Page 130 Sub Footnote, Ruhani Khazain Volume 17, Page 317 Sub footnote)

And:

“God, who is the Master of heaven and the earth, has disclosed to me and has told me—not once, but several times—that: ‘You are Krishan for the Hindus and the Promised Messiah for the Muslims and the Christians.” (Lecture Sialkot, Ruhani Khazain, Volume 20, Page 228)

And:

“Now let it be clear that it has been made manifest to me that Raja Krishan was, in fact, such a perfect man that his match is not found in any Rishi and Avatar of Hindus. He was the Avatar, that is, Prophet, of his time and the Spirit of holiness descended upon him from God. God had bestowed victory and majesty on him. He cleansed the land of Aryavart of sin. He was in fact a prophet of his time, but his teachings were distorted in several things after him. He was filled with the love of God and held piety dear to him and loathed evil. God had promised that his reflection, that is an Avatar, would be sent in the latter days; so this promise was fulfilled in my appearance.”(Lecture Sialkot, Pages 33-34, Ruhani Khazain, Volume 20, Pages 228-229)