Pure Character
Pure Character
Allah States a beautiful sign of a truthful Prophet in the Qur’an in regards to his purity. This is a beautiful sign of a prophet which makes it easier to identify the truthfulness of a true prophet. Allah States:
قُلْ لَوْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ مَا تَلَوْتُهُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَلَا أَدْرَاكُمْ بِهِ ۖ فَقَدْ لَبِثْتُ فِيكُمْ عُمُرًا مِنْ قَبْلِهِ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ {17} فَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنِ افْتَرَىٰ عَلَى اللَّهِ كَذِبًا أَوْ كَذَّبَ بِآيَاتِهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُفْلِحُ الْمُجْرِمُونَ {18}
Say, ‘If Allah had so willed, I should not have recited it to you nor would He have made it known to you. I have indeed lived among you a whole lifetime before this. Will you not then understand?’ Who is then more unjust than he who forges a lie against Allah or he who treats His Signs as lies? Surely, the guilty shall never prosper.(Chapter 10 Verses 17-18)
This argument is an extremely beautiful argument which Allah has Given us in the Qur’an. It is one of the characteristics of a prophet and is a clear proof of a prophets truthfulness. This argument shows us that the previous life of a claimant of prophethood should be a life of truthfulness. The Prophet asks his people: “If I used to lie before, then I also lie now, however if the past forty years of my life are pure and free from any defects, then certainly my claim of Prophethood is also true.
It is said:
در جوانی توبہ کردن شیوۂ پیغمبری است
Hadhrat Qutubul Auliya Abu Ishaaq Ibrahim bin Sheryarra states:
’’جوشخص جوانی میں اﷲ تعالیٰ کا فرمانبردار ہوگا وہ بڑھاپے میں بھی اﷲ ہی کاتابعدار رہے گا۔ ‘‘
“A person who is obedient to Allah in his youth, he will also be submissive to Allah in old age.” (Tazkiratul Auliya, by Hadhrat Sheikh Fariduddin Ata, Chapter 76 page 427)
Hadhrat Data Ganj Bakhshrh stated:
’’رسول اﷲ صلی اﷲ علیہ وسلم جو صاحبانِ حق کے پیشرو اور امام ہوئے اور محبانِ خدا کے پیشوا ۔ جب تک برہانِ حق اور رسالت نے ان پر ظہور نہ پایا اور وحی نازل نہ ہوتی تب تک نیک نام رہے اور جب دوستی کی خلعت نے سرِ مبارک پر زیب دیا تو خلقت نے ملامت سے ان پر زبان درازی کیبعض نے کاہن کہہ دیا اور بعض نے شاعر اور بعض نے دیوانہ اور بعض نے جھوٹ کا الزام دیا ۔ ایسی ہی اور گستاخی جائز رکھی ۔‘‘
“The Messenger of Allah, who was the forerunner and Imam to the truthful, and the leader of those who love God, had a righteous reputation among the people – until the signs of Allah were revealed to him and he attained apostleship and began receiving revelation, Then people rejected him instantly. Some named him a magician, some a poet, others named him a madman and some accused him of falsehood. Thus, they considered all sorts of contempt acceptable.” (Kashful Mahjub Chapter 4)
Before the claim of the Prophet Muhammadsaw , Abu Lahb and the other disbelievers would say:
حَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصِ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ مُرَّةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ لَمَّا نَزَلَتْ {وَأَنْذِرْ عَشِيرَتَكَ الأَقْرَبِينَ} صَعِدَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَلَى الصَّفَا فَجَعَلَ يُنَادِي ” يَا بَنِي فِهْرٍ، يَا بَنِي عَدِيٍّ ”. لِبُطُونِ قُرَيْشٍ حَتَّى اجْتَمَعُوا، فَجَعَلَ الرَّجُلُ إِذَا لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ أَرْسَلَ رَسُولاً لِيَنْظُرَ مَا هُوَ، فَجَاءَ أَبُو لَهَبٍ وَقُرَيْشٌ فَقَالَ ” أَرَأَيْتَكُمْ لَوْ أَخْبَرْتُكُمْ أَنَّ خَيْلاً بِالْوَادِي تُرِيدُ أَنْ تُغِيرَ عَلَيْكُمْ، أَكُنْتُمْ مُصَدِّقِيَّ ”. قَالُوا نَعَمْ، مَا جَرَّبْنَا عَلَيْكَ إِلاَّ صِدْقًا. قَالَ ” فَإِنِّي نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ ”. فَقَالَ أَبُو لَهَبٍ تَبًّا لَكَ سَائِرَ الْيَوْمِ، أَلِهَذَا جَمَعْتَنَا فَنَزَلَتْ {تَبَّتْ يَدَا أَبِي لَهَبٍ وَتَبَّ * مَا أَغْنَى عَنْهُ مَالُهُ وَمَا كَسَبَ}
Narrated Ibn `Abbas:
When the Verse:–‘And warn your tribe of near-kindred, was revealed, the Prophet (ﷺ) ascended the Safa (mountain) and started calling, “O Bani Fihr! O Bani `Adi!” addressing various tribes of Quraish till they were assembled. Those who could not come themselves, sent their messengers to see what was there. Abu Lahab and other people from Quraish came and the Prophet (ﷺ) then said, “Suppose I told you that there is an (enemy) cavalry in the valley intending to attack you, would you believe me?” They said, “Yes, for we have not found you telling anything other than the truth.” He then said, “I am a warner to you in face of a terrific punishment.” Abu Lahab said (to the Prophet) “May your hands perish all this day. Is it for this purpose you have gathered us?” Then it was revealed: “Perish the hands of Abu Lahab (one of the Prophet’s uncles), and perish he! His wealth and his children will not profit him….” (111.1-5) (Sahih al Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Hadith #293)
The words which should be focussed on in detail are :
مَا جَرَّبْنَا عَلَيْكَ إِلاَّ صِدْقًا
Meaning, we have always known you to be truthful
When the Holy Prophetsaw said:
فَإِنِّي نَذِيرٌ لَكُمْ بَيْنَ يَدَىْ عَذَابٍ شَدِيدٍ
Meaning, I am a Warner to you, warning you about an extremely severe punishment
Those same people who praised the Prophet Muhammadsaw rejected him. Abu Lahab went to the extent of saying “death to you”. It is written in the Qur’an, that those who used to testify to his truthfulness began to say:
وَقَالَ الْكَافِرُونَ هَٰذَا سَاحِرٌ كَذَّابٌ
“And the disbelievers say, This is a magician, a great liar” (Chapter 38, Verse 5)
It is clear that before the claims of the Prophets, even their enemies testify to their pure character. This is one of the heavenly signs fulfilled in all of the Prophets. Their lives remain completely pure even after their claims, but people begin to raise allegations against their character as they have nothing else to raise. Therefore, to judge a claimant to prophethood, we must see his life before his claim. Majority of the tafaseer also support this, including tafseer ibn Kathir.
When we look at the life of Ahmadas, it is also clear that his life before his claim was clean and he was known to be truthful and a true champion of Islam. His own opponents who turned against him, are a witness to this. The prophet is well known before his claim as being truthful, righteous, and humble as well. It is not possible for a truthful person who has never spoken a single lie, to suddenly lie in regards to a claim, he states is from Allah.
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas states:
“Now look, Allah has fulfilled his argument upon you such that He has manifested thousands of signs in support of my claim, and thus given you the opportunity to contemplate as to the status of that man who invites you to this dispensation, and how many arguments he presents. You cannot point to any defect or imposture or falsehood or deceit in my early life on the basis of which you might hold that a person who had been given to falsehood and imposture has put forward his claim falsely. Is there anyone from among you who can point to any fault in my life? It is the pure grace of God that from the beginning, He kept me firmly grounded in righteousness and this is proof for those who reflect.” (Tadhkiratush-Shahadatain, Ruhani Khazain, Volume 20, Page 64)
Over 100 years have passed and not a single person has answered this challenge till today.
Heas also states:
“The virtuous life that I have been blessed with is testified to by heavenly signs and is not a mere claim on my part It is impossible to prove that a person’s life is truly pious, or to reveal someone’s latent hypocrisy and disbelief, without the help of heavenly testimony” (Four Questions by Sirajjuddin, a Christian and their Answers, Pages 17-18)
Although this claim of having a life of truthfulness is not enough for a claim of prophethood, it is a huge part of it. However, one also needs to show the other signs which will further be discussed which include divine signs. Even the opponents of Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas were witnesses to his truthfulness. Here are some statements:
One of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas‘s most bitterest opponents, Maulvi Sanaullah Amritsari, wrote in his book, Tarikh-e-Mirza, that he had such a great respect and honor for him that he used to visit him in Qadian on foot. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas “emerged as a defender of the faith” in his eyes.
Another bitter opponent, Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi stated:
“The level to which we are aware of the circumstances and thoughts of the writer of Barahin-e-Ahmadiyyah is such that there would perhaps be very few from among our contemporaries who are so knowledgeable. The writer is of the same country as ours, as a matter of fact in our early days (when we would read Qutubi and Sharah Mulla) he studied with us.”(Isha’atus Sunnah, Volume 7, Page 6)
And:
“Now, we desire to express our views on Barahin-e-Ahmadiyyah very briefly and without exaggeration. In our opinion, in light of the state of affairs of this era, this book is such that to this day a book of this stature has not been written in the history of Islam. And the author of this book (i.e., the Promised Messiahas has proven his devotion to Islam by such help with money, life, pen, tongue, conduct and writings, the like of which has seldom been found among the Muslims.”(Isha’atus Sunnah Volume 6, page 6)
He also states:
“Islam was a dead body with no missionary spirit left in it and amongst the various sects of Islam, none came forward to preach Islam. Then, there arose a person, much disturbed and agitated by the inactivity of the Muslims. He gathered around him a small band of followers for the purpose of the propagation of Islam. He infused in them a high degree of evangelical spirit which is an example of all Muslim sects, nay, for all missionary organizations of the world” (Chaudhry, A.H, Fitna Irthaad)
And:
“In our opinion this book is for this age and for the present circumtances is such that like of this has not appeared in Islam…. If anyone Asian considers our words to be an exaggeration, let him show us at least one such book which so vigorously fights all the opponents of Islam, specially against Arya and Brahmu Samaj”
Hazrat Sufi Ahmad Jan, who had a following of over one thousand people, stated:
“Mirza Sahib is about 40 or 55 years of age. The original home of his ancestors appears to have been Iran. He is extremely courteous, is beneficent and modest, is handsome and his countenance displays his love of the Divine. I state it most honestly and with complete truthfulness that without the least doubt the Mirza Sahib is the Reformer of the Age, and is a sun for the seekers of the way, and is a Khizar for the misguided, and is a sharp sword for the opponents of Islam and is a conclusive proof for the envious. Be sure that such a time will not recur. Be warned that the time of trial has arrived and divine proof has been established and a perfect guide has been sent with conclusive arguments, bright as the sun, so that he might bestow light upon those who are truthful and lead them out of darkness and error and confound those who are at fault.”(Zamindar, 8 June 1908)
Sufi Mir Abbas Ali Shah wrote: “I smell the fragrance of prophethood from the writngs of this book”
Maulvi Irshad Ali of Nagpur stated:
” The Christian missionary Safdur Ali has challenged me to a debate with him on the truth of Islam and Christianity. … But I can ask him that if he is so confident about his arguments and the truth of Christianity, where was he when Maulavi Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani stood in the field of debate like a brave lion and challenged him. This challenge had such an effect on you people that no Christian missionary dare confront him [Mirza Ghulam Ahmad].” (Magazine Dastkari, Amritsar, 18 June 1899)
Pir Mehr Ali Shah of Golrah Sharif stated:
“Imam Jalal Ud Din Sayuti says that there are certain stages of spritual progress where many servants of Allah become the Messiah and Mahdi. I cannot say whether he is only at that stage or whether he is the same Mahdi promised for this ummah by the Holy Prophetsaw but he is proving to be a cuffing sword against false religions and is certainly Divinely aided” (Golarvi, Pir Mehr Ali Shah, Al Hakam, June 1904 pg550, Al Qur’an 16.37)
Sufi Ahmad Jan of Ludiyan also wrote a review on Brahine Ahmadyya and when he met Ahmadas he said “We the sick people have hope in you, please for God’s sake be the Messiah”
Hazrat Khawaja Ghulam Farid of Chachran stated:
“Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani is also right, and he is right and truthful in his affair. Day and night he is engrossed in the service of God Almighty. He has given his life for the progress of Islam and raising aloft the cause of the Faith. I can see nothing wrong or bad in him at all. If he has claimed to be the Mahdi and Messiah, that too is among the things which are permissible.” (Isharat-i-Faridi, Compilation of the Talks of Khawaja Ghulam Farid by his son, Page 179)
Hazrat Sayyid Ashhad-ud-Din, who was a famous saint of Hyderabad wrote in a letter:
“I saw the Holy Prophet Muhammad in a vision. I entreated him, O Messenger of God, is this man who claims to be the Promised Messiah, a liar and imposter, or truthful? The Holy Prophet replied, ‘He is truthful and has come from God.’ So I then understood that you are right. After this, we shall not have any doubts concerning you.” (Explained by Ahmadas in Anjam-e-Atham)
Maulana Muhammad Shareef, who was the editor of Akhar Manshoor Muhammadi, Bangalore stated in regards to the book Brahin-e-Ahmadiyya during its publication:
“The hyprocrites and the enemies are directing all their attacks against Islam. Atheism is attacking here, irreligion has a hold there, and somewhere else the Brahamo Samaj is wanting to prove its superiority over Islam through philosophical discourses. As for our Christian friends, all their energies are being spent on uprooting Islam, and they are confident that as long as the sun of Islam keeps on casting its bright rays on the world, all the exertions of Christianity will remain futile and the trinity unsuccessful. In short, all religions and their followers want somehow or other to burn out the lamp of Islam. …
“It was our long-cherished wish that someone among the Muslim Ulama, whom God had granted strength to serve and aid the cause of the faith, should write a book meeting the needs of the present age, containing rational arguments and factual evidence to prove that the Holy Quran is the word of God and the Holy Prophet Muhammad’s prophethood is true. Thank God that this wish has been fulfilled. This is the very book the preparation of which had been desired for so long: Barahin Ahmadiyya, the full title of which is: The Ahmadiyya Arguments on the truth of the Book of God the Holy Quran, and the Prophethood of Muhammad. In it the author, may God increase his worth, has proved the truth of the Quran and the prophethood of the Holy Prophet Muhammad with three hundred logical arguments. The book is written by that greatest of the Ulama, the illustrious general, pride of the followers of Islam in India, the accepted one of God, Maulavi Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the great chief of Qadian, District Gurdaspur, Punjab. Glory be to God! What a marvellous book, every word of which proved the True Faith and shows the truth of the Quran and the prophethood. With what grandeur have the strong arguments been conveyed to the opponents.” (Manshoor Muhmmadi, Bangalore, 25 Rajab, 1300 A.H, Page 214)
He also stated in regards to Brahine Ahmadiyya and the victory of Islam:
“Truth has come and falsehood vanished away, indeed”
Before Allama Dr.Sir Muhammad Iqbal became misguided, he wrote:
“It will appear at once how strikingly the author has anticipated the chief phase of the Hegelian Dialectic and how greatly he has emphasised the Doctrine of the Logos — a doctrine which has always found favour with almost all the profound thinkers of Islam, and in recent times has been readvocated by M. Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, probably the profoundest theologian among modern Indian Muhammadans.” (The Indian Antiquary, Volume XXIX Septermber 1900, Page 239)
There are also many statements frm the ummah in regards to the death of the Promised Messiahas:
Mirza Hairat of Delhi who was the editor of the Gazette named, Curzon Gazette stated:
“The services of the deceased, which he rendered to Islam in confrontation with the Christians and the Arya Samajists, deserve the highest praise. He completely changed the flow of the debate, and laid the foundations of a new literature in India.
“We admit, not because of our being Muslims but being seekers after truth, that the top most Arya Samaj leader or Christian missionary could not dare open his mouth to confront the late Mirza sahib. The incomparable books which he wrote in refutation of the Arya Samaj and Christian creeds, and the shattering replies he gave to the opponents of Islam, we have not seen any rational refutation of these except that the Aryas have been hurling abuse at the Founder and the teachings of Islam in an uncouth manner, without being able to give a sensible reply. Although the deceased was a Punjabi, yet his pen was so powerful that today in the whole of the Punjab, even in the whole of India, there is no author of such power. … and it is true that, on reading some of his writings, one goes into a state of ecstasy. Although he did not receive any regular education in Arabic language, literature or grammar, he gained such a proficiency in Arabic by his God-given intellect and nature that he could write it quite naturally. …
“His followers are not only common and unlearned people, but include able and bright graduates, viz., B.A., M.A., and very learned Ulama. It is a matter of no small pride for a religious leader of this day that persons educated on traditional lines as well as persons educated on modern lines, both types, should become his followers. Surviving the heat of predictions of his death, opposition, and criticism, he cleared his way to reach the highest pinnacle of progress.” (Curzon Gazette, Delhi,1st June 1908)
Maulvi Bashir-ud-Din, who was the editor of Sadiq ul Akhbar wrote:
“As Mirza sahib, with his forceful speeches and magnificent writings, shattered the foul criticism of the opponents of Islam, silencing them forever and proving that truth is after all the truth, and as he left no stone unturned in the service of Islam by championing its cause to the full, justice requires that one should condole the sudden and untimely death of such a resolute defender of Islam, helper of the Muslims, and an eminent and irreplaceable scholar.” (Sadiq-ul-Akhbar, May 1908)
Maulvi Sayyid Waheed-ud-Din wrote:
“The deceased was an acknowledged author and founder of the Ahmadiyya Sect. … He has left eighty writings, twenty of which are in Arabic. Undoubtedly, the deceased was a great fighter for Islam.”(Aligarh Institute Gazette, June 1908)
The editor of the Lahore Municipal Gazette wrote:
” Mirza sahib was specially renowned for his knowledge and scholarship. His writings were also eloquent. In any case, we are grieved by his death for the reason that he was a Muslim. We believe that a scholar has been taken from the world.” (Municipal Gazette, Lahore, 1908)
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who was a famous scholar of Islam and a journalist in India wrote many statements in regards to Promised Messiahas. He wrote:
“That man, that very great man, whose pen was a magic wand and whose tongue spell-binding; that man whose brain was a complex of wonders, whose eye could revive the dying and whose call aroused those in the graves, whose fingers held the wires of revolution and whose fists were electrical batteries; that man who for thirty years was an earth-quake and typhoon for the religious world, who, like the trumpet of Doomsday, awakened those lost in the slumber of life, he has left the world empty-handed. This bitter death, this cup of poison, which entrusted the deceased to dust, will remain on thousands, nay millions of tongues, as words of bitter disappointment and regret. The stroke of death which slaughtered, along with one who was very much alive, the hopes and longings of many, and the wails it raises of lament, will remain in memories for a long time to come.”
“The demise of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad sahib of Qadian is not such an event that a lesson should not be learnt from it, nor should it be consigned to the passage of time to efface. Such people who produce a religious or intellectual revolution are not born often. These sons of history, in whom it rightly takes pride, appear but rarely on the world scene, and when they do they bring about a revolution for all to see.”
“In spite of our strong differences with Mirza sahib in respect of some of his claims and beliefs, his separation for ever has convinced the educated and enlightened Muslims that one of their very great personages has left them. And with him the mighty defence of Islam against its opponents, which was linked with his person, has come to an end. His special characteristic, that he acted against the enemies of Islam as a victorious general, compels us to express openly our feeling that the grand movement which for so long defeated and trod over our opponents should be continued in the future also.”
“Mirza sahib appeared in the front line of devotees who, for the cause of Islam, accepted the dedication to sacrifice their time from the cradle, through the springs and autumns, to their graves in fulfilling the pledge of loyalty to their beautiful beloved Islam.”
“The literature produced by Mirza sahib in his confrontation with the Christians and the Aryas has received the seal of general approval, and for this distinction he needs no introduction. We have to acknowledge the value and greatness of this literature from the bottom of our hearts, now that it has done its work. This is because that time cannot be forgotten nor effaced from the mind when Islam was besieged by attacks on all sides, and the Muslims, who had been entrusted with the defence of Islam by the Real Defender, as the means of defence in this world of causes and means, were lying flat sobbing in the aftermath of their shortcomings, doing nothing for Islam or not being able to do anything for it.”
“Then began that counter-attack from the side of the Muslims in which Mirza sahib had a part. That defence not only shattered to bits the initial influence of Christianity, which it really had due to support from the government, and saved thousands, nay millions, of Muslims from this dangerous attack which would have succeeded, but the talisman of Christianity itself was blown away like smoke.”
“So, this service rendered by Mirza sahib will place the coming generations under a debt of gratitude, in that he fulfilled his duty of the defence of Islam by joining the front rank of those engaged in the jihad by the pen, and he left behind him as a memorial such literature as will last so long as Muslims have blood flowing in their veins and the urge to support Islam remains their prominent national characteristic. Besides this, Mirza sahib performed a very special service for Islam by crushing the poisonous fangs of the Arya Samaj. … His writings against the Arya Samaj shed clear light on the claim that, however much the scope of our defence may be widened in the future, it is impossible that these writings could ever be overlooked.”
“Natural intelligence, application and dexterity, and continuous debates, had lent Mirza sahib a special splendour. He had vast knowledge, not only of his own religion, but also of other religions. And he was able to use his vast knowledge with great finesse. In the art of preaching and teaching, he had acquired the accomplishment that the person whom he addressed, of whatever understanding or religion, was thrown into deep thought by his spontaneous reply. India today is an exhibition house of religions, and the number of great and small faiths found here, along with their mutual struggles which announce their existence, cannot be matched anywhere else in the world. Mirza sahib’s claim was that he was the arbiter and judge for them all, but there is no doubt that he possessed a special talent to make Islam pre-eminent among all these religions. This was due to his natural ability, taste for study, and hard work. It is not likely that a man of this grandeur will be born again in the religious world of the Indian sub-continent, who would devote his highest desires in this way to the study of religions.” (Wakeel, Amritsar)
Maulana Abdullah Al-Imadi added his own sttements to the same newspaper by stating:
“Although Mirza sahib had not received systematic education in current knowledge and theology, yet an assessment of his life shows that he had a unique nature not granted to everyone: by the aid of his own study and his upright nature, he had attained sufficient mastery over religious literature. In about 1877, when he was 35 or 36 years old, we find him charged with unusual religious fervour. He is leading the life of a true and pious Muslim. His heart is unimpressed by worldly attractions. He is as happy in solitude as if he were in congenial company, and when in company he is enjoying the bliss of solitude. We find him restless, and it appears as if he is in search of a lost thing, no trace of which can be found in the mortal world. Islam has so overwhelmed him that he holds debates with the Aryas, and writes voluminous books in support of Islam. His debates in Hoshiarpur in 1886 were so delightful that the feeling of enjoyment has still not been forgotten.”
“The state of ecstacy created by reading his invaluable books which were written to counter other religions and to uphold Islam, still has not faded. His Barahin Ahmadiyya overawed the non-Muslims and raised the spirits of the Muslims. He presented to the world a captivating picture of the religion [of Islam], cleansed of the blots and dust that had collected upon it as a result of the superstition and natural weaknesses of the ignorant. In short, this book raised a loud echo in the world, at least within India, which is still reverberating in our ears. Though some Muslim religious leaders may now pass an adverse verdict on Barahin Ahmadiyya, … the best time to pass judgment was 1880 when it was published. At that time, however, Muslims unanimously decided in favour of Mirza sahib.”
“As to his character, there is not the slightest trace of a blot on it. He lived a virtuous life, the life of a righteous, God-fearing person. To conclude, the first fifty years of his life, in terms of high morals and commendable habits, and in terms of services to the religion, raised him to an enviable position of distinction and honour among the Muslims of India.” (Wakeel. Amritsar, 30 May 1908)
Maulvi Siraj-ud-Din who was well known in India and an editor of the leading Muslim Urdu Newspaper wrote:
“Mirza Ghulam Ahmad sahib was a clerk near the district of Sialkot in about 1860 or 1861. He would be about 22 or 23 years of age at the time. We can say from personal experience that, even in his youth, he was a very virtuous and righteous person. After work all his time was spent in religious studies. He did not much meet people. In 1877 we had the honour of his hospitality at his home in Qadian for one night. In those days too, he was so engrossed in worship and devotion that he conversed little, even with guests. … We have often said, and we again say, that even if his claims were the result of mental pre-occupation, he was innocent of pretence or fabrication. … Scholarly figures such as Maulavi Nur-ud-Din and Maulavi Muhammad Ahsan, and products of modern education such as Khawaja Jamal-ud-Din, B.A., Khawaja Kamal-ud-Din, B.A., and Maulavi Muhammad Ali, M.A., are among his followers. Though we personally did not have the honour of believing in his claims or revelations, nonetheless we consider him to be a perfect Muslim.” (Zamindar, 8 June 1908)
Aslam Khan Baloch, a famous journalist stated:
“The great catastrophies befalling the world of Islam compelled me to go to Qadian to see whether the Ahmadi Jama‘at, which for so long has been claiming that it shall conquer the world for Islam by means of a literary and missionary struggle, is actually capable of doing so. … What I saw in Ahmadi Qadian was pure and sincere service of the One God, and wherever one’s sight turned there was the Quran. In short, I found the Ahmadi Jama‘at of Qadian in a practical sense to be true to a very great extent in its claim that it can spread Islam in the world in a peaceful way by means of preaching and propagation, and that it is a Jama‘at which in today’s world is a true follower of the Quran, purely for the sake of God, and a lover of Islam. If all the Muslims of the world, especially India, help them practically in the propagation of Islam in Europe, then certainly the European continent would light up with the rays of the sun of Islam, and this blood-thirsty Christianity, which, to satisfy the appetites of its materialistic disciples, is bent upon destroying Muslim countries and effacing Islam from the world, would face manifest defeat by this means.” (Ahmadiyya Newpaper Badr, 13 March 1913)
Khawaja Hasan Nizami of Delhi wrote:
“Mirza Ghulam Ahmad sahib was a very great venerable scholar of his time. We have to acknowledge his scholarship and accomplishments.” (Newsspaper Munadi, Delhi, India, 27 February-March 1930)
Maulana Sayyid Mumtaz Ali, A famous editor of Tehzib-e-Niswan Lahore, wrote:
“The late Mirza sahib was a very saintly and exalted personage. And he had such spiritual power born of virtue that it could enslave the hardest of hearts. He was a very knowledgeable scholar, a reformer of great determination, and an exemplar of the most virtuous life. Although we do not believe him to be the Promised Messiah, his guidance and teaching was indeed messianic for the spiritually dead.” (Tehzib-e-Niswan, Lahore)
Maulana Sayyid Mir Hassan, who was the teacher of Dr.Sir Muhammad Iqbal stated:
“Sadly, we did not appreciate him. I just cannot describe his spiritual accomplishments. His life was not that of ordinary men, nay, he was one of those persons who are the chosen servants of God and who appear but rarely.” (Reported in Al Hakam, 7th April 1934)
Allama Niyaz Fatehpuri wrote:
“Mirza Ghulam Ahmad sahib came to the defence of Islam at a time when even the greatest scholar of the Faith could not dare to confront the opponents.” (Monthly Nigar, Lucknow, India, October 1960)
“What I have studied so far of the founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement, and not only me but anyone who studies his life and character sincerely and truthfully, will have to concede that he was a lover of the Holy Prophet, in the true sense, and had within him a sincere urge for the cause of Islam.”(ibid., July 1960)
“I found him to be a believer in the finality of prophethood, and a lover of the Holy Prophet in the true sense. When I studied the life of Mirza sahib, I found that he was certainly a very active, resolute and determined man. Having understood the true spirit of religion, he presented the same practical teachings of Islam as are to be found in the time of the Holy Prophet and the early Khalifas.”(ibid., November 1961)
Sadly, in todays age many have spread lies about the character of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas. The statements of the non Ahmadi Muslim scholars themselves show how truthful Ahmadas was. There are still statements of scholars in recent years. For example in a show which included, Dr.Israr one person stated:
“In this age, not much have understood Islam like Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas”
Dr. Israr himself stated quoting Allamah Iqbal:
“If anyone wants to see the true Islam go and visit Qadian”
He also stated Ahmadas debated Christians and overshadowed them, and also debated the Arya Samaj and overshadowed them. This caused him to become a star of the Ulama.
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas states:
” I can stand in the Baitullah and swear that the holy revelation which descends upon me is the word of the same God, Who sent His Word to Mosesas, to Jesusas and to Muhammad the Chosen Onesaw. The earth bore witness in my support and so did the heaven. In this way, the heaven and the earth have affirmed that I am the Vicegerent of Allah. But in keeping with the prophecies, it was inescapable that I too should be denied. Therefore, those whose hearts are in veils do not accept me. I know well that God will surely support me as He has always supported His Messengers. None can ever succeed against me.” (A Misconception Removed, Pages 9-10)