Bashir al-Daula, Son to Miyan Manzur

One of the prophecies of Hadrat Ahmad (as) upon which the anti-Ahmadis raise allegations is that a son was to be born to Manzur Muhammad. On February 19, 1906 Hadrat Ahmad (as) had a dream regarding this. He (as) writes:

I saw (in my dream) that a son was born to Manzur Muhammad and he asked what name should be given him. Then my mind moved from the dream towards the reception of revelation and I was informed:

بشير الدّولہ

Then on the same page, it is written:

“The Promised Messiah (as) said: ‘I supplicate for a large number of people and do not know to whom the word Manzur Muhammad refers. It might be that the word بشير الدّولہ indicates that a son would be born to Miyan Manzur Muhammad whose birth might bring with it prosperity and weath; or it might be that the boy himself might rise high and be wealthy. But I cannot say for certain when that boy would be born. God has not specified any time. It might be soon or Allah the Almighty may delay it for several years” (Badr, vol. 2, no. 8, February 23, 1906, p. 2 and al-Hakam, vol. 10, no. 7, February 24, 1906, p.1)

Then on June 7, 1907 Hadrat Ahmad (as) writes:

“It has been conveyed to me by revelation that in the family of Miyan Manzur Muhammad, that is (yani), to Muhammadi Begum a son will be born, who will have two names:

1. Bashirud-Daulah
2. Alam Kabab

Both of these names were revealed to me. My interpretation and understanding concerning these is as follows:

• Bashurid-Daulah means that he would be a good augury for our glory and prosperity. After his birth (or after his achieving his discretion), the prophecy concerning the great earthquake and other prophecies will be fulfilled and a large number of people will turn to us and a great victory will be achieved.
• Alam Kabab means that within a few months of his birth, or before he achieves his discretion, the world would be overtaken by a great calamity as if it was coming to an end. That is why that boy has been named Alam Kabab. In short, this boy will be called Bashir-ud-Daulah as he will be a sign of our glory and prosperity and he will be Alam Kabab because he will be an example of the Judgement Day for our opponents (Badr, vol. 2, no. 24, June 14, 1906, p. 2 and al-Hakam, vol. 10, no. 20, June 10, 1906, p. 1)

Then on June 7, 1906 Hadrat Ahmad (as) writes: “Thereafter, it has been conveyed to me that this boy has two other names also : (1) Shadi Khan, as he will be a token of joy for this Community and (2) Kalimatullah Khan, because he will be a word of God. It has been so appointed from the beginning and will be fulfilled in this age. It is ordained that God will keep the mother of this boy alive till this prophecy is fulfilled. A previous revelation : [English] A word and two girls; refers to the same prophecy….. Miyan Manzur Muhammad has two daughters and when the Kalimatullah will be born then the prophecy a word and two girls would be fulfilled” (Badr, vol. 2, no. 24, June 14, 1906, p. 2, footnote)

Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) has clearly mentioned that Allah has not told him who Mir Manzur Muhammad is. The revelation does not mention who it is. In a dream, names can refer to other people. For example, Abu Jahl was seen in a dream as one who has become Muslim but this was fulfilled in Ikramah.

The truth is that in this vision, Manzur Muhammad referred to him who was most beloved to Prophet Muhammad (sa) and that is the Promised Messiah (as) himself. He (as) stated that one who differs between him and Hadrat Muhammad (sa) has not even recognized or seen him.

This prophecy mentioned the signs which would relate to the progress of Islam Ahmadiyya and the Word of God. In 1906, Hadrat Musleh Maud (ra) reached the age of maturity and this is the year in which he launched the magazine Tashizul-Azhaan and then in 1914, he became the Khalifa while he was only 25. This is the same year in which the earthquake took place fulfilling another prophecy of the Messiah.

The other names given to this boy include Kalimatullah, Bashirud-Daulah, Nasiruddin, Fatihuddin, Shaadi Khan, and Haza Yaumun Mubarak which refers to a blessed day.

All signs regarding this boy were fulfilled in Hadrat Musleh Maud (ra) and all of the names are attributes of Hadrat Musleh Maud (ra). Both are called the Word of Allah and Bashiruddin. This boy is called Fatihuddin and Hadrat Musleh Maud (ra) is called the one who has the keys to victory.

This prophecy speaks of Alam Kabab being born on a blessed day which is the same description mentioned for the birth of the Promised Son.

Hadrat Masih Maud (as) writes:

“That is why that boy has been named Alam Kabab. In short, this boy will be called Bashir-ud-Daulah as he will be a sign of our glory and prosperity and he will be Alam Kabab because he will be an example of the Judgement Day for our opponents” (Badr, vol. 2, no. 24, June 14, 1906, p. 2 and al-Hakam, vol. 10, no. 20, June 10, 1906, p. 1)

The same sign is found in the prophecy of Musleh Maud (ra) that through him falsehood will vanish.

In the reference of June 7, 1906, Hadrat Ahmad (as) has clearly mentioned “After his birth (or after his achieving his discretion)” and “Alam Kabab means that within a few months of his birth, or before he achieves his discretion”. This makes it clear that it was possible for this to refer to one’s spiritual birth.

Some raise the allegation that there is a diary from Review of Religions and Al-Badr which mention that the Messiah (as) was told that the boy would be born from the womb of Muhammadi Begum. This was never written by the Promised Messiah (as) rather the writer himself. We cannot accept any statement which contradicts the words of the Promised Messaih (as) who says I am unaware of who it refers to. The words of the Promised Messiah (as) make it clear that only the names of the boys were mentioned in the revelations, not who Manzur Muhammad is referring to.

To say that because Hadrat Ahmad (as) said that he interprets it to mean the Muhammadi Begum who was the wife of Miyan Manzur Mohammed, the prophecy has to be fulfilled in her is not correct. The Prophet Muhammad (sa) also made such prophecies which were not fulfilled in who is directly mentioned. For example, the Prophet Muhammad (sa) saw a dream that Abu Jahl did baiat, but this was fulfilled through Ikrimah accepting Islam.

Then in Sahih al-Bukhari, it is narrated:

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ الْمِقْدَامِ الْعِجْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الطُّفَاوِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا أَيُّوبُ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ أُعْطِيتُ مَفَاتِيحَ الْكَلِمِ، وَنُصِرْتُ بِالرُّعْبِ، وَبَيْنَمَا أَنَا نَائِمٌ الْبَارِحَةَ إِذْ أُتِيتُ بِمَفَاتِيحِ خَزَائِنِ الأَرْضِ حَتَّى وُضِعَتْ فِي يَدِي ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ فَذَهَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَنْتُمْ تَنْتَقِلُونَهَا‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira:

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “I have been given the keys of eloquent speech and given victory with awe (cast into the hearts of the enemy), and while I was sleeping last night, the keys of the treasures of the earth were brought to me till they were put in my hand.” Abu Huraira added: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) left (this world) and now you people are carrying those treasures from place to place. (Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith #6998)

In this hadith, the first signs are given to the Prophet Muhammad (sa) physically but the keys of the treasures of the earth were not physically given to the Prophet Muhammad (sa). This part of the dream was fulfilled in the companions of the Prophet Muhammad (sa). If the Prophet Muhammad (sa) can signify the sahaba in a dream, why can’t the dream of Hadrat Ahmad (as) be fulfilled in Hadrat Musleh Maud (ra)?

The prophecy is speaking of a spiritual birth and not a physical birth and the words of the prophecy themselves explain this. In the same year of 1906 when Hadrat Ahmad (as) made the prophecy of this son, Hadrat Musleh Maud (ra) released the Tashidul Adhan magazine which showed his extensive knowledge of every field. In 1914, he became the second Khalifa.

In Awariful Ma’arif, the author named Imam Suharwardi mentions the spiritual birth and gives the example of Hadrat Isa (as) saying that no one will enter the kingdom until he is born twice.

In Anwar ul-Uloom volume 17, page 594 in the book “Al-Maud”, Hadrat Musleh Maud (ra) writes:

“Musleh Maud has also been given the name Alam Kabab and this was the name given to the son of Pir Manzur Muhammad but the meaning was that that son will be the son of Manzur Muhammad, meaning the Promised Messiah (as) and Muhammadi Begum meant that he would be from the progeny of a Sayyeda. Every Sayyeda because of being from the progeny of the Prophet Muhammad (sa) is Muhammadi Begum, meaning that woman who attributes herself to the progeny of the Messenger of Allah (sa).” (Anwar ul-Uloom Volume 17, page 594)

Another meaning was that Pir Manzur Muhammad would be the first to announce this prophecy and because of this, he was the one who brought this prophecy into discussion. He also wrote a book defending Hadrat Musleh Maud (ra) and proved he is the fulfilment. (Anwar ul-Uloom volume 17, page 595)

Meaning of Two Girls

As for the word, it referred to Hadrat Musleh Maud (ra). The two girls refer to the two daughters Hadrat Musleh Maud (ra) had with Hadrat Amatul Hayy (ra), the daughter of Hadrat Hakim Maulvi Nooruddin sahib (ra). She was also the niece of Pir Manzur Muhammad. Amatul Hayy passed away in 1924-1925. This is explained but Ghulam Rasul Rajeki (ra) in al-Fazl as seen below:

Hadrat Nusrat Jahan Begum (ra), the wife of the Promised Messiah (as) is the one who is referred to as Muhammadi Begum in this prophecy and she did not pass away till Hadrat Musleh Maud (ra) made his claim. She (ra) passed away in 1952 while Hadrat Musleh Maud (ra) made his claim in 1944.