Allah has promised to those among you who believe and do good
works that He will surely make them Successors in the earth, as He made
Successors from among those who were before them; and that He will
surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them; and that
He will surely give them in exchange security and peace after their
fear: They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with
Me. Then whoso is ungrateful after that, they will be the rebellious.
That there is no peace and
tranquility all over the world is not news again to everybody. The absence of
peace spans through Americas to Europe, to Africa, to Asia and the Oceania. Global
lack of security covers all spheres of life. Writers and authors have written
countless articles and books on every kind of problems facing the globe. These
problems are so much that a three volume encyclopedia has been published on
them by the Union of International Associations through the initiative and
funding by James Wellesley-Wesley in 1972. This same encyclopedia suggests
solutions and strategies with which to combat the multifaceted menace facing
man. Above every suggestion by the encyclopedia and other sources through which
the problem facing man could be solved is the provision of a good and just
government. How to achieve good governance however, has been a major topic of
debates and discussions since the beginning of civilization of human being. Till
present the debates continue as to what is the best system of government for
the human race. Is it Democracy, Communism, Monarchical, Totalitarianism, etc? The
opinion of the majority has always been tending towards democracy. Even then,
is it better under a Parliamentary system or a Republic remains unanswered
question?
It is, however, pertinent to note
that all the innocent and otherwise efforts being made by man to establish
systems that will provide him the way out of the trauma facing him has been
fruitless. ‘This is because human knowledge and intellect is not perfect, but
is in fact limited’ says Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih Vatba.
His Holiness asserts further that:
Thus, when making
decisions or forming thoughts often certain factors enter human minds,
which can cloud judgment and lead to a person trying to fulfill his own rights.
Ultimately, this can lead to an unjust outcome and decision being made. God’s
Law, however, is perfect and so no vested interests or unfair provisions exist.
This is because God only desires for the good and betterment of His Creation
and therefore, His Law is based entirely on justice. The day the people of the
world come to recognise and understand this crucial point will be the day that
the foundation for true and everlasting peace will be laid. Otherwise, we [will]
continue to find that although efforts are endlessly made to establish world
peace, yet they are unable to provide any worthwhile results.
If however, on the above premise,
efforts of man to find himself the way forward would not benefit him; what then
is the answer to the question of solution to world trauma? The simple answer to
this question is the System of Khilafat!
According to the Holy Qur’an, God
presented a plan for the human race for the betterment of their society. God
declared that the system He proposed is the best system for them because He is
the All-Knowing; The Wise. God appointed Adamas as his first
Khalifah on earth and taught him knowledge directly. According to the words of
God, to provide the primary necessities of life which is fundamental to the peace
and happiness of society and with which every kind of social upheaval would be
halted is the very first and foremost responsibility of Adamas as
the Khalifah. Thus, with the system of Khilafat, started a new social order and
that foundations of a kingdom which ushered in the era of social progress of
man and his society was laid.
System of Khilafat is sub-divided into two
according to the Holy Qur’an. The foremost is the one established directly by
God Himself without the agency of any man. Those appointed here are the
prophets of God. Example of such is Prophet Adamas, the first in our
own civilization and about whose duties and responsibilities we have enumerated
above. Others were Prophets Nuh, Ibrahim, Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus and
Muhammad, may the peace and blessings of God be upon them all. Each of them at his
respective era established world order that was the best for the time. The most
global and more encompassing world order, however, was the one established by
the Holy Prophet of Islam, Muhammad Rasulullahsaw through the
perfect teachings and codes of conduct enshrined in the Holy Quran.
The second division of the system of
Khilafat, according to the verse quoted at the beginning, is the one that is
promised by Allah which would be established through the agency of believers after
taking into custody the souls of the prophets by their Maker. This type of
Khilafat is in continuation of the dispensation of the prophets. Through this
second kind of Khilafat, in unequivocal words, God Almighty promises security
and peace to the members of such community who would adhere to what God
prescribes for them. Joshua, the first
Khalifa of Prophet Mosesas, took over his mission and brought the
Israelites to the Promised Land and thus accomplished the mission of Mosesas.
St. Peter as the Khalifa of Jesusas took his message to other lands
where the Israelites had established themselves. The Khulafa of Prophet Muhammadsaw,
Hadhrat Abu Bakrrd, Hadhrat ‘Umarrd, Hadhrat Uthmanrd
and Hadhrat ‘Alird, all of them expanded the Islamic way of life to
the Persian Empire on the East and the Roman Empire on the West.
In our own age, after a very long
absence of inner peace and security, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas
appeared as the Khalifah of Prophet Muhammadsaw for the last millennium
of the current cycle of human life that started with Hadhrat Adamas.
He also fulfilled the prophecies of the second coming of the Messiah. In all
the prophecies in the traditions of major religions of the world as well as the
Islamic tradition, it is clear that peace and tranquility would be established on
earth through the appearance of the Messiah in the Latter Days. Under the
Islamic tradition, it will take place throughout the world as one global family
under the banner of Prophet Muhammadsaw and under the final Law
given by God in the shape of the Holy Qur’an. This mission is again of such
magnitude that only the foundation of it could be laid in the lifetime of the
Promised Messiahas. But it
would continue to develop and progress under his Khulafa.
A system of electing Khulafa was
established to continue the mission of the Promised Messaihas throughout
the world in 1908; and we are currently living in the time of his fifth Khalifah,
Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadatba. As the Holy Prophetsaw foretold,
this system of Khilafat will stay with us for the rest of this cycle of the
human race.
The system of Khilafat under the Promised
Messiahas is based on the guidance from God. The person who is given
this position is not obligated to anyone for his position. He is not desirous
of that position and therefore does not run a campaign for election. One who
votes for him at the election fulfills his duty and does not confer any favour
on him and therefore, the Khalifah does not owe anything to him for his vote. Under
this system of Khilafat, there are no taxes; it is run exclusively with voluntary
contributions of the members of the community. The members of the community are
not forced by any law to share their wealth, unlike a system of government where
the public is forced to pay and the individuals keep on striving to avoid
payment. Under the Khilafat, members pay voluntarily and consider it a blessing.
The relationship of the Khalifah with his members is a combination of love and authority.
The Khalifah is the ultimate authority under this system. However, the Khalifah
has direct contact with all the members and there is a mutual feeling of love
on both sides because there is no army that enforces allegiance to him—it comes
from the hearts. Members know and feel that their Khalifah loves them and has
their interest in mind at all times.
Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddeen Mahmud
Ahmadrd, Khalifatul Masih II explains the status of such a Khalifah
clearly that:
Such a man, when elected, holds office, not for a period of
years like the presidents of the Western Republics but for life, and God alone
can remove him from office, i.e., by death. All the power and authority of
government vests in him, and it is his duty to devote the whole of his life to
the promotion of the welfare of his people and not to seek his own aggrandizement.
His control over the treasury is limited; he may spend national funds only on
national needs and requirements, and cannot fix his own allowances. This must
be done by his Advisory Council. It is the duty of the sovereign to ascertain
the views of the people through this Council. On special occasions and with
reference to special matters the opinion of the people may be ascertained by
him through a general referendum, so that any differences between the views of
the people and those of their representatives may come to his knowledge. He is
expected to respect the opinion of a majority of the representatives, but as he
is above all political partisanship and has no personal interests to serve, his
own opinion is believed to be entirely impartial and influenced only by
considerations relating to the welfare of his country and his people. Besides
being the true representative of his people, Islam promises special Divine
grace and help to the Khalifah. He is, therefore, authorized in special
circumstances and in matters of special importance, to overrule the opinion of
the majority of his advisers.
However, since the allowance of
freedom of thought, opinion, idea and conscience is always there and guaranteed
by God Almighty, it is not possible that every race and individuals will
believe and subject to this noble idea of Islamic System of Khilafat.
Therefore, alongside the system of Khilafat, there will always be other systems
of government. During this kind of era, when allegiance is not given to him by
all, the role of a Khalifah is therefore advisory to every other form and
system of government. This is also majorly because he is above all
political partisanship.
ROLE OF KHILAFAT-E-AHMADIYYA IN
ESTABISHING PEACE
As earlier explained, the role of a Khalifah
that has the support of God is sure to provide security and peace in all
ramifications of life for all and sundry. This has always been guaranteed and
provided by every Khalifatul-Masih to all members of the Community who swear
allegiance to the Khilafat on one hand. On the other hand, the institution of
Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya has always been a tool of establishment of security and
peace for the entire world. Those members of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community who
have been saddled with local or international responsibilities of their
respective nations have always been the agents of the divine messages of peace
that are being spread and taught by the Khalifah. Examples of such members are
Hadhrat Sir Zafrullah Khanrd, Dr. Abdus-Salaam the Scientist,
Maulana AbdurRaheem Dardrd etc. These respected and honourable
members of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community did performed wonderful roles in the
formation, development and progress of their nation- Pakistan at political and
intellectual level especially. Outside Pakistan, Dr. Maulvi AbdulWahhab bin
Adam, Amir and Missionary Incharge of Ghana is also another tool in the hand of
the Khalifah of the time in the promotion of peace and loving atmosphere in
Ghana. In the United Kingdom, under the system of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya,
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s impart is always on top of the struggle to promote
peace and harmony in the Country.
Above all, every Khalifah of
Masih-e-Maouudas has always directly been the champion of peace and
security, especially at the advisory level for the entire world. Without much
struggle, the recent blessed tour of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih Vatba
to the United States of America during which he addresses the Congress of the
US is enough example of these efforts. Apart from this though, his Holiness had
earlier written letters of advice, warnings and exhortations to the powerful
leaders of the world to see reason why the looming World War III which may
likely occur inform of Nuclear or Atomic War must not be allowed to happen. The
addressees of such letters include Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister
of Israel, Mahmoud Ahmadnejad, the President of Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr.
Stephen Harper, Hon. Prime Minister of Canada, President Barrack Obama of
United States of America, Rt. Hon. David Cameron, Prime Minister of United
Kingdom, Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, Francois Hollande, President of
France, Mr. Wen Jiabao, Premier of People’s Republic of China, etc. These
letters have been published in the Review of Religions of April and August 2012
editions respectively.
These roles are perfectly in
accordance with what Hadhrat khalifatul masih IIrd describes that:
As the Promised Messiahas was only a spiritual
Khalifah his successors will also remain, so far as possible, outside and above
politics, even when sovereigns and States join the Movement. They will perform
the functions of a real League of Nations, and will endeavour, with the help
and advice of the representatives of different countries, to regulate
international relations. Their principal function will, however, be to look
after the spiritual, moral, social and intellectual welfare of the people, so
as to avoid their attention being monopolized by political matters, and vital
spiritual and moral affairs being neglected as has been the case in the past.
All the above enumeration of efforts
and roles of Khalifah as solution towards taking the world out of woods cannot,
however be played by any other leader within any given system of government in
the world. A major reason for this is the vested interest in the affairs and
the intention of every typical nation that such a leader governs. And for the
fact that such leaders are guided by ordinary human intellect that is limited
and not by the ever perfect divine guidance.
Let me close this humble address with
the golden and ever assuring and promising words of Hadhrat Khalifatul MasihVatba:
Now, in this time and age, Khilafat-e- Rashidah (Righteous
Khilafat) has been established after the passing away of the Promised Messiahas.
Therefore, go to the Khalifah and his decision will always be good, Insha’Allah
(God willing), and will be in accordance with the commandments of Allah and His
Messenger... Rejoice! Now you shall always remain under directives that are
based on goodness. Insha’Allah, there will not be any decision which is not
based on goodness.
Dear brothers, kindly pray that Allah
may forgive me for any error committed within the scope of this effort. Thank
you for sacrificing your time to read this.
Endnotes
Mirza, Bashiruddeen Mahmud Ahmad,
2007, Ahmadiyya or the True Islam
Mirza, Masroor Ahmad, 2012, ‘The Path
to Peace, Just Relations between Nations’
Ibid, 2006, Conditions of Bai’at
and Responsibilities of an Ahmadi
Oyekola, M.Q.O., 2007, ‘Khilafat-
Panacea to Good Governance’
Shams, Falahud Din ‘Paradise on Earth
through Khilafat’, The Muslim Sunrise, summer 2008
The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 2 verse 31
Ibid, Arabic text with English
Translation and Short Commentary, Chapter 20 verses 119-120
The Review of Religions, April 2012
The Review of Religions, August 2012
http://www.alislam.org/egazette/updates/the-path-to-peace-just-relations-between-nations/ last retrieved 29/8/2012
