Published on Apr 22 2011 by Nadimur Rahman

 The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said: ‘I was sent so that the era of truth and faith comes once again and righteousness is generated in hearts’. An Ahmadi who claims to come into the fold of the Bai’at of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) should always keep these words in view, should reflect over them and should try to adapt one’s life in accordance to them. This alone will make him/her one who honours the dues of Bai’at. Otherwise it is a mere claim to say that we are Ahmadi. The truth and the faith that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wished to bring, for which his advent took place and which inspires Taqwa (righteousness) is nothing new. His words expressing that such a time ‘comes once again’ signify that such a time once was, but it ceased to be and it is the task of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) to revive it. Indeed, we are fully aware that the era of truth and faith with well-established righteousness came with its utmost glory and magnificence when God sent our master, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and perfected Shariah. As the Qur’an states: ‘…This day have I perfected your religion for you and completed My favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as religion…’ (5:4). Thus no Ahmadi can even remotely imagine that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) brought any new message.

When we assert that as Ahmadis we have believed in the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace), we need to reflect whether we have tried to bring about those changes in our faith which the Qur’an teaches and the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) inculcated. Have we tried to instil that truth in ourselves which a large number of believers of the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) inculcated through a revolutionary change, have we inculcated that righteousness which we read about and listen to in the life of the Companions?

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) brought about such revolutionary changes in his companions and Hudhur often relates their accounts. After stating the words, ‘I was sent so that the era of truth and faith comes once again and righteousness is generated in hearts’, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said, ‘these practices are the real reason of my being’. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has also addressed his followers as ‘evergreen branches of my being’. In this regard, the practices that he has mentioned here alone would make us ‘evergreen branches’ because he called these practices the real reason of his being. It cannot be that some branches of a tree that bears sweet fruit yield toxic fruit or that dried off branches remain on such a tree. Dried off branches are always cut off. This should be a great cause for concern for us and we should always be cognisant of our responsibilities.

When Hudhur listens to or reads about the accounts of the newcomers in Ahmadiyyat, his faith enhances. However, when Hudhur hears of weaknesses creeping in a few of those whose forefathers were Ahmadis, and there are many whose were, it is sad and painful that they are not attentive towards the practices of their elders. At times, being a born Ahmadi makes one indolent. We should look into our hearts and self-reflect lest we are edging towards such indolence that God forbid, indeed God forbid, would close the doors of return on us.

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