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Did not claim to be a prophet

Word nabi used metaphorically as meaning 'saint'

Delete the word 'Prophet' from my writings and replace it with 'Saint'
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Delete the word 'Prophet' from my writings
and replace it with 'Saint'


In Lahore on 3 February 1892 Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad issued a written public declaration at the end of a debate with Maulvi Abdul Hakim, one of the Muslim Ulama. This writing was signed by eight witnesses, and it brought to an end the debate with Maulvi Abdul Hakim. This statement is translated below.

Go here to see the Urdu text.


"Be it known to all the Muslims that all such words as occur in my writings Fath Islam, Tauzih Maram and Izala Auham, to the effect that a muhaddas is in one sense a prophet, or that being a muhaddas is partial prophethood or imperfect prophethood, are not to be taken in their real sense, but have been used according to their root meaning in a straight-forward way; otherwise, I lay no claim whatever to actual prophethood. On the other hand, as I have written in my book Izala Auham, page 137, my belief is that our leader and master Muhammad mustafa --- may peace and the blessings of God be upon him --- is the last of the Prophets.

"So I wish to make it clear to all Muslim brothers that, if they are displeased with these words and if these words give injury to their feelings, they may regard all such words as amended, and instead consider me to have used the word muhaddas. For I do not like to create dissension and discord among the Muslims.

"From the beginning, as God knows best, my intention has never been to use this word nabi as meaning actually a prophet, but only as signifying muhaddas, which the Holy Prophet has explained as meaning 'one who is spoken to by God.' Of muhaddas it is stated in a saying of the Holy Prophet: 'Among the Israelites who were before you, there used to be men who were spoken to by God, though they were not prophets, and if there is one among my followers, it is Umar.'

"Therefore, I have not the least hesitation in stating my meaning in another form for the conciliation of my Muslim brethren, and that other form is that in every place instead of the word nabi the word muhaddas should be understood, and the word nabi should be regarded as having been deleted.''

 
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