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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