In August 1899, Hazrat Mirza wrote a letter to someone, explaining
the use of the words nabi and rasul about him. This letter,
which was also published at that time in the Ahmadiyya newspaper Al-Hakam,
is translated below.
"The situation is that, although for twenty years I
have been constantly receiving Divine revelation, often the word rasul
or nabi has occurred in it. For example, there is the revelation:
'He it is Who sent His messenger (rasul) with guidance and the
true religion', and the revelation: 'the champion of God in the mantle
of the prophets', and the revelation: 'A prophet came into the world
but the world accepted him not'. (Author's Note: Another reading
of this revelation is: 'A warner (nazir) came into the world',
and this is the reading which was given in Barahin Ahmadiyya.
To avoid causing trouble, the other reading [which says 'prophet'] was
not given.)
"However, that person is mistaken who thinks that by this prophethood
and messengership is meant real prophethood and messengership, by
which the man concerned possesses authority over the Shariah. In fact,
by the word rasul is only meant 'one sent by God,' and by the
word nabi is only meant 'one who makes prophecies,' having
received intimation from God, or one who discloses hidden matters.
"As these words, which are only in a
metaphorical sense, cause trouble in Islam, leading to very bad consequences,
these terms should not be used in our community's common talk and
everyday language. It should be believed from the bottom of
the heart that prophethood has terminated with the Holy Prophet Muhammad,
may peace and the blessings of God be upon him, as God Almighty says:
'He is the Messenger of God and the Khatam an-nabiyyin.' To
deny this verse, or to belittle it, is in fact to separate oneself
from Islam. The person who exceeds the limit in rejection is in the
same dangerous condition as the one who, like the Shiahs, exceeds
the limit in acceptance. It should be known
that God has ended all His prophethoods and messengerships with the
Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet. I have come into the world,
and have been sent into it, merely as a servant of the religion of
Islam, and not to discard Islam and create some other religion. One
must always protect oneself from being waylaid by the devil, and have
true love for Islam, and must never forget the greatness of the Holy
Prophet Muhammad.
"I am a servant of Islam, and this is the real reason for my
coming. The words nabi and rasul are figurative and
metaphorical. Risalat in the Arabic language is applied to
'being sent', and nubuwwat is to expound hidden truths and
matters upon receiving knowledge from God. So, bearing in mind a significance
of this extent, it is not blame-worthy to believe in the heart in
accordance with this meaning.
"However, in the terminology of Islam, nabi and rasul
mean those who bring an entirely new Law (shariah), or those
who abrogate some aspects of the previous law, or those who are not
called followers of a previous prophet, having a direct connection
with God without benefit from a prophet. Therefore, one should be
vigilant to see that the same meaning is not taken here, because we
have no Book but the Holy Quran, and no religion but Islam. We
believe that our Prophet, may peace and the blessings of God be upon
him, is the last of the Prophets, and the Holy Quran is the last of
the Books. Religion should not be made into a children's game,
and it should be remembered that I make no claim contrary to that
of being a servant of Islam. The person who ascribes to me the contrary
is making a fabrication against me. We receive grace and blessings
through our Holy Prophet, and receive the benefit of knowledge from
the Quran.
"It is, therefore, pertinent that no person should entertain
anything in his heart contrary to this direction; or else he shall
be answerable for it before God. If we are not servants of Islam,
then all our work is in vain and rejected, and shall be called to
account.''
(Letter dated 7 August 1899, published in Al-Hakam, vol.
iii, no. 29, 17 August 1899)
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