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Statement from Siraj Munir
on metaphorical use of words nabi and rasul
In his book Siraj Munir, published in March 1897, Hazrat Mirza
Ghulam Ahmad writes:
"Do not level false allegations
against me that I have claimed to be a prophet in the real sense.
Have you not read that a muhaddas [saint] too is a mursal
[messenger]?... It is true that, in the revelation which God has sent
upon this servant, the words nabi, rasul and mursal occur
about myself quite frequently. However, they do not bear their real
sense. ...
We believe and acknowledge that, according to the real meaning of
nubuwwat [prophethood], after the Holy
Prophet Muhammad no new or former prophet can come. The Holy Quran
forbids the appearance of any such prophets. But in a metaphorical
sense God can call any recipient of revelation as nabi or mursal.
Have you not read those Sayings of the Holy Prophet in which occur
the words: rasulu rasul-illah ['messenger of the Messenger
of God']? The Arabs to this day call even the message-bearer of a
man as a rasul, so why is it forbidden for God to use the word
mursal [messenger] in a metaphorical sense too?...
"I say it repeatedly that these words rasul and mursal
and nabi undoubtedly occur about me in my revelation from God,
but they do not bear their real meanings. And just as these do not,
similarly the Promised Messiah being called nabi in Hadith
is not meant in a real sense. This is the knowledge which God has
given me. Let him understand, who will. This very thing has been disclosed
to me that the doors of real prophethood are
fully closed after the Khatam an-nabiyyin, the Holy Prophet
Muhammad. According to the real meaning, no new prophet nor an ancient
prophet can now come."
(Siraj Munir, pages 2 - 3, published March 1897).
The original Urdu text (Ruhani Khaza'in, vol. 12, pages 4, 5) is
given below:
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