Mohammadi Begum

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Mohammadi Begum (or Muhammadi Begum) (death 1966), a lady from the Punjab region of India, was the daughter of Mirza Ahmad Baig, who was a cousin of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (the founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement).According to Hafiz Mazhar ud din it was published in Newspaper NawaiWaqt that Muhammadi Begum and his family became spiritual follower of Maulana Nawab ud din Ramdasi(RA) and Maulana arranged marriage with his spiritual disciple Mirza Sultan Baig and .Still descendents of Maulana Ramdasi are living in Lahore and other places.Mirza Akram Baig of Raiwind Pakistan was a great follower of Maulana Ramdasi and nephew of Muhammadi Begum.

Biography

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad sent a marriage proposal for Mohammadi Begum in fulfillment of what he claimed to be divine instructions delivered to him in one of his revelations. He prophesied that this marriage would undoubtedly occur, as he claimed it was foretold to him by God. Finally, he prophecised certain consequences if the proposal was rejected and the family continued in their opposition against him.

This prophecy served to be a point of controversy and contention between followers of Mirza Ghluam Ahmad and his critics. Muslim critics argue that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's intentions were to marry Muhammadi Begum because of her alleged beauty and her father's wealth. Further, that the marriage was alleged as a divine prophecy which never occurred and that subsequent clarifications were after-the-fact explanations. Lastly, that Mirza Ghulam Ahmad continued to make marriage prophecies and proposals upon a married woman, which is extremely disrespectful in Muslim-Indian culture. While Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's followers claim that Muhammadi Begum was neither beautiful nor wealthy^[1] and the intention behind the proposal was related to reforming Muhammadi Begum's family who were turning away from Islam. The critics also claim that Mirza Baig was a devoted Muslim, and hence had repeatedly refused to wed his daughter to one whom he believed to be a non-believer.^[2] Mirza Ghulam Ahmad's followers claim that Mohammadi Begum's family were openly abusive towards Islam and the prophecy containing the proposal was remedial in nature.^[1]

Prophecies Regarding Marriage to Mohammadi Begum

Critical View

One of the objections of the opponents of Ahmadiyyat is that the Founder of the Movement had made a prophecy that Muhammadi Begum, daughter of Mirza Ahmad Beg, would be married to him, but that the marriage did not take place and this prophecy was proved false.

The background of this prophecy was that some of the relatives of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad were atheists and mocked at Islam. God Almighty designed to show them a sign so that those who might take advantage of it may be saved and those who might reject it may be punished. Their condition is depicted by him as follows: God Almighty found my cousins and other relatives a prey to irreligious thinking and given to misconduct. They were held in the grip of their passions, denied the existence of God and were disorderly. (Ayenah Kamalat Islam, p. 566)

He states further:

It so happened that one evening a person came to me weeping and I became apprehensive and asked him whether he had received the news of the death of anyone. To this he replied in the negative and said that the matter was graver than that. He explained that he had been sitting with those people who have become apostates from the divine faith and one of them uttered vile abuse against the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, such as has not been heard even from the mouth of a disbeliever. He mentioned that these people dishonor the Holy Quran and utter things that one dare not repeat. They assert that there is no God and that the concept of God is an imposture. Having heard him I reminded him that I had already warned him against keeping company with such people. (Ayenah Kamalat Islam, p. 568) Mirza Ghulam Ahmed, further states:

These people wrote a letter to me in which they reviled the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and denied the existence of God and demanded proofs of my truth and of the existence of God. They published this letter and supported the non-Muslims of India and exhibited extreme wickedness. (Ayenah Kamalat Islam, p. 568)

On their demanding a sign Mirza Ghulam Ahmad turned to prayer and supplicated earnestly for a Divine sign to be exhibited in respect of them. God Almighty responded to him and he received the revelation:

I have observed their misconduct and wickedness and I shall soon destroy them under heaven through different types of calamities and you will soon see how I shall deal with them. I have power to do all that I will, I shall make their women widows and their children orphans and shall ruin their homes so that they might be punished for their misdeeds. I shall not destroy them at one stroke but gradually so that they might turn back and repent. My curse will descend upon the walls of their homes, on their elders and their young ones, on their women and on their men and on their guests. All of them will be accursed except those who believe and cut asunder from them and keep away from their company. They will be under divine mercy. (Ayenah Kamalat Islam, p. 569)''

About that time the Mirza Ghulam Ahmed was approached by one of these relatives of his to procure his consent on deed of gift, the details of which are set out by him as follows:

At that time Mirza Ahmad Beg, father of Muhammadi Begum, made up his mind to procure from his sister, whose husband had not been heard of for several years, a gift of her land in favor of his son. The husband of his sister was a cousin of ours and under the customary law she could not transfer her land without our consent as we were the collateral's of her husband. Mirza Ahmad Beg, therefore, turned to me and humbly and respectfully requested me to indicate my consent to the transfer proposed by him and I became inclined to put my signature to the deed of gift. But, as was my habit, I prayed for guidance, whereupon, I received a revelation to the following effect:

'Tell him to establish a relationship with you by giving his elder daughter in marriage to you and thus to obtain light from your light. Tell him that you would agree to the transfer of the land as he has requested and show him other favors in the event of this marriage taking place. Tell him that this would be a covenant between you and that if he accepts it he will find you the best acceptor on your side and that if he does not accept it and his daughter is married to someone else that marriage would not prove a blessing either for his daughter or for himself. Tell him that if he persists in carrying out any different design he will become subject to a series of misfortunes, the last of which would be his death within three years of the marriage of his daughter to someone else. Warn him that his death is near and will occur at a time when he does not expect it. The husband of his daughter will also die within two years and a half. This is a divine decree.'

I told him that he could now proceed to do whatever he might wish and that I had warned him. (Ayenah Kamalat Islam, p. 572)

This was the prophecy, which was conditional upon repentance. In fact every prophecy that warns of punishment is conditioned with repentance. That this was so in this case also is clear from the revelation that the Promised Messiah received on seeing Muhammadi Begum's maternal grandmother in a vision and in which he addressed her:

Woman, do thou repent. Repent, for misfortune is about to overtake thee and thy progeny and their progeny. A person wilt die but many critics will remain who will indulge in wild language. (Announcement of 10 July 1888) The real purpose of the prophecy appears from the following statement of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad:

I had no need to request this relationship. God Almighty had fulfilled all my needs. He had bestowed children upon me and had promised that He would bestow upon me, within a short period, a son who would serve as a lamp for the faith and would be named Mahmud Ahmad. He would prove to be of high resolve in his endeavors. The request for this relationship is merely as a sign so that God Almighty might demonstrate His wonderful power to the dissidents of this family; so that if they accept, God might bestow signs of blessings and mercy upon them and might avert the misfortunes that are approaching and that if they reject it He might warn them through His wrathful signs. (Announcement of 15 July 1888)

It is clear, therefore, that the misfortune that threatened Muhammadi Begum's maternal grandmother and Muhammadi Begum herself could be averted by repentance, as is indicated by the opening words of the revelation: Repent, Repent.

So it happened that Muhammadi Begum's father gave her in marriage to another person and in accordance with the prophecy died within six months of the marriage and his death deeply affected the other members of the family. Muhammadi Begum's husband repented and turned to God and thus his death was averted. As the prophecy was conditioned with repentance and on his repenting, the death of Muhammadi Begum's husband was averted, her marriage to the Promised Messiah was canceled and did not take place.

It might be asked what is there to show that Muhammadi Begum's husband, Mirza Sultan Muhammad, had really repented and had turned to God. In reply to this the Mirza Ghulam Ahmad:

The determination of this is quite easy. Ask Sultan Muhammad, the son-in-law of Ahmad Beg, that he should publish a denial. Thereafter, if he should not die within a period that God Almighty might specify, I would be proved false... Such death would be withheld from him till he becomes defiant. Thus if you are in a hurry then arise and make him announce his denial and then witness the power of God Almighty. (Anjam Aatham, p. 32)

If, after this challenge Mirza Sultan Muhammad had exhibited any defiance or had, at the urging of others, announced his denial, his death within the period that might have been appointed would have been absolutely inescapable and Muhammadi Begum's marriage to the Promised Messiah would have taken place.

On the publication of the challenge of the Promised Messiah set out in Anjam Aatham, some Christians approached Mirza Sultan Muhammad and promised to pay him a large amount of money so that he might prosecute Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in respect of his challenge. But they were unable to persuade him to take any such step, despite the tempting offer made to him.

In 1912 Mirza Sultan Muhammad wrote in a letter, a photostat of which has been published several times by the Ahmadiyya Community:

I have always held the late Mirza Sahib, and still hold him, as a righteous and respected person who was a servant of Islam, had a noble spirit and was constant in his remembrance of God. I entertain no opposition to his followers and regret that for certain reasons I was not able to have the honor of meeting him in his lifetime. Hafiz Jamal Ahmad Sahib, a missionary of the Ahmadiyya Movement had, on one occasion, an interview with Mirza Sultan Muhammad, husband of Muhammadi Begum, which was published in the AI-Fazal of 9–13 June 1921, in the lifetime of Mirza Sultan Muhammad. Hafiz Ahmad Sahib states as follows:

If you would not mind, I would like to ask you about the prophecy of Hazrat Mirza Sahib concerning his marriage. He replied: 'You can ask me freely'; and on my putting the question to him he stated: 'My father-in-law, Mirza Ahmad Beg Sahib, died in accordance with the prophecy, but God Almighty is Forgiving and Merciful and hears the supplications of His servants and has mercy on them.' He was asked: 'Have you any comments on the prophecy of Mirza Sahib, or did it raise any doubts in your mind?' to which he replied: 'The prophecy raised no doubts in my mind. I state on oath that the faith and belief that I have in Hazrat Sahib are, I conceive, stronger than that of those of you who have entered into a covenant of allegiance with him.' Thus the turning back of Mirza Sultan Muhammad Sahib is clear and obvious. As the prophecy was conditional, its remaining portions were averted through repentance after the death of Mirza Ahmad Beg. These included Muhammadi Begum's marriage to the Promised Messiah after the death of Mirza Sultan Muhammad. As his death was deferred, the question of any other marriage did not arise. As the Promised Messiah has stated: When these people fulfilled the condition and the son-in-law of Ahmad Beg became afraid and repented, the marriage was canceled or postponed. (Tatimmah Haqeeqatul Wahi, p. 32)'

He has stated further:

Everyone is aware of the events of the people of Jonah where there was no condition and yet the punishment decreed for them was averted by repentance and asking of forgiveness. In the present case there was the clear admonition: 'Repent, repent, for the calamity is on thy heels'; which meant that everything would be averted through repentance. They were put in fear and thus a part of the prophecy was averted. (Badar, 13 April 1908) The effect of the prophecy was that God Almighty delivered a large number of the members of that family and brought them into the Ahmadiyya Movement and made them devoted Muslims. Out of a long list of those members of this family who have joined the Movement, we call attention to a statement made in a letter by Mirza Ishaq Beg, son of Muhammadi Begum, who, by God's grace, is a member of the Ahmadiyya Movement. He has said:

In accordance with this prophecy, my maternal grandfather, Mirza Ahmad Beg, died and the rest of the family was put in fear and became inclined towards reform, the irrefutable proof of which is that most of them joined the Ahmadiyya Movement in consequence of which God Almighty, being Forgiving and Merciful, changed His wrath into mercy. (Al-Fazal, 26 February 1923)

One objection that is raised in connection with this prophecy is that the Promised Messiah stated in Izalah Auham in 1891:

God Almighty will in any event bring Muhammadi Begum to me as a virgin or a widow and will remove all obstructions. He will certainly fulfill this and no one can obstruct Him. (Izalah Auham, p. 296) Then how is it possible that God Almighty did not remove the intervening obstructions and the marriage did not take place? The answer is that this statement was an interpretation of the prophecy, though it does not mention the condition to which the prophecy was subject. This condition was expressly laid down as has already been pointed out, If after his repentance Mirza Sultan Muhammad had rescinded from it then all intervening obstructions would have been removed. But, as in the event, Mirza Sultan Muhammad fulfilled the condition of repentance and adhered to it throughout, the remaining portions of the prophecy could not come into operation.

Ahmadiyya View

However, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s followers contend that the historical facts about this particular prophecy are in favour of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^[3] as the Prophecy was in parts and conditional upon the status quo of certain circumstances and hence did not require absolute fulfillment.

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s followers claim that the background of the prophecy was related to the scenario wherein the family of Mohamamdi Begum had begun to turn away from Islam, adopting an atheistic attitude and under influence of Hindu customs had begun to regard marriage among blood cousins as foul. Moreover they had also begun to abuse and denounce The Prophet Muhammad, particularly criticizing his marriage to Zaynab bint Jahsh (daughter of Muhammad’s aunt). Even a book to this effect was distributed widely by these people, about which Mirza Ghulam Ahmad wrote:^[4]

When the scurrilous book came to my hands I read therein such a grossly abusive language against the Most High God and His Holy Prophet as would lacerate the hearts of the believers and rip open and rend the Muslims' minds. The profane words, it appeared to me, would tear asunder the very heavens. So I shut myself in a room and prostrated before the Great God of the heavens and the earth and prayed most humbly: O my Lord, O my Lord, help Your servant and disgrace Your enemy. Respond to me, O Lord resond to me. How long will they mock you and your Messenger?I beseech you of your mercy, O Ever Living, Self Subsisting Helper!

(A'inah Kamalat Islam, page 569)

It is claimed his prayer was answered and God revealed to him^[4]

We have seen their wickedness and transgression, because of which a grievous punishment shall come upon their heads. Their women, We shall make them widows, and orphan their children. Their places of residence We shall destroy and demolish, so that they may bear the fruit of their deeds. But We shall not strike them with a single blow, but slowly that they may turn to the truth and become repentant.

(ibid., page 569-570)

His followers point out the Ghulam Ahmad repeatedly published his prophecies to be conditional upon repentance and 'turning to the truth' and repeatedly admonished Muhammadi Begum's family to seek forgiveness.,^[5]

It is also pointed out that consequently, Muhammadi Begum's uncle, Mirza Nizamud-Din suffered greatly when his twenty five year old daughter died leaving behind an infant child. Then Nizamud-Din died himself leaving behind a son and a daughter, both of whom accepted Islam at the hands of Ghulam Ahmad. Nizamud-Din's brother, Mirza Imamud-Din was also survived by one daughter, Khurshid Begum who, consequently, like her cousins also swore allegiance to Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. Another brother of Mirza Nizamud-Din, Mirza Kamalud-Din left Qadian to become a recluse and spend the rest of his days in the graveyards of India. He is said to have repented later for his actions.^[5]

It so happened that Muhammadi Begum's father, Ahmad Beg required some assistance from Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in matters of estate, hence he turned to him seeking his assistance. Ghulam Ahmad though willing to assist him, undertook an Istikhara (special supplication) as was his custom, before returning to Ahmad Beg and claimed that "The All Powerful, the All Wise directed me to ask for the hand of the elder daughter of Ahmad Beg in marriage"(Tazkirah, pg.202).^[5]

Muhammadi Begum's brother lost his life at which occasion Mirza Ghulam Ahmad offered his condolences to the boys father, stating:

You might be feeling ruffled at heart on account of me, but the Omniscient knows that the heart of this humble one is absolutely pure and I wish you well in every way. (Life of Ahmad, pg.245)^[5]

Muhammadi Begum's grandmother and one of her sisters are also said to have become the victims of the prophecy. Then shortly after Mirza Ahmad beg married his daughter, Muhammadi Begum to someone else he himself died of typhoid hence fulfilling the prophecy to the effect that he would 'die within three years of the marriage of his daughter'. After his death the family are said to have repented and had ceased to be abusive, and had accepted Ghulam Ahmad.^[5]

Followers of Ghulam Ahmad say that the prophecy was further elaborated as:

I am making not one, but six predictions: (1) I will be alive at the time of the wedding of Muhammadi Begum (2) Mirza Baig will also be alive at the time of the wedding of his daughter (3) Mirza Baig will die within three years of the date of the wedding (4) The Groom will also die within two and half years of the date of the wedding (5) Muhammadi Begum will remain alive until she becomes my wife (6) Despite disagreement of all her relatives, she will finally marry me.^[6][7][8]

His followers claim that the prophecy read in totality shows that it was in parts and with the aim to bring the family of Muhamadi Begum to “turn to the truth and become repentant” (A'inah Kamalat Islam, page 569),^[4] and hence was conditional upon them not repenting. In fact Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was personally averse to the idea of this marriage as he wrote in a letter dated 20 June 1886, “Come what may, I am determined to keep away from and avoid this marriage until I am forced unto it by an express command of the Most High God."^[1] His followers point out that after Muhammadi Begum’s marriage parts 1-3 of the prophecy were fulflled as predicted, culmnating in the death of Muhammadi Begum’s father within 6 months of her marriage. It is claimed that after fulfillment of the 3 parts, the stated conditions changed, i.e., the remaining family of Muhammadi Begum repented from turning away from Islam and hence the remaining parts of the prophecy did not to pass.^[4] In the word of Mirza Ghluam Ahmad:

I have in earlier announcements mentioned some of the letters which reached me from these people [relatives of Muhammadi Begum], expressing repentance, fear and turning to truth. If this principle is not true according to the Quran and the Bible that the period specified in a prophecy of threatened punishment can be delayed, then the objection of every critic is right and justified. But if from the Quran and the Bible it is repeatedly proved that the time of punishment can be postponed if repentance and fear is shown then it is the height of dishonesty for anyone calling himself a Muslim or a Christian to object to this which is proved from the Holy Quran and earlier scriptures....

The matter can be easily decided. Persuade Sultan Muhammad to publish an announcement charging me with falsehood. Then if he should survive whatever term is appointed by God the Most High, I may be condemned as a liar. ... It is essential that the threatened death be withheld from him until that time comes which makes him bold and audacious. If you want to make it come quickly, then go and embolden him and make him a denier and bring an announcement from him, and then see the spectacle of Divine power.

(Anjam Atham, page 29 and 32)^[4]

He also wrote

As to the affair of Ahmad Beg's son-in-law, I have written many times that that prophecy consisted of two branches. One was about the death of Ahmad Beg, the other was about the death of his son-in-law, and the prophecy was conditional. Therefore Ahmad Beg, because of not fulfilling the condition, died within the term, and his son-in-law, and likewise his relatives, benefited from the condition by fulfilling it. It was a natural consequence that the death of Ahmad Beg strike their hearts with terror because both of them were included in the prophecy ... So the death of Ahmad Beg cast such fear upon the other named man and his relatives that they became like dead with fear. The result was that the head of the family, who was the main instigator in this affair [of getting Muhammadi Begum married to Sultan Muhammad], took the Pledge to join my movement.

(Haqiqat-ul-Wahy, pages 132-134)^[4]

The husband of Muhammadi Begum himself wrote in 1921, some years after Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s death.

My father-in-law, Mirza Ahmad Beg, in fact died precisely in accordance with the prophecy. But God the Most High is also the most merciful. He listens to other men also, and showers His mercy on them. ... I state upon my conscience that the prophecy relating to the marriage has not left any doubt whatsoever in my mind. As for the bai`at [i.e. taking the Pledge to join the Movement], I declare upon solemn oath that the trust and faith which I repose in Hazrat Mirza sahib is, I think, not possessed even by you who have entered the bai`at.

(Al-Fazl, 9 June 1921)^[4]

The son of Muhammadi Begum also expressed his acceptance to the fulfilment of the prophecy in the following words:

My grandfather, Mirza Ahmad Beg died as a result of the prophecy and the rest of the family became frightened and hence reformed themselves. An undeniable proof of this is that most of them joined Ahmadiyyat(Al Fazal:26 February 1923)

It is pointed out that amongst those who repented and pledged their allegiance to Islam at the hands of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad were: Omrun Nisa Bibi (widow of Mirza Ahmad Beg and mother of Muhammadi Begum), Inayat Begum and Mahmooda Begum (sisters of Muhammadi Begum) and their brother Mirza Muhammed Beg, Mirza Isaac Beg (son of Muhammadi Begum), Mirza Ahmad Hassan (son in law of Mirza Ahmad Beg), Mirza Gul Muhammad and his sister (the only surviving children of Mirza Nizamud-Din), Hurmat Bibi (maternal aunt of Muhammadi Begum) and her daughter, Khurshid Begum.^[5]

Sources and references

1. ^ ^{a b c} [1] "His Holiness" X-rayed by Mirza Masum Beg, p 47-48
2. ^ The False Prophecies of a False Prophet, irshad.org
3. ^ [2] Prophecies of Hadhrat Ahmad, A critical Study, Naeem Osman Memon, Pages 10-23
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} The Prophecy about Muhammadi Begum: Compiled by Dr. Zahid Aziz
5. ^ ^{a b c d e f} http://www.alislam.org/library/books/Prophecies-of-HadhratAhmad.pdf
6. ^ Mirza Ghulam Qadiani's predictions on Muhammadi Begum, irshad.org. (a) Aaiana-e-Kamalat-e-Islam Dar Khazain, Vol. 5, P. #572, (b) Tableeg-e-Resalat, Vol. 1 , P. 61 -- Collection of Posters-102, Vol. 1 -- Hashia; Feb. 20,1886, (c) Aaina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam Dar Roohani Khazain, P. 325/57
7. ^ Original references in (Urdu): Qaumi Digest - Qadiani number p-85, from khatm-e-nubuwwat.org
8. ^ Original references in (Urdu): Haraf-i-Muhrimana by Ghulam Jilani Barq p-220, from khatm-e-nubuwwat.org

See also

• Prophecies of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad

Persondata
Name	Ahmad, Mirza Ghulam
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Date of birth
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Date of death	1966
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