Those persons who attain the rank of fana fir-rasul become imbued with the colour of prophets of the past due to perfect following, and in this state call themselves by the names of various prophets such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, (the Holy Prophet) Muhammad and Ahmad. They also utter expressions such as ``I am the prophet'' and ``I am the messenger''. These persons are not prophets in point of fact, but belong to the category of saints. Muslim scholars of the faith have written as follows to explain the concept of fana:

Professor Yusuf Saleem Chishti: This interpreter and commentator of the works of Iqbal writes:

``The first stage is fana fish-shaikh, producing the qualities of the spiritual leader in oneself; the second stage is fana fir-rasul, producing the qualities of the Holy Prophet within oneself; the third stage is fana fi-llah, producing the taint of the attributes of God in oneself.''

(Sharh Bab Jibreel, p. 267)

 

Shah Wali-ullah of Dehli (d. 1763 C.E.): Recognised as mujaddid of the 12th Century Hijra, this eminent scholar wrote:

``Piety (taqwa) means to stay within the limits of the religious law. The love of rites of God is applied to loving the Holy Quran, the Holy Prophet, and the Holy Shrine (Ka`ba), and in fact to love everything that is associated with God, including even love for the saints. Some people call it fana fir-rasul or fana fish-shaikh.''

(Altaf al-Qudus, p. 93, Gujaranwala, Pakistan, 1964)

Khawaja Shams-ud-Din Siyalwi:

``After this I asked, What is fana fish-shaikh? The Khawaja said: The disciple should be so engrossed in the being of his master that he should not be conscious of his own movements, and, in fact, the very form and figure of the master and disciple become one.''

(Mirat al-`ashiqeen, p. 229, Islamic Book Foundation, Lahore, 1981)

Khawaja Zia-ullah Naqshbandi:

``The rank of fana fir-rasul is attained when all the characteristics and qualities of the Holy Prophet are to be found in one, and all one's deeds, movements, habits, devotions and meditations are exactly according to the manner of the Holy Prophet. Perfect good fortune is that God should paint His servant with the colour and qualities of His friend, the Holy Prophet.''

(Maqasid as-Salikeen, p. 46, Lahore)

Maulana Rashid Ahmad Gangohi (d. 1905 C.E.): He was a prominent Deobandi theologian of the last century. Answering a question, he wrote:

``Question: What are fana fish-shaikh and fana fir-rasul? From where are these concepts established, and what have Sufis said about it?

``Answer: Both these words are from the terminology of spiritual leaders (masha'ikh). The meaning is to obey God and have overwhelming love for Him. Its basis is in the Islamic teachings (sharh): Follow me [i.e. Muhammad], and God will love you [the Quran 3:30].''

(Fatawa Rashidiyya, p. 48, 49, Islamic Kutab, Karachi)

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad explained the concept of fana fir-rasul in exactly the same way as other Islamic scholars, both before and after his time. He wrote:

``Muhaddas due to his complete following of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, and on account of his being fana fir-rasul, is included in the being of the Last of the Prophets [i.e. Holy Prophet Muhammad], as the fraction is included in the whole.''

(Izala Auham, p. 575)

``God gives the honour of His word to a person who is fana fin-nabi [same as fana fir-rasul], just as He does with His prophets, and in these communications the servant to whom He speaks is spoken to by Him face-to-face, as it were. The servant asks a question and God replies to it, even though this question-answer may go on for fifty times or more.''

(Zameema Anjam Atham, p. 15)

``At the end of every century, especially a century in which people have departed from faith and honesty, and one which is full of darkness, God raises someone who is a substitute for a prophet and whose nature reflects the image of the prophet. That substitute-prophet shows people, through his own being, the qualities of the prophet whom he obeys.''

(Ainah Kamalat Islam, p. 247)

``Turn not your attention to what anyone says, and like the true lover become fana fir-rasul [effaced in the Holy Prophet Muhammad] with your word, deed, praise and obedience, for therein lie all the blessings.''

(Maktubat Ahmadiyya, Part I, p. 44, 1883)

Those persons whose nature is a mirror reflecting the image of the Holy Prophet, and who are fana fir-rasul or fana fin-nabi, who in other words are known as saints (muhaddas) and reformer (mujaddid), these are the ones amongst whom is included Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad.