| [ BACK ] |
The
Sufis have devised a term al-anbiya' wal-auliya'
(`prophets as well as saints') which is synonymous with muhaddas
or saint. Hazrat Mirza has used the expressions ``a
follower from one aspect and a prophet from another'' and
``follower and prophet'' for this term. He writes:
``So the fact that he
[the Messiah to come] has been called a follower [of
the Holy Prophet Muhammad] as well as a prophet
indicates that the qualities of both discipleship and
prophethood will be found in him, as it is essential
for both of these to be found in a muhaddas.
The possessor of full prophethood, however, has only
the quality of prophethood. To conclude, sainthood (muhaddasiyyat)
is coloured with both colours. For this reason, in
[the Divine revelations published in] Barahin
Ahmadiyya too, God named this humble one as
follower and as prophet.''
(Izala
Auham, p. 533)
``A muhaddas,
who is a `sent one', is a follower and also, in an
imperfect sense, a prophet.
(ibid.,
p. 569)
|