I often have discussions with people, and I can see that there are doubts about a true belief in a Living God; Is there really a God? Has this God any power? Did He really send prophets to the world? etc. The Holy Qur’an often refers to these people as “And when it is said to them, ‘What think ye of that which your Lord has sent down?’ they say, ‘They are mere stories of the ancients’ (Holy Qur’an, Chapter 16, verse 25). In this materialistic world, a world that seems to be heading for another World War, maybe even a Nuclear War, what role can a Living God play?
It is true, God will not interfere with the works of man, no matter how bad they are. But God has and always will, send guidance to mankind to help them follow a better path, one of peace and love, not war and terror. Now we are in the ‘Latter Days’, a time which has been prophesied as a time of great battles between ‘good and evil’, where is God? Is He still really helping us?
Last month, there was a unique reminder of a wonderful ‘great sign of truth over falsehood’. A sign that proved there is indeed a ‘Living God’. A God who is still helping and guiding mankind; a sign to prove to the materialist world that peace can be attained, and the One God does protect His loved ones! But the most remarkable thing is that this great sign was shown in the West, to the centre of materialism. To the powerful USA, for them to ponder over these things and realize the importance of believing in a Living, Powerful God.
On 27th September 2022, a mosque was inaugurated at Zion, Illinois, USA. It was named ‘Fath-e-Azeem’ – ‘The Great Victory’, and marked a spiritual battle between Dr John Alexander Dowie, a claimant of prophethood of the spiritual return of the Prophet Elijah, and who laid the foundations of a historical city called Zion in 1901. He had thousands of followers who lived in his city of Zion, USA. He was a very rich and powerful Christian evangelist who wanted to destroy Islam and wrote ‘I pray to God that Islam should soon disappear from the face of the earth, O God accept my prayer, O God destroy Islam’. He announced a ‘great war’ between Christianity and Islam and said that if Muslims did not embrace Christianity, they would face death and destruction.
In response was Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, who claimed to be the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi, a poor man living in a remote town in Northern India, who desired, like Jesus, may peace be upon him, to promote a teaching of peace, love and harmony. He urged all people to live together peacefully and to forge ties of ‘mutual love and affection’, no matter their religious beliefs.
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, may peace be upon him, desired that millions of innocent people should not be harmed and wanted to diffuse the situation and challenged Dr Alexander Dowie to a prayer duel. He said that:
Rather than calling for the death or destruction of all Muslims, he and Mr Dowie should both engage in solemn prayers and pray to God that whichever of them was a liar, should die during the life of the other party.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, may Allah always be His helper, the fifth successor of the Promised Messiah, whilst addressing the audience at the Zion Mosque opening, said:
This was actually an act of compassion and a means to diffuse the situation. Rather than risk an all-out confrontation between Muslims and Christians, the Promised Messiah asserted that he and Mr Dowie should resort to prayer and leave the matter in the hands of God Almighty.
It was a fair and peaceful means to determine the truth. It is no exaggeration to state that it was a magnificent example of restraint in the face of immense provocation and hostility.
Sadly, upon receiving the challenge, Mr Dowie responded by describing the Promised Messiah in the most offensive terms. It is recorded that Mr Dowie said at the time:
In India, there is a Muhammaddan Messiah who keeps on writing to me. Do you think that I should answer such gnats and flies? If I were to put my foot on them, I would crush them to death.
This challenge of the Promised Messiah spread far and wide in the Western press and journalists compared the two: Mr Dowie was extremely wealthy and famous, while also enjoying better health and of younger age than the Promised Messiah. Yet despite these material odds he faced, the Promised Messiah never stepped back and continued the challenge.
It went into the hands of the Powerful Living God to decide between truth and falsehood. Who was really the one representing Him and who was the liar. The matter would be decided spiritually, a clear sign of truth.
On the 20th February 1907, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah, received the following revelation from Allah:
I shall manifest a fresh Sign in which there shall be a great victory. It shall be a Sign for the whole world.
Ultimately, Dowie perished; he lost his supporters, wealth and physical and mental faculties!
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, may Allah always be His helper, continued to explain:
Indeed, the US media of the time deserves credit because their journalists reported honestly on the outcome. For example, a famous Boston Herald headline declared that “Great is Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Messiah.
These days, very few people living in Zion, USA know much about Dowie, what he stood for etc. or who were his followers. Now there is a brand new Mosque named after this ‘great victory’, giving out a message of “Love for All, Hatred for None”, the motto of the followers of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi, to remind the world that a Living God does exist and is always ready to establish ‘truth from falsehood’ and guide His true followers.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, may Allah always be His helper, closed his address by saying:
It is the paramount objective of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to direct mankind to the path of spiritual salvation and to ensure that all people, irrespective of their cast, creed and colour, live together with the spirit of goodwill and harmony and in true peace and security.
From the depth of my heart, I pray that this mosque will, God-willing, always serve as a beacon of peace, tolerance and love for all mankind.