Questioner: As you answered that question just now, that you follow the prayer of the Imam and it is not your prayer that would be in time because you are following the directive of Rasulullah s.a.w. (Holy Prophet Muhammad s.a.w)
Huzoor (rh): Yes.
Questioner: Are you wondering whether in the same sense that the, I am not condemning the Ahmadiyya movement…
Huzoor (rh): Fully understand
Questioner: In the same sense whether the members of the Ahmadiyya movement can take the same type of understanding and if the Imam there is of whether the Sunni school of thought or whatever school of thought and he is leading and that you belong to the Ahmadiyya movement and therefore you read behind him, your Salah would be accepted whether whatever position…
Huzoor (rh) No, because in this regard there is another instruction of Rasulullah s.a.w. Then I said that I accepted this question from you, quite honestly. I knew it was coming. I also know the answer. I am very clear on that. Hazrat Rasulullah s.a.w. did not leave any room for any Muslim to reject the Imam Mahdi many times. So he said clearly that when you hear of the Imam Mahdi having appeared even if you have to reach him on your knees across glaciers of ice, do that and do bai’at at his hands.
So the one who believes that such an Imam has come, what is his love outlook on those who reject him and reject him very severely? According to them, they are not following the instruction of Hazrat Muhammad Rasulullah s.a.w. Now the position generally you can take is that you are wrong. We are wrong in accepting him but not wrong in our logic. They are two different things. You are an educated person, you should distinguish between this and that. You are quite right, you have a right to say that Ahmadis have accepted a wrong Imam. But, as long as they believe in that Imam to be from God, they are not permitted to say their prayer behind such an Imam who rejects the Imam appointed by God. This is not a question of his being holy or unholy. This is a question referring to the authority. So that is why I insisted on the word of authority. In man-made Imams, the authority is a human authority. So you should refer to the authority. In God-made Imams, the authority is Allah. So if somebody rejects that authority, no human authority can supersede that. So I am quite consistent in my answer.
Questioner: I have no quarrel with that, sir.
Huzoor (rh): No, I hope not, but you can ask your question.
Questioner: I have no quarrel. All that I am trying to understand was what was the reason behind the members of the Ahmadiyya movement not reading behind others. That’s all I want to find out.
Huzoor (rh): You see, in short, I repeat my answer. Our reasons are exactly the same as your reasons would be if in your lifetime the Imam comes and the society rejects him. I am quite certain, being honest to God, when you believe that the Imam is appointed by God, you accept him, it will be impossible to say you are behind those who reject him.
Questioner: As long as I am an Imam, I want to promise you that all people can decide. I have no quarrel whether Ahmadiyya or whoever they are. I am going to be part and parcel of whatever function they have. I will read behind them. I will do everything because I know within myself that Imam, it is Allah that you worship him and therefore I will continue to follow such man. Thank you very much.
Huzoor (rh): You see, but still you won’t worship against anyone who rejects Hazrat Muhammad Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam. Even if he is worshipping the same God, a Jew for instance, he believes in God, he worships to Him, but you never dare even once to worship behind him. The answer exactly in principle is the same, though the person differs here. The answer is, God is the same. But a Jew has the audacity to reject the Imam for all times to come, of the whole mankind. So he seizes the right to lead those who believe in that Imam. So vis-a-vis the Imam al-Mahdi, of course he is subordinate, there is no question, but you also believe him to be a subordinate. But he still is an Imam. The principle is the same which applies to that.
Questioner: I think I have no further questions. Thank you.
Huzoor (rh): I know I am really impressed by your humility. You are a kind person and open-minded person. Otherwise you shouldn’t have appeared. I can see that. That shows your attitude. I am grateful to you. But I have tried to explain to you as best as I can.
Questionr: I will do a second explanation.
Huzoor (rh): Thank you.
