When Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (AS), the Promised Messiah, announced that he shall be taking a pledge of allegiance from those who wish to join the community, he presented 10 conditions upon which this allegiance or Bai’at would be based upon. The 10th condition is as follows:
That he/she shall enter into a bond of brotherhood with this humble servant of God, pledging obedience to me in everything ma’roof (good), for the sake of Allah, and remain faithful to it till the day of his/her death; that he/she shall exert such a high devotion in the observance of this bond as is not to be found in any other worldly relationship and connections demanding devoted dutifulness.
(Ishtehar Takmeel-e-Tabligh, January 12, 1889)
The companions of the Promised Messiah (AS) would make this pledge of entering into this bond with him and to obey him in everything that is good and after the Promised Messiah (AS), millions of Ahmadis have and continue to swear allegiance and give this pledge to the Khulafa (successors) of the Promised Messiah (as). It is sometimes asked as to what is the definition of ma’roof (good) and who decides as to which instruction of the Khalīfa is under this definition.
DEFINITION OF MA’ROOF
According to Lane’s Lexicon, the word Ma’roof means: Known: and particularly well, or commonly known.
In the Islamic context, it is any command that is proven to be of positive essence by Sharia and intellect. The opposite of Ma’roof is Majhool, which means something that is hidden. This means that Ma’roof commandments are such that they are apparent and can be proven through Sharia and intellect.
The word Ma’roof has been used in the Holy Qur’ān for the Holy Prophet (SA) in the context of taking allegiance from Muslim Women:
O Prophet! when believing women come to thee, taking the oath of allegiance at thy hands that they will not associate anything with Allah, and that they will not steal, and will not commit adultery, nor kill their children, nor bring forth a scandalous charge which they themselves have deliberately forged, nor disobey thee in what is right, then accept their allegiance and ask Allah to forgive them. Verily, Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful (60:13)
This verse shows that the Holy Prophet (SA) was commanded to take allegiance from believers based upon their obedience to him on Ma’roof decisions and shunning of immoral acts. A Prophet, directly guided by Allah, is understood to always make Ma’roof decisions especially those decisions related to faith. Prophets are sent to this world to guide humankind so that they may recognize and establish a relationship with their creator. If it is said that such and such instruction of a Prophet is not Ma’roof, then it is equivalent to saying that the blind are leading the blind. Thus, Prophets are always expected and known to give commands that are Ma’roof and so do their successors.
KHALĪFA IS THE EXTENSION OF A PROPHET
It must also be understood, that Khilafat is not separable from Prophethood. In fact, it is a branch of the same tree.
The Holy Qur’ān States:
Allah had promised to those among you who believe and do good works that He will surely make them Successors in the earth, as He made Successors from among those who were before them; and that He will surely establish for them their religion which He has chosen for them; and that He will surely give them in exchange security and peace after their fear: They will worship Me, and they will not associate anything with Me. Then whoso is ungrateful after that, they will be the rebellious. (24:56)
In this verse of the Holy Qur’ān , Allah the Almighty has described the responsibilities (establishment of religion and granting peace after fear) that are of a Prophet but has attributed them to the successors (Khulafa). This shows that a Khalīfa holds the same responsibilities as a Prophet and is an offshoot of the same system.
Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (RA) writes:
Allah has established the system of Khilafat after the system of Prophethood. The Khalifah continues and carries on the task of the Prophet. The seed sown by the Prophet is protected and nurtured by the Khalifah till it becomes a strong and sturdy tree. It shows that in fact Khilafat is an offshoot or branch of the system of Prophethood, that is why the Holy Prophet(sa) says that after every Prophet, the system of Khilafat is established. (taken from Welcome to Ahmadiyyat, page 295)
Since the Khilafat stems from the system of Prophethood, it also has similar roles and responsibilities.
ALLAH AND HIS PROPHET HAVE THE FINAL DECISION
In matters where the believers cannot come to a consensus, Allah the Almighty has instructed as follows:
O ye who believe! obey Allah, and obey His Messenger and [a] those who are in authority among you. And [b] if you differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger if you are believers in Allah and the Last Day. That is best and most commendable in the end. (4:60)
This verse clearly states that the believers should obey the following three: (1) Allah, (2) His Messenger and (3) those in authority. And if the believers differ in a matter and are not able to decide and come to a consensus, they should refer the matter to Allah and His Messenger.
Referring the matter to Allah means that we turn to his Holy Word that he has revealed to his Prophet (sa). And turning to His Messenger means to refer to the traditions of the Messenger to get guidance from his example. Since Khilafat is an offshoot of the system of Prophethood, the Khalīfa of the time will also have the same responsibility to guide his flock which has been entrusted to him by Allah the Almighty through the Prophet. It is the Khalīfa who decides which is Ma’roof as he is guided by Allah just as Allah guided the Prophets.
The Promised Messiah (as) set the 10 conditions for those who enter into the fold of this blessed community. Many companions made the pledge of allegiance on these 10 conditions and many a million Ahmadis continue to make this pledge to the Khalīfa of the time and we are blessed to have made this pledge to the one regarding whom Allah the Almighty revealed ‘I am with you O Masroor!’. It is our responsibility that every instruction that comes from the Khalīfa of the time, we obey it to the fullest as Allah guides the Khalīfa as he guides a Prophet.
HAZRAT KHALIFATUL MASIH II (RA) STATES:
“KHILAFAH IS A GREAT DIVINE BLESSING. WITHOUT IT THERE CAN BE NO SOLIDARITY, COHESION AND UNITY AMONG MUSLIMS AND THEREFORE THEY CAN MAKE NO REAL PROGRESS WITHOUT IT. IF MUSLIMS DO NOT SHOW PROPER APPRECIATION OF KHILAFAT BY GIVING UN-STINTED SUPPORT AND OBEDIENCE TO THEIR KHALIFAS THEY WILL FORFEIT THIS DIVINE BOON AND IN ADDITION WILL DRAW THE DISPLEASURE OF GOD UPON THEMSELVES.”
(TAFSIR-E-KABIR, PG.1870, FT.2630)
