Note 33

The discussion here, that the Mahdi would be a spiritual heir of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, and that being a physical descendant is in itself of no significance or value whatsoever, contains a rejoinder and refutation of another Qadiani doctrine. The Qadianis believe that the descendants of Hazrat Mirza have been specially favoured and chosen by God, and are the only ones entitled to be his successors. They believe Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad to be the Promised Reformer (muslih mau'ud) chiefly on account of being Hazrat Mirza's eldest son.

Hazrat Mirza has explained here that when the Holy Prophet prophesied that the Mahdi would be from his family (the ahl bait), he did not at all mean that the Mahdi would be his physical descendant but that he would be his spiritual heir in terms of morals and qualities. Unfortunately the Qadianis ignore this basic principle of religion in the high reverence they give to the descendants of Hazrat Mirza.

Note 34

Notice the words here:

1. "Hence, as prophethood also is a quality of a nabi, it is essential for it to be manifested in the burooz image."

It is clear that the burooz image is not himself a nabi, for if he were then the above words become meaningless because they amount to saying that the qualities of a prophet are manifested in a prophet! What he is saying is that the qualities of a prophet are seen reflected in one who is not a prophet.

2. "All prophets have held that the burooz is a perfect image of its original."

By all prophets it is clear that real prophets are meant here, because their burooz are spoken of separately. Therefore all prophets are only the real prophets, and this category does not include the burooz.