By: Hazrath Syed Ali Bartar

The word "BAIYYANA" as used in Holy Qur’an is translated in Urdu as "ROUSHAN DALEEL" and in English it is translated as CLEAR PROOF. The word BAIYYANAATH is the plural of BAIYYANA. Prophets are shown in Qur’an on Baiyyana from Almighty Allah. Common people cannot be on Baiyyana. This term is not used for them. The prophets say to their people (ummah) that they are on Baiyyana from Allah and so they must be obeyed and followed. The term Baiyyana is so much attributed to prophets that even the unbelievers themselves know that prophets come with Baiyyana from Allah. Hence when Hazrath Hud (AHS) went to his people and preached the religion of Allah to them they said they were not going to believe in what he says because he had not brought a clear proof (Baiyyana). The Ayat of Qur’an is like this:

"They said O Hud thou hast not brought us a clear proof (Baiyyana) and we are not going to forsake our gods on thy (mere) saying and are not believers in thee."(Hud-53)

A perusal of the following Ayats (verses) will bring to light how the prophets said when they went to people on Baiyyana from Allah:

1} "He (Noah AHS) said: O my people! Bethink you: If I rely on a clear proof (Baiyyana) from His presence and it hath been made obscure to you, can we compel you to accept it when you are averse there to."(Hud: 28)

2} "He (Saleh A.S) said: O my people! Bethink you: If I am (acting) on a clear proof (Baiyyana) from my Lord and there hath come unto me a mercy from Him, who will save me from Allah if I disobey Him?"(Hud: 63)

3} "He (Shoaib A.S) said: O my people! Bethink you: If I am (acting) on a clear proof (Baiyyana) from my Lord and He Sustaineth with fair sustenance from Him (how can I concede aught to you?) I desire not to do behind your backs which I ask you not to do."

All the above three verses are translated by M. M. Pickthall. He has used "clear proof" for "Baiyyana" the original word in Qur’an. Hence, I have put the word "Baiyyana" in brackets. In the above verses the three prophets have expressed to the people that they are on Baiyyana from their Lord. This shows the word Baiyyana is used for prophets only.

Our Prophet Hazrath Muhammad Rasoolullah (SAS) has also been asked by Allah to tell the people that he is on Baiyyana. Read the following verse:

“Say I (Muhammad) am (relying) on clear proof (Baiyyana) from my Lord while ye deny Him". (Al-Anam: 57)

Allah Himself says in some verses of Qur’an that He sent Prophets with Baiyyanath (proofs). For an understanding of this the following verses of Qur’an may be perused:

1} We gave unto Jesus (Esa), son of Mary, clear proofs (Baiyyanath) (of Allah's sovereignty) and We supported him with the Holy script (Baqra: 87)

2} And Moses (Moosa) came unto you with clear proofs (Baiyyanath) (of Allah’s sovereignty), yet, while he was away ye choose the calf and ye were wrong doers. (Baqra: 92)

3} Our messengers (Prophets) came unto them of old with clear proofs (Baiyyanath) (Al-Maida: 32)

In the Qur’an (Al-Momin) Allah asks our Prophet (SAS) to say: that clear proofs have come to him. The verse runs thus:

" Say (O Mohammad), I am forbidden to worship those unto whom ye cry besides Allah since there have come unto me clear proofs (Baiyyanath) from my Lord, and I am commanded to surrender to the Lord of world." (Al-Momin: 66)

All the above verses of Qur’an show that when "Baiyyana" or "Baiyyanath" is used it refers to prophets.

Baiyyana and Baiyyanath are also used for Allah's miracles (moujizat), and for such acts of Allah which are out of the reach of human beings. They are never used for common and ordinary people.

Now we shall study a verse of Qur’an in which the word "Baiyyana" is used and find out for whom it is used. The verse runs as follows:

"Is he (to be counted equal with them) who relieth on a clear proof (Baiyyana) from his Lord, and a witness from Him reciteth it, and before it was the Book of Moses, an example and a mercy.? Such believe there in, and who so disbelieveth there in of the clans, The Fire is his appointed place. So be not in doubt concerning it (him). Lo, it is the Truth from thy Lord, but most of mankind believe not. (Hud: 17).

The translation is from M. M. Pickthall. For the Arabic word "Minhu" he has used "it”. I have put in brackets "him".

In this verse of Qur’an, Allah, The Almighty is informing our prophet about a person ("he" in the verse), who is on Baiyyana from Allah. He has two witnesses (1: witness from Him i.e. Qur’an and 2: Book of Moses). People will believe in him; who so disbelieves him will be sent to Hell. Our Prophet (PBUH) has been asked not to have any doubt about him because this truth is from Allah. It is said that most of mankind will not believe in him.

In the first place this personality cannot be a common man, because he is said to be on Baiyyana. Some commentators thought he is Hazrath Ali (RZ). But with all respects to Haz. Ali (RZ), it must be said that he was neither a prophet nor a khalifatullah. A khalifatullah is just like a prophet. This word is used for prophets. Hence in Surah Sa’ad, verse 26, Allah has used the word khalifa for the prophet Haz. Dawood (AHS). All prophets are Allah's khalifas. He (Haz. Ali) was the khalifa of our Prophet (PBUH). So the word Baiyyana clarifies that he can not be that person. Some commentators say that it refers to men with right nature (fitrat e sahiya). But this argument has to be discarded on two points: 1) Common men even with right nature cannot be said to be on Baiyyana from Allah. Secondly the verse describes only one person (in singular) and therefore it must be one man and not many men. The man must be either a prophet or a khalifatullah because disbelieving in him leads people to Hell as is mentioned in the verse.

Our prophet (PBUH) has informed his companions in many traditions about the advent of a khalifatullah after him and asked them to do Baiyat on his hands if they find him .This, he (PBUH) said, was so necessary that men must reach him even though there are icy mountains in their way. He named this khalifatullah as “Mahdi”. Hence it becomes clear that the verse is about Haz. Mahdi (AHS). So many attributes have been spoken by our prophet (SAS) about him. These cannot be described in this short essay. They are known to the muslims who read traditions.

We believe that this Promised Mahdi is Hazrath Syed Muhammad Juanpuri. He has proclaimed himself as the Promised Mahdi after reciting this same verse of Hud in Qur’an (Dawa-e-Moakkad).We believe in his words.

Please read the verse 17 in Hud in the Qur’an (Arabic). Hazrat Mahdi (AHS) recited this verse and then said:

“I am hearing from Allah directly without any medium (Bila Wasta) that this verse (Ayat) is for thee. The “Man” in “Afaman” refers to thyself. “Baiyyana” means the following (Itteba) of the vilayat of Mustafa (PBUH) in all respects (in speech, in action, and in status). Vilayat means the specific vilayat which is specific to the self of Haz. Muhammad Mustafa (PBUH). By “Shahid” are meant the Qur’an and Torah. “Oulaika” points out to believing people. The first pronoun “Bihi” and the second pronoun “Bihi” both mean the self (zath) of Mahdi (AHS)” {Naqliyat Haz. Bandagi Mian Abdur Rasheed RZ}

The explanation of the verse as shown above is very clear and free from any difficulty, where as the other non-Mahdavi commentators face difficulties in explaining the verse. The explanation is exact and invites people to think in the right way.

 

References:
 

1} Al-Qur’an
2} Naqliyat Haz. B. M. Abdur Rasheed RZA.
3} Muqaddama Siraj ul Absar Haz. Syed Mustafa Tashrifullahi.