Qualities of the Khulafa-e-Rashideen
The Promised Messiah (as) states:
“I know for certain that no one can be deemed a true believer, nor a Muslim until they instil within themselves the qualities of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), Hazrat Umar (ra), Hazrat Uthman (ra) and Hazrat Ali (ra), may Allah be pleased with them all. Their hearts were pure from the love of this world, instead they devoted their lives in the way of God Almighty.”
(Lecture Ludhiana, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 20, 294)
The Promised Messiah (as) further states:
“It is vital to believe that Siddiq-e-Akbar (ra) [Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra)], Hazrat Farooq-e-Umar (ra) [Hazrat Umar Farooq (ra)], Hazrat Dhun-Nurainra (i.e. Hazrat Uthman (ra)) and Hazrat Ali Murtaza (ra) were all the custodians of the faith. For Islam, Abu Bakr (ra) was the second coming of Adam; similarly, if Hazrat Umar Farooq (ra) and Hazrat Uthman (ra) did not show sincerity in the trust bestowed upon them, then it would be impossible for us to consider even one verse of the Quran to be from Allah the Almighty.”
(Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, p. 151, Maktub Number 2, Maktub Banam Hazrat Khan Sahib Muhammad Ali Khan Sahib, Rabwah)
The Promised Messiah (as) states:
“By God, Allah the Almighty enabled the Sheikhain” i.e. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and Hazrat Umar (ra) “and Dhun-Nurain [Hazrat Uthman (ra)] to be like the doors to Islam and they were at the forefront of every army of the Holy Prophet (sa), who was the best of the creation. Thus, one who denies their lofty honour and discredits the clear and irrefutable arguments in their favour and does not show respect to them but rather dishonours them and vilifies and speaks ill of them, then I fear that he may meet a terrible end and will become completely devoid of faith. And those who caused them grief and cursed them and levelled allegations against them, consequently their hearts became hardened and they incurred the wrath of the Gracious God. I have countlessly observed and have openly expressed this as well that to hold malice and enmity against these noble men is one of the main factors that severs man’s bond with God, Who is the Bestower of blessings. Whoever bears enmity against them becomes completely deprived of mercy and benevolence and the doors of divine cognisance and wisdom are never opened for them and they are left to partake in the desires and pleasures of the world and they are thrown into the abyss of carnal desires and He casts them away from His divine threshold and they remain deprived.”
(Sirr-ul-Khilafah Urdu Tarjumah, pp. 28-29, Nazarat Ishaat Rabwah)
The Promised Messiah (as) then states:
“Whatever progress of Islam was made after the Holy Prophet (sa) was through these three companions, that is Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), Umar (ra) and Uthman (ra).”
(Malfuzat, Vol. 6, p. 414)