Al Hakam - 19 April 2019

Hijrat – Journey in the cause of Allah A look at migrations in the history of major religions Page 8

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From the Archives

100 Years Ago...

From a wartime school to the Ahmadiyya Markaz

Fresh sign in Afghanistan Imprisonment of Nasrullah Khan Al Hakam, 21-28 April 1919

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EXCLUSIVE A New Markaz – Huzoor’s impressions of Islamabad Page 4-5

THE WEEKLY

www.alhakam.org AL HAKAM | Friday 19 April 2019 | Issue LVII Ahmadiyya Archive & Research Centre (ARC), 22 Deer Park Road, London, SW19 3TL. UK info@alhakam.org | F: +44(0)208 544 7673

Historic moment Huzoor moves to new Markaz in Islamabad

AMA UK

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owards the end of last week’s Friday Sermon on 12 April, Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa indicated to the global Jamaat that he would soon move to what would become the new Markaz of the Jamaat – Islamabad, Surrey.

Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa made this move, a historic moment in the history of Islam, in the evening of Monday, 15 April from London to the new Jamaat Markaz (headquarters) in Tilford, Surrey, to the land that is fittingly named Islamabad.

Immediately after leading the Asr prayer at Fazl Mosque, London, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa departed London and took the A3 southbound, headed towards Islamabad.

A large number of Londoners were present

to see off their beloved Imamaa, whom they had become accustomed to seeing in the Fazl Mosque five times a day at every prayer for almost 16 years.

Including the tenure of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh, the Fazl Mosque served as the residence for Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya for almost 35 years.

The crowds of people who had gathered at the Fazl Mosque sang choral poems to see off their beloved Imamaa.

Huzoor’saa entourage arrived at Islamabad, Surrey at approximately 6:55pm where a large number of residents of Islamabad, those belonging to neighbouring Jamaats and many more joyfully welcomed Huzooraa.

After arriving at Islamabad, Huzooraa waved and said Salaam to the rejoicing crowds. The atmosphere echoed with the prayer:

ْ ُ َّ َ ْ َ َ َّ َّ ْ َّ َ َ َ َّ َ ‫الس ِم ْیع ال َعل ِْیم‬ ‫ربنا تقبل ِمنا ِانک انت‬

(Our Lord, accept this from us, for Thou art surely the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing) and choral poems (taranas) that children sang in praise of Allah to add colour to the very historic moment in the history of the Jamaat and Islam.

This day was reminiscent of the great hijrats (migrations) that have taken place in the history of Islam. When progress and prosperity is manifested through the expansion of Allah’s Jamaat and migration is destined to happen, then Allah provides facilities to contain and uphold the divine bounties bestowed by Allah on His Jamaat.

We are fortunate to be living in the time of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, through whom we have witnessed another milestone, among many,

in the growth of Islam Ahmadiyyat.

We know from history that every hijrat has opened up avenues for the propagation of Islam and we know with full conviction that his hijrat will lead the Jamaat towards success that is otherwise unattainable by mere human power – Insha-Allah.

Central offices – including Huzoor’saa private secretariat, Wakalat-e-Tabshir, Wakalat-e-Mal, Wakalat-e-Tamil-o-Tanfidh (India, Nepal and Bhutan) – have also moved to Islamabad as part of the Markaz’s shift.

As Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa mentioned in his latest Friday Sermon, the residential colony is being inhabited by Waqifeen-e-Zindagi, most of Continued on page 5

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Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM

The taking away of knowledge and the spread of ignorance at the end of time Hazrat Anas bin Malik, Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “It is from the conditions of the Last Hour that knowledge would be taken away and ignorance would prevail (upon the world), the liquor would be drunk, and adultery would become rampant.”

(Sahih Muslim, Kitab Al-Ilm)

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, In His Own Words

The blessings of righteousness We should always appraise the degree to which we have progressed in righteousness and piety. The criterion for this is the Quran. From among the hallmarks of the righteous, one sign manifested by Allah the Exalted in favour of a pious one is that He frees them from the unpleasant things of this world and Himself becomes the Guardian of their affairs. Allah the Exaltedَ states: ُْ َ َ ْ ّ ُ ّٰ َّ َ ‫َو َم ْن ّیـت ِﻖ الل َہ یَ ْج َع ْل ل ُہ َمخرَجا ّویَ ْرزق ُہ ِم ْن َح ْیﺚ لَا یَ ْح َت ِس ُب‬

“And he who fears Allah — He will make for him a way out, and will provide for him from where he expects not.”

Allah the Exalted delivers a person who fears Him from any affliction that may befall him, and grants him provision from where he expects not. In other words, one sign of a righteous person is that Allah the Exalted does not enslave him to the recourse of immoral ways and means. For example, a shopkeeper believes that his business cannot operate without the support of falsehood; for this reason he does not refrain from deception and expresses the need for speaking lies. However, this so-called need is completely unjustified. God Almighty becomes the Protector of a righteous person and saves him from such instances as would compel them to speak untruths. Remember, when a person abandons Allah the Exalted, God forsakes such a person as well. Moreover, when the Merciful God leaves a person, Satan definitely develops a relationship with such a one.

Think not that Allah Almighty is weak. Indeed, He is the possessor of immense power. When you put your trust in Him for support in any matter, He shall come to ٰ your aid. َ ّ َ َّ َ ‫َو َم ْن ّی َـتوَک ْل َعلی الل ِہ ف ُہوَ َح ْس ُب ٗہ‬

(Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, Malfuzat, Vol. 1, pp.

10-11)

This Week in History 19 - 25 April 19 April 1935: The central Shura of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat commenced and lasted for three days. On this occasion, opponents tried to provoke the event by forcefully occupying the public alleyway and unnecessarily turning it into their place of worship.

The miscreants also delivered hateful speeches.

19 April 1946: The formal inauguration of FazleUmar Research Institute took place in Qadian.

19 April 1946: Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Mansoor Ahmad departed from Qadian for his journey to the United Kingdom. The main aim and focus of this journey was to enhance his knowledge in technical and industrial fields for the manufacturing company that was installed in Qadian. He returned in October the same year.

water flow from where I stood [reference to Hazrat Ishmaelas]) Accordingly, a source of sweet and fresh drinkable water was traced in the early days of Rabwah. A tube well was installed afterwards, which proved to be the long-awaited possibility for a settlement and living in this newly planned town.

21 April 1960: Former President of Egypt Mr Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein was in New Delhi during his tour. A delegation of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat had the opportunity to meet him and present him literature of Jamaat.

22 April 1937: Haji Ahmad Khan Ayaz Sahib established the Ahmadiyya Mission in Warsaw, Poland.

Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Mansoor Ahmad

20 April 1932: Qadian witnessed a unique gathering of Companionsra of the Promised Messiahas. In this blessed event, about 300 Companionsra present in Qadian took part and shared faith-inspiring anecdotes related to their divine master and beloved Imamas.

20 April 1944: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra visited the shrines of Hazrat Khawaja Mir Dardrh and Hazrat Shah Valiyullah Dehlvirh. The very next day, Huzoorra returned to Qadian.

20 April 1945: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra was very passionate in his resolutions, even when worldly means and resources were lacking. On this day, he announced that there should be a spacious library in Qadian with all necessary books from all over the world. Huzoorra also hinted the need of a medical school in the town.

20 April 1952: During the night of 20 April, Hazrat Amma Jan, Syeda Nusrat Jehan Begum Sahibara passed away in Rabwah at the age of 86.

On 22 April, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra led the funeral prayer. In the early hours, she was buried in Bahishti Maqbarah, Rabwah. She was clothed with a blessed garment of the Promised Messiahas.

21 April 1941: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra began his month-long journey of Sindh.

21 April 1942: Hazrat Mir Qasim Alira passed away on this day at the age of 70. He entered the fold of the Jamaat in July 1902. He had the honour of publishing the announcements written by the Promised Messiahas in book-form under title Tablighe-Risalat. He also authored more than 30 books and issued many newspapers and journals for the propagation of Islam Ahmadiyyat.

21 April 1949: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra was vouchsafed this Urdu verse in a revelation: ‫اج� وہ� �ر � ��ی ر � �ب‬ ‫ن‬ � ‫�ؤں ےک ی‬ �‫� ےس �ے �� �د یا‬ (Passing by me, my beloved, your decree made

22 April 1958: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra travelled to Nakhla, Khushab District to avoid the heat of Punjab. Huzoorra stayed there for a week.

23 April 1910: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira inaugurated Masjid Nur, Qadian with the Asr prayer.

23 April 1910: Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra was very much concerned for the wellbeing of the Jamaat’s youth. On this day, he started a tarbiyati class for students, while he himself was a young man at that time.

23 April 1933: Mr MA Jinnah arrived at the Fazl Mosque to attend an event organised by the then Imam of Fazl Mosque, Hazrat Maulana Abdur Rahim Dardra. He delivered his famous speech praising “the eloquent persuasion” of the imam to restart his political struggle for the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent.

23 April 1943: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra was not in favour of a mixed education system and emphasised the observance of purda. On this date, Huzoorra also foretold the Western decline in a prophetic manner.

24 April 1941: On this day, the first ever sports event of Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya (Ahmadiyya Youth Association for boys between the ages of 7 and 15) was held in Qadian. The competitions of mushahida muaina (observation) and paigham rasani (Chinese whispers) were conducted.

24 April 1942: Famous scholar and renowned author of Muslims, Syed Sulaiman Nadwi appealed to the government of the time to appoint a Sheikh-ul-Islam (title for a leader of Muslims) with wages for the reformation of the sad condition of the Muslims.

This idea was strongly opposed in this date’s Al Fazl newspaper.

24 April 1944: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra instructed members of the Jamaat to focus on producing Huffaz (those who commit the Holy Quran to memory).

24 April 1932: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra placed the foundation stone of his residence Darul-Hamd in the neighbourhood of Darul-Anwar, Qadian. Several other notable personalities began to build homes in the same neighbourhood following this.

24 April 1932: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra inaugurated new offices of Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya.

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Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM

From the Markaz

Germany tabligh team seeks guidance from Huzoor in London ermany Jamaat’s national tabligh team had an audience with Hazrat Khalifatul G Masih V on 13 April 2019. They sought aa

guidance on various matters and Huzooraa very graciously answered their questions in about an hour-long audience in the Mahmood Hall, Fazl Mosque, London.

A member asked if it is good to always present their contacts the book World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace. Huzooraa replied that it is always best to first determine the aptitude of the person that you have come in contact with before selecting what type of literature would be of interest to them.

Huzooraa mentioned how he himself first gets to know the other person’s interests before he hands them literature about the Jamaat.

Abdul Hafeez Bharwana Sahib, a missionary from Germany, conveyed to Huzooraa the Salaam of German Arab Ahmadis. He then asked Huzooraa how more non-Ahmadi Arabs could be invited to Ahmadiyyat. Huzooraa said that all one can do is convey to them the message of the Promised Messiahas and his teachings and then leave it to Allah. We cannot and should not force them to accept the message and it is only Allah who can bring about a change of heart.

Munir Ahmad Munawar Sahib, another missionary from Germany, enquired about the conflict between the Kurds and the Turks living in Germany. Huzooraa explained that it is our duty to bring the Muslim world to become an “Ummat-eWahida”—a nation united as one.

A member from the Germany tabligh team informed Huzooraa that the German people raise many allegations against the religion of Islam. Huzooraa said that most of the allegations these days are not from religious circles but are atheistic in nature.

Atheists take great pride in alleging the Quran of not being adequate for answering modern-day questions and being too harsh on certain matters of the so-called modernity. Huzooraa said that such people need to be told that Islam has been sent by

Allah to reform people and not to justify modern day desires. When reformation is to be attained, it has to be through certain restrictions. It is these restrictions on impulsive desires that the world has come to see as harsh and this is what needs to be explained to them. Religion aims at changing people, not people changing it to fit their personal, impulsive desires.

A member had been facing difficulty explaining taqdir (divine decree) to nonbelieving Westerners. Huzooraa instructed that it does not have to be the first issue to be raised with them, and if it happens to come under discussion, then they should be told about the many prophecies mentioned in the Holy Quran that have come true after hundreds of years. Through this, one can draw their attention towards the Omniscient Being Who knows about our destiny.

Huzooraa reminded the gentleman, and the whole tabligh team, that they should themselves have a living connection with Allah the Almighty before calling anyone to Him; without the former, the latter is not possible. Huzooraa said that if those doing tabligh are actively in connection with Allah, they can cite their own experiences of acceptance of prayers; even challenging them to see whose prayers are accepted more.

A member showed concern on the growing right-wing tendency in the general public of European countries. He wanted to know what role an Ahmadi could play.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said that people should be told about the tolerant teachings of Islam. When we notice that they see Islam as an intolerant religion, we can call their attention to the reform that has taken place through the reformer of the age, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, the Promised Messiah. So they need to be told that Islam has gone through reformation and that Muslims have been reminded by the founder of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat that coercion and violence are actually alien to Islam.

A member of the team requested Huzooraa for prayers that the efforts of the German tabligh team be fruitful. Huzooraa said: “You have to pray for yourself. You have to put in all your efforts and pray for yourself. Only then will my prayers be fruitful for you.”

Some members had experienced that the mention of Chanda (the Jamaat’s financial donations) repels some people from accepting Ahmadiyyat. Huzooraa explained to them that he has already set a three-year settling-in period for new members that join the Jamaat. Huzooraa said that this settling-in period was due to the fact that a person needs to first integrate fully into the system of the Jamaat, learn about the teachings, know about what the Jamaat is doing in terms of propagating Islam to the whole world and then feel the urge to donate towards the mission of the Jamaat. Huzooraa said that this desire to spend in the way of Allah should come from within rather than being imposed.

Huzooraa went on to say that the Holy Quran also asks for one to believe in the unseen (ghayb) before anything else i.e.

Allah and His divine system. Then comes the injunction of Salat and then, finally, the instruction to spend in the way of Allah

(wa mimma razaqna-hum yunfiqun [Ch.2: V.4]). Huzooraa instructed that the same order should be followed when taking new members on board.

“What can an Ahmadi do in terms of international conflicts?” asked a member of the team. Huzooraa said that on an individual level, we can convey the message of Islam in terms of conflicts – stop the oppressor, help the oppressed recover from the tyranny and then let them live in freedom where they can freely exercise their potential to get back on track and progress.

A member of the team asked Huzooraa to suggest a particular prayer to improve tabligh efforts. Huzooraa said that the Holy Prophet’ssa prayers have been recorded in Hadith and they have been put together in books. So, we have the Holy Prophet’ssa prayers that he offered on various occasions in various situations and we can always refer to them and offer them in our own prayers. Huzooraa said that the Promised Messiahas encouraged us to pray in one’s own language as that helps blend one’s own passion with the supplications, hence increasing the chance of their acceptance.

The meeting ended with a group photo with Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa.

First Spanish Jalsa of South America held in Paraguay Aishnah Mishaal Baten Paraguay Correspondent

he first Jalsa Salana of Paraguay was held T on 29-30 March 2019 in Asuncion, the capital city. This was the first ever Spanish

Jalsa of South America.

Eleven countries were represented, including Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Canada, United States, Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala.

Many South American converts travelled long distances by road with their delegations to attend this blessed convention. Many Khuddam came all the way from Canada to serve selflessly in this historic Jalsa. The theme of this Jalsa was How Islam Promotes

Peace.

The first day had an attendance of 60 people. The first session was opened with the recitation of the Holy Quran and an Urdu poem with translation in Spanish. The keynote speech was delivered by Malik Lal Khan Sahib, Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Canada on how Islam promotes peace.

On the second day, 85 people attended the Jalsa. Many tabligh contacts were made at the Jalsa who had become interested in Islam Ahmadiyyat.

Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa graciously sent a message for the Paraguayan Ahmadis which was read out in English by Amir Sahib Canada and

translated by missionary of Paraguay, Abdun Nur Ghalib Baten Sahib in the beginning of the second and third session of the Jalsa.

The dignitaries that attended included the Paraguayan Vice Minister of Religion Fernando Griffith and Director of Education Dora Gonzalez who both spoke to attendees. An Islamic professor from Uruguay, Susanna Mangana also attended and addressed the audience.

During the Jalsa days, four Paraguayans, by the sheer grace of Allah, performed the Bai‘at and joined the Jamaat, including Felix Coronel, Javier Candia, Bethania Escobar and Maria Victoria.

The Paraguay Jamaat bore witness to the

countless blessings of Jalsa Salana and the prayers of our beloved Imam, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa. For the few weeks leading up to Jalsa, constant rain and thunderstorms made it difficult for us to plan ahead. Then, just as the guests began to arrive for Jalsa Salana, the rain miraculously stopped. It remained sunny throughout the Jalsa days, and the day after the Jalsa, it began raining again.

This Jalsa was a source of immense blessings for all who attended, and it is our prayer that the Jamaat continues to grow in leaps and bounds in South America.

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Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM

EXCLUSIVE

A New Markaz Precious moments with Huzoor

Huzoor’s arrival in Islamabad, Surrey on Monday evening

Asif M Basit

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azrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa delivered a Friday Sermon on 12 April 2019 in the Baitul Futuh Mosque.

A series of sermons had been delivered on the Companionsra of the Holy Prophetsa and on this day too, the Companionsra were the focus of the sermon.

Towards the end of the sermon, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa informed the Jamaat that of the meanings of the revelation vouchsafed to the Promised Messiahas: َ َ َ ‫َو ّ ِس ْع َمکانک‬

one interpretation was that along with the expansion of the Jamaat’s tasks, Allah would bestow physical expansion also. And in light of this very meaning, Huzooraa said, Allah had bestowed upon the Jamaat a new Markaz in Islamabad, Tilford. With that, Huzooraa urged the Jamaat to pray that Islamabad lived up to its name – an abode of Islam.

Thereafter, Huzooraa said: “In a few days, I shall leave London for Islamabad.”

This one sentence caused emotions to surge, especially for those who, like me, had become accustomed to the streets surrounding the Fazl Mosque; those who, like me, had to make at least one trip to the Fazl Mosque a day and those who, no matter where they were headed, would prefer to acquire the route travelling past the Fazl Mosque.

Above and beyond all emotions, however, was the delight of a new Markaz and the expansion of the Jamaat.

That very same evening, I was informed that I had a mulaqat on Monday, 15 April. I had an inkling that this mulaqat could well be my last mulaqat in Huzoor’s Fazl Mosque based office.

What didn’t go through my mind whilst thinking about this! Attempting to conceal these emotions, I found myself ready on the day to enter Huzoor’s office for my mulaqat.

All important matters were discussed.

Huzooraa mentioned a recent group mulaqat with German Ahmadis and referred to an answer he had given to a question on the issue of taqdir – divine decree. Huzooraa said: “I wanted to draw their attention to a fact that Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra mentioned in one of his couplets: ‫دت�ر ےک اجولں ی‬ ‫بی‬ ‫ رک ہضبق اج ےک دقمر رپ‬،‫م تم سنھپ‬ (Don’t just sit and weave plans; go out and grab your fate.)

“We should aim to make our destiny along with maintaining determination, effort and prayers, rather than sitting idly and awaiting our fate.”

Thereafter I presented a few more pending issues, which Huzooraa graciously gave guidance on. Then came the subject of Islamabad.

Here, I asked a question that had etched itself in my heart for some time: “An ordinary human being remains uncertain about even the smallest decisions, but the Khalifa has to make huge decisions, for example, shifting the Markaz from one place to another…”

Huzooraa replied: “The Khalifa has to bear in mind the entire Jamaat before making a decision.

When the idea initially occurred to me of shifting the Markaz to Islamabad, I gave it great thought. At times I felt that it may not be suitable, while at other times I felt that the time was not fitting. Sometimes I would reflect on whether we should even shift to Islamabad or to some other location. Then I would pray to Allah that He bestow guidance so that we adopt the best method. Thereafter, Allah reassured me about establishing the Markaz in Islamabad, and thus, this decision was made easy. The hurdles that had initially made it difficult to move soon began to disappear. The biggest hurdle was one related to the local council, but Allah caused that too to vanish. After that, everything began to go smoothly and very soon the new Markaz began to take shape.”

A pause followed this – the pause in which to interrupt is somewhat disrespectful.

Alhamdolillah, I did not interject and Huzooraa graciously carried on: “After my sermon, those who had played an active role in purchasing the land of Islamabad in the time of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh are writing to me saying that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh expressed his desire many a time that Islamabad serve as the Markaz. However, at that time, there were many constraints. There were so many restrictions by the local council that to adhere to all those became an impossibility.

I am writing back to all such people saying

that Allah has appointed a fixed time for everything. Here, too, it is all about what is destined. The fruits of the labour done back then had an appointed time. We carried on with our determination and very soon the time that Allah had appointed for this arrived. In this manner, Allah blessed all the efforts and determination.”

The moment Huzooraa mentioned the shift of Markaz in his Friday Sermon, the thought occurred to me that people must have written intriguing opinions and facts to Huzooraa in this regard. Obviously, I did not have the courage to ask such a blunt question to Huzoor, and even if I did, I would have done so very apprehensively, and the moment would have been squandered. By God’s grace, Huzooraa himself added: “Some people have said that Rabwah served as the Markaz for almost 35 years and now, almost the same period has passed for this Markaz, and it is time to move. People are writing many different points to me.”

After a slight pause, Huzooraa said: “People with an interest in linguistics and languages have also written to me.

Mirza Muhammad-uddin Naz Sahib wrote that Islamabad is based in Tilford. In English, Tilford means a fertile piece of land, adjacent to a river. He said that the Hadith that refers to a person named Harith who would appear from beside a river, is perhaps an indication to this move.”

After the mulaqat, when I searched the meaning of Tilford in the dictionary, it read, “From a fertile ford” (ferTILE-FORD perhaps became Tilford).

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Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM Then I searched for the Hadith which my beloved Imamaa had made a reference to. In Izala-e-Auham, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiahas says: “It says in Abu Daud’s Sahih that a person named Harith, that is Harith who lives beside a river … shall come forward, who shall give strength to the people of the Prophet; whose assistance and support will be the foremost duty of every believing person.”

The individual about to dwell on the lush green ford is Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih-ul-Maudas and has vast experience and education in agriculture.

In the sermon, Huzooraa also urged members to pray that this land of Islamabad became a centre for the propagation of Islam.

With all these points before me, I recalled a sitting with Jamia Ahmadiyya UK in which a student asked Huzooraa: “Huzoor, do you still have an interest in agriculture?”

Huzooraa replied: “I do, but now you are my crops.”

I gathered all these memories and the deeper meanings of Islamabad being situated in Tilford.

The mulaqat was almost coming to a close. Along with the delight of Huzoor’saa move to Islamabad was another thought that had made its presence felt in my mind.

It became difficult to word – so difficult that I only managed to say:

AMA UK

Continued from page 1 whom will be working in the local offices.

In a period of just around two years, we have seen a great transformation of what was once a make-shift residential facility into state-of-theart offices and residential complex.

Earlier in the week, in his Friday Sermon, Huzooraa mentioned the revelation vouchsafed to the Promised Messiahas by Allah the Almighty:

َ َ َ ‫َو ّ ِس ْع َمکانک‬

“Enlarge your abode.” Huzooraa said that Allah intended that the Promised Messiahas extend his facilities so as to house the growing needs of the Jamaat that he had founded under Divine instruction.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said that with the passage of time, we have witnessed how Allah has blessed the Jamaat with immense expansion and growth. The revelation actually pointed to the glory and prosperity that was destined to come to Islam through the Promised Messiahas and extension in all facilities would be required. We witness this promise of Allah being manifested globally.

Huzooraa stated that ever since the migration of Khilafat to England in 1984, the expansion of the Jamaat had resulted in extension of buildings and facilities.

When Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh migrated

Huzoor leading Maghrib prayer after arrival at the new Markaz

“Huzoor, now the Fazl Mosque…”

May Allah always keep my Imamaa happy for he bestowed such an answer to my incomplete question, the wording of which is worthy of being engraved on stone: “The significance and importance of the Fazl Mosque can never diminish. Including Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, four Khulafa have led prayers in this mosque and prayed to Allah. This is an asset that cannot be taken away from this mosque. In my sajdas [prostrations] whilst praying in this mosque, I always pray to Allah, ‘O Allah, fulfil the desire Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra had when establishing this mosque; accept the prayers he made in this mosque; accept the prayers of all the Khulafa who prayed here.’ I even pray that the prayers said by the Khulafa in this mosque are always attached to this mosque and that we continue to reap the fruits of those prayers and become worthy recipients.”

The mulaqat came to a close and I left that office.

I only had two mulaqats with Hazrat

Khalifatul Masih IVrh and they both took place in that very office.

My very first mulaqat with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa took place in that office; my Waqf-e-Zindagi was accepted in that office; when I was assigned responsibilities

by Huzooraa and had to report to or seek guidance from him, I always returned to that very office.

As a Waqif-e-Zindagi, I was taught to walk in that office. For 16 years, the rust on my soul was continuously cleansed. My master, who is aware of my weaknesses and flaws, graciously attempted to purify me in that office.

With respect to my spiritual ailments, I always sought guidance on remedies in that office. In that office, I fell in love with this person. In that office, I learnt the true meaning of love for Khilafat and the grandeur of Khilafat.

All these memories flickered through my mind; however, memories are limited to emotions. The happiness that is paired with reality is far superior and powerful.

to London, Allah showed His support by granting the Jamaat, alongside many other blessings, the land of Islamabad in Tilford, Surrey. This soon turned into a colony of houses, offices and a residential facility for the Khalifatul Masih.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa recalled how Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh had mentioned to him that Islamabad was a great blessing of Allah and that he had expressed his desire to establish the headquarters of the Jamaat in Islamabad.

Huzooraa stated that by the grace of Allah, the Jamaat had now been able to develop offices, a residential colony for Waqifeen and a residence for Khalifatul Masih.

After the migration of Khilafat to London, Markaz offices had been housed in residential properties around the Fazl Mosque. This frequently called for the local residents and council complaining about the residential properties being used for official purposes.

Now, with the new complex in Islamabad, Huzooraa said that some Markazi offices on Gressenhall Road would move to the new facility.

The Markaz also purchased an office complex in Farnham a few years earlier and then Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya UK secured a building nearby.

Hadiqatul Mahdi, the UK Jalsa Gah, has been near Alton since 2006 – also a short distance from Islamabad. Jamia Ahmadiyya UK

that was initially based in London was moved to Haslemere, Surrey to a much vast and better building in 2012. All these facilities to be in close proximity of Islamabad was not intentionally planned. Huzooraa said that it seems to be Allah’s plan that all these facilities were being established in a couple of miles radius of Islamabad – the new Markaz.

Huzooraa instructed the Jamaat to pray that Allah blessed the new setup.

Huzooraa stated that since Khalifatul Masih’s office and residence too have been established in Islamabad, Huzooraa would soon be moving from London to Islamabad.

Huzooraa urged the Jamaat to pray that Islamabad, in line with its name, becomes a centre of resonating the message of Islam to the world.

Huzooraa said that although he would lead the Jumuah prayers in Baitul Futuh, London, there would be facility for the Jamaats within a 20-mile radius of Tilford to attend the Jumuah in the newly built mosque at Islamabad.

Huzooraa instructed that those travelling to Islamabad should bear in mind that local residents and authorities should be given no reason to complain about traffic and any other related issues.

We pray to Allah that He makes this new Markaz a beacon of light for all mankind

The reality is that Allah has bestowed on the Jamaat a new Markaz and has enabled us to establish the Qasr-e-Khilafat (residence of Khilafat) in the heart of Christianity, rather, in the heart of disbelief. From here shall project the rays of Islam and illuminate the world.

I end with the poetic couplets of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra written in 1920 when the land that now holds the Fazl Mosque was purchased: ‫رمزکِ رشک ےس ٓاواز ٔہ ی‬ ‫وتحد ااھٹ‬ ‫ش‬ ‫ن ن‬ ‫وخر� ااھٹ‬ ‫ید‬ ‫ رغمب ےس ےہ‬،‫د�یکھ��ا د�یکھ��ا‬ ‫ک رہھٹے یگ‬ ‫ونر ےک اسےنم تملظ الھب ی ا‬ ‫اجن ول دلج یہ اب ملظِ انصد�ی د ااھٹ‬ “A call to God’s unity is heard from the centre of polytheism; watch the sun rise from the West.

“How will darkness prevail before light; the tyranny of old gods is now to see its end.”

Waving to the crowds gathered at the Fazl Mosque, London and that this new headquarters facilitates the Jamaat further in propagating the message of Muhammad Rasulullahsa to all corners of the earth.

6

Second Jalsa Salana Swaziland Abbas bin Suleman Swaziland Correspondent

T

he Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Eswatini (Swaziland) successfully held its 2nd Jalsa Salana on 30 March 2019.

The Jalsa was organised in Hlatikulu, Magele at our mosque, where 155 Jamaat members and guests assembled for the Jalsa. A delegation of 9 members from South Africa, led by the Amir and Missionary In-charge Mansoor Ahmad Zahid Sahib, attended the Jalsa, the theme of which was Ensuring Discipline in Society; The Role of Religion. Several external guests also graced the event with their presence.

The Jalsa started with Tahajud prayers, which was followed by a dars on the importance and blessings of Salat. Fajr prayer was led by Amir Sahib followed by another short dars from the Holy Quran.

The main sitting of the Jalsa was marked by several speeches. Amir Sahib gave his keynote address on the theme of the Jalsa. Mr Ahmad Abdullah Opoku from Limmpopo province of South Africa delivered a speech on The long-awaited messiah has come. Among other topics, speeches covered Islam and hygiene and Should Islam really be feared?

Some guests who were invited were given space to say a few words. They all spoke highly of the Jamaat and requested that the Jamaat should organise more of such gatherings so that they can learn more about Islam as they were lacking the true knowledge of Islam as a religion.

Alhamdolillah, the Jalsa was a success on all fronts despite initial anxieties due to a backlash from a local pastor and persons of influence.

By the grace of Allah and with the prayers of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, the Jalsa proved to be a landmark in the history of Ahmadiyyat in Swaziland. Alhamdolillah!

Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM

From the Archives

From a wartime school to the Ahmadiyya Markaz

The Surrey Advertiser | Mark Buckingham

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh led the first prayer at Islamabad after its purchase

heephatch School was a wartime S evacuation centre, established in Tilford in 1939, but after the war, it turned into a

rural centre for problem children of the suburbs of London.

The school, having provided safety, security and education for children with troubled backgrounds, shut down in 1977.

The land was sold for £80,000 but was again put on auction in 1984.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in the UK purchased the land with all the wooden structures that had once served as classrooms, administrative offices and dormitories for pupils of the boarding school.

Strict restrictions by the Waverley Borough Council, the home of the complex, did not permit any structural changes to the timber-framed blocks, and the Jamaat had to make do with only superficial alterations to turn the facility into a residential colony and some offices.

The Jamaat consistently contacted the council with requests for a complete overhaul of the structures, and by the grace of Allah, this permission was eventually granted – almost 30 years after the purchase.

A major refurbishment plan was drawn, approved by the council’s planning permissions department, and contractors were hired to materialise the new complex.

This new complex has a beautiful mosque – the Mubarak Mosque – alongside office blocks and a residential colony for personnel of Jamaat offices.

Islamabad now hosts the residence and the office of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih, hence becoming the new Markaz of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat.

Old images of Sheephatch School | Mark Buckingham

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Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM

Map of Tilford in 1913 – the year when the first Ahmadiyya missionary was sent to England |

Copyright Cassini Publishing Ltd

Map of Tilford in the time of the Promised Messiahas (1895) |

Copyright Cassini Publishing Ltd

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Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM

Hijrat

Journey in the cause of Allah

Hafiz Ijaz Ahmad Tahir Lecturer, Jamia Ahmadiyya UK

ً َ ۡ َ َ َ ُ ّٰ ‫َو َم ۡن ّی َہ‬ ‫ض ُم ٰرغ ًما ک ِثی ًرا ّو َس َعۃ ؕ َو َم ۡن‬ ‫اج ۡر فِ ۡی َس ِب ۡی ِل الل ِہ یَ ٰ ِج ۡد فِی الۡا ۡر‬ ِ ّ َ ً َ ُ ۡ ِ َ ۡۢ ۡ ُ ۡ َّ ٗ‫اللہ َو َر ُسوۡل ِہ ثُ َّم یُ ۡدر ۡک ُہ ال ۡ َموۡ ُت َفقَ ۡد َو َق َع اَ ۡجرُہ‬ ِ ‫یخرج ِمن بی ِت ٖہ مہاجرا ِالی‬ ٖ ِ َّ ً ۡ ُ َ ُ ّٰ َ َ َ ّٰ ِ َ َ ً ۡ ‫علی الل ِہ ؕ و کان اللہ غفورا ر ِحیما ۔‬ “And whoso emigrates from his country in the cause of Allah will find in the earth an abundant place of refuge and plentifulness.” (Surah al-Nisa, Ch.4: V.101) This promise of God was fulfilled with prophets of the past and their true followers, and similarly is valid and effective for all ages and time.

Abrahamas Prophets of Allah were forced to leave their homelands amidst hostile environment created by their opponents. Hazrat Abrahamas migrated from Ur (Iraq) and travelled all the way to find the Promised Land with his true followers. Abrahamas fled from the idolatrous people who desired to murder him.

Allah the Almighty commanded Hazrat Abarahamas in the following words?

“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, ‘Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I shall show thee.’” (Genesis 12:2) “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.”

(Genesis 12:1-3) During his travels to Haran, Moab, later to Egypt and then to what we today know as Palestine, his message became more commonly known and his following grew abundantly. Wherever he travelled to, he devoted his time in spreading the message that Allah the Almighty had bestowed upon him, and in return, Allah endowed both his sons Isaacas and Ishmaelas with mighty nations in the form of progeny and following.

God said to Abrahamas, “Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and

thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, [and] with his seed after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.”

(Genesis 17:19-21) In fulfilment of this divine covenant, two great nations emerged through Prophet Abraham’s progeny: the Israelites and the Ishmaelites. Both were rewarded

by God with great blessings as it was promised to them.

Many prophets like Jacobas, Josephas, Mosesas, Davidas and Solomonas were born among the Israelites. Through Ishmaelas, the king of all prophets Hazrat Muhammadsa was born and, as promised to Abrahamas, we know that his message spread to all parts of the world and people from all nations of the world accepted him.

Before hijrat (migration), Hazrat Abrahamas was not only abandoned by his family but was also issueless. Such a person, for his piety and for the obedience that he showed to Allah’s commandments in all matters, was given the status of prophethood and his travelling from one land to another brought a whole array of fruitful results; the blessings that we witness to this day.

Mosesas A few hundred years after Hazrat Abrahamas came another man of God, Mosesas, who fled from his homeland so that those who believed in the One God could profess and practice their religion freely and spread the message further.

He saved them from the atrocities of their tyrant king who had proclaimed divinity. Mosesas migrated, along with his followers, from Egypt to the desert of Sinai. Right from its onset, the journey of his hijrat came with many challenges and difficulties. But as he and his followers

remained steadfast, all hurdles in the way of their faith were removed by Allah’s will.

He strived to propagate the message of Allah under all circumstances up to his last breath. Soon after his demise, Canaan, the land promised to his forefathers, was given to his nation that settled their under the leadership of Joshua the son of Nun. The incident is recorded in the Bible in the following words: “Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, [even] to the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea towards the going down of the sun, shall be your coast. There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, [so] I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I swear unto their fathers to give them.” (Joshua: 1-7) With this land given to them by Allah the Almighty, they found the freedom to practice their religion and this hijrat proved for them to be an abundant and plentiful refuge. This God-gifted land was to later flourish into one of the mighty empires of the world where Israelites lived prosperously under the prophethood of Davidas and Solomonas.

Thus, Allah kept his promise that he made while Abrahamas was leaving his homeland.

Jesusas Fourteen hundred years after Prophet Mosesas, a promised reformer came for the Israelites, who had forsaken their true faith and had gone astray. Jesusas, son of Mary, the long awaited Messiah of the Israelites, was divinely appointed to revive the message of God. His people humiliatingly rejected him and tried to blemish him with an accursed death through crucifixion.

His own people turned against him and rejected the message of revival that he had brought from Allah. Since Allah never leaves his chosen ones alone, Jesusas not only survived this great ordeal but also undertook a hijrat, fleeing to the Eastern lands. He travelled extensively as part of his hijrat in pursuit of the lost tribes of Israelites. He was granted success in his search and he was able to impart the teachings of Allah the Almighty all along his route and later in the Himalayan lands where he had finally settled.

He too had left his country in the cause of Allah and was accepted by many nations

around the world. As the Holy Quran mentions that he was revered in this world and hereafter. Even the name “Messiah” has an innate meaning of sayyahat which means travelling. This interesting reference to his Messianic title indicates to the importance of his migration. Ibn Kathir, in his great work Bidayah wa an-Nihaya, relates: “It is said that he [Jesusas] was called Messiah for the travels that he undertook and for having fled his homeland in the way of his faith.” (Bidayah wa an-Nihaya, Vol 2) The Holy Prophet Muhammadsa Then came the time when Allah’s promise to Abrahamas was to be fulfilled once again, but this time with the greatest grandeur. From among the Ishmaelites, a great and final law bearing prophet, Hazrat Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was sent to not only his nation but to all peoples of the world.

His people tried to create hurdles in the way of propagating and practicing his religion. The Holy Prophetsa and his followers were severely persecuted in their hometown of Mecca, from where he had to migrate with his people to the town of Yathrib, later to be called Medina. This migration, known in Islamic History as Hijrat-e-Medina (or Hijrah), was through divine commandment and, as a result, was blessed with great rewards from Allah the Almighty. It was after this migration that the days of glory dawned upon the small immigrant community that rapidly transformed into a city, later into a state and then emerged as a global phenomenon; a revolution in every sense of the term.

This great hijrat – which he undertook on a Monday – brought about great blessings right from the time when it was underway. En route Medina, the Holy Prophetsa was followed by enemies, but was protected miraculously in the cave of Thaur. One of the enemies had been able to track down the Holy Prophetsa but ended up accepting Islam rather than killing him as had intended.

The Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas The Holy Prophetsa of Islam had informed his people that when they too would go astray like the Israelites, the same Mosaic pattern would be repeated with a messiah being sent to reform the initial teachings of Islam.

This grand prophecy was fulfilled, and Allah sent Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas as the promised reformer, Messiah and Mahdi to safeguard the fortress of Islam. A revelation vouchsafed to him by Allah the Almighty said: ‫داغ رجہت‬ ِ indicating that his community too would have to undergo the strenuous task of

9

Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM migration.

This revelation was fulfilled first in 1947 with the partition of India when the community, under the leadership of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra, had to migrate from Qadian in India to Lahore, now Pakistan.

It was a time of great tribulation when the entire community had to settle in migration camps and temporarily allocated buildings in Lahore. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra, under divine instruction, envisioned a town where Ahmadis could profess and practice their faith with freedom.

A barren piece of land, unfertile and without water, was purchased. The world saw it as a waste of money, but Allah the Almighty showed a great sign by turning what seemed like a wasteland into a blooming city. This town, built from scratch on a barren land, turned out to be the first planned town of Pakistan with the highest literacy rate, a place equipped with amenities of education and health and an infrastructure that even state-sponsored settlements have not been able to achieve in a similar fashion. Among the first few structures built in this town was a mosque called Masjid Mubarak.

This new Markaz of the Jamaat, named Rabwah, was soon fully functional and the propagation of Islam by the Jamaat saw new heights. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra lived the rest of his life in this town.

The time of the third Khilafat (19651982) was also spent with Rabwah serving as the Markaz of the Jamaat.

Right at the onset of the fourth Khilafat (1982), the political situation of Pakistan became such that it became impossible for the Khalifa to remain in Pakistan.

This situation had been brewing for many decades, but by 1984, certain legislation – proposed by the anti-Ahmadiyya clergy and advocated by the government of Pakistan – brought about another migration for the Ahmadiyya Jamaat.

This hijrat was to be the first intercontinental migration in Islam as all

other hijrats in Islam had been to the same part of the country or continent. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh moved to London and with him, the Markaz was established in the Fazl Mosque, from where it was to function for a period of three and a half decades.

As the hijrat of 1984 had happened in a state of emergency, the Markaz in London was more of a make-shift setup with offices put up in porta-cabins and residential properties around the Fazl Mosque. Despite frequent and consistent complaints by the neighbourhood and the local authorities, Allah enabled the Jamaat’s Markaz to continue functioning from whatever facilities it had.

With these very humble facilities, the Jamaat progressed manifold and it was from here that Muslim Television Ahmadiyya (MTA) was launched in 1992; literally taking the message of Islam to the corners of the Earth.

But Allah has His own ways. Just as Rabwah had remained the Jamaat’s Markaz for a period of three and a half decades, the Fazl Mosque too served as the Markaz for the same span of time. It was in this very Markaz that Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa took office as Khalifatul Masih V and a new era of propagation of Islam began. The Jamaat’s operational growth called for further expansion in the nervecentre of the Jamaat.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa announced in his Friday Sermon on 12 April 2019 that – staying in line with a revelation of the Promised Messiahas, “Expand your abode” – the Markaz was now to be established in Islamabad, Surrey where the office and the residence of Khalifatul Masih would be based, along with his private secretariat and other Markaz offices.

This called for another hijrat of Khalifatul Masih and naturally, the Markaz of the Jamaat – two inseparable entities.

Our beloved Imam, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa moved to this blessed place – the new Markaz of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya – on

Top: Early days of Rabwah Bottom: Present-day Rabwah, against all odds, Rabwah soon became inhabited and served as markaz

Monday, 15 April 2019.

This marked another turning-point in the history of Islam. The Markaz became functional from the very first day of this hijrat.

In the words of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, we pray that Allah makes “Islamabad” the source of spreading “Islam” to the corners of the earth.

Arrival of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa in Islamabad on Monday, 15 April

10

Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM

Hazrat Sir Chaudhry Muhammad ra Zafrulla Khan Hazrat Chaudhry Sahibra was a companion of the Promised Messiahas, member of the Viceroy’s Executive Council, judge of the Federal Court of India, president of the International Court of Justice, Pakistan’s first foreign minister, Pakistan’s representative to the UNO General Assembly and a devout servant of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat in Islam. Below is the final part of this article.

Part IV the next room where we both had breakfast. Afterwards, despite my insistence, he joined me in washing up. That was very hard for me, but as the saying goes: َ ْ َ َ ْ َ َْ ‫الام ُر ف ْوق الا َدب‬ “Obedience to an order gets preference over respect.” I had no choice.

The tale of an orange A very interesting incident took place one day. I went to the shops and saw noticed ripe, big oranges. I purchased some and placed them on the breakfast table.

The next day, when Chaudhry Sahibra arrived and before starting breakfast, he picked up one orange and asked me, “Rashed Sahib, will you have half of the orange?” In my naivety and informality, I replied, “No.” “Then I will not have it either, as the remaining half will go to Hazrat Sir Zafrulla Khanra arriving at the Round Table Conference with Khan Sahib Farzand Ali Khan Sahib in waste” Chaudhry Sahibra replied London, 1932 before placing the orange back.

Chaudhry Sahibra suffered from Ataul Mujeeb Rashed diabetes and was on medical advice. He Missionary In-charge, UK could have one small orange or half of a large one in the morning. I was unaware of Hidden aspects of his character Now, I shall state an aspect of Hazrat that and therefore made the mistake that Chaudhry Sahib’sra character known to day.

The following morning at breakfast, very few. I am an eyewitness to these. These Chaudhry Sahibra again took an orange incidents relate to the 1971 and 1972.

As already mentioned, Hazrat Chaudhry and asked me the same question. I replied Sahibra used to stay in a very small flat. I immediately, “Yes, indeed.” Then he cut the was staying in the adjoining flat while my orange and had half of it himself and gave family was in Pakistan. We had agreed me the other half. Thus, I got half of an on a schedule in which Chaudhry Sahib orange from him and an excellent lesson as would enter through the middle door at an well. appointed time and we would have breakfast Compliance with medical advice together at the same table. I used to open the middle door shortly prior to that time and During the period I saw Hazrat Chaudhry ra Chaudhry Sahibra used to come dressed in Sahib , his diet was rather small and his dressing gown at the exact time; I was selective. He had suffered from diabetes for also dressed in a gown. We both used to go about 40 years. He followed medical advice very strictly and scrupulously and never to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

Let me mention here that the very took anything against the advice of doctors, first day I had respectfully and firmly even if someone insisted. That was the secret requested that I be granted the service to of his good health. Allah blessed him with a prepare breakfast saying that it would be a long and active life.

Looking at his discipline and strict great source of blessings for me: “You take your seat; I shall prepare the breakfast and compliance with medical advice, some of his serve you.” However, Chaudhry Sahibra close friends commented that “Chaudhry emphatically replied, “No, I will fully Sahib is not suffering from diabetes, rather participate in preparing the breakfast.” I had diabetes is suffering from Chaudhry Sahib.”

Sometimes Chaudhry Sahibra happened no choice but to comply with his directive. ra to hear these comments and it led to a Accordingly, Chaudhry Sahib participated fully in preparing the breakfast. dignified smile on his face, but it did not Then he would take the cups and plates to affect his routine.

Advice by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira Cocoa powder in hot milk was his favourite drink. The reason for that, as he put it, was that when he was about to leave for Europe for the first time, he visited Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira for prayers and guidance. One advice he received from Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra was about the use of cocoa. He said: “You are going to England which is a cold country. People think that they need to drink alcohol to protect themselves from the cold. I am a physician and know very well that this is incorrect. If you feel like protecting yourself from the cold, use cocoa.

It is nourishing and protects from the ill effects of cold.” He remembered that advice always and benefited from it a great deal.

Preparing breakfast himself One day, when he came for breakfast, he said that he wanted to prepare the whole breakfast himself. I said, “Okay, go ahead, if that is your wish.”

Chaudhry Sahibra poured milk in the saucepan, then he broke a bread into small pieces and added to the milk, next he cracked two eggs and put in the saucepan and finally some honey according to his taste. He cooked all that thoroughly.

Even today as I write this, I can visualise Chaudhry Sahibra holding a spoon in his hand stirring the mixture slowly to prevent it sticking to the bottom of the saucepan and getting burnt. In a few minutes, the halwa-like food was ready. We both ate the delicious breakfast from one dish.

Breakfast out of one pan A very interesting incident took place one day. Hazrat Chaudhry Sahibra and I were preparing breakfast in the kitchen. Having fried the eggs, I was going to put them in a plate. Chaudhry Sahibra, who was standing next to me on the left, caught hold of my upper arm and asked, “Rashed Sahib, what are you going to do?” I replied, “These eggs are ready. I am going to put them in the plate and take them to the next room for our breakfast.”

“Who is going to wash the plate?” he asked. “I myself will”, I replied. He said, “Rather than wash the plate, why not eat out of the frying pan.” “As you like”, I replied.

I took the frying pan to the dining room and once again had the good fortune of eating breakfast from the same pan with a respectable companion of the Promised Messiahas.

A full life By the grace of Allah, Hazrat Chaudhry Sahibra had a successful, full and busy

life under divine mercy. Even during his temporal and political engagements, he always gave preference to his religion.

He managed to observe prayers on time with extraordinary commitment. He made full use of time. He adorned his time with the remembrance of Allah. He carried out Jihad of the pen and tongue throughout his life. He translated the Holy Quran into English, which was very popular. He authored many books. He wrote inspiring books about Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira and his own mother. He wrote his autobiography in great detail and in a very humble style.

He also translated writings of the Promised Messiahas in English.

During the last few years of his life, he excused himself from worldly commitments and devoted himself completely to the service of faith till his last breath. These services by him fall in the category of ongoing charity. The days when he was busy with composition, writing and translation work, spending most of his time on that, he would say: “I am busy the whole day and this continues late into the night. At last when I get tired and plan to sleep, I put my pen down and tell myself, ‘Zafrulla Khan! You are very tired, rest a while. You have worked today according to your God-given capacity.

Go to sleep now. If Allah grants you more time, do the rest tomorrow.’ Saying that, I lie down on my bed.”

What a mystical and inspiring style of going to sleep!

He frequently used a Persian verse in his conversation: ‫ن‬ ‫د�ا ےسک امتم رکند‬ ‫اک ِر ی‬ That is to say, “Nobody has ever accomplished all the tasks of this world.”

That is true indeed. However, this too is a reality that in using the time to full effect and using it for beneficent works, Chaudhry Sahibra set an example worth following. He regarded each day and every moment to be Allah’s blessing and tried to spend it in the best possible way.

Talking about this subject, he frequently used the word “respite” that was most appropriate in this sagacious statement. In his conversations, the subject of gratitude for divine favours came up frequently. With reference to sleep, he used to mention very often that of the innumerable favours that Allah had bestowed on him, one was that he fell asleep as soon as he put his head on the pillow.

Thus, none of his time was wasted. He stated many times that when travelling by road, as his car stopped at traffic lights for a short while, he would fall asleep and wake up when it restarted.

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Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM The final journey To conclude, I would like to mention about two of my last meetings with Hazrat Chaudhry Sahibra – one during his lifetime and the other after his demise.

When I came to London for the second time in 1983, he was staying in London but had decided to spend the last days of his life in Pakistan. He used to say that he wanted to go to Pakistan while fully mobile on his feet, not enclosed in a coffin.

A few days after my arrival in London, he was scheduled to leave for Pakistan on 19 November 1983 and farewell meetings were ongoing. Chaudhry Sahibra generally treated everyone with love and affection that was more noticeable during the farewell meetings.

Besides the elderly and young members of the Jamaat, he also treated children with affection. However, I never saw him holding any child in his lap. Our son, Ataul Munem Rashed was 11 months old then. I carried him to meet Chaudhry Sahibra thinking that he might or might not get this chance ever again. Chaudhry Sahibra took him in his lap and luckily, he benefitted from his love and prayers. Someone photographed this unique moment but regrettably I do not know who he was and where that photo is now.

On 19 November 1983, he travelled to Lahore via a PIA flight from London Heathrow. This humble one was among those who went to bid him farewell. I had the blessing of embracing him on that occasion which turned out to be the farewell embrace. Fortunately, the photograph taken on that occasion is still there.

He passed away on 1 September 1985 in Lahore. The UK Ahmadiyya Jamaat, greatly indebted to the late Chaudhry Sahibra for his favours, sent a 3-man delegation to Pakistan for participation in the funeral prayer with approval from Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh. This humble one was also included in this delegation.

His body lay in the house of Chaudhry Hameed Nasrullah Khan Sahib’s house, where he had passed away. There was a steady stream of Ahmadis and nonAhmadis visiting for condolences. We entered the room where his body was laid.

Dressed in white sheets, the pious saint rested with amazing splendour. Even at that time, the badge bearing the kalima ّ ٰ ُ َ ٌ َ ُ ّ ٰ َّ ٰ َ ‫لا اِل َہ اِلاالل ُہ ��َ ّﻤد ّر ُس ْول الل ِہ‬ which he had dedicated all his faculties for throughout his life, was shining on his chest.

After seeing the luminous face of the soul-at-rest, we participated twice in the funeral prayers for him at Lahore and Rabwah.

Later, when he was being buried in the special enclosure of Bahishti Maqbara, Rabwah with the permission of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh, this humble one also had the good fortune of taking part in his burial and joining in the final prayer.

Hazrat Chaudhry Muhammad Zafrulla Khan Sahibra departed from this world having lived a very blessed and successful life.

May Allah the Exalted grant him a worthy station close to Him. He has departed, but his memories live on and will always be remembered affectionately.

100 Years Ago...

Fresh sign in Afghanistan Imprisonment of Nasrullah Khan Al Hakam, 21-28 April 1919 Hazrat Sahibzada Abdul Latif Shaheedra is seated on the floor, extreme left. His martyrdom inspired Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiahas to write Tadhkiratu-Shahadatain (The Narrative of Two Martyrdoms) in which Huzooras foretold that Afgahnistan may never live in peace again

t has been said previously with regard Ighanistan to the current state of affairs in Afthat after the murder of Amir

Habibullah Khan, Nasrullah Khan, along with some government officials, was imprisoned.

Nasrullah Khan was among those vehement opponents who acquired the death penalty fatwa for Hazrat Sahibzada Abdul Latif Shaheedra. Thus, he has a deep-rooted grudge and bitterness against the Jamaat.

Sahibzada Abdul Latif ’s martyrdom has in it eternal life and his memory shall always live on with reverence and grandeur for eternity. He did not shudder in the slightest out of fear of expressing the truth and considered easy laying down his life for his faith and what he believed to be the truth.

Not only is Nasrullah Khan answerable for the death of this pious individual, but now, as events have transpired, he is responsible for the death of the Amir – his biological brother. For this, he has been sentenced to life in prison.

These incidents can do a lot in bringing a person towards the right path, provided one opens their eyes.

The actual news story is as follows: “The Pioneer, Allahabad, 23 April 1919: We learn that at a public durbar held in Kabul on the 13th instant Nasrulla Khan was found guilty of having instigated the murder of the late Amir and sentenced to

imprisonment for life. A like sentence was passed on a Court page found guilty of complicity in the crime while an Afghan Colonel, accused of having actually committed the murder, was executed. When the Jalalabad soldiery withdrew their allegiance from Nasrulla Khan they arrested and treated with ignominy the members of the powerful Musahiban family, including the late Commander-in-Chief, but these were all honourably acquitted by the durbar. The events described, which appear to have been brought about without internal disturbance, seem to indicate that the new Amir holds a very strong position.

The fact that only a few persons have been punished for the assassination of Habibulla, moreover, suggests a restraint that is remarkable for Afghanistan.”

[Following this, news outlets covered this story in the days that ensued. A passage from The Leader – an Indian newspaper – is presented below.]

“Durbar at Kabul – Murder of the Late Amir; Sardar Nasrullah Imprisoned for Life; Stirring Speech by the Present Amir.

“Information regarding the important durbar held at Kabul on 3 April is now filtering through to the frontier.

The Amir, who was dressed in khaki, explained the object of the durbar by saying that he wished to present to the assembly the inquiries he has made and the tentative conclusions he had formed regarding his father’s murder and to ask the durbar

for their opinion and guidance in deciding this all important matter. The papers and files were then produced and the complicity and fate of Sardar Nasrullah Khan were discussed. Some of those assembled advocated death sentence. The Amir himself recommended imprisonment for life. The discussion finally resulted in the unanimous finding by the durbar that Sardar Nasrullah Khan should be punished by imprisonment for life.

Colonel Shah Ali Raza was convicted of the actual assassination and sentenced to death, a sentence which was carried out immediately after the durbar.

“Before the durbar closed the Amir made a stirring speech. The emotion with which he delivered it evidently made a great impression on the assembly and the passage which impressed them most is said to have been to this effect: ‘The object which occupied my mind ever since the death of my lamented father [Abdur Rahman Khan] and which by the grace of God and through the sincere help and loyalty of both civil and military, has now been achieved, is vengeance for my father’s murder. Ever since his death I have worn khaki and on hearing of his death I drew my sword (the Amir here raised his sword aloft) and have kept it drawn until now when I sheathe it once more in triumph at my success.’

“On the durbar coming to a close the Amir rode away followed by the crowd of durbaris.”

12

Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM Responding to Allegations

Interest Did Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas condone spending money acquired through interest? pponents of the Jamaat allege regarding O a particular edict of the Promised Messiah on interest, claiming it to be as

wrong and suggesting that under the guise of this edict, the founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam sought to seize control of money acquired through interest.

Before taking up the edict presented by the opponents, it is quite necessary to mention several other edicts of the Promised Messiahas regarding interest.

Once, the Promised Messiahas was asked whether in certain inevitable scenarios interest was permitted. The Promised Messiahas said: “I cannot give an edict in favour of it [interest]. It is forbidden by all means. A type of interest is permissible in Islam and that is while lending money to someone, one does not place a precondition of any sort and the one in debt, acknowledging the favour, willingly gives an additional sum while returning the loan. This was the practice of the Holy Prophetsa. If he ever borrowed ten rupees, he would give up to hundred rupees while returning the loan (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Musakat). The only interest which is prohibited is the one in which an agreement is made and a condition is set in advance.” (Al Badr, 24 August 1904, p. 8) The above-mentioned saying of the Promised Messiahas, in light of the Holy Quran, serves as a guiding principle.

Now we turn to the matter which was objectionable in the eyes of our opponents.

The background of this edict is that owing to the influence of the British Government in the Indian subcontinent, the businessmen of that time were experiencing several difficulties, hence they sought an edict from the Promised Messiahas. So, enquiring about bank interest, one of his disciples, Sheikh Nur Ahmad Sahib asked him what should be done with that interest money which was given by banks unconditionally, without any demand.

Thus, the Promised Messiahas gave an edict in light of the following verse of the Holy Quran: َ ً َ َ َ ُّ ً َ ْ َ ّ ُ ُ ْ َ َ ْ ُ َ َ ْ َّ َ ُّ َ َ ‫اعفة‬ ‫يا أيها ال ِذين آمنوا لا تأكلوا الرِبا أضعافا مض‬ “O ye who believe! Devour not interest involving multiple additions” (Surah Al-eImran, Ch.3: V.131). It is quite clear from this verse that Allah the Almighty forbids mankind from consuming interest i.e. to use it for worldly needs and requirements.

The word “devour” does not mean that only consumption of food and drink from interest money is forbidden, while to purchase clothes and other such items is permissible, but in fact, it has been used metaphorically for those things that are a necessity for mankind.

The second thing which is evident from this verse is that Allah the Almighty forbids Muslims from utilising the money of interest for their personal benefits, while on the other hand, He does not forbid utilising this

money for religious interest. Consequently, the Promised Messiahas states: “This is indeed our belief and Allah the Almighty has guided me through divine inspiration that this [interest] money should be spent in the promulgation of religion. It is certainly true that interest is prohibited but this [prohibition] is for one’s own self. Anything that becomes part of Allah the Almighty’s possession can no longer remain unlawful because the concept of unlawfulness of things relates to mankind and does not concern Allah the Almighty.

Interest is surely unlawful for one’s own self, family, associates, relatives and neighbours.

However, if this money (of interest) is purely spent for the promulgation of religion, then there is no harm in that. Especially in the given circumstances when Islam is in a state of complete helplessness and when people unfortunately do not offer Zakat.

“I perceive that in the present times, there are two befalling calamities and two unlawful things are being considered lawful.

Firstly, Zakat which was an obligation is not being offered and secondly, the taking of interest is being practiced even though it was prohibited. That is to say, the due portion of Allah the Almighty was not offered, while on the other hand, a share was taken which was not rightfully theirs. When such is the condition and Islam is in a state of terrifying weakness, I issue this verdict that the money of interest gained from the banks should at once be spent in the promulgation of religion.

“This edict which I have issued is not a general one because dealing of interest is unlawful, but in these times when Islam is in a state of helplessness, the means of economic progress have not been established and Muslims are not paying heed, spending this money for the cause of Islam is not unlawful.

“In accordance with the meaning of the Holy Quran, the unlawful thing is that the [interest] money is spent on one’s own self. One must take into account this fact that as interest is wrong for one’s own self, in the same way it is wrong to give interest to someone else as well. Surely, it is right to submit this money to the possession of Allah the Almighty and to dedicate this money only to be spent for the propagation of Islam.

“If Jihad, for instance, is being carried out and the ammunition happens to be in the possession of a transgressor and a wrongdoer, in these circumstances if one holds back [from Jihad], considering that ammunition to be unlawful, it is wrong.

Instead, it would be appropriate to utilise that ammunition. At present, the Jihad of the sword has come to an end and Allah the Almighty has blessed us with a government that has granted us every kind of religious freedom. Now, Jihad of the pen remains.

Therefore, it is permissible to spend [interest money] for the promulgation of Islam.” (Al

Hakam, 24 September 1905, p. 9) Before that in April 1898, in the same way, the Promised Messiahas issued an edict for his disciple, Hazrat Ghulam Nabi Seithi Sahib who was a merchant.

The Promised Messiahas stated: “I am hopeful that considering your good intentions and fear of the Divine, Allah the Almighty shall Himself create a way out of this situation. Until that time, observe istighfar with patience and in my opinion, there is a more preferable way to manage the interest money, and that is, do not use the money gained from the interest in your business but instead set it aside and when you have to give interest, you can give it from that [interest] money. And if you feel that some additional money is piling up, then there is no harm to spend that money for a religious cause which does not involve someone’s personal benefit, but rather it only involves the promulgation of religion.

“I have previously issued this edict for the members of my Jamaat, that the interest

which has been termed unlawful by Allah the Almighty is that which is used for the personal benefit of man. The unlawful way is that a person spends interest money to run their household or spend it on food, clothing and to maintain a roof over their head or lend it to someone else with the intention that they may spend it for food or clothing.

“On the other hand, by no means it is unlawful for one to spend the interest money, without taking an iota for the personal benefit, in the cause of Allah the Almighty for the promulgation of religion. The Holy Quran establishes this fact that Allah the Almighty is the Master of all things and everything that advances towards Him gets purified, except for that money which is taken without the consent of people i.e. by theft, stealth or ransacking, as these possessions are not in any way worthy of being spent for the cause of Allah and religion. But as for that money which is Continued on page 13

13

Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM

USA Talim-ul-Quran & Waqf-e-Arzi team travel to London for Mulaqat

he Talim-ul-Quran and Waqf-eArzi team of the USA Jamaat had an T audience with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V

An introduction was given to “Al Furqan”, an online Quran-learning platform where Lajna members (111 in total) are actively teaching the correct pronunciation and reading of the Holy Quran. Male teachers with expertise in teaching the Holy Quran are also part of the programme. Al Furqan currently has 1,788 students attending the online classes. A breakdown of students in terms of Khuddam, Ansar, Lajna, Nasirat and Atfal was presented.

The classes range from the basics i.e.

Yassarnal-Quran to reading the Quranic text to understanding the text with its translation. Hifz-ul-Quran (memorisation of the Quran) is also facilitated through various teaching modes. Parents are encouraged to attend classes to be able

to further the initiative at domestic level.

One-on-one classes are also available where possible, although it can be challenging to arrange teachers for such a facility.

Huzooraa instructed the department to work on exploring more teachers. Huzooraa said that he knew that there were members in the US Jamaat who could be of help and it was only a matter of working on finding them and training them as teachers.

The report went on to mention the East Coast and West Coast Quran Conferences which are held in alternating order – for the East and West Coasts – on a yearly basis. The recent one on the East Coast had been able to secure 1,300 participants.

Huzooraa enquired whether the Hifzul-Quran class was held daily or on a weekly basis. Told that it was currently held as a three-week long learning camp on a yearly basis, Huzooraa instructed the department to look into organising it more regularly in a centre or at the Baitur Rahman Mosque – the headquarters of the USA Jamaat in Maryland.

Huzooraa instructed that to ensure Hifz-ul-Quran, such classes ought to be conducted on a more regular basis to attain desired results.

The report went into details about regional Quran classes and local Quran conferences where material was provided by the national department for them to impart Quran learning accordingly.

Upon the mention of Amin ceremonies, Huzooraa instructed that more could be held if work was done more efficiently.

Huzooraa said that with the influx of new Pakistani members settling in Rabwah, Majlis Ansarullah Pakistan had arranged for the Ansar to learn to read the Holy Quran afresh and that Amin ceremonies were held for Ansar that had learnt to read the Quran under this arrangement. Huzooraa advised that the same could be done with elderly men and

Continued from page 12

these edicts that in light of the Holy Quran or traditions of the Holy Prophetsa, they present a single verse or a Hadith against these edicts.

The Promised Messiahas has further explained his edicts as well. When an individual sent a letter to the Promised Messiahas stating that Huzooras had given permission to take the interest money from the banks, keeping in view the compulsion of the present times and the condition of Islam. As the word “compulsion” bears broad connotations, the individual asked therefore, considering the possibility of compulsion in personal, national, international and commercial domains, whether the dealing of interest be permitted or not? Hence, the Promised Messiahas said: “These are the ways in which people want to open the doors to that which is prohibited, so that they may do what they please. I have never said that it is permissible to receive interest money from the bank and to use it in desperate times. I only said that it was not prohibited to use it for the propagation of Islam and for other requirements of Islam. This will be so until money remains unavailable for the support of Islam and it continues to remain poor,

because nothing is unlawful for Allah.

“As for personal, national or commercial requirements, it is outright forbidden to use interest for these things. The justification I have put forward is that, for instance, it is unlawful according to the Shariah to burn another living being (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Jihad Wa Al-Siyar), but at the same time it is permissible for a Muslim to use a gun or a cannon when faced with war in this age, because the enemy too uses the same weapon.” (Al Badr, 6 February 1908, p. 7) The above-mentioned edict of the Promised Messiahas was an exceptionally suitable edict for the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent who were being ruled by a non-Muslim state and were inevitably bound by their banking system.

It should be noted here, the Promised Messiahas is not issuing a decree that the dealing of interest with a non-Muslim in case of compulsion is lawful, but instead he considers that dealing as interest. Moreover, Huzooras does not permit spending interest money gained from banks and other such sources for one’s own self or other Muslims as a charity.

Entirely owing to the given circumstances of the time, keeping in view the weakness

aa

on Saturday, 13 April 2019.

The meeting started with silent prayer led by Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa at around midday and lasted for about an hour. A member of the team gave a PowerPoint presentation to describe the current structure of and the efforts being done by the department to encourage more members of the USA Jamaat to read and understand the Holy Quran.

With a flowchart on the screen, he informed Huzooraa that the department had 14 assistant secretaries working under the national secretary, all with their own teams working on various areas of Talimul-Quran.

collected by mutual understanding, it may be spent in the way of Allah the Almighty’s religion. It is worth reflecting how much money is needed to contest that material which is being published by the opponents in refutation of our beliefs. It is as though a war is being carried out with them, so there is no harm to spend that [interest] money to aid this war. This is the edict that I have issued …

“By no means do I suggest here that for spending interest money for the promulgation of religion, someone should intentionally become part of such an occupation [which involves interest].

Instead, the idea is that if someone is compelled, as in your case, or inherits interest money by chance, only then may this money be spent in the way that I have explained. Moreover, [the person who spends interest money for the cause of religion in this manner] would be worthy of reward.” (Sirat-ul-Mahdi, Vol. 1, pp. 402403) Now, it becomes incumbent upon the opponents who level such allegations on

women in USA who newly learn the Quran under the Talim-ul-Quran arrangements.

As the department also works on encouraging members of USA Jamaat to sign up for Waqf-e-Arzi, Huzooraa enquired about the number of Waqifeen-eArzi (temporary devotees) and instructed that they needed to be increased. Huzooraa instructed that the team members of the department should lead by example and go for Waqf-e-Arzi on a regular basis.

As Lajna members of the Talim-ulQuran team were also present, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa granted them the opportunity to present a report on their efforts.

One of the Lajna teachers mentioned how she had managed to successfully set up an online class. Huzooraa instructed that upon completion of every part (sipara), prizes should be given to the students, even if it is a certificate of appreciation. This would work as an incentive and encourage them to progress towards completing the whole Quran.

Huzooraa drew the attention of the Lajna that by teaching the Quran to young girls, they were actually securing the future generations as these young girls would grow up to teach their own children and grandchildren the correct reading of the Holy Quran.

Huzooraa said that women were allowed to teach boys under the age of 15.

A member from the men’s team mentioned that it was easier to teach youngsters who started learning through the department’s resources, but older men who had learnt from other sources when they were young made mistakes that were hard to correct. Huzooraa said that they should be gradually taught the correct pronunciation by correcting the basic mistakes. Tajweed rules can then follow later.

and helplessness of Islam, for a short period of time (until the situation changed and there remained no compulsion), spending interest money for the promulgation of Islam was considered permissible.

This can be understood through an example, for instance if interest money of a Muslim is kept in a bank and they do not collect that money, but a non-Muslim collects his interest money and spends it to buy artillery and ammunition, ultimately waging a war against the Muslims, then letting that money go into the hands of nonMuslim would not be considered an act of wisdom.

Similarly, if a person’s father used to take interest money and utilising that money, leaves an inheritance in the form of personal property and real estate, then what can the offspring do with that inheritance? Should they throw it away, so that others may take it? Certainly, it would be better for them to give that money in the way of Allah without spending it on themselves or others.

(Research conducted by a panel of scholars)

Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM

14 Health

Geriatric depression

Samar Hafeez Clinical Psychologist and Counsellor Bangalore, India

Ageing is natural; feeling depressed as you age is not. Mental health issues in the elderly are not often considered important and the signs of depression in older adults are often chalked up to be the typical signs of getting older, but this is further from truth.

Depression is more than just being sad or feeling low, rather it’s a persistent and pervasive medical condition which negatively impacts one’s daily functioning. 65 years or older is considered to be a geriatric demographic and this population is specifically at a high risk of under- or mis-diagnosis. The reason being that the elderly usually do not report the symptoms to their primary healthcare provider and most often they consider these to be symptoms or reactions to be caused by other medical conditions.

Studies show that most older adults feel accomplished and satisfied with their lives in spite of having to deal with age related health decline or disabilities.

The normal ageing process includes some highs and lows in one’s mood, chronic physical ailments, progressive physiological and psychosocial changes.

All these issues can cause a person to feel anxious or sad.

Once the adjustment phase is completed, many regain their emotional footing, but others do not and may develop depression. The most common types of depression that occur in the elderly are major depression and dysthymia (chronic persistent depressive disorder that can last for at least 2 years).

10. Excessive worrying about health and finances 11. Difficulty falling asleep 12. Somatic complaints (medically unexplained chronic pain or gastrointestinal problems) 13. Withdrawal from social and recreational activities 14. Suicidality (tendency to commit suicide) Depression in the older population may be difficult to recognise sometimes as they may show different symptoms than the younger population. For many, sadness may not be a main symptom and they may tend to show less obvious symptoms like getting irritable and grumpy very often and very easily.

Depression and dementia Even though depression and dementia share certain traits, below are symptoms that will help you distinguish between the two.

In depression the mental decline is rapid, there is difficulty in concentration, motor and language skills are slowed down but are still normal, and the sufferer can still state the current time, date, day and year. The orientation of the sufferer also seems to be intact and they worry or get anxious if they notice any memory problems.

However, in dementia sufferers, the mental decline is gradual, patients struggle with short term memory and the language, writing, executive skills are impaired. Patients become confused and disoriented or wonder where they are and they don’t seem to care or worry about memory problems or confusion.

Depression in the elderly can cooccur with other illnesses like cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Symptoms of depression in the elderly Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, stroke, The imperative feature of a major cardiovascular diseases, lupus and depressive episode is it lasting over a multiple sclerosis and so on. period of at least 2 weeks, during which there is either depressed mood or loss of Risk factors that can cause geriatric interest or pleasure in nearly all activities. depression According to the American Polypharmacy: The elderly are usually association for geriatric psychiatry, the on multiple medications, for example, most common symptoms of depression just to name a few are anti-hypertensives, in the elderly include: corticosteroids, chemotherapeutics, 1. Persistent sadness (lasting 2 weeks or medications that treat hepatitis C, antimore) inflammatory, anti-infective drugs, all of 2. Engaging in very few activities or no which can cause depression. engagement at all Stroke: Incidents of strokes increase 3. Anhedonia (decreased interest with age and according to a recent especially in activities they loved doing population-based study in Europe, earlier) damages to different parts of the brain can 4. Decreased concentration and attention put patients at a high risk of developing (if one is not suffering from dementia post stroke depression (PSD). 60% of or other degenerative brain disease) post stroke patients develop depression 5. Decreased motivation to meet people and the psychological sequelae caused by or to go out strokes can be unmanageable.

6. Appetite changes (gaining or losing Chronic illnesses like cancer, diabetes, weight) and/or stop eating altogether Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis 7. Frequent tearfulness can lead to the onset of depression in the 8. Feeling of worthlessness or helplessness elderly.

9. Pacing, fidgeting and irritability History of depression, alcoholism

and other substance abuse can also play a factor in major depression.

Psycho-socio factors: Loss of a spouse or a loved one, loss of peers, thoughts associated with one’s own death, retirement, changes in social roles, neighbourhood changes, loneliness, empty nest syndrome (wherein grown children leave the house for education, to get married or move out) and social isolation or neglect.

Diagnosis Diagnosing and screening this population is incredibly important. Early intervention leads to a quicker recovery and prevents symptoms from worsening.

Research shows that if the elderly are treated for geriatric depression, they are less likely to develop dementia. It’s shown to be a protecting factor for memory and cognition.

According to the British Medical Journal, a geriatric research group was followed for 8 years to study the mortality rate of elderly who were on treatment for depression. The concluding report showed that those that were treated for depression had a 24% decreased mortality rate than those that were depressed and not treated. Geriatric depression, if treated at early stages, can lead to a longer, healthier, productive and more cognitively intact life.

To ensure the right diagnosis and avoid misdiagnosis, talk with your primary care doctors about the symptoms, medications and medical conditions can cause depression like symptoms, your primary health care doctors will help rule out these possibilities by doing a physical examination or lab tests. Also look for geriatric psychiatrist or specifically trained psychologist who are specialists in psychological evaluation and treatment.

The best option is to try to get hold of a collaborative care unit which consists of primary care doctors, geriatric psychiatrists, psychologist and mental health nurses/psychiatric nurses. Such teams can provide total medical care for elderly patients with depression.

Effective treatment options Antidepressants are prescribed to manage depression in severe cases. A psychiatrist may prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) or any of the newer types of antidepressants like mirtazapin, venlafaxine and duloxetine. These medications are often administered at low doses and may take up to 2-4 weeks to show effects.

Non-pharmacological therapies include psychotherapy and especially cognitive- behavioural therapy alone which may help elderly patients with mild to moderate depression. This ongoing therapy has excellent tools to change

the negative thinking pattern and help elderly function better in their day to day chores. Combining psychotherapy and medications can be very helpful in severe cases.

Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) helps in recognising and coping with potential or actual recurring conflicts.

Participants will show significant reduction in suicidal ideation, death ideation and significant improvement in the perceived meaning of life and social adjustment.

Support groups can help you connect to like-minded individuals with similar passions. This interaction with others will help strengthen compliance with treatments and help you understand that you are not alone; thereby increasing one’s sense of social support. These groups can help alleviate depression and improve self-worth in the elderly.

Increase in elderly dependency, limited mobility and need for long term care, make the elderly population more vulnerable to maltreatment and insufficient care. In such context, the caregivers or supporters have a tremendous role to play.

Key supporters’ strategies Family members should actively intervene and increase their positive support for elderly members. They should help coordinate with health care providers and accompany the person to the doctor and provide important information.

Most depressed elderly patients may resist help, but they must be assured in a non-acquiring way that an evaluation will get them the best possible treatment which will help improve their functioning and overall wellbeing.

The caregivers can keep a track of activity or a mood log and this tool makes it easy to track moods of a depressed person through the day. Keeping a track of their medication regularly and indicating improvements on a weekly basis helps. A caregiver should be careful about getting burned out, they should get a medical check done once every 6 months and it is crucial that the caregiver’s mental and emotional valence is stable.

There is always a risk of suicide in the elderly population. It is more common in this group than in any other age group, but remember, depression is a highly treatable medical problem; more than 75% of all people treated with depression can be successfully treated.

Elderly people fly under the radar as they usually do not report their symptoms to the doctor. They must be encouraged to share with others if they feel anything that is overly uncomfortable. Getting help to improve mental health is not a weakness or character flaw; it is just like seeking help for any other physical ailment or problem.

(Please see your GP and a geriatric psychiatrist or a specifically trained psychologist if you feel you have symptoms mentioned in this article)

Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM

15

Friday Sermon 22 March 2019 Delivered from Baitul Futuh Mosque

The Promised Messiahas: The need for the Imam After reciting the Tashahud, Ta‘awuz, and Surah al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa stated:

T

omorrow will be 23 March, and this day is commemorated in the Jamaat as the “Promised Messiah Day”. On this day, the pronouncement was made regarding that Messiah and Mahdi, who, in accordance with the prophecy made by the Holy Prophetsa, was to come in the Latter Days to convey and to spread the true teachings of Islam to the world, to unite all the Muslims under one banner and to bring followers of all religions under the subservience of the Holy Prophetsa.

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas Qadiani declared that he was that Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi, whose advent was prophesied by the Holy Prophetsa, and in fulfilment of this prophecy, he started taking the Bai‘at [pledge of initiation].

I will now present some sayings of the Promised Messiahas, in which he has explained about the need for the advent of the Promised Messiah, the prevailing condition of the age, his claim and the various signs related to it. He states in one of his [Urdu] couplets: ‫وتق اھت وتقِ مس ی�ح�ا ہن یسک اَور اک وتق‬ ‫ی‬ ‫م ہن ٓاات وت وکیئ اَور یہ ٓا ی�ا وہات‬ “This was indeed the appointed time for none other than The Messiah; Had I not been appointed, someone else would surely have appeared!”

(Durre Sameen, p. 160) Thus, the need of the time yearned for an individual to come and take control of the wavering ship of Islam.

Unfortunately however, the majority of the Muslim scholars, who were waiting eagerly for a messiah to appear, opposed him after he made his claim. They conjured false tales and invented stories about him in order to deter the general population of the Muslims. They incited the general population against him and his Community to the extent that they even issued edicts to kill. Even today, terrifying examples of oppression and barbarity against Ahmadis manifest themselves in some countries and places in the form of murder or killings. All this is carried out in the name of Islam, whereas those who truly understand the essence of Islam can never think of perpetrating such acts and such atrocities would never be committed by them.

Nonetheless, in light of the various writings of the Promised Messiahas, we are able to gain an insight into the conditions at the time of his advent. Moreover, the

Promised Messiahas has explained the need for the advent of the Promised Messiah and why he was to appear in that particular era. The Promised Messiahas stated that he did not merely just claim to be the messiah of his own accord, rather this advent was in fact the need of the age.

The Promised Messiahas states: “The Holy Quran clearly and markedly draws a parallel between the successorship of both the Israelite and Ishmaelite dispensations. This is apparent from the following verse: ۡ َ ۡ ۡ ُ َّ َ ۡ َ ۡ َ َ ٰ ّٰ ُ َ َ ۡ ُ ۡ ۡ ُ َ ٰ َ ۡ َّ ُ ّٰ َ َ َ ‫ض‬ ِ ‫وعد اللہ ال ِذین امنوا ِمنکم و ع ِملوا الص ِلح ِت لیستخ ِلفنہم فِی الار‬

َّ َ ۡ ۡ َ َ َ ‫اس َتخل َف ال ِذیۡ َن ِم ۡن ق ۡب ِل ِہ ْم‬ ‫کما‬ [Allah has 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.

(Surah al-Nur, Ch.24: V.56)] The Promised Messiahas continues: “The last successor of the Israelite dispensation who appeared in the fourteenth century after Moses, on whom be peace, was the Messiah of Nazarethas.

In parallel to this, it was necessary for the Messiah of this Ummah to also appear at the head of the fourteenth century.

Additionally, those blessed with visions have declared this century to be the one in which the Messiah would appear.”

In other words, many such saintly individuals who had a strong connection with God and were recipients of divine revelations had affirmed this.

The Promised Messiahas further states: “Shah Valiyullahrh and others have from among the Ahl-e-Hadith all agree that all the minor signs (alamaat-e-sughra) and to some extent the major signs (alamaat-

e-kubra) have been fulfilled (all the minor and major signs related to the Promised Messiahas have been fulfilled). However, they have erred somewhat in this respect.

All of the signs have been fulfilled.”

It is not the case that only some of the signs have been fulfilled, rather all the signs for the Messiah have been fulfilled.

The Promised Messiahas then states, “The major sign or hallmark of the one who is to appear can be found in Bukhari as follows: ْ ْ ُ ْ َّ ُ ْ َ ‫یک ِسر‬ ‫الصلِ ْی َب َویَق ُتل ال ِخن ِزیْ َر‬

In other words, the era in which the Messiah shall descend is marked by the dominance of Christianity and prevalent worship of the cross. Is this not such a time? Has there been such a time from the era of Adamas until now when such harm was ever inflicted upon Islam by the Christian priests? Division has plagued every country. There is no Muslim family who has not lost a member or so to their hands. Hence, the era of he who was to come is one in which worship of the cross would be dominant. What could be more dominating than what we see now? Vicious attacks like those of ravenous beasts have been made against Islam.”

These words are enough to answer the allegation that the Promised Messiahas was planted by the British Government. From these words it can be ascertained whether the Promised Messiahas was working on the orders of the British Government, or whether he was appointed by God Almighty to defend Islam and to prove its superiority. The Promised Messiahas continues: “Is there a single group that has not

made the most savage of remarks against the Noble Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and hurled abuse at him? If now is not the time for the advent of the awaited one, the earliest that he can appear now is after a hundred years. For a divinely appointed reformer (mujaddid) must always appear at the head of the century. Now, does Islam possess enough strength to combat the ever-increasing dominance of the Christian priests for another century? This ascendancy has reached its pinnacle and the one who was to appear has come. Now, he shall destroy the Anti-Christ with clinching argumentation. For it is recorded in the Hadith that nations would be overturned, not people themselves or the individuals that comprise these nations. And so has it occurred.”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 1, pp. 47-48) That is, the purpose of the Messiah of the dispensation of Muhammadsa was to prove the superiority of the teachings of Islam over all other religions through arguments and proofs. Similarly, he was going to present the teachings of Islam in order to prove its superiority over all religions and nations. The thousands of non-Muslims, who enter the fold of Ahmadiyyat every year do so on the basis of the arguments and proofs presented by the Promised Messiahas.

The Promised Messiahas further writes in relation to the circumstances of the time and the need of the Promised Messiah: “If the land is uncultivable, rain is of no benefit; in fact, it is damaging and harmful (if the soil of the land is not good or is barren or firm, then it is futile). And so, heavenly light has descended and it is illumining the hearts of the people.

Prepare yourself to accept it and benefit from it (i.e. prepare the condition of your hearts) so that in the likeness of barren land that gains no benefit from rainfall (and will go to waste), you too do not walk in darkness and stumble, and consequently perish, falling into a dark abyss, despite the presence of light.”

It should not be the case that you also stumble, i.e. despite the presence of light, one falls in a pit of darkness. The Promised Messiahas further says: “Allah the Exalted is more merciful than a compassionate mother. He does not wish for His creation to be wasted. He reveals to you the paths of guidance and light. But in order to tread these paths, you must

16 utilise your reason and purify your souls.

Just as planting does not occur until the soil is ploughed to prepare it, so too pure reason cannot descend from heaven until souls are purified through strenuous effort and rigorous self-discipline. In this age, God has shown immense grace and as He is jealous for His religion and His Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, He has sent a man, who speaks to you now so that He may invite you towards this light. If the present era had not been plagued by such corruption and disorder and efforts to expunge religion had not been undertaken, then there would be no issue whatsoever. However, at present you can observe from east to west that nations are preoccupied in removing all traces of Islam.”

An attack is being launched on Islam from all sides and this continues even until today. The Promised Messiahas then says: “I remember, and I have stated this in my book Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya as well, that 60 million books against Islam have been written, compiled and printed already.” This was during the time of the Promised Messiahas approximately 125 years ago, rather almost 150 years ago.

The Promised Messiahas further continues: “It is strange that the Muslim population in India is 60 million and the number of books written against Islam are also equivalent in number.” At the time, the Muslim population was some 60 million, but now it is approximately 500-600 million, or perhaps even more than this.

The Promised Messiahas then says, “If we disregard the number of books that have been added to this figure, even still our opponents have handed one book to each and every Muslim in India.”

The number of books written in opposition to Islam were equal to the Muslim population of the time. But now, through various media outlets, social media, internet and other means, it has a far wider impact. New means have been invented which are being utilised.

The Promised Messiahas says that the opponents have printed books and have distributed them to every Muslim.

The Promised Messiahas further writes: “If the jealousy of Allah the Exalted had not surged forth and were it not for His true promise َّ ُ ‫ِانا ل َ ٗہ ل َ َحافِظوْ َن‬ [And most surely We will be its Guardian. (Surah al-Hijr, Ch.15: V.10)] know for certain that today Islam would have been wiped off the face of the earth and all traces of it would have been effaced. But no, this can never happen.

The hidden hand of God is protecting it.

What disappoints and pains me is that the Muslims do not care for Islam even to the extent that one cares for their marital relations. I have often had the opportunity to read that even Christian women, on death, bequeath hundreds of thousands of rupees for the propagation and spread of the Christian faith.” (In those days, the Christians were more inclined towards their faith and especially their women.)

“And as far as devoting their lives for the dissemination of Christianity is concerned, this is something we observe daily.”

Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM Relating the circumstances of those times, the Promised Messiahas says: “Thousands of lady-missionaries go from home to home and street to street and strip the people of their faith in any way possible”, i.e. the Christian women would propagate their faith. “I have yet to see a single Muslim who has bequeathed even 50 rupees on their deathbed for the propagation of Islam. In contrast, at marriages and for worldly customs, they spend extravagantly…”

This extravagance is present even in this day and age. The little contribution they make the way of Islam is insignificant when compared to their worldly expenditures.

The Promised Messiahas then says: “…and even incur debt to squander their wealth relentlessly. But when it comes to Islam, they have nothing. Alas! What a pity! Could the state of the Muslims be any more deplorable?”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 1, pp. 72-74) Even today, the condition of the Muslims remains the same. Even though their condition has improved somewhat in this regard, however, as I have mentioned that even then they do not spend a fraction of that which they spend in fulfilling their worldly pursuits.

The aforementioned description refers to the circumstances of the time when the Promised Messiahas made his claim. As I have mentioned, if a faction among the Muslims have now started to pay attention towards faith, it is only to the extent so that they have at least some attachment to Islam. And so, there has been some improvement in that people are now more inclined towards remaining attached to faith. They have also populated mosques to a certain extent. However, they are not making any efforts to spread the teachings of Islam. Even if some so-called efforts are being made, however they are with the intention of forcefully compelling others to accept Islam.

With regard to this, many groups have formed and are also employing their efforts in order to oppose the Promised Messiahas and his community. Thus, it should always be remembered that if Islam is to spread across the world today, it will spread only through this appointed and chosen one of God – and this is decree of God Almighty.

Allah the Exalted and His Messengersa also foretold some signs for the advent of the Promised Messiah. It would not be the case that the appointed one would make a claim without the support of any signs.

Hence, alluding to this fact, the Promised Messiahas states: “Another sign in support of the awaited one is that in his era, during the month of Ramadan, the solar and lunar eclipses will occur. Those who ridicule divine signs in fact mock God Himself. For the solar and lunar eclipse to take place after the claim of the awaited one is something that no one could possibly forge or fabricate.”

One cannot say that this was conjured nor was it a mere coincidence or an act of deceit. The Promised Messiahas says: “Before this, no such solar or lunar eclipse has taken place. This was a sign by which Allah the Exalted was to proclaim the arrival of the awaited one throughout the entire world. And so upon witnessing

this sign, the Arabs have also proclaimed its truth, as is their nature. Wherever our announcements could not reach to serve as public pronouncements, this solar and lunar eclipse announced the coming of the era of the awaited one. This was a sign of God completely free from human machination. No matter how strictly philosophical a person may be, they ought to reflect and contemplate that when the appointed sign has been fulfilled, it necessarily follows that the one in whose favour the sign was manifested, must also be present. This was not a matter that could have been predetermined, because it was stated that the sign would be manifested after a person who claimed to be the Mahdi had appeared.” This sign will appear when the claim of the Messiah and Mahdi has already been made. “The Noble Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, also said that no such incident would have occurred from the time of Adamas to this Mahdi. If anyone can historically show otherwise, I shall accept.”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 1, pp. 48-49) The Promised Messiahas further states: “Another sign of the era was that the star Dhus-Sinin would emerge, i.e. the star of years gone by. In other words, the star which emerged in the time (or years) of the Messiah of Nazarethas. Now, even that star has appeared, which gave heavenly news of the coming of the Jewish Messiah.

Similarly, we find in the Quran: ُ ۡ َ َ ّ َ ۡ َ َ ۡ ۡ َ ۡ ‫َو ُِاذا ال ِعش ُار ُع ِطل ۡت ۔ َو ِاذا الوُ ُحوۡش ُح ِش َرت ۔ َو ِاذا ال ِب َح ُار ُس ِّجرَت ۔ َو ِاذا‬ َ َ ُ ُ ُّ ۡ َ ُّ َ َ ۡ َ ُ ۡۢ َ ّ ‫الص ُح ُف‬ ‫النفوۡ ُس ز ِّو َج ۡت ۔ َو ِاذا ال َموۡ ٗء َدۃ ُس ِئل ۡت ۔ ِبا ِی ذن ٍب ق ِتلت ۔ و ِاذا‬ ۡ َ ُ ‫ن ِشرت۔‬ [And when the she-camels, ten-month pregnant, are abandoned; And when the beasts are gathered together; And when the seas are made to flow forth one into the other; And when people are brought together; And when the girl-child buried alive is questioned about, “For what crime was she killed?” and when books are spread abroad. (Surah al-Takwir. Ch.81: V.5-11)] All these prophecies are mentioned in the Holy Quran, for example, beasts would be gathered together [etc.]. There are various explanations of these, for instance, zoos have been created. Also, in fulfilment of these prophecies, knowledge has become accessible and spread across the world; some nations have attacked the native people and destroyed them. It also mentions that oceans will be merged together and that people will become like one community. Communication has now also become extremely easy and one is able to communicate across the world within seconds. Furthermore, it states in the Quranic prophecy that women, who were treated cruelly at that time, whose rights were suppressed and were even killed, will question as to what grounds were they being killed on? Books will be spread far and wide and then is also the advancement of press and media.

Thus, all of these various aspects prove the fact that this is the era of the Promised Messiah and the prophecies in relation to this are found in the Holy Quran. The Promised Messiahas then states: “Meaning, in that era, she-camels, which previously were the best means of transport and conveyance, shall become useless. In other words, during that era

(i.e. during the time of the Messiah), the mode of transport will become so advanced that these earlier forms would be rendered useless. This alluded to the age of locomotives.”

This referred to the era of railways.

Furthermore, in accordance with one of the prophecies of the Promised Messiahas, there is now a railway in operation between Medina and Mecca, or at the very least, the railway track has been laid out. The Promised Messiahas further states: “Those who believe that these verses speak of the Resurrection do not stop to reflect how a she-camel could remain pregnant at such a time. The word ishar refers to pregnant she-camels. Then, these verses state that streams would be made to flow forth in all directions and books would be published abundantly. Hence, all of these signs relate to the era under discussion.”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 1, pp. 49-50) Presenting further evidence in relation to where the Promised Messiah was to appear, the Promised Messiahas writes: “As for the place of the Promised Messiah’s advent, it ought to be remembered that the emergence of the Antichrist has been foretold to take place from the East and this refers to our country. The author of Hijaj-ul-Kiramah writes that the disorder of the Antichrist is manifesting itself in India. And it is obvious that the Messiah must also appear in the same place that the Antichrist emerges. Then, it is narrated that the Messiah would appear in the village of Qad‘ah, which is short for ‘Qadian.’ It is possible that in Yemen a village by this name exists, but one ought to remember that Yemen is not to the east of Hijaz, rather it is to the south.”

The Promised Messiahas further writes: “…Furthermore, the name given to me by divine destiny and decree is also a subtle indication to this very fact. According to Abjad numerals, the numerical value of the letters in ‘Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani’ equal 1300 exactly. In other words, the Imam whose name this is, was to come at the start of the fourteenth century. Thus, this was alluded to in the prophecy of the Holy Prophetsa.”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 1, p. 50) In relation to the signs of the Messiah of the latter days, the Promised Messiahas states: “Calamities were also to serve as a sign.”

There would be various sorts of calamities and trials during the time of the Messiah.

The Promised Messiahas then says: “Heavenly calamities took on the form of famine, plague and cholera. The plague is an affliction so vicious that it has even shaken the government…” the period of time which is being referred to by the Promised Messiahas was during the plague in India which took on a devastating form and lasted for five or six years “…and if it continues to grow, it shall devastate the entire country. As for earthly calamities, there are wars and earthquakes, which have destroyed the land.” (As for wars, they are continuing even to this day.) “It is necessary for a person commissioned

by Allah to manifest heavenly signs in support of their truth as well.”

The Promised Messiahas further writes:

Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM “Was the sign of Lekhram not a magnificent sign? This contest ensued for many years with the term outlined in advance. This encounter went on for five years without fail. Both parties published announcements and the matter gained publicity.” (It became common knowledge that Lekhram was in a contest with the Promised Messiahas.) “It gained unmatched publicity. Then, the events unfolded exactly as prophesied. Is there any other example of such an occurrence? Similarly, well before the Conference of Great Religions (Dharam Mahautsav) I announced many days in advance that Allah Almighty had informed me that my essay would be superior to all others. Those who witnessed this grand and awe-inspiring conference can reflect and understand for themselves that to foretell one’s triumph over all others in a conference of such stature could not have been a mere conjecture or guesswork.

Ultimately, the prophecy was fulfilled.”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 1, pp. 50-51) This was in relation to the book of the Promised Messiahas, The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam. I will read out a statement from a newspaper at the time regarding this. General Gohar Asifi of Calcutta writes, “During this conference, if the paper of Hazrat Mirza Sahib was not presented, Muslims would have suffered humiliation and disgrace at the hands of the other faiths. However, the glorious hand of God the Exalted protected the holy faith of Islam from falling. As a matter of fact, due to this paper, it was granted such a victory that besides those that were already in support thereof, even the opponents could not help but proclaim that this paper was superior to all others.”

(Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 1, p. 572) The person who wrote this was not an Ahmadi, however he was compelled to admit this fact and similarly, many other newspapers paid similar tribute and quoted other non-Ahmadis.

With regard to further signs of being divinely appointed, the Promised Messiahas goes on to state:“In short, even at this time, there are many proofs of my being commissioned from God. Firstly, there is internal evidence. Secondly, there are external proofs. Thirdly, there is the saying of the Prophet Muhammadsa about the arrival of one who would rejuvenate faith at the turn of every century. Fourthly, there is the divine promise of preserving the Quran in the words: َّ ْ ّ َ ْ َّ َ ُ ْ َ َّ ُ ‫االذک َر َو ِانا ل َ ُہ ل َ َحافِظوْ َن‬ ِ ‫ِانا نحن نزلن‬ [Surely, We have sent down the Quran, and it is indeed We Who shall safeguard it.

(Surah al-Hijr, Ch.15: V.10)] “The fifth proof – which is an outstanding sign – is the divine promise in Surah al-Nur, the promise of Divine Successorship. God Almighty states therein (as has been mentioned earlier): ۡ َ ۡ ۡ ُ َّ َ ۡ َ ۡ َ َ ٰ ّٰ ُ َ َ ۡ ُ ۡ ۡ ُ َ ٰ َ ۡ َّ ُ ّٰ َ َ َ ‫ض‬ ِ ‫وعد اللہ ال ِذین امن َوا ِمنکم ۡو َع ِمل َّوا الص ِلح ِت َلیستخ ِلفنہم فِی الار‬ ۡ ‫ک َما‬ ‫اس َتخل َف ال ِذیۡ َن ِم ۡن ق ۡب ِل ِہ ۡم‬ [Allah has 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.

(Surah al-Nur, Ch.24: V.56)] “According to this promise of

17 Divine Successorship, the Caliphs of the dispensation of Muhammadsa shall be like the Caliphs of the dispensations before them.

“Similarly, the Holy Quran has also mentioned the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa would appear in the likeness of Mosesas, as it states: ۤ َ ۡ َۤ َ ُ َ ُ ۤ َ ۡ َ ۤ َّ َ ‫ِانا ا ۡر َسلنا ِال َ ۡیک ۡم َر ُسوۡلًا ۙ۬ شا ِہ ًدا َعل ۡیک ۡم ک َما ا ۡر َسلنا ِالٰی ف ِۡر َعوۡ َن َر ُسوۡلًا‬ [Verily, We have sent to you a Messenger, who is a witness over you, even as We sent a Messenger to Pharaoh. (Surah al-Muzzammil, Ch.73: V.16)] “And the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa is ‘like unto Moses’ according to the prophecy of Deuteronomy as well (a prophecy of the Bible). Hence, just as the words kama [like unto] have been used in this parallel [between Muhammadsa and Mosesas], similarly, the words kama have been used in the promise of Divine Successorship in Surah al-Nur. It becomes clear from this that there is a perfect similitude and likeness between the Mosaic dispensation and the dispensation of Muhammadsa.

The system of Mosaic successorship came to a close with the advent of Jesusas, who appeared in the fourteenth century after Mosesas. The running parallel between the two spiritual systems demands that a Caliph resembling the qualities and powers of the first Messiah also be born in the fourteenth century, who would come resembling him in spirit and essence.

“So, even if God Almighty had not presented this and other evidences as proof, still, this running parallel between the two spiritual systems naturally demanded that a burooz [spiritual reflection] of Jesusas should also appear among the followers of Muhammadsa, otherwise, it would prove to be a flaw and imperfection in the perfect parallel between the two spiritual systems, God forbid.

“However, not only did God Almighty demonstrate and support the truth of this parallel [between the two dispensations], but He demonstrated that the one who would come in the likeness of Moses was far superior to Moses and indeed all prophets (peace be upon them)”, i.e. the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa stands superior to all other prophets.

The Promised Messiahas writes:“Just as Jesusas did not bring any new law, but came to fulfil what was in the Torah, so, too has the Messiah of the dispensation of Muhammadsa not introduced any new law, but has come for the rejuvenation of the Quran (to revive and propagate the teaching of the Holy Quran). He has come to bring about that perfection which is known as ‘perfect renaissance of Islam.’”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 4, pp. 9-10) The Promised Messiahas further writes in relation to this:“Regarding the perfect renaissance of faith, it should be remembered that Itmam-e-Nemat and Ikmaal-ul-Din that were granted to the Holy Prophetsa (meaning that religion reached its perfection and Divine favour reached the highest point possible) have two aspects to it. First was the perfection of Divine guidance, and secondly the complete propagation of this guidance.”

The Promised Messiahas further continues:“In every respect, the perfection of guidance took place during the first

advent of the Holy Prophetsa.” All spiritual guidance reached its perfection by virtue of the Holy Prophet’ssa advent and the arrival of the Quranic Shariah, “and the perfection of the propagation of faith, (i.e. the spread of this message) was to take place through the second advent of the Holy Prophetsa.

This is because the verse in Surah alJumuah which reads, ‘and there are others from among them,’ demands that another group of people should also be prepared through his grace and guidance.

“From this, it becomes clear that there is another advent of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa, and this advent in the form of a buroozi manifestation [spiritual reflection of the Holy Prophetsa] which is taking place in this era.

“Hence, this age is the age in which there was to be a complete spread of this faith. This is also why all means of communication and conveyance are also reaching their pinnacle. There is a multitude of publishing houses, countless printing presses, and with each day, there are further improvements and developments in publishing and printing.”

Publishing industries are continuingly advancing and using the latest forms of technology.

“There is also the use of courier and mail services and the emergence of post offices, wired mail, the railroad, airplanes and the publication of newspapers – all of these things have combined to transform the world into a global village.

“In actual fact, these advancements are in service of the Holy Prophetsa, because through them, the perfect renaissance of Islam, i.e. the complete spreading and delivery of his message, is taking place.”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 4, pp. 9-10) The Promised Messiahas states:“Now, let a rational person assess all these aspects in their entirety and reflect: Is what we say worthy of being rejected after only a cursory glance? Or does it demand that one seriously and solemnly analyse and ponder over it? Whatever we claim, has it all been fulfilled at precisely the turn of the century or not? Even if I had not come, even then, it was necessary for every intelligent and God-fearing person that he search for a Divinely appointed one, because the turn of the century had come. And since now that twenty years are coming to pass [since the turn of the century], there was an even greater need to ponder over the matter. The disorder of this age itself was lamenting and crying out that someone should come for its reformation.”

The Promised Messiahas further says:“Christianity has spread such unrestrained and uncontrolled freedom as knows no bounds at all. Consequently, the impact it has had on the children of the Muslims is that they do not at all reflect the traits of Muslims.”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 4, pp. 13-14) With regard to how one can determine and ascertain the truth, the Promised Messiahas states:“People ought to supplicate to God Almighty in their prayers that He reveal the truth to them. And I firmly believe that if a person removes himself from all bias and stubbornness, and sincerely – for the acquisition of truth – turns his attention towards God Almighty,

then a period of 40 days shall not pass that the truth will be made manifest to the supplicant. “However, there are extremely few who – fulfilling these conditions – seek a verdict about the truth from God. And so, due to their lack of understanding, or their stubbornness and bias, they end up rejecting the appointee of God, and thereby corrupt their faith. This is because the saintly disposition of the prophet serves as a means of establishing the truthfulness of his prophethood and thus the rejection of a prophet is tantamount to rejecting God, consequently causing one to lose their faith altogether.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 4, p.16) After presenting these excerpts from the writings of the Promsied Messiahas, I will present several excerpts and narrations of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra which he wrote and presented on various occasions regarding this subject.

On one occasion, He said:“When opposition intensifies, the Jamaat – as a natural consequence – also progresses.

When opposition grows, the miraculous and divine aide and succour of Allah likewise increases.”

Accordingly, in reference to the Promised Messiahas, Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra states:“Whenever any friend, upon meeting the Promised Messiahas, would mention that great opposition had risen in their locality, the Promised Messiahas would reply by saying that this in fact was a sign of their progress. Wheresoever there is opposition, the Jamaat experiences growth because as a result of that opposition, many who were previously unaware of even the Jamaat’s existence become aware of it and gradually become inclined towards reading the books of the Jamaat. When they cover the Jamaat’s literature, its truth becomes deeply rooted in their hearts.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra states:“An individual once came to meet the Promised Messiahas and pledged his allegiance. After his conversion, the Promised Messiahas asked him who it was that presented to him the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat? He spontaneously replied, ‘The individual that brought this message to me was Maulvi Sanaullah Amritsari’” (a bitter opponent of the Promised Messiahas). “Surprised by the answer, the Promised Messiahas asked, ‘How is this so?’

The individual answered, ‘I regularly read the books and newspapers of Maulvi Sahib and noticed that it would always be filled with content that was bitterly opposed to the Ahmadiyya Community.

It occurred to me one day that I should myself at least have a look at the books of this community as well.’” Since there was so much opposition, he decided to read the books of the Promised Messiahas himself.

He thus said, “‘When I began to read the books of the Jamaat, my heart receptively opened to its teachings and I became ready to convert’. Thus, the foremost benefit of opposition is that divine communities see progress and many souls as a result are guided to the right path.”

(Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 6, p. 487) As regards the opposition faced by the Promised Messiahas and the reaction of prophets in the face of opposition, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra has given the example of the ancient Egyptian empire:“At the apex

18 of its political dominance, the Egyptian empire held great power and its monarchs (the Pharaohs) took great pride in their strength and authority. In retrospect to this, Mosesas was, in material strength, an insignificant individual. Yet, despite this, he went to the Pharaoh’s throne with his message. The Pharaoh, in response, warned him and openly threatened that if he did not cease from propagating his message, he would not only put an end to his life; along with him, his entire nation would be utterly destroyed. Yet, Mosesas replied that no earthly power could stop him from delivering to the world the message he had been ordained by God to propagate.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra further states:“The Promised Messiahas stated that this was the case with Jesusas and the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa. Similar has been the case of the Promised Messiahas which we have witnessed in our era. All nations stood in opposition to him, to the extent that even the government, in one way, was his opponent as well. Albeit towards the latter part of his life, this opposition had somewhat subsided. Regardless, the overwhelming majority of people had become his opponents. The followers of all faiths had declared opposition to him alongside the Muslim clerics; custodians of shrines opposed him, the masses in general as well as the affluent and social elite stood as his enemies. In short, a storm of opposition raged on all sides. Many people tried their utmost to dissuade him from his mission, to the extent that some in the guise of friendship even reasoned that he should drop some of his claims. Some came and told him that if he was to simply forgo such and such claim, the masses would readily enter into the fold of his community. But the Promised Messiahas did not pay any heed to their words and resolutely continued to present his claims. His enemies caused a commotion, persecution persisted to the extent that some were even killed. But despite the plethora of hardships (which continue to this day) and despite the fact that the Promised Messiahas faced opposition, against which he possessed absolutely no apparent strength nor had any means of defense, he continued to strive forward in his mission.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra further writes:“I clearly remember hearing this example from the Promised Messiahas multiple times. He said that the case of the prophets was similar to a famous fable which people narrated regarding an elderly woman who had become senile and lived in a village. Whenever she left her home and went outside, young children would gather and start to tease her, mock her and constantly trouble her. She too, on her turn, would retort to profanities and curse back at them. One day, the habitants of the village consulted with one another and decided that their children had been unjustly teasing and mocking the old woman and she had been ictimized long enough. They conferred, they must stop their children from teasing her, lest her cursing and praying against them, in her state of helplessness, should manifest an undesirable outcome. They decided to stop their children from disturbing her and as a

Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM result she would cease from cursing them.

Accordingly, they decided that from the following day, every household would keep all their children locked up inside their house and not let them outside.

“So, everyone prohibited their children from leaving the house the next day, and they locked their doors from the outside with chains as an added safety measure.

When the sun rose, and the senile lady came outside, she wandered the streets for some time. She would walk in one direction then another, but could not see anyone. Previously, the circumstances were such that one boy would be pulling her shirt, another would pinch her and some would push her; someone would pull her hand and there would be some who would tease her. However, that day she could not see any of them. She waited for them until the afternoon, but when she observed that no one came out of their homes, eventually she went to the local shops. She would stop by at every shop and would say, ‘Did your house collapse today? Have all the children passed away? What has happened? I do not see any of them.’

“When she visited every shop and said the same thing, after a while, everyone said, ‘Whether we keep the children in or not, we still have to listen to her abuse, therefore let the children out. Why should we lock them up?’

“After narrating this fable, the Promised Messiahas would say, ‘The condition of the Prophetsas is quite similar. The world troubles them, creates difficulties for them, persecutes them and oppresses them.

They torment them to the extent that it becomes difficult to live and some people amongst them begin to feel that these people are cruel and they should not act in this manner. However, even those people cannot renounce the world. When the world does not oppress the Prophets, they worry and awaken them in order to direct the world’s attention towards them, and their message is heard.’”

(Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 24, pp. 272274) Irrespective of how the messages reaches them, at times, even virtuous people are enabled to accept the message amidst the opposition.

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra states:“Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi Sahib was the Promised Messiah’sas childhood friend and he knew him well. He always used to praise the Promised Messiah’sas writings.

After the Promised Messiah’sas claim, Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi Sahib announced, ‘I am the one who established him, and I am the one who will now ruin him.’ Who would have imagined at the time that, if someone as honourable and influential as Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi would say something about destroying a person, subsequently that person would not be annihilated?”

He was indeed a person with the power to do what he claimed.

“The relatives of the Promised Messiahas also openly declared, and some of them published this in the newspapers, that the Promised Messiahas only seeks to fulfil his worldly interests and therefore no one should pay any attention to him. In this manner, they tried to make the entire

world doubt him.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra further states:“I can still recall from my early years that many workers, who are known as kammi in the system of land and property ownership, refused to do their household chores” (the servants completely refused to work for the Promised Messiahas) “and our relatives were the ones who had instigated this. In short, his relatives and those who were strangers united to efface him and tried to destroy him.”

(Al Fazl, 13 November 1914, pp. 2-3) However, after all, what was the outcome? Today, his name is remembered in 212 countries of the world. If this is not a sign of his truthfulness, then what is?Whilst narrating another sign of his truthfulness, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra states:“God Almighty raised the Promised Messiahas in our midst, and his existence became a manifest sign for us. Whoever sat before him witnessed the verities of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophetsa, and there remained nothing that would deter such a person from Islam. When a case about Karam Din Bheen was filed against the Promised Messiahas, the magistrate at the time was a Hindu. The Aryas persuaded him to sentence the Promised Messiahas, and he promised them to do so. Khawaja Kamaluddin Sahib became worried when he heard of this. He visited the Promised Messiahas in Gurdaspur, where he was staying during the trial, and stated, ‘Huzooras, I have news of great concern!

The Aryas have swayed the magistrate, and he has taken an oath to sentence you.’

At the time, the Promised Messiahas was laying down, he sat up straightaway and stated, ‘Khawaja Sahib! Who can place their hands on the Lion of God? I am the Lion of God; let him try to put his hands on me.’

“Hence, this is precisely what followed.

This case was presented in the courts of two magistrates one after the other and both of them were severely punished. One of them who wanted to take action against the Promised Messiahas was suspended. The other magistrate lost his son who drowned in a river, and this incident affected him so much that he became partially insane.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra states: “Once I was travelling to Delhi and met him [the aforementioned magistrate] at Ludhiana station. He said to me with immense humility and pain, ‘Please pray that Allah Almighty grants me patience.

I have made tremendous mistakes, and my condition is such that I fear that I may become insane.’ He continued, ‘One of my sons passed away but I have another son.

Please pray that Allah Almighty protects both of us from ruin (owing to his conduct against the Promised Messiahas).”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra writes, “Hence, the words of the Promised Messiahas were fulfilled, that is, ‘Who can lay their hands on the Lion of God’ and the Aryas failed in their ploy.”

(Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 6, p. 359) Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra further relates: “There is an interesting incident that took place during the time of the Promised Messiahas. Mian Nizamuddin was a friend of the Promised Messiahas and also of Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi Sahib.

He had performed the Hajj seven times and had a very cheerful and light-hearted personality. Since he maintained friendly relations with the Promised Messiahas and also Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi Sahib, therefore he was greatly perturbed when Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi Sahib issued an edit of kufr [disbelief] against the Promised Messiahas upon him claiming to have been commissioned by God Almighty. This is because he had firm conviction in the piety of the Promised Messiahas. He used to live in Ludhiana and when the opponents would speak ill against the Promised Messiahas, he would argue with them and would say, ‘Go visit the Promised Messiahas and see for yourself; he is an extremely pious person. I have lived with him and have noted that if something is mentioned to him in light of the Holy Quran, he is immediately willing to accept it. He does not deceive anyone.

From the Holy Quran, if someone explains that his claim is false, I am convinced that he would immediately retract his claim.

He would often get into arguments with people over this and would say that he would go to Qadian himself and it would not be possible for the Promised Messiahas to not retract from his claim and seek repentance. He further said that he would open the Holy Quran before the Promised Messiahas and as soon as he would present a verse of the Holy Quran regarding the physical ascent of Jesusas into the heavens, the Promised Messiahas would straight away accept it. Moreover, he said that he knew too well that once the Promised Messiahas would hear anything supported from the Holy Quran, he could never say anything against it.

“Finally, one day, he decided to travel from Ludhiana to Qadian. Upon arriving, he immediately went to the Promised Messiahas and said, ‘Have you left Islam and rejected the Holy Quran?’ The Promised Messiahas replied, ‘How could that be possible! I believe in the Holy Quran and Islam is my faith.’ Upon this he said, ‘All praise is due to God! This is precisely what I have been telling people that you could never forsake the Holy Quran.’ He then said, ‘Very well, if I present hundreds of verses from the Holy Quran which prove that Jesusas physically ascended into the heavens alive, would you then accept this?’

The Promised Messiahas replied, ‘Even if you can present one verse, let alone hundreds, I am ready to accept it.’ Mian Nizamuddin then said, ‘All praise is due to God! This is what I have been arguing about with people that it is not difficult to convince Hazrat Mirza Sahibas. People have been raising a clamour for no reason whatsoever.’ However, he then said, ‘Even if it is not in hundreds, but just a hundred verses, even then would you accept this?’

The Promised Messiahas again replied, ‘I have said before that even if you present one verse, I will accept it. Just as it is necessary to follow a hundred verses of the Holy Quran, it is equally necessary to act upon every word of the Holy Quran.

Whether it is one verse or a hundred – there is no question about it.’

“Mian Nizamuddin then said, ‘Alright, if not a hundred, but even its fifty verses, will you still remain true to your promise

Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM and abandon this belief?’ The Promised Messiahas replied, ‘I say again that I am willing to accept this even if you present just a single verse.’ As the Promised Messiahas continued to express his firm conviction on this issue, Mian Nizamuddin began to doubt as to whether there really were that many verses of the Holy Quran on this subject. Hence, he said, ‘Alright, if I present ten verses, will you still accept this?’ The Promised Messiahas laughed upon this and said, ‘My original statement still stands, that is, that you may present just a single verse.’ Mian Nizamuddin then said, ‘Very well, I shall take leave and return in 4-5 days’ time and will bring to you the verses of the Holy Quran.’

“In those days, Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi Sahib was in Lahore and so was Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira and they were corresponding with one another to stipulate the conditions of the debate on the subject of the death of Jesusas.

Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi Sahib claimed that since the Ahadith [traditions of the Holy Prophetsa] were an exegesis of the Holy Quran, therefore if something was to be proven through the Ahadith, then it would be considered as if it was from the Holy Quran itself, hence he claimed that the debate on the death or physical ascension of Jesusas should be held in light of the Ahadith. On the other hand, Hazrat Maulvi Sahib [Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira] would argue that the Holy Quran takes precedence over the Ahadith, thus the claim would have to be supported and proved only through the Holy Quran.

They continued to discuss this issue for several days, however in order to end this discussion and to ensure that somehow, through whatever means possible, a debate could take place with Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira agreed to many of his conditions.

Maulvi Muhammad Hussain was very happy in that he was able to get many of his conditions agreed to.

“In the meanwhile, Mian Nizamuddin also arrived there. After having taken leave from the Promised Messiahas, he went straight there and said, ‘You can put an end to all the debates from here on. I have just visited Mirza Sahib and he is ready to repent. Since I am your friend as well as Mirza Sahib’s, therefore I was greatly aggrieved by this dispute. Since I am well acquainted with the fact that Mirza Sahib has a pious disposition, therefore I visited him and have asked him to promise that if just ten verses of the Holy Quran were presented to him in relation to the physical ascent of Jesusas, he would be willing to accept this. Could you therefore show me ten verses of the Holy Quran?’”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra further continues: “Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi Sahib was quick-tempered and had a fiery nature. And so, upon hearing this, he said to his friend [Mian Nizamuddin], ‘You wretched man! You have completely ruined all my efforts. I have spent the last two months trying to bring them towards the Ahadith and you have gone and taken them back to the Holy Quran.’

Mian Nizamuddin replied, ‘Are there not even ten verses in your support?’

19 Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi Sahib exclaimed, ‘You are a foolish person, what do you know about the Holy Quran!’

When Maulvi Sahib said this to Mian Nizamuddin, he said, ‘Very well, I stand with the Holy Quran.’ After saying this, he travelled to Qadian and took the Bai‘at at the hand of the Promised Messiahas.”

This was the account of how he accepted Ahmadiyyat.

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra further writes: “Look at how great was the Promised Messiah’s trust in the Holy Quran that he affirmed with such strong conviction that the Holy Quran could not go against him. This does not mean that the Holy Quran had a special relationship with the Promised Messiahas, or that it has a special link only with the Ahmadiyya Community, in fact, the Holy Quran illuminates the truth, and so whichever sect is on the truth, it will indeed support it. Since, the Promised Messiahas had complete belief that he was truthful, therefore the Holy Quran also stood in his support. It was for this very reason that the Promised Messiahas used to say that if any claim of his was not supported by the Holy Quran, he would completely discard it. This certainly, however, does not mean that the Promised Messiahas harboured any doubt regarding his claims, rather he said this because he had firm conviction that the Holy Quran would certainly testify to his truthfulness.

It is this very belief that has enabled us to progress in the world.”

(Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 13, pp. 418418) Even today, this is serving as a means of causing our progress and propagating the message of the Promised Messiahas to the ends of the earth. Indeed, the Holy Quran stands with us. The Promised Messiahas states: “Verily, remember that the promises of God are true. In accordance with His promise, He has sent a warner to the world, and while the world has not accepted him, God Almighty will surely accept him and demonstrate his truthfulness with immensely powerful onslaughts.

I tell you truthfully that in accordance with the promise of God Almighty, I have appeared as the Promised Messiah; accept if you will, or reject me if you so please.

But remember, your denial will amount to nothing. Whatever God has willed shall indeed come to pass because God Almighty has already revealed to me, as recorded in Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya: ً ْ َ ً ْ َ َ َ ٗ ُ ْ ُ َ َ ُ ّٰ َ َ َ ‫صدق اللہ ورسولہ وک‬ ‫ان َوعدا ّمف ُع ْولا‬ ‘The prophecy of Allah and His Messenger has been fulfilled at its duly appointed time and whatever God had willed was bound to happen.’”

(Malfuzat, Vol. 1, p. 2016) I would now like to briefly mention with regard to the incident that took place in New Zealand last Friday. I wanted to speak about this last Friday, but I forgot to mention it towards the end. In any case, I issued a press release and on behalf of the entire Ahmadiyya Jamaat, I expressed my condolences. Many innocent people, including children were martyred as a result of religious and ethnic hatred. May God Almighty have mercy on them all and

grant patience to the bereaved.

One benefit of not mentioning this at the time was that many aspects came to light after. The most excellent and moral way New Zealand’s government, and particularly its prime minister, responded to this attack and fulfilled their duties as a government, has been exemplary and is most praiseworthy. It has been a reaction of the highest order and I pray that Muslim nations learn from this model of morality and each play their own role towards eradicating all forms of religious hatred.

The public [in New Zealand] has also offered its full support. I have heard that the radio and television stations announced that they would play the Muslim call to prayer [Azan] at the time of the Friday Prayer today to show solidarity with Muslims. Further, many non-Muslim women, including Christians, declared that they would wear headscarves as a gesture of support and empathy.

May God Almighty accept their pious actions and may He also enable them to accept the truth. Many of the Muslims inside the mosque were martyred by this brutal killer, however a lady, whose husband and 21-year-old son fell victim to this attack and died whilst helping others, was being interviewed on TV and she displayed extraordinary patience and courage. Nevertheless, they gave their lives for a pious and noble cause. May Allah shower His mercy on them.

This was a truly sad and tragic incident.

The Muslims of New Zealand have shown great patience and resolve; this is how a Muslim is expected to behave and react.

However, some extremist organisations have vowed to take revenge for this attack, even though this would be an utterly inappropriate act and will only lead to enmities growing further. May God Almighty ensure that the extremist organisations that exist within Islam are eradicated so that the true and beautiful teachings of Islam can spread throughout the world. May Allah enable the majority of the Muslims, in fact, may He enable all of them to accept the Imam of the age, so that through this unity, we can spread the true and beautiful teachings of Islam in the world.

Aside from this, after the prayers, I will lead a few funeral prayers in absentia.

The first funeral is of Maulana Khurshid Ahmad Anwar Sahib, who was the Wakilul-Mal of Tahrik-e-Jadid in Qadian. He passed away on 19 March at the age of 73; To Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.

By the grace of Allah, he was a Musi [part of the institution of Al-Wasiyyat]. He had been suffering from cancer for a long period of time, however, he bore this illness with great patience, courage and resolve.

Despite being severely ill and weak, he was never negligent towards fulfilling his official duties. He would regularly go the office and until his last breath, he fulfilled his Waqf [devotion] to the best of his abilities. In fact, I believe that he fulfilled his devotion in the manner it ought to be fulfilled.

The deceased was the son of Abdul Azeem Sahib – a Darvesh of Qadian – and Raeesa Begum Sahiba, and was from

Pindi Bhattian. The deceased’s father was the first person to accept Ahmadiyyat in his family. After performing Bai‘at, the deceased’s grandfather began to oppose his father severely and would even beat him. Afterwards, his father then migrated to Qadian and settled there permanently.

The deceased grew up in Qadian and had the opportunity to be in the company of prominent companions [of the Promised Messiahas] and the Dervish of Qadian.

He completed his matriculation examination from Talim-ul-Islam School, Qadian and then joined Madrasa Ahmadiyya. In 1967, he passed the Maulvi Fazil exam from Madrasa Ahmadiyya, Qadian, after which he was appointed as a teacher in Madrasa Ahmadiyya. In 1982, he was appointed as the manager of Al Badr and he also served as the editor for a while. In 1989, he served as Nazim Irshad for Waqf-e-Jadid Qadian. He also had the opportunity to serve as Naib Nazir Ishaat, Sadr Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya of India and Naib Nazir Bait-ul-Mal Amad.

In 2006, I appointed him as Wakilul-Mal of Tahrik-e-Jadid and until his demise, he served in this capacity with due diligence. Similarly, he was a member and also president of several important central committees. He was a very competent administrator and would complete his work with full sincerity and devotion.

He played a vital role in securing India’s position in Tahrik-e-Jadid Chanda.

Previously, it was quite behind in terms of [total] sacrifice, but by the grace of Allah, he helped improve their standard significantly.

He was mindful of Jamaat money and would spend with due care. He was a learned individual and wrote excellent articles. He had the opportunity of carrying out editorial work for the Badr newspaper for many years. His editorials were full of religious knowledge and included the eloquence and articulation of the Urdu language. Approximately forty years ago, when he was in the prime of his youth, there used to be a competition on the Life and Character of the Holy Prophetsa held by the Ta‘mir-e-Milat organisation in Hyderabad Deccan. He once took part in this competition and won first prize.

The deceased possessed many qualities; his approachability, hospitality and tireless effort are among his prominent characteristics. Prior to Jalsa Salana, he would prepare for the arrival of guests with great enthusiasm. Despite having limited resources, he would make excellent arrangements for the guests. He always gave excellent suggestions and would look after the poor and showed complete obedience to his superiors. He had a deep bond with Khilafat. His services span over almost fifty-two years. He was blessed with four daughters and one son. His son resides here; one of his daughters lives in the USA and another in Qadian.

His son-in-law, Khalid Ahmad Ala Din Sahib writes: “During his illness, whenever I would advise him to rest, he would always reply that it was his desire to serve until his last breath and to meet God Almighty in this manner. Indeed, he fulfilled his pledge.”

Naib Sadr Majlis Tahrik-e-Jadid writes:

20

Friday 19 April 2019 | AL HAKAM

“I knew him from the time we were both students and had the opportunity to work with him on a number of occasions.

When the deceased was appointed as Naib Nazir Bait-ul-Mal Amad, he worked with me for a long period of time with full cooperation. He was very obedient, hardworking and honest. He had deep knowledge of financial matters. When he was made Wakil-ul-Mal, he was responsible for the budget of Tahrik-eJadid. At the time of his appointment, the budget was a few hundred thousand, but through the blessings of Allah, that figure increased to tens of millions.”

May God Almighty elevate the status of the deceased and enable his children to continue his virtuous endeavours.

The second funeral is of Tahir Hussain Munshi Sahib, who was the naib amir [national vice president] of Fiji Jamaat. He passed away on 5 March at the age of 72; to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.

He was a longstanding servant of the Fiji Jamaat and had the opportunity to serve as naib amir for a long period of time. He was a pious individual, inclined to prayers and very loyal. By the grace of Allah, he was a Musi and gave Hissa Jaidad during his lifetime. He is survived by one son and one daughter. Both of his children are not Ahmadis.

By the grace of Allah, Tahir Sahib had the opportunity to ear great repute while

serving Fiji’s education sector. He served as principal of a college, in the ministry of education, as principal of a secondary school and also as an education officer.

After being promoted, he served as deputy director of education and in 1999, he retired from his position. After this, the government re-employed him as a member of the public accounts committee and he served in this capacity for a short while until he resigned due to ill health.

Regarding his acceptance of Ahmadiyyat, Hamid Hussain Sahib, President of Nasar Wanga Jamaat, says: “Munshi Sahib’s first assignment was in Nasar wanga Primary School in 1968.

At the time, I was the secretary of the school. Through this, we became friends and would spend a lot of time together.

Despite the fact that he was opposed to the Jamaat, he would listen to the arguments of the Jamaat and also discourse on different points.” (Munshi Sahib was from a Sunni background.) “Whenever he would invite a Maulvi to debate with Ahmadis, the Maulvi would refuse. This would greatly disappoint Munshi Sahib. Afterwards, God Almighty enabled him to accept the Imam of the age.”

With regard to how Munshi Sahib repaid him for this blessing, Hamid Hussain Sahib says: “On one occasion, Munshi Sahib returned home after spending time in Qadian. He told me that he had offered

special prayers for me in Baitul-Dua because it was through me that God Almighty enabled him to reach his current state.”

God Almighty enabled him to accept Ahmadiyyat through Hamid Hussain Sahib. When he was in Baitul-Dua, he prayed to God Almighty that Hamid Sahib conferred a great favour upon him that he was able to accept Ahmadiyyat.

Only an Ahmadi can think of praying for the person they are indebted to in such a manner. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh appointed him as naib amir of Fiji.

Naeem Iqbal Sahib, who is a missionary, writes: “He was very loyal, especially towards Khilafat. He would encourage others to respect and show obedience to Khilafat and this is something he would demonstrate through his own example. If he was opposed to something, the minute he learnt that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih held a certain opinion, he would immediately change his opinion.”

The third funeral is of Musa Sisko sahib of Mali. He passed away on 15 February; to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.

He was a brigade commander in the army. He learnt of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat through a magazine, after which he remained in close contact with a missionary in Waskaso Region. He accepted Ahmadiyyat in November 2012.

In 2013, during the launch of Waskaso Jamaat’s radio station, he had the opportunity to serve as the director for the radio station and he was also appointed as the sadr [local president] Jamaat. After the radio station was established in the Waskaso region, the Jamaat was faced with extraordinary opposition. At that time, Musa Sahib showed great wisdom and dealt with the matter with patience and steadfastness. He contacted the relevant authorities and introduced the Jamaat to them.

Since 2016, he served in the national amila as the Umoor-e-Kharijah [external affairs] secretary. After performing Bai‘at, he dedicated his life for the service of the Jamaat. Aside from offering his obligatory prayers, he was regular in offering the Tahajud [pre-dawn voluntary] prayers. He was a very sincere and loyal individual.

He had a unique bond with Khilafat and would try to be the first to respond to any initiative launched by the Khalifa. He is survived by two wives, ten daughters and five sons.

May Allah the Almighty elevate the status of all the deceased and enable their children to continue their virtuous deeds.

Munshi Sahib’s children are not Ahmadi; may Allah the Almighty enable them to accept the Imam of the age.

(Translated by The Review of Religions.

Original Urdu published in Al Fazl International, 12 April 2019, pp. 5-10)

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