Fazle Umar
The death and burial of the Promised Messiah [as] The blessed early period of Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad’s [ra] training came to an end with the demise of the Promised Messiah [as]. He stepped into a new phase in which he faced many trials to test his pledge. However, before we undertake a deeper analysis of this phase, it seems necessary to mention some major occurrences at the demise of the Promised Messiah [as]. A cursory glance over this historic event will not quench the thirst of the reader nor of the writer. The Promised Messiah [as] laid the foundations of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in 1889 for the revival of Islam. According to his proclamation, this was not a human movement but according to the Will of Heaven, that movement whose glad tidings were given by Hadhrat Muhammad Mustafa [saw] sometimes as the descent of Hadhrat Masih [as] (Messiah) and sometimes as the appearance of the Mahdi. This organisation as has become apparent, grew from a very weak state when only a handful of righteous people from the whole of India became initiated at the hand of the Promised Messiah [as]. It was a very vulnerable period in the history of the Movement. In comparison the opponents collectively enjoyed such power and dominance which they never attained again. We shall briefly consider whether the repeated attacks and onslaught of the enemies increased the weakness of this Community or on the contrary increased its strength. The Promised Messiah [as] died in Lahore on 26 May 1908. He undertook this journey to Lahore for religious reasons and to spread the message of Ahmadiyyat. Prior to this journey Allah Almighty repeatedly informed him of his impending death.
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