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.

However, because of overwhelming love for him, his followers could not imagine that their spiritual father was to scar them with his imminent departure.

The time of his death was approaching and the Promised Messiah [as] received revelations about it one of which was (in Arabic):

“The time of departure will be faced during a journey.” 59

As a result of such clear revelations or maybe because of his love and deep spiritual attachment, Hadhrat Sahibzada Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad [ra] became anxious during this trip. He became uneasy, irritable and downhearted as is apparent from the following remarks:

“Prior to the death of Huzur [as], every evening, Malik Mubarak Ali Tajir sahib visited the house where Huzur [as] was staying. And when Huzur [as] started out on his daily outing, he would follow in his horse drawn carriage. I used to join them while riding my mare that was procured for me by

Huzur [as] and conversed with him as I rode along the carriage. But on the night when his illness deepened and he was to die the next day, my heart felt somewhat heavy. I did not ride my mare for this reason. Malik sahib asked me to join him in his carriage. Hence, I sat with him but as I sat my heart fell into deep despair and involuntarily I uttered this line of poem:

‘We will be content with whatever is Your Will.’ 60

“Malik sahib tried to engage me in conversation. I replied to him now and then between pondering this line of poem. He fell seriously ill during that night and died in the morning. It was a Divine decree, which prepared me before time to cope with this unbearable loss.” 61 Besides this, when he went to his in-laws’ house to collect his wife, Hadhrat Umme Nasir [ra], he was overwhelmed with the same fear that the Promised Messiah [as] may pass away in his wife’s absence.

Anyhow, the Promised Messiah [as] died exactly according to the revelations during his journey when he was staying in Lahore at the house of Dr. Muhammad Hussain Shah sahib.

Despite the above mentioned expectation, this death was sudden and unexpected for his relations and strangers alike. The news of his demise fell like a lightning bolt for his friends and followers. His Community was deeply saddened by this news. One is hard pressed to find its match in any worldly relationship. The death of mothers and fathers, sons and daughters are soul wrenching but onlookers state that the anguish portrayed by his followers at his departure, they had never seen its equal in any worldly relationship. Prominent with this sadness was anxiety and questions were arising in many minds as to what will now happen and what will become of the Community.

Contrary to this there was much rejoicing in the opponents’ camp and the ordinary simple people, misled by the Mullahs, imagined that a great enemy of Islam has died and they thronged the streets. They clapped, chanted and danced to celebrate his death as a great festival.

Their happiness just like the sadness of his friends was twofold because not only did the enemies perceive the death of the Promised Messiah [as] but also waited hopefully for the early collapse of the Community and its funeral procession within days of his death.

THE STATE OF THE COMMUnITy AFTER THE dEATH OF

THE PROMISEd MESSIAH [as]

visitors to Qadian & the spread of Ahmadiyyat

What was the state of the Community at this stage of its short history? The Community was established at Ludhiana, in March 1889 when only forty people took the

covenant of allegiance to the Promised Messiah [as]. At the time of his death, this number had grown not in hundreds or thousands but into hundreds of thousands of devoted adherents. At times the rich and the poor, the high and the low joined the Movement in such numbers that the courier of the completed initiation forms could not carry the bundles at one time. He had to make two or three trips to deliver the sack loads of forms to the Promised Messiah [as]!

Day by day the number of pilgrims increased ultimately leading to the creation of a guesthouse and hospitality centre. Numerous guests resided here on their arrival from many lands to meet the Promised Messiah [as], though Qadian was still an isolated village, which could be reached only along a rutted dirt track after leaving the town of Batala. In those days travellers could make the 12-mile trip from Batala to Qadian by a cart drawn by oxen and the journey was slow, dusty, uncomfortable and occupied most of a day.62 When transport was unavailable, the pilgrims preferred to walk to Qadian in their eagerness to meet the Promised Messiah [as] instead of waiting in Batala.

The trickle of people coming to Qadian to listen to him became a flood. This caused such worry and anxiety for his opponents that whenever the opportunity arose, Maulvi Muhammad Hussain of Batala made it his habit to deter visitors to Qadian as they arrived at the Batala Railway Station. Nevertheless, the influx of pilgrims eager to meet the Promised Messiah [as] continued to grow and no opposition could deter the crowds of people, some days numbering a hundred people, from having access to him.

In this regard it is worth mentioning a convert’s testimony who gave this very reason for his conversion that it was being a witness to this support of Allah Almighty of Hadhrat Mirza sahib [as] that he came to believe in him. On the one hand was Maulvi Muhammad Hussain who had worn out many pairs of shoes deterring people from the pilgrimage to the Promised Messiah [as]. On the other hand people had

worn out many pairs of shoes pounding the streets of Qadian untiringly in the service of the Promised Messiah [as].

The numbers kept on increasing day by day so much so that the Divine prophecy vouchsafed to the Promised Messiah [as] through revelation many years ago that the road to Qadian would be worn into ruts by the people coming to see him was fulfilled literally. 63

The multitudes of visitors were not limited to the Punjab. They came from the north and the south, from the east and the west, in fact they hailed from every corner of India to present themselves before the Promised Messiah [as]. This was not limited to the borders of India. Even the distant inhabitants of the Middle East, Europe and America began to appear in this unknown little village. Referring to these vast multitudes the Promised Messiah [as] says in one of his poems: I was resourceless, helpless, Unknown, without expertise No one knew where Qadian stood None had a cause

To turn towards me

Few were aware that I lived

Now you see How the world

Has turned towards me

Qadian has now become The focal point For the chosen people of God.

Before his demise a branch of the Movement had been established in every nook and corner of India. People had believed in the truth of his claim even in the far

reaches of Southern India. In certain Arab countries they believed him to be an Apostle commissioned by God. A community of his followers had also been established in America. And on the rocky land of Afghanistan not only had there been a community established, but some of his most devoted followers had put an indelible stamp on the truth of his claim and the sincerity of their faith.

Religious school & college, publications, donations & wasiyyat

The Promised Messiah [as] had established the organisation along strong lines thereby catering for the varied affairs of the Movement. A religious Madrassa and the Ta’limul Islam School had been started for the education of children up to the age of 18. A guesthouse had been erected where 50 to 60 volunteers cooked and cleaned for the guests and for the 150 boys who were now enrolled in the school. Numerous newspapers and journals were being published and a financial institution had been established to collect and manage donations helping implement the grand objectives of the organisation. Under this financial scheme every member of the Community was expected to set aside a certain amount of his income and regularly contribute to aid the propagation of the message of Islam.

Apart from financial sacrifices, members were also encouraged to dedicate their lives for the propagation of the message of Islam. Hence, many blessed souls presented themselves in Qadian in response to this call.

Another revolutionary institution left behind by the Promised Messiah [as] for his Movement was the institution of Wasiyyat. God Almighty showed him a plot of land in a vision that was called Bahishti Maqbara. It was shown to him that it contained the graves of such select members of his Community who were destined to be in heaven. Such of his righteous and pure followers were to be buried there whose faith was perfect. For the worldwide propagation of Islam they would demonstrate

the spirit of sacrifice by contributing at least one tenth of their income in the service of their faith. They should make a testamentary disposition that one tenth of their property after their death shall, under direction of the Movement, be devoted to the propagation of Islam, and carrying out the teachings of the Holy Qur’an. Hence, in fulfilment of this divine wish the Promised Messiah [as] laid the foundations for the institution of Wasiyyat.

All these aspects reflected great expectations and in this tender blossoming plant every perceptive mind could see the twinkling of an extraordinary fruit-bearing tree. Another comforting aspect from the viewpoint of the Movement was that the Promised Son, whose progress was connected to the progress of Ahmadiyyat and Islam, was alive, safe and well. Having received the proper training, he was set on a predestined path of high aims and objectives.

When the Promised Messiah [as] died, Ahmadiyyat was passing through this difficult phase. According to the demands of nature most if not all of the devout followers, as a result of this sudden blow, were feeling nervous, out of heart and downcast. After the separation from this extraordinary heavenly mortal what was to become of the Movement he nurtured under his wing. This was the time when a new lease of life ran through the vile expectations of the opponents of the Community. However, with deeper reflection it became self-evident that even though the sentiments of the two camps were poles apart, both concluded that as long as Hadhrat Mirza sahib [as] was alive his mission could not receive the slightest injury because of his great leadership and guidance. However, after his death his enemies could harm the Movement and create dangers for his friends.

In contrast to the vulgar delights of the mob who danced outside his house on news of his death, the worldwide obituaries by friends and foes painted a different picture of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi [as].

A newspaper in Lahore said that, though the writer did not believe Ahmad was the Promised Messiah, there was no doubt that he

“was an exceedingly holy and exalted leader who had a force of piety that conquered even the hardest hearts. He was a well-informed scholar, a courageous messenger of peace, a reformer of great resolve who set an example of pious life…

His guidance and leadership had a truly messianic quality for the spiritually dead. He infused new life into dead souls as did Jesus.”