Consolidation of the Movement

The part played by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] in affairs that were not primarily of a religious character should not leave anyone under the impression that his main interest at any time centred on those matters. It was characteristic of him that whatever he undertook he carried through with full attention in a serious spirit, mobilising all the resources that were needed for the purpose. Besides, the matters in which he took a lead, though not at the centre of religion, were not outside its scope. As has already been mentioned his definition of religion comprehended everything that bore immediately or ultimately on the welfare of any section of mankind. This was not a definition invented by him, but was the definition of Islam derived from the Holy Qur’an and the example of the Holy Prophet [saw]. In giving practical effect to his definition, however, he did not in the least overlook the gradations and priorities that have been established by Islam for the coordination of all values affecting human welfare. For him the moral and the spiritual always had top priority. He never neglected the practical upholding of this priority in the least particular. In choosing the immediate objective, in settling a policy, in adopting a procedure, he took the utmost care that the true and ultimate objective, namely winning the pleasure of God, should not be subordinated to, or laid aside even temporarily for the sake of anything else, however tempting it might appear at the moment. At no time did he neglect in the least degree the guidance needed by the Community and the constant supervision of the conduct and behaviour of every member of it, in order to ensure that the Community should continue to march steadily forward on the path that led to God and should not be deflected a hair’s breadth in one direction or the other. For instance, whenever he noticed a tendency on the part of anyone to exalt the Founder of the Movement in a manner that might be misconstrued as placing him in juxtaposition to the Holy

Prophet [saw] he snuffed it out instantly and made it quite clear, as the Promised Messiah [as] had himself done repeatedly, that everything that was bestowed upon him was due to his devoted obedience to the Holy Prophet [saw], and as a spiritual reflection of the Holy Prophet [saw]. On the other hand, he constantly reminded the Community that in the words of the Holy Prophet [saw], the Promised Messiah was a just arbiter and that all his pronouncements were binding upon the Community and not one of them could be contravened with impunity.

AdvISORy COnSULTATIvE COUnCIL (MAjLISE MASHAwARAT)

He laboured constantly to build up the organisation of the Community so as to fashion it as an effective instrument for the achievement of the purposes of the Movement. For instance, in 1922 he established the Advisory Consultative Council (Majlise Mashawarat) which is normally convened once a year to submit its advice to the Khalifa on such matters as might be committed to it for advice. It is composed of elected representatives of every branch of the Movement in the country. Practical considerations had at one time imposed the limitation of representation in the Council to branches of the Movement in the country, but currently the International Advisory Consultative Council meets whenever called to do so by the Khalifa, in the country where he is resident.

The Khalifatul Masih himself presides over the deliberations of the Council, except on the rare occasion when any matter involving the personal interest of the Khalifa is the subject of consideration.

The Council also discusses the Annual Budget of the Movement and submits its recommendations on it. After the session of the Council is opened with an address by the Khalifatul Masih, committees are set up for the detailed consideration of the items

on the agenda of the Council, and submit their reports to the Council for discussion and the formulation of its recommendations. In the course of these discussions points constantly arise bearing upon the true appreciation of moral and spiritual values. At the conclusion of the discussion of each item the Khalifatul Masih sums up the points that arise in the course of the discussion and pronounces upon them, furnishing the needed guidance on every point. On the advice tendered by the Council and the recommendations submitted by it the Khalifatul Masih normally announces his decision at the end of his observations, but sometimes reserves the matter for further reflection. He generally accepts the advice tendered or the recommendations made by a majority of the Council, but if he is of the view that the advice or recommendation ignores or runs counter to some principle the upholding of which is an obligation that cannot be contravened, he sets forth an exposition of the principle involved and rejects the advice or recommendation or announces his acceptance in a modified form which is not open to objection on principle.

Every session of the Council proves a most exhilarating experience for the participants on account of the opportunities of moral and spiritual training that it affords for every participant. The discussions in the Council are carried on at a very high level and compare very favourably with the proceedings and discussions of other bodies of a comparable character outside the Movement.

THE AUxILIARy ORGAnISATIOnS

Every section of the Community is organised into an Association for the purpose of proper training in the exercise of moral and spiritual values and marching forward towards the achievement of the purposes of the Movement.

Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] was very aware of the religious and educational needs of Ahmadi ladies. To this end he established the organisation Lajna Imaillah

(Association of the Handmaidens of God) in 1922. A magazine, Misbah, was introduced in 1926 solely for this organisation. Nasiratul Ahmadiyya (Female Helpers of God) comprises all female children between the ages of 7 and 15 years.

The Nusrat Girls High School was established in 1928 and in 1951, Jamia Nusrat or the Ladies College started functioning in Rabwah, Pakistan.

In December 1938 Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya (the Servants of Ahmadiyyat) was established. This organisation consisted of young men between the ages of 15 and 40. Atfalul Ahmadiyya (Children of Ahmadiyyat) was also set up to cater for the needs of boys under the age of 15 years.

In 1940 Majlis Ansarullah (the Helpers of God) was also established for male members of the Community over the age of forty.

These auxiliary organisations of the Community have remained in place from the time they were established until today. Each of these associations has its own office bearers and is constantly active in promoting the moral and spiritual values inculcated by Islam. One feature of the training of all sections of the Community, which is thus bound together in affectionate ties of brotherhood and sisterhood, is that all members under the auspices of their particular association carry out without discrimination programmes of manual labour, designed to uphold the dignity of labour. The female sections also carry out programmes designed to stimulate their artistic faculties and to train them in the various branches of domestic science and household duties.

EdUCATIOn And TRAInInG

From the very beginning of his Khilafat, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] was very keen on promoting literacy and education in all sections of the Community. He paid special attention to the education of women. As a result of his directions and the methods that he adopted for the achievement of his purpose in this regard, the average

standard of education among the men and women of the Movement is today considerably higher than that prevailing among the sister communities in each region. This is true not only in respect of the branches of the Community in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India but also in the case of the branches of the Community in other backward regions, more particularly in Africa.

The Madrassa Ahmadiyya, which had been established for religious instruction was raised to the status of Jamia (Higher Seminary) designed to train scholars to serve as missionaries of Islam in different parts of the world.

ISLAMIC SOLAR CALEndAR

An Islamic solar calendar was introduced supplementing the current lunar calendar for facilitating the comparative study of the history and progress of Islam.

PROPAGATIOn OF ISLAM

The Khalifatul Masih kept reminding the Community of the obligations that lay upon it with regard to the propagation of Islam. For instance, he said:

“Today the way of promoting the progress of Islam through swords, or rifles, or cannon, or naval vessels, or aircraft has been wholly blocked. Every citadel that the companions of the Holy Prophet had constructed by shedding their blood is being demolished and there appears no possibility of safeguarding those citadels with swords, rifles, cannon and aircraft. But there is on the surface of the earth a Community whose hearts are filled with the faith and the certainty that these crumbling citadels will be restored not through cannon, swords, rifles or aircraft, but through propaganda, education, admonition and exposition.

That Community is the Ahmadiyya Community. The renaissance of Islam will be undertaken by that Community. The flag of the Holy Prophet [saw] will

be planted again not on any height, nor on the top of any mountain, nor on a bastion of any citadel, but in the hearts of the peoples of the world. There can be no doubt that a standard planted in the hearts rises higher, is stronger and is more enduring than the one that is planted on the top of a mountain or on a bastion of a citadel.” On another occasion he stated:

“I have said it several times and now repeat it emphatically that the West has been supreme in the world for a long period, but it is now the divine design to crush the Western social and cultural systems. Those who are fearful and are afraid to oppose Western values and consider that the veil can no longer be maintained and that it is necessary that men and women shall mix freely in social intercourse and that we cannot make any progress unless we follow the West in these matters, should remember that in adopting this attitude they are obstructing the progress of Islam and Ahmadiyyat. These things are bound to be wiped out and will disappear altogether. Many of you will be alive to witness the collapse of the structure of Western values and you will observe the new palaces of Islam being reared upon the ruins of Western values. These are not the words of a man. It is the decree of the God of the heavens and the earth and no one can change it. It is not a question of our strength. We have never said that this change will be brought about through our strength, nor shall we ever say it. What we do say is that God has promised this change and we have always witnessed the unchangeability of divine promises. After this observation there is nothing that can shake our faith or weaken our beliefs. Most certainly the world will approach us humbly on its knees and will have to accept this change. Then, have no fear that if we raise our voice in support of the veil and against mixed schools our girls will rebel against it or their parents will rise against it.

Not only the girls and their parents but those who are giving currency to such ideas will apologise to us on their knees. It will never happen that our women may discard the veil and we may be put to shame and become remorseful in this context. The advocates of these new-fangled ideas will come before us with heads bent in shame and remorse and would confess that they had been following the wrong path and that the right path is the one laid down by Islam. This is a divine decree and no power, no government, no kingdom can obstruct its enforcement … So prepare yourselves for these changes and keep supplicating God Almighty and cultivate certainty and confidence. The day you are filled with certainty, all your doubts and suspicions and apprehensions will disappear and you will find yourselves standing firmly on a strong and high minaret of progress.”

25 GLORIOUS yEARS AS KHALIFA

In March 1939 Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] completed 25 years of his Khilafat. During this period the Movement had gone forward in leaps and bounds and the message of Ahmadiyyat had been carried to the ends of the earth. It was felt by some members of the Movement that this was a fit occasion for a celebration by way of gratitude to God Almighty for all these numberless bounties and His guardianship and protection of the Community throughout in the face of trials and dangers. When this idea was submitted to the Khalifatul Masih, he signified his assent to such a celebration not because of the completion of 25 years of his Khilafat but because of the completion of the first 50 years of the Movement, adding that the completion of the first century of the Movement should be celebrated with great éclat.

The celebration of the jubilee took place during the Annual Conference of 1939. The whole proceeding, the addresses, the march to the site of the Conference, the illumination of the white Minaret, etc., were carried through with great dignity and in a

spirit of prayerful gratitude to the Divine for all His bounties. The flag of Ahmadiyyat was adopted and raised for the first time.

In reply to the addresses presented to the Khalifatul Masih, he made a speech in the course of which he outlined the reasons for holding such a celebration:

“Ever since the celebration was projected the feeling that it might become a precedent for birthdays and other similar celebrations has troubled me. I was afraid lest in consequence of this celebration the Community might get involved in such ceremonies, as it is the purpose of Ahmadiyyat to wipe out…The first feeling of reassurance was generated in my mind by the appreciation of one aspect mentioned by Maulvi Jalal Uddin Shams in one of his articles that this is an occasion of celebration also because the Movement has completed 50 years of its life. Thus, I realised that this celebration can be attributed to the Movement rather than to an individual and that I can myself join in this joyous event. The second reassurance was generated in my mind when the poem of the Promised

Messiah [as] named ‘Ameen’ (written when Hadhrat Musleh Mau’ood finished first reading of the Holy Qur’an) was being recited and I felt that this celebration is an occasion of proclaiming the fulfilment of a prophecy of the Promised

Messiah. I, therefore, felt that my participation in it is not improper.”

At the conclusion of his speech a cheque of the amount of Rs. 270,000 was presented to Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] with the request that he might spend it as he pleased.

In the Annual Conference of that year the Khalifatul Masih spoke on 28 and 29 December on the Islamic System of Khilafat in a very comprehensive way and in the course of his speech said:

“The ever-fresh signs of God Almighty and His living miracles are sufficient proof that God has made me Khalifa and there is no one who can stand in opposition

to me. If there is anyone among you who is eager to oppose me let him do so, God will humiliate and disgrace him. Not only this, even if all the powers of the earth were to join together to destroy my Khilafat, God will swat them out like a mosquito. Whoever rises in opposition to me will be pulled down, whoever speaks against me will be silenced, and whoever attempts to humiliate me will be humiliated and disgraced. Therefore, O Community of believers, and O workers of righteousness, I say to you that Khilafat is a great bounty of God Almighty. Value it as such. So long as the majority of you continue established in faith and righteous conduct, God will continue to bestow this bounty upon you. But should a majority of you be deprived of faith and righteous conduct, then it will be for the Divine will to determine whether to continue this bounty or to withdraw it. Thus, there is no question of the Khalifa going wrong. You will be deprived of the Khilafat when you yourselves become corrupt.”

dREAMS And vISIOnS RELATInG TO wORLd wAR II

The Khalifatul Masih received very clear intimation through a dream of the breakout of the Second World War a couple of years ahead of the commencement of hostilities. In August of 1939 he saw another dream in which he felt that the war had broken out and that France and Britain were being hard pressed by Germany. The British Prime Minister had invited France to unite with Britain, thus forming one country, under one government, so that the war could be prosecuted on the side of the allies with greater vigour and strength. This dream was fulfilled in an astonishing manner in June 1940 when Mr Winston Churchill made exactly that offer to the French.

In June 1940 the Khalifatul Masih saw in a dream that he was put in charge of the defence of Britain and that on taking stock of everything he said:

“There is great weakness in the air, if this could be remedied there is a good prospect of Britain pulling through.”

On this, as if by way of reassurance, he saw a piece of paper which contained a news item that two thousand three hundred military aircraft were being dispatched from America to Britain. A few days later the news came through that on the fall of France the orders that had been placed in the United States, by the French Military Purchasing Mission, had been switched over to the British Military Purchasing Mission and that it was expected that two thousand five hundred military aircraft would be dispatched to Britain. This was followed within two or three days by the definite announcement that two thousand three hundred military aircraft had been dispatched to Britain.

During the progress of the war, the Khalifatul Masih saw several dreams which indicated the course that hostilities were likely to take and which were all fulfilled according to their purport. Every one of them constituted a divine sign that he enjoyed continuous communion with God.

In the spring of 1943 he stated: “I conceive that the war will not now last much longer. In the first half of 1945 it will either come to an end or will have reached a stage when it will become clear to everyone how it is going to end. The foundation for that end will be laid in this year, 1943. But that will not be the end of all this travail. God Almighty will prolong these tribulations till the people who have to take over the governments of the world have been properly trained. “In the seventeenth chapter of the Holy Qur’an it is stated that Moses, peace be on him, and his companion observed a wall that was about to fall down and they repaired it and put it in good order gratuitously. Their action was prompted by the fact that under the wall there was a treasure belonging to two orphans, and God Almighty desired that the treasure should be safeguarded till they attained

their maturity. The present situation is that in this case the treasure that has to be safeguarded can be preserved secure not by repairing a wall but by pulling it down. God Almighty is pulling down these worldly systems gradually and not at one stroke, because those to whom the rebuilding of this structure is to be committed are being trained in the divine academy of engineering and have not yet completed their training. If all the old structures were to be demolished suddenly there would be a hiatus. That is why God Almighty is demolishing these structures gradually. One wall is pulled down today and another is pulled down tomorrow. One roof is blown up today and another is blown up tomorrow. One room disappears today and another disappears tomorrow. In this way gradually and step by step God Almighty is pulling down, ruining and destroying all the structures, all the mansions and all the materials of the world. He does not design the complete ruin of these structures till those who are being trained in the divine academy have completed their training and are ready to take over. This is the way that God Almighty has opened for the progress of our Community. This change is bound to come about one day, but it is approaching gradually so that those who have to take over should be enabled to complete their training.”

dETAILEd COMMEnTARy On THE HOLy QUR’An

Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] always worked very hard and never spared himself. At the best of times he was in indifferent health and sometimes his health

broke down for weeks and months. Even during such periods he did not lay aside his work altogether. His magnum opus was a detailed commentary on the Holy Qur’an which he called Tafseer Kabeer (The Great Commentary). It is a most valuable exposition of the numberless verities comprised in the Holy Book and is a great milestone in the history of the exegesis of the Holy Qur’an.