Rabwah

The Muslim Community was very blessed to have a brave leader in Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad [ra]. He alone had the courage and vision to save the Community from dispersion and depravation during these difficult times. It was his hard work, dedicated effort and extraordinary leadership that despite overwhelming circumstances resulted in the foundation of the new city for the headquarters of the Community. Thus a new city was born which would take its place on the map of the world and serve as a beacon of light radiating the truth and beauty of Islam for future generations.

Migration is among the traditions of the prophets. Many prophets and their communities have undertaken migration in order to spread the religion of Allah throughout the world. Our beloved Holy Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad [saw] also migrated after enduring 13 long years of hardship. As a result a new era of Islamic history began and a new Islamic nation was born. Away from the oppressive confines of Mecca the truth and beauty of Islam rose like a spiritual sun engulfing the world with its light and radiance. During the era of the righteous Khalifas the advancement of Islam reached its apex. Then at the beginning of the 14th Islamic Century in accordance with the prophecies of the Holy Prophet [saw], Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad [as] of Qadian claimed to be the Promised Messiah. He established the headquarters of the Community in Qadian and this blessed land became the flag bearer in the service of Islam throughout the world. 117

On 18 September 1894 the Promised Messiah [as] had received the revelation (Urdu): “The stigma of migration.” He himself and Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] had seen dreams and visions that revealed some of the aspects of the migration with which the Community would be confronted. For instance, six years before the partition

of the country Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] saw in a dream that he was at some place at a distance from Qadian and was worried by a recollection that Qadian had been invaded. In his dream Sheikh Muhammad Naseeb, an Ahmadi resident of Qadian, came to him and the Khalifatul Masih inquired from him what was the situation in Qadian. The reply was that the enemy had occupied the greater part of Qadian but had been checked just outside the central quarter of the town which contained the house of the Promised Messiah [as], the two principal mosques, the offices of the Central Association and the Heavenly Graveyard. On receiving this reply the Khalifatul Masih II observed: “If the central quarter is secure, all is secure.” It so happened that after all the upset and the taking over of the greater part of Qadian by the non-Muslims, with the active assistance of the Indian army and police, the incursion was checked right at the border of the central quarter. These revelations, dreams and visions were fulfilled during the tribulations that followed in the wake of partition. 118

After the partition of British India the Community was forced to leave its headquarters. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] made the decision to leave India and migrate to Pakistan. Under his leadership the majority of the Community migrated. Only a handful of members (313 in number) remained behind who became known as the Dervesh of Qadian, Derveshaane Qadian. 119

Once in Pakistan, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] set about the task of establishing a new headquarters. In order to keep the Community united and its administration functioning he assigned various individuals the task of finding an appropriate location for this purpose. In accordance with the Khalifa’s directives Ch. Aziz Ahmad Bajwa inspected various locations. When he crossed the river Chenab in Chiniot, he discovered the location which is now known as Rabwah. After exploring the area further he believed that this isolated place would be suitable for the headquarters of the Community. The piece of land he found was so barren and dry that it was incapable

of supporting any agriculture. Mir Mohammad Nasir sahib sates:

“At that time Rabwah was absolutely barren, there was no water or electricity or gas. There was nothing. Because of the sand and crystallised salt it was difficult to work the land. There was one tree and a broken bench on the site. On that bench the words ‘Anjuman Khuddamul Islam Chiniot’ were written. Locals as well as agricultural experts insisted that the soil at this location could not support any vegetation. Plants could not be grown and sustaining any shade bearing trees would therefore be impossible. They argued that it was therefore totally unsuitable for the needs of the Community. Having heard these opinions,

Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] decided to visit the location himself. So in the company of a few people he travelled to the area and inspected it in detail.

That evening he returned to Lahore and announced that the land should be bought immediately. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] appointed Nawab

Mohammad Deen to begin the process of acquiring the land and so the new headquarters were born.” 120

After paying the designated price, the Community acquired the site which constituted 1,034 acres and so the beginning of the new headquarters was born. 121 The proposed town to be constructed on the barren, treeless site on which not a blade of grass had ever sprouted, was named Rabwah, which is the name ascribed in the Holy Qur’an to the region where Jesus [as] eventually found shelter (Ch23:V.51).122 Upon receiving permission from the government, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] immediately appointed a committee to start planning the settlement of the new headquarters. For the official inauguration of Rabwah, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] left Lahore on 20 September 1948 by car. After crossing the river Chenab bridge, he got out of the car with his companions, turned towards the Kaaba and prayed, “O my Lord make my entry a good entry and make me go forth a good going forth. And grant

me from thyself a helping power.” (The Holy Qur’an, Ch.17:V.81)

He repeated this prayer many times with much feeling and emotion, got back into his car and continued to the inauguration. The inauguration took place at the location which is now enclosed by the Fazle Umar hospital. Contrary to other worldly inaugurations this was humble and full of emotion and prayer. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih [ra] recited the prayer of Hadhrat Abraham [as] which he had recited at the construction of the Kaaba.

After the inauguration the construction work and settlement effort began. At first, tents were erected for temporary living quarters and office use. After this, temporary buildings were constructed followed by permanent ones according to the planning map. The lack of water resources initially presented a major challenge. Experts considered natural underground reserves unsuitable for human consumption and agriculture but Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] directed that efforts should continue and then as had been indicated by an earlier vision of his, these reserves underwent a miraculous change and became a usable source of fresh water.

Once the construction work had begun people started coming in droves to settle here. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] divided Rabwah into seven neighbourhoods and assigned names to each one. Similarly he named various streets. Thus the basis of the town of Rabwah had been laid.

Rabwah which began as tents and adobe structures in 1948 was continuously blessed by the presence of the successors of the Promised Messiah [as]. Rabwah strived forward rapidly and before long the attention of the world turned towards it. It acquired international attention as the headquarters of the Movement. The temporary buildings of old were replaced by some of the best modern structures. Today Rabwah is ranked among the best cities in Pakistan. This city which had its foundation laid by the prayers of Abraham [as] is the recipient of constant rewards and blessings. Each

sunrise on this extraordinary city brings with it a new dawn of advancement. Like the glorious Kaaba, Rabwah stands as a blessed monument, a beacon of Islam radiating its beauty throughout the world.

Rabwah is located midway on the road between Faisalabad and Sargodha on the base of the river Chenab. The population of Rabwah is home to about forty thousand people and around two hundred and fifty thousand men and women from far and near were accommodated at Rabwah on the occasion of the Annual Conference of the

Movement in the last week of December 1983. It would not be inappropriate to call Rabwah the city of mosques for it has more than sixty mosques the largest and most stunning of which is Rabwah’s central mosque, Masjid Aqsa.

In addition to these central mosques every neighbourhood has its own mosque where people gather five times a day to remember their Lord. Rabwah is the international headquarters of the Movement and for this reason all the central offices are located here. The offices of Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya, the offices of Tehrike Jadeed and Waqfe Jadeed are to be found here as well as the offices of Auxiliary organisations of Pakistan such as the offices of Majlis Ansarullah Pakistan, Lajna Imaillah Pakistan and Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Pakistan.

Experts once said that Rabwah could not sustain any vegetation that plant life and trees would never be seen here. Now the work of those at the Gulshane Ahmad

nursery has confounded that cynicism. The nursery is now home to trees and plants from around the world. It is administered by a Committee in Rabwah which is continuously endeavouring to keep the neighbourhood of Rabwah green. This important organisation of the Movement is proof that vibrant nations can turn deserts into gardens through hard work and the blessings of Allah.

The city is a glorious example of the kind of hard work and determination which causes revolutions. It was that determination which turned a desert into a lush garden

and a desolate land into a populated organised settlement. This is a living city. Each day in Rabwah heralds the dawn of greater advancement and from here each day the trumpet call of Islam resounds further as the Community strives to convey its message to the corners of the earth.123

All this has been consummated and has grown out of the seed sown by the Promised Messiah [as], and nurtured and guarded by his Successors more particularly by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] during more than half a century of his Khilafat.