The disturbances of 1953

The first grave crisis encountered by the Movement was the death of its Holy Founder on 26 May 1908. By the Grace and Mercy of Allah, the Movement negotiated it successfully through the unanimous election of Hadhrat Maulvi Nooruddin sahib as Khalifatul Masih I.

An even graver crisis arose in March 1914 on the death of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I [ra]. For a while it threatened to rip the Community apart right down its middle. Again, by the Grace and Mercy of Allah, it was surmounted by the wisdom, sagacity, tact, foresight and prayers of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra].

Sir Herbert Emerson and the Ahrar combined to confront the Movement with a

third crisis twenty years later, in the autumn of 1934. The Grace and Mercy of Allah again came to the rescue of the Movement, and the blessed initiation of Tehrike Jadeed opened the way for further and faster progress of the Movement.

Hadhrat Musleh Mau’ood [ra] used all the means at his disposal to fight for the creation of Pakistan, a stance contrary to most of the other religious communities. Both after the creation of Pakistan and historically [before Pakistan] it is a fact that no other Islamic movement or religious movement has put forward such wonderful efforts as the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the history of the Kashmir Liberation Movement. Besides, such was the exalted station of Hadhrat Musleh Mau’ood [ra] that no one could equal or surpass him with respect to the way he organised his Community, the coordinated expansion of its missionary work, his moral and spiritual upbringing of the Community and his knowledge and deep insight of the Holy Qur’an.

The success of the Community particularly in these areas and the removal of all obstacles, thereby demonstrating God’s help and support for the Community, were enough to perplex its enemies. Hence, to try and reinstate their lost goodwill they

cooked up another deadly plot in 1953. This time the situation was much more dangerous than the one in 1934.

There were widespread demonstrations and anti-Ahmadiyya riots throughout West Pakistan, leading to an almost complete breakdown of law and order. The enemies held political rallies, street marches, and published inflammatory articles in the newspapers. Murder, grievous hurt, arson and large-scale destruction of business and property were let loose against the members of the Community. The ruling party in the province of Punjab also joined hands with the militants.

When the situation of the Community reached a life and death point, Hadhrat Musleh Mau’ood [ra] announced:

“God Almighty has established the Ahmadiyya Community. If these people win then we admit we were on the wrong path, but if we are on the right path, then they will assuredly fail”. (Al-Fazl, February 15th, 1953).

The leading troublemakers were the Ahrar and the ulema (learned scholars), who had consistently opposed the creation of Pakistan. Maulana Abu Ala Maudoodi, the founder of the Jama’at-e-Islami, became their voice. The Ahrar who had no political career in Pakistan because of their anti-Pakistan stance during partition, tried to use this issue to seek some political standing in the newly established Muslim state by exploiting people’s religious feelings, a fact that was later established by a court of inquiry set up jointly under Justice Mr. Muhammad Munir and Justice Mr. M. R. Kayani to investigate the causes of the disturbances. This enquiry was published as the Munir report.

Yet again, the Grace and Mercy of Allah enabled the Community to weather the storm. The situation changed so dramatically and suddenly that this mischief also fizzled out. The ringleaders were humiliated. Those who had intended to wipe out the

Jama’at were themselves wiped out from the face of the earth. The Community continued to successfully move forward despite the great suffering and severe opposition.

The history of Ahmadiyyat bears witness to the fact that no one remembers the erstwhile opponents of Ahmadiyyat. Yet through the blessings of Khilafat, Ahmadiyyat is flourishing in the world and millions of people devotedly profess the faith of Ahmadiyyat, or the true Islam.

Explaining the objectives of the Ahrar, the Munir Report states:

“…that their object was to create dissensions among Muslims and to undermine public confidence in the stability of Pakistan, that the agitation [of 1953] was clearly designed to destroy Muslim solidarity by fomenting internecine dissensions under the cloak of religion…” (Report of the Court of Inquiry, constituted under Punjab Act II of 1954 to enquire into the Punjab Disturbances of 1953, printed by the Superintendent,

Government printing, Punjab, 1954, p. 148)

On p.259 of the same Report, it is written:

“The conduct of the Ahrar calls for the strongest comment and is especially reprehensible—we can use no milder word—for the reason that they debased a religious cause by pressing it into service for a temporal purpose…” (Report of the Court of Inquiry, constituted under Punjab Act II of 1954 to enquire into the Punjab Disturbances of 1953, printed by the Superintendent,

Government printing, Punjab, 1954, p.259).

On 19 October 1953 Hadhrat Musleh Mau’ood [ra] opened the Offices of Tehrike Jadeed as well as the Offices of Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya in Rabwah. Bear in mind that these offices were being opened after the bloody disturbances and shamefully evil instigations in which the opponents of Ahmadiyyat had made every effort to wipe this godly Community off the face of the earth. The opening of these offices was a very effective and beautiful answer to the opposition, enmity and the hail of abuse suffered during these disturbances. Unaffected, the members of this Community would continue their virtuous and beneficent work which God had ordained for them.