Al Hakam - 27 March 2020

Isolating in the 21st Century From Mount Hira to Silicon Valley

100 Years Ago...

A prophet in the making

Lecture of Hazrat Musleh-eMaud and news from Jamaats around the world

A look at the early life of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas Part II

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Why Muslims are confused about the Messiah A response to false propaganda against the Ahmadiyya Jamaat in Islam Page 11

THE WEEKLY

www.alhakam.org AL HAKAM | Friday 27 March 2020 | Issue CVI Ahmadiyya Archive & Research Centre (ARC), 22 Deer Park Road, London, SW19 3TL. UK info@alhakam.org | F: +44(0)208 544 7673

“If this was a sign, then first and foremost, I would have announced it” Instructions from Huzoor regarding coronavirus On 20 March 2020, towards the end of his Friday Sermon, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his helper, issued instructions pertaining to the recent outbreak of coronavirus.

This morning [21 March 2020], in my mulaqat, Huzooraa gave insightful remarks regarding the current state of the world, the views of experts and the reaction of the general public.

Huzooraa said: “Some Ahmadis have referred to this illness as plague. Some say that this is a sign, similar to that of the plague. Prior to the time when the plague broke out, Allah the Almighty informed the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, regarding it. Thus, the

plague served as a sign [from God].

“Then, prior to that very outbreak of plague, Allah the Almighty informed the Promised Messiahas that his followers would be protected. Thus, the plague became a sign in this manner also.

“Although, at that time, the Promised Messiahas said that it was possible that a few persons in Qadian could contract the illness – and some actually did contract the plague – however, God Almighty foretold to the Promised Messiahas as to the timeframe and manner of its outbreak. Thus, its spread was a sign.

“In spite of this, the Promised Messiahas continued to pray for the world generally that it be saved from this epidemic

and beseeched Allah’s mercy.

“Neither was this coronavirus foretold, nor have I ever expressed that this is a sign that has appeared.”

After saying these words, Huzooraa paused. I was about to say something, when Huzooraa continued: “Look, in 1918, influenza broke out and even spread to India including Qadian.

Countless people lost their lives. We find mention of precautionary measures

prescribed by Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, for example, drinking cinnamon infused water etc. As a matter of fact, Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra himself also contracted influenza and with great severity.”

Thereafter, Huzooraa proceeded towards his bookshelf and picked out the fourth volume of Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat.

Immediately, Huzooraa found the passage he was searching for. Huzooraa said: Continued on page 3

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Friday 27 March 2020 | AL HAKAM

This Week in History 27 March - 2 April In this third year of Al Hakam, we will present a selection of incidents from the blessed life of the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, this time, with some more details

30 March 1893: The Promised Messiah, peace be on him, sent a detailed letter to a staunch enemy, Maulvi Muhammad Hussain of Batala. In it, Huzooras detailed the idea of a challenge that would decide who was truthful between the two parties. The challenge was to write a commentary on a specific verse of the Holy Quran and see who proved the best and most insightful.

Huzooras was clear in his claim that no one would be able to come close to his insight of the Holy Quran as Allah Himself had guided him. With this proposal, Huzooras sought to put an end to the ongoing, long and severe opposition that Maulvi Muhammad Hussain held.

If the Promised Messiahas lost, then, he said, he would burn all his books and would repent from all his claims.

(Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol I, pp. 359-362) 30 March 1905: The Promised Messiahas approved Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra as the editor of the newspaper Al Badr, after the demise of its pioneering editor, Hazrat Munshi Muhammad Afzalra. Huzooras expanded his expectations for the future of the newspaper with the new setup.

31 March 1906: The Paisa Akhbar was a popular Urdu newspaper published in Lahore, British India. The paper was established in 1887. On this date, the Paisa Akhbar published the Promised Messiah’sas acclaimed prophecy about the upcoming heavenly signs and global sufferings: ‫رھپ � ٓا� ہ ی� ی��رو ز�� ٓا� ےک دن‬ [O friends, the days of earthquakes are nigh again] This prophecy that was encapsulated in a poem was spread far and wide through the circulation of this newspaper.

31 March 1891: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra, his devout follower, and guided him about his proposed religious debate with Jagan Nath. In the letter, the Promised Messiahas also shared his ongoing health issues and his longing to see him soon.

April 1889: The Promised Messiahas was still in Ludhiana after accepting Bai‘at of his followers and establishing the Jamaat. It is reported that Huzooras went to another main city of India, Aligarh, for a week in the month of April. The correspondence with Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira establishes that Huzooras arrived back in Ludhiana on 15 April.

April 1899: The Promised Messiahas started writing his book Masih Hindustan Mein (Jesus in India). In this book, the Promised Messiahas traced in detail the final journey of Jesusas from Palestine to Kashmir. Through this research, new revelations about the supposed death of Jesusas and what happened came to light.

It became clear that Jesusas had travelled to the lost tribes of Israel, finally reaching Kashmir where, as many sources confirmed, a prophet was buried in Srinagar, Kashmir. This book was published in 1908 by Anwar-eAhmadiyya Press, Qadian.

April 1902: Zia-ul-Islam Press in Qadian published the Promised Messiah’sas Urdu book Dafi-ul-Bala wama‘yaru ahlil-Istifa (Defence against the plague and a criterion for the elect of God). The plague broke out in the Punjab in full fury in 1902. The plague also had entrenched itself in the Punjab so firmly that it was taking a heavy toll. About 20,000 people died of the plague every week. All areas outside a two-mile radius of Qadian were contaminated with this disastrous disease. Qadian stood like a sanctuary in the whole region.

April 1896: In Shawwal 1313 AH, the Promised Messiahas wrote a letter, most probably in Persian, to the then Amir of Afghanistan. This letter was not published in Huzoor’sas lifetime. The rough rendering of the Urdu version is found in Muhammad Bakhsh’s (Deputy Inspector of Police, Batala) papers by his grandson (Siratul Mahdi, Vol. III, p. 79 [1939]) and its English version can be seen in Life of Ahmad by Hazrat Abdur Rahim Dardra, on page 186, under the heading, “Letter to Amir”.

1 April 1901: The Promised Messiahas was adamant in propagating the message of Islam to the Western world.

To attain this important goal, alongside other plans, he desired to publish a magazine in English. To manage the magazine, he formed an association. This was named Anjuman Ishaat-e-Islam [Society for the Propagation of Islam], which held its first meeting on this date. The meeting decided to name the magazine, “The Review of Religions”, which continues to be published today.

Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin Sahibra was appointed as the president of the Anjuman.

2 April 1885: The Promised Messiahas wrote a postcard to Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira. In it, Huzooras mentioned that he was sending him a copy of an English letter and an English announcement, which he could share with God-fearing and wise people. Huzooras shared with Munshi Sahibra that the English material on tabligh was being sent to almost all Hindu Pundits and Christian missionaries of India, and each one was being sent at a cost of 4 annas via registered post.

2 April 1888: The Promised Messiahas sent a postcard to Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira, in which, apart from exchanging other important points of mutual interest, Huzooras expressed surprise that one of the letters written by Munshi Sahib reached him after a gap of two months.

Troy Public Library hosts Real Talk about Islam Shamshad Nasir, Missionary, USA

Muhammad Ahmad Sahib reports that the Troy Public Library held a programme in coordination with Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Detroit, titled “Real Talk about Islam” on 5 March 2020.

The library administration advertised this event on their website in addition to the Jamaat’s poster, for more than six weeks.

Reference Librarian, Natasha Rogers welcomed the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to the library and after a brief introduction, she invited Shamshad Nasir Sahib, Regional Missionary, to speak on the subject of “Real Talk about Islam”.

He thanked the library administration for organising such a wonderful programme and for inviting the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to represent Islam and addressed questions from the attendees. He then thanked the Librarian, Natasha Rogers for hosting such an event at the Troy Public Library. Next, he welcomed and thanked the attendees as well for coming to attend the event and understand the basic teachings of Islam.

Shamshad Sahib started by providing a brief summary of the fundamental Islamic beliefs and the five pillars of Islam. He read verses from the Holy Quran and translated them into English, then gave a summary of the message the Holy Quran gives. “Islam means peace. When we greet each other, we say ‘Assalamo alaikum’, which means peace be on you” .

At the end of the formal speech, Shamshad Sahib opened the forum for questions and answers. Many attendees asked questions on a diverse set of topics.

One of the attendees seemed to have come prepared with verses of the Holy Quran on Jihad and raised objections that the Holy Quran taught violence.

Shamshad Sahib addressed his question in detail from the Holy Quran with the background of the verses and also compared the Quranic teachings to the teachings in the Bible.

Interestingly, a couple of attendees did not like the questioner’s way of back and forth arguing and so they started speaking in favour of Islam. One lady specifically took the questioner to task by saying, “I have many Muslim friends and they are very good people and I have learned many new aspects of the Islamic teaching today, and these are beautiful and peaceful teachings”.

Continued on page 9

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Friday 27 March 2020 | AL HAKAM

Hadith-e-Rasul – Sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa

The key to Paradise Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrates, that the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “The key to paradise is salat, and the key to salat is wudu.”

(Jamey‘ al-Tirmidhi, The Book on Purification)

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, In His Own Words

Guidance to seek true insight

Continued from page 1

“Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, in fact, even wrote down his will elaborating what should be done, in case the worst was to happen to him.”

Huzooraa read out the relevant passage that spans over two to three pages. An extract from this passage is being copied below: “An unparalleled example of the Jamaat’s service during the Influenza of 1918 After World War I, in 1918, an epidemic of influenza broke out; it was as if this outbreak caused more havoc in the world than the battlefields of the war itself. India was also greatly affected by the influenza eruption and saw deaths at an unprecedented level in a matter of days.

During the outbreak, through the guidance of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II, may Allah be pleased with him, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community provided great aid, service and relief for the wider public to encounter the consequences of the epidemic. Regardless of race, religion or creed, the community provided help and relief to people from every background.

Ahmadi Muslim doctors and medics not only voluntarily helped the populace in Qadian, India but from town to town and village to village they ensured medical help reached even the most isolated and deprived. Other members of the Ahmadiyya Community stepped forward and served as nurses etc.

The poor were assisted by the community through financial means and provision of supplies and food were distributed. In the days of the influenza outbreak, Ahmadi Muslim volunteers (which included Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Bashir Ahmad)

painstakingly toiled night and day, despite great difficulties, and served those in need.

In some instances, when volunteers were scarce, Ahmadi volunteers who had fell ill themselves, continued to grit through and serve the ill. They would endure the pain themselves and continue treating others until their illness would cause them to drop; they had sacrificed their own rest and treatment for others.

This service was such that both friend and foe commended the sacrifice and efforts of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Through articles and speeches, everyone applauded and recognised the great example the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community set through their constant hard work, sacrifice and efforts in aiding those in need during the influenza outbreak of 1918.”

(Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. IV, p. 208209) Huzooraa continued: “These epidemics will keep happening.

It is absolutely wrong to declare every such outbreak to be a divine sign. It is also wrong to say, as some do, that Ahmadis will never contract these illnesses or, for that matter, to say that ‘sincere’ Ahmadis will not catch it.

“These epidemics cannot always be made a yardstick for one’s level of faith.

The will that Hazrat Musleh Maudra wrote during the Influenza outbreak started with the words: ‘I, Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, son of Hazrat Masih-e-Maud…’

“So it is Hazrat Musleh Maudra writing the will and mentioning that he is the son of the Promised Messiahaa. He contracted the illness and that too very severely. This clearly shows that contracting a certain illness is no criterion for one’s faith.”

After this, Huzooraa paused again.

However, I felt as though Huzooraa would continue this subject further, and so, after a

second’s pause, Huzooraa said: “Find this reference and publish it in Al Hakam so that everyone may read it and all misconceptions may be removed. If this [coronavirus] was a sign, then first and foremost, I would have announced it that it is a sign.

“For a long time now, I have been issuing instructions to take precautionary measures and medications; even when the virus had not spread outside China. If I had deemed it to be a sign, then I would have stopped everyone from taking precautionary measures.

“I have said it before and continue to say that people should follow the precautionary measures being prescribed to them by experts through authorities in respective countries.

“I have told Amir Sahib [UK], Sadr Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya [UK] and Humanity First that during these days, whatever is possible for the welfare and help of people should be done.

“Once you publish this extract from Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, the other countries around the world will also come to know this and the amirs and sadrs of those areas can plan schemes according to this.”

This discussion came to a close with the following words: “Instead of trying to prove it a sign at this time, Ahmadis should follow the precautionary measures advised to them for themselves, their families and mosques.

“Observing precautionary measures, they should help whoever they can. To please Allah, it is essential that one takes care of His creation and most importantly, beseech Allah the Almighty’s mercy for their own sake and for the sake of mankind.”

(By Asif Basit)

َ َ َ Hence, the words ‫( ِإ ّﻳاك � ْع ُﺒ ُﺪ‬Thee alone do we worship), proclaim that: ‘O Lord of all the worlds! We have not abandoned the gift you have bestowed upon us already as a thing ruined and wasted.’ ّ ‫ا ْﻫﺪنَا‬ َ ‫ال� َ� َاط ال ْ ُﻤ ْﺴ َﺘ ِﻘ‬ In the prayer: ‫یﻢ‬ ِ ِ ِ we have been taught that man should seek true insight from God Almighty. For if His grace and bounty do not come to our aid, we as humble human beings, are plunged in such gloom and darkness that we cannot even make recourse to prayer. Hence, until one derives benefit from the grace of God, which reaches them through the bounty of graciousness (rahmaniyyat), and prays, no fruitful result can be attained.

I found, some time ago, that even in British law, in order to secure an agricultural loan, one is required to furnish proof of some assets. In the same manner, one ought to keep in view the law of nature and ask: have we made good use of that which has already been bestowed upon us? If having been blessed with reason, good sense, eyes and ears, we have not gone astray, and have not pursued ways of foolishness and ignorance, then you shall receive further divine grace through prayer, otherwise there are warning signs of destitution and misfortune.

(Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, Malfuzat, Vol. 1, pp. 127-128)

Friday 27 March 2020 | AL HAKAM

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Isolating in the st 21 Century From Mount Hira to Silicon Valley

As coronavirus continues to freely and swiftly spread beyond man-made borders, people are being asked to self-isolate or are being made to isolate. Major cities have been put into lock-down and human population is shut behind their front-doors – a situation that none of us had ever imagined.

Modern and liberal human population is shocked at what they are being asked to do; “How dare someone tell us to limit ourselves in confined spaces?” “Who on earth is coronavirus that limits our freewill?” “It’s my life and no one should be telling me to restrict my free movement in society!” All this and much more.

We leave modern man aside and go straight to the genuine concerns that one could have in a battlefield, where isolation happens to be the only defence strategy against an invisible enemy.

With schools shut and most people working from home, many are experiencing, for the first ever time in their life, what family life actually is like. Schools, colleges, universities, workplaces, targets, professional promotions and all such elements that make up modern day life have left the family unit – the basic unit of any

society – fragmented.

A usual weekday morning has been known for the hustle and bustle of everyone rushing out of homes to places of work and educational institutes. Evenings have seen everyone come back. Some start cooking in the kitchen, some stay immersed in files from work and others put their heads down on their coursework and assignments that need to be submitted.

Expert advice in the wake of coronavirus has brought all this autopilot and automatic routine to a sudden halt. We all seem to have fallen off our seats and traumatised.

Welcome to life; life as it was for our ancestors, and that too not very long ago.

Some have suddenly learnt to be thankful to housewives who have always worked from home, working harder than most of us.

Many will have their laptops open in their bedrooms, studies or living rooms, hearing the processor unit’s fan whirring, as they try to work from home. Others – school- and college-goers – have felt a burden get off their chest.

Netflix, Amazon Prime and other streaming facilities have become the most valuable asset for many of those in self- or otherwise isolation, with Wi-Fi routers

constantly blinking at an all-time high speed.

Most of us – fond of our mobile phones any way – have fallen even more in love with them and are seeing them as the greatest blessing in these days of isolation, days that ask for solitude and lead to the grim feeling of loneliness. Others have set up “stay-athome” challenges on social media to enliven the situation.

This is only a sneak peek into situations of household isolations, where the family is together but is having to stay indoors. Those asked to self-isolate of their own accord within four walls experience all the above more but with greater magnitude.

How disturbing, how painful and how excruciating it is to be on our own, away from society and all alone, even in the 21st century, an age where every moment of solitude can be filled with a surge of information, a massive outpour of means of entertainment, where one can call friends and family, connect with others through WhatsApp groups, like photos on Instagram and send LOLs to funny videos (and nonfunny ones also) that come up as suggestions on our mobile phone-screens.

Human race went through countless

epidemics and pandemics before modernday science could advise quarantine and isolation as a precautionary measure. The concept might be novel for medical science, but not so for the world of Islam.

The advent of the Holy Prophet of Islam, Hazrat Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, happened at a time when society was enthralled in all sorts of social, moral and spiritual epidemics, spread at a similar scale, pattern and pace as that of a pandemic. Arabia was undoubtedly the worst affected, if not the epicentre of it all.

The worst thing was that society had gone numb and could not even realise that they were struck so badly by evil.

This “pandemic” was at its peak when Allah chose a person from among the society of Arabia and turned him in to the best remedy for not only Arabia but for the whole world.

This chosen person had travelled up and down the Arabian Peninsula with trade caravans and hence, had quite a lot of exposure to be able to acquaint himself with that society like the back of his hand.

Born an orphan, having shifted from the care and guardianship of one relative to another, this young boy had seen enough grief in life already. To add to this grief, he found himself living in a world where infanticide, fornication, incest, slavery and prostitution was not only common, but highly encouraged – practices that certified masculinity and authority.

The young Muhammadsa would leave the comfort of his uncle’s home, climb the Mount of Hira and isolate himself in a small, dark cave. With very little food – enough only to keep him from starvation – he would isolate himself for many days. No one to talk to, no one to listen to, no sport and not enough space to walk even a few steps.

All that was there was himself and a dark, small, rocky surrounding.

This self-isolation was a very lonely one; lonelier than we can imagine in this day and age.

He filled the long, wary hours of Arabian days and nights in expressing his grief before his Creator. He had faith that his Creator could not leave the world – his own creation – in such destitute circumstances.

Self-isolation today is a lot easier and less demanding.

Therefore, we should make the most of the time we have through prayers and self-reformation

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Friday 27 March 2020 | AL HAKAM

Entrance of the Cave of Hira, where the Holy Prophetsa would often isolate and where the first words of divine revelation descended upon him

He believed that God would most certainly come to his help.

One day, as the Holy Prophetsa poured his heart out in pain for the human race, there appeared in the cave all that was always missing: comfort, company and communication. There appeared light from within the darkness of the cave. The light entered the bosom of the Holy Prophetsa, who then came out of this self-isolation. He was commissioned by Allah the Almighty to enlighten the whole world with this light.

As we go through these times of isolation in this tech-savvy world, let us remember that our beloved prophet, Hazrat Muhammadsa too went into isolation. Let us not forget that he was on his own and had no communication with the outside world. Let us bear in mind that the weather conditions could not be controlled as they can be today, with air conditioners, fans and heaters. Yet, he opted for self-isolation.

Should we be able to imagine the pain that led the Holy Prophetsa into selfisolation, I am sure we will sail through the days of our isolation much more smoothly.

Above all, we will find in his example, quite a few more activities to punctuate these days and nights of isolation.

The light that Allah sent into the bosom of the Holy Prophetsa was the Holy Quran.

The Holy Quran is still there and there is no one from among us who can claim that they have understood it entirely. So there is actually quite a lot to do than laze around on couches and exhaust the offers of Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Let us move to a slightly closer time of history.

The same was the condition of the world when the Promised Messiahas was sent to the world by Allah the Almighty – only that

time had moved 1400 years on.

The same was the pain that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas of Qadian, the Promised Messiah, felt when he saw the moral and spiritual decay of the world. The same was the agony that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas – the ardent follower and lover of the Holy Prophetsa of Islam – experienced, when he saw how the world was falling apart, but still not feeling the need to accept that there is a God. The same was his reaction to a world that was enveloped in the pandemics of atheism and disbelief.

Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IVrh very beautifully portrayed the state of society at the time of the advent of as ‫ت‬ the Promised Messiah : ‫ئ‬ ‫درہ� ےک دم ےس ومسمم ی‬ ‫�ئ ی‬ ‫بج ی ت ت‬ �‫اضف‬ ‫وھپیٹ ی‬ ‫� اجاجب بج ااحلد یک ی‬ �‫واب‬ “As the environment was poisoned with the breath of atheism, the pandemic of disbelief erupted in all places.”

So as the poisoned and poisonous winds of these pandemics picked full momentum – denying the last message of Allah – the Promised Messiahas went into self-isolation.

He spent 40 days in isolation and, much like his holy master, Hazrat Muhammadsa, cried before Allah to show the world a sign that it could heed. The Promised Messiahas spent all these 40 days in complete isolation in a rural setting of 19th century Punjab, with no means of communication, no modern technology and no other pastime; every moment was devoted for prayer.

What ended this self-isolation was good news from Allah that signs would be shown. From the birth of a magnificent, extraordinary son to wars, earthquakes and pandemics; all this was to appear to prove that there is a God and He alone is Omnipotent. The Promised Messiahas

The room in Hoshiarpur where the Promised Messiahas remained in isolation for 40 days

wrote exhaustively on how calamities would engulf. His books span over 23 volumes.

What can we do to pay homage to the pain that drove him away from spiritual pandemics into a prayerful self-isolation?

There is a lot we can do!

For now, let us try and read the insightful and enlightening works that he penned to make our days of isolation and distancing more productive.

While in isolation, let us try and be grateful for every comfort that surrounds

us, no matter how seemingly insignificant or little. Let us name every little comfort that surrounds us in our houses, in our rooms, in our bathrooms and remind ourselves that the two great men mentioned above had none of these. َ َ َ َّ َ ُ َ َ ّ َ َّ ُ ّ ٰ َ ْ َ ُ َ َ ‫ٓال محَ ّم ٍد َو َعلی ع ْب ِد ِہ ال َم ِس ْی ِح‬ ُِ ‫اللہم ص ِل علی محم ٍد و عل ْی‬ ‫ال َم ْوع ْو ِد‬ (O Allah, bless Muhammadsa and the people of Muhammadsa and his servant, the Promised Messiahas.)

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A new dimension of the coronavirus In light of recent research and articles, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his helper, towards the end of his Friday Sermon on 20 March presented the views of analysts and experts on what the coronavirus has brought to the surface, socially speaking. Huzooraa prayed for everyone who has contracted the virus and those who are ill in general as well. Further, Huzooraa disseminated precautionary advice in order to stay protected from the coronavirus. The transcript is presented below

Now, I would like to talk about the pandemic that has spread in these days and present the views and analysis of worldly people.

Phillip Johnston writes in the Daily Telegraph on 18 March 2020 that “Netflix and other platforms report that one of the most popular movies currently being streamed is Contagion, a film from 2011 … The plot concerns the spread of a virus, desperate attempts by medical researchers and public health officials to identify and contain the disease, the loss of social order, and finally the introduction of a vaccine to halt its spread.” He writes, “I wonder whether our predilection for apocalyptic films is a response to a long period of stability and prosperity which, in the West at least, most of us complacently assumed would just carry on forever. It is extraordinary to think that in the space of a fortnight, our world has been turned completely upside down…”

Further, he says, “All our plans put on hold, our hopes for the future now uncertain.” He then writes that neither the threat of nuclear war (during a war), nor the multiple recent social crises have shown an effect like this pandemic has today. He further writes that “even during the last war, people went out to the theatre and the cinema, to restaurants and cafes, to clubs and pubs. Indeed, that is one way they got through. Yet, that is denied to us.”

[Phillip Johnston] then writes, “Most of us who have grown up since the Second World War have come to expect a steady state of prosperity, stability and contentedness that most previous generations never imagined possible – and nor would they have been complacent enough to believe it.” He writes, “The hope is that science will come to the rescue with a vaccine or cure, and perhaps it will.” He says that trials have begun “in Seattle today on human volunteers”. But, he says, the bad news is that it will take months to know if this vaccine will be beneficial or not.

He further writes, “Throughout history … people have reached for their faith to get them through events such as this”.

Throughout history, if such dangerous events transpired, people took refuge in their faith to get through it and turned towards God, “to give meaning to what has happened to them and their loved ones.” He further writes, “Atheists tend to take a secular, humanist view of man’s propensity always to better himself … This is essentially an enlightenment concept … that natural processes can always be improved by human effort and not ascribed to fate or the wrath of God.” He says, “How many times have we heard people say ‘Everything will be okay because scientists will work something out’, whether it be global warming or the pandemic? We are about to find out whether such optimism is justified. If it isn’t”, he says, “then I might be heading back to church.”

Right now, he is far from religion and God, and the circumstances are ascertaining this fact, and if what scientists

are saying does not transpire, then [he says], we should think about going back to the church and religion as well.

So, this virus has compelled the world to reflect about returning to God. However, the true God and the Living God is only the God of Islam, Who has announced to show the path towards Himself for those who desire to. He has announced to come forward and hold the hands of those who take only a little step towards him. He has announced to take [them] in His protection.

Thus, in these circumstances, where we need to rectify ourselves, we also need to effectively carry out tabligh. We must, more than before, acquaint the world with Islam.

Then, every Ahmadi should try and tell the world that if they desire salvation, then they must recognise their God, Who created them. If they desire a noble end, then recognise the God Who created them because the best end is the Hereafter. Do not hold associates with Him and fulfil the rights of His creation. So, one must always try and do this. May Allah enable everyone to do so.

Even people of the world are saying that these pandemics will continue to increase.

For this reason, like I have said, for a noble end, it is essential that we also turn towards God Almighty and [then] tell the world that the best end is the Hereafter, for which they must return to God. Regarding this, a warning of an expert (that was published in The Times on 6 March) is that the dangerous virus’ genetic mutations becoming normal are very high and along with this, within a matter of years, a new coronavirus can potentially spread in the world. It is written that maybe every three years, a new disease may surface.

Then Bloomberg [6 February 2020] also wrote that “Scientists can conquer coronavirus, but humanity’s war against epidemics is endless …In the evolutionary arms race between humanity and the microbes, the bugs are making a comeback … since 1970, more than 1,500 new pathogens have been discovered, according to the World Health Organization, and epidemics in the 21st century are spreading faster and farther than ever.” It then states that “outbreaks that were previously localised can now become global very rapidly.”

Anyhow, these details go much further and they cannot all be presented now. But, like I have said, for our noble end, we need to develop a connection with God Almighty more than before.

I have previously already given guidelines about the coronavirus pandemic and will give a reminder [now] because this is spreading across the world very quickly.

The effect is greatly being felt here as well and the government has been forced to take further steps and very strict measures.

When diseases and pandemics manifest, they can take everyone in their grasp. For this reason, everyone should take great caution. Act on the advice of the government. Those who are elderly, ill, or have such illnesses that reduce immunity, should take great caution. The elderly

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Friday 27 March 2020 | AL HAKAM should rarely leave their homes and this is what the government has also announced, unless someone has very good health, generally they should remain at home.

Take precaution when attending mosques as well. Offer Jumuah prayers at your local mosque. By the looks of the attendance here today [at Mubarak Mosque] it seems people are offering Jumuah prayers at their local mosques (unless the government says not to gather for Jumuah either).

Women should generally avoid coming to the mosque. They come with children, thus they should avoid it.

Generally, doctors are advising to pay attention to rest in order to increase our immune system and therefore attention should be paid towards getting enough sleep. Make sure you have enough sleep, yourselves and your children. For an adult, 6-7 hours of sleep and for children 8-9 or 10 hours of sleep. Attention should be paid towards this.

It should not be the case that one stays awake watching television up until midnight and then in the morning, misses Fajr prayer and gets up in a rush for work that one has to get to in a few hours, and remains lethargic and lazy throughout the day, along with tiredness from work. This is how diseases and illnesses attack.

In the same manner, instil the habit of sleeping early and waking up early within children after 8-9 hours of sleep.

Also avoid eating [junk] food from shops, especially crisps that people give to children to eat or such things that have preservatives in them. These are harmful to health and should be avoided; such foods also slowly weaken the human body.

Doctors are advising to continuously drink water in these days. It is essential to drink some water every hour or half an hour or so. This is also a way to stay protected from illness.

Hands should be kept clean. Even if sanitisers are not available, wash your hands frequently. And like I mentioned before, those who perform the ablution at least five times a day are given a chance for good hygiene – pay attention towards this.

Regarding sneezing, as I have said before, cover the sneeze with a handkerchief when at the mosque, at home and in general. Or, as some doctors have advised, sneeze into your arm so the droplets do not spread.

In any case, hygiene is very important and great attention should be paid towards this.

However the last weapon is prayer and we should pray that Allah protects us all from this illness. We should also pray for all those Ahmadis who have contracted this illness for some reason or doctors expect them to have it. In fact, pray for all those who have any illness.

In the same manner, like I have said, the virus affects those with underlying health conditions, so pray for such people as well that Allah the Almighty keeps them protected.

In general, pray for everyone. May Allah keep the world protected from the ill effects of this pandemic. May He grant full health to everyone who is ill and along with giving health to every Ahmadi, also give them the opportunity to increase their faith and belief.

Historic first Jalsa Salana of Honduras Syed Mukarram Nazeer, Canada Correspondent

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Honduras held its first Jalsa Salana from 6 to 7 March 2020.

Guests and volunteers arrived from Canada, Guatemala, Belize, and from the other cities, regions, and islands of Honduras.

Jalsa Salana began with Friday prayers lead by Naib Amir and acting Missionaryin-Charge Canada, Hadi Ali Chaudhry Sahib. The sermon was delivered in English and translated into Spanish.

After Friday Prayers and a short break, the first session was held for Jamaat members. This session started with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Mohammed Sadique Sahib followed by a poem.

Guests and volunteers were introduced by the missionary of Honduras, Zahir Ahmed Sahib. A missionary from Belize, Muhammad Saleh Sahib delivered a speech on the topic of Khilafat and remembrance of Allah.

Member of the Honduras Jamaat, Percy Murillo Sahib made a short speech about the blessings of Khilafat. He shared his experiences at Jalsa Salana UK, especially the meeting with Hazrat Amirul Momineen, may Allah be his Helper. An interesting question and answer session was held with the Naib Amir, Hadi Ali Chaudhry Sahib and Missionary-in-Charge Honduras, Zafar

Iqbal Sahib. This session concluded with congregational Maghrib and Isha prayers and dinner.

On Saturday, Jalsa was held at the local Scouts Hall which is a two-minute walk from Jamaat Honduras’ main office. After congregational Zuhr and Asr prayers, all attendees walked to the Jalsa Gah. The opening session was presided by Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Guatemala, Amir Nafees Sahib. The first session started with tilawat and a poem along with Spanish translations. The first speech was delivered

by Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Guatemala, Amir Nafees Sahib. The next speech was about the “Fundamentals of Islam”, delivered by a local member of Honduras Jamaat, Dr Rolando Antunez Murillo Sahib.

A short video about the introduction of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya was shown in Spanish.

The First session concluded with a speech on the administrative system of Jamaate-Ahmadiyya, presented by Naib Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Canada, Mubashar Ahmad Sahib. This was followed by a short tea break.

The second and concluding session was presided by Naib Amir Canada, Hadi Ali Chaudhary Sahib who read out a message from Huzooraa in English, the Spanish translation was presented by Zahir Ahmed Sahib.

Next, a speech was delivered by Dr Jose

Edgardo Sahib on the topic of “What turned me towards Islam and what have I attained since joining the Jamaat”.

Visiting dignitaries were acknowledged and some were invited to say a few words.

Among them was a representative from the national party from the district of Olancho, the Director from the Ministry of Energy and a local female Jamaat member who was representing the Medical Students Association of Honduras.

The concluding speech was delivered

by Naib Amir and Acting Missionary in charge Canada, Hadi Ali Chaudhary Sahib, followed by a question and answer session.

Along with other speeches and presentations, five local members of Honduras presented three speeches and two translations of poems and tilawats. The majority of the attendees were very excited and the locals had a chance to learn more about Islam.

On this historic occasion, Honduras Jamaat was also blessed with a Bai‘at of a woman - who came all the way from the Bay Islands of Honduras to attend the very first Jalsa Salana. This Bai‘at took place on 7 March, before the start of the first session of the day.

The total attendance was 64 that consisted of eight people from Canada, a delegation of 11 from Guatemala, five from Belize and the rest were locals. Alhamdulillah

Friday 27 March 2020 | AL HAKAM

8

An introduction to God Mohammad Atae Rabbi Hadi Missionary Jamaat Australia

For many years now, like many people, I have been suffering from a certain illness. It seems as though I am allergic to grass pollen and am among the 3.1 million Australians who suffer from this condition every hay fever season.

The paradoxical nature of this specific condition is that where one would conventionally open the window to help with breathing and obtaining fresh air, leaving the window open during a high pollen-count period can have a disastrous effect on a hay fever sufferer, resulting in allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis i.e. inflammation of the eyes and mucus membranes in the nose.

In simple terms, instead of allowing you to breathe, the simple action of opening a window can result in severe discomfort and suffocation – ironic, I know.

This has been the predicament that I have found myself in for many years now and it continuously leads me to think one thing, that is: we do not possess the same degree of control over our lives as we may like to think. But rather, we are, in actuality, at the mercy of a higher entity.

This year in particular, I have been compelled to ponder over this matter ever more than before. Aside from the ongoing disasters that have been plaguing the world at large, in Australia, we entered the year with unprecedented bushfires wreaking havoc all across the country, followed by epic floods.

Now, the world has been brought to a standstill by Covid-19. Sovereign countries and superpowers of the modern world are at the mercy of a virus that is forcing them to enact strict lockdowns and no matter how much they try to buy some time to save their economy and infrastructure, it seems as though the worst is yet to come.

Referring to this, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa in his Friday Sermon dated 20 March 2020, quoted Phillips Johnston from the Daily Telegraph (“At times like this, we realise just how powerful mankind really is”, The Daily Telegraph, 17 March 2020) stating: “‘It is extraordinary to think that in the space of a fortnight, our world has been turned completely upside down’ ... ‘Further’, he says, ‘all our plans are put on hold, our hopes for the future now uncertain.’ He then writes that neither the threat of nuclear war (during a war), nor the multiple recent social crises have shown an effect like this pandemic has today. He further writes that ‘even during the last war, people went out to the theatre and the cinema, to restaurants and cafes, to clubs and pubs. Indeed, that is one way they got through. Yet that is denied to us.’... So, this virus has compelled the world to reflect about returning to God.” Of course, some may argue that this higher entity is in fact mother nature and

the question of a Conscience Creator is completely absurd. A mere theory devised to explain the unexplainable. However, the profundity of my inability to combat a minor illness and its paradoxical nature, as well as the crippling force of Covid-19, reminds me of a couplet written by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, peace be upon him, the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat: ‫ن‬ � ‫انب اتکس ہ ی‬ ‫� اک اپؤں یکڑے اک رشب رہ زگ‬ ‫وت رھپ یکورکن انبان ون ِر قح اک اس ہپ ٓااسں ےہ‬ “Man cannot make even a foot of an insect; How then can it be easy for him to create the Divine Light?”

Faced with the mathematical perfection of the universe and their own inherent limitations, there are many today who, I am sure, ask themselves similar questions.

Whenever faced with such thoughts, I am utterly humbled by my position in the cosmos and start to think that there must be more to this creation than meets the eye. If that is the case, what if the question of a higher entity does not need to remain a subjective theory produced by our own mental faculties? What if the subject has already objectified its own existence through a simple formal introduction?

As a theologian, I have studied Biblical Scriptures and the Holy Quran and have seen that when it comes to describing the Almighty God, the Holy Quran is at the forefront. Unlike Genesis and Matthew, wherein the former begins with a scientifically flawed account of the creation of the Universe and the latter starts off with an equally flawed and contradictory narration of Jesus’as genealogy – providing evidence of human error – the Holy Quran begins with the Author introducing Himself.

The Author, who Muslims believe to be God, introduces Himself using four fundamental attributes, which act as a key to comprehending not only the book itself but also the physical and spiritual realm.

In chapter 1 (Surah al-Fatihah), verse 2 of the Holy Quran, God says that He is “Rabb-ul-alamin”, which can be translated as “Lord of all the worlds”. An in-depth study into the Arabic wording shows that with this statement, God has alluded to a number of subjects. For the sake of brevity, I would like to touch upon only two.

The word rabb comes from the root word rabba, meaning to gradually cause something to reach its apex, to nourish it into perfection. The word alamin is the plural of the word alam, which is derived from the root word alama, meaning to know. For this reason, alam primarily means that by means of which one knows a thing.

Hence, the word has come to be applied to all beings or things by means of which one is able to know the Creator.

Therefore, the first thing we come to know about God is that He did not just create everything in one fell swoop, rather the creation of the universe and everything

within it was a gradual process guided by God’s lordship. Furthermore, this creation was not left unattended, rather every single being and entity gradually evolved from an insignificant state to the perfection we see today.

This may seem surprising to many theologians and scientists who are not familiar with the Quranic texts and do not expect it to be coherent and logical, however the fact of the matter is that this was a statement made by God thirteen centuries before many scientific theories regarding creation and evolution, which were formulated within the past two centuries, were presented. This is precisely why, in another verse of the Holy Quran, God Himself asks: “What is the matter with you that you do not ascribe dignity to Allah? And certainly, He has created you in stages. Have you not observed how Allah has created seven heavens tier upon tier?” (Surah Nuh, Ch.71: V.14-16) Secondly, Rabb-ul-alamin (Lord of all the worlds) is a call to all humanity to realise that God does not differentiate between His creation. He is not Rabb for just Muslims who read the Quran. In fact, he is Rabb, the nourisher, provider and sustainer for all of creation.

The Author of the Quran does not begin His book by favouring a specific nation, rather He makes a general statement regarding His relationship with all creation.

This means that each and every person has an equal chance at creating a relationship with the Creator.

After introducing Himself as the originator and progressive developer of the Universe and everything within it, God then continues to describe how He deals with His creation. He says that he is “Rahman” (Gracious) followed by “Rahim” (Ever-Merciful). Both attributes come from the same root word, however, due to their apparent morphological differences, they both describe two separate concepts.

On the one hand, Rahman (Gracious) denotes that the Lord of all the worlds has not just created life and gradually brought it to perfection, but He has Himself also provided all the necessary means and faculties needed for the development of His creation, without any demand being made by the created. Take for example oxygen, water and light or our lungs, stomach and eyes; these are all required for our existence and physical growth, but not once have we had to ask for them and neither can we imagine a life without them.

On the other hand, the attribute, Rahim (Ever-Merciful) signifies that when man makes proper use of the means and faculties granted to him, God not only rewards his hard work, but also inspires him with a desire for further good actions, opening for him unending avenues of progress and development.

So, in short, both these attributes deal with two aspects of human life. The former Rahman (Gracious) deals with life pertaining to this world and the latter deals with the Hereafter one prepares for. This is why the Holy Prophetsa of Islam is reported to have said that Rahman generally pertains

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Friday 27 March 2020 | AL HAKAM to this life and Rahim generally pertains to the Hereafter.

Finally, the Author of the Holy Quran completes His introduction by referring to Himself as Malik-e-yaum-id-din (Master of the Day of Judgement). Again, due to the limitations of the English language, one can only comprehend so much from the literal translation of this statement, however, as usual, a deeper study into the Arabic lexicon will show that this statement is imbued with depth and meaning.

Malik not only means Master, but it also signifies one who possesses sole ownership.

By referring to Himself with this name, God has once again described the manner of His mercy and grace. Here, He points out that unlike worldly rulers who are bound by a prescribed law, He has full authority over His creation. He forgives whomsoever He pleases and favours whomsoever He pleases.

This inspires hope in the hearts of many who find themselves weak and in need of God’s mercy, reminding us that it is not purely our actions that will grant us salvation, rather our salvation is wholly dependent on the grace of God. Another aspect of this attribute is that where God has full control over who He wishes to extend His grace to, being the Master of the Day of Requital, He also has full authority to punish one who is engulfed in sin.

Hence, the fourth attribute, not only further reminds us of His great mercy but also works as an equipoise for those who wish to take undue advantage of God’s kindness.

This attribute also draws our attention to our final destination, which is the Hereafter. It explains that our noble end is wholly dependent on our spiritual evolution, which takes place in the order of these four attributes of God – the fourth being responsible for manifesting the final outcome of our progression in this life. This shows that our Hereafter is a literal reflection of our spiritual selves in this world.

The founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, the Promised Messiahas explains that God not only introduced Himself in this order in the Holy Quran, rather through reflection, one can also observe these attributes being manifested in this order throughout one’s life.

As Rabb-ul-alamin (Lord of all the worlds) and Rahman (Gracious), He has set everything on a path of evolution by altruistically granting them inherent characteristics for growth; human progress and suffering is a result of their proper or improper use. His attributes of Rahim (EverMerciful) and Malik-e-yaum-id-din (Master of the Day of Judgement) enable progress and bring about a final outcome.

These are the four attributes with which God – the Author of the Holy Quran – introduces Himself and explains why only He deserves to be worshipped.

In a world plagued with continuous disasters, while we continue to witness atrocities being committed against mankind, a virus not visible by the human eye has unveiled the most basic human instinct of survival. Although governments have enforced measures to prevent seeing the ugly side of human nature – acts of hoarding and panic buying – indeed, no matter which background or faith one belongs to, one must agree that without trust in a higher

‫ن�ن‬ ِ ��� � ‫�م‬ � ‫ا�وز �م‬ ‫روزے ��ی ی��د � و�ِ ��م‬

“Today my people do not recognise my status; the day will come when they will recall my blessed time with tears.”

(Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi [lzala-eAuham, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 3, p. 184]

entity, one may end up losing all hope in humankind.

If the people of the world were to become just and equitable like Malik-e-yaum-id-din; ever ready to reward those who are good to them like Al-Rahim; altruistically good to others like Al-Rahman and unbiasedly compassionate to all and ever ready to help others progress like Rabb-ul-alamin instead of worshipping their passions or those who only lead them to self-harm, the world would most surely be a better place.

“Our paradise lies in our God. Our highest delight is in our God for we have seen Him and found every beauty in Him. This wealth is worth procuring though one might have to lay down one’s life to procure it. This ruby is worth purchasing though one may have to lose oneself to acquire it. O ye, who are deprived! Hasten to this fountain as it will satiate you. It is this fountain of life that will save you. What am I to do? How shall I impress the hearts with this good news? What sort of a drum am I to beat in the streets in order to make the announcement that this is your God, so that people might hear? What remedy shall I apply to the ears of the people so that they should listen?” (Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi, Noah's Ark, p. 35)

Continued from page 2

Another lady also confronted the person saying that they had come over with some sort of agenda and they were not there to listen to their agenda. They had come to listen to an imam.

Another attendee wanted to know more about the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and said that he had read about the community and that they were very peaceful and organised. He then posed his question “Why are Ahmadi Muslims not doing enough to counter the other Muslims who are either hurting Christians or killing others”. To this, Shamshad Sahib

answered that this very programme was a testament that we are here to spread the true teachings of Islam and remove any misunderstandings. We always respond to anything that other Muslims do in the name of Islam but actually has nothing to do even remotely with Islam.

The gentleman agreed and said that he would also like to attend the Ramadan Open House Dinner and further learn about Islam, Insha-Allah.

May Allah the Almighty help spread the message of Ahmadiyyat – the true Islam – throughout the world. Amin

Friday 27 March 2020 | AL HAKAM

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World Religions Conference in Canada Syed Mukarram Nazeer Canada Correspondent

Samir Aslam Sahib, Secretary Ishaat, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Lloydminster and Waseem Ahmad Sahib report that Jamaate-Ahmadiyya Lloydminster is no stranger to organising interfaith symposiums and open house events. Celebrating 50 years of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya in Canada, Jamaat Lloydminster conveyed the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat in 50 neighbouring towns; distributing flyers and organising open houses.

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Lloydminster also conveyed this message to 20 neighbouring Indigenous reserves as well and has developed a good relationship with them.

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Lloydminster has also organised Interfaith Symposiums within Lloydminster in the past. But on 29 February 2020, this small Jamaat which is situated on the border of Alberta and Saskatchewan, organised its first World Religions Conference outside of Lloydminster. This was in North Battleford, a small town, some 140 kilometres south east of Lloydminster with a population of over 14,000. This town is notorious for its crime

rate and violence. Canadian News Magazine Maclean’s declared North Battleford, “Canada’s Most Dangerous Place in 2020”.

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Lloydminster contacted representatives of different faiths and invited them to talk about the solutions to the crime and violence problem according to their teachings and scriptures. Therefore, the name of this event was suggested to be “Pathway to Peace”.

Planning of the event started in January, some two months prior to the event.

Lloydminster Jamaat volunteers worked hard to get the work done in time. The planning and organisation of this event also brought everyone together, united them, and filled everyone with energy to do tabligh.

Around 1200 flyers were distributed in North Battleford, posters put on billboards, and ads were run in local newspaper and social media.

Another advantage of this event was the establishment of new contacts with other communities. Jamaat representatives travelled three hours to a Gurdwara in Saskatoon - the largest city of the province of Saskatchewan – to invite them to speak at the conference. Jamaat representatives were

welcomed with open arms and offered great hospitality. They were provided with an opportunity to address local attendees after the ‘Ardaas’ (prayer service). The very next day was Friday, and the Gurdwara elders visited Baitur Rehmat Mosque, Saskatoon at the time of Friday prayers and brought a gift of 150 lb of sweets (Jalebiyan). It was a wonderful portrayal of building friendships between two communities.

The indigenous community also responded in a very positive manner to the invitation to speak. Many of them were familiar with Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, but had limited contact and relationships.

After they were invited and became aware of the conference programme, they became more open and welcoming. They discussed the event in detail and made positive suggestions.

The Hindu community was also invited. They visited our mosque and were introduced to Islam and Islamic teachings.

They were much impressed by the efforts of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya.

In the conference itself, six speakers represented their respective faiths. These were: 1. Pastor Keith Klippenstein, from the Territorial Drive Alliance Church, North Battleford represented Christianity.

2. Seeta Ram from Florida, USA represented Hinduism.

3. Amandeep Singh, from the Gurdwara Society Corman Park (this is the largest

Gurdwara in Saskatchewan) represented Sikhism.

4. Elder Wes Fine Day, one of the most prominent aboriginal youth leaders, from Sweetgrass, represented the Indigenous Community.

5. Quinten Weenie, a storyteller and history keeper, also from Sweetgrass, represented the Indigenous Community.

6. Mansoor Azeem Sahib, a missionary from Baitul Amaan Mosque Lloydminster, represented Islam.

The event was covered by all media outlets of Battlefords including TV, newspaper, radio stations, and their local news websites. The event proceedings were recorded by local cable TV channel, to be played for local audiences.

The event was attended by more than 80 guests. May Allah the Almighty enable us to continue to spread the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat with the best of our abilities.

Amin

Advice to the Jamaat The Promised Messiahas addressed the Jamaat and said:

anyone upon whom the Hajj has become obligatory and “O ye people who consider yourselves members of my who face no hindrance ought to perform the pilgrimage. community! You will be counted as such in heaven when Do good in a handsome manner and discard vice with you truly tread upon the ways of righteousness. So, offer disgust. Bear well in mind that no action of yours, which the five daily prayers in such fear and with such complete is empty of righteousness, can reach God. Righteousness attention as though you were actually beholding God is the root of all goodness. No action that is rooted in Almighty. Sincerely observe your fasts for the sake of God. righteousness will go in vain. (Noah’s Ark, pp. 24-25) Let everyone who is liable to pay the Zakat do so and

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Friday 27 March 2020 | AL HAKAM

Why Muslims are confused about the Messiah

Saeed ur Rehman Missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

Anti-Ahmadiyya rhetoric on the web is nothing new. Social media forums have their fair share of torch-wielding mobs calling for everything, from outright genocide of all Ahmadis to their sequestering in camps.

Recently, the coronavirus outbreak forced large parts of the Islamic world to go into lockdown and Twitter lit up with antiAhmadiyya rhetoric as keyboard warriors had a field day.

Apart from the usual abusive tweets and the ones replete with logical fallacies were the ones that made the claim that as the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas had not predicted, or given a cure for the coronavirus, he could not possibly be the true reformer of our age.

Although this is something that has been used by the antagonists of each and every prophet, including the Holy Prophetsa; this brings to light one of the major misconceptions that the non-Ahmadi Muslims have about the personage of the Messiah.

If we study Islamic eschatology, especially the books written during the dark ages of Islam, which the present day zealots are prone to quote and follow, we can see that there are four types of misconceptions that the Muslim world had about the Promised Messiah. All of them arise from misinterpretation of the various ahadith about the end of times and from giving precedence to various legends that seeped into Islamic religious literature from Jewish and Christian sources over time.

The first type of misconception was that instead of interpreting the various traditions of the Holy Prophetsa as being descriptions of the same person, they thought that two people would arrive. One would be the Mahdi, a legendary figure, who would have as many differing forms as are Islamic sects.

From the Shiite notion of an immortal figure to the Sunni misconception that he would be a ruler during the second coming of Christ.

The second person to appear, according to their misinterpretation of sources, was Jesusas, the Messiah of Jews. Due to various misinterpretations of the text and the Holy Quran, Muslims of the Islamic Dark Ages made the grave error of believing in parts of the Christian myth of the death and resurrection of Jesusas. So they came to the wrongful conclusion that the saviour of mankind would not be a prophet of Islam born at the end of time, rather he would be the Israelite Prophet, Jesusas. Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IVrh sums this up, stating: “It is a tribute to their relentless obstinacy that they would much rather have a convert prophet from space than a prophet born here on earth, within Islam. They do so because there are many more advantages

from this fairy tale visit of Jesus to be gained. He, as a visitor from space, would not be the same ordinary human prophet as he was, but would have amassed prodigal superhuman powers unheard of in the history of prophethood before his return to earth.” (Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth, p. 702) These misconceptions, that actually two people will come, when instead only one had been prophesied, led non-Ahmadi Muslims down the path of denial and so, many of them are still awaiting the arrival of the Messiah and then the descent of Jesusas.

The second misconception that many non-Ahmadi Muslims hold, in one form or another, is the notion that the arrival of the Messiah will be preceded by the arrival of a legendary herald. This character took on many forms as well, ranging from martyrs to mythological beings that had various supernatural powers. The misinterpretation of traditions in this regard does have an exact precedent from the time of Jesus Christ, who, when spoke to the Jews to reform them, was antagonised with the question as to where was his herald, Elijah, whose coming had been foretold in the Bible. He replied: “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognise him, but have done to him everything they wished.

In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands. Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.” (Matthew 17:11-13) This misconception, stemming from misinterpretation of various traditions, and the failure to understand the subtleties of diction in the traditions that foretell the arrival of the Promised Messiah, has been instrumental in causing non-Ahmadi Muslims to be mired in denial of the Promised Reformer of this age.

The third type of misconceptions are the ones centered on the person of the Messiah. As the Holy Prophetsa conveyed the happenings of end of times, he used various metaphors and similes, especially when describing the anti-Christ, the Masih al-Dajjal, an evil power that was to torment humankind at the time of the Promised Messiah. It was not uncommon in Arabic literature and culture to use such terms, and it was the only way to make everyone understand.

Saying that the forces of Dajjal would travel in an aeroplane would not have made sense as the aeroplane was not something the Arabs were familiar with, rather it was easier to say that they would travel inside a donkey, that would have one leg in one country and the other in the next.

Coincidentally, we still use the term “leg” for parts of our journey.

So, when Muslims had interpreted these traditions literally, they held the misconception that the anti-Christ was

a mythological being, who had more in common with the villains of legends and myths than anything from the real world. Therefore, when they next read the traditions wherein the Holy Prophetsa gave the glad tidings of a promised reformer, a Messiah, they once again misinterpreted those traditions as well, for the saviour who was to defeat such a mythological being must possess superhuman powers as well, so in the end, their version of the Promised Messiah is drenched in fantasy; it would be better suited to grace the pages of a fantasy novel or comic books rather than being the cornerstone of Islamic eschatological literature.

Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmadrh explains their misinterpretations in the following words: “This mythical image of Jesus is evidently created by their same tendency to over-literalise prophecies. Evidently they do not care what price they have to pay for the folly of rejecting reason and rationality. To Jesus Christ they assign the task of salvaging whatever remains of the dignity and honour of Islam in the latter days. It will be he, they believe, who will launch a single handed powerful offensive against the Anti-Christ on a global scale. Having roundly defeated and destroyed the Anti-Christ – the one-

eyed monster – Jesus will hand over the keys of his world dominion to the people of Islam, and will also distribute the immense treasure and riches which he will have amassed. Thus all spoils of his war against the anti-Christ will he lay at the feet of the Muslim ummah.

“Having resolved their political and economic problems, he will turn his full attention to such prophecies as relate to religion. He will start by launching his campaign against Christianity. His strategy will be to break every cross in the world, whatever material it is made of. He will visit every cathedral, every monastery, every church, every temple, every Christian hermitage. He will walk every street of every township and stare at every passer-by in search of any cross. Ladies perhaps will become the prime object of his scrutiny because he will be aware of their despicable habit of having crosses engraved upon their jewellery and ornaments. He will take care of the fact that they also wear crosses hanging around their necks. Thus he will snatch away every bangle, every bracelet, every pendant and earring with the sign of the cross upon it. Woe to the ladies who dare to cross the path of that Jesus, but where can they escape and hide, the poor defenceless wretches?

Continued on page 13

Friday 27 March 2020 | AL HAKAM

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Sierra Leone Jamaat Covid-19: Government advice and the benefit of Jamaat Radios Abdul Hadi Quraishi Sierra Leone Correspondent

Whilst Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Sierra Leone is constantly busy in the spiritual and moral upbringing of its members, in the face of the current pandemic, the government of Sierra Leone took some early steps to prevent the arrival and spreading of Covid-19.

Among these early steps were to inform people about the virus and to adopt the precautionary early hygiene measures and instruct all businesses, offices, schools and other places to provide water and soap or sanitisers at their entrances and also put restrictions on large gatherings.

The Amir and Missionary in-charge of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Sierra Leone, Saeedur-Rahman Sahib, advised all Jamaat offices and members to obey instructions of the government and spend most of their time in istighfar, offering prayers, reciting the Holy Quran and spending time on educating the families about Islam and Ahmadiyyat.

Later, when restrictions were placed on Friday prayers and the five daily prayers, messages were delivered to all Jamaat members through social media and Ahmadiyya radios to comply with the instructions of the government. Jamaat members were advised to offer the five daily prayers at home, on time and in congregation. In the same way, it was decided to send a small Friday sermon through social media to all members, so that

they can offer Jumuah at home wherever there are three or more people living in one home.

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Sierra Leone has three radios in the country. Under the instructions of Amir Sahib, special efforts are made by the Ahmadiyya Muslim radio stations in Sierra Leone to broadcast the live Friday Sermon of Huzooraa and then repeatedly be telecast on radio in local languages.

Also, audio files of various Jamaat books will be broadcast on Ahmadiyya Radios.

Small questionnaires and excerpts from Jamaat literature are also being shared on social media, especially through WhatsApp. Most of the people in the country do not have access to quality Internet and so, WhatsApp groups are the best way to convey such messages.

Some Jamaat literature is also being shared through social media.

Humanity First Sierra Leone has also provided sanitary materials to various places.

All auxiliary organisations are using all possible means for the spiritual and moral upbringing of their members in this time of difficulty and restrictions.

Sierra Leone is a developing country and these are difficult times for its people. In 2014-15, it suffered from the deadly Ebola virus. We know what these viruses can do.

May Allah the Almighty protect us all.

Amin.

Kenya Jamaat's response to government directive over Covid-19 Tahir Ahmad Kenya Correspondent

‘Sadr Sahib, it has been long since we saw each other, due to the government’s directive to suspend gatherings….’, I happened to telecommunicate to the local President of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Nairobi, Ismail Bakari Sahib.

‘It is for the betterment of both of us, we have to pray hard so that Allah the Almighty saves us from this pandemic…’, was his response.

Prior to this, the government of Kenya had ordered that no churches, mosques or any religious gatherings are allowed in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19 pandemic in the country. Following this, Amir and Missionary in-charge Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Kenya, Tariq Mahmood Zafar Sahib, issued a notice to all Jamaat countrywide.

He said that in view of government’s directive, Jumuah prayers as well as the five daily congregational prayers should be offered at home and not at the mosques until further notice. However, mosques should remain opened. He also directed that all Ahmadis should follow the guidelines given by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa and the Ministry of Health and WHO. ‘We have to take heed to the government directive, and indeed Amir Sahib’s advice…’ said a missionary.

However, all Missionaries and indeed all Jamaat Auxiliaries, including Lajna Imaillah, Ansarullah, Khuddam-ulAhmadiyya through their respective Presidents have urged their members to continue going through the Ijtema syllabi, reading the Holy Quran frequently at their homes, doing tabligh to their neighbours whenever possible, praying five times in congregation at their homes with family members. Additionally, members are urged to observe Voluntary Fasts on Mondays or Thursdays or both, not forgetting to offer Tahajjud prayers every day.

Allah says in the Holy Quran: ‘And We will try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives, and fruits; but give glad tidings to the patient, Who, when a misfortune overtakes them, say, ‘Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.’ It is these on whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy, and it is these who are rightly guided.’ (Surah AlBaqarah, Ch.2: V.156-158) Indeed, it is a difficult and trying situation, as both members try their best in order to keep themselves safe from the disease, which according to the Ministry of health, the confirmed cases are 28 as of 25 March 2020. We all pray that may Allah the Almighty give us strength, calmness and patience. Amin

Tarbiyat in the midst of a pandemic Besmir Yvejsi Secretary Ishaat, Jamaat Kosovo

Kosovo was one of the last countries in Europe to be affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

On 11 March 2020, there was an order from the Government of Kosovo to suspend pre-school, primary, secondary and universities education until 28 March 2020 for the sake of protecting citizens. The order also includes the closure of places where many people gather, such as cafes, restaurants, cultural activities etc.

Following this instruction, Jamaate-Ahmadiyya Kosovo immediately informed its members that the five daily congregational prayers, Friday prayers, meetings and activities will be suspended in three branches until further notice.

The Jamaat has not stopped its activity

with Khuddam and Atfal. By the grace of Allah the Almighty, from today, we have started online teaching of Atfal about basic religious knowledge, including knowledge about Allah the Almighty, Islamic religion, Islamic faith, the Holy Quran, the Holy Prophetsa, life history of Khulafa-eRashideenra, the Promised Messiahas, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya and Khulafa-eAhmadiyyat. These online classes are held on social networks e.g. Viber and WhatsApp. The course will be finished with teaching letters of the Holy Quran from Yassarnal Quran. At the end of this course for children, there will be a gift and a diploma for successful completion of the course.

In this course, which will last two or three months, Atfal and muallims of the Jamaat are doing excellent tarbiyat through electronic means and social networks.

Coronavirus update, Cyprus Rami Aljabari President Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Cyprus

We are following our government’s plan and advices step by step. We do not have any mosques, mission houses or a special designated place to pray or meet. Whatever the government is instructing, we follow.

Online classes in Guatemala Amir Nafees, Guatemala Correspondent

The government of Guatemala took very strict measures to contain the virus after confirming its first few cases. All schools, restaurants, government offices etc. have been closed for the time being. The government has also put restrictions on large gatherings and on places of worship.

It is for this reason and in compliance with the government that we have advised our Jamaat members to offer prayers at home instead of coming to the mosque.

All members have been advised to stock essential items.

We had been building a mosque in a town (Cahabon) but the government has also put restrictions on the construction works. Therefore, the work on the mosque has been postponed for now.

For the progress of the Jamaat in Guatemala we have started online classes via Facebook. Our Jamaat members as well as other people who are interested in Islam Ahmadiyyat, take part in this class.

We are keeping in touch with all members through phone calls and WhatsApp. Regular reminders and tarbiyati points are sent in our Jamaat groups.

Jamaat activities in full swing in USA Anwer Khan USA Correspondent

Under the present pandemic Jamaat activities are two-fold: 1. 100 percent compliance with the advice of the government for social distancing 2. Continued Jamaat activities via electronic media like Zoom, Phone, Skype and You tube. Masha-Allah all chapters are actively engaged in these activities. Here is a brief report.

Brooklyn Daily Dars-ul-Quran is held for 4 Jamaats of NYC. Its duration is 15 to 30 minutes. It is conducted by a Missionary, via YouTube Live. Attendance is 200 to 300 individuals and families.

Silicon Valley Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Silicon Valley held Jalsa Yaum-e-Maseeh-e-Maud on 22 March 2020, which started at 1:15pm. This programme

had over 100 attendees. The programme included recitation of the Holy Quran, a poem and four speeches.

There is also a Daily Dars (except Wednesday and Thursday), via Zoom video, by a Missionary, Khalid Khan Sahib.

There is also a Weekly Tarbiyat Class, a Weekly Arabic Class and a Weekly Quran class.

Tahir Academy classes for all age groups are also arranged via Zoom.

Central Jersey Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Central Jersey is holding virtual meetings. Emergency Response Team updates Halqa Leaders and Jamaat members after every 2 to 3 days. Local General meeting was also held, which was attended by 60 members. Online Dars-ulQuran is also held every Friday.

Bay Point Missionary Sahib is taking Online classes every day. Average attendance is 25 families.

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Friday 27 March 2020 | AL HAKAM

Continued from page 11

“Be humble like the guilty”

“Be careful lest a few accomplishments delude you to think that you have sufficiently fulfilled your purpose. For God desires a complete transformation in your being and He demands from you a death whereafter He should revive you. Hasten to make peace with one another and forgive your brethren their sins. For he who is not inclined to make peace with his brother is wicked and will be cut off, because he is the cause of dissension. Part with your ego in every way and do away with mutual grievances. Be humble like the guilty, though truth be on your side, so that you may be forgiven. Do not feed your vanity, for those who are bloated cannot enter the gate to which you have been called.” (Noah’s Ark, p. 22)

Niger Jamaat participates in governmental meeting amid Covid-19

Bosnia Jamaat adapting during Coronavirus lockdown

Muhammad Jamal Niger Correspondent

The recent outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the whole world in one way or another and has caused some serious and catastrophic damage.

In order to tackle this situation Jamaate-Ahmadiyya Niger has abided by the issued instructions of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, pertaining to the outbreak of the coronavirus and has acted upon the precautionary measures and directions of the Government of Niger.

The Government of Niger summoned a meeting of all the religious and spiritual organisations of Niger where a timely strategy was formed in order to combat Covid-19 and to prevent it from causing any havoc in Republic of Niger. Amir Jamaat-eAhmadiyya Niger, Asad Majeeb Sahib also participated in this gathering.

A letter consisting of all the instructions given by Huzooraa and the Government of Niger, was circulated to every member of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Niger and they were told to implement all these directions at once till further notice.

As instructed by the government, all the Mosques of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Niger were closed till further notice and all

Mufeezur Rahman, Bosnia Correspondent

Ahmadis were instructed to pray at homes.

All religious and personal gatherings were cancelled and Ahmadis were told to be in self-isolation.

As per the instructions of Huzooraa, lifesaving foodstuffs and edibles were stored in the Centre and all the members were advised to store some provisions locally at their homes in case of an emergency.

Some essential and crucial medical supplies were also stored at the Centre to face any dilemma. Homeopathic preventive medicines against Covid-19 were arranged from Burkina Faso as homeopathic medicine is not available in Niger.

Being an underdeveloped country unfortunately we cannot take benefits from internet and other digital platforms for the continuity of Jamaat’s programmes. Now, every member of the Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Niger is praying to Allah for the safety and well-being of everyone in the world.

In Bosnia, we have been following all instructions given by the Bosnian Government since the outbreak. According to the instructions of the government, mosques have been closed.

As a missionary of the Jamaat, I maintain daily contact with Jamaat members through the phone and am trying to comfort them, as the Jamaat is available for any kind of assistance which they may need.

Generally, people are in stress, but Alhamdolillah I can have chat with them personally through telephone calls to encourage them and guide them towards the instructions of Huzooraa.

As far as tarbiyati matters are concerned, on a daily basis, I am sending useful posts from our website like prayers with translation, instructions from Huzooraa etc., to keep them connected with the Jamaat.

We have started online classes for atfal, so thus kids are enjoying seeing each other on screens and learning their syllabus.

He will enter every house and search every cabinet and jewellery box. Every wall and every corner will be scanned. Crosses must be literally broken and wiped out from the face of earth. Until he has accomplished this task to the full, he will not rest in peace. This is the vision of the Muslim orthodoxy of the mission of Jesus Christ if ever he returns to earth, but that is not all.

“Having completely disposed of the symbol of Trinity, he would then turn to another task which prophecies assign to him, if they are taken literally. He will lose no time in beginning to kill every nonMuslim inhabiting the world. Either they must convert to Islam or they must die – these will be their only options. He will go about this slaughtering business in a rather unusual way. He will breathe fire like a mythical dragon, while no myth has ever presented such a dragon before, even in the wildest tales of fantasy. His blazing breath will scorch to death innumerable infidels even when they are miles away from him.

Those within the reach of his sword, will have their heads stricken off and made to roll.

“He will identify them unmistakably because on the forehead of each nonbeliever would appear the imprint in bold: Al-Kafir, the non-believer. Thus he will leave none alive except the Muslims, and the deChristianised Christians of course, who will be left without a single cross to worship.

Hence the curtain will fall upon this unique carnage by the imaginary Jesus, filling the entire earth with fetid odour, an obnoxious stench of rotting bodies, some slaughtered, some scorched to death. Hatred will generate more hatred, bloodshed will lead to more bloodshed.” (Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth, pp. 702-704) The fourth type of misconceptions are the ones that have no bases in either the Holy Quran or the hadith. There is not even any mention of them in the various obscure books of traditions and Islamic eschatological literature that were written during the Islamic Dark Ages by the various holy men and sufi mystics who held onto a strong connection with the Almighty God despite the chaos and darkness that reigned around them.

The only source of such misconceptions is word of mouth from various antagonists of Ahmadi Muslims.

With easy access to the web and various public forums and social media platforms, these misconceptions, that are better referred to as tall tales, have started to become the mainstay of any debate on the internet. If asked for a source, there are none provided and if a logical rebuttal is provided, it is rebuked with a simple rejection.

The latest version of this type of misconception seems to be the argument that anyone who claims or has claimed to be the Promised Messiah and the promised spiritual reformer of this age is to be judged by his ability to predict and cure coronavirus.

So according to this argument, anyone who cannot predict and cure coronavirus is not fit to be the spiritual reformer of the age. This is only the latest in the imaginative misconceptions, and no matter what kind of arguments are provided, the only rebuttal from those who forward these misconceptions is that they “read it on the web” so their information must be true.

Friday 27 March 2020 | AL HAKAM

14

100 Years Ago...

Lecture of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud and news from Jamaats around the world The Review of Religions (Urdu), March 1920

Hindustan In the previous issue, we mentioned Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II’s journey to Lahore and Amritsar. Alhamdolillah! This journey has concluded with abundant blessings and success.

Five lectures of Huzoor were held in Lahore, of which two are specifically worth mentioning owing to their significant impact.

His first lecture began on 15 February 1920 at 3pm in Bradlaugh Hall, Lahore.

Khan Zulfiqar Ali Khan was the president of the conference. The subject [of the lecture] was whether, as the prime minister of Hindustan has declared, the foundation of peace and order of the world should be laid on the principles of Christianity or [should it be laid] on [the doctrines of] Islam.

Huzoor spoke on this subject for about two and a half hours. He compared the teachings of Islam and Christianity and proved, historically, that the doctrines of Christianity are not at all worthy for the foundation of world peace and that Islam is the only religion on which this foundation can be laid.

The number of attendees is estimated at around three and a half to four thousand.

Among them were Ahmadis, non-Ahmadis, Sikhs, Hindus and Christians etc. People listened to Huzoor’s speech with utmost satisfaction and comfort, and returned with a positive impact.

The second public lecture was held on the evening of 17 February 1920 after Maghrib prayer at the Habibia Hall, Islamia College. Sheikh Abdul Qadir Sahib (Barrister) of Lahore was the president of the gathering. The subject of the lecture was about the conflicts that occurred in the early era of Islam. In fact, this was the second part of that lecture which he delivered last year at the same place.

This lecture was given on the request of the Islamia College Historical Society, of which Huzoorra is also a member. The hall was full of attendees and many could not find a place to sit. Huzoorra spoke on this subject for about two and a half hours and historically demonstrated the causes of those earlier dissentions among the Muslims and [explained] under what compulsions and misunderstandings they had to step into those conflicts. After the conclusion of the speech, the president was very appreciative of the lecture and‫ ن‬even remarked: ‫ت‬ ‫ی‬ �‫�دت �و ِر ابزو ی‬ � ‫ا� ن‬ ‫� � ��� َ��� �ا� �ہ‬ [Only if the Benevolent God grants it to someone, otherwise this gift cannot be attained by one’s own wits.] These words are not ordinary as they came from the mouth of a non-Ahmadi.

Apart from these two lectures, a public lecture of Huzoorra took place at the Ahmadiyya hostel on the subject of religion and its need. It also included all kinds of participants. Especially the professors and students of the colleges showed up in great numbers and by the grace of God, it concluded very successfully. After the lecture, several attendees also asked some questions.

One of Huzoor’s lectures took place on the occasion of a person’s marriage ceremony which was purely about the promulgation of Ahmadiyyat and it proved very effective. Prior to his return, another lecture was delivered before the Ahmadis of Lahore, which was a kind of a sermon.

Besides these lectures, Huzoorra also had discussions with those people who came to visit him in Lahore. Mr Richard, Principal of Islamia College, also attended and highly praised the Ahmadi students of the college in front of him.

On 22 February 1920, Huzoor went to Amritsar and delivered a lecture at Vande Mataram Hall. The subject of this lecture was “Truthfulness of Islam.” Huzoor selected this place and this subject with great prudence because the Promised Messiahas had wished to make a speech at this very place, on the same topic, about 16 years ago and even went through with it but could not complete it due the mischief of Amritsar people. Thus, Huzoor chose to fulfill this desire of the Promised Messiahas.

The number of attendees was estimated to be around two and a half thousand. The lecture was very successful, and by the grace of God, tabligh of Ahmadiyyat was carried out in a very good and effective way. The number of Ahmadis was also considerably high as many of the members from Qadian left for Amritsar to listen to the lecture.

During the lecture, some mischiefmakers threw stones at the hall but praise be to Allah, the lecture concluded peacefully and successfully. The president of the gathering was respected Khan Zulfiqar Ali Khan Sahib.

After the lecture, Huzoor remained in Amritsar for only two to four hours and then returned by night train to Lahore. And after two or three days’ stay in Lahore, he went to Qadian on 26 February. According to the custom, the Khuddam of Qadian came two miles [out of city] to welcome him.

As Huzoor had to work very hard and speak extensively during his visits, he deemed it necessary after taking medical advice to stopover for some days at the shores of Bias for recreation. So, after four to five days’ stay at Qadian, Huzoor travelled to the village of Phero Chechi, which is on the banks of the Bias River. He stayed there

for a few days and then went to Gurdaspur and from there to Pathankot. As for now, Huzoor is still residing in Pathankot and news has been received that he will probably return to Qadian by 27 March.

Four to five delegations have been dispatched from Qadian under the guidance of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra for the funding and appeal of certain special chandas. They shall visit different districts of Punjab. Hopefully, members [of the Jamaat] will assist them in their work in every way.

Regular classes have been opened for the students of Ceylon, Mauritius and Nigeria.

Hazrat Maulvi Sher Ali also spares some time for these [classes].

England Satisfactory work of tabligh is under way in the UK. Babu Azizuddin Sahib has also reached the UK. There have been over 30 new Muslims since our last report and one of the latest good news is that a person has embraced Islam in the country of Netherlands. Over 125,000 rupees chanda for the mosque of London have been deposited in the bank in the form of pounds.

By the grace of God, donations are still pouring in. God willing, the construction of the Ahmadiyya Mosque in London will prove to be the beginning of a new era of Ahmadiyyat in the UK. Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sahib MA and Maulvi Abdul Rahim Sahib Nayyar are performing their responsibilities with diligence, passion and attention. Members [of the Jamaat] are requested to especially pray for them and for their families from whom they are separated and are engaged in this religious work thousands of miles away.

America Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq has reached

America. The telegram [confirming this news] has arrived. However, he has not yet been able to establish his own centre to carry out tabligh. There are also some difficulties.

Members of the Jamaat are requested to pray exclusively for Hazrat Mufti Sahib and for the success of the Ahmadiyya mission in America. Also pray that Allah removes all difficulties by His grace.

Mauritius The case of a mosque is still under proceeding in Mauritius. Opposition is in full swing. May Allah help our brothers.

Ceylon Opposition by non-Ahmadis in Ceylon is at its peak. In fact, as it has been reported earlier, a newspaper has been issued relative to the [Ahmadiyya newspaper], Message in our opposition. May God accept the prayers of this sincere Jamaat and an erudite missionary can be sent to them from the markaz. There is a desperate need for it. The condition of the Jamaat as a whole is good by the grace of God. Nigeria We have no permanent missionary in Nigeria. However, by the grace of God, the seed of Ahmadiyyat has been sown there and it is growing. Millions of people have become Christians in this country. In the recent past, a party of several hundred educated men from these Christians formed a proper organisation. The purpose of this [organisation] was to conduct religious research and enquiries. It has been reported that the secretary of this organisation has become a Muslim by the grace of God, Alhamdolillah. The need for a missionary in Nigeria is being deeply felt.

Miscellaneous By the grace of God, our men are working in almost every country of the world. A Jamaat has been established in Egypt. The process of Jamaat formation has begun in Iraq and Iran. We have a missionary in Australia. By the blessings of God, there is a shift everywhere in the religious world. A proposal to set up a mission in Arabia has been presented.

We are looking forward to send a missionary to Japan as well. Similarly, means for the promulgation of Ahmadiyyat in South America are being created. May Allah grant us many more [victories]. This work belongs to God. He is doing it, otherwise, we are nothing and we have no power.

Ahmadis will face hardships Concerning upcoming trials, the Promised Messiahas said: “It is inevitable that you should also be tried with various forms of anguish and misfortune, just as the faithful before you were tried.

Be on your guard, lest you should falter. So long as you have a firm relationship with heaven, the earth can do you no harm. Whenever harm befalls you, it will be from your own hands and not from the hands of your enemy. Even if you lose all honour on earth, God will bestow eternal honour upon you in heaven. So do not forsake Him.” (Noah’s Ark, pp. 24-25)

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Friday 27 March 2020 | AL HAKAM

A prophet in the making A look at the early life of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas Part II In the first part, we showed how Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, peace be upon him, was a spiritually charged youth who had an astounding passion to defend Islam. Though he desired not to work, his father, out of sympathy, sent him to Sialkot, Punjab to work at a court.

Even in Sialkot, the young Ahmadas would continue his deep study of the Holy Quran and profusely worshipped God Almighty. At the same time, he made use of his time to sit with holy men and enjoy discussions about Islam; especially with Christian missionaries.

Ataul Fatir Tahir

Defending Islam in British India: “Define salvation” As the British Empire ruled India and the mutiny of 1857 had transpired, the British Government saw Christianity as a means of cementing their rule throughout India.

Christian missions and missionaries began sprouting across India and Sialkot was a hotbed for Christianity in the Punjab, with the Scotch Mission being established in the city.

Historical evidence proves how Christian missionaries had planned to convert India to Christianity. Muslims were left helpless and speechless in front of Christian missionaries who would ask who was greater? “Our prophet [Jesus] who is in the sky, or your prophet Muhammad, who is buried?” Such devious questions would corner Muslims and they had no solace to turn towards.

The young Ahmadas could not bear attacks from Christian missionaries on Islam and as God had given him spiritual and academic insight from a very young age, he was able to leave the missionaries themselves speechless.

One such example was narrated by Syed Mir Hassan Sahib (a very famous Muslim scholar) who closely observed the Promised Messiahas as a young adult in Sialkot. In Life of Ahmadas, the narration is described in the following words: “At Sialkot, Ahmadas came in touch with Christian missionaries. He held several debates with them. Elisha, a native Christian missionary, who lived to the south of Hajipura, once had a discussion with Ahmadas. He asserted that salvation was impossible outside the fold of Christianity.

Ahmadas asked him to define the word ‘salvation’ and explain what he meant by it.

The missionary failed to do so and concluded by saying that he had not studied logic.” (Life of Ahmad, AR Dard, p. 48) These conversations and debates would be frequent and Hazrat Ahmadas loved defending Islam and the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. This was a taste, for the Christian missionaries, of what this champion of Islam was to bring to the table; his future debates, discussion and books would strongly disprove the fallacy of Pauline Christianity.

A prominent Christian missionary’s admiration and research by ARC History of the Jamaat has it that a Christian missionary of the Scotch Mission in Sialkot by the name “Butler” would converse with Ahmadas and hugely admired him.

After Jamaat scholars from Pakistan flagged the possibility of the name “Butler” to have been misread, the Ahmadiyya Archive and Research Centre (ARC), after searching through the Scotch Mission’s historical records, corrected the human error of naming this missionary as “Butler”.The name was actually “Taylor”, but due to Urdu transcript, it seemed to have read as “Butler”.

Reverend Taylor had frequent debates and discussions with Hazrat Ahmadas and quickly became an admirer.

Reverend Taylor was no ordinary missionary, rather he was very prominent and well respected amongst the Scotch Mission in Sialkot. Despite this, he would often go to meet Hazrat Ahmadas towards the end of working hours and walk with him from the court to Hazrat Ahmad’sas small room. Throughout this time, he would engage in discussion and listen to Hazrat Ahmad’sas arguments with almost spellbound attention. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. I, pp. 92-93) In fact, other missionaries would tell Reverend Taylor not to spend so much time with him as it looked bad on their reputation and the mission’s. In response, Mr Taylor would say, “This is a great man; you do not know his worth, but I do.” (Tarikh-eAhmadiyyat, Vol. I, pp. 93)

One discussion between Reverend Taylor and the Promised Messiahas was as follows: “Once he [Rev Taylor] asserted that Jesusas was born of a virgin so that he might inherit no sin from Adamas. Ahmadas pointed out that Maryas had already inherited the sin, if there was any, and moreover that as it was Eve who caused Adam’sas expulsion from paradise, Jesusas should have been born without a mother also in order to be sinless according to Christian beliefs. The missionary had no reply to this.” (Life of Ahmad, AR Dard, p.49) Reverend Taylor liked Hazrat Ahmadas very much and always spoke to him with courtesy, reverence and respect (Seerat-ulMahdi, Vol.1, p. 141). Before returning to Great Britain, Rev Taylor went to the court where Hazrat Ahmadas was working for one last farewell. When he arrived at the court, the Deputy Commissioner asked Rev Taylor as to what had brought him there. In reply, he said, “I have come to meet Mirza Sahib as I am about to return to my country and want to meet him one last time.” Therefore, he met the Promised Messiahas who was sitting on the floor and sat down next to him and after meeting one last time, bade him farewell.

(Seerat-ul-Mahdi, pp. 141-142) The Promised Messiah’sas manner of argumentation, from the onset, was extremely powerful, yet eloquent, respectful and convincing.

Another admirer was Mirza Murad Baig of Jalandhar, the editor of the newspaper Wazir-e-Hind. He would often go to meet Hazrat Ahmadas to hear his convincing arguments and would put before Ahmadas “objections raised by Christians against Islam”. Having learnt the answers, he would publish them in his own words through articles. Even when the Promised Messiahsa returned to Qadian, Mirza Baig would often visit to meet him. (Life of Ahmad, AR Dard, p. 49) Divine protection The Holy Quran proves how Allah protects his prophets even from a young age; Prophet Abrahamas, as a youth, was protected from the fire; Prophet Josephas was saved as a child despite being thrown into a well; Prophet Mosesas was saved from the river by the most powerful man of the time and of course, the greatest Prophet, the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa was steered out of danger by

Friday 27 March 2020 | AL HAKAM

16 God throughout childhood, even though he was a vulnerable orphan.

Allah’s treatment towards Hazrat Ahmadas was no different. At every potential danger, not just after his claim, but during his childhood as well, Allah protected him and those around him from physical harm.

A famous and widely related incident was when Hazrat Ahmadas was sleeping in a room.

Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra narrated that Hazrat Amma Janra (the Promised Messiah’sas noble wife) heard the incident herself from the Promised Messiahas, who said: “Once, during a journey, we spent the night at a house and slept on the second floor. There were about seven to eight other men in the room. When everyone went to sleep and some time had passed, I began to hear some creaking noises and I feared that the ceiling would collapse. I called at Mesta Baig who was next to me and told him that I feared the ceiling was about to collapse. In response, he said that I was just overthinking as the property was newly built and had a new roof.”

The Promised Messiahas rested again but “after a short while, the same fear encompassed me and I raised this to my acquaintance again, but he gave a similar reply. Then, again, I lay down, but the same thought took over my heart with great intensity and I felt as if the beam was about to break.

“I sat up again from worry and this time, firmly said to my friend why he was not getting up when I had said that the roof was about to fall. Upon this, he was compelled to get up and we awoke the others and I told everyone to immediately go downstairs and leave. The stairs were right next to the door, I stood under the door and everyone began to leave, one by one.”

When everyone had evacuated, the Promised Messiahas narrated that “then, I took a step outside the door and my foot was probably halfway out, with the other foot halfway in the doorway, when suddenly the whole roof collapsed. It fell with such force that the [ground floor] roof also collapsed and we saw that the charpoys [beds] we were sleeping on were crushed to pieces.”(Seeratul-Mahdi, Vol. I, pp. 6-7) Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra would narrate that during this incident, there were some Hindus present in that room as well, who were admirers of the Promised Messiahas.

Further, he said that the Promised Messiahsa, when narrating the incident, would note how the roof was just “waiting for me to leave”.

(Seerat-ul-Mahdi, Vol. I, p. 7) While in Sialkot, God Almighty continued to protect this young adult in the most miraculous manner.

The Promised Messiahas narrated that when he was residing in Sialkot, “One night it began to rain and the room I was sat in was struck by lightning and the whole room went up in smoke. It began to smell like gunpowder, however we were not harmed at all.” (Seerat-ul-Mahdi, Vol. 1, p. 216) At other times, Hazrat Ahmadas explained, “Once, a dead scorpion was found wrapped in my bedding and at another instance, a live scorpion was caught crawling around inside the bedding. At both instances, God protected me from harm. Once, my clothes caught fire and I was completely unaware.

Another man saw it, who informed me and then put the fire out.” These two instances were not necessarily from Sialkot, but

Our age begs for a prophet Talking of the state of the world, the Promised Messiahas said: “The purpose of God Almighty in setting up this Jamaat is that the true understanding of God which has disappeared from the world and true righteousness and purity which are not to be found in this age might be re-established …The way of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has been discarded.

Now, God Almighty desires that the time of prophethood should be revived in this age and the same righteousness and purity should be re-established.” (Hazrat Masih Maudas ki do aham taqrirein [Two Important Speeches of the Promised Messiahas], p. 20)

were written in the diary of the Promised Messiahas. (Seerat-ul-Mahdi, Vol. I, p. 217) A call from his father As detailed in the first part of “A Prophet in the making”, Hazrat Ahmadas did not share his father’s desire for him to go and work and achieve a “respectable” (worldly) career.

He hugely respected his father and went to Sialkot in his obedience, but he was clear in his views of serving God and Islam to his father.

In 1868, his father finally sent a message to Hazrat Ahmadas and called him back to Qadian. The Promised Messiah explained the reason in the following words: “In the end, as my father found our distance [from each other] difficult, on his instruction, that was also my own desire, I resigned from this job that was against my own nature and became free of this burden. I then presented myself to my father ...” (Kitabul-Bariyyah, Ruhani Khazain, pp. 184-185) It is crucial to note the level of obedience the Promised Messiahas held towards his father, even in his late twenties.

Most adults see themselves as exclusively independent in life decisions from their parents. However, despite his deep aversion to work at the courts, the Promised Messiahas did not leave Sialkot until his father allowed him to. This level of obedience towards parents shows how closely and carefully the Promised Messiahas, from a young age, followed the Holy Quran and its injunctions.

A mother’s longing to see her son Sadly, when the instruction from his father to resign and return to Qadian was sent, Hazrat

Ahmad’sas beloved mother had fallen critically ill. His mother had a close connection with him and was a shield for him throughout his life. Now, however, during the years apart, she had fallen ill while her beloved son was returning home.

Hayat-e-Tayyaba notes that Hazrat Ahmad’sas mother, who was ill, most probably had asked her husband to call the young Ahmadas back home due to her deep longing to see her son. (Hayat-e-Tayyaba, p. 27) During the journey from Sialkot to Qadian, when Hazrat Ahmadas reached Amritsar, a man from Qadian had come to collect him.

“This man told the driver of the stagecoach to hurry back [to Qadian]. His [Hazrat Ahmad’sas] mother was in a critical condition. The man, after some time, said, ‘She is very weak. Hurry, I hope she hasn’t passed away.’ When Hazrat Ahmadas heard this, he was sure that his mother had passed away.” (Hayat-e-Tayyaba, p. 27) When they reached Qadian, his estimation was proven correct; his dear mother had passed away and returned to her Creator.

“Verily to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.”

“Though he was deeply hurt by the demise of his beloved mother, he bore this huge grief with great patience.”(Ibid) A son’s tears for his dear mother Hazrat Ahmad’sas mother, Hazrat Chiragh Bibi, always took great care of her son’s needs and served him at every occasion.

She had a special place in her heart for Hazrat Ahmadas as she bore witness to his righteousness, piety and purity. (Ibid)

The love that Hazrat Ahmadas had for his dear mother was apparent even after her demise. Whenever, after her demise, she would be mentioned, his eyes would well up.

One incident of this was described

by Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfanira, who narrated, “Once, the Promised Messiahas, while taking a walk, went to an old family graveyard. Moving aside, with great emotion, the Promised Messiahas moved towards the grave of his mother and, along with all those present, prayed for a long time and his eyes were filled with tears.” (Ibid) A young man set to change the world Hazrat Ahmad’sas father passed away not long after. Now, without the love of his parents in this world, the young Ahmadas sustained his service for Islam and continuously grew with the One Whose love is the truest – Allah the Almighty.

The early years in the life of Hazrat Ahmadas prove how Allah had taken special care of this young adult, who was destined to revive Islam and serve as the spiritual second coming of the Holy Prophetsa; a prophet in the making.

We leave you with the words of Maulana Syed Mir Hassan Sahib, who later became a very well-respected scholar and closely observed the young Hazrat Ahmadas in Sialkot: [With tears in his eyes] he said, “It is with great regret that we took him for granted. I cannot explain his perfect spiritual attributes.

His life was not of an ordinary person, rather he was from the special elect of God and who rarely make an appearance in this world.”

(Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. I, p. 95)

17

Friday 27 March 2020 | AL HAKAM

Friday Sermon Men of Excellence

28 February 2020 After reciting the Tashahud, Ta‘awuz and Surah al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa stated:

The name of the companion whose accounts I shall narrate today is Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair.

Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair belonged to the Banu Abd ad-Daar clan of the Quraish tribe. The title of Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair was Abu Abdullah, and in another narration, it has been reported as Abu Muhammad.

Hazrat Mus‘ab’sra father’s name was Umair bin Hashim and his mother’s name was Khannas or Hannas bint Malik who was an affluent lady from Mecca. Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair’s parents loved him dearly.

Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair’s mother brought him up giving him many comforts and luxuries, dressing him in the most expensive and finest attire. He used to wear the most excellent fragrance available in Mecca and wore Hadrami shoes which were made in Hadhramaut and were exclusively for the affluent. Hadhramaut was a vast open plain near the sea, situated to the east of Aden. In any case, he would wear immaculate clothes and use the best fragrance and even his shoes were bought from outside of Mecca.

Hazrat Mus‘ab’sra wife’s name was Hamnahra bint Jahsh, who was the sister of Umm-ul-Momineen Hazrat Zainabra bint Jahsh, the wife of the Holy Prophetsa. Hazrat Mus‘abra had one daughter with her. The Holy Prophetsa used to remember Mus‘abra and would say, “I have not seen a more handsome individual than Mus‘abra and one who was brought up afforded by comforts and luxuries.” (Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Saad, Vol. 3, pp. 85-86, Mus‘abra bin Umair, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990) (Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 5, p. 175, Mus‘abra bin Umair, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003) (Siyar as-Sahaba, Vol. 2, Muhajireen part 1, p. 270, 275, Darul Isha’at, Karachi, 2004) (Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 7, p. 71, Hamnah bint Jahsh, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003) (Mu‘jamul Buldan, Vol. 2, p.

157, Dar Ihyaa al-Turath al-Arabi, Beirut) Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair was among the most prominent companions and was also among the first people who accepted Islam. He accepted Islam at the time when the Holy Prophetsa used to preach in Dare-Arqam. However, he kept it a secret for fear of opposition from his mother and his people. Hazrat Mus‘abra used to meet the Holy Prophetsa in secret. Once, Usmanra bin Talha caught him while he was praying and informed his mother and other members of his household and consequently, his parents imprisoned him. He remained imprisoned until his migration to Abyssinia. When he saw an opportunity, he escaped and migrated. After some time, when some of the migrants returned from Abyssinia to Mecca, Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair was also among them. When his mother saw his poor state, she decided to give up the opposition and let her son be.

Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair had the honour of migrating twice; he first migrated to Abyssinia and then also to Medina. (Al-

Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Saad, Vol. 3, p.

86, Mus‘abra bin Umair, Dar-ul-Kutub alIlmiyyah, Beirut, 1990) (Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 5, p. 175, Mus‘abra bin Umair, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003) Hazrat Saadra bin Abi Waqas narrates, “I saw Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair in the time when he was affluent as well as after becoming a Muslim. He endured so many hardships for the sake of Islam that I saw that his skin would deteriorate and come off just as a snake would shed its skin.” (Al-Sirat al-Nabawiyyah li Ibn Ishaq, p. 230, Man udhiba fillah min al-mu’mineen, Dar-ulKutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2004) They established such standards of sacrifice that one is left astounded.

Once, Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair came to the Holy Prophetsa while he was sitting amongst some of his Companionsra. On that occasion, the clothes of Hazrat Mus‘abra were patched with pieces of leather. There was a time when he used to wear clothes of the highest quality, but then after becoming a Muslim, the state of his clothes was such

that they would be patched together using pieces of leather.

Witnessing the change in Hazrat Mus‘ab’sra condition, the companions lowered their heads as they were unable to help him. Hazrat Mus‘abra stepped forward and offered his Salam [Islamic greeting of peace]. The Holy Prophetsa replied to him and praised him in a most excellent manner.

Following this, the Holy Prophetsa said: “All praise belongs to Allah! May worldly people be granted from this world. I have seen Mus‘ab at a time when there was no one more affluent and wealthy in the city of Mecca than him. He was the dearest child of his parents. However, the love of God and His Messengersa has brought him to this state today and he left all of that behind for the sake of God and His pleasure.” (AlTabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Saad, Vol. 3, p.

86, Mus‘abra bin Umair, Dar-ul-Kutub alIlmiyyah, Beirut, 1990) Hazrat Saadra bin Abi Waqas relates that the Holy Prophetsa looked at Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair and remembering his previous state of affluence, began to cry. The Holy Prophetsa remembered his previous condition and the sacrifices he was now making.

Hazrat Alira relates: “We were sitting in the mosque in the company of the Holy Prophetsa when Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair arrived. He was wearing a cloak patched with pieces of leather. When the Holy Prophetsa saw him, he remembered his previous state of affluence and saw the state that he was in now and began to cry.

Following this, the Holy Prophetsa said, ‘What will your condition be when one of you will wake up in the morning in one set of clothes and wear another set of clothes at night?’”

That is, they would become so affluent that they would be able to change the clothes they would wear in the morning to a different set of clothes at night. “Following

Friday 27 March 2020 | AL HAKAM

18 this, the Holy Prophetsa said, ‘One plate of food will be placed before you and another will be taken away’”, that is, there would be various courses of meals and various dishes will be served, similar to the custom today. “‘You will cover your homes in cloths similar to how the Ka‘bah is covered,’” i.e. very expensive cloths will be used. This is precisely what is witnessed today and this affluence was granted to the Muslims later on. “The Companionsra said, ‘O Messengersa of Allah! Will we be much better off at that time in comparison to today and subsequently have more time for worship?’”

The Companionsra asked that in such affluent circumstances, would they have more time to worship as they would be spared from arduous and laborious work.

“Upon this, the Holy Prophetsa replied, ‘This is not the case, rather you are better off today as compared to that time.’” (Sunan alTirmidhi, Abwab Sffatul Qiyamah, Hadith 2476) In other words, their condition and level worship and standards would be much loftier than of those who would come after them owing to their wealth and affluence.

I have mentioned the migration to Abyssinia in reference to other companions, however I will mention it briefly again. In this regard, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra states in Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin: “Therefore, upon the instruction of the Holy Prophetsa, in the month of Rajab 5 Nabawi, eleven men and four women migrated to Abyssinia.”

Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair was among them. Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra further writes: “It is very strange that a majority of these pioneer immigrants were those who belonged to powerful tribes of the Quraish, and the weaker were few and far between.

This illustrates two things: firstly, even those who belonged to the powerful tribes of the Quraish were not safe from the cruelties of the Quraish. Secondly, weak people such as slaves etc. at that time were in such a grave state of weakness and misery that they were not even able to migrate … Nonetheless, when the Quraish were informed of this, they were deeply enraged that this ‘prey’ had slipped their hands. Hence, they pursued these immigrants, but when their men reached the coast, the ship had already departed and for this reason, they returned disappointed. Upon reaching Abyssinia, the Muslims found a life of great peace and protection from the cruelties of the Quraish after much difficulty and prayers.” (Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra, pp. 146-147) At the occasion of the first pledge at Aqabah, 12 individuals came from Medina to take the oath of allegiance at the hand of the Holy Prophetsa. When they were preparing to return to Medina, the Holy Prophetsa also sent Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair with them in order to teach them the Holy Quran and about Islam. He was known in Medina by the titles of qari [Reciter] and muqri, i.e. he became known as ‘The Teacher’. (Usdul Ghabah, Vol. 5, pp. 175-176, Mus‘abra bin Umair, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2003) (Al-Isti‘ab, Vol. 4, p. 37, Mus‘abra bin Umair, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2010) (Al-Sirat al-Nabawiyyah li Ibn Ishaq, p. 199, Bab irsaal al-Rasul Mus‘ab bin Umair ma‘a wafd al-Aqabah, Dar-Ibn Hizam, Beirut, 2009)

According to another tradition, the Aus and Khazraj tribes of the Ansar went to the Holy Prophetsa and requested for someone to teach them the Holy Quran. The Holy Prophetsa therefore sent Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair. (Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Saad, Vol. 1, p. 171, bab Dhikr al- al-Aqabah al-Ula Itha al-Ashara, Dar-ul-Kutub alIlmiyyah, Beirut, 1990) Whilst in Medina, Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair stayed at the house of Hazrat As‘ad bin Zurarahra. He also carried out the duty of leading the prayers. (Al-Sirat alNabawiyyah li Ibn Ishaq, p. 199, Bab irsaal al-Rasul Mus‘ab bin Umair ma‘a wafd alAqabah, Dar-Ibn Hizam, Beirut, 2009) Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair stayed at the house of Hazrat As‘ad bin Zurarahra for a long period of time but later on, he moved to the house of Hazrat Saadra bin Muaz.

(Siyar as-Sahaba, Vol. 2, Muhajireen part 1, p. 272, Darul Isha’at, Karachi, 2004) Hazrat Baraara bin Aazib relates: “The very first Muhajir Companions of the Holy Prophetsa to migrate to Medina were Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair and Hazrat Ibn Umm-e-Maktumra. When they arrived in Medina, they began teaching us the Holy Quran. Later, Hazrat, Ammarra, Hazrat Bilalra and Hazrat Saadra also came. Then Hazrat Umarra bin Khattab arrived along with a few other companions and eventually the Holy Prophetsa arrived.”

He further states, “I have never seen the people of Medina so happy as on the occasion when the Holy Prophetsa arrived and the girls and boys were proclaiming, ‘You are the Messengersa of Allah! You have come to us.’” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Tafsir al-Quran, Bab Surah al-A‘la, Hadith 4941) With regard to Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra writes in Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin: “Those who accepted Islam in Dar-eArqam are included amongst the pioneers.

Among these, the most renowned include Mus‘abra bin Umair, who was from the Banu Abdid-Dar. He was very handsome and striking, and was held very dear among his family. This is the same noble young man who was sent as a missionary to Yathrab prior to the migration and through whom Islam spread in Medina.” (Sirat KhatamunNabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra, p.

129) It is stated in a book on the life of the Holy Prophetsa that Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair was the first person to lead the Friday prayers in Medina prior to the migration.

Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair requested permission from the Holy Prophetsa before the second pledge at Aqabah to lead the Friday prayers in Medina, and he was duly granted permission. Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair led the first Friday prayers in the house of Hazrat Saadra bin Khaithamah, in which 12 people of Medina participated and on this occasion, he slaughtered a goat.

Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair was the first person in Islam to lead the Friday prayers in Medina. However, there is another narration in which it is mentioned that Hazrat Abu Umamah As‘adra bin Zurarah was the first to lead the Friday prayer in Medina. (AlTabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Saad, Vol. 3, pp.

87-88, Mus‘abra bin Umair, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990) (Al-Tabaqaat-ulKubra li ibn Saad, Vol. 1, p. 171, bab Dhikr al- al-Aqabah al-Ula Itha al-Ashara, Dar-ulKutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990)

Whatever the case may be, Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair was the first missionary sent to Medina. Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair would go along with Hazrat As‘adra bin Zurarah to preach in the different neighbourhoods of the Ansar. Many people accepted Islam as a result of the preaching of Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair, among whom are some of the prominent companions such as Hazrat Saadra bin Muazra, Hazrat Ibaadra bin Bishr, Hazrat Muhammadra bin Maslamah, Hazrat Usaidra bin Huzair. (AlSirat al-Nabawiyyah li Ibn Ishaq, p. 199, Bab Awwal Jumu’ah Uqimat bil Madinah, DarIbn Hizam, Beirut, 2009) (Al-Tabaqaat-ulKubra li ibn Saad, Vol. 3, p. 312, Dar-ulKutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990) Whilst mentioning the preaching efforts of Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra writes: “Whilst departing from Mecca, these twelve new Muslim converts requested, ‘Please send an Islamic tutor with us, who can teach us Islam and can preach Islam to our idolatrous brothers as well.’ The Holy Prophetsa sent Mus‘abra bin ‘Umair, a very devout young man from the Abdud-Dar tribe along with them. An Islamic preacher was referred to as a qari or muqri in those days, because the majority of their work was to recite the Holy Quran, as this was the best method of preaching. As such, Mus‘abra was also renowned by the name muqri in Yathrib.

“When he arrived in Medina, Mus‘abra bin Umair stayed at the home of As‘adra bin Zurarah, who was the first Muslim of Medina, and was a very devout and influential leader.

His home was transformed into a preaching centre and Mus‘abra began to perform his duties with full attention. Since the Muslims of Medina lived a collective life, and Medina was comparatively more peaceful, upon the proposal of As‘adra bin Zurarah, the Holy Prophetsa instructed Mus‘abra bin Umair to begin offering the Jumuah prayer, and in this way, the Muslims began their life as a unified community. The blessings of Allah were such as it was not long before the religion of Islam began to find popularity in every home of Medina. The Aus and the Khazraj began to accept Islam very rapidly.

“In some cases, the entirety of a tribe would accept Islam in one day. Thus, the Banu Abdil-Ashhal tribe also accepted Islam in this manner, and became Muslim at once. This was a very distinct branch of the Ansar tribe known as the Aus, and the chieftain of this tribe was named Saadra bin Muaz. Not only was he the chieftain of the Abdul-Ashhal tribe, but he was the leader of the entire Aus tribe as well. When Islam began to find popularity in Medina, Saad bin Muaz initially disliked it and endeavoured to stop it (i.e. before accepting Islam, Hazrat Saadra bin Muaz opposed it greatly), but he was closely related to As‘adra bin Zurarah.

Both of them were cousins and As‘adra had become a Muslim. For this reason, Saadra bin Muaz would not approach him personally so as to prevent a dispute. As such, he said to another one of his relatives, Usaid bin AlHudair, ‘I am somewhat embarrassed to say anything due to As‘ad bin Zurarah, (since he had become a Muslim and was helping in spreading the message) but you go and stop Mus‘ab (instead of stopping As‘adra bin Zurarah, they decided to stop Mus‘abra from preaching) and from spreading this

irreligiousness. Tell As‘ad as well that this way of life is not right.’ Usaid was from the revered chieftains of the Abdul-Ashhal tribe, and his father had remained the leader of the entire Aus tribe during the Battle of Bu‘ath.

After Saadra bin Muaz, Usaid bin Al-Hudair possessed significant influence within his tribe. Therefore, upon the encouragement of Saadra, he went to Mus‘abra bin Umair and As‘adra bin Zurarah. He addressed Mus‘abra in a tone of anger, saying, ‘Why do you make our people irreligious? Abstain from this or the outcome shall not be pleasant!’ Before Mus‘abra could answer, As‘adra softly told Mus‘abra, ‘He is a very powerful chieftain of his tribe, speak to him very gently and lovingly.’

“Therefore, Mus‘abra addressed him in a very respectful and loving tone, and said, ‘Do not be angry, rather be so kind as to sit and listen to what we have to say with a cool heart, then you may formulate your opinion.’

Usaid (who was of a pious disposition) found this to be a logical proposition and sat down. Mus‘abra recited the Holy Quran to him and enlightened him of Islamic teachings very benevolently. Usaidra was so moved that he accepted Islam right away, and said, ‘There is such a man behind me that if he converts, our entire tribe will accept Islam. Wait here, I shall send him.’ After this, Usaidra left, and by some excuse, he sent Saadra bin Muaz to Mus‘abra bin Umair and As‘adra bin Zurarah. Saadra bin Muaz came and furiously said to As‘adra bin Zurarah, ‘Look here As‘ad. Indeed, you are misusing your family relations and this is not right.

If I am silent on this matter, then it is only owing to our family ties, but do not take advantage of this.’ Upon this, in the same manner as before, Mus‘abra tenderly and lovingly cooled him down and said, ‘Take a seat here and listen to what I have to say. If, then, there is something objectionable, you may reject it.’

“Saadra responded, ‘Alright, this appeal seems to be rational.’ Resting his spear, he took a seat, and in the same manner, Mus‘abra recited the Holy Quran to him and expounded Islamic principles in his very attractive manner. It was not long before this idol also submitted, (i.e. Hazrat Saadra bin Muaz also accepted Islam.) Therefore, as per the custom, Saadra bathed and recited the Kalima Shahadah [Islamic creed]. After this, Saadra bin Muaz and Usaidra bin AlHudair went to their tribesmen and Saadra enquired of them in a particular Arabian custom, ‘O Bani ‘Abdul-Ashhal, how do you find me?’ They all answered in unison, ‘You are our leader and the son of our leader. We have full trust in you.’ Saadra responded, ‘Then I have nothing to do with you until you believe in Allah and His Messengersa.’

After this, Saadra explained the principles of Islam to them, and evening had not yet come, before the entire tribe had converted to Islam. Saadra and Usaidra broke the idols that belonged to their people with their own hands. Saadra bin Muaz and Usaidra bin Al-Hudair who accepted Islam that day, are counted amongst the most eminent of companions.”

Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahibra further says: “And among the Ansar undoubtedly, they possess a magnificent status. In particular, Saadra bin Muaz received a position amongst the Ansar as did Hazrat Abu Bakrra amongst the Muhajirin of Mecca.

19

Friday 27 March 2020 | AL HAKAM “This young man turned out to be extremely sincere, remarkably loyal, and an exceptionally devoted lover of Islam and the Foundersa of Islam. Since he was also the chieftain of his tribe, he was extraordinarily intelligent as well. He acquired such a position in Islam which was not only distinctive, nay, the most distinctive companions of the Holy Prophetsa acquired.

No doubt, upon his early demise, the words of the Holy Prophetsa that, ‘Upon the demise of Saadra, even the throne of the Gracious God has come into motion,’ was based on a very deep reality.

“Therefore, in this manner, Islam began to spread throughout the Aus and the Khazraj very rapidly. The Jews would look to this sight in terror. In their hearts they would say, ‘God knows what is about to happen.’” (Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra, pp. 224-227) Owing to the preaching efforts of Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair, many people accepted Islam. On the occasion of Hajj, 13 Nabwai, he brought a delegation of 70 Ansar to Mecca. Analysing this from various sources, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra writes in Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin: “The following year, that is, Dhul-Hijjah of 13 Nabawi, on the occasion of Hajj, many hundreds of people from the Aus and the Khazraj came to Mecca. Among them, there were 70 such people who had either become Muslim or now desired to become Muslims, and came to Mecca in order to meet the Holy Prophetsa.

“Mus‘abra bin Umair was also among them. Mus‘ab’sra mother was alive, and although she was an idolatress, loved him very much. When she was informed of his coming, she sent word, ‘First come and meet me, then go elsewhere.’ Mus‘abra responded, ‘I have not yet met the Holy Prophetsa, I shall come to you once I have met him.’ Therefore, he presented himself before the Holy Prophetsa first, and briefed him on key issues, then visited his mother.

(On seeing that he had not gone to meet her first) she was very upset. When she saw him, she began to weep and complain.

Mus‘abra said, ‘Mother! I tell you something wonderful which is very beneficial for you, and shall put an end to every disagreement.’

She enquired, ‘What is that?’ Mus‘abra quietly responded, ‘This, that you forsake idol worship and become a Muslim, and believe in the Holy Prophetsa.’ She was a firm idolatress, and as soon as she heard this, she began to put up a commotion, saying, ‘I swear by the stars that I shall never enter your religion,’ and signalled her relatives to capture Mus‘abra, but he managed to escape.”

(Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra, p. 227) There are still some accounts of Hazrat Mus‘abra bin Umair which remain to be narrated but since there are two funerals in absentia, therefore I will end the accounts of Hazrat Mus‘abra here and will – God Willing – continue to relate them in the next sermon.

The first funeral is of respected Malik Munawar Ahmad Javed Sahib, son of respected Malik Muzaffar Ahmad Sahib, who passed away on 22 February at the age of 84: َ ْ َ َّ َ ّٰ َّ ‫اج ُعوْن‬ ِ ‫ِانا ل ِل ِہ و ِانا ِالی ِہ ر‬ “Surely to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return” He was suffering from a liver ailment for

some time and after spending ten days in the Tahir Heart Hospital for treatment, he passed away and met his Creator.

The deceased was a musi and is survived by his wife, four sons and two daughters. Malik Munawar Ahmad Javed Sahib’s paternal grandfather was (Junior Commissioned Officer) Hazrat Dr Zafar Hasan Sahibra and his maternal grandfather was Hazrat Sheikh Abdul Karim Sahibra, who was from Ghazipur, Gurdaspur. His paternal grandfather was from Dharamkot, Randhawa. Both of his elders, i.e. both grandfathers, performed Bai‘at at the hand of the Promised Messiahas and thereby had the honour of being counted amongst the companions.

Malik Munaver Javed Sahib’s marriage took place with Salma Javed Sahiba in 1968, who is the daughter of the late Sufi Hamid Sahib. She was the paternal granddaughter of Hazrat Hafiz Sufi Ghulam Muhammad Sahibra, a missionary who served in Mauritius and who was also the companion of the Promised Messiahas. Also, she was the maternal granddaughter of Hazrat Dr Zafar Hussain Sahibra, who was also a companion of the Promised Messiahas. Hazrat Sufi Ghulam Muhammad Sahibra, who served in Mauritius, was among the 313 companions of the Promised Messiahas. Hence, both Malik Munawar Javed Sahib and his wife’s maternal and paternal grandfathers were companions of the Promised Messiahas by the grace of Allah the Almighty.

On one occasion, whilst mentioning his waqf [life devotion], Malik Sahib stated that he was once listening to the address of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh in 1982 at the Ansarullah Ijtema. In his address, Huzoorrh spoke about the importance of waqf and he said in his concluding words, the gist of which was, “Do you not desire to spend your very last breath in a state of waqf?” He states that these words of Huzoorrh proved to be a turning point for him and he kept deliberating whether or not he should do Waqf.

In any case, he ultimately decided to present himself for waqf and submitted his request to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh on 10 August 1983. Huzoorrh accepted his Waqf on 18 August 1983 and stated that he could finish up with his previous work and then join as at the time he was running his own business.

His first official appointment by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh was on 28 August 1983 in Wakalat Sanat-o-Tijarat and he formally began serving in the office from 1 October 1983. Prior to his Waqf, he worked for 16 years in the secretariat of the Punjab Government and after that, ran his own business for ten years. In November 1983, he was appointed as the manager for The Review of Religions magazine and in 1984 he was appointed as the Muavin Nazir Ziafat.

From 20 April 1987 to July 2016 he had the opportunity to serve as Naib Nazir Ziafat.

In 1990, when a committee was formed for the welfare of the orphans, he was appointed as its first secretary and rendered this service for approximately 20 years.

From 1968 to 1970 he served in Khuddamul-Ahmadiyya Pakistan as the qaid of his district and also Lahore and continued to serve for approximately ten years. The deceased also had the opportunity to serve in the auxiliary organisation of Majlis Ansarullah from 1984 to 2014 and during

this 31 year of service, he served as qaid Tahrik-e-Jadid, qaid tarbiyat, qaid ishaat and during the last 5 years, he had the opportunity to serve as the Naib Sadr of Majlis Ansarullah Pakistan.

Narrating an account during his service in the government office, Malik Sahib once stated: “During my service, one of our senior officers was extremely prejudiced and would often invite his Maulvis [religious clerics] to engage in a debate with me.

On one occasion he brought Allama Professor Khalid Mahmud Sahib, who was a renowned scholar at the time. The debate began and when the Allama Sahib could not present any adequate argument, he became angry and began hurling verbal abuse”, as is the general practise of the Maulvis. “My officer in-charge, whose name was Abdur Rahman, began to worry lest the debate became extremely unfavourable for them.

Assuring my office in-charge, the Allama said to him”. These words of his are such that they reflect the fact that he truly believed that the members of the Jamaat have a bond with Allah the Almighty. “He stated that these people (i.e. referring to Ahmadis) have committed such great injustices against God Almighty, His Messengersa and the Book of Allah that God would surely have destroyed them by now, but they continue to be saved each time. The maulvi then stated that the reason why they are saved is because they profusely cry in their prayers.” Malik Sahib states, “I asked the Maulvi Sahib to give me this explanation in writing. He enquired why I wanted this and then stated in Punjabi, ‘If I give it in writing today, by tomorrow you will have it published in a newspaper.’”

Thus, the maulvi had no choice but to admit that the fervent supplication of the Ahmadis aids them in every instance and Allah the Almighty grants acceptance to their prayers. Despite considering us to be wrong, yet they still believe that Allah the Almighty listens to our prayers. May Allah the Almighty open their eyes to the truth and may He also save this nation from their deceptive ways as a result of which they have completely misguided them and have led people astray.

The muavin nazir ziafat, Osama Azhar Sahib states that Malik Munawar Ahmad Javed Sahib possessed many excellent qualities. He would wake up in the night and inspect the Dar-ul-Ziafat and take reports from the workers and depending on the weather, he would also make arrangements for tea and [boiled] eggs, etc. He would treat the workers in Dar-ul-Ziafat with great love, affection and compassion. He was aware of the personal circumstances of each and every worker in the Dar-ul-Ziafat and would discretely offer them financial help as much as possible.

Malik Sahib’s son-in-law, Nadim Sahib, who is also his nephew, states that he would always advise him to offer his prayers, instil love for Khilafat and to serve the faith. He further states that he once told him that after taking retirement, he decided to halve his voluntary financial contributions which he previously offered, since his allowance had now reduced. Hence, he drafted a list of all his promises and then fell asleep. He states that in the night, he saw in a dream that Allah the Almighty came to him and said, “I am the Lord of this world, I have heard that you have halved your Chanda

contributions? Come with Me, let Me show you the universe.” And so, in his dream, Allah the Almighty showed him His mountains, jungles, valleys, rivers and His gardens. God Almighty then stated, “When I possess sovereignty over all of these, then why do you need to worry?” Malik Sahib states that upon this, he awoke from his dream and abandoned his decision to halve his contributions and continued to offer his Chandas as normal.

Malik Sahib’s wife states that before doing waqf when he used to do business, he would put a large amount of money in his pocket and wrap his shawl around himself and would go out onto the streets during the winter nights. He would say that if he saw a needy person then such an individual would most surely be in genuine need. Thus, one day he saw an individual who looked extremely worried who informed him that his mother was extremely ill and he did not have any money. Malik Sahib handed all the money to him and returned home.

Muavin Nazir Ziafat, Asif Majeed Sahib, who is also a missionary, writes: “Due to the volume of guests, on occasions, the guests would have difficulties finding accommodation. Some guests would come to the office and openly use harsh words. However, the deceased would always listen to them happily.” He then says, “At times I have seen him apologising to guests with his hands joined together. Some of the guests he would apologise to would be the same age as the deceased’s children. On one occasion, after the guest had left, I said that I was greatly pained to see him seeking forgiveness with his hands together, to which he replied, ‘Why do you feel any pain; I was the one who put my hands together [to apologise], not you. Remember, these are the guests of the Promised Messiahas and the Promised Messiahas took such care that he once ran without wearing any shoes in order to pursue a guest who felt aggrieved and brought him back.’”

Asif Sahib then writes: “Once, I was sitting in his office when the deceased narrated an incident. The deceased said that one day, an elderly gentleman came to his office and speaking in Punjabi, he asked in angry tone if he was Malik Munawar Javed? Malik Sahib answered in the affirmative. The elderly guest said in Punjabi, ‘Does your father own the langar khana [in an angry manner]?’

Malik Sahib replied, ‘No, Sir, this is the Langar Khana of the Promised Messiahas, who is the father of both you and I.’ Upon this the elderly gentlemen’s anger subsided and he explained his issues in a calm and loving manner.”

At times, the conduct of the guests is also inappropriate, I receive complaints from people who mention that they were not properly taken care of or they were ill-treated, but upon further investigation it comes to light that the guest was impatient as well. Undoubtedly, the relevant department should always be courteous to the guests, however the guests should also display high morals, and when faced with such issues, they ought to co-operate with the administration as much as possible.

Nonetheless, Malik Sahib did true justice in fulfilling his Waqf [devotion].

When I was serving as nazir-e-ala, I was also appointed as nazir ziafat, and he was naib nazir ziafat. I witnessed that he would

Friday 27 March 2020 | AL HAKAM

20 take great care of Jamaat property and never refrained from saying what he thought was correct. Even though he was my naib [deputy], if I had given an instruction and he thought that something else was better for the interests of the Jamaat, without hesitation he would immediately raise his concern and would say that if we work in this manner it would be more beneficial.

This is an attribute that every waqif-ezindagi [life devotee] ought to adopt in that they should express their opinion whilst maintaining decorum.

He had a strong bond with Khilafat which was evident from every letter of his, and from the two times he came to meet me.

May Allah Almighty shower His mercy and forgiveness upon him and elevate his status. May Allah grant his wife and children patience and steadfastness, and enable them to continue his virtuous deeds.

The second funeral is of Professor Munawar Shamim Khalid Sahib, son of Sheikh Mahboob Aalam Khalid Sahib, who passed away in Rabwah on 16 February 2020 at the age of approximately 81 years old. َ ‫ِانَّا ل ِّٰل ِہ َو ِانَّا ِال َ ْی ِہ‬ ‫اج ُعوْن‬ ‫ر‬ ِ [Verily to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.]

As mentioned earlier, his father was Sheikh Mahboob Aalam Khalid Sahib who was a Nazir and also a Professor of TI College. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh then appointed him as Nazir Baitul Maal Aamad and he served in this capacity for a long time. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh then appointed him as President of Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya. Shamim Khalid Sahib was his eldest son and he leaves behind Shahida Munawar Shamim Sahiba, who was his second wife, and from his first wife – who has passed away – he has one son, Khalid Anwar Sahib, who lives in Canada.

In 1964, when Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh was principal of the [TI College] and also president of the Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya, he led the Nikah ceremony of Munawar Shamim Khalid Sahib from Masjid Mubarak. At the time, Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad Sahib, Khalifatul Masih IIIrh stated: “Professor Munawar Shamim Khalid Sahib is the son of my close and dear friend Professor Mahboob Aalam Khalid Sahib and thus he is dear to me like my own sons.”

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh had a close bond with Munawar Shamim Sahib’s father.

He served in Majlis Ansarullah Markaziyya

for 28 years. He worked as a professor in TI College until it became nationalised and I believe that after that, he worked for an extensive period of time in a college in Rabwah.

I have already mentioned that Munawar Shamim Sahib was the son of Mahboob Aalam Khalid Sahib and Shamim Sahib’s paternal grandfather was Maulvi Farzand Ali, who was the former Imam of Fazl Mosque, London and also served as Nazir Baitul Maal.

Munawar Shamim Sahib’s second wife, Shahida Sahiba, states: “He possessed many great qualities among which the foremost was his love, devotion and reverence to the Khalifa, and showing complete obedience to him. He would listen to the Sermons regularly and always derive points from these sermons.

He was regular in his prayers and in observing fasts, he would offer the Tahajjud prayer and prayed the five daily prayers in congregation. When, owing to his illness, he stopped going to the mosque for the prayers, he was pained greatly by this and would often be overcome with emotion. He endured his illness with great patience and never even expressed his pain, nor did he

ever have any grievances, instead he would always recite Alhamdolillah [All praise belongs to Allah]. Serving the faith with full sincerity, devotion and loyalty were among his prominent qualities.”

He would always serve joyfully and was very considerate, loyal and treated everyone with kindness. I was a student of his for a short while when he taught in college, but even after when I was amir-e-muqami and nazir-e-ala, Shamim Sahib always maintained a relationship of respect with me. He never gave the impression that I was once his student. He would always show obedience to Khilafat and the Nizam of the Jamaat and even after becoming Khalifa, his expression was extraordinary.

May Allah the Almighty shower His mercy and forgiveness on him. May Allah grant him a place amongst His loved ones and may he enable his family members to continue his good deeds. God willing, after the Friday prayers I will lead the funeral prayers in absentia of both deceased members.

(Original Urdu published in Al-Fazl International, 17 March 2020, pp. 5-9.

Translated by The Review of Religions.)

In this book, the Promised Messiah, on whom be peace, discusses the philosophy of divine revelation, the three categories of people who claim to receive revelation and the distinction of the truthful from the false. He then establishes his truthfulness by documenting over 200 signs, including the fulfillment of prophecies made by the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, other men of God, earlier scriptures and his own revelations spanning over 25 years.

The author cites numerous examples of his enemies who publicly predicted his downfall and demise, only to become the very victims of their own prophecies. God, however, protected him against every assault, while continuously reassuring him of His promise to bless his Community—a promise that continues to bear the seal and testimony of history.

The author also appeals to the followers of different faiths to read this book, cover to cover, to appreciate and accept this evidence as proof that God is One and the Holy Prophet Muhammad is the Messenger of God and that he is the Promised Messiah raised to unite humanity under the banner of Islam.

To read this book, please visit alislam.org

Editor: Qaasid Muin Ahmad | Design & Layout: Jalees Ahmad | Sub-Editorial: Ataul Fatir Tahir | News: Ata-ul-Haye Nasir | © Al Hakam 2020