Questions Chapter 4

1. What is Majlise Intikhab?
2. Why was the Third Caliph given the title Hafiz?
3. What was the name of the magazine Hudhoor edited while he was studying in the United Kingdom?
4. Who appointed him Excutive Director of Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya in 1955?
5. Describe two main achievements of the Third Caliph?
6. What is the purpose of the Nusrat Jehan Project?
7. In which European city did Hudhoor inaugurate the mosque in 1967?
8. Name the conference that was held in London in 1978?
9. Name the scientist who received the highest award in science in 1979? Which King did he receive this from?
10. In which city did Hudhoor pass away in Pakistan? Where is he buried?
11. Which prophecy of the Promised Messiah was fulfilled during his Caliphate?
12. He was principal of which college before his election as Caliph?
13. What year did the Khalifat al-Masih visit Canada?
14. How long did Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih III remain Khalifa?
15. What does Nasir-e-Deen mean?

Answers

1. It means the Electoral College whose members elect a new Khalifa.
2. He was a Hafiz as he had committed the Holy Quran to memory.
3. Al-Islam
4. The Second Caliph (RA)
5. Fazle Umar Foundation and the Nusrat Jahan Project
6. Ahmadi doctors and teachers should serve Africa by opening new clinics and schools.
7. Copenhagen
8. Deliverance from the Cross
9. Professor Abdus Salam, from King of Sweden
10. Islamabad, Rabwah
11. Kings would seek blessings from your garments
12. Taleem al-Islam College
13. 1976
14. Seventeen years
15. Helper of faith

His demise

Hadhrat Sayyeda Mansoora Begum, first wife of Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Third passed away on December 3rd, 1981 after a short illness.

Inna lillahe wa inna ilahye rajeoon

Hudhoor bore this loss with fortitude. After a while he intended to marry for a second time for religious reasons only. He intensely supplicated for forty days, and requested elders of the Jamaat to do Istikhara also. Finally he felt reassured by virtue of his entreaties to God Almighty. On April 11th, 1982 he was married in a low-key ceremony to Sayyeda Tahira Siddiqa sahiba, daughter of a devout Ahmadi, Abdul Majeed Khan of Weerowal.

A few months later in June 1982 while Hudhoor was visiting Islamabad, he suffered a severe heart attack. He was provided excellent medical care but it was to no avail. He passed away on June 9th, 1982 at 12.45pm in Islamabad at the age of seventy-three. May his soul rest in peace.

Inna lillahe wa inna elahey rajeoon.
We are from Allah, and indeed to HIM we return

His body was brought to Rabwah where Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Khalifat al-Masih the Fourth led the funeral prayer. Close to one hundred thousand people from inside and outside of Pakistan attended the funeral. He was buried next to the tomb of Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Second in the reserved section of the Bahishti Maqbara in Rabwah.

Hudhoor's passing was a grievous loss to the Community but everyone bore the tremendous loss with fortitude keeping in view the sublime teachings of Islam. God Almighty united the Community once again. God Almighty bestowed tranquillity and peace on the Community by manifesting His divine power for the fourth time in the form of Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Fourth.

Alhamdo lillahe ala zalika
We thank the Lord for this grace.

Nobel Prize for an Ahmadi

God Almighty revealed to the Promised Messiah (AS):

“He (God) has conveyed to me that my followers will excel so much in knowledge and insight that they will confound all others with the light of their truth, their reasoning and their signs.” (Tajalliyate Ilahiya, page 21)

The above prophecy has been fulfilled in various forms many times over, and will continue to do so. Insha Allah. During the blessed reign of the Third Caliphate this prophecy was magnificently manifested in the person of Professor Dr. Abdus Salam. He was a renowned scientist who received the highest award of Nobel Prize in physics in 1979 from King of Sweden. He was the first Muslim and in fact first Pakistani to receive the prestigious award. The President of Pakistan sent him a message of congratulation in which he stated that the honorable Dr. Salam had brought honors to his native land.

When Dr. Salam was intimated of this sensational news by a telephone call from the Nobel committee, right away he went to the London Fazl mosque to offer Shukrana Nafal (prayer of gratitude). Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih III also sent him a message of warm greetings. He stated in his message that it was a matter of great prides that the first Muslim ever and the first Pakistani scientist to receive the Nobel Prize is an Ahmadi. Hudhoor fervently prayed “May Allah give you even more honors in the future and may He always guide you and help you. Ameen”

Every Ahmadi child should have the vision and the determination to make a mark in some discipline of knowledge. That one day he/she will also bring laurels to his/her country and the Jamaat. Insha Allah

Next year Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih traveled to Europe and laid the foundation stone of a mosque in Pedroabad (near Cordoba, Spain) on October 9th, 1980. Later Hudhoor traveled to Canada and the United States.

Conference in London

One of the most eventful incidents of the Third Caliphate and indeed of the Movement was the Deliverance from The Cross Conference that took place in London from June 2nd to June 4th 1978. The Movement organized it.

Well-known scholars belonging to principal faiths read their scholarly papers on this landmark occasion. Their research indicated that Christian beliefs about Jesus Christ were baseless, while the explanation provided by the Promised Messiah (AS) regarding the death of Hadhrat Isa, peace be on him, has been validated. There were participants from Pakistan, India, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the USA. Eminent speakers like Sir Zafrulla Khan and Sahibzada M.M. Ahmad read their scholarly papers.

In his address Hudhoor refuted the Christian belief that Jesus Christ was a God and alive in the heavens. In this manner Hudhoor delivered the message of Islam to millions of Christians. He reaffirmed the oneness of Almighty Allah and beautifully expounded the high status of Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be on him. Thousands of Europeans listened to Hudhoor's address and were impressed by the depth and breadth of his knowledge. Newspapers from around the world, magazines, television, & radio carried news about this event in their respective countries.

Some Christian leaders expressed their concern over the far-reaching effects of this event. To counteract the effects of this conference, they invited Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih III for discussions. However, when Hudhoor accepted the invitation, they decided to defer it by coming up with lame excuses. Thus they admitted their defeat. Alhamdo-lillah.

Centenary Jubilee Project

At the Annual Conference of 1973, Hudhoor presented the details of a grand project before the members, known as Centenary Jubilee Plan. Hudhoor said:

"When one century ends and the new century begins on the establishment of the Movement, that will be according to God's will a century of conquests of Islam. To welcome the century of the conquests of Islam, I urge you to offer sacrifices for spreading the light of the Holy Quran to the ends of the earth."

The main objective for which Hudhoor established the Centenary Jubilee Fund was:

1. To bring the message of Islam to the ends of the Earth
2. To establish additional Ahmadiyya Mission houses
3. To publish Islamic literature in 100 languages of the world
4. To install a modern printing press in Pakistan
5. To establish a radio station in an African country
6. To translate the Holy Quran into six languages.

He requested the members to contribute Rs. 2.5 million towards this project. The pledges however received in this respect were four times the requested amount.

To maximize the full effects of this endeavor, Hudhoor also put forth a spiritual plan before the members. A brief summary of this plan includes (1) A supererogatory fast should be observed every month. (2) Two 'nafal' prayers should be offered daily (3) Surat Fatiha should be recited seven times a day with full attention. (4) Darood Sharif, Tasbeeh & Istighfar should be recited 33 times a day. (5) The following two Quranic prayers should be recited eleven times a day.

Rabbana afrigh alaina sabran wa sabbit aqdamana wansurna alal kaum al-Kafireen
Allahomma inna najaluka fee nahoorihim w na-auzooa bika min sharoori him.

In August 1976 Hudhoor paid a visit to Ahmadi communities of the United States and Canada. Hudhoor attended a grand reception given in his honor on August 10th, 1976 at the Inn on the Park Hotel in Toronto. Members of Parliament, dignitaries, and hundreds of Ahmadis attended the reception. Later Hudhoor visited some Toronto landmarks including the Niagara Falls. He was much impressed with the exquisite beauty and breath-taking view of the Falls. He was the first Caliph to visit the North American continent.

It is worthy of note that following projects have been carried out successfully under the Centenary Jubilee Project:

• Construction of a mosque and mission house in Sweden
• Construction of a huge mosque and mission house in Srinagar, Kashmir
• Islamic literature printed on large scale
• Construction of a mosque in Norway and Spain
• Scholarships & medals given to outstanding students for academic achievements
• Construction of Centenary Jubilee office in Rabwah

Persecution in Pakistan

In 1974 riots & protest marches erupted against the Movement throughout Pakistan. Houses belonging to Ahmadis were robbed and reduced to rubble. There were social boycotts against Ahmadis. They were fired from their jobs without a just cause, and some were even martyred. Despite these atrocities, every member remained steadfast in the face of grave perils. No one can furnish such a shining example of sacrifice in the history of nations. Under the farsighted leadership of their Imam Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Third, the community not only survived but later thrived by God's grace. Praise the Lord.

The persecution of Ahmadis ended when Parliament of Pakistan passed an amendment to the Constitution on September 7th, 1974 declaring the adherents of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat non-Muslims. This was indeed gross injustice done to the Community, eventually it led to the removal of the Prime Minister Z.A. Bhutto by his hand picked military general in a coup d'état, later hanged on April 4th, 1979.

al-Aqsa Mosque in Rabwah

On March 31, 1972 Hudhoor inaugurated the magnificent al-Aqsa Mosque in Rabwah which can accommodate over 150,000 worshippers. The entire cost of the project, over 600,000 rupees was borne by an affluent Ahmadi. Masha Allah.

Nusrat Jehan Project

On April 4th, 1970 Hudhoor embarked on a nine week tour of West African countries. Large Ahmadiyya communities have flourished in these countries for quiet some time. Members had longed for a long time to see Hudhoor in person. At last their intense desire was fulfilled. African Ahmadi men, women, children and even elderly traveled long distances to see Hudhoor in person. To welcome their beloved Imam they chanted heartwarming religious poems and uplifting slogans in their traditional ways. Hudhoor's inspiring speeches strengthened their faith.

During Hudhoor's epic travel to this continent, many eminent personalities of African countries had audience with Hudhoor and attended the receptions given in his honor. They readily acknowledged educational, social as well as spiritual services rendered by the Movement. Newspapers, radio, and television gave wide coverage to his travels. In a nutshell this journey was a tremendous success in many respects. In fact it heralded a new era of preaching in West Africa.

This was one of the main objectives for which Hudhoor had started the Nusrat Jahan Scheme, and appealed for a contribution of 100,000 sterling pounds. Under the guidelines of this project Ahmadi doctors and teachers are serving in Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Gambia, and Sierra Leone by running 17 medical clinics and 15 secondary schools.

Inauguration of a Mosque

In 1967 Hudhoor traveled to Europe. This journey was beneficial in many aspects and significant according to an earlier glad tiding given by God Almighty. Ominous signs of God’s support and succor were observed by all. Hudhoor left Rabwah on July 6th and returned home on August 24th, 1967. He visited Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Denmark and England. In Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, Hudhoor inaugurated the first mosque built entirely by the financial contributions of Ahmadi women.Hudhoor conveyed the message of Islam splendidly in all the countries he visited by holding press conferences and addressing large audiences. He warned the inhabitants of Europe that the only way out of another catastrophe for them is to accept Islam and to turn with true hearts to their Creator.Hudhoor's message was delivered to millions of people by newspapers, radio, and television. Thus true interpretation of Islamic teachings was presented to Europeans.

Feed the Poor

Hudhoor proposed that a network of food banks be created whereby no member of the Community should ever go hungry. He also exhorted the members to refrain from all kinds of un-Islamic rituals. The initiative was very successful. Alhmado-lillah

A prophecy fulfilled

A famous revelation of the Promised Messiah (AS) is: "Kings would seek blessings from your garments." This prophecy was first fulfilled during the time of the Third Caliphate in the person of Sir Singhate who was elected Governor General of Gambia, West Africa. Governor General holds the highest office in a state. Mr. Singhate, a devout Muslim, was previously president of all the Ahmadiyya branches in Gambia.

When he was elected to this prestigious office, he earnestly prayed for sometime. Then he informed Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih III that he wanted to obtain blessings from the garments of the Promised Messiah (AS), therefore could a piece of the garment be sent to him? Accordingly a piece of the clothing was sent to him from Rabwah that was a source of immense joy to him. In this manner the revelation of the Promised Messiah (AS) was fulfilled for the first time during the reign of the Third Caliph.

Waqfe Arzi (Short Term Dedication)

On March 12th, 1966 Hudhoor introduced the Waqfe Arzi project. The purpose of this project is to promote the learning and teaching of the Holy Quran as well as imparting religious knowledge to local members. At their own expense under Waqfe Arzi, thousands of Ahmadis are teaching Quran to the members, exhorting them to do good deeds and shun evil. The net result of this activity is that members of the Community are receiving religious education and moral training, which in turn is strengthening their character. The minimum period required for Short Term Dedication is two weeks at a designated place.

Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Third appealed to Ahmadi young boys and girls to raise at least Rs. 50,000 for Waqfe Jadid. Children responded to this appeal with great fervor.

By entrusting this initiative to Ahmadi children, The Caliph of the Age had presented them the opportunity to earn reward from Allah. We earnestly hope that children will continue to contribute generously toward this project.

Fazle Umar Foundation

Every initiative put forth by Khalifat al-Masih the Third before the Community was overwhelmingly successful. Every initiative was a catalyst in the rapid expansion of the Movement. For example, Hudhoor made an appeal on December 21st, 1965 for the set up of Fazle Umar Foundation in memory of the Second Caliph. The project got off to a flying start and in a short span of time members contributed Rs. 3.4 million towards the capital of the foundation, which was incidentally over and above the obligatory donations. The purpose of this foundation is to enhance and carry on with the projects started by the Second Caliph.

A new building was constructed for the Khilafat Library in Rabwah, which was one of the projects envisioned by the Foundation. On October 3rd, 1971 Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih inaugurated the new complex, which now houses over 100,000 books, rare manuscripts, children section, administrative offices and science displays.

Other project carried out under the auspices of this Foundation are construction of a guesthouse, publication of Khutabate Mahmood (sermons of the Second Caliph (RA) in three volumes). Cash prizes were awarded to more than twenty scholars who have submitted their dissertations to the Foundation on a wide variety of topics.

Unity in the Jamaat

On the death of the Second Caliph (RA), the manner in which members of the Community were united on the blessed hand of Third Caliph is indeed a heavenly sign on the truthfulness of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and the institution of Caliphate.

His Main Achievements

The blessed period of the Third Caliphate lasted for seventeen years. Many of us have witnessed signs of God’s glory that were brought about by a variety of projects initiated by the Third Caliph.

Life sketch

Hadhrat Hafiz Mirza Nasir Ahmad, Khalifat al-Masih the Third was born on November 16th, 1909. From his early childhood, he was brought up by Hadhrat Amma Jan, raziallah anha. When he was merely thirteen years of age, he committed the entire Holy Quran to memory. He learnt Arabic and Urdu from Hadhrat Maulvi Sarwar Shah (RA). He was then admitted to Madrassa Ahmadiyya to further his religious education. After completing his course of study in theological and oriental studies (Maulvi Fazil) he graduated from Government College, Lahore. In 1934 he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Punjab.

He was married to Hadhrat Sayyeda Mansoora Begum, daughter of Hadhrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan (RA) and Hadhrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum (RA) in August 1934. On September 6th, 1934 Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Second sent him to England. Before his departure, Hudhoor gave him a long list of do's and don'ts while in the UK. One piece of advice was:

I am sending you to England so that you may fully grasp the Western point of view…. It is your responsibility to find ways for serving Islam, and how to counter the evil attacks. Get to know all the weapons Dajjal is using against Islam.

During his stay at the Oxford University he earned the Master of Arts degree. In his free time he busied himself spreading the word. Also he started the publication of a magazine al-Islam. In November 1938 he returned to India after completing his education with flying colors.

On his return home he was appointed lecturer at Jamia Ahmadiyya (Theological College), becoming its principal in 1939. From February 1939 to October 1949 he was president of the Majlis Khuddam al-Ahmadiyya, and vice-president until 1954 because Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Second was himself the president during this critical period. During his tenure the Majlis progressed by leaps and bounds.

From May 1944 to November 1965 he was principal of Taleem al-Islam College until his election as the Third Caliph. At the time of partition he stayed in Qadian but immigrated to Pakistan on November 16th, 1947.

During the anti-Ahmadiyya riots in Pakistan in 1953, he was detained under the Martial Law regulations. He suffered many hardships during his incarceration. He was set free on May 28th, 1953. While he was President of Ansar Allah in 1954, he infused a new life into the organization. In May 1955 he became Executive Director of Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya. He carried out the arduous responsibilities of Executive Director diligently, remaining in this position until his election as the Caliph ten year later.

On November 8th, 1965 he assumed the exalted position of the Third Caliph of the Promised Messiah. Thus was fulfilled the glad tiding, which Hadhrat Musleh Mauood (RA) had received from God Almighty. He had announced on September 26th, 1909:

Allah has given me the glad tiding that I will be blessed with a son who will be a Nasir-e-Deen (helper of faith). He will be committed to serving Islam. (History of Ahmadiyyat, Urdu, Vol 4, page 320)

Dear Children, the dawn of the Third Caliphate also brought tremendous success to the Movement and was indeed a source of blessing by the choicest favors of God Almighty. Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Third was born not only in fulfillment of a glad tiding but his reign of Caliphate had been prophesized thousands of years before. It was prophesied in the Talmud:

"It is also said that He (The Messiah) shall die and his Kingdom descend to his son and the Grandson" (Talmud by Joseph Barclay, chapter V, page 37, 1878, London)

Thus this prophecy was literally fulfilled by the establishment of the third Caliphate.

Caliphate of Hadhrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad

Hadhrat Khalifa al-Masih the Second had established a selection committee as well as rules for the election of a Caliph during his lifetime. This was done in consultation with representative of various Jamaats comprising of the Majlis Mushawarat (Advisory Committee). Accordingly on the demise of the Second Caliph on 8th November 1965 at 7.30pm after Isha prayers at Masjid Mubarak, Rabwah, a meeting of Majlise Intikhab (the Electoral College) was held under the chairmanship of Hadhrat Mirza Aziz Ahmad, Executive Director, Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya.First, all the members of the Electoral College pledged their allegiance to the institution of Caliphate according to the pre-established rules. Then votes were cast & Hadhrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad, eldest son of Hadhrat Khalifa al-Masih the Second was elected as the new Caliph by a majority vote. All the members of the committee entered afresh into covenant of allegiance on his blessed hand. He made a brief address, and then all those who were outside of the Mubarak mosque (numbering well over 5000) took the oath of allegiance. Thus the Community was once again united at his hand.

CHAPTER 4

Caliphate of Hadhrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad

Questions Chapter 3

1. When & where was the Second Caliph (RA) born?
2. What does 'Al-Musleh Mauood' mean?
3. What was the name of his mother?
4. Who was the first missionary sent to USA? When did he arrive?
5. How is Sadr Anjuman organized?
6. What is the height of Minaret al-Masih? which mosque is it located in?
7. What is the purpose of Majlise Mashawarat?
8. What is the purpose of Dar al-Qadha?
9. What is the name of lecture Hudhoor delivered in London in 1924.
10. What was the purpose of Kashmir Committee?
11. Why did we emigrate from Qadian?
12. What is the name of town founded by Hudhoor in 1948?
13. Where is Hadhrat Amma Jan buried?
14. When was Khilafat Jubilee celebrated? Where?
15. What is Liwai Ahmadiyyat? What is its length?
16. How many people took part in the Jalsa Salana of 1946?
17. What is the title of Hudhoor's Urdu translation of the Holy Quran?
18. What is the purpose of Waqfe Jadid?
19. When did Prophet Muhammad (SAS) immigrate to Medina?
20. When did the Second Caliph pass away? Where is he buried?
21. Can you name two books of the Second Caliph?
22. Give name of one of his brother?
23. What is Tafseere Kabir?
24. What is the name of calendar devised by the Second Caliph?
25. How many times did Hudhoor travel to Europe?

Answers Chapter 3

1. 1889, Qadian
2. This is a prophecy of the Promised Messiah (AS), its meanings is The Promised Reformer.
3. Hadhrat Amma Jan Sayyeda Nusrat Jahan (RA)
4. Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq, he arrived in the US in 1920
5. Into various departments called Nazarat
6. 105 feet, it is located in Masjid Aqsa, Qadian
7. This is the Advisory Committee that advises the Caliph on vital community matters.
8. This is department of Justice that resolves civil disputes between members.
9. Ahmadiyyat or the True Islam
10. To help Kashmiri Muslims gain freedom.
11. Because the country was divided into two independent states.
12. Rabwah
13. Rabwah
14. 1939, in Qadian
15. It is flag of Ahmdiyyat, it is 18 feet long
16. 33,000
17. Tafseere Saghir
18. Moral training of members in the rural areas.
19. 622 AD
20. 1965, he was buried in Rabwah.
21. Invitation to Ahmadiyyat. Introduction to the study of the Holy Quran
22. Hadhrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (RA)
23. This is the larger commentary of the Holy Quran.
24. Hijri Shamsi Calendar
25. Twice

Al-Fazl Newspaper

One of the remarkable achievements of Hudhoor is the bringing out of the newspaper al-Fazl. The first issue came out on June 18th, 1913 from Qadian. Hudhoor himself was the editor. Initially it was a weekly, later it was published every three days. Finally On March 8th, 1935 it became a daily.

Up to the time of the partition in August 1947 it was regularly published from Qadian. In Pakistan it was published from Lahore up to 1954, and then from Rabwah 1955 onward.

This is the only official organ of the Movement that has regularly published all the sermons and sayings of all the Caliphs covering a period of more than eighty-six years. It has also served as a vehicle for the moral upbringing of members, preaching of Islam and preservation of history of the Movement. Ahmadi brothers and sisters scattered all over the globe stay in touch with each other through this eight page comprehensive newspaper.

Books of Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad

Some of his books are:

• Tafseere Kabeer (Larger Commentary of Holy Quran)
• Tafseere Saghir (Shorter Commentary of the Quran)
• Dawat al-Ameer (Invitation to the King)
• Tuhfat al-Malook (A Gift to the Kings)
• Haqiqat al-Nabuwat (The truth about Prophethood)
• Sayre Roohani (The Spiritual Stroll)
• Inqalabe Haqeeqee (The True Revolution)
• Fazaele al-Quran (The Excellences of the Quran)
• Payghame Ahmadiyyat (The Message of Ahmadiyat)
• Kalame Mahmood (Collection of Urdu poetry)
• Ahmadiyyat yanee Haqeeqee Islam (Ahmadiyyat or the True Islam)
• Hindostan kay siyasee Masayel ka Hal (Solution to the political problems of India)
• Hasti Bari Tala (The Existence of God)
• Malaeykat al-Allah (The Angels of God)
• Islam ka Iqtisadi Nazam (The Economic System of Islam)

In English his popular books are: Introduction to the study of the Holy Quran & Invitation to Ahmadiyyat.

Miscellaneous

During the blessed reign of the Second Caliph that lasted over fifty years, numerous scholars and elders of the Jamaat had the honor of serving the Community with distinction. In order to be fully familiar with the history of the Movement, it is crucial to know their life story as well. Some of these elders are listed below:

Hadhrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad: M.A. (razillah anho): He was the second son of Promised Messiah (AS), and younger brother of Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Second. He was given the honorific title of 'Qamaral Anbiya' in one of the Hadhrat Ahmad's revelations. He was a skilled writer and an outstanding author. He penned several scholarly works: Seerat Khatam al-Nabiyyen (Life of Prophet Muhammad, s.a.s.), Seeart al-Mahdi (Life of Imam Mahdi), Silsila Ahmdiyya (The Ahmadiyya Movement), Tableghe Hidayat (Guide to Preaching), and Hamara Khuda (Our God).

He had a special talent for handling organizational matters and solving complex problems. For this reason he was a lifetime advisor of Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih II. He devoted his life to the service of the Jamaat. His affection and deep concern for every member of the Community was admirable. He passed away on September 2nd, 1963.

Hadhrat Mirza Sharif Ahmad, raziallah anho: He was the third son of the Promised Messiah (AS). He too was born in fulfillment of a glad tiding given to Hadhrat Ahmad (AS). He epitomized righteousness and generosity. He was the youngest brother of the Second Caliph (RA). He devoted his life for the service of the Community. He passed away on December 26, 1961.

Hadhrat Dr. Mufti Muhammad Sadiq, raziallah anho: He was among the elder companions of the Promised Messiah (AS) who bore an intense love for their holy master. He had a special talent for preaching Islam to the Christians. He edited the Badr newspaper.

He had the honor of preaching Islam in the UK and founded the Jamaat in the USA in 1921 during the blessed Caliphate of Hadhrat Al-Musleh Mauood. He learnt Hebrew and authored a primer. His famous book ‘Zikre Habib’ is on the life of Hadhrat Ahmad (AS).

He corresponded with famous Russian writer Count Leo Tolstoy and sent him a photograph of the Promised Messiah (AS), a copy of Review of Religions and picture of the Jesus tomb in Kashmir. Tolstoy (1828-1910) was much impressed and expressed his sentiments of joy in his reply of June 5th, 1903. He passed away in Rabwah on January 13, 1957.

Hadhrat Maulvi Sher Ali, raziallah anho: He was an extremely pious, selfless and down to earth person. He was also an exceptionally good writer. He translated the Holy Quran into English during his stay in England in 1936. Whenever Hudhoor traveled he was appointed acting Ameer (second in command) in his absence. In a revelation of Hadhrat Ahmad (AS) he was referred to as an angel, indeed in his life he was practically an angel. He was the first president of Ansar Allah organization. He breathed his last in Lahore on November 13th, 1947 at the age of 72.

Hadhrat Dr. Mir Muhammad Isameel, raziallah anho: He was a brother of Hadhrat Amman Jan and maternal uncle of the Second Caliph. Hadhrat Meryam Siddiqa was his daughter. He was a very pious, & a noble person who was enveloped in saintliness. An outstanding writer and a poet his poetry was very popular in the Community. He passed away at Qadian in 1947.

Hadhrat Sayyed Mir Muhammad Ishaq, raziallah anho: He was a brother of Hadhrat Amma Jan (RA) and younger maternal uncle of the Second Caliph. He was a great scholar, an orator, and an accomplished debater. He looked after the needy and the orphans of the Community. His lectures on the science of Hadith were full of wisdom and very popular. He made an Urdu translation of the Holy Quran. As an expert in the comparative study of religions, he authored close to twenty books on Hinduism and Christianity.

He was an able administrator who discharged the duties of Director of Annual Conference and Director of Dar al-Ziyafat (Community Canteen) competently for a long time. He passed away in 1944.

Hadhrat Maulvi Sayyed Muhamad Sarwar Shah, raziallah anho: He was a learned divine of the Community. He was principal of Jamia Ahmadiyya (theological college) and a revered teacher of Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Second. In Hudhoor's absence he used to lead the Prayer services (Salat) in Mubarak Mosque, Qadian.

Hadhrat Hafez Raushan Ali, raziallah anho: He was one of the eminent scholars of the Movement. He used to recite the Holy Quran in a melodious voice. Two of his famous students were Maulana J.D. Shams and Maulana Abul Atta. He accompanied Hudhoor in his travel to Europe in 1924. He died in 1929.

Hadhrat Maulana Abdur Raheem Nayyar, raziallah anho: He was a companion of the Promised Messiah (AS). He was one of the pioneers of Ahmadiyyat or true Islam in West Africa. Thousands of people accepted Ahmadiyyat through his strenuous efforts. His speaking style held the audience in awe.

Hadhrat Maulana Ghulam Rasool Rajekee, raziallah anho: One of the spiritual personage, top-notch speaker, and divine of the Movement. He was born in 1879 and took the Baiat at the hand of the Promised Messiah (AS) in 1899. He had a special communion with Allah the Exalted, he was very famous by virtue of his supplications. God Almighty granted his supplications by way of frequent revelations and visions. He did tremendous amount of preaching work in every nook and corner of the Indian sub-continent.

His autobiography in Urdu ‘Hayate Qudsi’ is a must for readers of inspirational books. He composed poetry in Urdu, Punjabi, Arabic, and Persian. He died on December 15th, 1963. A mosque is named after him in Rabwah.

Hadhrat Maulana Jalal al-Din Shamas: The honorable Maulana was one of the brilliant scholars, successful preacher and fiery orator of the Movement. He was engaged in missionary work for several years in the Middle East and the UK. On his return he held important portfolios of the Movement. During the long illness of the Second Caliph he led the daily Prayer services and delivered Friday sermons. For his glorious services to the cause of the Movement, Hudhoor honored him with the title ‘Khalde Ahmadiyyat’. He died on October 13th, 1966 at Rabwah.

Hadhrat Dr. Hashmat Allah Khan, raziallah anho: He was a personal physician of Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Second (RA). He discharged this responsibility with total dedication. Day or night he was at Hudhoor's beck and call. He was also ever ready to serve the family of the Promised Messiah (AS). He was enthralled by the rare beauty of the Holy Quran. He accompanied the Second Caliph in his two travels to Europe. He had an intense fear of Allah and a strong religious conviction. He died on April 13th, 1967.

Besides these elders, here is a list of those fortunate Ahmadis who were Directors of various departments of the Movement.

1. Hadhrat Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sial, MA.
2. Hadhrat Maulvi Abdul Mughni Khan
3. Hadhrat Maulvi Abdur Raheem Dard, MA.
4. Hadhrat Sayyed Zain al-Abedeen Waliy Allah Shah
5. Hadhrat Khan Sahib Maulvi Farzand Ali

His Offspring

God Almighty vouchsafed the following revelation to Hadhrat Ahmad, peace be on him.

“You will have a large family. I will multiply your offspring and bless them abundantly”

In fulfillment of this prophecy, God Almighty literally gave him a large family as well as multiplied his offspring. This prophecy was particularly fulfilled through Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Second as God blessed him with many offspring who were genuine servants of faith.

Many of Hudhoor's sons have held positions of great responsibility and have served the Jamaat in a remarkable manner. May Allah be their guardian and give them long lives. Ameen. His eldest son was Hadhrat Hafiz Mirza Nasir Ahmad (Khalifatul Masih III), may Allah have mercy on him. Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (Khalifatul Masih IV), may Allah have mercy on him, was also one of his talented son.

His Illness & demise

Hudhoor felt much better after his return from Europe. Once again he resumed leading the five daily Salat (Prayer services) in the mosque, delivering Friday sermons, and took over all the responsibilities of the office of the Caliphate. Yet he had not fully recovered from his ailment. In this precarious state of health he started the monumental task of writing his shorter commentary of the Holy Quran in Urdu, Tafseere Saghir. Long hours of grueling intellectual work resulted in his serious sickness for a second time in 1958.

All the best medical treatment was provided for. The most capable physicians inside and outside of the country were consulted, but his illness did not abate. He became weaker as time went by. Finally the moment arrived which every faithful shudders to think of. He breathed his last during the night on November 8th, 1965 at 2.20 am in Rabwah. He was 77 years of age when he met his beloved Lord and Creator. May his soul rest in peace.

inna lillahe wa inna elhay rajeaoon
We are from Allah, and indeed to Him we return.

It is rather impossible to comprehend the numbing shock every Ahmadi had on Hudhoor's demise. A believer however must wholly submit before the will of God Almighty. It is the Divine law who ever comes into this world, must eventually depart from it. One day Hudhoor also had to depart from this world and certainly he departed according to the will of Almighty Allah.

Next day November 9th at 4.30pm Hadhrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad, Khalifat al-Masih the Third led the funeral prayer. Almost 50,000 faithful, who had converged upon Rabwah from various places of Pakistan, joined in the funeral prayer. Before the funeral prayer every member paid his last respects. Later he was laid to rest in Bahishti Maqbara next to Hadhrat Amma Jan’s final resting-place.

Last advice to the Community

In view of his deteriorating health, Hudhoor dictated several messages addressed to the Jamaat as a sort of last testament. It is crucial to ponder over his last Will. Children should read his last advice to the members carefully, better still memorize it and act upon it accordingly. Below is only one message, which he dictated in August 1947.

"May God be your protector and a helper and keep you from faltering. May the standard of the Jamaat always fly high. Let the voice of Islam be not reduced to a whisper. May the holy name of Allah not fade away. Study the Quran and Hadeeth, teach it to others, and act upon it yourselves. Exhort others to follow these teachings also. May there always be people among you who will devote their lives for Islam. Long live Khalifat and may there be believers among you who are ready to give their lives for its maintenance. May the truth be your ornament, trust in Allah your beauty, & fear of Allah your garment. May God be with you and you be with Him. Ameen" (Al-Fazl -11 November 1965)

Hijri – Shamsi Calendar

The calendar used in the West is the Christian (Gregorian) calendar that is based on the solar movements, it started with the birth of Jesus Christ. On the other hand the Islamic (Hijri) calendar uses lunar movements and started with the emigration (Hijrah) of Prophet Muhammad (SAS) from Mecca to Medina, which occurred on July 16th, 622.

After a lot of research and calculations a new calendar was worked out. Under the direct supervision of Hudhoor the new Hijri-Shamsi calendar was adopted in 1940, which is indeed one of his brilliant achievements.

Although the calendar is based on solar calculations, the starting point in time is the migration of Prophet of Islam instead of Jesus Christ's day of birth. According to this method 2000 AD translates into 1379 Hijri-Shamsi i.e. 1379 years have passed since the emigration of Prophet Muhammad, peace & blessings of Allah be on him, from Mecca to Medina.

Each month in the calendar is named after an important event that occurred in the history of Islam. The time frame in these months is the same as in the months of a Christian calendar. (Note: A lunar month is shorter by a couple of days than the solar month).

1. Sulh (peace) January
2. Tabligh (preaching) February
3. Aman (protection) March
4. Shahadat (martyrdom) April
5. Hijrat (migration) May
6. Ehsan (benevolence) June
7. Wafa (loyalty) July
8. Zahoor (appearance) August
9. Ikha (brotherhood) September
10. Tabook (battle of Tabook) October
11. Nabuwat (prophethood) Novemebr
12. Fatah (victory) December

Waqfe Jadeed

On December 27th, 1957 The Khalifat al-Masih started the blessed project called The New Dedication (Tehrike Waqfe Jadeed). The primary objective of this project was to look after the spiritual upbringing of the members living in the rural communities. The secondary objective was to bring the message of Islam to Hindu population of the country.Hudhoor planned to create a network of Mualimeen who should be wholly devoted to the upbringing of the members throughout the length and breadth of Pakistan.

On February 1st, 1958 fourteen such Mualimeen were dispatched to selected rural areas of the country. Now the number has reached into thousands by the grace and mercy of God Almighty. Hudhoor asked the members to donate six rupees each towards this project. However many members donated their farmland for this purpose. Hudhoor appointed Sahibzada Mirza Tahir Ahmad its first Director (Nazim Irshad).Up to 1986 the project was intended mainly for the rural communities of Pakistan. However Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Fourth broadened the scope of this project and now all the countries of the world are within the scope of this plan. Hudhoor issued a directive in 1984 whereby there is no prescribed amount of donation for this blessed initiative; members can donate as much as they want. Children can make financial contributions as well.By the grace of God Almighty the scheme is operating very successfully. Lot of useful & productive work is carried out in the vast rural areas.

Waqfe Jadid was the last initiative Hudhoor put forth before the Community. A short while later his illness took a grave turn, and by virtue of his protracted illness he could not guide the Community in an appropriate manner.

English translation of the Quran

One of the greatest achievement of Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Second is the English translation and the commentary of the Holy Quran. He interpreted the holy text in such a scholarly manner that it has no match in the modern world.

The English translation and the commentary were printed under his direct supervision. His Urdu translation of the Quran is idiomatic, and easy to understand. It has been printed with brief explanatory notes under the title Tafseere Saghir. A large portion of the Noble Quran with detailed commentary has been printed in Urdu in several parts under the title Tafseer Kabir.

These two commentaries of the Holy Quran are of such a high caliber that scholars both Muslim and non-Muslim have written rave reviews. They have acknowledged that the significance of religion, the Holy Quran and the true features of Islam have all been splendidly explained in these commentaries. No other book even comes close to this.

Many people were converted to Ahmadiyyat the true Islam after their deep study. These commentaries help a lot in fully comprehending the true beauties of the Quran and the wide array of spiritual matters discussed and explained in it. An enjoyable and inspiring reading compels the reader to pray for the author Hadhrat Al-Musleh Mauood (RA). May Allah give him the highest station in paradise and shower His choicest blessings on him, Ameen. All of us will be eternally indebted to him for writing these scholarly commentaries.

Attempt on his life

On March 10th, 1954 Hudhoor had a narrow escape. He was leading the Asr Prayer service in the Mubarak mosque in Rabwah when a misguided opponent attacked him from behind with a dagger. He was fatally wounded but was saved by a hair's breadth. God Almighty saved his life miraculously. He sustained a deep wound on the back of his neck that needed treatment for a long time. The assailant was apprehended, handed over to the police, put on trial, and imprisoned.

In 1955 Hudhoor suffered from severe mental fatigue and became extremely ill. He recovered after a while but it was decided in consultation with members of the Jamaat that he should travel to Europe for medical treatment. On March 23rd, 1955 he traveled to Europe with his family along with several prominent members of the Community.

Despite the fact that he was indisposed, he made use of every opportunity to spread the message of Islam during his stay in Europe. As per his directive a conference of all the missionaries stationed in Europe was called. During the course of the conference several proposals were considered to maximize the preaching activity. Hudhoor visited several mission houses and gave instructions for future projects. After consultation and due care provided by the expert European physicians, Hudhoor returned home on September 25th, 1955.

Annual Conference

The annual conference of Ahmadiyya Movement is also one of the splendid miracles of God Almighty. The Promised Messiah (AS) established the institution of Jalsa Salana. The first conference was held in 1891, seventy-five members attended it. The last gathering that took place in December 1907 during the lifetime of Hadhrat Ahmad (AS), attracted more than two thousand Ahmadis. The last Conference during the Caliphate of Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the First was held in 1913, more than three thousand Ahmadis participated in it.During the Caliphate of the Second Caliph attendance also increased rapidly. The number of participants in 1932 was twenty thousand. The last annual conference held in Qadian just before the immigration to Pakistan was in December 1946. It had an attendance of 39,000 people.The last annual conference that was held in Rabwah in 1983 attracted more than 200,000 participants. In July 2000 more than 22,000 Ahmadis took part in the UK Jalsa Salana. The Community is on the march by the sheer grace of God Almighty. Visualize for a moment the first Jalsa attended by 75 members in Qadian to the UK Jalsa attended by 22,000 faithful.

Khalifat Silver Jubilee

Hudhoor was elected to the exalted position of the Caliph in 1914. In 1939 he completed twenty-five years of his blessed Caliphate. The honorable Chaudhry Muhammad Zafrulla Khan proposed that on this joyful occasion members should, as a token of gratitude to God Almighty, collect a large sum and present it to Hudhoor in a special ceremony. A request should be made to Hudhoor to utilize this collection in the service of Islam, or as he deems proper.

Accordingly this epoch-making ceremony took place on the occasion of the Annual Conference of December 1939 and is referred to as Silver Jubilee of the Caliphate. The celebration consisted of speeches by the scholars, a march to the site of the Conference, the illumination of Minaret al-Masih. A cheque in the amount of Rs. 270,000 was presented to Hudhoor who stated that the collection would be used on wide-ranging religious projects.The Liwai Ahmadiyyat (Standard of Ahmadiyyat) was adopted and hoisted for the first time by Hudhoor on December 28th, 1939. The flag is black in color, in the middle of the flag is Minaret al-Masih, and on upper two corners are the Crescent and the full Moon in white. The flag is 18 feet long and 9 feet wide.

Conspiracies against Jamaat

During the Caliphate of Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Second (RA) many conspiracies were hatched against the Community. Some of these plots were so scary that in all likelihood Jamaat could have been wiped off the face of the earth, God forbid. Hudhoor overcame every obstacle with amazing courage. He foretold that every plot would fail and that the caravan of Ahmadiyyat would always march forward. Every prediction made by Hudhoor came true. With the grace & mercy of Allah every plot failed & the caravan of Ahmadiyya Jamaat confidently moved forward. Praise & glory be to the Lord.

Some of these sinister plots are briefly described hereunder:

1. As has been discussed the very first problem Hudhoor had to tackle was the internal dissension. Hudhoor out maneuvered the dissenters with wisdom and prayers.

2. From time to time many hypocrites left the Community and vainly tried to create dissension among the members. For instance dissension of stone masons took place in 1927. Then in 1937 Shaikh Abdur Rahman Misri, former principal of Madrassa Ahmadiyya created rift in the Community. In 1956 some people tried to create discord by enlisting the family members of the First Caliph. However none of them succeeded in their nefarious designs.

3. In 1934 members of the Ahrar Party plotted to create misunderstandings among Muslims about the Jamaat. Some top bureaucrats of the British administration including the Governor of Punjab sided with the Ahrar Party. It appeared as though the entire population of the country was supporting the Ahrars. They held political rallies in Qadian and boasted to wipe out the Jamaat very soon. Right at this time when the mischief was in its full steam, Hudhoor made the following announcement in one of his sermons:

   “The ground is slipping from under the feet of the enemy. I can foresee their imminent defeat.” (Farooq, 21st November 1934)

   Soon after this announcement, God Almighty changed the circumstances in such a way that the Ahrars lost face among the Muslims. Everyone realized the reality of the hollow slogans. They cooked their own goose by taking on the Jamaat. Everything the beloved man of God had predicted came true.

4. The enemies of the Jamaat in Pakistan cooked up another deadly plot in 1953. This time the situation was much more dangerous than the one in 1934. They raised a storm of hatred against the Ahmadi community in the entire country by holding political rallies, street marches, and by printing inflammatory articles in the newspapers.

   Members of the Jamaat were mercilessly beaten in many towns, some were martyred, homes and businesses were robbed, and mosques set on fire. The ruling party in the province of Punjab also joined hands with the militants. There were widespread disturbances in all the major cities of Pakistan.

   The Community was faced with life and death situation. When the situation reached the critical point, Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih announced that:

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

   Then suddenly out of the blue the situation changed so dramatically that this mischief also fizzled out. Those who were the ringleaders of the mischief were humiliated. Everyone is a witness that God Almighty came to the rescue of the Jamaat with His grace. Those who had intended to wipe out the Jamaat were themselves wiped out from the face of the earth.

5. In 1934 Hudhoor unveiled a plan for the purpose of fighting off the Ahrar Party. The project was named Tahrike Jadid (The New Initiative) in which Hudhoor put forth 19 demands before the members.

   Some of these are: (1) Ahmadi youth should volunteer themselves for missionary work (2) Members should donate money toward a special fund that will be used for propagation in foreign countries. This fund is called Chanda Tehrike Jadid. (3) Members should adopt a simple mode of life like eat one meal a day, wear simple clothing, avoid movie theatres, and get a job. The real intent behind this initiative was to reduce expenses and donate more toward the fund. (4) Ahmadi children should get professional education like medicine, engineering etc.

This initiative proved very fruitful. Scores of missions have been established in many countries of the world, resulting in thousands of people accepting Islam. The Holy Quran has been translated into numerous languages. It set in motion a wave of sacrifice and sincerity. Many youths offered to devote their lives for the sake of religion. Gradually this fund shaped itself into a permanent fund. The target for this fund was initially set at 23,500 rupees, however the annual budget soon reached a whopping 3.6 million rupees.

Every member of the Community donates toward this fund once a year with a spirit of sacrifice. The vast network of mission houses operating around the globe is due mainly to this fund. Details about this project have been given in previous pages under the heading Propagation of Islam.

Demise of Hadhrat Amma Jan

During the night of April 20th, 1952 Hadhrat Amma Jan, Sayyeda Nusrat Jahan Begum sahiba (RA) passed away in Rabwah at the age of 86.

Inna lillah wa inna elahay rajeoon
We are from Allah, and indeed, to Him we return.

On April 22nd, 1952 Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Second (RA), led the funeral prayer. She was buried in the celestial graveyard in Rabwah.

Hadhrat Amma Jan, may Allah be pleased with her, was the second wife of the Promised Messiah (AS) and dearly loved mother of Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Second. Her marriage to Hadhrat Ahmad (AS) took place according to a special glad tiding. God Almighty blessed her with offspring who were destined to propagate the message of Islam among all the nations of the world and bring extraordinary prosperity to the Movement.She was born at Dehli in 1865 into the noble family of Sadat. Hadhrat Mir Nasir Nawab (RA) was her father and Hadhrat Sayyed Begum sahiba was her mother. Her marriage to Promised Messiah (AS) took place in 1884.

Hadhrat Amma Jan (RA) was a profoundly virtuous and revered lady. She believed in Islam and Ahmadiyyat with all her heart & soul. The most shining aspects of her character were Divine worship, generosity, and hospitality, helping the needy, cleanliness, perseverance, and complete faith in God under all circumstances. She brought up all of her children the best way. She received every member of the Community with such love and sympathy that every one thought they were related to her.

Hadhrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (RA) recorded her voice in a US made recording machine on February 7th, 1952. The room she died in is still standing in Rabwah. May Allah give her a lofty station in paradise. May Allah enable us to follow in her footsteps. Ameen.

Establishment of Rabwah

Hudhoor established the fabulous town of Rabwah soon after the creation of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It was not very long before Hudhoor managed to lease a parcel of land from the government. On September 20th, 1948 the foundation stone was laid for the new town of Rabwah, the future World Headquarters of the Movement. This was indeed one of his remarkable achievements. Hudhoor moved from Lahore to his permanent residence in Rabwah on September 19th, 1949. Under the dynamic leadership of Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih most of the institutions of the Movement were re-established in Rabwah in a relatively short period of time.A large number of Ahmadis had arrived in Pakistan after losing their relatives, valuables, properties, and jobs in the appalling holocaust of 1947. They were scattered all over the newly born state. Millions of Muslims emigrated from India, they also had their community based organizations, however none could establish a flourishing town like this one. The establishment of Rabwah once again knitted together all the members of the Community living in far off places of the country.

Migration from Qadian

Pakistan was created in 1947 amid dangerous riots, death and mayhem all over the Indian sub-continent. Qadian was located in district Gurdaspur that was made to become part of India. Hudhoor (RA) worked assiduously to plan the safe emigration of members from Qadian to Pakistan.

Millions of Muslim men, women, and children were robbed and massacred during the mass exodus. However a good majority of the Ahmadiyya Community reached Pakistan in a safe and organized manner under the farsighted leadership of their beloved Imam.

Hudhoor also succeeded in keeping a sufficient number of Ahmadis (313 dervishes) in Qadian to watch over the holy sites. The first Ameer in Qadian was the late Hadhrat Maulvi Abdur Rahman. To this day a large number of dervishes including Hudhoor's son, Sahibzada Mirza Waseem Ahmad, continue to live there. In Qadian the weekly newspaper Badr is published, Jalsa Salana is held once a year, and the head offices of Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya India are also located there.

Advice for Muslims in India

Since Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Second (RA) was the Spiritual Leader of a religious organization he was reluctant to indulge in the political affairs of the country. But owing to his immense love for the Muslims of India, and since politics exerted strong influence on the general welfare of the Muslims, he felt that it was incumbent on him to guide the Muslims on all sensitive and vital issues. Here are some examples.

1. In 1921 some Muslim leaders started the Migration Movement urging Muslims to immigrate to Afghanistan because the Englishmen who were unbelievers ruled India. The Khalifat al-Masih foretold that this movement would fail and its failure would have negative repercussions on the Muslims of India. The movement failed as predicted by him. Those who did emigrate from India were dejected & forced to return home after incurring huge losses.

2. Hindu scholars started to write such biographical works that vilified the Holy Prophet of Islam (SAS). It offended Muslims deeply. Riots and clashes ensued between Hindus & Muslims at several places. Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih II suggested to the government that a law be enacted protecting the honor of all the founders of principal faiths. His strenuous efforts in this respect bore fruit and a law was passed protecting the honor of all religious founders.

3. Hindus overshadowed all walks of life in India, causing Muslims harm in many ways. On top of that Muslims were divided, they could not put up a united front against the Hindu majority. Hudhoor tried to unite the Muslims by suggesting that despite various religious beliefs, any person who calls himself a Muslim should be considered a Muslim. So let all Muslims strive hard to unite and work together.

4. In 1928 Hudhoor (RA) proposed to conduct public lectures on the life of Holy Prophet of Islam (SAS). He proposed that once a year a series of public meetings be held throughout India on a given date inviting Muslims and decent non-Muslims to speak on the life of the Apostle of Allah (SAS). The first public meeting (Yom Seerat al-Nabi) was held on June 20th, 1928. The initiative was a big success. It removed misunderstandings about Islam, many non-Muslims started to show respect for the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace & blessings of Allah be on him.

5. From 1928 to 1931 the British government suggested making amendments to the Indian Act so as to get the Indian citizens involved in the governing process. In this respect many conferences took place in which Hindu as well as Muslim representatives were consulted. Hudhoor wrote several booklets in order to protect the rights of Muslims i.e The Solutions to the Political Problems of India. Muslim political figures including Sir Zafrulla Khan benefited profoundly from these proposals. In this way Muslims of India were on the whole protected from many inherent pitfalls.

6. A large majority of the population in Kashmir is Muslim. A Hindu Maharajah who was a tyrant suppressed the rights of Muslims in Kashmir. Over time these atrocities became unbearable. Hudhoor was deeply touched by the plight of Kashmiri Muslims & decided to help them. Because of his sustained efforts Kashmiri Muslims were stirred into action and jumped headlong to fight for the political rights. At the time when Hudhoor was guiding them in their political struggle, prominent Muslims leaders of India formed All India Kashmir Committee. Hudhoor was elected its president on July 25th, 1931 with many leading Muslims including Sir Muhammad Iqbal its members.

   The committee won many battles under his vibrant leadership. The Maharajah was compelled to grant civil rights to Muslims which they had been deprived of previously. Distinguished Muslim leaders from Kashmir, like Shaikh Muhammad Abdullah frequently visited Qadian to seek political advice. They acknowledged orally as well as in writing that Hudhoor came to the rescue of Kashmiri Muslims when help was needed desperately.

   As you know, dear children, enemies of Ahmadiyyat are everywhere. These enemies had taken notice of the fact that Ahmadis were becoming popular among Muslim masses. This included some eminent Muslim leaders who were seeking advice from the Spiritual Head of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat. These leaders often followed his advice exactly as told. This situation made others mad with jealousy. They raised the theological issue of who is an Ahmadi and who is a non-Ahmadi among the members of the committee. They incited Muslims against the members of the Jamaat.

   Realizing their wickedness, Hudhoor handed in his resignation as President of the All India Kashmir Committee. Nevertheless he continued his relentless support for the cause of Kashmiri Muslims.

7. History bears ample testimony to the fact that Ahmadiyya Jamaat was at the forefront for the creation of Pakistan. When the British decided to partition the sub-continent into two independent states, Hudhoor made useful suggestions toward safeguarding the interests of Muslim community. In view of the disagreements amongst the Muslims of India, Qaide Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had taken up permanent residence in London. Through his representative in London Maulana A.R. Dard, Hudhoor urged Mr. Jinnah to return to India to lead the Muslims in their political struggle.

   In March 1933 Maulana Dard met Mr. Jinnah in his office in King's Bench Walk, London and invited him to the Mosque in order a give a talk on the "The Future of India". Maulana Dard succeeded in getting a promise from Mr. Jinnah to return to India and resume the leadership of Indian Muslims. Upon his return he started the movement for the creation of Pakistan by uniting the Muslims under the banner of All India Muslim League. By the grace of Allah Mr. Jinnah's efforts were blessed with astonishing success. Hudhoor gave moral, constitutional, and financially support to Mr Jinnah in carving out a homeland for the Muslims now called Pakistan.

Another Shaheed in Afghanistan

Hudhoor was still in London when a nineteen-year old Ahmadi was mercilessly martyred by stoning in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan. Hadhrat Maulvi Naimat Allah Khan was his name. In order to be spared of stoning it was suggested to him just before his martyrdom to renounce Ahmadiyyat. His reply was “I cannot let go of truth”.

When Hudhoor was informed of this heart-wrenching incident, he was beside himself with grief. However he expressed elation on the fact that another Ahmadi youth had presented such a remarkable example of courage and sacrifice. London newspapers and all the honest and peace loving people of the world condemned this barbaric atrocity.

First Journey to London

A huge exhibition known as ‘Wembley Exhibition’ was held in London in 1924. The organizers decided to hold a conference on this occasion inviting representatives of various religions to speak on the teachings of their respective faiths. Hudhoor also received an invitation to participate in this conference. After consultation with the Jamaat he decided to travel to London.

Hudhoor traveled by sea from Bombay with a delegation of twelve eminent Ahmadis. On the way to London the steamship made stops in Egypt, Syria and Palestine. Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan read Hudhoor's paper in the conference which was later published under the title “Ahmadiyyat or the True Islam”. Everyone appreciated Hudhoor's enlightening address.

While in London Hudhoor laid the foundation stone of the first Ahmadiyya Fazl mosque on October 19th, 1924. Eminent writers, newspaper, TV & radio reporters attended the ceremony. A British company made a motion picture of the event, the clips from this video were tele-casted by MTA in July 2000. The opening ceremony took place in 1926. The construction cost of the mosque was entirely born by members of the Lajna Ima-Allah.

This journey was of great significance from preaching point of view. Every country Hudhoor traveled through people expressed great interest in Ahmadiyyat. Although there was a bit of opposition, but overall it was a smashing success. Having successfully accomplished his objectives, Hudhoor arrived back home after four months.

Malkana Movement

In the province of UP, India there was a large section of Muslims who were known as Malkana Rajput. Hindu influence in their customs & beliefs was widespread to the extent that they worshiped idols despite the fact that they were Muslims. During 1922-23 the militant wing of the Hindu Arya Samaj devised a plan to reconvert these people to Hinduism. Consequently scores of Malkana Muslims reverted to Hinduism. As soon as Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Second came to know of this apostasy movement he immediately launched a counter campaign.

Thousands of Ahmadis offered themselves to do the missionary work for a period of three months. They traveled to Uttar Pradesh at their own expense and started the missionary work with great zeal. Hudhoor (RA) set up a network of Ahmadiyya missionaries whereby new batches of missionaries were dispatched replacing the outgoing ones. These missionaries of Islam rigorously worked there day and night. The movement of apostasy petered out in due course. Thousands of Muslims were saved from being converted to Hinduism. Of those who did convert, subsequently decided to join the fold of Islam.The movement spearheaded by Hudhoor was so successful that Muslims of India openly acknowledged the services rendered by Ahmadis to the cause of Islam.

Department of Justice

In order to solve the civil disputes between members of the Jamaat, Hudhoor introduced Darul Qaza (department of justice) in 1925. The judges of this department offer their judgements based on the ordinances of the Holy Quran, sayings and practice of the Apostle of Allah (SAS), and Islamic jurisprudence. As a consequence members do not necessarily have to take their cases before the civilian courts of the country.

Advisory Council

Hudhoor established the central consultative body (Majlis Mashawarat) of the Jamaat in 1922. Elected representative of various chapters of the Community gather at the Center once a year on the express orders of the Caliph and offer their consul and opinion on matters presented before them. The Khalifat al-Masih agrees with the counsel, if he deems appropriate. In this way all the members of the Jamaat have a chance to get involved in the affairs of the Community by offering their opinion.

Completion of The Messiah’s Minaret

As indicated before in this book, the Promised Messiah (AS) laid the foundation stone for the minaret of the Aqsa Mosque (Minaret al-Masih) on Friday March 13, 1903. However the construction work could not be completed due to financial difficulties.Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Second (RA) paid particular attention to this outstanding matter. The construction work started again in November 1914 that was amazingly completed in two years i.e. December 1916. The minaret is 105 feet in height, with 92 stairs. The marble used on the walls was brought from Ajmer Sahreef. A total of Rs. 5963 was spent on its construction. Names of 298 donors are engraved on the wall of the minaret.

In this manner the prophecy of the Holy Prophet of Islam, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, was literally fulfilled in which he had stated that the Promised Messiah would descend by the white minaret to the East of Damascus.

Upbringing of Members

Besides widespread preaching of Islam, Hudhoor was deeply concerned about the spiritual upbringing of members of the Jamaat. In this respect he took the following steps:

1. He initiated lectures on the exposition of the Holy Quran for Ahmadi men and women. These lectures were later published under the title Tafseere Kabir. This commentary of the Holy Book is of such a high caliber from an intellectual point of view that many non-Ahmadi scholars have expressed their unreserved admiration for it. Many people were converted to Ahmadiyyat after its perusal. The commentary also proved invaluable in the moral upbringing of the members.

   Also Hudhoor translated the Holy Quran into Urdu language. The translation is fluent, simple, idiomatic, and in an easy to understand language, it also included explanatory notes. It was first published under the title Tafseere Saghir in 1957. It was well received by one & all.

2. The second method employed for moral upbringing of the Jamaat was speeches and sermons by Hudhoor. These speeches were delivered on almost every theological topic with moral guidance in mind. These sermons were enlightening; they were definitely instrumental in the intellectual development of the members.

3. In 1919 Hudhoor decided to divide the Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya (Central Executive Directorate) into various departments like education, treasury. He also instituted the procedures for electing office bearers in various cities and hired inspectors to oversee their work. This resulted in effective and timely Community work being performed by the members in all the cities and towns of the country.

4. Hudhoor founded the organization Lajna Ima-Allah in 1922 for religious upbringing of the ladies. A magazine Misbah was introduced in 1926 solely for this organization. In 1928 Nusrat Girls High School was established and in 1951 Jamia Nusrat (Women’s College) started functioning in Rabwah. Ahmadi girls were thus enabled to get University education close to their homes. Religious instruction was also given in these schools.

   In 1938 Hudhoor established the organization Khuddam al-Ahmadiyya for youth. For young boys Atfal al-Ahmdiyya, and for young girls Nasirat al-Ahmadiyya. For those over forty years of age the organization of Ansar-Allah was established in 1940. These organizations played a vital role in the moral and educational training of the Jamaat; producing a cadre of volunteers who have served and are still serving the Community in a remarkable manner.

Propagation of Islam

As most of the children know, the sole purpose for which the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat was established is preaching and propagating the message of Islam. This was the first thing Hudhoor paid attention to after his election as Caliph. On the one hand he started afresh the translation of Holy Quran into English with explanatory notes in order to deliver the message of Islam to European nations. On the other hand he started the training of Muslim missionaries and had them posted in various countries. Later on this responsibility was handed over to Anjuman Tehrike Jadid (Department of Foreign Missions).

The first Ahmadiyya mission established under his Caliphate was in Mauritius. Hadhrat Soofie Ghulam Muhammad, the first missionary arrived there on June 15th, 1915. Hadhrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq (RA), a revered personage of the Jamaat and companion of the Promised Messiah (AS) arrived in Philadelphia, USA on February 15th, 1920 to preach Islam in the US.

Another respected companion Hadhrat Maulana Abdur Raheem Nayyar (RA) was sent to Nigeria in 1921. Through strenuous efforts of these honored elders of the Community many people accepted Islam and entered into the fold of divinely inspired Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat. By Divine grace, their labors were crowned with extraordinary success.

Upon their return new missionaries were dispatched to these countries. With the sheer grace of Allah the Exalted we now have the longest and well-established Ahmadiyya communities in these countries. In Africa we have scores of mosques and schools belonging to the Ahmadiyya Jamaat. Ahmadiyya Muslim missions started operating in the following countries as well:

• The Americas: USA, Trinidad, Guyana
• Europe: UK, Switzerland, Holland, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Norway, France, Italy, Bosnia, & Albania.
• West Africa: Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leon, Liberia, Gambia, Zambia, Ivory Coast, Togoland.
• East Africa: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzanya, Mauritius.

Besides the above countries, missions were established in South Africa, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Aden, Egypt, Kuwait, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Dubai, Fiji, Maynamar, Sri Lanka, Hong King, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, & Indonesia. In Indonesia our Jamaat has progressed in great strides. Missionaries were sent to the following countries and message of Islam was delivered: Iran, Jordan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Congo, Sicily, Romania, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Albania, Hungary, Poland, & Argentina.

Mosques: More than 30 mosques were constructed in East & West Africa, besides Washington, Hamburg, Frankfurt (Germany), Zurich (Switzerland), The Hague (Holland), London (UK), Denmark, Sweden. The structures of some these mosques were so massive it costed thousands of dollars on their construction.

Colleges & Schools: There were around 57 colleges or schools operating successfully in various countries.

Newspapers: There were 112 newspapers and magazines being published in various languages around the globe.

Translations of The Noble Quran: The Holy Quran was translated into English (1955), Dutch (1953), German (1954), Danish (1961), Indonesian, Malay, Russian, French, Swahili (1953), Lugandi, Hindi (1939), Urdu, & Gurmukhi (1939). Translations in another twelve languages were under review.

Significant events of his Caliphate

The blessed period of the Second Caliphate lasted over fifty-one years. It began with Hudhoor’s inauguration on March 14th, 1914 and ended on November 8th, 1965. During this long period Hudhoor carried out many marvelous projects for the propagation of Islam and the solidarity of Ahmadiya Muslim Community. These projects bore fruit in wonderful ways. It is not possible to enumerate all these projects, hence we will recount only principal events.

Election of the Second Caliph

As indicated before, the First Caliph passed away on March 13th, 1914. That was a defining moment in the history of the Jamaat. On the one hand members were struck with grief by the death of the First Caliph, on the other they were faced with deadly intrigues from opponents of the institution of the Caliphate.

This grave situation made every member of the Jamaat deeply concerned. The tense situation compelled one and all to pray earnestly for the safety of the Jamaat. After the Salat al-Asr (afternoon liturgical worship) the Second Caliph made an impassioned speech in the course of which he urged every member to implore Allah to lend forth His succor at this critical moment.

In a last ditch effort Hudhoor offered the concession that should the dissenters acknowledge the authority of the institution of Caliphate and give their word that should the majority of members elect one of them as the next Caliph, then that person would be accepted by all.

Maulvi Muhammad Ali sahib had prepared a flyer during the lifetime of the First Caliph that was widely distributed right after the latter's death. The dissenters had hoped that because of the misinformation they had disseminated, a good majority would agree with their stance in the dispute. They stuck to their guns. Finally, on March 14th, all the Ahmadis who had come from near and far gathered at the Noor Mosque after the Asr Prayer service. There were at least two thousand members.

Hadhrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan, raziallah anho, read out the Will of the First Caliph. It contained detailed counsel & instructions for the selection of his successor. As soon as the reading of the Will was over, everyone in the crowed abruptly shouted:

Hadhrat Mian Sahib, Hadhrat Mian Sahib
(Meaning Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad).

Hadhrat Maulvi Muhammad Ahsan Amrohi, one of the oldest and trusted companions of the Promised Messiah (AS) stood up and delivered a speech. After clarifying the need for the Caliphate, he stated that in his opinion Hadhrat Mirza Bashir al-Din Mahmud Ahmad was fully qualified to become the next Caliph of the Promised Messiah (AS). And therefore we should all take the covenant of allegiance at his hand. Shouts of confirmation came from all directions with members vying for the acceptance of their pledge of allegiance.

Maulvi Muhammad Ali, leader of the dissident group wanted to express his views but did not succeed when members told him that as he had renounced the institution of Caliphate, they were not obliged to listen to him.

Members were surging forward from all directions. It seemed like Allah’s angels were rounding up these ardent followers to take the covenant of allegiance. Hadhrat Mirza Bashir al-Din Mahmud Ahmad seemed a bit reluctant at first, but relented when members repeatedly urged him to take the Baiat. Those members who could not get close to Hudhoor, spread out their turbans and placed their hands on the back of brothers ahead of them while repeating the words of Baiat.

Afterwards there was a very long and emotionally charged entreaty, followed by a passionate address by Hudhoor. He stated in his address that he considered himself a humble person, but Almighty Allah in His infinite wisdom has placed onerous responsibility on his shoulders. Reposing his trust in Allah, he vowed to discharge his responsibilities in a befitting way. He made an impassioned plea to the members to unite and to assist him in upholding the banner of Ahmadiyyat aloft.

His speech brought instant calm in the hearts of the believers. Realizing that no one would listen to them, Maulvi Muhammad Ali and his associates grudgingly left the gathering. A few days later they departed for Lahore where they established their new organization. They spread the rumors that only a handful of people supported the new Caliph, but gradually conceded their failure. Finally they realized that a huge majority of the Jamaat had gathered under the banner of the Caliphate, that their strategy did not produce anticipated results. Praise the Lord.

Performs Pilgrimage

At the time of Promised Messiah’s death, he was nineteen years of age. Standing at the head of the bed where his father’s body rested he made a passionate speech which is indicative of his high resolve.

"If all others should leave the Jamaat of the Promised Messiah and I should be left alone, I will stand by the covenant of allegiance. The purpose for which Hadhrat Ahmad was sent to this world, I shall leave no stone unturned to fulfill that purpose."

The Second Caliph, raziallah anho, lived another fifty seven years after making the above pledge. Every day of his life bears testimony to the fact that he lived up to his high resolve.

A few years after Hadhrat Ahmad’s death, he wrote a booklet: Who can put out the Light of the Righteous? Commenting on this Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the First wrote to Maulvi Muhammad Ali: You and I have both written in refutation of the objections raised by our opponents against the Promised Messiah, but Mian Mahmood has outstripped both of us.

In 1911, under the auspices of the First Caliph he founded the organization Ansar Allah that turned out to be a valuable asset in the propagation of Islam. He went on a visit to Egypt and Saudi Arabia in 1912 during the course of which he performed Hajj (pilgrimage to the house of God in Mecca).

Next year he started the publication of a weekly newspaper Al-Fazl of which he was himself the editor. The first issue was published on June 19th, 1913, later it became a daily and has been the official organ of the Community since then. During the Caliphate of the First Caliph he went on a preaching tour of several Indian cities. Everyone benefited from his inspiring speeches.

Though he was an inexperienced youth at the time of his father's death, yet he was able to detect signs of dissent during the early years of the First Caliphate. One of his greatest feats is that he had the keen insight to foresee the looming danger of rift in the Community. The dissenters wanted to do away with the institution of Caliphate. Despite the fact that he faced severe opposition from many quarters, he deflected every move with shrewdness. This spared the Jamaat from many future discords.

The dissidents were learned and experienced members of the Jamaat, they considered Sadr Anjuman (Central Ahmadiyya Organization) their personal domain. In their meetings they referred to the Second Caliph as ‘Just a kid’, (an inexperienced youth). History nonetheless witnessed the fact that this ‘kid’ succeeded marvelously in his endeavors while his opponents failed miserably.

His Upbringing

Although he was the center of his father's world, his father was always conscious of his moral upbringing. In his youth once he shot a parrot and brought it home. Upon learning of this the Promised Messiah (AS) said to him, “Mahmud, although the meat from this bird is not forbidden in Islam, but Allah has not created every bird for the purpose of eating. Some birds are very attractive, they have been created so humans can enjoy their beauty while others are gifted to delight us with their song”. The moral of this story is that even though some birds or animals have not been expressly declared haram (forbidden), the Prophet of Islam (SAS) disliked eating their meat.

Once he was having a discussion with his younger brother Mirza Bashir Ahmad. The topic of discussion was what was more valuable - wealth, or knowledge? The Promised Messiah (AS) was sitting close by listening to their discussion, startled by their views, he at once admonished them:

“My dear children neither wealth nor knowledge is valuable, what is most valuable is the bountiful mercy and grace of God Almighty. Without God's mercy both can be harmful”.

During the lifetime of Hadhrat Ahmad (AS), his burning desire was to serve the cause of Islam to the best of his ability. At seventeen he became member of the Sadr Anjuman. He founded an association “Tasheez al-Azhan” in March 1906 and later published a quarterly magazine by the same name. Thus he gained written as well as verbal skills which proved profoundly useful for the Jamaat. Hadhrat Maulana Noor al-Din, Khalifat al-Masih the First, took him under his tutelage at a very young age. Thus he studied the Holy Quran, books of Hadith and Masnavi Maulavi Roomee from Hadhrat Maulana. He benefited tremendously from his pious companionship. At the Jalsa Salana this year he delivered his maiden speech.

Caliphate of Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad

Now we end the blessed era of the first Caliphate to the Second Caliphate. It is vital to briefly describe the life of Hadhrat Khalifat al-Masih the Second before his election as the Caliph..Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, Khalifat al-Masih the Second, was born on January 12th, 1889 on a Saturday at Qadian. He was the eldest son of the Promised Messiah (AS), born from his second wife, Hadhrat Sayyeda Nusrat Jahan Begum (RA). He completed the first reading of the Holy Quran on June 7th, 1897.His blessed birth was in fulfillment of a prophecy by the Holy Prophet of Islam, peace & blessings of Allah be on him. According to this prophecy the Promised Messiah would marry and would be blessed with children. Also his birth was in fulfillment of a magnificent prophecy of Hadhrat Ahmad, peace be on him. This particular prophecy is referred to in our Community as the 'Prohecy of al-Musleh Mauood' which did Hadhrat Ahmad make in 1886 at Hoshiarpur. God Almighty foretold him that within a period of nine years he would be blessed with a son.

The characteristics of this son described in the prophecy are as follows:

"He will be characterized with grandeur, greatness, and wealth. He will come into the world and will heal many of their disorders through his messianic qualities and through the blessings of the Holy Spirit. ……..

He will be extremely intelligent and understanding and will be meek of heart and will be filled with secular and spiritual knowledge…………….

We shall pour our Spirit into him and he will be sheltered under the shadow of God. He will grow rapidly in stature……………

His fame will spread to the ends of the earth and people will be blessed through him. "

All of the characteristics described in the above prophecy became evident in due course in the person of Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, the Second Caliph. In fact he was an embodiment of all the qualities enunciated in the prophecy. Praise the Lord.In 1889 Hadhrat Ahmad (AS) published a pamphlet to announce the birth of his son and to set out ten conditions of Baiat. A short while later Hadhrat Ahmad took the first pledge of allegiance at Ludhiana. It seemed as though God Almighty had planned his birth to coincide with the founding of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat.

When he was of school age, he was admitted to a public school. In 1898 he was admitted to Taleem al-Islam School. Because he enjoyed indifferent health he was not much interested in schoolwork. For instance in 1905 when he took the grade ten examination for admission to university he failed. This was the extent of his formal schooling. During his school years when his teachers would bring to the knowledge of Hadhrat Ahmad (AS) his poor grades, Hudhoor would shrug his shoulders and point out that this was mainly due to his poor health. He would admonish the teachers “Do not force him to do more than he can bear”. His failing the grades was in fact a blessing in disguise. Had he been smart in his studies at school and received all kinds of diplomas, some people might have argued he was smart because of his good schooling.

Almighty Allah had intended that he should receive heavenly schooling instead of his formal schooling by teachers. Allah the Exalted bestowed him with knowledge of the visible and invisible matters. When he reached the prime of his age, scholars stood in awe before him.