Al Fazl, 27 June 1921
Dear Editor Sahib Al Fazl, assalamo alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu! Recently, an esteemed official of the state has written a letter of bai‘at to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra] and Huzoor[ra] personally replied to him with his own pen.
I am sending it so that it may be published. Hopefully, it will help many kindhearted and wise people to increase in faith and serve as a guide for those who are striving for the nearness of Allah the Almighty. Wassalam, Ali Muhammad (Post Officer)
Letter of the new convert
“My master! Assalamo alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!
“For a long time, there was a yearning in my heart to seek the truth and it made me anxious. Then came the time to finally fulfil my desire. If I have been reluctant till now, it was only because it is a great responsibility to join this holy Jamaat. Moreover, there was also the fear that black sheep like me might enter this Jamaat and bring it into disrepute. However, I felt a glimpse of despair from God’s mercy in this view of mine and sensed a hint of scepticism over the vast holiness of this sacred Jamaat.
“Thus, I considered the first idea to be a sin and thought about the second matter that if a few bitter drops like me are added to this vast ocean of pure water, they could not spoil this Jamaat. However, why should I say that these few drops will always be bitter? This bitterness will disappear, insha-Allah, and it will surely vanish.
“I am joining [the Jamaat] but I regret the delay. Though I came late, I am satisfied that despite all the delay, it is not too late. I find a firm resolve in me and I feel the presence of nafs-e-lawwamah [the reproving soul]. If there was anything missing, it was just that attention which turns clay into gold, which I am now receiving also.
“Thus, O my Mahmud! Today, I [enter] in the Ahmadiyya Jamaat and repent of all sins at your hand because I witness that your hand is in the hand of God. I will [continue to] believe in all the claims of the Promised Messiahas and always prefer religion over the world.
اَسْتَغْفِرُاللّٰهَ رَبِّيْ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ وَّ اَتُوْبُ اِلَيْهِ
رَبِّ اِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِيْ وَاعْتَرَفْتُ بِذَنْبِيْ فَاغْفِرْلِيْ ذُنُوْبِيْ فَاِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ اِلَّا اَنْتَ
“[‘I seek pardon from Allah, my Lord, for all my sins, and turn to Him. O my Lord, I have wronged my soul and I confess all my sins. Pray forgive me my sins as there is none else who can forgive.’]
“In my view, I have not joined [only] Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya but have actually entered the true Islam today. Syed Abdul Majeed, Kapurthala”
Reply of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II
“Dear Syed Sahib, assalamo alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!
“I have received your letter. I could not reply immediately due to poor health. All praise belongs to Allah that He has opened your heart and helped you accept the truth after a long time!
ذٰلِكَ فَضْلُ اللّٰهِ يُؤْتِيْهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ
“[‘That is Allah’s grace; He bestows it on whom He pleases.’] No doubt, where there are responsibilities after joining Ahmadiyyat, there are conveniences as well. When a person accepts the truth, he is immediately helped by Allah the Almighty and the doors of mercy are opened for him. He is treated in the same way as a newborn baby; that is, his every action is taken care of and he is looked after in every situation.
“At that time, such a person enjoys rahmaniyyat [graciousness] and becomes aware of the blessings of Allah the Almighty and is acquainted with His bounties. His attention is also drawn towards those blessings which he may receive under rahimiyyat [mercy] and which are superior to [the bounties of] rahmaniyyat in this first stage. However, in the last stage, rahmaniyyat prevails again.
“This stage is very crucial and many people become intoxicated by the manifestation of this rahmaniyyat and stop taking a step forward by considering that God Almighty depends on them. Consequently, they only feel the taste of that sweet which was presented to them as a sample. Bit by bit, that feeling also vanishes and such a person becomes deprived. Hence, one should never rest solely on the support and generous succour received from Allah the Almighty in the first stage, but should try to take advantage of this opportunity and continue to advance.
“May Allah the Almighty help you pass through this stage safely and make you a means of guidance for others as well. Humbly yours, Mirza Mahmud Ahmad.”
(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu in the 27 June 1921 issue of Al Fazl)