Hazrat Maulvi Abdur Rahim Nayyarra (1883-1948)
Surprisingly, summer is a blessing in these cold regions [of Europe]. The sun that produces scorching heat in the plains of Northern India during the hot summer days is called the pleasant summer sun over here, and, in this season, everyone tries to spend as much time as possible in the fresh air. We are trying our best to take advantage of this natural tendency of the people and spread the [message of] truth to the general public here.
The missionary of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat, wearing a green turban, fulfils his duty to preach the religion [of Islam] founded by Muhammadsa of Arabia by infiltrating the ranks of Christian preachers right in the middle of London. The Christian missionaries working in the surrounding areas are becoming aware of the manner in which Ahmadis present their arguments. Many useful and interesting discussions are held at every single gathering. “You are our strongest rival” is a phrase used by Christian preachers here. But at the same time, our English friends are obliged to say, “You are very intelligent and well-mannered.”
We are performing our duty of tabligh [preaching] and observing with clear insight that, on the one hand, there is apparently indifference to religion and the churches are empty, but on the other, the feeling of the need for religion is also growing stronger. The Christian faith founded on the crucifixion [of Jesus] and preached in churches is crumbling. On the other hand, people are accepting the actual details of the crucifixion mentioned in the Holy Quran. Though today the wise Englishman laughs at the words of the old Dravid, the day is well nigh when they shall witness the Promised Messiahas in his full glory and openly accept that the Messiah has come.
وہ گھڑى آتى ہے جب عیسىٰ پكارىں گے مجھے
اب تو تھوڑے رہ گئے دجّال كہلانے كے دن
[“The time is nigh when they will start calling me Jesus. The days are few in being called the Antichrist.”]
Opposition
Hostility towards the Ahmadiyya Jamaat is nothing out of the ordinary, as the truth has always been opposed, and it ought to be [for its spread]. However, the opponents continue to secretly plot against us. By the grace of Allah the Almighty, their [vile schemes] do not have any effect on us. Our opponents used to sugarcoat quinine [i.e., hide the truth] and then present it to the people, but they quickly forgot the real quinine [truth]. Soon they will realise that the fever [of evil] will only dimmish through quinine [i.e., the truth] itself. And then Islam – yes, the real and true Islam – will spread through the efforts of Prophet Ahmadas, the Promised Messiah, and his Jamaat, by respecting and honouring the institution of Khilafat, which is required to be obeyed. Unless the troops of Ahmadiyyat gather at Chatalja under one leader, it is difficult to protect the Muslims and re-conquer Oran.
Miscellaneous
The series of weekly meetings and preachings on an individual basis are being carried out unabated by the grace of Allah. Last week, Dr Sulaiman Yusuf Ahmadi of South Africa gave a lecture on Surah al-Fatihah, in which he mentioned the arrival of the chosen one of God Almighty, the Promised Messiah and his miracle of the exceptional tafsir [interpretation] of Surah al-Fatihah in an excellent and most effective manner.
Chaudhary Maula Bakhsh Janjua BA of Oxon (Barrister-in-law) is currently busy preparing for London University’s LLB examination and is living in Darul Tabligh [mission house] along with his wife. Shaikh Zafar Haq Khan Sahib, BSc of Wales, is engaged in assisting in correspondence work and helping set up the mission library. He is aiming to appear in the Indian Civil Service Examination.
Mr Gabrial Martin, former General Secretary of the Nigeria Jamaat, is preparing for the Cambridge University Entrance Examination.
Prayer
All these friends who are staying in Darul Tabligh and all the Ahmadi students who are studying in and outside of London, including Sahibzada Abdul Rahim Khan Sahib, Syed Hafiz Mahmudullah Shah Sahib, and Seth Ali Muhammad Abdullah Sahib, request [members of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat to] pray for their success.
(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu, published in the 2 October 1923 issue of Al Fazl)