Al Fazl, 21 & 28 August 1922
Hazrat Sheikh Mahmud Ahmad Irfanira (1897-1944)
Egypt
I came here [to Egypt] four months ago. During this period, I have been preaching to people in one way or another. Until now, none of the people of Egypt has stood up to oppose me. However, the Indian people are causing disruption in different ways. It is divine providence that God Almighty has strengthened me in the last three months and some people who had become my enemies have now started to like me. All praise belongs to Allah Who made it possible.
New converts
During the aforementioned period in Cairo, [Egypt], Mian Rehmatullah Sahib Khayat, a resident of Amritsar, along with his wife and children, entered into the bai‘at of Khilafat. He says that he pledged allegiance to the Promised Messiahas, but later on, during the course of time and change of place, they lost connection with the Jamaat.
Another gentleman of Egyptian origin, Hamid Abdul Aziz, who is extremely proficient in his language, and is a poet and also an orator, and while the demonstrations in Egypt were at their peak, was one of Saad Pasha Zaghloul’s orators, entered into the fold of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat. Hamid Abdul Aziz holds a lot of passion for Ahmadiyyat. He is carrying out tabligh himself and consults me when he comes across certain allegations. The friends are requested to pray for the steadfastness of these Ahmadis.
Jamaat in Alexandria
A jamaat was established in Alexandria, [Egypt], with the efforts of Maulvi Abdul Karim Sahib. His services have borne great fruits within Alexandria.
Among those who converted to Ahmadiyyat through him, five friends have passed away.
انّا للّٰه و انّا اليه راجعون
[“Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.”]
However, a very passionate friend, Muhammad Wasfi Sahib, through five years of continuous hard work, has established another jamaat in Alexandria. Its total number is above 20.
“Bey” joined the Jamaat
Through Muhammad Wasfi Sahib, a “Bey” Sahib, whose name is Muhammad Bek Ghalib, has entered the Ahmadiyya Jamaat this week and he has sent his letter to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra] for bai‘at. This is the first Egyptian “Bey” for whom Allah the Almighty has opened the doors of His grace and granted him the strength to enter the Jamaat.
Muhammad Wasfi
Muhammad Wasfi Sahib is a righteous young man who spends his time in the service of religion after completing his official duties. He came from Alexandria to meet me on 22 July 1922 and I had a lot of discussions with him regarding the propagation of the Jamaat. I have advised him that he should immediately bring the new jamaat under a system and form an Anjuman there. For this purpose, Wasfi Sahib has offered a portion of his house to open an Anjuman in it.
A regular chanda set up will also be arranged in Alexandria soon. They have asked me to come to Alexandria. God willing, I will also go to Alexandria for a couple of days in the next month.
Egyptians are completely ignorant of religion
The nation [of Egypt] has completely come under the influence of Europe and religion has been almost abandoned. The dress code of women is such that it hurts even to describe it. The state of the scholars is such that one day I went to a coffee shop here as I had to meet someone. When I went there, he was playing billiards with a scholar.
Sheikh Mahmud Ahmad (Ahmadi, Cairo, Egypt). Khairiat Street, House No. 19.
Al Fazl, 28 August 1922
Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra (1872-1957)
Noah of the age
The oldest [recorded] historical event of deaths by storm is Noah’s Storm which happened 31 hundred years before Islam. The wrath of God annihilated the people of Noah’s region as a punishment for denying His prophet. Since then, disasters with similar kinds of deaths have been happening more or less in every era. However, these catastrophes are appearing very frequently in this age, because God Almighty has sent another Noah in this age and commanded him to build an ark. The first Noah’s preaching was limited to a particular place, but the Noah of this age has spread his message to the whole world as a reflection of Muhammadsa, and this is the reason why his signs are being witnessed everywhere. Almost every country has observed the fulfilment of the Promised Messiah’s prophethood through earthquakes, epidemics and storms. Today, the news had it that three hundred people have died due to a hurricane in the country of Salvador and many others are missing. A condolence letter with the message of Islam has been written on behalf of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat to the President of that country.
Intensity of heat
In America, the intensity of the cold is the same as the intensity of the heat. It snows in winters and many people die from freezing cold temperatures. One day last week, the temperature reached 90 degrees and the sun was so intense that ten men fainted and were sent to the hospital, two of whom died.
نعوذ باللّٰه نار جهنّم
[“We seek refuge with Allah from the fire of Hell.”]
Lectures and new converts
In the last week, three lectures were delivered, and 6 more individuals converted to Islam, whose American and Islamic names are as follows:
1. Mrs May Zahra of Detroit (Salma)
2. Mr Arthur of Illinois (Khair)
3. Mr Willis Yoakam (Muhammadyar)
4. Mr James of Chicago (Ahmad)
5. Mr Ophelia White of St. Louis (Noor)
6. Mrs Presley Burks of Chicago (Rahima)
Muhammad Sadiq. 4448 Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, USA
(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu in the 21 and 28 August 1922 issue of Al Fazl)