Al Fazl, 8 September 1921
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih in Kashmir
In the early hours of 22 August [1921], Huzoor[ra] felt abdominal pain, but by the grace of Allah, he got well by eight o’clock in the morning. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra] then went for an excursion and returned at around Maghrib prayer. The Ahmadi friends of Asnoor and Reshnagri jointly presented food provisions to Huzoor[ra] as a feast and he accepted them.
On 23 August [1921], Huzoor[ra] remained in good health by the grace of God Almighty. The honourable mother of Mian Nasir Ahmad Sahib[ra] did not feel well. After Asr prayer, a person took bai‘at at the blessed hand of Huzoor[ra]. Then, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra] discussed various topics for some time. Huzoor[ra] said that the stimulators of Non-cooperation and Swadeshi movements were making loud speeches these days to burn foreign clothes. What would be the benefit of all this? If these people sent the clothes to Smyrna instead of burning them, it would be very apt and useful.
On 24 August [1921], Huzoor’s[ra] health was good by the grace of Allah the Almighty, but a third family member had a high fever.
After Asr prayer, Huzoor[ra] had a discussion with a few Ahmadi friends here. Someone told Huzoor[ra] that there were huge obstacles in giving up phiran [a long cloak or robe worn by the people of Kashmir]. The first reason was that the people there were very poor. Secondly, it was completely against customs [to abandon it]. Huzoor[ra] explained that as compared to phiran, less cloth is used to make purdah daar [garments that fully cover the body] trousers and kurtas [shirts]. Even if it cost a little more, trousers should be prepared for women by saving money from household expenses.
Then Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra] said that there were many opportunities and means of progress for the people of Kashmir but the people did not make use of them. Huzoor[ra] gave the audience many valuable and useful pieces of advice.
On 25 August [1921], Huzoor[ra] was well all day, but after sunset, he experienced a slight fever. At eight o’clock in the morning, Huzoor[ra] went for a walk for two to three hours. After Asr prayer, Huzoor[ra] discussed various subjects for an hour. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra] said that there were different tribes in the time of the Holy Prophetsa. If the elders of a tribe converted to Islam, the whole tribe would accept Islam. The same is true in West Africa. The tribal system is prevalent over there as well. Hence, a tribe sent a few of its educated representatives [to the missionary of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat] and when they thoughtfully accepted Ahmadiyyat, everyone else joined them too. This is not the case in India. Sometimes, it has been observed that the husband is Ahmadi but the wife is not.
Then Huzoor[ra] said that as science progressed, so did the exceptions and the [old] laws are being broken. However, as for the prophets, each one of the opponents presents his own standard of authenticity.
Thereupon, Maulana Hafiz Roshan Ali Sahib[ra] narrated an incident in which a Shia professor in Hyderabad said, “Leave aside the prophets of the past. In this day and age, I would only consider that person to be a prophet who can travel thousands of miles in minutes without a train or a motor and control the electricity without the help of existing scientific instruments, etc.”
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra] then said that whenever this country was destined to be reformed, it would be through the [people of] villages. In Punjab, it has been observed that the educated people living in the cities are usually rural. For example, 80% of lawyers in Lahore are from rural areas and that is why the educated people of Punjab do not look down on the [people of] villages. But here in Kashmir, almost all the educated people are from the cities and the people in the villages are not educated. Therefore, the people of the cities consider them inferior.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra] said that cities that consider themselves superior to the surrounding cities are deprived of accepting the truth. The same is true of Delhi and Lucknow in this age. Moving the discussion forward, Huzoor[ra] said that if all the people of Kashmir converted to Ahmadiyyat, then the adjoining areas – Ladakh, Tibet, etc. – would soon accept Ahmadiyyat by the grace of Allah the Almighty because these people were civilised, kind-hearted and hospitable, and not savages.
Thus far, about 70 to 80 friends have joined the Ahmadiyya Jamaat at the blessed hand of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih, and by the grace of God Almighty, people continue to enter the Jamaat. May Allah help the entire region to accept Ahmadiyyat, the true Islam. Amin!
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih’s mail was received eight to 10 days late. Therefore, the friends were not responded to promptly. Now, everyone will be sent a reply, insha-Allah, so friends should stay informed.
Humbly yours, Syed Mahmood, [Asnoor].
(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu in the 8 September 1921 issue of Al Fazl)
