Al Fazl, 9 March 1922
The importance of takbir during salat (2 January 1922)
In the Masjid Mubarak, when the main hall is full, the friends go to the upper floor of the mosque and offer prayers in congregation, and from below, the takbir is said aloud after the imam, according to which those at the top complete their prayers. Although, where the imam is standing, a wide-mouthed funnel, similar to the one on the mouth of the phonograph, has been drilled through the ceiling to convey the sound, still the voice does not effectively reach [on the upper floor]. As always, there were many people upstairs today, but the person from below was saying takbir in such a low voice that his sound could not be heard even inside the mosque, due to which the prayers of those above were completed disorderly [as compared to the imam]. Therefore, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra] said after the prayer:
“Takbir is not just for blessing but is a necessity. Hence, it should be said out loud. It seems that those above have offered prayers in the wrong [order as compared to the imam].”
The Holy Quran talks to Ahmadi Muslims, not others (3 January 1922)
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said:
“Allah the Almighty has showered His blessings. I was suffering from a severe cough before the Jalsa [Salana, Qadian] and now it has subsided instead of increasing. I used to have a cough when I would sit in the majlis [gathering] but now it has become less intense. This year, because of this cough, I thought that I would not be able to speak much, but this time I have spoken more than before, i.e. for around 20 hours.”
A friend said on the mention of Maulvi Muhammad Ali Sahib and Khawaja Kamaluddin Sahib that it seemed that Maulvi Muhammad Ali Sahib had less jealousy in his heart than others. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said:
“Maulvi Muhammad Ali Sahib has some jealousy in his heart and it is not less because when he came here [in Qadian], others broke bread [with us], but he did not eat.”
Regarding the impact on those who believe in the Promised Messiahas and the ones who don’t, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said:
“[Our] Holy Quran and Hadith are no different [from the others], but there is something about it that when we pick up the Holy Quran who believe in the Promised Messiahas, the Holy Quran starts talking to us and [the same Holy Quran] turns away from others. However, the amount of knowledge, equipment, libraries, wealth, etc., others have, we have nothing as compared to them. But when we say, ‘Bring the Holy Quran and reach a decision,’ they turn their backs. It is indeed our bond with the Promised Messiahas that descends as a blessing in times of need. Just take a look at all the commentaries of Surah al-Fatihah which have been done by our Jamaat, if all of these are combined together, they will become equal to Tafsir-e-Kabir, and they are nothing [as compared to those we are going to do in future]. If others will do a commentary, they will end it after giving the lexicon, grammar, logical and philosophical explanations, but over here, the rivers of knowledge flow [through the ones who believe in the Promised Messiahas].
“The very subject which I explained from Surah al-Fatihah about the stages of suluk [achieving nearness of God] was told to me in an instant. When I started writing it, my fingers started to ache, but I kept writing very fluently in a state beyond my control. I did not know what I was writing or when did I finish it. I read it afterwards and then realised what I have written.”
[The following] new converts took bai‘at:
1. Alam Khan, Khost Area
2. Mahmood Alam, Khost Area
3. Saaduddin, Khost Area
4. Fazluddin, Manoharpur, District Gurdaspur, currently residing in Quetta
5 January 1922
Addressing Maulana Syed Muhammad Sarwar Shah Sahib[ra], Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said:
“Today, I have started writing the treatise which is to be presented as a gift to the Prince of Wales.”
Our example is of shepherds, not doctors (6 January 1922)
After reciting [the Arabic wording of] the nikah sermon, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said:
“Regarding the matters of nikah, I keep on explaining the guidelines that are needed and the right path by which peace is maintained. However, people still do not understand. In fact, people are accustomed to working without an objective, which in turn leads to disaster. If we work with an objective in our sight, nothing bad happens.
“Behold! No one’s worldly power is of any use before God. We must engage in the preaching of Islam. Those individuals who are amirs or secretaries of various jamaats should pay special attention. Our example is not of a doctor but of a shepherd. If even a single one of his sheep does not return to the herd, he runs here and there in search of it. [Our objective] should not be this that we only look after those who have already come to us, but we should find out the reason as to why others have not joined us. We should get rid of our shortcomings in the said matter. We should not rest if even a single person is outside the religion of God [i.e. Islam]. It is not enough that we saved a few thousand or a few hundred, because no one can be happy that only half of his body is healthy.
“[Let’s suppose that the population of] Lahore is 100,000, as long as even one of them is out of Ahmadiyyat, we should not rest. If a mother has twelve children and one of them is lost, she would never be contented with eleven, then how can we be satisfied if out of a population of 100,000, tens of thousands are out of Ahmadiyyat. Don’t look at the numbers we have already achieved, but look at how many are remaining who have not yet joined us.
“Thus, I advise you to pay attention towards this matter because there is not enough time. Don’t slow down. Your eyes do not see what I am envisioning. You will see those things tomorrow what I am foreseeing today. Every one of you must understand that in this age, the manifestation of God and the reflection of Muhammadsa Mustafa, the Promised Messiahas has appeared in the world, who is also the second Adamas. It is my duty to issue guidance. The time is flying and it is not felt, so value your time and leave negligence.
“Now, I would like to inform you that after the Maghrib prayer tomorrow, all the friends from here [Qadian] and those who have come from outside should gather together. I have given some advice today and so I will give some instructions and guidance tomorrow as well. Consequently, the presence of members of the Jamaat over here will benefit both me and those who have come, and this will also fulfil the purpose for which I have been selected.”
Al Fazl, 6 March 1922
First of all, I would like to give the good news to my friends that the Government of Punjab has presented the gift by the Ahmadiyya Jamaat to the Prince of Wales. May God give strength to this prince of the noble family to truly accept this gift [of Ahmadiyyat], amin.
On the afternoon of 27 February [1922], Hazrat Khalifatul Masih visited the… ground to watch Polo. Huzoor[ra] came back in the evening and led Maghrib and Isha prayers combined. Thereafter, it was the time of the conference of Ahmadiyya Intercollegiate [Association] and there was a speech of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih entitled “Spiritual Regeneration”. The audience numbered more than 800, including a large number of non-Ahmadi Muslims and educated dignitaries and noblemen of other religions. The proceedings of the conference began at 7:25 pm. Chaudhry Zafrulla Khan Sahib[ra] (Barrister-at-law), amir of Ahmadiyya Jamaat Lahore, was the president. Hafiz Roshan Ali Sahib[ra] presented the recitation of the Holy Quran. After that, the president of the conference gave a short speech and requested Hazrat Khalifatul Masih to deliver a speech, and also requested the audience to listen to [Huzoor’sra] speech silently and attentively. At 7:30pm, the speech of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih started in which he presented the views of other religions on the resurrection of the soul and their defects, and then presenting the teachings of Islam in contrast to them invited the people to reflect and pay attention towards it. This speech was very comprehensive, yet very concise and brief. The speech ended at 9:25 pm.
After the silent prayer, a friend asked about Huzoor’s[ra] arrival in Lahore, to which Hazrat Khalifatul Masih replied and a long discussion was held which lasted for about an hour and a half. Then, five individuals took bai‘at:
1. Muhammad Sharif Sahib, Bhati Gate, Lahore
2. Mistri Karam Din Sahib, Bhati Gate, Lahore
3. Balanda Sahib, Bhusse, Amritsar
4. Muhammad Ibrahim Sahib, Ferozepur
5. Abdullah Khan Sahib, Bhamboi Chak, Gurdaspur
On the morning of 28 February [1922], the Bengali principal (who is Brahmo by faith) of Dayal Singh College, Lahore, came [to meet Hazrat Khalifatul Masih]. This friend was also present in the previous night’s speech and after its completion, he had taken time for meeting in the morning. An exchange of views on the meaning of religion and the superiority of Islam continued for about three hours. As the principal sahib could not speak Urdu well, sometimes he used to express his views in English and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih would explain in Urdu. If any word or term could not be understood by the principal sahib, then Chaudhry Zafrulla Khan Sahib[ra] would explain it to him in English.
On the night between 28 February and 1 March [1922], some dignitaries like Khalil-ur-Rehman Sahib (Superintendent Office Northwestern Railway, Lahore), Prof. Syed Abdul Qadir Sahib MA, Prof. Ghulam Abbas Khan Sahib MA, etc., also visited and various issues were discussed till 12:30 pm.
On 1 March 1922, [the following friends] took ba‘iat:
1. Maulvi Ghulam Rasool Sahib, Talibpur, District Gurdaspur
2. Makhdum Masood Ahmad, student of Government College, Lahore, (Pind Dadan Khan)
3. Karim Bakhsh Sahib, Jhang
The hospitality of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih and his khuddam was looked after by Chaudhry Zafrulla Khan Sahib[ra] (Barrister-at-law), amir of Ahmadiyya Jamaat Lahore. Chaudhry Sahib[ra] made all the friends very comfortable and served them in the best possible manner. May Allah the Almighty grant him the best of rewards.
Hazrat Imam Sahib, Khalifatul Masih, left Lahore on the night between 1 and 2 March [1922] by train. Amir of Lahore Jamaat and some other friends came to Lahore station to bid farewell to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih. For the rest of the night, [Huzoorra] stayed at the Batala station. On the morning of 2 March [1922], the caravan arrived at Darul Aman, [Qadian], with the grace and mercy of God. All praise is due to Allah the Almighty who bestowed all blessings.
(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu in the 6 and 9 March 1922 issue of Al Fazl)
Jazakallahu Khair. The story is so satisfying in such a way I wanted it to be long enough so that I keep on reading. Alhamdulillah!