Al Fazl, 27 February to 2 March 1922
24 February 1922
Yesterday [on 23 February 1922], we departed late from Qadian, but still Hazrat Khalifatul Masih along with his Khuddam reached the station well before the train arrived. The friends were present at the Batala station and two persons took bai‘at at the blessed hand of Huzoor[ra] over there. The Amritsar Jamaat was present at the station and it was the Jamaat of Amritsar that arranged the meal for Hazrat Khalifatul Masih and his Khuddam. Thus, the food was served on the train. May Allah reward them.
Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Lahore along with some friends was present at the Lahore station to welcome Hazrat Khalifatul Masih. Huzoor[ra] got into the car and came to the kothi [a large house] of Chaudhry Zafrulla Khan Sahib, where arrangements had been made for his and the Khuddam’s stay. The stay of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II’s[ra] and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I’srh family members was arranged in the zenana of the house of Sheikh Abdul Hameed Sahib, the auditor. Apart from the Khuddam of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih, the rest of the friends of Qadian were accommodated in the Ahmadiyya Hostel. As the news of Huzoor’s[ra] arrival in Lahore had been published earlier in the newspaper, therefore many friends from various districts of Punjab reached Lahore.
25 February 1922
Hazrat Maulana Sher Ali Sahib[ra] came from Bombay with the casket and the printed gift [book] for the Prince of Wales and presented it before Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra]. The complete text of the book spans over 105 pages. There are three photographs [in the book]: One of the Promised Messiahas, the second of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira and the third of the Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra]. The casket is made of silver and the preface has been engraved on a gold leaf.
Yesterday [on 24 February 1922], Huzoor[ra] shed light on tawakkul [complete trust in Allah] in his Friday Sermon, and then led combined Jumuah and Asr prayers. Thereafter, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih went to meet the Governor Sahib Bahadur Punjab.
Around six to seven hundred members of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat have come from various districts. Those who came from Gujrat and Gujranwala said that the supporters of the non-cooperation movement tried to stop the visitors at some stations with abusive words, manhandling and stoning, during which some people were also injured.
On the night of 24 February [1922], the following friends took bai‘at at the hand of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih:
1. Pir Khushi Muhammad Sahib, Goleki, District Gujarat
2. Pir Muhammad Akbar Sahib Third Master, Goleki, District Gujarat
3. Barkat Ali Sahib Kakazai, Kunjah, District Gujarat
4. Hussain Muhammad Sahib, Lalyani, District Lahore
5. Nuruddin Sahib, Trigri, District Gujranwala
6. Shahabuddin Sahib, Lakhta, Lahore
7. Rahmatullah Khan Sahib, Chakanwal, Gujarat
After that, Hafiz Roshan Ali Sahib[ra] asked a question about [the verse of the Holy Quran]:
وَجَعَلۡنٰكُمۡ شُعُوۡبًا وَّقَبَآئِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوۡا
[“We have made you into tribes and sub-tribes that you may recognize one another.” (Surah Al-Hujurat, Ch.49: V.14)]
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said:
“This [verse] does not only signify that the names of the tribes and the sub-tribes are to be identified, but it also carries another special meaning that the national attributes of some nations become well-known. For example, some nations are cowards, some are brave, some are thieves, and some are good-natured and possess good morals. Since the character of a nation is formed through the individuals, such a character of our nation should be presented before the world that as soon as the name of our nation is mentioned, a good image should come to mind [of the people]. Regarding this, [Allah the Almighty] says:
اِنَّ اَكۡرَمَكُمۡ عِنۡدَ اللّٰهِ اَتۡقٰكُمۡ
[‘Verily, the most honourable among you, in the sight of Allah, is he who is the most righteous among you.’ (Surah Al-Hujurat, Ch.49: V.14)]
“That is, the way to become honoured before Allah the Almighty is piety. Whoever adopts good manners, does virtuous deeds and become righteous before Allah in this world, they get the certificate of being honourable by Allah.”
Today after the Maghrib prayer, on the evening of (25 February) [1922], Hazrat Khalifatul Masih will give guidance to all the friends who have come here [to Lahore]. Earlier today, Huzoor[ra] called the workers of Lahore Jamaat separately and gave them necessary instructions regarding tabligh [preaching]. The following three individuals then took bai‘at:
1. Ghulam Muhammad Sahib, Lalyani, Lahore
2. Sher Muhammad Sahib, Lalyani, Lahore
3. Abdullah Sahib, Prem Kot, Lahore
26 February 1922
The 25 February 1922 was the day of the arrival of HRH The Prince of Wales. The station of Lahore was decorated and the name of the prince was hanging in the streets. The soldiers were standing in two lines and the two sides of the road were full of spectators. As far as one could see, there were people in droves.
Syedna Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra] led combined Zuhr and Asr prayers because he had to visit the Government House. After the prayers, Huzoor[ra] addressed all the friends, whose number is estimated to be between 1000 to 1500 people, and gave the following advice:
“The work of a momin [true believer] is significant. He does not forget its objective. We have a duty to obey the king. At this time, some ignorant people are making noise in the country and they have gone on strike on the arrival of the prince. We are loyal and loyalty is incumbent upon us. However, what we do is neither to please the government nor to take anything from them because they cannot give us anything. We do not believe that kings are out of God’s control. Rather, we believe and truly trust that the hearts of kings are also in His [God’s] hands.
“At the Jalsa [Salana Qadian], we announced that we would present a gift to the prince. I thought that it would be a 20–25-page book, but it turned out to be an eighty-page book that would become a 105-page book in English. This gift will be presented through the government. We are praying. We should also pray at the time of the welcome. The believer’s eye, tongue and voice all have an impact. In our voices of welcome, there should be emotions of desire that we wish that God may grant him [the Prince of Wales] the strength to accept the truth and send him as the first messenger [of Islam] to his country, and may [Allah] bless this gathering.”
After that, all the friends were sent to McLeod Road, [Lahore], where there was a seating arrangement for members of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat. The chairs were arranged in abundance. Hazrat Dr Khalifa Rashiduddin Sahib and some other associates working under him seated everyone in order. In front of the seats of the Jamaat members, there were many boards, etc., hanging, on which were written the welcome and prayer words for the future heir and king of the British Crown by the Ahmadiyya Jamaat. The people, whether they were Hindus or Muslims, had chosen for themselves the slogans of “Hurray”, etc. However, the welcome slogan of Ahmadiyya Jamaat was: السّلام عليكم اهلا وسهلا و مرحبا [“Peace be upon you and welcome”]. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih, the Emperor of Spirituality, was riding in the car to the Government House. On the car, it was written in English: “His Holiness, Khalifatul Masih of Qadian.” There was another car alongside his car. The car in which Hazrat Imam [Khalifatul Masih] was riding, Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Sharif Ahmad Sahib (Honourary Rasaidar) in his uniform was on his right and Maulvi Rahim Bakhsh Sahib MA (Private Secretary) was on his left. Captain Ghulam Muhammad Khan Sahib of Dulmial in his full dress was in the front seat. Sardar Fateh Muhammad Khan Sahib Subedar, Muhammad Abdullah Khan Sahib Jamadar of Dulmial and Subedar Wali Muhammad Khan Sahib Bazid Chak, Gurdaspur, were riding in the second car. The said friends were with Huzoor[ra] as Ahmadis. When the prince’s car arrived, members of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat raised their slogan of prayers. The prince accepted the salaam. May God grant him the strength to accept Islam as well.
Last night [on 25 February 1922], in accordance with the announcement, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih gave useful advice to all members of the Jamaat who were gathered here [in Lahore], which will be published at a later time, insha-Allah. Earlier today [on 26 February 1922], some people took bai‘at. Their names will be sent later.
On 26 February [1922], Hazrat Khalifatul Masih left his residence at around 10 o’clock on a car at the request of Mistri Musa Sahib and visited Mauza Ganj located near Lahore. Hazrat Mirza Sharif Ahmad Sahib[ra] and Maulvi Rahim Bakhsh Sahib[ra] MA and Captain Ghulam Muhammad Khan Sahib accompanied Huzoor[ra]. In this Mauza [town], Mastri Sahib had built an Ahmadiyya Mosque in which Hazrat Khalifatul Masih led two nawafil [supererogatory prayers] in congregation and those who offered the prayer behind him were the aforementioned friends. After performing nawafil, Huzoor[ra] went to Shalimar Bagh. On his way back, Huzoor[ra] had tea at the house of Maulvi Jalaluddin Sahib in Ganj along with Hazrat Ummul Momineen[ra], his Khuddam and sons.
After the Maghrib prayer, Huzoor[ra] gave guidance to the Ahmadi students residing in the Ahmadiyya hostel, in which they were advised about tabligh [preaching], the obedience to the institution and the officers, and observance of regular congregational prayers.
Huzoor[ra] could not attend the Fajr prayer today due to illness. May Allah the Almighty restore his health.
After Maghrib prayer tonight, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih will deliver a speech on “Spiritual Regeneration” at the conference of the Ahmadiyya Intercollegiate Association, to which other students and professors are also invited.
At different times, the following friends took bai‘at:
1. Muhammad Amin Sahib, Bhaini, District Sheikhupura
2. Tajuddin Sahib, Bhaini, District Sheikhupura
3. Jan Muhammad Sahib, Bhaini, District Sheikhupura
4. Abdul Wahid Khan Sahib, Derowal, District Amritsar
5. Abdul Karim Sahib, Trigri, District Gujranwala
6. Khuda Bakhsh Sahib, Mong, District Gujrat
7. Muhammad Sahib, Bhaini, District Sheikhupura
8. Ismail Sahib, Bhaini, District Sheikhupura
9. Muhammad Din Sahib Kotli District Lahore
10. Abdul Hameed Sahib, Partan Wali, District Sialkot
11. Muhammad Ismail Sahib, Lilyani, District Lahore
12. Abdul Rahim Sahib, Gujranwala
13. Abdullah Khan Sahib, Kamoke, District Sialkot
(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu in the 27 February to 2 March 1922 issue of Al Fazl)