Al Fazl, 23 May 1921
15 May 1921
Suggestion of newborns’ names
Someone wrote a letter seeking suggestion for his newborn’s name. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra], after suggestion his name, turned to Hafiz Roshan Ali Sahib[ra] and said:
“It has been observed with respect to the naming [of newborns] that quite often, the morphological measure or rhyme [of these names] do not match [with their parents’ names], but when I suggest a name and send it, a letter is received from the other side that the suggested name resembles the name of their previous boy or girl. This indicates that there is a hidden divine connection [which makes me suggest that name for their family].”
Migration to Qadian
A gentleman’s letter enquiring about migration to Qadian was presented to [Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra]. After marking it to the umur-e-ama [general affairs] office, Huzoor[ra] said:
“Before migrating, it is important to consider as to how you will subsist here [in Qadian]. When Hazrat Alira migrated to Medina, he did not shy away from even bringing grass in the time of need. However, people who do this kind of work in their homelands stop doing it after migrating [to Qadian], and [say], ‘They cannot do it anymore.’”
Huzoor[ra] further said:
“It is necessary for people to develop the spirit of living a life of difficulty, hardship and diligence.”
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih’s intention to perform Hajj again
When there was a mention of Hajj, [Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra] said:
“My intention is that if Allah the Almighty grants me the opportunity, I will perform Hajj again. In the era of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira, I saw in a divine vision that I had gone to perform Hajj and when I reached Aden, I realised that I did not know how to perform Hajj. When I asked the people, they refused and said, ‘We also do not know [how to perform Hajj].’
“Thus, I turned back, but somewhere along the way, I saw myself on land and I asked a man as to how to perform Hajj. He told me that, ‘It is a simple task. After reaching the tomb of [Hazrat] Ibn Abbasra we put on the ihram and go on to perform Hajj from there’. (I am doubtful about wearing the ihram in my vision.)
“Then he took me with him and I saw a clay dome which that man described to me as the tomb of Ibn Abbas. From there, I entered into the state of ihram and performed Hajj.”
“When I narrated this vision to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira, he said, ‘Alhamdulillah.’ Then he asked, ‘Did you understand anything?’ I said that I did not understand. He said: ‘The tomb of [Hazrat] Ibn Abbasra is in Ta‘if and it has been prophesied that the Messiah or Mahdi would put on the ihram from Ta‘if. Allah the Almighty might grant you the opportunity to perform Hajj on behalf of the Promised Messiahas.’”
[Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra] said, “I have seen divine visions about Hajj on many other occasions as well.”
The condition of the outside world
Hafiz Roshan Ali Sahib enquired about the political situation of the outside world. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra] said:
“The latest reports indicate that the British intend to keep the government of Hejaz under their influence. Mr Churchill, Secretary of State for the Colonies, said in his speech that if the government of Hejaz acknowledged their influence with respect to relations with other countries, they would provide financial assistance.
“On the other hand, the proposal to hand over the throne of the Arab Kingdom of Iraq to Faisal will eventually lead to the same result because the Arab Kingdom of Iraq is a wealthy state and Faisal is the Crown Prince of the King of Hejaz.
“After the King of Hejaz, he [Fasial] will not be able to leave Iraq and go to the Hejaz and will certainly rule Hejaz from Iraq. In this way, the Hejaz will also come under their [British] influence. This is not a good sign if he [Faisal] is adamant on this intention.”
Hardships should not be feared
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra] sent the following letter to a young man who is being hassled by his father because of converting to Ahmadiyyat:
“Dear friend! Assalamo alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!
“I have come to learn that the reply sent from me in response to your letter got in the hands of your father, which made him angry and he now wants you to renounce the truth.
“I am glad to know that you are standing firm on the truth with courage and resoluteness. I do not regret that you are being put to trial because sufferings caused by men are temporary. However, it is these trials that shape the morals of mankind and beautify them. The spiritual tarbiyat of the people in this age is incomplete because they have not been put into various kinds of hardships and afflictions as were faced by the followers of some of the earlier prophets.
“Consequently, there are still some imperfections in their conducts and morals. If people were put into all sorts of hardships, soon a Jamaat would have been formed that would have stirred the world.
“Hence, you should not be afraid of the hardships you are facing because of your father, but be happy that God has granted you the opportunity to revive your faith and progress in good morals.”
(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu in the 23 May 1921 issue of Al Fazl)