Al Fazl, 22 and 26 September 1921
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] in Kashmir
On the morning of 7 September [1921], preparations were made for departing to Srinagar and we left at 11:30 am. Almost all the villagers came along to bid farewell to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra].
It started raining at the time of departure and Ahmadi friends from Yaripora repeatedly requested Huzoor[ra] to pass through their village on his way back and return to Srinagar by river. Thus, Huzoor[ra] left for Yaripora.
The Ahmadi friends from Yaripora had come far out [of their village] to greet Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra]. After reaching the boundary of the village, Huzoor[ra], along with all friends present, prayed for a long time and then entered the village.
On the morning of 8 [September 1921], Huzoor[ra] had a high fever and a severe headache. The honourable mother of Mian Nasir Ahmad Sahib[rh] also got fever again and by 12 o’clock, her temperature rose to 104 °F.
The jamaat there requested Huzoor[ra] to give a speech. Even though he was unwell, Huzoor[ra] accepted their request. Hence, the entire caravan was sent forward and three of us stayed with Huzoor[ra]. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] spoke for around one hour and 45 minutes. The number of attendees was around 125.
[In his speech], Huzoor[ra] proved Islam to be a living religion in comparison to all other religions. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] said that the followers of every religion considered themselves to be on the right path, but when asked what was the proof of the truth of their religion, they could not say anything.
Consequently, it is generally observed that people accept a religion because they are born in that religion. The followers of some religions present the miracles of the past as proof of the authenticity of their religion. In this way, each religion presents more and more miracles as compared to others, and some religions only make future promises, for instance, that they shall be granted Paradise.
Even the so-called Muslims of today have nothing but the past miracles or the promise of Paradise as proof of the truth of Islam. In this way, they have made themselves appear like other religions.
We [Ahmadis] claim that Islam is a living religion and that the Promised Messiahas appeared and proved that even today, God Almighty grants His servants the honour of His communication.
Then, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] briefly shed light on the life of the Holy Prophetsa and explained how the Holy Prophetsa was born in a state of despair and how he was disgusted with shirk [attributing partners to Allah] from his very childhood. Moreover, his life, before prophethood, was a model for all the people of Mecca.
After his claim of prophethood, all the Arabs united against him, but he prevailed over all of them and uprooted idolatry in such a way that neither its name nor any sign is to be seen till today.
Then, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] provided a brief look at the life of the Promised Messiahas. Huzoor[ra] described how he used to live in seclusion since childhood and would spend most of his time in the worship of Allah. Moreover, his claim to be the Messiah, the unification of the whole world against him, the destruction of his enemies, his victory over them, [the fulfilment of] his prophecies, signs and miracles, and the spread of his Jamaat all over the world etc. were all things that proved he was sent from God.
The same arguments which prove the authenticity of the other prophets also substantiate the truthfulness of the Promised Messiahas. Thereafter, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih announced two nikahs.
Then we rode on horses and joined our caravan at around five o’clock. Many friends of Asnoor Jamaat came along to Mauza Arain and Huzoor[ra] prayed for all of them and while parting, they started crying out of love.
We embarked on boats at around 6 o’clock and left for Srinagar from Mauza Arain. Before sunset, the fever of the honourable mother of Mian Nasir Ahmad Sahib[ra] subsided completely and the boats continued to sail throughout the night.
On 9 [September 1921], Huzoor[ra] had a slight fever and reached Srinagar at six o’clock in the evening.
On 10 [September 1921], Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] was not feeling well. After Asr prayer, Huzoor[ra] continued to sit in the majlis [gathering] till Maghrib prayer and even after Maghrib, he spoke for a long time.
On 11 [September 1921], although Huzoor[ra] was not feeling well (may Allah shower His grace on him), after Asr, Huzoor[ra] said that the consumption of meat had become common in our country. Especially among the Muslims, its use had become excessive. This should not happen. It should be used, at most, once a day. Children in particular should be advised to avoid it. All those things you become addicted to are not good [for health].
In the said context, Huzoor[ra] narrated an incident and said:
“When I was travelling for Hajj, a Muslim youth was also travelling in the same ship. He was going to England for acquiring education. In general, he had a lot of honour for Islam in his heart and used to offer prayers regularly. However, he was so addicted to meat that he could not live without it at all. As it is doubtful about the meat served in the ship [whether it is halal or haram], I did not eat it.
“Once, he asked me as to how one could survive abroad by avoiding it. I said that one could survive on fish or on other things apart from meat. He said that it was impossible for him to stop eating meat, and that if he had to resort to eating pork, he would.”
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih remained indoors on 13 [September 1921] following the doctor’s advice. Around the time of Asr, when Maulvi Muhammad Abdullah Sahib, Assistant Governor of Srinagar, came to see Huzoor[ra], Hazrat Khalifatul Masih came downstairs.
After discussing his wellbeing, Huzoor[ra] proceeded to talk on the academic situation in Kashmir. Huzoor[ra] then mentioned the rituals there and said that he had advised the people of his Jamaat to stay away from bad rituals.
As nightfall approached, Maulvi Sahib left early. After Maghrib prayer, Huzoor[ra] stayed in the Salat room for a long time. After Salat, it started raining heavily and large hailstones started to fall. Huzoor[ra] said that he had heard that hailstones were very useful for fever. Consequently, many kilos of hailstones were collected and Huzoor[ra] and other friends ate them. On this day, Huzoor[ra] had a temperature of around 100 °F.
On the morning of 14 [September 1921], Huzoor[ra] took a boat ride in the river with his family. After Asr, Hafiz Nuruddin Sahib, a teacher at the State High School, took bai‘at at the blessed hand of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] and recited a new poem before Huzoor, which was a combination of the Kashmiri and Persian languages.
Thereafter, Maulvi Abdullah Sahib discussed the issue of prophethood and Khilafat with Huzoor[ra] for some time. […]
[On 15 September 1921] Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] sat in the prayer room from Zuhr to Isha prayer. Referring to mubahala [prayer duel], Huzoor[ra] said that it was not permissible for everyone. Only the appointed ones of God or those people who were in the public eye and whose mubahala could help reform people, could do it.
Huzoor[ra] explained thatthe Promised Messiahas had not come to destroy people. He said that [in principle] a mubahala could be held between those persons who had an influence over a very large group of people and the death of one of the two participants could serve as a sign. The Promised Messiahas was challenged by many persons, but he did not pay attention to them because he knew full well that it was not a hujjat [obligation]. Prophets are always very careful.
Huzoor[ra] said that he had written a detailed article on mubahala that had not yet been published.
Around the time of Maghrib, Dr Allah Bakhsh Sahib came to meet Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] and offered Salat there alongside Huzoor. Maulvi Abdullah Sahib (lawyer) also paid a visit and spoke [to Huzoor(ra)] about Baha‘ism. […]
During this tour [of Kashmir], in a divine vision, Huzoor[ra] saw that a letter had come in his name through an aeroplane and the letters A and M were written on the back of the envelope. There was also another letter [on the envelope] which he could not recall. Consequently, by the grace of Allah the Almighty, this vision of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih was fulfilled to the letter. Huzoor[ra] received a letter and there was a stamp on the back of the envelope, on which it was written “By Air Mail” and the friend who sent the letter had also written the same words with his hand. […]
On 19 [September 1921], Huzoor[ra] had a high fever. Huzoor[ra] has been diagnosed with a condition called recurrent fever. After Maghrib, a discussion was held for a long time. Huzoor[ra] said, “I saw in a divine vision that I had met two significant men from the ghair mubai‘een [those who refused to take bai‘at of the Second Khalifa]. I said to them, ‘Behold, Allah has told me that whoever holds back from my bai‘at, the pleasure of Salat will be taken away from them.’
“Hearing this, one of them turned his face towards the wall and cried and wailed, saying, ‘By God, I am in this very state now. I do not find any pleasure in Salat.’”
A few friends from Mauza Asnoor came to visit Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra]. May Allah the Almighty grant them further advancement in their sincerity.
On 20 [September 1921], Huzoor[ra] was in relatively good health. Huzoor[ra] went for a walk at around ten o’clock and returned at one o’clock.
D Balkshan Sahib Kole spared time for Huzoor[ra] from four to six o’clock, so Huzoor[ra] visited him after four o’clock. […]
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih will leave Srinagar for Qadian soon. Therefore, friends writing to Huzoor[ra] from far-off places should send letters to the address of Qadian. I also request prayers from all friends.
Humbly yours, Syed Mahmudullah Shah, Srinagar, Kashmir.
(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu in the 22 and 26 September 1921 issue of Al Fazl)