Hazrat Maulvi Abdur Rahim Nayyarra (1883-1948)
London
Recent letters from abroad reveal that the Ahmadiyya Mission House [in London] has been newly renovated and beautifully decorated. The building is now not only clean and well-maintained but also well-suited for the worship of Allah the Almighty. The missionaries are working with great dedication and diligence.
Holland
Maulvi Abdul Rahim Sahib Dard[ra] MA has received an invitation from Holland to deliver lectures on Islam. Our newly converted sister, Mrs Budd, who serves as an honorary missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Holland, is actively organising these lectures.
The Review of Religions
The Review of Religions is being edited with great care and effort, and the March issue has already been published. Members of the Conference of Religions have shown special interest in our magazine. The newspapers of England have published numerous forceful and continuous articles regarding the martyrs of Kabul. Our missionaries have engaged in significant dialogues, which have also been reported in the press.
The people of Europe are familiar with the barbarity of the Afghan maulvis, yet they are not fully aware of the educated ignoramuses of India, such as the Zamindar and Jamiat [Ulama-e-Hind]. When [the people of Europe] find out about this, the true missionaries of Islam will inevitably face severe objections and will be compelled to declare that such Muslims can no longer be considered true Muslims.
Protest
At the time of dispatching the last mail from London, it was resolved that a protest meeting would be held in response to the barbaric actions of the Kabul government.
Africa
From East Africa comes the glad news that the Nairobi Jamaat has purchased a hall, spending several thousand rupees, as a memorial to the martyrs of Kabul.
The Jamaat in West Africa is progressing peacefully. Hakim Fazl-ur-Rahman Sahib, who had travelled to London to visit Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra], has safely returned to his headquarters at Saltpond in the Gold Coast [now Ghana]. He is engaged in the moral training and education of Fante Land Jamaat and the Talim-ul-Islam School at Saltpond. There is a proposal under consideration to purchase one acre of land for the construction of a proper school building. Although the land is extremely expensive – three times the normal rate per square foot – the Jamaat is determined to complete the mission house and the school, as our work in Africa is largely connected with education and moral training.
Since the Prince of Wales is expected to visit Lagos, the capital of Nigeria, in April, the Jamaat is earnestly engaged in both the completion of the Talim-ul-Islam School in Lagos and in preparing to welcome the prince with due honour.
From the markaz of the Jamaat, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih [IIra] has graciously approved a grant of £200 for the construction of the school building.
Australia
Sufi Hasan Musa Khan, the honorary missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Perth, Australia, reports on his ongoing preaching efforts. In his latest letter, he mentions an incident where a company had used an English proverb in its advertisement, stating, “The mountain would not go to Muhammad, so Muhammad must perforce go to the mountain.” The Ahmadi missionary strongly objected to this usage, after which the company issued an apology and assured that the phrase would no longer appear in their advertisements.
Sufi Sahib is now growing weak with age, and friends are requested to pray for his health. He is one of the old and devoted servants of the Jamaat. When he returned to India, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira had advised him to go back to Australia and continue his preaching work.
India
By the grace of Allah, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat is steadily progressing in various parts of India. During the current month, some non-Ahmadi associations themselves felt the need to invite missionaries from the Ahmadiyya Headquarters, and their requests have been accepted. In certain regions, religious debates were held, and by the support of Divine help, Ahmadi debaters were crowned with success and victory.
The debate at Batala
Although Batala is situated close to Qadian, it has, unfortunately, partaken very little from the spiritual fountain that flows nearby. However, on 24-25 March [1925], on the initiative of the respected Master Abdul Rahman Sahib BA (a new convert), who had accompanied the students for the university examination, a debate was arranged between Ahmadis and non-Ahmadis.
Three topics were debated:
1. The Life and Death of Jesus
2. The Possibility of Prophethood after the Holy Prophetsa
3. The Truthfulness of the Promised Messiahas
On behalf of the Ahmadis, [Hazrat] Maulvi Jalaluddin Shams [ra] (Maulvi Fazil) served as the debater, while Maulvi Abdul Qadir Sahib Deobandi represented the opposing side. The debate proceeded peacefully, and every intelligent listener could see that the arguments of Maulvi Shams Sahib were enlightening, strong, and decisive. The opposing party was left with nothing but an acknowledgment of their own weakness.
During the debate, the opposing scholar remarked that just as the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was like a mirror – wherein Abu Jahl saw his own image and the Companions saw their noble reflection – so too are the writings of the Promised Messiahas. In them, non-Ahmadis see their own faces, while Ahmadis behold their own reflection.
On several occasions, the truth prevailed upon the tongues of the speakers, and by the grace of Allah, the people of Batala attentively listened to the arguments of Ahmadiyyat and felt the weight of their own weakness.
Lantern lectures
I express my gratitude to Allah the Almighty that, just as Ahmadis and non-Ahmadis appreciated my general lectures, excellent preaching was also carried out among non-Ahmadis through lantern-slide lectures in Jalandhar, Jammu, Sialkot, and Batala. When people witnessed the message of the Promised Messiahas reaching both white and black races, and extending to the corners of the earth – along with the journey of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra] to London, the laying of the foundation of the London Mosque, and the symbolic descent at the Minarat-ul-Masih – even those not affiliated with the Jamaat were deeply impressed.
Moreover, new slides were added, featuring the annual gatherings of Mecca, Medina, Constantinople, and Qadian, among others. Through these, non-Ahmadis were shown how our imam is the inheritor of the blessings of Masjid al-Haram and Masjid al-Aqsa, and the ghair muba‘ieen [those denied to perform bai‘at after the passing of the first Khalifa] were shown how the land of Qadian, filled with multitudes, bears testimony to its resemblance to the sacred precincts of the Holy Land. By the grace of God, this method of preaching has also proven effective.
Sumatra
Correspondence is ongoing with certain scholars [of Sumatra], and they are engaged in studying the literature of the Ahmadiyya Mulsim Jamaat.
Miscellaneous
Some brave Ahmadi missionaries are travelling to those regions of the world as well where the governments are not as peaceful as the British government.
(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu, published in the 2 April 1925 issue of Al Fazl)