Al Fazl, 4 March 1924
Hazrat Maulvi Abdur Rahim Nayyarra (1883-1948)
Sitting in the capital of the British Empire, one can take a thorough look across the globe and study to a great extent what is happening in any part of the world. The trend of political freedom in the Islamic world and the struggle in the nations belonging to Islam to stand on their own two feet can be well observed from London.
This week, the ambassador of newly liberated Egypt arrived in London. His Excellency, Aziz Ezzat Pasha, has met the British King [George V].
In the same week, His Excellency Yusuf Kemal Bey, who is the representative of the Turkish government, also arrived here. The political relations between Britain and Turkey are set to resume once the Turkey deal is confirmed by the newly elected [British] parliament.
The Muslims of Serbia, Albania and Bosnia are trying to reform themselves. Iran is discreetly and Afghanistan passionately focused on educating its youth. The Arab nations are busy thinking about ways of unifying, harmonising, and progressing. The Muslims of Russia are under the influence of atheism. The flames of war are raging between the people of Tripoli and Morocco and the European government. The state of the Muslims of India appears to be one of the most pitiable in the world. Despite their hue and cry, it seems that no one knows them in Europe and they also have no voice in India. The British, who were sympathetic towards them at first, have now become hopeless. Some Muslims of India have abandoned their British friends. The [Indian Muslims] have also deprived themselves of the sympathy of Arabs by calling them rebels. On the other hand, the Turks do not need such unwise friends who make Turkey a thorn in the eyes of Europe and especially the British Empire with their short-sighted actions. The government of Ismat Pasha, therefore, by separating the empire and the caliphate, has secured the political course of the Turkish government from the dangers that have always caused it trouble.
Sir Archibald Hamilton
The [5th] Baronet of the English royal family, [Sir Archibald Hamilton] has boldly announced his conversion to Islam, and commending the tabligh [preaching] efforts of the Right Honourable, Lord Headley [Al-Farooq], ascribes his declaration to their friendship.
A congratulatory telegram has been sent to Baronet from Ahmadiyya Darut Tabligh, because the message of Islam being conveyed to the people of this country is essentially in the form of the blessed teaching presented by the Promised Messiahas and the guidance imparted by him. Though the ungrateful people do not mention the name of this holy benefactor, the message is clearly given by the Promised Messiahas and its impact is evident. Even if some people are nominal Muslims, the followers of Prophet Ahmadas hold all those brothers very dear to them who claim to be the servants of Prophet Muhammadsa.
This humble one, [Hazrat Maulvi Abdur Rahim Nayyarra] is happy that the honourable son of the United Kingdom has professed لَآ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ مُحَمَّدُ رَّسُولُ اللّٰہ [“There is none worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammadsa is the Messenger of Allah”]. May Allah grant us many more [converts to Islam].
Missionary work
The missionaries of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat are engaged in spreading the message of Islam to the best of their ability. The people of this country were busy with the inauguration of their new parliament. As compared to politics, relatively less attention is given to religion over here.
The outdoor lectures are now receiving more attention than before, and there is a great demand for literature on Islam. By the grace and mercy of God Almighty, 1924 appears to be a much better and glorious year for Islam [Ahmadiyyat].
In all the religious circles in this part of the world, there is a tendency to interact with tolerance, mutual love and broad-mindedness. Moreover, people here are realising that seeds are being sown in the land of their hearts, and they are also looking for a Harith [i.e., landlord or cultivator; one of the names of the Promised Messiahas], and Ahmadiyya Jamaat is providing them exactly with what they need.
Students
Hafiz Syed Mahmudullah Shah Sahib is preparing to return home [i.e., British India], and will leave on 1 February [1924]. Abdul Rahim Khan Khalid Sahib will return home within the next six months after completing the bar exam. Malik Muhammad Ismail Sahib is diligently studying and regularly comes from the city to join us for Friday prayer. Mr Gabriel Sirens is doing a Bar course at the Lincoln Inns and is also enrolled in the LLB class at the University College. Seith Ali Muhammad Abdullah Sahib and Ghulam Hussain Bhanu Sahib are both studying well in Edinburgh. These days, Zafar Haq Khan Sahib has gone to Berlin to meet his sister and brother. Malik Maula Bakhsh Janjua Sahib of Oxon (Barrister-at-Law and BA Honours) is busy with LLB and BSL exams. Please request our friends to pray for their success.
Berlin
Maulvi Ghulam Farid Sahib, along with his wife and child, has reached Germany and is engaged in studying the German language. He and his family are doing well.
Requests
The readers of Al Fazl are requested to pay special attention to the following requests:
For Ahmadiyya Darut Tabligh London, please inscribe the creed in Arabic and English on a beautiful fabric and also make a star shape sketch on it, and then send this piece of cloth to this humble one for using it in the flag.
Please send neatly calligraphed planks for installation on the walls of Ahmadiyya Mosque [London].
Also, send some incense to burn in the mosque.
Please send some high-quality prayer mats.
Send a large and beautifully written copy of the Holy Quran.
Moreover, send copies of the translations of the books, Umdat al-Ahkam and Bulugh al-Maram.
Paying immediate attention to the above requests will be greatly appreciated.
Khwaja Kamaluddin Sahib
Our former friend, Khwaja Kamaluddin Sahib has been mentioned as a follower of the “Hanafi Faith” in the recently published Woking Review of December 1923, and his relationship with Qadian has also been disowned. They have also expressed that “An unknown person, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, formed a sect and claimed as the ‘Reformer’ only to free Indian Muslims from human worship.”
The same Khawaja Sahib, during the period in his life when he firmly believed, wrote:
الا اے منکر از شان مسيحا
بيا بشنو زمن احوال يارے
[“O denier of the glory of the Messiah, come and hear about the accounts my friend.”]
شفائے ہر مرض در قاديان است
شدہ دارالامان کوئے نگارے
[“The cure for every disease is in Qadian. The streets of my beloved (i.e., the Promised Messiahas) have become Darul Aman (‘Abode of Peace’).”
مطاع عالم و مخدم دنيا
مگر درکار دين خدمتگذار
[“His obedience and servitude are due upon the world, but he himself is devoted to the service of the faith (of Islam)”].
نشانے بے نشانے گر بجوئي
بياکن مجلسے با آن نگارے
[“If you want to witness a sign, then sit in the company of this man(i.e., the Messiah of the Age)”].
بنزديکت نشان خارج زعادت
خدا داند کہ من ديدم ہزارے
[“As far as you are concerned, miracle is a supernatural phenomenon, however, by God, I [Khawaja Kamaluddin Sahib] have personally witnessed around one thousand of such signs.”]
ز اخلاق کريمہ او چہ گويم
دريں آوراں نبي را ياد گارے
[“I do not find the words to describe his high moral standards. In this era, he [i.e., the Promised Messiahas] brings back to mind the time of Prophet(sa).”]
زمان او فزون از بيست وسہ شد
چوں از وحي اش مخاطب کہ ديارے
[“His epoch spans over 23 years, and the entire world is the addressee of his revelation.”]
چوں ايں کذب است حيرانم چہ گوئي
بشان آں رسول کردگارے
[“I will be very surprised if you still consider him false. You must understand the glory and honour of this Messengeras of Lord of all Creation.”]
خدارا توبہ کن از فسق عصيان
بہ ترس از اخذآں غيرت شعارے
[“Repent to God from the wickedness of rebellion, and fear the grip of the Envious Supreme Being.”]
نجاتے بس ہماں يابد کہ باشد
امام وقت را خدمتگذارے
[“Salvation will only be attained by those who seek to serve the Imam of the Age (i.e., the Promised Messiahas).”]
(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu, published in the 4 March 1924 issue of Al Fazl)