100 Years Ago… – Missionary activity in UK and Ceylon – April 1919

0

Al Fazl, 13 May 1919

Ever since I returned to London on 5 April, I have been suffering from influenza and a cough. In fact, the symptoms began to appear when I was in Bournemouth. I request members of the Jamaat to pray for me.

In the month of April, I received 172 letters etc. while the number of letters dispatched amounted to 265. One can assess the volume of work from the fact that I sealed those packets myself which were present in the mail. Moreover, nearly all the mail was personally transported to the post office and dispatched in person. The mail of brother Qazi Abdullah Sahib is apart from this. The aforementioned mail is particularly mine.

May Allah the Almighty through His blessings provide means whereby a scribe can be arranged for correspondence who can work according to my instructions.

At present, owing to the war, there is a law here that every person’s name, address etc. must be recorded in the governmental office and every individual must carry a verified slip of that record at all times. In case someone moves to another place, the government must be informed about the change of address.

Arab Sahib was unable to inform the change of address due to a misunderstanding. Therefore, he came under the custody of the current authorities. However, by the blessings of Allah the Almighty he was released in the end. Throughout those difficult times, several friends came to his aid in every way possible. The assistance of Mr A Khan Sahib, a cook, is worthy of praise and thanks. May Allah the Almighty grant him the best of rewards.

The good news of a young lady named Miss Parker who embraced Islam, along with the request of her Bai‘at has been sent to Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa. She has been given the Islamic name Nur.

Presently, mail from India usually arrives weekly on Saturdays. However, sometimes it arrives rather late.

Muhammad Sadiq. 10 April 1919

Al Fazl, 17 May 1919

(The following article, filled with exhilarating and delightful news, is a gift from our revered Master Abdul Rahim Nayar Sahib. By the grace of Allah the Almighty, whilst being responsible for Hazrat Khalifatul Masih’s correspondence department, he is also blessed with the opportunity of conveying various activities of Ahmadiyya Jamaats taking place within and outside of India. The article below serves as a source of nourishment for the soul.)

United Kingdom: Hazrat Qazi Sahib and Mufti Sahib are actively engaged in their works. Seekers of truth come regularly in large numbers and research about Islam and Ahmadiyyat.

Members of the Jamaat should be informed that there are two kinds of people who are being brought forth under the tabligh of the missionaries from the United Kingdom. Firstly, there are those individuals who after only hearing the ten conditions of Bai‘at and get acquainted to Ahmadiyyat and sign the Bai‘at form. They are called Ahmadis. Secondly, those individuals who after reading the conditions of Bai‘at accept them, and attest by signing the Bai‘at form and bearing witness to the truth. We name them musadiqin (those who attest to the truth).

The wording of Musaddiqin’s form is as follows:

I bear witness that:

1. لَا اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُوْلُ اللّٰہِ

[There is none worthy of worship except Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.]

2. Ahmadas of Qadian is the prophet of the present time

3. The Holy Quran is the final Shariah [divine law]

4. Buddha, Krishna, Zoroaster, Confucius, Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them all) were prophets of God

5. The tomb of Jesusas, where he is buried, is located in Kashmir, India

6. The door to divine revelation has never been closed

7. Allah the Almighty still speaks to His servants

8. The present imam and head of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat is Hazrat Mahmud, Khalifa II

A lady’s request for Bai’at has been received in the recent mail from the UK. The subject of that letter is as follows:

“To His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad of Qadian,

“Your Holiness! Agreeing with the beliefs of Ahmadiyyat, I hereby announce that I embrace Islam. I request His Holiness to kindly admit me into his Jamaat and pray for me. I am His Holiness’ highly obedient servant. Nelly Parker Nur”

Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]: The members of Ceylon Jamaat are working hard with steadfastness. Every one of them resembles a missionary. Maulvi AP Ibrahim Malabari … is the imam of Ceylon Jamaat who has previously lived in Qadian. Currently, he works as a merchant in Colombo.

The members of Ceylon Jamaat convey the message of Islam and Ahmadiyyat in both written and spoken form. They have had religious debates with the people of that area which are now held on a regular basis. Lectures are delivered in Colombo Jamaat’s weekly gatherings which are followed by questions and answers. Apart from lectures, the weekly Anglo-Tamil newspaper of Jamaat Ahmadiyya Colombo is proving extremely beneficial and responds to the allegations of opponents in the most convincing manner.

The Ahmadiyya youth of Colombo have laid the foundation of a new organisation which publishes tracts. Colombo Jamaat has published exceptionally useful tracts in Tamil and English. Members of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat are requested to assist the Colombo Ahmadis and to aid them in publishing these tracts. All post regarding the tracts should be sent to: Mr WM Thaka, Post Box 216, Colombo.

The recent converts [in Ceylon] are WA Nuruddin, Abdur Rahman Yusuf Lebay, EA Ibrahim Adham, EN Nagupchay, Muhammad Saleh, Fatima Amina and K Fatima.

No posts to display

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here