In this third year of Al Hakam, we will present a selection of incidents from the blessed life of the Promised Messiahas with some more details
12 February 1891: On this date, the Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra saying that he had heard the maulvis of Amritsar were creating a lot of hue and cry in his opposition.
Hazrat Ahmadas said that for the last few days, Hazrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khanra was staying in Qadian. Huzooras described him as a very pious young man and that reading a few of his (the Promised Messiah’sas) books proved to strengthen his faith.
Although he belonged to the Shia sect, Huzooras said Hazrat Nawab Sahibra had renounced all invalid and baseless beliefs that Shias held with regard to the Companionsra of the Holy Prophetsa. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, pp. 103-104)
12 February 1900: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Seith Ismael Adamra in which he acknowledged receipt of 10 rupees, expressed his gratitude and prayed for him. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 3, p. 265)
12 February 1902: The Promised Messiahas conveyed a message to members of the Jamaat through Al Hakam that the written assessment recommended to take place on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha had been postponed due to the outbreak of the plague. Moreover, Huzooras blessed residents of the cities that had succumbed to the plague, with precious and elementary guidance. (Malfuzat, Vol. 2, p. 173)
13 February 1835: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas of Qadian, the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi, was born to Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Murtaza and Hazrat Charagh Bibi. It was a Friday and according to the Hijri calendar, it was 14 Shawwal 1250 AH. According to the desi Punjabi year, or the Bikrami calendar, it was first Phagan 1891. The Promised Messiahas was born at the break of dawn in Qadian. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 1, p. 48)
13 February 1886: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira in which he informed him that Munshi Ilahi Bakhsh Sahib, an accountant in Lahore, would send a few things to him and Chaudhry Muhammad Bakhsh Sahib in Jalandhar. Huzooras added that once he received it, he should then send them to Huzooras in Hoshiarpur. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, p. 471)
13 February 1887: On this date, the Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra in which he explained that a person is able to receive great pleasure once they have established a firm belief in God and purified themselves of all worldly desires by fostering a relationship and connection with Allah. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, p. 25)
13 February 1887: On this date, the Promised Messiahas replied to a letter he received from Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra in which he said:
“Today, at the time of Fajr, the following was put into my mind by way of revelation:
عبدالباسط
[Abdul Basit]
“I did not understand who was meant by it. In your letter received today, I saw Abdul Basit. It is possible that the words may have been referenced to you.”
Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfanira states that Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra had said several times that his revealed name was Abdul Basit. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, p. 26)
13 February 1903: A person of Baghdadi descent named Dr Muhammad Yusuf arrived in Qadian who was residing in Lucknow. He reached Qadian for research purposes and met with the Promised Messiahas to learn about Huzoor’sas claim. He asked various questions and enquired of Huzooras about his miracles. (Malfuzat, Vol. 3, pp. 72-73)
14 February 1888: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira in which he described the current state of mankind and stated that it was only a result of God’s blessing that one could be inclined towards religion. The Promised Messiahas further prayed that God blessed the Jamaat and enabled it to spread and prosper. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, p. 533)
14 February 1891: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra in which he said that he had departed for Ludhiana.
Huzooras said that Hazrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khanra was in Qadian and was reminisicing Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra a lot. He said that he had benefitted a great deal from Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin’sra book, Tasdiq Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, and also said that it proved to answer and solve many doubts.
Hazrat Ahmadas added that Hazrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khanra, whilst in Qadian, had expressed his desire to meet Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra. Huzooras then went on to describe this young man (Hazrat Nawab Sahibra) as very pious and regular in prayers. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, p. 104)
15 February 1884: On this date, the Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Mir Abbas Ali Sahib of Ludhiana in which he said that he had received the following revelation from Allah Almighty:
يَا عَبْدَ الرَّافِعِ اِنِّیْ رَافِعُكَ اِلَيَّ۔ اِنِّىْ مُعِزُّكَ لَا مَانِعَ لِمَا اُعْطِىْ
“O Servant of the God Who exalts! I shall raise you towards Me. I shall bestow honour and victory upon you. None can stop that which I bestow.”
Huzooras further wrote, “Perhaps two days ago, I received the revelation again:
يَا يَحْيٰى خُذِالْكِتٰبَ بِقُوَّةٍ۔ خُذْهَا وَلَا تَخَفْ سَنُعِيْدُهَا سِيْرَتَهَا الْاُوْلٰى
“‘O Yahya [John], hold fast to this Book. Hold fast to it and be not afraid. We shall restore to it its original qualities.’
“This last part has been revealed to me previously also.” (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 1, p. 597)
15 February 1885: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira in which he expressed his condolences at the demise of his respected elder relative and prayed for Allah’s mercy.(Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, p. 459)
15 February 1888: On this date, the Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira, wherein he wrote:
“On the night between 13 and 14 February, I saw two frightening dreams about you, which portended great grief and sorrow. I was very much anxious and uncertain as to the import of the dreams and a revelation came in a light slumber which has totally escaped my memory. Then, yesterday, your letter arrived containing the grievous news of the death of Sunderdas. ‘To Allah we belong and to Him shall we return.’ It seems that this was the sorrow to which the dream was related.” (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, pp. 534-535)
15 February 1896: The Promised Messiahas replied to a letter he received from Hazrat Mian Abdullah Sanaurira in which he said that he should try to meet him. Hazrat Ahmadas, alluding to his frail health, said that at times, it proved difficult to even respond to letters. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 3, p. 225)
15 February 1898: A foul mouthed apostate, Ahmad Shah Sheikh of Kashmir, who had converted to Christianity and had once been the medical officer of Ladakh and formerly been a missionary in Jagraon, District Ludhiana, wrote an offensive book, Ummahat-ul-Momineen, from England, which was published by RPS Press, Gujranwala and distributed on a large scale in early 1898, free of charge. According to a narration, this book reached the Promised Messiahas on this day. (Life of Ahmad, p. 430)
15 February 1901: A children’s cricket match was held on this day. Several respected elders of the town went to watch the match for encouragement. Meanwhile, the Promised Messiahas was busy writing the interpretation of Surah al-Fatihah. A child of the Promised Messiahas asked him out of simplicity and love, “Why didn’t you come to watch the match?” The Promised Messiahas replied, “They [the children] would have eventually come back after playing, but the cricket match that I am playing will continue till the end of times.” (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 2, p. 168)
16 February 1884: The Promised Messiahas replied to a letter he received from Mir Abbas Ali Sahib of Ludhiana in which he stated that the world had witnessed many blessings that became manifest through the enmity of opponents. Huzooras added that the blessings of every prophet were shown after they faced opposition. If people had immediately accepted those who came from God, then the world would have been deprived of many miracles. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 1, p. 598)
16 February 1891: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra in which he expressed gratitude to Allah, Who granted him glad tidings of victory and help over those who declared him misguided and Hell-bound. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, pp. 105)
17 February 1897: The Promised Messiahas published an announcement in which he appealed to members of the Jamaat for a house and a well that were needed for the hospitality of guests. This announcement was published from Zia-ul-Islam Press, Qadian. (Majmua-e-Ishtiharat, Vol. 2, p. 210)
17 February 1907: In February 1907, the Promised Messiahas received letters from the manager of the Gujranwala Gurukula who invited him for a religious conference. He said that every speaker would be given only 30 minutes to deliver a speech.
On this date, on behalf of the Promised Messiahas, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra replied that Huzooras said that such a short time span would not be enough to address important theological matters and that for this reason, the Promised Messiahas could not participate. He explained that in such short time, it was not possible to expound upon certain matters in detail and to leave the truth incomplete was akin to an unborn baby coming out of the womb of the mother before its due date. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 1, p. 95)
17 February 1908: The nikah of Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begumra was announced with Hazrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khanra, Raees (chieftain) of Malerkotla. Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra led this nikah at Masjid Aqsa, Qadian and the mehr (dowry) was set for 56,000 rupees. Several guests came to participate from outside of Qadian. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 1, p. 515)
18 February 1903: It is recorded in Al Hakam that the Promised Messiahas said:
“Yesterday, on 18 February, suddenly I had a recurrence of my ilness and my hands and feet became cold. In this condition, I received a revelation, of which I can only remember one phrase. Since the revelation descended at a very fast speed, like the flash of lightning, the remainder could not be preserved. It is:
وَيُبْقِيْكَ
“Along with this, I was told its meaning by Allah the Almighty:
تابدير ترا خواهد داشت
“He will keep you for long.” (Al Hakam, 21 February 1903, p. 16)
18 February 1906: On this date, the Promised Messiahas received the following revelation:
اِنِّىْ مَعَ الَّذِيْنَ هُمْ يَهْتَدُوْنَ۔ اَىْ يَاْتُوْنَ اِلَى اللّٰهِ حَنِيْفًا كَمَا قَالَ اللّٰهُ تَعَالیٰ۔ قُلْ بَلْ مِلَّةَ اِبْرَاهِيْمَ حَنِيْفًا
“I am with those who are rightly guided. That is to say, those who come to Allah wholeheartedly; as Allah the Almighty has said. Tell them: ‘I follow the way of Abraham, who was wholly devoted to Allah.’” (Tadhkirah [English], p. 823)