22 April 2003 is a day of great historical importance not only in the history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat but also in the history of Islam.
It was this day that a fifth Khalifa-e-Rashed – rightly guided Khalifa – was elected to guide the Muslim Ummah.
The first phase of rightly-guided Khilafat saw its end with the demise of Hazrat Alira, the fourth Khalifa of the Prophet of Islamsa.
The second phase of Khilafat in the latter days was to remain forever for Al-Jamaat – the Jamaat of the true believers of the Holy Prophetsa and his Promised Messiahas.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa was elected Khalifatul Masih V – fifth Khalifa of the Promised Messiahas on this day.
He was elevated to this post at a time when the world was rapidly drifting away from God, when world-peace was at the brink of a breakdown and when majority of the world population was concerned about its “rights” and forgetful about its “responsibilities” towards fellow-beings. Material lust had embraced the collective psychology of political leaders, resulting in millions of people living below the line of poverty. Above all, Islam had become synonymous with terror and violence.
It was in this setting that Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, may Allah strengthen his hand, emerged as a messenger of peace, love, justice and humanity. As the fifth Khalifa of the Promised Messiah and Mahdias, and as a servant of the Holy Prophet of Islamsa, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa embarked on a journey of bringing the true colours back to the picture of Islam; the colours that had faded away and turned grey.
As to how this had happened, some violent and “un-Islamic” acts of Muslims were primarily to be held responsible before turning to the propaganda campaigns of Western media against these acts.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa, from the very first day of his Khilafat, has addressed both issues painstakingly, untiringly and relentlessly; in such a peaceful manner that has always been a unique characteristic of the Imam of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
While calling others to Ahmadiyyat – the True Islam – Huzooraa also remains constantly engaged in continuous reformation of those who have already accepted Islam Ahmadiyyat.
Allah the Almighty has enabled Huzooraa to launch numerous schemes and projects to alleviate not only the physical suffering of humanity, but also the spiritual decline that faces the world as the biggest challenge of all times.
