17-23 July

In this third year of Al Hakam, we will present a selection of incidents from the blessed life of the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, this time, with some more details

17 July 1885: The Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as dispatched a decisive letter for Pandit Lekhram on this date. Lekhram was born in Chakwal, District Jhelum. He joined the police force in 1876 and established the Arya Samaj at Peshawar in 1881. Later on, he resigned from this post and went to Lahore in 1884. He was appointed as editor of the Arya Gazette in Firozpur. In this letter, Hazrat Ahmad invited prominent representatives of different faiths to come and stay in Qadian for at least one year and witness heavenly signs in favour of Islam, as a result of Hazrat Ahmad’s^as prayers. Huzoor^as added one term for Pandit Sahib in response to his demand of depositing 2,400 rupees and Huzoor^as gave fine details of it.

17 July 1898: The Promised Messiah^as informed Hazrat Haji Seith Allah Rakha Abdur Rahman^ra in a letter that he had received 100 rupees sent by him. From this letter, Huzoor’s^as tenacious attitude towards prayers becomes evident, alongside his cordial care for his devout followers.

17 July 1901: The Promised Messiah^as arrived back in Qadian after attending a court hearing of the Wall Case in Gurdaspur, where he was summoned as a defence witness. Hazrat Ahmad^as had his statement recorded, which explained not only the background of this case, but his mission, his prophecies and the opposition he had faced from all fronts. After the court session, Hazrat Ahmad^as was happy to have had the opportunity of vindicating his prophecies in court and thus, a large number of people who had gathered in the court became his witnesses. There were government officials, such as Ganga Ram, Mirza Zafrullah Khan and Muhammad Abdul Shakur present in the court. They were all struck by the wonderful force, conviction and authority with which Hazrat Ahmad^as spoke before the court. He was summoned as a witness, but everyone felt that he behaved and spoke there as the supreme judge.

17 July 1902: The Promised Messiah^as replied to a letter of Hazrat Haji Seith Allah Rakha Abdur Rahman^ra expounding on the philosophy of grief in this world.

18 July 1891: The Promised Messiah^as responded to a letter of Hazrat Mian Sheikh Fath-e-Muhammad^ra, which reached Huzoor^as in Ludhiana. Hazrat Ahmad^as expressed his concerns upon the news of Fath-e-Muhammad Sahib’s illness and said that he had prayed for him.

18 July 1900: The Promised Messiah^as wrote a letter to Hazrat Mian Shadi Khan^ra lauding his financial sacrifice and termed it a sacrifice akin to the sacrifices of the Holy Prophet’s^sa Companions^ra.

18 July 1904: The Promised Messiah^as was in Gurdaspur, where he was approached by a person, Mehar Nabi Bakhsh Sahib, also known as Abdul Aziz Nambardar of Batala. This individual was of the notion that he should write a commentary of the Holy Quran to help guide people and he requested for the help of the Promised Messiah^as. Hazrat Ahmad^as rightfully guided him and out of his graciousness, shepherded him to the right and logical approach after eliminating some of his false perceptions.

19 July 1887: The Promised Messiah^as rendered thanks through a short letter to Hazrat Munshi Rustam Ali^ra, upon receipt of mangos. Huzoor^as said that the gift reminded him of another pressing task that needed to be accomplished very soon.

20 July 1888: The Promised Messiah^as replied to a letter of Hazrat Munshi Rustam Ali^ra and informed him that Huzoor’s son, Bashir Ahmad had remained critically ill, so he could not respond to letters in the meanwhile. In response to a query of Munshi Sahib^ra, Hazrat Ahmad^as expressed his unawareness of a certain book written by Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin^ra.

20 July 1891: The Promised Messiah’s^as written debate with Maulvi Muhammad Hussain of Batala commenced on this day in Ludhiana. It continued for the next 10 days. It was later published in book form under the title, Al Haq: Mubahisa Ludhiana, from Sialkot. It was through Hazrat Maulvi Abdul Karim Sialkoti’s^ra efforts that it saw publication through his magazine Al Haq Sialkot.

20 July 1892: The Promised Messiah^as responded to a letter of Hazrat Munshi Rustam Ali^ra and informed him that Huzoor^as had prayed for the success of a Ghulam Mustafa. Furthermore, Huzoor^as wrote that his new book was being printed.

20 July 1900: On this date, the Promised Messiah^as issued an announcement in which he invited Meher Ali Shah to a contest. On page 81 of Shams-ul-Hidayah, Meher Ali Shah had insinuated that Hazrat Ahmad^as did not know the Quran, so Huzoor^as suggested that a meeting be held in Lahore and 40 verses of the Quran should be selected by casting lots. Hazrat Ahmad^as and Meher Ali Shah should then pray that God enable the truthful among the two to write in fluent Arabic a commentary of the verses in that very meeting with the help of Allah. The commentary should be no less than the agreed page count. The parties should have no book with them, nor should there be any assistant. Seven hours should be given for this purpose. The parties should then sign the papers, which would be read out to three learned men selected by Meher Ali Shah. They should neither be followers of Ahmad^as, nor of Meher Ali Shah. These three men should then give their decision under oath as to which of the papers was superior in language as well as in commentary.

Hazrat Ahmad^as added that he was prepared to entrust the decision to his enemies like Maulvi Muhammad Hussain, Maulvi Abdul Jabbar Ghaznavi and Professor Maulvi Abdullah. This announcement was signed by some 20 men as witnesses. In a supplement to this announcement, issued on the same date, Hazrat Ahmad^as invited mullahs also to prevent them from complaining afterwards that Meher Ali Shah was not their representative or that he was not fully competent for the contest.

The invitation was, therefore, developed as follows: Meher Ali Shah should publicise his acceptance with an announcement within a month so that the mullahs of the country are able to join the contest, for which suitable arrangements should be made in Lahore by Meher Ali Shah or, if he was unable to do so, Huzoor^as would take on the responsibility. The contest should finish in one day and seven hours be allowed for the writing of a paper of 40 pages. Each of those who enter the contest must write their paper sitting alone, without help. Hazrat Ahmad^as would hand over a signed copy to Meher Ali Shah, from whom other copies might be obtained, but all of them should hand over signed copies of their papers to Hazrat Ahmad^as before he handed over his copy to Meher Ali Shah. The paper must be written in Arabic. After the reading of papers, the three adjudicators appointed by Meher Ali Shah would give their award under oath. If Meher Ali Shah did not have the courage to enter the contest, then the other mullahs could do so, but their number must be 40 and not less in any case.

If, however, Meher Ali Shah or the mullahs failed to come forward by 22 August 1900, it would be understood that God had forsaken them all and that the silence of his enemies was a heavenly sign in favour of Ahmad^as. The names of 86 prominent mullahs were appended to the announcement and the rest were all invited in general.

21 July 1898: The Promised Messiah^as wrote a letter to Hazrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan^ra and dispatched Marham-e-Isa (the Ointment of Jesus, also known as the Apostle’s Ointment).

22 July 1891: The Promised Messiah^as updated Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin^ra, in reply to his letter, regarding the ongoing written debate with Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi. Huzoor^as lamented the clumsy approach of this entrant, yet Huzoor^as was confident that this exercise would bring positive outcomes, as earlier, Maulvi Muhammad Hussain succumbed to the pressure of influential people of Ludhiana and had to engage in this debate. This letter also adds that news of Hazrat Hakim Sahib’s^ra illness worried the Promised Messiah^as. Huzoor^as expressed his love and prayed fervently for Hazrat Hakim Sahib^ra.

23 July 1892: The Promised Messiah^as wrote to Hazrat Mian Abdullah Sanauri^ra that he was sending him a copy of his book, Nishan-e-Asmani and informed him that his book, Dafi‘-ul-Wasawis (Aina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam) was being printed, which would become available in the coming months. Hazrat Ahmad^as expressed his longing to see him and asked him to visit Qadian.

23 July 1898: The plague was claiming lives in most parts of the Indian subcontinent. This was a matchless heavenly sign shown in favour of the Promised Messiah^as. But out of sheer love and compassion for humankind, he announced on this day that everyone should repent to God and that a precautionary medicine had been prepared for plague patients. It was named “Tiryaq-i-Ilahi” (Divine cure) as the main ingredients of this medicine were inspired to Huzoor^as by God Almighty. This indigenous medicine cost 2,500 rupees. Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin^ra bore a major part and donated around 2,000 rupees.