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 Ahmadas 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’sas prayers. Huzooras added one term for Pandit Sahib in response to his demand of depositing 2,400 rupees and Huzooras gave fine details of it.
17 July 1898: The Promised Messiahas informed Hazrat Haji Seith Allah Rakha Abdur Rahmanra in a letter that he had received 100 rupees sent by him. From this letter, Huzoor’sas tenacious attitude towards prayers becomes evident, alongside his cordial care for his devout followers.
17 July 1901: The Promised Messiahas arrived back in Qadian after attending a court hearing of the Wall Case in Gurdaspur, where he was summoned as a defence witness. Hazrat Ahmadas 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 Ahmadas 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 Ahmadas 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 Messiahas replied to a letter of Hazrat Haji Seith Allah Rakha Abdur Rahmanra expounding on the philosophy of grief in this world.
18 July 1891: The Promised Messiahas responded to a letter of Hazrat Mian Sheikh Fath-e-Muhammadra, which reached Huzooras in Ludhiana. Hazrat Ahmadas 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 Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Mian Shadi Khanra lauding his financial sacrifice and termed it a sacrifice akin to the sacrifices of the Holy Prophet’ssa Companionsra.
18 July 1904: The Promised Messiahas 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 Messiahas. Hazrat Ahmadas 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 Messiahas rendered thanks through a short letter to Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira, upon receipt of mangos. Huzooras said that the gift reminded him of another pressing task that needed to be accomplished very soon.
20 July 1888: The Promised Messiahas replied to a letter of Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira 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 Sahibra, Hazrat Ahmadas expressed his unawareness of a certain book written by Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra.
20 July 1891: The Promised Messiah’sas 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’sra efforts that it saw publication through his magazine Al Haq Sialkot.
20 July 1892: The Promised Messiahas responded to a letter of Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira and informed him that Huzooras had prayed for the success of a Ghulam Mustafa. Furthermore, Huzooras wrote that his new book was being printed.
20 July 1900: On this date, the Promised Messiahas 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 Ahmadas did not know the Quran, so Huzooras suggested that a meeting be held in Lahore and 40 verses of the Quran should be selected by casting lots. Hazrat Ahmadas 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 Ahmadas, 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 Ahmadas 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 Ahmadas 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, Huzooras 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 Ahmadas 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 Ahmadas 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 Ahmadas. The names of 86 prominent mullahs were appended to the announcement and the rest were all invited in general.
21 July 1898: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khanra and dispatched Marham-e-Isa (the Ointment of Jesus, also known as the Apostle’s Ointment).
22 July 1891: The Promised Messiahas updated Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra, in reply to his letter, regarding the ongoing written debate with Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi. Huzooras lamented the clumsy approach of this entrant, yet Huzooras 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’sra illness worried the Promised Messiahas. Huzooras expressed his love and prayed fervently for Hazrat Hakim Sahibra.
23 July 1892: The Promised Messiahas wrote to Hazrat Mian Abdullah Sanaurira 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 Ahmadas 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 Messiahas. 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 Huzooras by God Almighty. This indigenous medicine cost 2,500 rupees. Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra bore a major part and donated around 2,000 rupees.