2-8 October

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

2 October 1891: The Promised Messiah^as was in Delhi to spread his message, but was met with bitter opposition, triggered by the local religious schools and mosques. To educate the masses, Huzoor^as penned a thorough leaflet detailing his religious beliefs on oath and a blueprint of his heavenly mission.

2 October 1896: The Promised Messiah^as informed Hazrat Haji Seith Allah Rakha Abdur Rahman^ra that a donation worth 100 rupees was received yesterday and surprisingly, God Almighty revealed this to him some hours prior to its receipt. Huzoor^as prayed for him and shared that some books were being prepared. Hazrat Ahmad^as added that some books of other religions like Judaism were available with him in English and some useful abstracts from them were being translated to be added in those new books.

2 October 1899: On this date, the Promised Messiah^as wrote to Hazrat Haji Seith Allah Rakha Abdur Rahman^ra that Hazrat Khalifa Nuruddin^ra had just returned from Kashmir after his research tour. He was able to record statements of 556 local men with regard to the grave of the person buried in Kashmir, known as Yuz Asaf, Prince Prophet or Isa Sahib etc. Huzoor^as shared with Seith Sahib^ra that the coming proposed research delegation comprising of three persons to be sent towards Nusaybin. Hazrat Ahmad^as said that prior to their departure, a jalsa would be held in Qadian on 12 November 1899. This proposed delegation would depart after three days of Jalsa.

2 October 1902: In the early morning, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad^ra set out on his journey towards Roorkee (a city in the northern district of Haridwar) along with nine respectable elders from Qadian. The entourage was received at the city railway station around Isha time by Hazrat Khalifa Rashiduddin^ra along with his close friends. The nikah of the young Sahibzada Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad^ra with Syeda Mahmuda Begum^ra, daughter of Hazrat Khalifa Rashiduddin^ra, was announced by Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin^ra at a dowry of 1,000 rupees. On 5 October, before dusk hours, the group reached back to Qadian and reported the events to Hazrat Ahmad^as regarding outstanding devotion and hospitality of the host.

3 October 1898: The Promised Messiah^as replied to the letter of Hazrat Haji Seith Allah Rakha Abdur Rahman^ra. In this letter, aside from many other topics, Hazrat Ahmad^as wrote that prayer can make some enormous miracles happen.

4 October 1883: The Promised Messiah^as wrote back to Mir Abbas Ali Sahib of Ludhiana enlightening his views and thoughts regarding certain topics of Islamic mysticism, by seeking his arguments and support from the Holy Quran and blessed sayings of the Holy Prophet^sa of Islam.

4 October 1887: The Promised Messiah^as wrote to Hazrat Munshi Rustam Ali^ra that paan (betel) leaves worth two annas had been received, but sadly, the cooking oil weighing eight kilograms that was also mentioned by him had not reached Qadian. Huzoor^as wrote that in these situations, where a very large quantity of items was being stolen, further dispatches must be stopped temporarily.

4 October 1899: On this date, Zia-ul-Islam Press Qadian printed a detailed announcement written by the Promised Messiah^as inviting his followers towards financial sacrifice for certain research projects. Huzoor^as shed some light on the importance of these ventures to prove the natural death of Prophet Jesus^as in Kashmir after his escape journey from the Middle East. Huzoor^as also shared the names of selfless contributors too, to encourage others.

5 October 1887: The Promised Messiah^as sent his decisive and final response towards Maulvi Muhammad Hussain of Batala, after his stubborn approach and fabricated ideas and thoughts.

5 October 1903: The Promised Messiah^as was present in the company of his companions in the evening of this date, where certain newspaper headings were read out to Huzoor^as, which arrived from Europe and America. After this, a person named Mian Gul Muhammad, a Christian by faith, addressed Huzoor^as with some questions. Huzoor^as answered him and owing to the poor financial state of this guest, Huzoor^as gave him three rupees for travel expenses and stated that his whole mission and all activities were solely for God Almighty. Hazrat Ahmad^as announced that if someone from London would travel to him to seek the truth, Huzoor^as would like to bear even his travel expenses.

5 October 1907: The Promised Messiah^as replied to a letter of Hazrat Seith Ismail Adam^ra, in which Seith Sahib^ra sent his condolences of the sad demise of Huzoor’s^as son, Hazrat Mirza Mubarak Ahmad. Hazrat Ahmad^as conveyed that he regularly prayed for him and would continue doing so. How lucky were these men of God, who accepted Imam of the age, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi.

6 October 1891: The Promised Messiah^as was in Delhi and did his utmost to reach the masses with his divine message, but local clerics used their influence to add obstacles in the spread of his mission. Hazrat Ahmad^as invited the renowned clergy leaders for a decisive debate. On this date, Huzoor^as wrote to Syed Nazeer Husain (the teacher of the Ahl-e-Hadith section of the ulema in all of India). This influential teacher was born at Surajgarh, District Monghyr in 1805 AD and came to Delhi in 1828. He was kept in Rawalpindi Jail for one year (1864-65) under suspicion and died on 13 October 1902. During the last quarter of the century, his judgment was affected and his fatwas issued during this period were not trustworthy. (See his biography written by Fadl Husain, Akbari Press, Agra, 1908. pp. 81, 307)

In this announcement, Huzoor^as repeated his invitation to a debate. It was the only course against the vicious machinations of the clergymen. Hazrat Ahmad^as was prepared to hold the debate in Nazeer Husain’s own place, without insistence on the presence of any European officer, if Nazeer Husain openly undertook, by means of an ishtihar (announcement), to be responsible for the proper conduct of the debate in writing. This leaflet was printed at the Akhbar Khair Khah Hind Press, Delhi. Instead of meeting Hazrat Ahmad^as in a decent manner, the mullahs resorted to a mean trick. Without consulting or even informing Hazrat Ahmad^as, they announced that a debate would be held with Hazrat Ahmad^as on a certain date.

6 October 1894: The mullahs were already siding with the Christians in the case of Abdullah Atham and were eager to oppose Hazrat Ahmad^as at any cost. To confuse and deceive the public even more, the mullahs began to say that the second part of the prophecy regarding the death of Sultan Muhammad and Hazrat Ahmad’s^as marriage with Muhammadi Begum had also not been fulfilled. To answer them, Hazrat Ahmad^as issued a leaflet on this date, in which he explained that prophecies regarding punishment, like that of Atham and Sultan Muhammad, were not irrevocable decrees to be carried out in a mechanical manner. God is Merciful; He is also Forgiving, and He is not malicious and vindictive. The elements of fear and repentance therefore introduced contingency into prophecy. He suggested that a public meeting be held, at which point he would prove that he was truthful according to Muslim scriptures. If, however, the mullahs still persisted in their view, he would ask them to declare on solemn oath that Hazrat Ahmad’s^as view was wrong. They should also pray to God that the advocate of falsehood be chastised by Him. Hazrat Ahmad^as promised to give them 200 rupees for this purpose, but nobody came forward. All they did was to ask for illustrations and references in a disbelieving manner.

7 October 1888: The Promised Messiah^as replied to a letter of Hazrat Munshi Rustam Ali^ra sharing his deep medical observation regarding types and usage of eggs in different weather conditions.

8 October 1884: The Promised Messiah^as wrote to Mir Abbas Ali Sahib of Ludhiana, expressing his worries regarding the news of the sudden and sharp decline in his health. Huzoor^as stated that he had just returned from Amritsar and a short note was waiting for him sent by Mir Imdad Ali, informing him of the bad health of Mir Abbas Ali. Hazrat Ahmad^as wrote that in that moment, he was braving some health issues, but feeble conditions of a friend kept all his attention. Hazrat Ahmad^as asked him to add his signature when he next writes a letter.

8 October 1897: The Urdu Al Hakam started its publication from Amritsar. The maiden issue contained Al Hakam’s manifesto and subscription packages, along with some other rich material. Indeed, it was the great good fortune of Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali^ra, a devoted disciple of Hazrat Ahmad^as, who later became known as Irfani, that he seized the opportunity and started a weekly paper from Amritsar. In view of the ancient prophecy that the Promised Messiah^as would judge between all peoples, the newspaper was named Al Hakam (the judge).

The first issue was published on 8 October 1897, having been printed at the Riyaz-e-Hind Press, Amritsar. The first issue of the second volume is dated 20 February 1898 and was published from Qadian and printed at the Anwar-e-Ahmadiyya Press, Qadian. Al Hakam therefore enjoys the unique honour of being the first paper of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat.

8 October 1905: The Promised Messiah^as sent out a message for his community regarding the esteemed stature of Hazrat Imam Hussain^ra. The Promised Messiah^as opened this leaflet by writing, “Let it be known that I have been informed through a postal card that certain ignorant people, who associate themselves with my Jamaat, have claimed that Imam Hussain^ra was amongst those who rebelled owing to his refusal of doing the Bai‘at of the Khalifa of the time, i.e. Yazid and that Yazid was on the side of the truth, God-forbid.”

Hazrat Ahmad^as went on to say, “Curse be upon the liars! I do not believe that such despicable words could be uttered by a righteous person of my Jamaat.”

After uprooting many misconceptions, Hazrat Ahmad^as penned some powerful words and said, “Such a heart is completely destroyed that bears enmity towards Him, but one that displays love for Him through his actions and perfectly reflects every trace of his faith, morals, bravery, righteousness, patience and love for God will surely succeed, just like a clean mirror reflects the features of a beautiful person’s countenance. Such people are hidden from the eyes of the world; no one is aware of their true rank except for those who are from among them. The eyes of the world cannot perceive them for they are very far from this world. This was the very reason for Hussain’s martyrdom, for his true status was not recognised.” (Majmua Ishtiharat, Vol. 3, pp. 374-377)