20-26 March

A selection of brief incidents from the first and second era of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya

20 March 1914: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud, may Allah be pleased with him, delivered his first ever Friday Sermon after being elected as Khalifatul Masih.

20 March 1924: The Jamaat convened its third three-day annual Shura in Qadian. 

20 March 1954: Hazrat Mirza Muhammad Ehsan Baig, may Allah be pleased with him, passed away. This companion of the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, performed Bai‘at in 1902.

20 March 1958: A new volume of Tafsir-e-Kabir was published, which covered the commentary of Surah Maryam to Surah Taha.

20 March 1964: The annual Shura took place under the presidency of Sheikh Muhammad Ahmad Mazhar Sahib.

21 March 1914: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra issued a powerful and resolute announcement under the title, “Who can stop Divine missions?”

21 March 1921: Opponents of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya gathered in Qadian and delivered hateful and provocative speeches. In response, on this date, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra delivered an awe-inspiring and passionate speech. For the first time in Qadian, special security measures were also taken to safeguard Ahmadi neighbourhoods, mosques and Bahishti Maqbara, owing to the lawlessness and bigotry spread by opponents.

21 March 1937: The state of Odisa in India convened its first ever Jalsa.

21 March 1955: Before embarking on his tour of Europe, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra issued his third message for Jamaat members, updating them about his health and other issues of the journey.

21 March 1957: The three-day annual Shura started. This 38^th Shura was held at Talim-ul-Islam College. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra graced this gathering with his presence in all the sessions, after an interval of 4 years.

21 March 1957: During the annual Shura, members finalised and passed, with a majority vote, the famous and historic resolution about the election of Khalifatul Masih. This resolution was derived from the points elaborated by Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra in his speech on Jalsa Salana 1957. Moreover, rules and regulations were approved with regard to electing the khalifa.

21 March 1958: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra inaugurated the Fazl-e-Umar Hospital in Rabwah.

22 March 1929: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra was a great devotee of the writings of the Promised Messiah^as. On this date, Huzoor^ra expressed the need to enhance Jamaat efforts in this regard. Huzoor^ra also shared some useful schemes like the establishment of book agencies to minimise printing cost of the books. Additionally, Huzoor^ra emphasised the vast circulation of Jamaat newspapers. 

22 March 1946: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra proposed some new names (derived from names of elders of the Jamaat) for the agricultural properties owned by the Jamaat in Muhammad Abad state, Sindh: like Nur Nagar, Karim Nagar, Latif Nagar, Roshan Nagar, Burhan Nagar and Ishaq Nagar.

22 March 1947: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra was in Nasir Abad, Sindh, where his stay is reported to have lasted until 28 March.

22 March 1953: Owing to an unexpected load of work and commitments to the countrywide agitation and disturbance against Jamaat members, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra could not continue his series of Dars-ul-Quran. On this date, Huzoor^ra resumed the Dars-ul-Quran lectures.

22 March 1955: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra issued his fourth message to Jamaat members and shared some more details of his proposed journey towards Europe for medical treatment.

23 March 1929: Anjuman Ahmadiyya Delhi convened its three-day annual Jalsa.

23 March 1935: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra travelled to Gurdaspur to take part in court proceedings of a case with Ataullah Shah Bukhari. Huzoor^ra also went to Gurdaspur on 25 and 27 March.

23 March 1942: Hazrat Hafiz Nabi Bakhsh, may Allah be pleased with him, passed away. This companion of the Promised Messiah^as belonged to Faizullah Chak and entered the Jamaat in 1890.

23 March 1944: Jalsa Musleh-e-Maud^ra was held in Ludhiana. The heavy rain showers could not reduce the number of attendees who came to see Huzoor^ra. In fact, 1,000 Ahmadis travelled all the way from Qadian alone to attend this blessed gathering.

23 March 1951: Upon the completion of major construction work, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra delivered his Friday sermon in Masjid Mubarak Rabwah, and to mark the inauguration, he led the congregation in a long prostration of gratitude.

23 March 1955: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra set off for Europe, a tour that lasted until 25 September. On this date, Huzoor^ra departed from Rabwah to Lahore. Huzoor^ra appointed Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad, may Allah be pleased with him, as amir-e-muqami.

23 March 1956: Pakistan was declared an Islamic Republic. Jamaat members also took part in jubilations arranged in this connection throughout the country.

23 March 1956: Onko Ismael bin Abdur Rahman Sikandar Sahib performed Bai‘at and accepted Islam Ahmadiyyat. This noble person had served his people as a high-ranking officer in the department of religious affairs of Johor State situated in modern day Malaysia. At the time of Bai‘at, he was serving as chairman of the Public Service Commission.

23 March 1957: The annual Shura unanimously passed a resolution in its final session to congratulate Pakistani officials and people upon the first anniversary of its adaptation of constitution and thus becoming an Islamic Republic.

23 March 1962: The 43^rd annual Shura was held and attended by 452 representatives. The house showed consensus on the establishment of a home for orphans and people with meagre means. This home was later named as Iqama-tul-Nusrat.

23 March 1963: The chief minister of Indian Punjab visited Qadian on this date.

24 March 1900: Upon the instruction of Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin, may Allah be pleased with him, a special record-keeping department was introduced to monitor the donations for Jamaat projects. 

24 March 1936: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra led the congregation in prayer to mark the inauguration of a new mosque in Retichalla, a neighbourhood in Qadian.

24 March 1944: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra lodged a campaign for the youth of the Jamaat to devote their lives for the Jamaat as it needed devotees in almost all departments to operate effectively. Furthermore, Huzoor^ra shared that the Jamaat needed 200 scholars and experts to devote their lives in the near future.

24 March 1949: To inspect the preparations being made for Jalsa Salana Rabwah, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra travelled all the way from Lahore to Rabwah.

24 March 1951: Pakistan had adopted the report finalised by the Basic Rights Committee on 6 October 1950. By virtue of the National assembly, designated to prepare the Constitution of Pakistan, this committee pondered over the basic rights that would be enshrined in the new constitution of the country. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud, may Allah be pleased with him, approved an 11-member committee of Jamaat scholars to further review the findings and points of the government report. This committee of Jamaat scholars published its detailed review in this date’s issue of Al Fazl.

24 March 1961: The Jamaat held its 42^nd annual Shura which was presided over by Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad^ra.

25 March 1910: During the Friday Sermon of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I^ra, some men were assigned to repeat the words of Huzoor^ra so that everyone present could hear and understand the message of Huzoor^ra. Perhaps this was the first ever effort in Jamaat history that later evolved into installing loudspeakers during Jamaat events.

25 March 1916: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra penned a book about the details of real salvation.

25 March 1931: Kanpur, India had a track record of atrocities committed against minorities. On this date, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra voiced his concerns against the latest injustices in the area. Huzoor^ra also sent aid in the form of cash for the affected locals.

25 March 1933: The foundation stone of an Ahmadiyya Mosque in Ambala, India was laid.

25 March 1952: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra addressed a press conference in Hyderabad, Pakistan.

25 March 1952: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra addressed a gathering of 1,000 people in Theosophical Hall, Hyderabad about the importance of unity among the Muslims.

25 March 1958: The Denmark mission was given under the supervision of the Germany mission to smoothly run its operations. Later, after two years, the Denmark mission resumed its independent status. 

26 March 1923: A group of 22 volunteers from Qadian arrived in Agra, India to challenge the ongoing wave of Shuddhi against the local Muslims.

26 March 1934: A delegation from Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya met Freeman Freeman-Thomas, 1^st Marquess of Willingdon GCSI and the governor General and Viceroy of India, and diverted his attention towards the rights of Muslims living within the Indian subcontinent.

26 March 1939: A sub-committee was formed to discuss the events to mark the upcoming Khilafat Jubilee. Hazrat Mir Muhammad Ismail, may Allah be pleased with him, was assigned to head this historic task.

26 March 1948: Punjab University organised an Urdu Conference where a special message by Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra was read out in its opening session. In his message, Huzoor^ra presented the idea of declaring Urdu as the national language of Pakistan.

26 March 1948: The annual Shura was held in which Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra took an oath from members of the Shura, that they would face every hardship and try their utmost to ensure the safety and return of Qadian. Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmaddiyya later published the wording of that oath and displayed it on large posters for the general public.

26 March 1949: Anjuman Himayat-e-Islam arranged a poet’s symposium where a variety of poets from the country were invited. Governor General Khawaja Nazimuddin was also present to enjoy the sitting. He took special interest in the poetic views of Saqib Zeervi Sahib who happened to be an Ahmadi, and insisted to repeat one poem by Zeervi Sahib thrice. Zeervi Sahib’s poem, “Mera jawab” was what made the evening memorable.

26 March 1956: Spanish authorities banned tabligh in Spain and conveyed this new restriction to the Jamaat missionary there, Maulana Karam Ilahi Zafar Sahib, through the Pakistani Embassy. On 20 April, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra protested this unnecessary restraint and echoed this to the Government of Pakistan and other Muslim states. Thus, the world press also took notice of this new development.

26 March 1956: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra went to Nakhla, a place near Khushab in Punjab, and stayed there until 29 March.