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
21 August 1887: In a letter sent on this date, the Promised Messiahas reminded Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira about purchasing and sending cooking oil to Qadian. Huzooras also asked him to arrange for a suitable housemaid to care for his newborn son, Bashir (Awwal) the first, as Huzooras did not find the local servants of Qadian satisfactory.
21 August 1904: The Promised Messiahas was in Lahore on this date and delivered a public address after offering Zuhr prayer.
22 August 1885: The Promised Messiahas expressed his gratitude towards Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira through a letter. Huzooras commended his selfless and continuous contributions to smoothly run Huzoor’sas various religious projects.
22 August 1887: The Promised Messiahas replied to Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira educating him regarding destinies and other attributes of Allah. Hazrat Ahmadas summed up that God’s dealing with His men is amongst his hidden secrets.
22 August 1894: The Promised Messiahas replied to a postcard of Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira, asking him to remain engaged in prayers for the general public’s faith as the final date for the prophecy regarding Abdullah Atham was fast approaching. Abdullah Atham was in Ferozpur with sound health. This letter records yet another example of Hazrat Ahmad’sas trust in God and his compassionate approach towards the masses that they may not fall prey to any temptation and lack of faith.
22 August 1894: The Promised Messiahas informed Hazrat Haji Seith Allah Rakha Abdur Rahmanra that 100 rupees were received a day earlier, but as it did not carry any detail with it, Huzooras wanted to confirm receipt of this amount in his own writing. Hazrat Ahmadas also shared with him recent confrontations by his opponents.
22 August 1898: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to his faithful disciple, Hazrat Haji Seith Allah Rakha Abdur Rahmanra, informing him that prayers to God for His cause had reached their peak. Hazrat Ahmadas wrote that he could never imagine that these prayers would go unaccepted.
22 August 1901: During litigation in the famous “wall case”, on this day, under court orders, the cousins of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas tore down the wall blocking the entrance of Masjid Mubarak in Qadian that they had previously erected with their own hands.
23 August 1888: The Promised Messiahas wrote back to Hazrat Munshi Abdullah Sanaurira informing him that news of his well-being had made Hazrat Ahmadas very happy. Moreover, Huzooras sent him some announcements to be circulated and informed him that the health of his son, Bashir Awwal was gradually being restored.
23 August 1891: The Promised Messiahas replied to a letter of Hazrat Mian Fateh Muhammadra, assuring him that he must remain steadfast as Huzooras would pray for him. Huzooras added a Persian line, which meant that there is not a single problem that has no solution.
23 August 1897: The court of Captain Douglas, after completing its proceedings, declared the Promised Messiahas not guilty. The judge dismissed the charges of attempted murder as levelled by a prominent Christian missionary, Henry Martyn Clark. Hazrat Ahmadas was present in court when the verdict was announced.
23 August 1898: The Promised Messiahas wrote to Syed Munshi Mazhar Ali of Allahabad that his stance regarding wahdat-ul-wajood (unity of one being) was not true, as this Sufi emphasised that “there is no true existence except the Ultimate Truth (God).” Hazrat Ahmadas exposed the fallacy of this philosophy. Huzooras also presented arguments in this short letter to prove true human nature.
24 August 1887: The Promised Messiahas wrote to Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira reminding him to buy and send to Qadian the required quantity of cooking oil as it was not available locally and was needed desperately in Qadian owing to the rising number of guests visiting Qadian after the birth of Bashir Awwal.
24 August 1892: The Promised Messiahas wrote to Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra about certain issues. Huzooras asked him to arrange and dispatch pure and natural musk, citing his ongoing fragile medical conditions and his previous experience with musk bought from the market.
24 August 1899: The Promised Messiah’sas book, Sitara-e-Qaisariya (Star of the Empress) was published at Zia-ul-Islam Press, Qadian on this day. It was published under the supervision of Hazrat Hakim Fazl Dinra, proprietor of the press. In the text, we find that the Promised Messiahas highlighted the worldly and materialistic advancements and bounties prevailing during the reign of Queen Victoria. In this manner, he metaphorically guided the eyes and hearts towards the spiritual and Divine developments surfacing on earth.
On the title page, Huzooras said:
“This auspicious booklet cites the blessings of Her Majesty, the Empress, may her prosperity endure, and mentions that in the time of Her Majesty’s tranquil reign and due to the influence of her resplendent star, countless earthly and heavenly blessings have been manifested. Let it be known that in keeping with these reasons, the following booklet has been entitled: Star of the Empress.”
25 August 1887: The Promised Messiahas wrote to Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira reminding him of some previously asked items that were needed in Qadian and added that he should also arrange some paan (a combination of betel leaf and areca nut, widely consumed in South Asia) worth 2 annas.
25 August 1889: The Promised Messiahas replied to Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira informing him that Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra had reached Jammu safely. Hazrat Ahmadas guided this fortunate companion, saying that when pure love penetrates one’s heart, it definitely generates a special surge and love for the remembrance of Allah. Hence, until this exceptional bond is not created, some element of lethargy would remain in that person.
25 August 1899: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Haji Seith Allah Rakha Abdur Rahmanra addressing various matters like his proposed visit to Qadian, drastic changes in climate pattern, which was causing fears and concerns for farmers in Punjab and the growing number of plague cases in Calcutta. In this letter, Hazrat Ahmadas shared an interesting story that was creating hype in newspapers during those days, that planet Earth would see its final destruction on 13 November 1899, as a gigantic meteor (sitara) was approaching to hit the earth.
26 August 1892: The Promised Messiahas wrote back to Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra expressing his deep sorrow as an expulsion notice was served to Hazrat Maulvi Sahibra from the administration of Kashmir State, where he had been serving as chief physician for many years. Hazrat Ahmadas lamented the sorry state of affairs of this valley that ousted its most revered and considerate person. Huzooras wrote, “I wonder what will happen now with this state” and at the same time, he strengthened the morale of Hazrat Maulvi Sahibra by saying that such hardships and temptations manifest the love God had for this saintly person. In this thorough letter, Hazrat Ahmadas shared some of his latest revelations and visions too.
26 August 1901: On this day, the Promised Messiahas said, “I was writing some verses on the subject of righteousness, which included one revealed line of the verse. The verse is:
ہر اِك نیكى كى جڑ یہ اتّقا ہے
اگر یہ جڑ رہى سب كچھ رہا ہے
(The root of every good is righteousness; if this root is preserved, everything will survive.)
The second line of this verse was revealed.”
26 August 1906: The Promised Messiahas wrote to Hazrat Mian Abul Majeed Khanra, who was the official officer for horse carriages in state of Kapurthala. In this letter, Huzooras asked him to arrange for a suitable horse for his sons, as Huzooras was not satisfied with the horse that was being used during those days. This letter paints Hazrat Ahmad’sas profound knowledge and aesthetic sense for horses. Moreover, this letter delineates Huzoor’sas love and care for his son’s safety and health, as Huzooras did not deem appropriate that a horse being ridden by his children should have even a minor fault, although Huzooras wrote many good qualities of that horse, which was okayed by the East India Company, as it had “EI” branded on its back.
27 August 1892: The Promised Messiahas congratulated Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira through a postcard on his new posting in Waltoha, District Lahore as deputy inspector. Hazrat Ahmadas informed him about the printing of his two new Arabic books, Tohfa-e-Baghdad and Karamat-us-Sadiqin. Huzooras asked him to send a donation of 20 rupees as he had promised earlier to Sialkot, where these books were being printed.
27 August 1897: The Promised Messiahas replied to a letter from Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira regarding some judicial papers and commented on their language. Huzooras also instructed him to retrieve and bring with him related material of a certain legal notice.
27 August 1899: On this day, the Promised Messiahas received a revelation in Urdu:
خدا نے ارادہ کیا ہے کہ تیرا نام بڑھاوے اور آفاق میں تیرے نام کی خوب چمک دکھاوے۔ آسمان سے کئی تخت اُترے مگر سب سے اُونچا تیرا تخت بچھایا گیا۔ دشمنوں سے ملاقات کرتے وقت ملائکہ نے تیری مدد کی۔
“God has determined to foster your name and to make it shine in the universe. Many thrones have descended from heaven, but your throne has been set up the highest of all. The angels helped you at the time of meeting your enemies.”