In this, the third year of Al Hakam, we will present a selection of incidents from the blessed life of the Promised Messiahas with some more details
26 February 1893: The Promised Messiahas published an announcement in which he stated that six months before Sheikh Mehr Ali was imprisoned, Allah the Almighty revealed to Hazrat Ahmadas in a dream that the seat of Sheikh Mehr Ali had caught fire and that the Promised Messiahas put the fire out by pouring water over it. Seeing the dream, Hazrat Ahmadas immediately informed Sheikh Mehr Ali of this and asked him to repent and seek Allah’s forgiveness.
Huzooras further wrote, “Last night, being greatly perturbed by the attitude of Sheikh [Mehr Ali of Hoshiarpur], I supplicated for a heavenly decision. Thereafter, I was shown in a dream that I had sent some money to a shopkeeper to pay for something good and fragrant. He took the money but sent an evil-smelling substance. When I saw it, I became cross and told my messenger, ‘Go back to the shopkeeper and tell him to send me what I had asked for, otherwise I will file a complaint against him for cheating and he will be sent to jail for at least six months or probably longer.’ The shopkeeper sent back word that he had not done this on his own but that he had been influenced by the babblings of a mad man, which made him forget his duty and that he was now ready to send what I had asked for.”
Huzooras, whilst explaining the meaning, wrote:
“I interpreted this to mean that the Sheikh [Mehr Ali] would be afflicted with humiliation and eventually would be remorseful and that for the moment, he was acting under someone else’s influence.” (Majmua-e-Ishtiharat, Vol. 1, pp. 395-400)
26 February 1894: The Promised Messiahas replied to a letter he received from Hazrat Mian Abdullah Sanaurira in which he prayed for him and said that he would continue to fervently pray for him. Huzooras added that as he was extremely busy, he was only able to write a short letter. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 3, p. 216)
27 February 1895: The Promised Messiahas published an ishtihar (announcement) titled Qabil-e-Tawajjuh Government Aur Neez Aam Ittelaa Keliye (For the attention of the government and to notify the public).
Hazrat Ahmadas stated that Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi and other opponents tried to deceive the general public, through which even some English newspapers, without knowing the actual facts, published baseless stories about Huzooras and the Jamaat. Through this announcement, Huzooras conveyed to the masses and the government that he was against all kinds of disorder. (Majmua-e-Ishtiharat, Vol. 2, pp. 1-2)
27 February 1905: The Promised Messiahas published a one-page announcement containing general guidance for members of the Jamaat. At the end, he stated that the book, Nusratul-Haq, was being printed in Qadian and had been handed over to Pir Manzur Muhammad Sahibra so that he could print and publish it. An indication that the Promised Messiahas began writing this book in the month of February is given in Majmua-e-Ishtiharat (Vol. 2, p. 628).
28 February 1884: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Mir Abbas Ali Sahib, saying that one should always try to please Allah the Almighty because all success can be attained through His pleasure. Anything one does to attain the world has no benefit. However, whatever one does for attaining the pleasure of Allah, with steadfastness, is counted as a pious deed.
Huzooras added that blessed were those who wished to attain Allah’s pleasure day and night with full sincerity, passion and attention. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 1, pp. 600-601)
28 February 1896: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Mian Abdullah Sanaurira, saying that he was awaiting his visit to Qadian. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 3, p. 225)
28 February 1897: On this day, the Promised Messiahas published an ishtihar titled Yasu Masih ke Nishanon ka is Raaqim ke Nishanon se Muqabila aur ek Paadri Sahib ka Jawab (A comparison of the signs of Jesus with the signs presented by me and answers to a priest).
Huzooras stated that he had previously published an announcement in which he claimed that the prophecies fulfilled through him were greater in proportion, number, quantity and power than those of Jesusas and made an open challenge that if any priest could prove otherwise, he would offer them 1,000 rupees.
In this announcement, Huzooras said that the response he received had been published in Akhbar Aam of 23 February 1897.
Huzooras then mentioned those responses and commented on them. (Majmua-e-Ishtiharat, Vol. 2, pp. 213-216)
28 February 1898: The incident of Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi’s humiliation and admonishment in the governmental court for demanding a chair that resulted from his jealousy of the Promised Messiahas is well-known in our history. On this date, Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi sent a letter to the Promised Messiahas strongly denying the occurrence of this incident. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 1, p. 369)
28 February 1903: The Promised Messiah’sas Urdu book, Naseem-e-Dawat, was published. In the month of February 1903, some new Muslim friends, out of sympathy and goodwill and without consulting the Promised Messiahas, issued a poster, Arya Samaj aur Qadian, in which they very politely invited the Arya Samaj Hindus and Sikhs to have a prayer duel with the Promised Messiahas or hold a religious conference to seek the truth about their religion. (Al Hakam, 21 February 1903)
These Muslim friends never expected incitement in response to it. On 8 February 1903, the Promised Messiahas received a revelation from God:
حَرْبٌ مُهَيَّجَةٌ
“A furious battle.”
It was thought to indicate that the poster issued by the Muslim friends would evoke a violent response with vicious abuse. The revelation came true when the same evening, a highly vituperative poster of the Arya Hindus reached the Promised Messiahas. It was dated 7 February 1903. It was followed by similar vile writing in an English newspaper of the Arya Samaj. Another abusive poster was issued by a Tooti Ram.
This book of the Promised Messiahas dealt with the dire situation in a most suitable manner.
28 February 1905: The Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Mian Abdullah Sanaurira, expressing his hope that he would regularly inform Huzooras of his wellbeing. Huzooras prayed that Allah the Almighty rewarded him for the intention he had made to send 100 rupees a year. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 3, p. 240)
28 February 1906: A Muslim from Bans Bareilly, upset with a book, Yanabiul Islam, written by a Christian author, sent a letter, expressing his pain, to the Promised Messiahas in the last days of February. In response to it, the Promised Messiahas penned a detailed letter in March 1906 which was published by Magazine Press, Qadian in the form of a book named Chashma-e-Masihi (The Fountain of Christianity). The Christian author argued in his book that Islam had brought no new teachings and the Holy Quran was based mostly on tales of the past – some true, some wrong and some plagiarised – and this act was attributed to the Holy Prophetsa. This charge against the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophetsa was enough to prompt the Promised Messiahas to write a convincing rebuttal with reason and arguments.
March 1889: Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra was united in marriage with the daughter of Hazrat Sufi Ahmad Jan in early March. The Promised Messiahas was part of this wedding ceremony. Her name was Sughra Begum.
Since 1887, the Promised Messiahas had been looking for a suitable match for Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra.This marriage proposal was finalised in 1888. (Hayat-e-Noor, Vol. 3, p. 145)
March 1906: The Promised Messiahas was occupied in writing his Urdu book, Tajalliyat-e-Ilahiya, in the month of March. On 29 March 1922, the incomplete manuscript of this book was published in the era of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra. In it, the Promised Messiahas made the following prophecy:
“God has informed me again and again that He will grant me great glory and will instill my love in people’s hearts. He shall spread my Movement all over the world and shall make my sect triumphant over all other sects. The members of my sect shall so excel in knowledge and insight that they will confound everyone with the light of their truth and by dint of their arguments and signs. Every nation will drink of this fountain and this Movement will spread and blossom until it rapidly encompasses the entire world. Many tribulations and obstacles shall come, but God will remove them all and will fulfil His promise. God addressed me and said: ‘I shall grant thee blessing upon blessing until kings shall seek blessings from thy garments!’” (Divine Manifestations, pp. 24-25)
1 March 1906: Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra started a magazine by the name of Tash-heezul-Azhan. It began as a quarterly magazine, but with the passage of time, it started its monthly publication.
In the beginning, it comprised of scholarly and research-based articles, but when it began its journey in the new era, its main focus was the youth – members of Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya and Nasirat-ul-Ahmadiyya auxiliary organisations. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 2, p. 457)
Unfortunately, for the past few years, this magazine has fallen prey to government restrictions in Pakistan.
2 March 1897: On 27 Ramadan 1314 AH, the Promised Messiahas was blessed with a daughter, Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begumra. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 1, p. 586)
2 March 1906: The Promised Messiahas published an announcement in which he foretold the occurrence of an earthquake. This announcement was published from Anwar-e-Ahmadiyya Press, Qadian.
Huzooras explained that this was the same earthquake about which he received the revelation on 9 May 1905:
پهر بہار آئی خدا كی بات پهر پوری هوئی
“The spring has come around again and God’s word has again been fulfilled.”(Majmua-e-Ishtiharat, Vol. 3, p. 378)
3 March 1891: The Promised Messiahas set off for Ludhiana. He stayed at the residence of Shahzada Ghulam Haider Sahib, which is located in Iqbal Ganj, Ludhiana. During this journey, an attempt was made on Hazrat Ahmad’sas life. The person with these ill-intentions later accepted Ahmadiyyat. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 1, p. 392)
3 March 1907: On this date, Syed Habibullah ICS who was the magistrate of Agra (magistrate Allahabad according to Al Hakam at the time), arrived at Qadian before Zuhr prayer. Although the Promised Messiahas was unwell, he showed great hospitality and gave adequate time to the guest. (Malfuzat, Vol. 5, p. 162)
4 March 1889: While residing in Ludhiana, the Promised Messiahas published an announcement for those who were keen to take the bai‘at. Huzooras informed people that he would be staying in Ludhiana until 25 March. (Majmua-e-Ishtiharat, Vol. 1, p. 201)