29 January – 4 February

In this third year of Al Hakam, we will present a selection of incidents from the blessed life of the Promised Messiah^as with some more details

29 January 1900: On this date, the Promised Messiah^as replied to a letter he received from Hazrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan^ra in which he prayed that Allah removed all his problems and hardships. Huzoor^as further prayed that Allah granted him a long life and increased his level of faith. Moreover, Huzoor^as stated that he should visit and stay with him for two-three months. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, p. 253)

30 January 1903: The Promised Messiah^as saw in a vision that he had the sceptre of the Tsar. He said that he saw in a dream as though the sceptre of the Tsar of Russia was in his hand and hidden inside it was the barrel of a gun and thus, it served two purposes. Huzoor^as then saw that the bow of the king who reigned at the time of Avicenna (Bu Ali Sina) was in his hand and he shot an arrow at a tiger. It appeared to Huzoor^as as if Avicenna and the king were also with him. (Tadhkirah [English translation], p. 621)

31 January 1891: The Promised Messiah^as replied to a letter from Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin^ra which he received through Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq^ra. In the letter, Huzoor^as prayed that Allah the Almighty granted him permanent happiness and prosperity and also prayed that Allah enabled many others to follow his example. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, p. 100)

31 January 1892: The Promised Messiah^as delivered a speech at a general gathering in Lahore which was conducted at the residence of Munshi Miran Bakhsh. More than 10,000 people had attended. After his speech, Huzoor^as instructed Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin^ra to deliver a speech. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 1, p. 456)

February 1893: In the month of February, the book of the Promised Messiah^as, Aina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam was published. Huzoor^as was occupied for an entire year in completing this masterpiece. In this book, the Promised Messiah^as introduced Islam in a new light. Huzoor^as described how, through the religion of Islam, man can achieve spiritual eminence. He explained the functioning of angels and a number of verses of the Holy Quran were beautifully expounded on.

February 1894: The Arabic book of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as, Hamamatul-Bushra and another Arabic book, with its Urdu translation, Nur-ul-Haq Part I, were published in February. Hamamatul-Bushra, though written in 1893, was published in February 1894. It was reprinted in Cairo many years after. On the title page of the book, the Promised Messiah^as wrote two couplets:

حمامتنا تطیر بریش شوق

الی وطن النبی حبیب ربّى

وفی منقارھا تحف السلام

وسید رسلہ خیر الانام

“Our dove flies with the wings of fondness and in its beak are the presents of peace, and it flies to the land of the Prophet who is our beloved Lord, Chief of the Messengers and the best of creation.”

The Promised Messiah^as added that this book holds some of the spiritual secrets of the Holy Quran. Nur-ul-Haq Part I, was published in Mustafa‘i Press, Lahore. In the first part of this book, the Promised Messiah^as refuted allegations leveled against him suggesting his disloyalty to the government. He referred to the services that his father and brother had rendered. In this book, the Promised Messiah^as made a fervent prayer:

“O God! Am I not from You? At this time, when there is an onslaught of disbelievers – O God – come to my aid from the sky and help this humble self.”

Within one month, God accepted this prayer and the lunar and solar eclipses took place on 28 Ramadan – the same sign which ahadith speak of that would appear in support of the advent of the Mahdi.

1 February 1896: The Promised Messiah^as wrote a letter to a priest, Fateh Masih, in which he preached to him regarding disputed matters and advised him to talk morally. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 1, p. 230)

1 February 1897: On this date, the Promised Messiah^as published an announcement in Persian which had a message for Shiites like Haji Sheikh Muhammad Raza Tehrani Najfi , who came up with a way of examining the truth of a claimant of prophethood. Haji Sahib suggested that the claimant should jump from the roof of Shahi Mosque Lahore and if the claimant was true, they would survive the fall. The objections regarding the death of Jesus^as and the solar and lunar eclipses were also answered in the same announcement. Its Urdu version was also attached. (Majmua-e-Ishtiharat, Vol. 2, p. 194)

2 February 1895: On this date, the Promised Messiah^as replied to a letter he received from Hazrat Munshi Rustam Ali^ra. Hazrat Ahmad^as stated that he had prayed for him during Tahajud and that he had also seen a dream, which he was unable to recall. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, p. 609)

2 February 1897: On this date, the Promised Messiah^as replied to a letter from Hazrat Haji Seith Allah Rakha Abdur Rahman^ra in which he wrote that he had received his letter and hoped that he would regularly inform him of his wellbeing. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, p. 345)

2 February 1900: It was Eid-ul-Fitr in Qadian. Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin^ra led the Eid prayer. Thereafter, the Promised Messiah^as delivered a detailed sermon in which he prayed for the victory of the British government in the ongoing war of Transvaal against the Boer nation in South Africa. This convention is known as Jalsa Dua (Prayer Meeting).

Whilst describing how the British provided religious freedom to all peoples in India, the Promised Messiah^as urged the audience, in accordance with the Islamic teachings, to pray for the success and victory of the British in the war with South Africa. In his sermon, the Promised Messiah^as gave an illuminating commentary on Surah al-Nas and enumerated the favours of the British government. The meeting ended with a long prayer for British victory in Transvaal, which certainly did not go in vain – the tide of war turned in favour of the British.

3 February 1892: The Promised Messiah^as published an ishtihar (announcement) addressing all Muslims, in which he stated that he did not claim to be a law-bearing prophet. Huzoor^as further stated that just as he had written in his book, Izala-e-Auham, his belief was that the Holy Prophet, Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was Khatamul-Anbiya (Seal of all the Prophets). (Majmua Ishtiharat, Vol. 1, p. 329)

4 February 1885: The Promised Messiah^as wrote a letter to Haji Muhammad Waliullah Sahib. Whilst addressing a letter he (Haji Muhammad Waliullah Sahib) had written earlier, Huzoor^as stated that his letter was full of rage and foul and harsh words, which displayed his bitter character and animosity.

Huzoor^as stated that if he had read his book, Surma Chasham-e-Arya, he would have known that he had already published an ishtihar stating that if anyone was angry over the delay in the printing of his book, Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, and wanted their money returned, then they should inform him and all such buyers would be refunded.

Huzoor^as also said that those who displayed enmity and resorted to foul and filthy words could never do him any harm. Such people themselves become the recipients of humiliation in this world and in the Hereafter. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 1, p. 399)