Asif M Basit, London
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V’saa personal memories and recollections of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra
Whenever I need to seek guidance from Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa with regard to an MTA programme, I either take the entire recording with me or the relevant part of the programme to Huzooraa.
Sometimes, Huzooraa will immediately give guidance, while at other times, Huzooraa instructs me to play the programme for him. For this purpose, Huzooraa opens the tray of his DVD player using his remote control and I reach out and replace the DVD already in the player with the MTA programme.
Aside from a few occasions, I have always found a DVD containing the audio of a famous and mighty speech of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra featuring the famous words:
اے آسمانى بادشاہت كے موسیقارو!
“O musicians of the heavenly kingdom!”
After reviewing the particular programme, Huzooraa usually instructs me to place that DVD back in the player.
On one occasion, Huzooraa graciously enquired from me, “Have you heard the speech?” I replied that I had not. Huzooraa then played the audio of that historic speech, which continued to play for quite a long period of time. The majestic voice of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra echoed in the same room where Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa was present. Readers can imagine the aura at the time and my experience.
This was an experience that made me realise Huzoor’saa love for Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra.
Then, at another occasion, I mustered the courage to ask, “Huzoor, you often make references to Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra in your sermons…” (Such remarks are usually uttered half-finished, as was done here; they are usually questions that I do not have the courage to pose bluntly.)
Huzooraa replied:
“The status of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra was such that having received divine knowledge of it, he claimed to be a maud Khalifa [a prophesied Khalifa], meaning that he possessed a status higher than a Khalifa, but less than a prophet. To preserve the memory of such a man is essential. Huzoorra said:
اك وقت آئے گا كہ كہیں گے تمام لوگ
ملت كے اس فدائى پہ رحمت خدا كرے
‘A time shall come when all will proclaim, “May God have mercy on this ardent devotee of Islam.”’ That time has now come. And even now, people are yet to be properly acquainted with the status of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra.”
From this, one further realises the love our Imam, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa, has for Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra.
Only a few days ago, I had the honour of having an audience with Huzooraa. The subject of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’sra funeral arose. I said, “Huzoor, do you remember the funeral of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra?”
Huzooraa replied, “Of course I remember it. Lifting Huzoor’sra casket, walking alongside the procession towards Bahishti Maqbarah, then offering the funeral prayer; I remember all this. How far back have you taken me?” Huzooraa counted the years on his fingertips, “…almost 52, 53 years. So at that age, I recall running alongside the procession.”
Here, there was silence, the disruption of which I consider no less than a crime. The silence that is full of meaning. I cannot describe it beyond this.
The silence came to an end when Huzooraa himself said:
“I also recall that that was the first time I witnessed the demise of a loved one or relative at an age where I could comprehend things. It was also the first time I kissed the forehead of a dear one who had passed away, the memory of which remains today. I can still visualise his forehead and that experience. I also recall standing beside the blessed body of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra.”
I usually don’t have the courage to peer up and look directly at Huzooraa during mulaqats [audiences]. At times, the thought occurs to me whether it is rude to keep my gaze down whilst Huzooraa addresses me. But what else can I do for one’s eyes are incapable of rising up; and even if they can, one struggles to take a proper look.
Yet when Huzooraa mentioned this, my eyes naturally rose and settled in Huzoor’saa direction. During those brief few seconds, I witnessed the love, emotions and attachment Huzooraa felt as he recalled kissing Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’sra forehead, as if he was reliving that moment.
I lowered my gaze once again and considered silence appropriate in that moment. Then followed Huzoor’saa blessed voice:
“I also recall the appointment of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh. The announcement was made after 11pm. I remember Huzoorrh returning home from the mosque. All family members had congregated. Huzoorrh went straight into his room and remained there in solitude for about half an hour. Then he returned.
“I also remember that the blessed body of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra was in that very room where members of the family had gathered. There were sounds of a woman or child crying aloud, upon which Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh (who had not yet been appointed as Khalifatul Masih) forbade such wailing and said, ‘At this time, you should pray silently for the second manifestation of God’s omnipotence [Khilafat].’ I also recall Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmadrh, who was also present there, instructing not to cry aloud.”
This jogged my memory and I asked, “Huzoor, you once said that in that room…”
Huzooraa immediately responded, “Yes! Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s blessed bodyra, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh and I were in that room.”
How blessed was that room and that hour in which four Khulafa-e-Ahmadiyyat were present simultaneously; Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra had been raised to his Lord, but his body was present; and then three such individuals who were soon to be elevated to the throne of Khilafat.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa
“Huzoor, you must also recall meeting Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra?”
“Yes, once I went along with Hazrat Mirza Sharif Ahmadra [Huzoor’saa paternal grandfather]. Despite the fact that he was the younger brother of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, he never just simply walked right in. He first sought permission outside Qasr-e-Khilafat, and only having been given permission did he enter. He remained before Huzoorra with utmost respect. He said what he had to and very respectfully returned. Although I was very young at the time, it was an early lesson in understanding the rank and status of Khilafat.
“Other than that, I also recall Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra lovingly and jokingly talking to me. Once, Huzoor was in Murree and we also went. A maternal cousin and I were wandering around when Huzoorra looked in our direction. He then called us and playfully spoke to us according to our age, something which we enjoyed for a very long time.”
With that, the mulaqat came to a close. My emotional state, having heard Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V’saa memories of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, and that too in his own words, was something readers can imagine.
On behalf of Al Hakam, these memories are presented as a gift to our readers and all members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat at the occasion of Musleh-e-Maud Day.
I conclude with the couplet of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, and quoted by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa:
اك وقت آئے گا كہ کہیں گے تمام لوگ
ملت كے اس فدائى پہ رحمت خدا كرے
“A time shall come when all will proclaim, ‘May God have mercy on this ardent devotee of Islam.’”
Let us pray along with our Imamaa: O Allah, send your blessings upon this devout servant of Islam, the servant who spent countless nights awake in anguish for his people. May Allah enable us to fathom the status of Khilafat and make us ardent lovers of this great reward upon us.