Jalees Ahmad, London
In 1924, during his journey to London for Wembley’s Conference of Living Religions, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, Musleh-e-Maudra visited various Middle Eastern and European countries.
Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra arrived in Italy on 17 August where he spent a total of four days. During his stay, despite inevitable fatigue from the journey, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra spent his time in the service of Islam and propagating the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat.
Huzoorra also met with Italy’s Prime Minister Benito Mussolini and explained to him the purpose of Ahmadiyyat. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud, Khalifatul Masih IIra also intended to meet with the pope and present the teachings of Islam to him; however, as Huzoorra arrived in Italy, the entourage found out that the pope was not meeting anyone.
Nonetheless, what happened next can only be seen as the work of Allah and further fulfils the divine words vouchsafed to Hazrat Ahmadas about the promised son, “He shall be accompanied by grace [fazl], which shall arrive with him.”
On 18 August 1924, after the Zuhr and Asr prayers, Hazrat Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sayalra, Hazrat Maulana Abdur Rahim Dardra and Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfanira met with the editor of one of Italy’s well-known and widely read papers, La Tribuna. The editor expressed his strong desire to interview Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra. He stated that he was available any time and that even if he was granted time late into the night, he would still come to interview Huzoorra.
Thus, La Tribuna was granted an interview with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra, during which Huzoorra spoke about various religious and political issues.
In this way, Huzoorra was able to spread the true message of Islam, not only to the Pope, but all throughout Italy.
This incident further strengthens the prophecy of the promised son that “his fame will spread to the ends of the earth and peoples will be blessed through him.”
During the interview, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra was asked what he would say to the pope if he got the chance to meet him. Upon this, Huzoorra said:
“I would present the best gift I have to offer, the invitation to Islam, and call him towards that light which enables man to reach God. These are not mere words; the signs of attaining God’s nearness are found in it [Islam]. There are many people who say that so and so is very pious and God-fearing, but such a declaration remains only a claim, if such a one does not possess the signs that distinguish them as the faithful by God.
“The Messiahas [of Nazareth] himself said that if one has such faith as insignificant as a mustard seed, such a person can move mountains with his words, and it will move. However, today, is there any person among the Christians who can present this sign and prove to be a believer? The Messiah [of Nazareth] showed those miracles which are found in a person who possesses faith and enjoys God’s nearness. Why are these qualities not shown to anyone today?
“We have repeatedly demanded Christians to show this sign, yet not a single person has summoned the courage to stand and manifest these characteristics.
“There are many well-known Christians who are said to be very pious and God-fearing people; however, they are unable to present any signs in their favour. From this, one can come to know that their path does not lead to attaining God’s nearness.
“It is true that God has sent the Promised Messiahas to the world so that he may prove to everyone that this strength and power [of manifesting signs] are now found only in Islam; he came to instil this strength within us so that we may see God and converse with Him and partake of those blessings which are bestowed upon the God-fearing and religious people. There are thousands of people in my Jamaat who have taken a share of these blessings and I myself have experienced it.
“No matter how influential a person may be, we are not ready to accept any person as truthful who is unable to show these characteristics bestowed by God upon His chosen ones. Thus, I give the pope the glad tidings of Islam and inform him that we have been bestowed with those qualities as are found in God’s chosen men.”
Hearing this, the interviewer went on to ask Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra if God had ever spoken to him.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra answered, “Yes, He [God] has conversed with me. However, it is not in man’s power to converse [with God] at will. I have conversed with God in the same manner in which I am speaking with you. I do not mean that something merely crossed my mind and I inferred that it is [God’s] words; it was similar to how I am conversing with you.
“They are not thoughts, but words revealed [directly] from God. If it was merely a thought, then one could be deceived; but when God’s words are revealed, one cannot be deceived because with [His] words, new knowledge is also conveyed. In this manner, through His grace, God has conveyed a vast amount of knowledge [to me].” (Al Fazl, 23 September 1924, p. 4)
Following this incident, La Tribuna published a detailed interview and also published a photo of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra and his companions.
In this way, the message of Islam and Huzoor’sra stay, albeit brief, in Italy was conveyed to the entire country. From this leaf of history, one can begin to fathom Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’sra love for spreading Islam, his level of determination and, above all else, the divine help he enjoyed.
Though Huzoorra was unable to directly meet with the pope, Allah created means of spreading the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat and introduced the Khalifatul Masih to the entire country.
Indeed, through every page and chapter of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’sra life, we are able to witness the fulfilment of the words of God revealed to the Promised Messiahas with regard to the promised son:
“He has been invested with a spirit of holiness and he is free from all impurity. He is the light of Allah.”