The Jamaat was founded by the Promised Messiahas in March 1889. But the ten conditions that everyone taking allegiance have to pledge to were publicised by the Promised Messiah a.s. through a tract dated 12 January 1889; the same day when Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra was born
It is a fact proven from history that at a time when darkness prevails the earth and the world becomes corrupt, Allah the Almighty sends a messenger. The same was the case of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas of Qadian who claimed to be the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi of the time after receiving divine revelation from Allah the Almighty, in accordance with the prophecy of the Holy Prophetsa.
The Promised Messiahas was blessed with abundant signs and glad tidings from Allah Almighty to strengthen his claim. He was vouchsafed with a sign of a boy from his own descent who would be gifted with remarkable qualities and unique attributes. The Holy Prophetsa referred to this by saying:
يتزوّج و يولد له
The original announcement by the Promised Messiahas of the birth of the Promised son and reformer. Dated 12 January 1889
This meant that the marriage of the Promised Messiahas would be of an exceptional kind and, through this, Allah would give him such offspring as would help him in carrying on his mission. Thus, a boy was born in the month of January who was named Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra. He was the son of the Promised Messiahas and was the Musleh-e-Maud. In the announcement of 20 February 1886, the Promised Messiahas says:
“God the Merciful, the Noble, the High, the Exalted, Who has power to do all that He wills (glory be to Him and exalted be His name), has vouchsafed to me the following revelation:
“‘…Rejoice, therefore, that a handsome and pure boy will be bestowed on thee. Thou wilt receive a bright youth who will be of thy seed and will be of thy progeny. A handsome and pure boy will come as your guest. His name is Emmanuel and Bashir. He has been invested with a holy spirit and he will be free from all impurity. He is the light of Allah. Blessed is he who comes from heaven. He shall be accompanied by grace (fazl) which shall arrive with him. He will be characterised with grandeur, greatness and wealth. He will come into the world and will heal many of their disorder through his Messianic qualities and through the blessings of the Holy Spirit…’”
Born on 12 January 1889, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra has a unique relation with the establishment of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, as the foundation of the Jamaat was laid in the same year of his birth, on 23 March 1889. Forty faithful servants took the oath of allegiance at the hand of the Promised Messiahas in the house of Hazrat Sufi Ahmad Janra in Ludhiana.
Hence, the birth of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra and the genesis of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat both took place in the same year, around the same time. It was due to this divine connection that on 26 May 1908, when the Promised Messiahas passed away in Lahore, the promised son stood by the bed of the Promised Messiahas and vowed:
“Even if all people leave you and I am left alone, I shall stand by you and shall face all opposition and onslaughts against your mission.”
One of the signs mentioned in the grand prophecy of Musleh-e-Maud was that “he will grow rapidly”. We see that this sign, alongside many others, was to be manifested in the person of Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra, but also in the form of the Jamaat that took birth with him, almost as a twin. His capabilities developed at an extraordinary pace and the Jamaat grew and spread to the corners of the earth.
It is not the tradition of the Jamaat to celebrate birthdays, but this article is to remind our readers of two grand prophecies of the Holy Prophetsa of Islam: the birth of the magnificent son, and a Jamaat that was to be founded by the Promised Messiahas.
Al Hakam will insha-Allah be publishing a special issue for Musleh-e-Maud Day.
