Hazrat Dr Hashmatullah Khanra (1887-1967)
While all the journeys of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud[ra] are marked by God’s special grace and signs, his journey to Europe in 1924 holds particular significance. This was a historic tour during which Hazrat Khalifatul Masih laid the foundation of the first mosque in Europe, i.e., the Fazl Mosque in London. From this place, according to the prophecies of Allah the Almighty, the manifestation of the following couplet of the Promised Messiahas is being witnessed:
اسمعوا صوت السماء جاء المسيح، جاء المسيح
نیز بشنو از زمیں آمد امام کامگار
[“Listen to the heavens proclaim: ‘The Messiah has come; the Messiah has come.’ And hear the earth declare: ‘The Triumphant Imam has arrived.’”]
Dr Hashmatullah Khan[ra] narrates the events of this blessed journey as follows:
During Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II’s[ra] stay in Dalhousie in 1920, Hazrat Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sayal[ra] (a missionary in London) informed him via telegram that land for the mosque in London had been purchased. Huzoor[ra] expressed immense happiness at this news and directed that a celebration be held, where each friend accompanying him would present a poem. On this occasion, I recited the following poem:
بڑا آج فضلِ خدا ہو رہا ہے
کہ محمود جلوہ نما ہو رہا ہے
ہزاروں ہی سجدے کریں میری آنکھیں
کہ حاصل اُنہیں مدعا ہو رہا ہے
سنا لے ابھی تو اُسے چند باتیں
کہ رو اُسکا شفقت نما ہو رہا ہے
ستائے نہ کوئی میرے دل کو پھر سے
کہ کسی خوبرو پر فدا ہو رہا ہے
[“A great blessing of God is being showered (upon us) today as Mahmud’s countenance is manifest (before us). My eyes are making thousands of prostrations, for they have attained their desire. Let me share a few words with him now, for his compassionate gaze has turned (towards us). Let no one divert my heart again, for it is being enraptured by my beloved.”]
Four years after the land purchase, it was decided that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] would personally go to lay the mosque’s foundation. He instructed several friends, including myself, to engage in prayer and istikhara [seeking goodness from God Almighty] on the matter. I began to pray, and after two or three days, I had a vision: “I saw Maulvi Fazl Din Sahib Mubashir (Legal Advisor to Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya) preparing for travel, and I was also doing preparations.” I sent a written account of this divine vision to Huzoor[ra], along with an interpretation—that Hazrat Fazl-e-Umar [Khalifatul Masih IIra] would travel, and I would accompany him. Prior to this, my wife in Patiala had also dreamed that I had gone to Europe. At that time, Huzoor[ra] had remarked, “Dr Sahib, how could you go without me?”
First journey to Europe
After prayers and istikhara, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] decided to embark on his first journey to Europe. The journey was set to take place by sea in the month of July. On 12 July 1924, Huzoor’s[ra] entourage departed from Qadian for Bombay [now Mumbai], arriving on 14 July, the day of Eid al-Adha. Huzoor[ra] led the Eid prayer and delivered a brief sermon.
On 15 July [1924], Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] was scheduled to embark on the sea voyage. Reflecting on divine support, he mentioned that from Qadian onwards, there were obstacles that made timely departure and arrival seem challenging. However, God provided unexpected means at each instance and eased the journey.
Once on board, Huzoor[ra] visited all the rooms of his companions and then checked his cabin. In the meantime, a storm began to form at sea. Seeing the turbulent waters reminded me of Hazrat Amma Jan[ra]. She would become anxious even at the sight of a little water. When Huzoor[ra] was about to depart, she came to the car, and as I passed by her, she said, “My beloved [sons], may you remain under God’s protection.” Hearing her words brought tears to my eyes. In this turbulent sea, two of her beloved sons, Hazrat Mahmud Ahmad[ra] and Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Sharif Ahmad[ra], were journeying, and she could not know how their travels would unfold.
July is a month prone to sea storms. Only the eyes that witnessed the waves and hearts that felt the ship’s lurches can testify to the severity of such conditions. It was perhaps one of the most challenging journeys possible. As soon as we boarded, the storm intensified, causing all the members of the group, save one or two, to feel sick. Huzoor[ra] himself began to feel nauseous but, smiling, mentioned that he was experiencing seasickness.
The storm rendered the ship’s condition so precarious that even the crew grew despondent. If one end of the ship rose twenty yards above the water, the other end would be submerged. Nearly the entire crew fell sick, yet despite the dangers, a sense of calm settled in our hearts – a reflection of the Khalifa’s presence among us.
A small room had been arranged for Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra]. In three days, he managed to step outside only twice, and then only briefly. He performed his prayers while seated and ate sparingly, resulting in weakness and a slight fever. Seeing his condition, I stayed in Huzoor’s[ra] cabin, despite my own poor health, as concern for Hazrat Khalifatul Masih’s[ra] welfare made me forget my own. I remained by his side, assisting as needed.
Despite his own illness, Huzoor[ra] remained mindful of the comfort of his companions, including this humble servant. Out of concern that my health would deteriorate further, he lightened my workload. Similarly, he was attentive to the group’s needs, ensuring that they received proper meals on time. For this, he assigned Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sahib[ra] to oversee their care.
As his health began to improve, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] would come out of his cabin to sit with his companions, who would recite poems to lift spirits and lighten the burden of travel. When one of his poems was recited, it would stir a powerful feeling of love and longing for Qadian within us. The sights and sacred places of Qadian would vividly appear before our eyes, and tears would flow freely from everyone’s eyes.
‘Jesus Christ and his twelve disciples’
Early on, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] informed his companions that this journey was not just a voyage but a mission requiring hard work. Every member was expected to work diligently, pray, and engage in tabligh [conveying the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat]. Each person in the group was instructed to approach individual passengers on the ship for preaching. Huzoor[ra] himself would speak with passengers in the first-class section.
On 19 July [1924], when Hazrat Khalifatul Masih’s[ra] health improved, he led his companions in the Asr prayer on the ship’s deck. After the prayer, as Huzoor[ra] sat down, the ship’s doctor, named [Ezzelino] Magli—a resident of Italy who frequently interacted with me—called me over and, gesturing towards the Khalifa, said, “Jesus Christ and his twelve disciples.”
There were indeed twelve companions in Hazrat Khalifatul Masih’s[ra] entourage. Hearing such an insightful remark from someone belonging to the land of the Pope gave me immense pleasure.
This doctor was very keen on taking Huzoor’s[ra] photograph. With permission, he first took a picture of the Khalifa alone and then a group photo with everyone, expressing great happiness as though he had received an extraordinary blessing.
Damascus
During this journey, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] also visited Egypt and then stayed in Damascus. When he reached Damascus, considerable difficulty was encountered in finding suitable accommodation. Huzoor’s[ra] own account of his stay in Damascus, published in the 4 December 1924 issue of Al Fazl, is as follows:
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] said:
“When we arrived in Damascus, there was no place for us to stay. Arrangements were made with difficulty. I felt anxious and prayed, ‘O Allah, how will the prophecy regarding Damascus be fulfilled? It certainly does not mean we will merely pass by it, only stopping for a moment. Grant us success through Your grace.’ As I fell asleep after this prayer, these words flowed from my lips:
“‘Abd-e-Mukarram,’ i.e., ‘Our honoured servant.’ The following day, people began to gather outside the hotel in such huge numbers—ranging from 200 to 1,200 at a time—that the hotel staff became concerned about unrest. The police arrived, and their officer expressed worry that there was possibility of a potential unrest. To demonstrate that the crowd was peaceful, I stood before them. Most of them expressed affection, greeting me with salaam and saying, ‘Haza ibn-ul-Mahdi’ [i.e., ‘he is the son of the Mahdi’], though a couple of them voiced curses. Despite all this, the police insisted that I stay inside as they were responsible [for my safety], and I was thus sequestered. We contacted the British consulate and they arranged for people to come inside [one by one] by taking permission.
“The atmosphere was extraordinary. Students and professors from nearby colleges would come with notebooks, writing down my words. If they missed a word, they would say, ‘O Teacher! Please wait; we have missed this word.’ This was reminiscent of gospel scenes in which Jesus is addressed as ‘O Teacher!’.
“One interesting event involved the Minaratul Masih [the Minaret of the Messiah]. I enquired Maulvi Abdul Qadir Sahib, a friend of Hazrat Syed Waliullah Shah Sahib[ra], about the minaret where, according to his understanding, Jesusas was to descend. He responded that it was the minaret of the Umayyad Mosque. Another person mentioned it was located in the Christian neighbourhood, while yet another said that Jesusas himself would come and construct it. We were left wondering which minaret it truly was and thought we should go see it for ourselves.
“The next morning, after leading the prayer at the hotel, when I concluded with the final salutation, I looked up and saw the minaret right in front of us, with us positioned to its east. When I saw this white minaret and noticed that only two worshippers stood behind me—Zulfiqar Ali Khan Sahib and Dr Hashmatullah Khan Sahib—I remarked that ‘the [prophetic] hadith has now been fulfilled, i.e., “The Messiah will descend to the east of Damascus, on the shoulders of two angels.”’”
From Huzoor’s[ra] statement, it is evident that the descent of the Promised Messiah’sas beloved son, embodying both the grace and benevolence of the Promised Messiah himself, was in fact the fulfilment of the Messiah’s descent at this very place.
London
After his stay in Damascus, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] journeyed through Paris and reached London.
On 19 October 1924, he laid the foundation of London’s first mosque, the Fazl Mosque, and led the first Friday prayer there on 24 October. At that moment, the hearts were overwhelmed by an indescribable feeling. The structure [of the mosque] was modest – only a few small walls defining the prayer niche stood, with the floor laid upon the ground. If not for the flooring, it resembled the early state of the Holy Prophet’ssa Mosque, where one’s forehead would be covered with mud during prostration. In this humble mosque, 130 individuals attended the Friday prayer, including two Englishmen and some Turks.
In London, Huzoor[ra] delivered a lecture on Islam at the Conference of Religions. Various newspapers, such as the Daily Telegraph, Times, Morning Post, Daily News, and others, praised his lecture highly.
Dr Walter Walsh, a prominent minister and conference organiser, went as far as to say, “This conference has revealed that Islam is a living faith.” This was precisely the purpose for which the Imam of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community had graced this gathering.
A London correspondent described Hazrat Khalifatul Masih’s[ra] presence in London as follows:
“His Holiness, the Ahmadiyya Imam of a large Muslim Community, has come to participate in the Conference of Religions. In the reception room of his London residence, this Eastern philosopher sits on a prayer mat, instructing his devoted followers in a manner reminiscent of the Prophets and imams of a thousand years past. With the sagacious wisdom of a noble Sufi, he answers the questions posed by his disciples. A serene, spiritual calm rests upon his beautiful, olive-toned face. Gathered around him, his followers wear white turbans and green robes, mingling among Hindu students from London’s West End, attired in the latest tailored suits.”
Qadian
On 25 October 1924, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] departed from London to return to Qadian, arriving on دوشنبہ مبارک دوشنبہ [i.e., Monday, a blessed Monday], 24 November 1924. He travelled by car from Batala to Qadian, heading directly to the Bahishti Maqbara to carry out prayers at the tomb of the Promised Messiahas. He first prayed alone and then invited his companions to join. In the afternoon, the Talim-ul-Islam High School hosted a garden party at Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan Sahib’s[ra] garden, where Huzoor[ra] delivered an eloquent speech in English for about an hour. Earlier that day, Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan Sahib[ra] held an elaborate lunch for the Khalifa and his companions at his residence.
At a gathering in Qadian, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra] reflected on his journey in the following words:
“Before concluding, I wish to express my gratitude for the companions on this journey. They carried out their duties to the best of their abilities. Human beings make mistakes, and they too made some. I was at times displeased with them, but my displeasure was like that of parents, intended to correct and motivate them even more. However, they did their best and demonstrated exceptional dedication. In my view, they are deserving of the Jamaat’s gratitude, especially as they had to work alongside a person like me. When tasks intensify, I expect people to work like machines – disregarding comfort, time, and convenience. Under such pressures, even the most capable feel overwhelmed, but they worked with sincerity. I personally feel they are deserving of special prayers.”
[Below is the list of] Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s[ra] companions on this tour of Europe:
1. Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Sharif Ahmad Sahib[ra]
2. Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sayal Sahib[ra]
3. Hazrat Maulvi Rahim Bakhsh Sahib[ra], Private Secretary
4. Hazrat Zulfiqar Ali Khan Sahib[ra], General Secretary
5. Hazrat Yaqub Ali Irfani Sahib[ra], Press Reporter
6. Hazrat Hafiz Roshan Ali Sahib[ra], Scholar
7. Sheikh Abdul Rahman Sahib, Scholar and Interpreter
8. Hazrat Bhai Abdul Rahman Sahib[ra] Qadiani, Personal Attendant
9. Hazrat Chaudhry Ali Muhammad Sahib[ra], Personal Attendant
10. Hazrat Mian Rahim-ud-Din Sahib[ra], Cook
11. Hazrat Chaudhry Muhammad Zafarulla Khan Sahib[ra]
(Translated by Al Hakam)