Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfani (ra) (1875-1957)
Suicide and its causes
Cases of suicide are becoming increasingly common here and the causes vary. In most instances, they arise from failure in conjugal relationships, financial disappointments and the prolonged effects of illness. I have studied these circumstances and discussed their causes and consequences with learned individuals here. Although such incidents may appear trivial on the surface, they are, in reality, driven by the forces of cowardice and despair.
This is the consequence of a lack of faith in God Almighty. There is no doubt that the law prohibits suicide and classifies it as a criminal offence. However, those who commit it are not deterred by the prospect of legal punishment. They know that their ultimate objective is to end their lives and that, after death, no law of this world can have any effect upon them.
Sometimes, matters proceed only as far as an attempted suicide. In such cases, the outcome of legal proceedings is often a ruling that the individual was suffering from a temporary mental disturbance, following which they are sent to an institution where they can receive treatment. Such is the state of affairs.
The learned individuals with whom I have discussed this matter have acknowledged that, in reality, despair and cowardice are the underlying causes of suicide. Both these afflictions can be overcome only through faith in the hidden powers of God Almighty.
Islam’s teaching on the sanctity of human life
Islam was the first to teach the world that a human being does not possess such an absolute right over their own person as to be entitled to destroy it. Even when a person takes their own life, they are to be regarded as a murderer. Rather, they have certain duties and responsibilities towards the preservation and continuance of their own life, as expressed in the principle: “Your own self has a right over you.” [Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 1369]
Moreover, among the various forms of human excellence and moral virtue, there are some that cannot manifest themselves unless a person confronts different kinds of hardship and suffering. Difficulties are essential to the cultivation of courage, high resolve and steadfastness, which are common moral virtues.
Those who idolise Western philosophy consider climbing to the summits of mountains an easy undertaking. Plunging into the sea or risking their own lives to rescue others from raging flames may, at times, seem perfectly easy to them. Yet they may find themselves unable to confront an ordinary difficulty that arises in their lives. The former acts are sometimes the result of sheer recklessness, whereas the latter inability stems from a deficiency of faith.
The decline of faith and the need for divine guidance
As faith in the existence of God Almighty diminishes day by day, incidents of this kind continue to increase. I read accounts of these suicides and the proceedings of the courts of inquiry investigating them and I sit with my head in my hands, deeply distressed by the extent to which these people stand in need of our help.
We believe in God Almighty and worship a living God. We have witnessed His fresh and continuing signs, yet we have been unable to convey this glad tidings to these people. They possess an inner yearning and may turn towards the truth with sincere longing, but we lack the necessary resources.
The need for literature on the existence of God
During these days, I have been corresponding with a Jewish couple. Neither of them believes in the existence of God Almighty. I am endeavouring to help them find the right path, but we have no substantial body of literature devoted specifically to this subject that we can place in the hands of people such as them. Will any learned and capable writer take up this subject and write about it in English? If nothing else, a booklet could be prepared by translating, in an expanded form, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II’s [ra] essay on the existence of God Almighty. Would some friend come forward to have it published?
The opening of the Fazl Mosque
The time is approaching when the mosque whose foundation was laid by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] on 19 October 1924, at four o’clock in the afternoon, will soon be opened. The exact date of the opening has not yet been fixed. It is expected to take place on the anticipated date, or at least by the time this article is published.
Among the countless favours bestowed by Allah the Almighty upon Irfani is the blessing that he was present when the foundation of the mosque was laid. When excavation work began, Allah the Almighty also granted this humble one the honour and privilege of participating personally in the work. It had been expected that the mosque would be completed and opened by May [1926]. However, strikes and seasonal holidays delayed its completion until July [1926].
Despite my financial difficulties, I did not abandon my resolve, for I had been granted the opportunity solely through the grace of Allah the Almighty and I was determined not to forgo it. I remain hopeful of His mercy that I shall be able to attend the opening ceremony.
A manifest sign of Divine grace
By the grace of Allah the Almighty, this mosque is one of His magnificent signs. I am fully aware of the circumstances in which its construction began. At the time, the financial difficulties surrounding the project were immense and there appeared to be no means by which its construction could be undertaken. Yet Allah the Almighty brought about the necessary arrangements from the unseen, in such a manner that only those of us present here can fully appreciate this manifestation of His power.
Our opponents left no stone unturned in employing whatever means they could to obstruct the construction of this mosque. When some people questioned one of them about it, they dismissed the matter by claiming that no mosque was being built and that the reports were merely publicity. Others referred to some imaginary or illusory mosque, claiming that construction was taking place there.
Despite all these circumstances, the construction of the mosque continued and the calls of Allahu Akbar resounded from the site.
The honour of giving the first call to prayer
Irfani wishes to be the first to give the call to prayer at the mosque. However, I understand that, following a request or suggestion from our respected Malik Ghulam Farid Sahib [ra], permission has been granted to him to deliver the first azan and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] has expressed the wish that Irfani should proclaim the first takbir. I appreciate every gesture of my master and cherish every instruction he gives. Should I be granted this privilege, I shall cherish it throughout my life and my children shall continue to take pride in it even after my death.
The carpeted floor
We also needed carpeting for the floor of the mosque. Readers of Al Fazl will know that Allah the Almighty granted Khan Bahadur Seith Ahmad Alauddin Sahib the distinction of providing the carpet for the very first mosque in this centre of materialism. The carpet has now been laid in the mosque. Whenever we behold this beautiful flooring, our hearts spontaneously offer prayers for Seith Ahmad Sahib. Every prostration performed upon this carpet, as worshippers bow before [the Divine threshold in the Ahmadiyya mosque], will surely bring its share of reward to Seith Sahib as well. Insha-Allah, Irfani, who initiated this undertaking and the friends who helped bring it to fruition, Seith Ibrahim Bhai and Abdullah Bhai, will also receive their share of the reward.
The arrangements needed to maintain the mosque
It is impossible to convey the extent of our anxieties concerning the opening of the mosque. We were fully conscious of our own inadequacy and weakness, yet we remained confident that Allah the Almighty would, through His unseen means, bring about the necessary arrangements.
My friends often describe me as a man given to making proposals. I regard such appellations as an honour, for many of the proposals for which I laid the initial groundwork eventually culminated in the construction of buildings. I have therefore never been afraid to put forward proposals.
In my view, a person is needed on a permanent basis to maintain the mosque, ensure its cleanliness and attend to its other requirements. This individual should also serve as the muezzin [a person who makes the call to prayer] and keep the mosque in good order. Someone should always be available to receive visitors, provide them with information about the mosque and, while doing so, convey the message of the Jamaat. This is not a responsibility ordinarily assigned to missionaries, but one of them would have to devote himself exclusively to this task. People visit the mosque to see it and the need for such an arrangement is undeniable.
On the other hand, the Jamaat’s growing expenditure may not permit it to bear the additional cost of employing another person. In any case, this expense would amount to no less than fifteen hundred to two thousand [rupees] annually. I therefore appeal to the readers to pray that Allah the Almighty may create the necessary means for this purpose.
Congratulations to the Jamaat and tribute to Maulana Abdur Rahim Dard
From England, I extend my congratulations to the Jamaat on the successful completion of this magnificent undertaking. It would be unjust, however, not to acknowledge the tireless efforts and laborious work of Maulana Dard [ra]. I have witnessed how he has devoted himself almost to the point of becoming consumed by the construction of this mosque. He has experienced, in practice, the taste of the following couplet of the Promised Messiah (as):
تا نہ دیوانہ شدم ہوش نیامد بہ سرم
اے جنوں گرد تو گردم کہ چہ احسان کردی
“Until I became consumed by madness, the truth was not revealed to me. O Madness! May I be sacrificed for thee! What a tremendous favour thou hast bestowed upon me.”
Dard Sahib [ra] is indeed fortunate in a manner worthy of envy – not that I envy him, for Allah the Almighty granted me a share in this blessed undertaking and the opportunity to participate in it. The construction of the mosque was accomplished through his efforts and this was achieved at a time when clouds of financial difficulty hung overhead. I had already savoured the fragrance of this success on the very day Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra], with his own hands, handed Dard Sahib [ra] the key. I regard his success with immense joy.
I also pray for the elevation of the spiritual station of my beloved, dear friend and brother, the late Master Qadir Bakhsh Sahib. He left behind a son so capable and devoted to the service of the Jamaat. May Allah Almighty bestow similar blessings upon his other children and upon my own children as well, amin.
A striking manifestation of the blessed influence of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih
Those who claim that places and times possess no special influence or spiritual attraction are foolish. Allah the Almighty has declared Safa and Marwah to be among His signs. The blessings and spiritual benefits of Mecca and Medina have not diminished. If we fail to make use of our own capacities, the deficiency lies with us. The blessings of Qadian are not confined to Qadian alone. I have personally experienced the blessed and holy influences here in London as well and Dard Sahib [ra] has expressed this very sentiment in one of his sermons.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] arrived here in late August and remained until late October. The extent of the Jamaat’s efforts in tabligh and spreading the message of Islam during those days and the degree to which Huzoor [ra] and his companions were occupied in these endeavours, are beyond the descriptive power of even the most gifted writer.
A remarkable consequence of this blessed influence is that, even now, events continue to occur during this same period that generate particular circumstances and sentiments conducive to the tabligh and spread of the Jamaat’s message.
In 1924, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] himself was present here. During the corresponding period in 1925, the incidents involving the Star newspaper’s cartoons, among other instances, took place and construction of the mosque commenced. In the same period of 1926, there is tremendous enthusiasm for the mosque’s inauguration, while circumstances conducive to the Jamaat’s spread are arising almost of their own accord.
I would describe these developments in detail were it not for the fact that some people might exploit the information for improper purposes. I shall therefore content myself with these observations. My personal experience of the past three years is that exceptionally encouraging work took place here during this period. As for the future, my conviction has now become firm and complete. Allah the Almighty has enabled us to undertake and complete the construction of the mosque.
A remarkable coincidence
Readers of Al Fazl will recall that when the proposal to construct this mosque was first put forward, probably in [1920], Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] was staying in the hills of Dalhousie. I was in Hyderabad at the time, but my respected brother, Abdul Rahman Sahib, wrote to me describing the proceedings of that gathering, which was apparently held at Dainkund. A poetry recital had been organised on the occasion, devoted to the construction of the mosque. I request the editor of Al Fazl to publish those poems again, for they have now proved to be a prophecy fulfilled. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] had asked everyone present to contribute something in verse.
Now, as the mosque has been constructed and is about to open, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] is once again staying in Dalhousie. What was then seemingly no more than a dream is now being realised. All praise belongs to Allah for this! By the grace of Allah the Almighty, we are all alive to witness its fulfilment. All praise belongs to Him once again for this blessing.
A magnificent meteor
In recounting the early days of his divine mission, the Promised Messiah (as) wrote that numerous stars had fallen from the sky during that period. If I am not mistaken, he discussed this phenomenon in considerable detail in Aina-e-Kamalat-e-Islam [The Mirror of the Excellences of Islam]. I was only a child at the time, but I witnessed this spectacle in the sky while I was conscious enough to remember it. I distinctly recall that everyone in our household was saying that the Imam Mahdi would now appear. It was not merely my family; people in general were saying the same thing.
In short, the Promised Messiah (as) identified meteors as precursors to certain momentous events. Although they occur according to natural causes and circumstances, the divine practice is such that they may be appointed as signs preceding certain great events.
A meteor stuns the whole of England
During the night between Monday, 6 and 7 September 1926, at approximately 9:45 pm, a magnificent meteor streaked across the sky, leaving the whole of England astonished. The Daily Express, in its issue dated 8 September [1926], reported:
“The whole of England is engaged in discussing the mystery of the luminous phenomenon that traversed the country on Monday night at 9:45 pm, passing from northern Yorkshire to South London.”
The phenomenon appeared in various colours, generally red, white, green and blue. Its dazzling light persisted for several seconds. In the northern region, it was accompanied by a tremendous sound that frightened people and caused certain buildings to shake.
Various opinions and theories were put forward concerning the phenomenon. However, Sir Frank Dyson, the Astronomer Royal and other experts stated that a very large meteor had fallen.
Anticipating a great religious transformation
In any case, a more detailed account of this event may be given later, should the need arise. What is certain is that a very large meteor streaked across the sky. In connection with this phenomenon, it appears that, insha-Allah, a great religious transformation is about to take place in England, one that will prove blessed for us. Thousands of souls are quietly preparing themselves within. The tablets of their hearts have been cleansed through the influence of devotion. The imprint of Islam can now be engraved upon them with the greatest ease, provided that the sons of Islam unite their efforts for this purpose.
(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu, published in the 8 October 1926 issue of Al Fazl)