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First Chapter

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First Chapter
Editorial

It was a cold morning of November 2017. Nineteenth of November to be precise. I sat in the waiting area of the Private Secretary’s office, waiting to be seen by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (may Allah strengthen his hand).  

Among other issues that I had to seek his blessed guidance on, was the proposal for a newspaper, Al Hakam, to be launched again, this time in English.  

The idea had come from a colleague and I had instantly agreed to present it to Huzooraa. But as I sat waiting for the blessed audience, I felt that I was extremely nervous in presenting a proposal which did not seemingly fall within the scope of my duties. But the love, affection and attention I have always experienced when presenting any matter was my only and best source of encouragement.  

The proposal was last on the list. I had sought guidance on all other matters and the time came to  present the proposal of Al Hakam being launched from London. It was immediately approved and accepted.  

Any decision made by Huzooraa is revered by all Ahmadis and held in high esteem, but when a proposal or suggestion is accepted so wholeheartedly by Huzooraa , it means more than just an approval. It brings with it a great deal of motivation, blessings, prayers and everything good that one can imagine. 

Thus, it would be a grave injustice not to acknowledge that every step that was taken towards realising this dream, however hard or impossible it may have seemed at the onset, turned simple and every hurdle simply gave way to the fulfilment of a task that had the blessing of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih. 

A piece from Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat has been included in this issue where a message of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra at the second launch of Al Hakam (Urdu) in 1934 has been quoted. I would like to add here the line that was not quoted by Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat. After stating that whether Al Hakam survived physically or not, its name would always live, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra further stated: 

“…but I have the desire that, as its very name suggests, the status given to the Promised Messiahas from the very start by his followers, [Al Hakam] should physically survive also…” 

It is faith-inspiring to witness the heartfelt desire of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra materialised in the time of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa .  

May Allah enable this newspaper to live up to the standards set by the scholarly and pious pioneers in its early phases and also to function in accord with the expectations of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa. 

Every year 23 March is marked as Yaum-e-Masih-e-Maud (the Promised Messiah day) on the calendar of the Jamaat, commemorating the first ever initiations taken at the hand of the Promised Messiahas, thus laying the foundation of the last Jamaat to be divinely established. What better date could be chosen for the launch of a newspaper that has its roots in the blessed time of the Promised Messiahas.  

Al Hakam was the first-ever newspaper of the Jamaat when first launched. Its re-launch today makes it the first weekly newspaper of the Worldwide Jamaat in the English language. 

The connection of the present phase of Al Hakam with the Ahmadiyya ARC (Archive & Research Centre) will work as a platform to bring the rich legacy of the Jamaat to light, which is a very precious treasure sitting in archive boxes or lying on shelves of various repositories. Scholarly articles, the majority of which were written in Urdu, will insha-Allah be translated into English and presented here, thus providing Ahmadis around the world the knowledge hidden in these articles as well as opening up new avenues for western researchers to tap into.  

An English rendering of the Friday sermons delivered by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih will be regularly made available in full. This will insha-Allah make it easier for researchers to cite references from the sayings of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih, apart from providing Ahmadi readers with a quick and easy access to the blessed words of our Imam. 

The Promised Messiahas referred to Al Hakam as an arm of the Jamaat. May Allah enable Al Hakam to always live up to the standard and become so in the true sense of the term. On Allah, we rely, and in the prayers of his Khalifa, we believe. We know that there will always be challenges, but we strongly believe that the prayers and guidance of our beloved Imam will always enable us to sail through the turbulent waters that may come our way. Insha-Allah.  

(AB) 

The History of Al Hakam

Al Hakam
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The History of Al Hakam

A note recorded in Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat on the history of Al Hakam (Urdu) written by Dost Mohammad Shahid Sahib, Historian of the Jamaat 

It had been eight years since the Jamaat had been established and it still had no newspaper of its own.  

The Promised Messiah, on whom be peace, and his companions felt the need but financial constraints were a hindrance.  

Finally, a courageous and enthusiastic youth of the Jamaat, Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Turab, Allah be pleased with him, (who was then based in Amritsar and was by then an acclaimed journalist in the intellectual circles) was inspired to write a request to the Promised Messiahas. The Promised Messiahas replied to his request in his own writing, the summary of which is:  

We have no experience in this field. There is a need for a newspaper but our Jamaat comprises of poor people and is unable to bear financial strains. If you can do this through your experience, then you may do so. Allah bless this effort. 

Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Turabra too had no financial resources. Some of his friends were adamant that he join the civil service, but Allah the Almighty helped him and an esteemed newspaper like Al Hakam was materialised in Urdu.   

History of Al Hakam
Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Turabra 

The first issue of Al Hakam was published on 8 October 1897 and up to the end of the year, was printed at Riaz-e-Hind Press in Amritsar and was based also in Amritsar. It was in the beginning of 1898 that it started to be published from Qadian. With a few breaks here and there, Al Hakam was successfully published until July 1943.  

In the second phase of its publication, it was edited by Sheikh Mahmud Ahmad Irfani (son of Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Turabra), and successfully did so until his death. 

Recalling the early days of Al Hakam, Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Alira states: 

“In August 1897, Henry Martyn Clark brought about a lawsuit against the Promised Messiahas. I recorded the minutes of this court-case under the title Doosri Jang-e-Muqaddas [literally meaning the second holy war; named after Jang-e-Muqaddas which was an account of the debate between the Promised Messiahas and the Christian clergy held in Amritsar]. I strongly felt the need of a newspaper to express the viewpoint of the Jamaat and also to refute the allegations of political and religious nature that were brought about against the Jamaat. So, Al Hakam was launched in October 1897. The Government was against the press in those days and the present Press Act was about to be passed, but in these unfavourable circumstances, I launched the paper purely relying on Allah.  

“At the end of 1897, a relaunch of the Paisa Akhbar was being considered and I had accepted the offer of Munshi Mahbub Alam to be on the editorial staff. I was of the opinion that Al Hakam should be based in Lahore, and based on this, I had joined the Paisa Akhbar. But when I attended the Jalsa Salana, Qadian in December 1897, a resolution was moved for the establishment of a madrasah [school], for which I offered my services; thus, destiny brought me to settle in Qadian. 

“At the launch of Al Hakam, discouraging factors like the decline in religious taste and the rise in opposition of Ahmadiyyat were brought to my attention, asserting that Al Hakam would result in failure. 

“The Editor of Al Hakam [referring to himself] came to Qadian in January 1898, sacrificing, for the sake of Qadian, the newfound ties with the Paisa Akhbar and other prospective benefits associated with Lahore; by the Grace of Allah, I feel I have been prosperous. It was a great challenge to access a press in Qadian; there was no press, no designers and no copywriters, nor did any of these want to come and settle in Qadian. However, the Editor continued to handle these challenges.” 

Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Turabra was gifted with the wonderful skill of fast-writing. Whether the Promised Messiahas spoke during his walks or the evening audience, Sheikh Yaqub Ali Turabra would immediately transcribe every word and publish it in Al Hakam straight away.  

Through Al Hakam, the latest revelations of the Promised Messiahas also got published instantaneously. Events taking place in Qadian started to get coverage and articles written not only by scholars but also by the Promised Messiahas himself were published; members of the Jamaat were thus able to enlighten themselves with the spiritual provisions of the Promised Messiahas.  

The newspaper turned into a treasure house of the writings of the Promised Messiahas, an authentic source of history and a milestone for the Jamaat. 

Al Hakam served this unique cause singlehandedly up to 1901, making it an extraordinary example. Then the newspaper Al Badr joined in sharing the sacred responsibility of publicising the sayings and writings of the Promised Messiahas alongside the blessed revelations he would receive. The Promised Messiahas would refer to Al Hakam and Al Badr as “the two arms of the Jamaat”.  

At the second launch of Al Hakam in 1934, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra, the second Khalifa of the Promised Messiahas, issued a special message stating: 

“Al Hakam is the first ever newspaper of the Jamaat and the service it has rendered, as well as Al Badr in the last years of the Promised Messiahas, can never again be done by any newspaper even in exchange of millions of rupees. 

“I declare that whether Al Hakam survives in its present form or not, its name will forever endure. No significant work on the Jamaat can be complete without its mention as it carries the history of the Jamaat.” 

Biographies of the Promised Messiah a.s.

Al Hakam
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Biographies of the Promised Messiah a.s.

 

Allah the Almighty revealed to Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas a promise, stating “I shall not leave any such thing that may lead to your embarrassment.” 

The life of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, the Promised Messiah, has been recorded in hundreds of books and thousands of articles. While Hazrat Maulvi Abdul Karim Sialkotira started writing a series of articles on the blessed life of the Promised Messiahas in Al Hakam in 1900, there were opponents like Rev. Griswold who was writing about the Promised Messiahas in satirical tones.  

As we move further and further away from the time of this era’s saviour with every passing moment, it becomes incumbent upon us that we try and read as much as we can about his blessed life.  

Al Hakam, in its early phases, would carry a daily diary of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, along with his latest revelations as they were received and many of his sayings; all this laid the foundations for the many books that were later to be written on the life and character of the Promised Messiahas.  

We will, God willing, try to uphold this flagship of Al Hakam by bringing to the readers of Al Hakam various aspects of the life of the Promised Messiahas in every issue.  

Alongside that, we will also provide a list of biographies on the life of the Promised Messiahas for our readers to benefit from. This list has been attained from Sirat-e-Ahmad which is being compiled by Syed Mubasher Ahmad Ayyaz (Principal, Jamia Ahmadiyya Rabwah, Pakistan). He has very painstakingly put together this list and arranged them in chronological order, however, he has listed the biographies written by the very own children of the Promised Messiahas. We will serialise this list in this issue and the issues to follow: 

1. Sirat Hazrat Masih-e-Maud (Urdu), by Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra. This can be found in the third volume of Anwarul Ulum, or at the following link:  

www.alislam.org/urdu/au/AU3-9.pdf 

Introducing this book, the author wrote in his foreword:  

“I wished to write a booklet describing the status of the Ahmadiyya Community and its founder, so as to work as a guiding light for those in pursuit of truth, with the blessings of Allah the Almighty. This brief tract will give an account on the life of the founder of the Jamaat, his biography, claims and arguments, the difficulties he faced, his prophecies and his services.” 

2. Hazrat Masih-e-Maud Ke Karnamay (Urdu) [The Achievements of the Promised Messiahas] by Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra. This can be found in volume 10 of Anwarul Ulum or at the following link: 

www.alislam.org/urdu/au/AU10-5.pdf

This is a speech delivered by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra on 28 December 1927 at Jalsa Salana, Qadian. It was later published in book-form. 

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra has selected fifteen of the many accomplishments of the Promised Messiahas. These carefully selected services of the Promised Messiahas are the ones related to the existence of God, correction of the concept about the attributes of Allah, Angels, removing misconceptions about prophets, miracles, worship; rectifying issues of fiqh [jurisprudence], rights of women and peace.  

3. Ahmad, The Messenger of the Latter Days (English) by Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra. 

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra gives a chronology of events from the early phase of the Promised Messiah’sas life. Also given is a brief sketch of the history of Ahmadiyyat and the claims of the Promised Messiahas, some of his prophecies with explanations and a concise account of his services. 

4. Sirat-ul-Mahdi (Urdu) [The Life of the Mahdi] by Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra MA.  

This is a collection of traditions related to the life of the Promised Messiahas narrated by his companions and collated by Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra, the son of the Promised Messiahas. All traditions have a detailed account of who narrated a tradition, who recorded it and how it was communicated to the author. This book is spread over three volumes. 

The Purpose of Bai’at

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The Purpose of Bai’at

“All sincere souls who have entered the fold of this humble one should know that the purpose of pledging allegiance is to dampen the worldly ardour, so that the heart is engulfed in the love of the Bountiful God and of the Holy Prophetsa, and to develop such a state of detachment that the Final Journey does not seem an unwelcome prospect. 

“But in order to achieve this, it is necessary to stay in my company and to spend a portion of one’s life in this cause, so that—if God Almighty so wills—through witnessing some definite signs, weakness, infirmity and tardiness may be overcome and perfect faith may be born, resulting in fervour and passionate ardour. One should always strive to achieve this goal and pray that God may grant this opportunity. Until this happens, it is essential to meet me now and then. Bai‘at is devoid of all blessings and is a mere formality if one does not care to meet me.”

(Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi, The Heavenly Decree, p.73)

15th National Peace Symposium

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15th National Peace Symposium

The 15th Peace Symposium was held in Tahir Hall (Baitul Futuh Mosque, London) on Saturday, 17 March 2018. The theme for this year’s event was “Fundamentals of Establishing Lasting Peace”. More than 800 guests attended the unique event including secretaries of state, parliamentarians, diplomats, faith and civic leaders as well as representatives from numerous charities and faith communities. 

While talking about the need for holding this Symposium every year, Huzooraa said that as long as adequate steps towards establishing peace are not taken by the major nations of the world, it is a duty of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat to continue calling the world to this noble cause and to never give up.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad Khalifatul Masih V

Historically, Huzoor’saa addresses have given deep insight into the most pressing contemporary issues concerning the religious, political, social and moral décor of the world that we live in. 

Regarding issues such as climate change and the reduction of carbon emissions, Huzooraa said that although they are issues of great importance, a vast number of people living in the developing world live below the line of poverty and do not know how they will have their next meal.

Huzooraa said, “It is essential that every effort is made to raise the standards of the developing world. Poor nations must not be looked down upon, rather we should consider them as part of our family: our brothers and sisters. By helping the developing nations stand on their own feet and by giving their people opportunities and hope, we will actually be helping ourselves and safeguarding the future of the world.” 

While reflecting on the peaceful teachings of the Holy Prophetsa of Islam, Huzooraa commented, “The truth is that Islam has always been diametrically opposed to any form of terrorism or extremism. Furthermore, whilst I accept that the evil acts of some Muslims have greatly damaged society, I do not accept that it is only Muslims who are to blame for the volatility of today’s world. Many commentators and experts are now openly saying that certain non-Muslim powers and groups have also played a role in undermining peace and social cohesion.” 

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Every year, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize is given to a charity or individual for the advancement of peace. This year’s Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace prize was given to Dr Leonid Roshal, Senior Pediatric Surgeon, Russia for his remarkable services to children in war torn areas of the world. 

The proceedings of the Peace Symposium 2018 can be watched at www.mta.tv 

The address delivered by Huzooraa can be read at: www.reviewofreligions.org/13661/leaving-a-legacy-for-future-generations 

Islam and Britain: Mission in an Age of Empire

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Islam and Britain: Mission in an Age of Empire

Title: Islam and Britain: Mission in an Age of Empire

Author: Ron Geaves

Publishers: Bloomsbury

Published: November 2017

 

Islam and Britain

Professor Ron Geaves specialises in the subject of the history of Islam in Britain. My first introduction to the author was through his book Islam in Victorian Britain. As an Ahmadi, I naturally went to the index to see where the Ahmadiyya Jamaat was mentioned in the book. But since the book focused on the Muslim community established by Abdullah Quilliam, there wasn’t much on the subject. Then I saw him in a BBC programme on Mosques in Britain and I again felt that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community wasn’t given due coverage despite their remarkable efforts in establishing the first ever mosque in London and being the representatives of Islam in Britain beyond any sectarian divisions.

My first meeting with Ron Geaves was in his office at the Liverpool Hope University. I had taken along quite a lot of material that I had gathered during my research on Fazl Mosque. Ron showed great interest in the subject and this is where it all began. This meeting in his office was where I see the foundations of this book being laid. I had offered Ron to visit the mosque in London which he happily accepted. In a few weeks’ time, Ron was touring the mosque and was intrigued to write a story of how the Ahmadiyya missionaries preached the message of Islam in Britain, established a mosque with very little resources and how the mosque turned into a hub of Islamic missionary activity and continues to be so. In his meeting with Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V, Ron expressed his desire to write a book on the role of the Ahmadiyya missionary activity in Britain taking the starting point to be their arrival in England in 1912.

This book is one of its own kind as never before were the Ahmadiyya archives available to researchers, for the understandable reason that most of the archives from that time are in Urdu. Ahmadiyya Archive and Research Centre was founded by His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V in London with one of its objectives being making archives available to researchers. Ron travelled to Rabwah and with the help of a team, went through the records, collecting any piece of information that could in any way be relevant to the early missionary activity in Britain. I remember a huge box arriving from Rabwah with all the photocopied material from Rabwah, all of which was in Urdu.

I will always cherish the weeks that Ron spent at the London of Ahmadiyya ARC, working tirelessly from around nine o’clock in the morning to eight in the evening. I must admit that just by seeing him work, I learnt how determined and sincere one has to be with their work if the goal is to be achieved. My colleagues, Qaasid and Sabahuzafar, worked with him translating every word from the bundles that could be of any help to the work that Ron was in the process of producing.

Around three years of reading and two of writing has the bore the fruit that we have now in the form of this book. The book covers the vision of Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IIra, about the mission being established in the west, the guidance he had provided, the efforts of the missionaries to live up to his expectations and, of course, his own visit to London where he laid the foundation of the Fazl Mosque – London’s first mosque.

 

Ron Geaves presents his book to Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa Khalifatul Masih V

(AB) 

100 Years Ago… – Hazrat Mufti Sahib’s Diary

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100 Years Ago… – Hazrat Mufti Sahib’s Diary

Sadiq’s Diary, from England

21 March 1918

“100 Years Ago…” will go back a hundred years to re-discover the activity of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat. Insha-Allah we will try to present this to our readers regularly. 

For this issue, we have found a diary belonging to Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahibra that was included in Akhbar Faruq on 21 March 1918, exactly a hundred years ago. 

In the diary, Hazrat Mufti Sahibra reveals the challenges he was facing serving as a missionary in England and gives insight to his activities. 

Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib Portrait
Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra

The Cold Weather

The temperature here [Ventnor, Isle of Wight] has not dropped below thirty degrees Fahrenheit. As compared to London the sun stays out longer here, meaning that you can see it through the clouds. 

I previously wrote during Summer that the days can get so long that I once wrote a report in the daylight at half past nine in the evening. In contrast, nowadays the days are so short that candles are already lit at half past four in the evening and some cannot work without candles even at three o’clock in the evening. However, the timings that the English have set for eating and working are fixed and never change. 

My Clothing

The conditions here are such that to this day I have not had any clothes made. I am still using the same clothes that my dear brother Maulvi Muhammad Usman sahib had tailored and bought for me in Lahore. The only new garment is an overcoat (lighter than the overcoat I brought from India) purchased by Qazi sahib [Qazi Muhammad Abdullah sahib, an early missionary to England] for me upon my arrival here, and that too for only five pounds.

Nowadays I have been wearing a warm undervest with a cotton waistcoat on top, followed by a woollen sweater, two flannel tops, a woollen waistcoat, a warm coat, thermal leggings, flannel bottoms, one pair of light trousers and two pairs of thick trousers, leather boots strapped over three pairs of socks and a warm turban. This is what I wear inside the house and when going out, a light or heavy overcoat is added depending on the conditions as well as warm gloves. For now, this amount of clothing is sufficient; in future, whatever Allah wills.

At night, I put on a long woollen kurta, flannel pyjamas, three blankets, one shawl and a thick woollen quilt. At times, I also sleep in a warm gown which my dear brother Miyan Chiraghuddin sahib gave to me, may Allah reward him in the best manner and bless his family. 

However, alongside this, another important thing is that the rooms for sleeping and eating etc. are separate and they can only stay warm through the use of lighting coal at all times, apart from the bedroom, where if one does not get up throughout the night to re-light the coal, the flame dies out. For this reason, I have arranged for a gas heater in the bedroom. 

Qazi sahib had arranged for gas heating at the property we had on [Great] Russell Street and this proved to be very beneficial. The instalment fees are substantial but the cost afterwards equate with the usage of coal and you may switch it on and off as you like. 

The reason I write in such minute detail is so that the future missionaries may have good insight into the conditions here. If the future missionaries carefully take into account what I am writing, it will hopefully help them Insha-Allah and thus I will be divinely rewarded.

Future Missionaries

In my opinion, the tasks here cannot be completed in just a few years. For this purpose, there are yet to be many efforts made especially since our challenge is not merely with Christians or Atheists, but also non-Ahmadi Indians and (more challengingly) those friends who are now severely opposed to us. 

My opinion concerning the England mission is that instead of missionaries coming or going after two or three years there should be permanent missionaries who completely sacrifice their lives and all their desires and wishes. They should be such that through their prayer attention, knowledge, love, morals, excellences and every possible effort create an Ahmadi atmosphere. 

In my view, in three or four years of service, a person can only just about formulate an appropriate scheme about a certain area. Yes, it is important for missionaries to visit Qadian regularly and, after spending sometime there, return to their duties. And when they reach old age they may return to Qadian with their pensions. 

According to Maulvi Sher Ali sahib’s dream, my task would prove as subh-e-sadiq, the dawn of the day. God Almighty is aware of the future, but if I am responsible for playing the role of dawn then either God will send other people to see the sun reach its zenith or He will have me play both roles. Only Allah knows best. I am ready for all situations. Wa Ma Tawfiqi Illa Billahil-‘Aliyyil ‘Azim. [I possess no power; only Allah is the All-Powerful and Great.]

Usage of Medicines

Till now I have not been using many medicines… A doctor here recommended that I use Cod Liver Oil with Malt Extract and I take a little every morning. This is what I take as medicine. 

As for food, I cannot digest the bread here. Therefore, I have replaced roti with pure oat biscuits. The meat, fish, tea, milk and fresh fruit here [Ventnor] are very beneficial and I frequently make use of them. 

In terms of exercise, I take leisurely walks and occasionally lift dumbbells. 

I read a book recently about protecting oneself from the cold and it said that bathing with cold water has many advantages. 

Chaudhry Zafrullah Khan sahib once related that he would bathe with cold water in England, something I found very strange because I would not even bathe with cold water in India. But here I have developed such a habit that every morning when I get in the bathroom, I pour two buckets of cold water on me and immediately dry myself with a towel after which I quickly put on my clothes. Although this may not be bathing in its truest sense but I have benefitted from it a great deal. 

Due to the early morning bath my body temperature remains hot and protects me from the cold [throughout the day]. 

Fish and Milk

Whenever fish was cooked back home in India, it was considered extremely harmful to drink milk that day. Everyone at home would be ordered on such days not to have milk. 

Here I have observed that fish and milk are consumed together without a worry in the world of whether it can harm them. It may possibly be due to the different atmosphere and climate. 

I first experienced this at the home of Mr Saleem of Southsea, who accepted Ahmadiyyat after my tabligh [preaching], where I was presented fish and milk. I felt reluctant but there were some reasons for which I could not decline. Therefore, I recited Bismillahilladhi La Yadhurru Ma’asmihi Shay’un [In the name of Allah, with Whose Name there is protection from every kind of harm] and consumed both. After that, I have been given both items together many times and have consumed them both together. 

Health

Alhamdolillah my health is good. Although I rarely step outside due to the extreme cold and opportunities of tabligh here are much less, but compared to London it is less cold here. 

Our brother Qazi [Muhammad Abdullah] sahib was very disinclined to me travelling to [Ventnor]. It was his sheer love that he could not bear my departure. 

However, he has now written that it was good I left London as it is extremely cold there with snow and mud everywhere. Apparently the fog there is so thick that you can only see a few feet in front of you. If you spend too long in front of the fireplace it becomes difficult to breathe. The maid has fallen ill and is off on sick leave. Some grocery items are not available and he is struggling a great deal. 

May Allah, out of His sheer grace, ease his difficulties and the difficulties of all missionaries; may they be safeguarded from every evil and conflict; may their tasks be blessed and may He out of His infinite mercy lead all mankind onto the right path. He alone is the Guide…

Generally my health is good. Allah alone is the Protector and Helper. Wa la Haula Wa La Quwwata Illa Billahil ‘Aliyyil ‘Azim. [There is no strength or power other than that of Allah, the All-Powerful, the Great.] 

Sadiq (22.12.1917)

(Translated from the original Urdu by Qaasid Muin Ahmad)

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Al Hakam is a weekly English newspaper for members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat around the world. Its aim is to provide Ahmadis with content regarding the beliefs of the true Islam, reintroduced to the world by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, peace be on him.

Contact us: info@alhakam.org

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