Son-in-law’s memories of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud

Narrated by the son-in-law of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra, these words are being published for the first time.

Al Hakam is incredibly indebted to this servant of the Jamaat, who continues to provide his services even to this day, and prays that Allah may bless him with health, a long life and the countless blessings of Allah.

May Allah enable us all to follow the noble expectations that Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra had for each and every member of the Jamaat.

On the day of the demise of Hazrat Amma Jan^ra or perhaps a day or two later, I was passing through Gol Bazaar, Rabwah, when someone came running to me and suggested that I write a book on Hazrat Amma Jan^ra. 

I began to ponder over what he had just said to me and upon thinking, a question arose in my mind: “No doubt, I have seen Hazrat Amma Jan very closely; however, if I decide to write an article or even a book, will I even be able to do justice to introducing the grandeur of her personality?” 

To this, my heart replied in the negative – true justice of introducing that personality can never be done. 

The same is the case of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s personality also. Whatever one says or writes regarding Huzoor^ra, it is not possible to do justice to a man like him. Without seeing Huzoor^ra or observing and experiencing Huzoor^ra directly, one cannot be introduced to him. If one has not seen him, then merely telling them about Huzoor^ra can never be enough.

Sometimes, it surprises me that when most people write something about Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra or speak about him, they oftentimes mention the jalal [awe] of his personality. There most definitely was jalal in his character and why wouldn’t there be? 

It was mentioned in the words of the prophecy that God’s mercy sent him with “the Word of Majesty”. However, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra was also the embodiment of love and affection. I have never found anyone to be more affectionate than Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra. 

Huzoor^ra raised us up like his own children, hence we saw him from a young age and found him to be extremely affectionate.

I remember right before my father (Hazrat Mir Muhammad Ishaq^ra) passed away, as soon as Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra came to know of his illness, he came to our house and spent the whole time sitting next to him. Since it was a Friday, he even led the Jumuah prayer in our house. 

Then immediately after the demise of my father, he led the Maghrib and Isha prayers at our house also. All three of us brothers [Mir Daud Ahmad Sahib, Mir Masood Sahib and Mir Mahmud Ahmad Nasir Sahib] were in Madrasatul Ahmadiyya. Our mother had no other means of livelihood, so from that very moment, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra took us under his wing of grace. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra took responsibility of our sustenance, our education and all other needs and very kindly provided for our upbringing. 

When Huzoor^ra declared himself to be the Musleh-e-Maud, he held four conventions (jalsas) in Hoshiarpur, Lahore, Ludhiana and Dehli respectively. The responsibility of organising these conventions had been assigned to our father. 

The first two conventions had already taken place and my father had organised everything. But as the preparation was underway for the Ludhiana convention, my father passed away. However, the convention was to take place as planned. 

The question naturally arose as to who would organise it? Various names were suggested and I suggested the name of Hazrat Mirza Sharif Ahmad^ra and by the grace of Allah, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra assigned him the responsibility of organising the remaining Jalsas. 

When Huzoor^ra was about to leave for the Ludhiana jalsa, he sat me with him in his car. It rained for the entire duration of the journey. When the convoy neared the canal of Harchowal, the canal authorities refused to open the barrier for the convoy as, they rightly said, the route was extremely unsuitable. Even the driver of the hired vehicle of Huzoor^ra said that he would not risk driving it any further as the mud and water would risk damaging the car. Everyone tried their best to convince him, even offering to cover the cost of any possible damages but he did not agree.

At this occasion, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra received a revelation, a moment which I was very lucky to witness. I saw an extraordinary expression on his face and sensed a change in the usual look of his eyes. However, at that time Huzoor^ra did not say anything. 

Afterwards, in a gathering, Huzoor^ra mentioned that while the crossing the canal seemed impossible, Allah the Almighty revealed to him in that very moment, “There will be many means of blessings.” Then Huzoor^ra explained how the convention had been an immense success despite the rain and the same rain hindered the evil plans of the opponents. 

So when Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra received this revelation, by the sheer grace of Allah the Almighty, I was with him at the time and I witnessed his state during the revelation first-hand.

There was an immense level of simplicity in the character of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra. Whenever my father would have to seek guidance from Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra on a certain matter, he would send me off with a letter. I was blessed with this opportunity many times as a child. 

Whenever I went, Huzoor^ra would be seated on the floor, working – a sheet would be spread on the floor, upon which Huzoor^ra would be seated. In front of him would be a large pile of letters and Hazrat Umm-e-Tahir^ra would be seated nearby. In front of her too would be another huge pile of letters. 

It was the practice of Huzoor^ra that he would open a letter, read it, then would place it back in the envelope and write a summary of his reply, or whatever guidance needed to be given, on the envelope. So this is how he would always be immersed in work. Huzoor^ra would read the letters, place them back in the envelope and write his reply. Alongside this, Hazrat Umm-e-Tahir^ra would read the summary of a letter to Huzoor^ra, to which Huzoor^ra would also be giving guidance and telling her what to say in reply. During all this, Huzoor^ra also found time to ask me what brought me to Him. Then Huzoor^ra would read that letter and give the required instruction.

So all this happened simultaneously. It is also worth mentioning that despite such pressure of work, he would still show kindness and affection to a child like me who was in attendance. For example, on one such occasion, Huzoor^ra said to me, “Your complexion is usually very light, what has now made it darker? Is it because you wander around in the sun?”

Now that his simplicity is being mentioned, I would also like to mention that when Huzoor^ra had his house built in Qadian, it was a vast and a very magnificent one. It had all kinds of facilities. I would think to myself that “Huzoor^ra has so much simplicity in his character, then why would he build such an extravagant villa for himself?”

Then it came to my knowledge that influential personalities and dignitaries would come to visit Huzoor^ra and seek his advice on all sorts of important matters. The mehman khana [guest house] was run-down and not in a state to accommodate external guests. Hence, whenever such guests would visit, they would be accommodated in Huzoor’s villa and their hospitality was taken care of. 

Soon after, the state of the guest house improved significantly and there was no longer a need for the villa. And then we see that as time went on, the villa ceased to remain.

Hence the personality and character of Huzoor^ra was one worth witnessing. To describe him is not only difficult, but rather, impossible.

Allah the Almighty blessed me with the opportunity of being Huzoor’s son-in-law. The way in which this marriage was arranged also reveals a very beautiful aspect of Huzoor’s character. 

When Huzoor^ra visited London in 1955, I was already there as a missionary and also pursuing further education. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra and Hazrat Choti Apa [Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s wife, Syeda Maryam Siddiqa Sahiba] were staying in the house adjacent to the Fazl Mosque. During those days, my rishta [marriage] with Huzoor’s daughter was being considered. 

I was standing outside that house on Melrose Road, having a conversation with a tabligh guest, when someone gave me the message that Huzoor^ra was calling me. Bewildered, I hurried to Huzoor^ra as soon as I could. 

Upon arriving, I saw that both Huzoor^ra and Hazrat Choti Apa remained silent in a very unusual manner. I waited for them to say something, but the silence remained. It seemed as though Huzoor wanted to say something, but wasn’t saying it.

Then I reluctantly broke the silence by saying “Huzoor, I was told that you called me.” Even then He remained silent for a moment longer and then quickly said, “Explain to the Swedish in a manner that he may get the courage to do bai‘at.” 

Upon hearing this instruction, I returned. It was soon afterwards that I was told by someone that Huzoor^ra had accepted the marriage proposal and it was to inform me about this that he had called me.

So Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra was a very loving and affectionate personality. He was immensely simple in his nature; in fact, I would even say that he had the simplicity of Hazrat Umar^ra. 

At this moment in time, I have conveyed the things which come to mind. As it is the instruction of Huzoor^aa (Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V), whatever comes to mind I will continue to write down.

(Translated by Romaan Basit, Jamia UK)