This Week in History: 1-7 March

A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

1 March 1940: During his tour of Sindh, on this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra reached Nasirabad, where he inaugurated a mosque with the Jumuah prayer. During his Friday Sermon, Huzoor^ra drew the attention of local Ahmadis to their responsibilities concerning the mosque. (Al Fazl, 6 March 1940, p. 2)

1 March 1950: On this day, the Schwerter Zeitung, a German newspaper, wrote under the heading “Islamische Europa-Mission will in Hamburg Moschee bauen” – “Islamic European Mission desires to build a mosque in Hamburg”:

“[Translation] Hamburg is also to receive a mosque, although the building work will still be a long time coming, explained Abdul Latif, the only European missionary of the Islamic Ahmadiyya Movement. […] There is already a mosque in London. In Hamburg, there was initially a small community of spiritual followers of Islam. The Mohammedans [sic, Muslims] believe that Islam will find great understanding in Europe in the future, now that active Islamic communities have been established in many European countries and in America.”

For more details, see “Islam Ahmadiyyat echoes in early 1900s German newspapers” at alhakam.org (1 September 2023, p. 14).

1 March 1972: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III^rh announced the establishment of Majlis-e-Sehat to organise sports and physical exercise for the people of Rabwah, Pakistan. Huzoor^rh desired that every resident of Rabwah should exercise daily. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 28, p. 30)

For more details, see “Rabwah – National Centre of Sports” at alhakam.org (11 May 2018, p. 3).

1 March 2014: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa inaugurated the Nasir Mosque in Gillingham, UK. On this occasion, Huzoor^aa also held an audience with local Ahmadi Muslims. In the evening, a special reception, attended by more than 180 dignitaries and guests, was held to mark the opening of the mosque. (“New Mosque Opened by World Muslim Leader in Gillingham”, www.pressahmadiyya.com)

2 March 1927: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra delivered a lecture at the Bradlaugh Hall in Lahore, titled “Hindu-Muslim fasadat, inka ilaaj, aur Musalmanon ka ainda tareeq-e-amal”, i.e.“Hindu-Muslim relations and the future line of Muslim conduct”.

For further details, see “‘Progress is impossible without peace’: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s lecture at the Bradlaugh Hall in Lahore, 1927” at alhakam.org (12 May 2023, p. 8)

2 March 1947: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra wrote a letter to MA Jinnah, saying:

“On HMG’s new declaration, Sir M Zafrullah Khan approached Sir Khizar, suggesting that at this critical juncture he should not fail his community. Malik Sahib then asked Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan to come to Lahore. As I also, on my way to Sind, had to stay there for one night, Sir Muhammad came there yesterday and discussed the matter with me. Following this, last night, he had a long discourse with Malik Sahib and Qizilbash. They have agreed to resign. […] Now you have a great lever to get Muslim rights from your opponents.” (Jinnah Papers, Vol. 1, Part I, pp. 164-165)

For further details, see “Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s services to the Muslim cause: Guidance and support to leaders of the Pakistan Movement” at alhakam.org (5 March 2021, p. 20).

3 March 1907: On this day, Syed Habibullah ICS, who was the magistrate of Agra, arrived at Qadian before the Zuhr prayer. Although the Promised Messiah^as was unwell, he showed great hospitality and gave adequate time to the guest.

For more details, see “Coming from every distant track: Syed Habibullah Khan Sahib visits Qadian and meets with Promised Messiah”, at alhakam.org (16 April 2021, p. 13).

3 March 1927: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra delivered a lecture, titled “Mazhab aur science”, – “Religion and science”, at the Habibia Hall of the Islamia College, Lahore. The session was presided over by Sir Muhammad Iqbal, and the lecture was organised by the Educational Union Islamia College.

For more details, see “Lectures, receptions and visit to Punjab Legislative Council: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s visit to Lahore, 1927”, at alhakam.org (2 February 2024, p. 14).

3 March 1995: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^rh commenced a series of sermons about the attributes of Allah, in accordance with one of his dreams. This series continued on during the Fifth Khilafat.

4 March 1932: On this day, Hazrat Maulvi Sher Ali^ra, wrote a letter to the Madras Mail regarding the advent of the Promised Messiah.

For more details, see“100 Years Ago… – Second Coming of Christ: A Muslim perspective on the fulfilment of biblical prophecy” at alhakam.org (10 February 2023, pp. 14-15).

4 March 2018: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa laid the foundation stone for the new administrative block at the Baitul Futuh Mosque complex in Morden, London. The administrative block, which will include multi-purpose halls, offices, and accommodation facilities, is being rebuilt after a fire in September 2015 caused widespread damage at the site. (“Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Lays Foundation Stone for New Administrative Block at Baitul Futuh Mosque”, pressahmadiyya.com)

5 March 1917: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra shared valuable advice with Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq^ra and other persons gathered at Madrasa Ahmadiyya about focusing on preaching as opposed to conversion. For more details, see “Twenty pearls of wisdom from Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s ‘Guidance for Missionaries’” at alhakam.org (10 November 2023, p. 14).

6 March 1935: The first Ahmadiyya printing press in Kababir, Haifa, under the name Al-Matba‘ah al-Ahmadiyyah, was inaugurated on this day.

For further details, see “Pioneer Missionaries: Part 15 – Some early milestones of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the Holy Land” at alhakam.org (22 December 2023, p. 6).

7 March 1923: During a speech on this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra instructed Ahmadis to get ready to offer every possible sacrifice to tackle the ongoing Shuddhi Movement, initiated by the Arya Samaj.

For more details, see “Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s response to the Shuddhi movement and the Jamaat’s relentless services for Islam” at alhakam.org (17 December 2021, p. 18).

7 March 2008: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa drew the attention of the Jamaat towards learning and teaching the translation of the Holy Quran. He emphasised that both the auxiliary organisations and the Jamaat’s system should work together on this important task. Through translation, Huzoor^aa said, one is able to gain an understanding of Allah’s commandments.

7 March 2015: Mrs Shadiye Heydari, a member of the Swedish parliament (Sveriges Riksdag), visited the Fazl Mosque in London, where she was granted an audience with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa.

During the 40-minute meeting, Huzoor^aa spoke about the increasing threat and danger posed by extremism in many parts of the world and advised that politicians should seek to identify the root causes of extremism and build a long-term strategy to counter youth radicalisation. (“Swedish Politician visits Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in London”, pressahmadiyya.com)