A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat
11 August 1888: On this day, the Promised Messiahas replied to a letter from a Muslim cleric, Munshi Mazhar Hussain. Hazrat Ahmadas refuted his false notions by addressing each and every sentence. The text of this thorough reply is now available in print and spans 24 pages. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 1, pp. 647-671)
11 August 1999: On the occasion of the solar eclipse on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh led the prayer of kusuf in London. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Part 4, p. 900)
11 August 2006: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa instructed the Jamaat to pray for his upcoming tour of America and said that in light of events that had transpired at various airports a day earlier (a plot to blow up planes in flight from the UK to the US), some members expressed concern. Huzooraa asked members of the Jamaat to pray and said that all of our affairs depended on prayers. Huzooraa added that if this journey was blessed in the eyes of Allah the Almighty, then He would remove all hurdles. (Friday Sermon, 11 August 2006, Khutbat-e-Masroor, Vol. 4, pp. 391-398)
12 August 1988: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh warned the opponents of Ahmadiyyat in general and General Zia-ul-Haq of Pakistan in particular. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Part 4, p. 848)
12 August 2016: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa granted valuable guidance to the guests and volunteers of the Jalsa Salana UK. While mentioning the exhibitions during the Jalsa, Huzooraa said:
“During the Jalsa, some departments have set up their exhibitions as well. An exhibition from the Ahmadiyya Archive and Research Centre (AARC) has also been set up; similarly, The Review of Religions has also organised an exhibition consisting of old manuscripts of the Holy Quran and in regards to the Shroud of Turin. Both of these exhibitions are very informative in their respective dimensions. Time has been allocated for both men and women; therefore, they should try to benefit from them.”
13 August 1924: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra was enroute to Europe. On this day, Huzoor’sra entourage departed for the second leg of their journey when they boarded their ship from Port Said, an Egyptian city at the northern end of the Suez Canal located on the Mediterranean Sea.
It should be noted that after travelling this far, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra began to feel unwell due to his frequent travels and especially due to the long speeches he delivered in the city of Damascus. Observing his health, the ship’s doctor advised Huzoorra to rest instead of continuing the voyage; however, Huzoorra did not wish for the journey to be interrupted and continued with the journey. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyat, Vol. 4, pp. 444-445)
13 August 1927: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra embarked on a visit to Simla (now Shimla) where he stayed until 2 October. Throughout this tour, Huzoor’sra activities were focused on religious, national, and community matters. Various leaders and dignitaries had the opportunity to meet him, including the then Viceroy of India and the then Governor of Punjab. For more details, see “Communal harmony, Unity Conference and Muslim rights: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s 1927 visit to Shimla” (Al Hakam, 24 February 2023, Issue 258, pp. 13-16).
14 August 1903: A Christian of Bannu by the name of Gul Muhammad visited Qadian on this day and indulged in irreverent argumentation and discussions with the Promised Messiahas before returning with the same attitude. After he had left, the Promised Messiahas saw in a dream that Gul Muhammad was applying collyrium to his eyes. The Promised Messiahas said that this indicated that he would be guided to the right path. Several years later, the news came that he had reverted to Islam. In this regard, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra added that he had received a postcard from the widow of the well-known Dr Pennell of Bannu, in which she stated that Gul Muhammad had left Christianity and had reverted to his original faith. (Malfuzat [1988], Vol. 3, p. 408)
14 August 1918: In his editorial for Al Hakam on this day, Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfanira wrote:
“Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira was conscious of the need for Al Hakam to such an extent that he made me pledge not to have it closed down, not on one single occasion but three times. In his last speech [at Jalsa Salana Qadian on 27 December 1913], he appealed for 6,000 rupees for Al Hakam [Khitabat-e-Nur, p. 565] and in his final illness, he entrusted Al Hakam to Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad[ra]. In this manner, he practically passed my hand into the hand of Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad[ra]. The Anjuman was present, and its renowned workers were at hand, yet Huzoorra entrusted the responsibility of Al Hakam’s continuation and endurance to Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad[ra], and pledged to offer 1000 rupees from his own earnings. However, Divine will had it otherwise. His time to depart was nearing. For this reason, having committed Al Hakam to the trust of [Hazat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra], he returned to the threshold of the Most High.” (“Al Hakam: A glimpse into its history and relaunch during the blessed era of Khilafat-e-Khamisa”, Al Hakam, 24 March 2023, Issue 262, p. 13)
15 August 1947: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra shed light on the unprecedented significance of the Partition of India and said:
“We have a relationship with both of the newly established governments because the religious communities have no affiliation with a specific country or government. […] Thus, on the occasion of this freedom and partition, we pray to God Almighty that He may grant progress to both these countries, enable them both to act with justice and equity and inculcate the spirit of love and affection between the people of both countries. May both countries strive to get better of each other – but through brotherhood, sympathy, and sincerity – and in addition to the spirit of competition, they should also have the spirit of cooperation and sympathy.” (“May India and Pakistan live amicably: The Partition of India, 1947 and Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad’s heartfelt wish”, Al Hakam, 12 August 2022, Issue 230, p. 13)
16 August 1924: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra was enroute to Europe. On this day, the ship carrying this entourage sailing through the Mediterranean Sea touched the shores of Brindisi, a port city on the Adriatic Sea, in southern Italy’s Apulia region. Huzoorra boarded a train from this harbour city to reach Rome. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyat, Vol. 4, pp. 445-446)
16 August 1946: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra called on the Muslim world to support the freedom movement in Indonesia. Huzoorra stated that there were around 70 million Muslims in Indonesia, who belonged to one nation, spoke a common language, and had a desire for unity as well:
“The Indonesian Muslims have shown a great example of their unity while striving for their independence, and such an example is not even found in the Arab countries. […] The Indonesian islands have displayed such great excellence, of which the rest of the Islamic world has been deprived. They have a united voice. […] During the last few months, the Dutch tried their utmost to create differences among them but did not succeed. Regretfully, other Islamic countries do not sense the beauty of unity. […] Singapore is the key to the Asian countries, and that too cannot remain separate from the [Indonesian] islands because it is a part of these [islands] with respect to race and language.” (“Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya’s role in Indonesia’s independence from the Dutch”, Al Hakam, 24 December 2021, Issue 197, p. 27)
17 August 1899: On this day, the Promised Messiahas received a letter from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, in which the author asked him to write on oath that he was the Messiah who was prophesied in the Holy Quran and books of Hadith. The Promised Messiahas took paper and pen and wrote down the requested wording. (Malfuzat [English], Vol. 2, pp. 44-45)
17 August 1980: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh arrived in Amsterdam from London. Huzoorrh left London for Nigeria on the first leg of his tour of Africa via Amsterdam, the Netherlands. On the way, Huzoorrh stopped at the airport in Amsterdam for a while. Prime Minister Dries van Agt was also present at the airport. When he learned of the presence of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh at the airport, he sent a message that he had yet to hold a press conference, after which he would come and meet Huzoorrh himself. So soon after, he and his staff came to the VIP lounge where Huzoorrh was and expressed his wish to Huzoorrh that he would also like to meet him the next time he visited the Netherlands. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Vol. 3, pp. 631-632)
