A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat
14 April 1887: On this day, the Promised Messiahas wrote a letter to Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin Sahibra. In it, among other important matters, Huzooras informed him that today he was sending him five copies of his latest book, Shahna-e-Haq along with one part of the Rigveda through recorded delivery. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, p. 31)
14 April 1941: On this day, Yadvinder Singh Mahendra, the last Maharaja of Patiala, reached Qadian for his two-day visit. Patiala State was a significant princely state in British India, that enjoyed a degree of self-governance. It was located near Qadian. The Maharaja was given a warm welcome, and he had the honour of meeting Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra. The details of this meeting have already been published in our article, titled “Coming from every distant track: Sir Maharaja Yadavindra Singh of Patiala visits Qadian”, Al Hakam, 23 July 2021, Issue 175, p. 13.
14 April 2006: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa inaugurated the 22nd Jalsa Salana of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Australia with flag hoisting, followed by a Friday sermon. Huzooraa also granted audiences to Ahmadis. (Al Fazl International, 12 May 2006)
15 April 2013: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa delivered the concluding address at the second International Conference of Muslim Television Ahmadiyya (MTA), at the Baitul Futuh Mosque, London. (“International Conference of Muslim Television Ahmadiyya takes place in London”, www.pressahmadiyya.com)
16 April 1944: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra addressed the Jalsa Musleh-e-Maud in Delhi in front of 5,000 people. Some opponents attempted to create disorder and started pelting stones, which resulted in injuries to some Ahmadis. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 8, p. 610)
16 April 1970: On this day, during his visit to Nigeria, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh addressed a press conference in Lagos, answered various questions, and shed light on the economic problems and their solution in light of Islamic teachings. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 26, p. 45)
16 April 1999: During his Friday sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh mentioned the details of the martyrdom of Mirza Ghulam Qadir Sahib, which took place on 14 April in Rabwah. Huzoorrh said that he was the first martyr from the Promised Messiah’sas family. (For more details, see “Sahibzada Mirza Ghulam Qadir Ahmad Shaheed”, www.ahmadipedia.org)
16 April 2004: During his Friday sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa mentioned the blessings of Allah Almighty manifested during his recent tour of West Africa, and said that the continent of Africa is blessed, and their hearts are filled with the light [nur] of certainty. Huzooraa said that during the tour, the grace and blessings of Allah had showered with such abundance that it was beyond human thought. Moreover, Huzooraa also inaugurated the MTA2 TV channel.
16 April 2010: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa delivered his Friday sermon from the Jamaat’s salat centre, located in San Pietro in Casale, Bologna, Italy. Huzooraa instructed the Ahmadis to pray for the construction of a mosque there and told them that a part of this country was considered the centre of the Caliphate of the Messiah of Nazareth. Huzooraa said, however, that now the Messiah of Muhammadsa is to raise the flag of Islam throughout the world, and this responsibility lies with every Ahmadi.
17 April 1905: Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin Sahibra authored an exquisite article about the earthquake in Kangra, India, in accordance with the prophecy of the Promised Messiahas. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 4, p. 166)
17 April 1970: On this day, during his visit to Nigeria, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh delivered his Friday sermon from the Muslim Teachers Training College in Lagos. After the Jumuah prayer, Huzoorrh granted an audience to the students and professors of the Lagos University.
On the same day, the Pakistani High Commissioner, SM Qureshi Sahib, gave a reception in Huzoor’srh honour, which was also attended by the ambassadors of Sudan, Indonesia, Niger, and Sierra Leone. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 26, pp. 45-46)
18 April 1897: On this day, the Promised Messiahas issued a notification titled “Hearken Sardar Rajinder Singh Sahib”. In it, Huzooras aptly refuted a false and provocative publication by Sardar Rajinder Singh. (Majmuah-e-Ishtiharat [2019], Vol. 2, p. 274)
18 April 2008: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa delivered his Friday sermon from Bagh-e-Ahmad, near Accra, Ghana. Huzooraa said that on the occasion of the Khilafat Centenary, every Ahmadi should make a pledge to give precedence to the pleasure of Allah Almighty over everything else, to make the utmost efforts to worship Him and to act upon His commandments, and to fulfil the pledge of allegiance made with the Promised Messiahas.
19 April 1970: On this day, during his visit to Ghana, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh granted audiences to the members of the Jamaat. In the evening, Huzoorrh graced a reception at which various ambassadors, state ministers, church representatives and correspondents of radio and news agencies were also present.
A radio correspondent interviewed Huzoorrh, in which Huzoorrh said, Islam and Ahmadiyyat are the same and that Islam desires mankind to foster a direct relationship with their Creator. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 26, pp. 47-48)
19 April 2003: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh passed away in London. His funeral prayer was led by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa and he was laid to rest in Islamabad, Tilford, UK.
19 April 2017: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa laid the foundation stone for the first Ahmadiyya mosque in the German university town of Marburg. Around 160 guests attended the ceremony, including the Lord Mayor of Marburg, Dr Thomas Spies and Soren Bartol, Member of the National Assembly. The keynote address was delivered by Huzooraa, where he explained Islamic teachings in relation to integration and building a harmonious society. (“Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community lays foundation stone for new Mosque in Marburg, Germany”, www.pressahmadiyya.com)
20 April 1893: On this day, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahibra was born to the Promised Messiahas. His birth fulfilled the divine revelation: “The moon of the Prophets [Qamarul Anbiya] will arrive and your affair will become manifest. Allah will make your countenance cheerful and will illumine your reasoning. Soon a son will be born to you and grace will come close to you. My light is near.” (Tadhkirah [English], p. 279)
20 April 1952: During the night of 20 April, Hazrat Amma Jan, Syeda Nusrat Jahan Begum Sahibara, passed away in Rabwah. On 22 April, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra led the funeral prayer. She was buried in Bahishti Maqbarah, Rabwah.
20 April 1984: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh delivered his last Friday sermon in Pakistan before migrating to London. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 3, p. 215)