A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat
14 March 1986: On this day, while delivering his Friday sermon at the Fazl Mosque in London, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh announced the establishment of the Syedna Bilal Fund for the families of Ahmadi martyrs and those imprisoned in Jamaat-related legal cases. In this sermon, Huzoorrh also mentioned the high spirits of the innocent Ahmadis imprisoned in Sukkur Jail and Sahiwal Jail at that time in Pakistan. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 5, pp. 213-223)
To read the heartbreaking yet faith-inspiring story of an Ahmadi imprisoned in Sukkur, see: www.alhakam.org
14 March 1993: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh instructed Ahmadi youth to form research teams and provided special guidance on advancing in the field of research. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Vol. 4, p. 873)
15 March 1907: On this day, the Promised Messiahas issued an announcement for Muslim clerics and invited them to read his book, Haqiqat-ul-Wahi, with deep consideration. (Haqiqat-ul-Wahi, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 22, p. 611)
15 March 1968: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh initiated a year-long campaign, starting from the new Hijri year – 1st Muharram 1388 AH (31st March) – encouraging the recitation of tasbih, tahmid, and durood sharif. Huzoorrh explained that the purpose of this zikr was to suppress satanic voices and enable us to spread the true light – the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat – throughout the world. (Khutbat-e-Nasir, Vol. 2, p. 75)
16 March 1947: On this day, the Peace Committee held its meeting in Qadian under the presidency of Hazrat Hafiz Mirza Nasir Ahmadrh. This group of different religions was formed against the backdrop of violence and disturbance following the political and communal tensions in the Indian subcontinent in those times. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 9, p. 637)
16 March 1990: During his tour of Spain, on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh delivered his Friday sermon in the eastern town of Xativa. In his sermon, Huzoorrh asked Ahmadis to increase their tabligh efforts, so we can see the revival of Islam in Spain. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 9, pp. 133-144)
17 March 1989: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh delivered his Friday sermon, which happened to be the final sermon of the first century of the Jamaat. Huzoorrh, while giving the glad-tiding of the ultimate victory of the Jamaat, also advised members to collect the accounts of the elders who made significant sacrifices in the first century of the Jamaat’s history. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 8, pp. 167-178)
17 March 2018: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa delivered the keynote address at the 15th National Peace Symposium hosted by Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya UK at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in London with an audience of more than 900 people from 31 countries, including 570 non-Ahmadi guests comprising ministers, ambassadors, members of parliament, and various other dignitaries.
During the event, Huzooraa also granted the Ahmadiyya Muslim Prize for the Advancement of Peace to Ms Angelina Alekseeva, the representative of Dr Leonid Roshal, a noted paediatrician from Moscow, Russia, and chairman of the International Charity Fund to Help Children in Disasters and Wars, in recognition of his outstanding medical and humanitarian services.
To read more about this, see: ‘‘The pathway to peace: Turn to the One God, Creator of this Universe’’ at alhakam.org (3 March 2023, pp. 10-12).
18 March 1966: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh announced the blessed scheme of Waqf-e-Arzi – temporary life-devotion. This initiative was designed to support the spiritual education and moral training within the Jamaat. Huzoorrh emphasised the divine opportunity bestowed upon members to dedicate two to six weeks annually to religious service. (Tarikh-eAhmadiyyat-, Vol. 23, p. 49)
18 March 2004: On this day, during his tour of Ghana, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa graced the opening session of 75th Jalsa Salana Ghana. It was the first time an address by any Khalifatul Masih was broadcast live on MTA from Ghana. The president of Ghana was also present on the stage. This Jalsa concluded the next day after the Friday sermon of Huzoorrh. (Al Fazl, 2 April 2004, p. 1)
19 March 1937: In his sermon, on this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, while explaining the meaning of تخلقوا باخلاق اللّٰه, advised that Ahmadis should be a manifestation of the attribute of God Almighty, Rabb-ul-Aalamin (Lord of the all worlds). And since there was no pause or hindrance in this attribute of Allah, Huzoorra said, there should not be any hindrance in the acts of worship and good deeds of the members of the Jamaat. (Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 18, p. 61)
20 March 1914: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra delivered his first-ever Friday sermon after being elected as Khalifatul Masih. In this sermon, he advised Ahmadi Muslims to seek Allah’s help and support through giving sadaqah (charity) and praying. (Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 4, p. 49)
20 March 2015: At the occurrence of the solar eclipse on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa led the salat al-kusuf (eclipse prayer) at the Fazl Mosque in London, during the period of the solar eclipse, on this day. Following the prayers, Huzooraa delivered a short sermon in which he narrated the sayings of the Holy Prophetsa in relation to the significance of eclipses.
Later in the day, during his Friday Sermon, Huzooraa said that according to the sayings of the Holy Prophetsa, the occurrence of a solar and lunar eclipse was prophesied as a sign of the coming of the Promised Messiahas. It was fulfilled during the lifetime of the Promised Messiahas. (‘‘Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community leads Special Prayers during Solar Eclipse’’ www.pressahmadiyya.com)