A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat
14 November 1912: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira called the members of Jamaat to divert a part of their financial sacrifices to the fund established for the wounded soldiers of the Italo-Turkish War. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 3, p. 127)
14 November 1928: The railway line connecting Qadian to the rest of India was nearing completion. On this historic occasion, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra urged the members of the Jamaat to remain steadfast in their loyalty to God and to seek His mercy continually. The project itself had been initiated suddenly, but after many days and nights of tireless effort, the railway track finally reached Qadian on this day.
To learn more about the history of this development, see “Arrival of electric train engine in Qadian: A new milestone” at alhakam.org (2 April 2021, pp. 6-7).
15 November 1901: Hazrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khanra brought a phonograph, the latest sound-recording technology of the time, to Qadian. On this day, the Promised Messiahas examined this new device after the Asr prayer and later composed the following poem:
آواز آرہى ہے یہ فونوگراف سے
ڈھونڈو خدا كو دل سے نہ لاف و گزاف سے
“This voice is coming from the phonograph
Find God with your heart, not with futile talk and gossip.” (Al Hakam, 24 November 1921)
The first recordings made on the device included Hazrat Maulvi Abdul Kareem Sialkotira reciting the Holy Quran and a Persian poem by the Promised Messiahas in praise of the Prophet Muhammadsa, “Ajab Nooraest Dar Jan-e-Muhammadsa – Ajab La’al est Dar Kan-e-Muhammadsa.” Hazrat Hakeem Noor-ud-Deenra later recorded a brief commentary on Surah al-Asr. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 2, p. 193)
To learn more about this, watch an MTA documentary at www.youtube.com
16 November 1942: On this day, Hazrat Maulvi Muhammad-ud-Dinra departed from Qadian for Africa to carry out tabligh (propagation of Islam Ahmadiyyat). Under Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’sra direction, he was to assume responsibility from Hakim Fazl-ur-Rahman Sahib, then serving as a missionary in Nigeria.
Departing from Bombay by ship, the vessel was tragically destroyed, likely by a torpedo, and all passengers, including this devout missionary, perished, granting him the unique status of martyrdom while en route to fulfil his mission. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 8, p. 358)
To learn more about this missionary, see “Pioneer Missionaries: Part 8 – Forever in service: Maulvi Muhammaduddin” at alhakam.org (7 April 2023, p. 7).
16 November 2012: During his Friday sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa mentioned Hafiz Ahmad Jibrail Saeed Sahib, a missionary in Ghana. Huzooraa said that he was a loyal and sincere member of the Jamaat, always remained a sultan-e-naseer of Khulafa, and served Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyyat Ghana immensely.
17 November 2015: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa visited the Meiji Jingu Memorial in Tokyo, Japan. The Vice-Priest of the Meiji Shrine, Mr Shigehiro Miyazaki, officially welcomed Huzooraa and described his presence as a “great honour.” Later, Dr Mike Sata, PhD, a close friend of the Jamaat, hosted a special dinner in Huzoor’saa honour at the Meiji Kinenkan (also known as Constitution Memorial Hall). (“World Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community visits Meiji Memorial in Tokyo,” www.pressahmadiyya.com)
18 November 1902: Hazrat Syed Abdul Latifra of Afghanistan arrived in Qadian on this day. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 2, p. 312)
To read the anecdotes of his stay in Qadian and return to Afghanistan and ultimately his martyrdom in the words of the Promised Messiahas, read Tadhkirat-ush-Shahadatain at new.alislam.org.
18 November 1972: On this day, during the annual Lajna Imaillah ijtema, which also marked the Golden Jubilee of its inception in 1922, a sum of 200,000 rupees was presented to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh by Lajna Imaillah for the publication of the Holy Quran. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 28, p. 138)
19 November 2023: The Ipswich Star, on this day, published an account by some newfound grandchildren of Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra with evidence that he married their grandmother, Ethel Maud Bassett, during his stay in England (1917 – January 1920).
To read the full story, see: “Polygamy: The case of Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib” at www.alhakam.org (8 December 2023, pp. 4-5).
19 November 1920: On this day, during his Friday sermon, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra provided guidance on the principles of borrowing and loans, addressing their effects on society.
To learn more about this important social matter, see: “Islamic guidance on trade and business in the words of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud” at alhakam.org (18 February 2022, pp. 15-16).
20 November 1922: On this day, Al Fazl published on its front page that Maulvi Mubarak Ali Sahib – a missionary serving in London at the time – has been instructed by Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra to move to Germany for the propagation of Islam Ahmadiyyat there. As for the importance of Germany, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra once declared Germany a gateway to the propagation of Islam to Russia.
To read more about the early days of Jamaat in Germany, see: “The Berlin Mosque of Germany and the European press” at www.alhakam.org (5 September 2025, pp. 7-8).
20 November 1979: On this day, a man named Juhayman al-Otaybi led an armed group in seizing the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, taking thousands of worshippers hostage. Claiming the arrival of the “Mahdi” and calling for the Saudi government’s overthrow, the group’s siege lasted two weeks, leading to significant casualties among hostages, security forces, and militants. In his Friday Sermon on 23 November 1979 at Masjid Aqsa, Rabwah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh expressed deep concern over the desecration of the Ka‘bah. (Khutbat-e-Nasir, Vol. 8, p. 449)
To read more about this tragic event, see: “The devastating 1979 siege of Mecca and the bloodthirsty ‘Mahdi’” at alhakam.org (19 November 2021, pp. 11-12).