A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat
18 October 1982: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh delivered an address at the third annual meeting of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Students’ Association. During his speech, Huzoorrh encouraged students to learn foreign languages, especially Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Vol. 4, p. 818)
18 October 1991: On this day, during his Friday Sermon, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh initiated a scheme of temporary volunteers (waqifeen-e-arzi) to engage in the propagation of Islam (tabligh) in Russia. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 10, p. 821)
18 October 2015: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa laid the foundation stone of the first Ahmadiyya mosque in Florstadt, Germany, naming it the Mubarak Mosque. The ceremony was attended by around 150 guests, including dignitaries like Mrs Bettina Muller of the German National Parliament and Mr Herbert Unger, Mayor of Florstadt. (“Foundation Stone for New Mosque laid by Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community”, www.pressahmadiyya.com)
19 October 1924: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra laid the foundation stone of the Fazl Mosque in London, on this day. The foundation stone laying ceremony was attended by 200 guests. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 4, pp. 456-459)
19 October 1973: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh encouraged Ahmadis outside of Pakistan to attend Jalsa Salana in the form of delegations so that they too could partake of the blessings associated with it. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 29, p. 276)
20 October 1944: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra initiated the project of translating the Holy Quran and other literature into different languages of the world. The proposed languages for initially translating the Holy Quran were English, Russian, German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, etc. Huzoorra also pledged to personally bear the expenses of translating and printing the Holy Quran into Italian. This was due to the fact that the successor of Jesusas [i.e., the Pope] was based and resided in Italy. Jamaat members showed great zeal and generosity towards this unique call and made significant monetary promises. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 8, p. 559)
20 October 2006: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa mentioned the martyrdom of Abdullah Niaz Sahib, an Ahmadi in Sri Lanka, who was serving as khadim masjid (caretaker) in an Ahmadiyya mosque. He was martyred on 14 October after being attacked with knives and swords. Another youngster was also attacked, resulting in injuries to both of his hands.
21 October 1956: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra drew the attention of Jamaat members to mark a day for the annual commemoration of the institution of Khilafat. Hence, 27 May was decided to be Khilafat Day. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 18, pp. 153-155)
21 October 1994: On this day, during his tour of the United States, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh delivered his Friday Sermon in New York. In the sermon, Huzoorrh emphasised the importance of safeguarding high moral values, avoiding any sense of inferiority, and ensuring the transmission of these values to future generations. This was His fifth Friday sermon during the tour of the United States and Canada. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 13, p. 789)
22 October 1903: On this day, an Australian convert, Abdul Haq Sievwright, reached Qadian to see the Promised Messiahas.
For more details of his visit, see “Charles Francis Sievwright’s meeting with the Promised Messiah” at alhakam.org (14 May 2021, pp. 17-18).
22 October 1943: Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Qadian held its fifth annual ijtema. On the final day, during a match of kabaddi (a contact game played in the Indian subcontinent), some khuddam and atfal started to clap to encourage their favourite side. Upon seeing this, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra strongly condemned this way of celebration for men.
Huzoorra ended the match and said that since an action against the Islamic teachings occurred, the event was called off. Saying this, he returned immediately.
At 4:30 pm, after the khuddam had apologised, Huzoorra sent a message that if the khuddam wished to meet him, they could come to Qasr-e-Khilafat, his residence. And so, at 5 pm, khuddam went to Qasr-e-Khilafat, where they met with Huzoorra and had the chance to do musafaha. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 8, p. 446)
22 October 1987: On this day, during his tour of the United States, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh laid the foundation stone of the Bait-us-Salam Mosque in Hawthorne, Los Angeles. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Vol. 4, p. 844)
23 October 1940: On this day, a special delegation from Calcutta arrived in Qadian to visit the town’s educational institutes. Members of this “Kamal-Yar-Jung Education Committee” also had an audience with Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 8, p. 104)
For more details of their visit, see: “Coming from every distant track: Kamal Yar Jung’s education committee visits Qadian” at alhakam.org (19 January 2024, p. 12).
23 October 1994: On this day, during his tour of the United States, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh inaugurated Masjid Sadiq in Chicago, USA. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Vol. 4, p. 881)
23 October 2018: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, inaugurated Nasir Hospital in the city of Sacatepéquez, Guatemala. Following the formal opening, a reception was held to commemorate this historic occasion. (“Nasir Hospital, Guatemala”, www.alhakam.org)
24 October 1987: On this day, during his tour of the United States, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh laid the foundation stone of the Bait-ul-Hameed Mosque in Los Angeles. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Vol. 4, p. 844)
24 October 1924: On this day, whilst in London, during his tour of Europe, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra delivered the first Friday Sermon following the foundation of the Fazl Mosque at Southfields, London. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 4, p. 461)
24 October 2006: Bonnie Crombie, the Mayor of Mississauga, visited Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa on this day at the Baitul Islam Mosque in Peace Village, Canada. (‘‘Mayor of Mississauga welcomes Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to Canada,’’ www.pressahmadiyya.com)