A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat
19 April 1931: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra departed from Qadian for a visit to Mussoorie, Dehradun and Delhi, where he stayed for around four weeks. During this visit, Huzoorra delivered various lectures, granted audience to dignitaries and visited the tomb of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliyarh.
For more details, see “A call for interfaith harmony and tabligh: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s visit to Mussoorie, Dehradun and Delhi, 1931”, at alhakam.org (2 June 2023, p. 8)
19 April 1964: On this day, the Waqf-e-Jadid headquarters were inaugurated in Rabwah. The foundation was laid on 29 December 1962.
For more details, see “A chronology of Waqf-e-Jadid’s early years (1957-1965)”, at alhakam.org (25 December 2020, p. 12)
20 April 1983: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh encouraged the Jamaat Canada to collect six million dollars to build new mission houses and mosques in different cities of Canada. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Vol. 4, p. 822)
20 April 1984: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh delivered his Friday Sermon in the Ahmadiyya mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan. It was his last sermon in Pakistan before migrating to London. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 3, p. 215)
21 April 1923: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra issued detailed guidelines for the missionaries who were serving in the Malkana area, in which Huzoorra instructed them to pay special attention towards prayers (du‘a), and the recitation of Surah al-Fatihah and durood sharif. Moreover, he advised them to learn the local language of that area for effective preaching, and to learn the answers to the allegations raised against Islam by the Arya Samaj.
For more details, see “Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s response to the Shuddhi movement and the Jamaat’s relentless services for Islam” at alhakam.org (17 December 2021, p. 18).
21 April 2008: On this day, during his tour of Ghana, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa attended a reception, held in his honour at the Central Mission. The event was also attended by His Excellency, Alhaj Aliu Mahama the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana.
The evening concluded with a brief address by Huzooraa in which he thanked His Excellency for having been a long and loyal friend of the Jamaat.
He said, “I remember almost five years ago, His Excellency visited the United Kingdom and was anxious to meet with me and so we met at the Fazl Mosque in London. Normally, non-Ahmadi Muslims never like to offer prayers behind Ahmadis, but the Vice President did offer prayers in our mosque. I hope that, as he has done in the past, he continues to show such kindness that we cherish a great deal.” (The Khilafat Centenary Tour of West Africa, pp. 29-30)
22 April 1921: On this day, Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sayal, the missionary in England, was invited for a lecture by a London-based society aiming to unite East and West. There, he had the opportunity to present the spiritual benefits of Islam to the people.
For more details, see “100 Years Ago… – A new convert, lectures in the UK and meeting with Dr Rabindranath Tagore”,at alhakam.org (4 June 2021, p. 16 )
22 April 1952: On this day, the funeral prayer of Hazrat Amma Janra was led by Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra in Rabwah, Pakistan. She sadly passed away in Rabwah on the night of 20 April 1952 at the age of 86.
For more details, see: “Hazrat Amma Jan: Syeda Nusrat Jahan Begum” at alhakam.org (16 June 2023, pp. 16-17)
22 April 2003: On this day, following the Maghrib and Isha prayers, Majlis Intikhab-e-Khilafat convened at the Fazl Mosque, London, where Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Masroor Ahmad was elected as Khalifatul Masih V. On the occasion, 11,000 attendees at the venue and Ahmadis worldwide had the honour of pledging allegiance through MTA. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, delivered an address in Islamabad around 2:30 p.m. After the address, he led the funeral prayer of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh, followed by the burial at Islamabad. He led the silent prayer at the grave around 4:30 pm. The entire proceedings were broadcast live on MTA. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Vol. 4, p. 913)
23 April 1951: On this day, the Punjab’s Rehabilitation Minister, Sheikh Fazal Ilahi Pracha, visited Rabwah and had a meeting with Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra. On 25 April, The Civil and Military Gazette wrote:
“The Punjab Rehabilitation Minister, Sheikh Fazal Ilahi, who is touring Jhang, Sargodha and Gujrat districts to gather first-hand impressions about the rehabilitation and land settlement work in the province, arrived in Sargodha on Monday. […] On his way to Sargodha, the Minister paid a visit to the Ahmadiya colony of Rabwa where he met Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud[ra], head of the Ahmadiya community, foreign students at the colony and leaders of the community.”
For more details, see “75 years of Rabwah: A glimpse into its early years”, at alhakam.org (22 September 2023, p. 9)
24 April 1942: Syed Sulaiman Nadwi, a distinguished Islamic scholar and historian, proposed to the government during his time that a Sheikh-ul-Islam be appointed with a salaried position to address the deteriorating conditions facing Muslims. However, his proposal faced substantial resistance, as reflected in a critical editorial in the Al Fazl newspaper. The editor deemed the proposal unreasonable and impractical and wrote, “If only Muslims would implore Allah the Almighty, with sincere hearts, instead of seeking to have a ‘Sheikh-ul-Islam’ appointed by the British government, to grace them with the ability to cling to the mantle of such a Reformer [Musleh] whom He has ordained for them and that He may open their hearts towards his obedience so that they may attain His nearness and Your pleasure.” (Al Fazl, 24 April 1942, p. 1)
24 April 1970: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh addressed a press conference in Accra, Ghana, and then went to Saltpond, where he visited the mosque and mission house. Around 12,000 Ahmadis were present there to see their beloved Imam. The attendees also included various dignitaries, such as the paramount chiefs. Huzoorrh led the Jumuah prayer and, after that, delivered another address to the members who had gathered there. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 26, p. 51)
24 April 1994: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh had a meeting with Bosnian Ahmadis. For more details, see: “Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya: Standing by oppressed Bosnian Muslims” at alhakam.org (6 June 2023, p. 15)
25 April 1966: The Foreign Minister of India, Sardar Soran Singh, visited Qadian on this day. He was given a grand welcome in the Ahmadiyya Mohalla, a reception was held in his honour and a gift of the Holy Quran was presented. India’s leading newspapers like The Tribune, The Times of India and The Indian Express, published detailed news about this visit. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 23, p. 620)
25 April 1971: On this day, the official inauguration ceremony of the Nasir Mosque was held in Suriname. For more details see: “50 years of Nasir Mosque, Suriname and its relationship with Khilafat” at alhakam.org (11 June 2021, pp. 15-16)
25 April 2006: On this day, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa arrived at Nadi Airport during his tour of Fiji. He was also interviewed by a correspondent from the national television. (Al Fazl International, 9 June 2006, pp. 1-2)