This Week in History: 2-8 February

A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

2 February 1949: On this day, Jamaat’s missionary, Roshan Din Sahib, reached Muscat (the Capital of modern-day Oman) to establish a Jamaat mission there. Only a few members were present in Muscat at the time.

Maulvi Sahib continued to perform his preaching duties in Muscat for a long time, and on 15 February 1961, he moved to Dubai. Eventually, he returned to Rabwah on 9 August 1961. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 12, p. 169)

3 February 1955: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra graciously sent eight pages of Haqiqatul Wahi from the original handwritten manuscript of the Promised Messiah^as to the Jamaat members in Indonesia as tabarruk. The vice president of Indonesia Jamaat, had visited the Markaz in Qadian for a month. Upon his departure, on this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra showed this generosity as a token of his love and affection towards the loyal and devout members of the Jamaat in a far distant land. Along with the original manuscripts, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra himself penned a letter for the Jamaat members in Indonesia. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 16, p. 448)

3 February 1984: Disturbing news about the bombing of the Aqsa Mosque in Palestine appeared in the world media. On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^rh said in his Friday sermon that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community should pray and remain ready to make any sacrifice for the protection of these sacred places. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 3, pp. 79-81)

3 February 1989: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^rh while delivering his Friday Sermon, called for special prayers for Afghanistan’s scholars, the Afghan nation, and the Arab world, that Allah may grant them guidance. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 8, pp. 67-82)

4 February 1914: An Ahmadi Muslim’s letter sent to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I^ra was received on this day, which said that other Muslims had expelled Ahmadis from their mosques. In reply, Huzoor^ra replied that those Ahmadis should then offer prayers in an open field. Huzoor^ra also said one must continue to do istighfar and exhibit patience. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 3, p. 502)

5 February 1932: The North Western Province of the Indian subcontinent witnessed a wave of violence and oppression against its Muslim inhabitants. To highlight this aggression, the All India Muslim Conference decided to observe a Yaum-e-Sarhad. This day was also marked in Qadian, where peaceful protests were arranged to draw the attention of concerned authorities. On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra also highlighted this issue in his Friday Sermon.

For more details, see “Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s services to the Muslim cause: Guiding Muslims of the Indian subcontinent amid religious and political conflicts”, www.alhakam.org)

5 February 1943: A delegation of the representatives of the Turkish press, who had come to Lahore, claimed during a press conference that there was no need for regular daily prayers (salat) when someone was travelling. The journalists also said they were Turkish first and Muslims second. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra reviewed these comments while delivering his Friday Sermon on this date and refuted them through Islamic teachings. (Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 24, pp. 41-56)

For more details, see “Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s services to the Muslim cause: Guiding Muslims of the Indian subcontinent amid religious and political conflicts”, www.alhakam.org.

5 February 1988: During the tour of Africa, on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^rh had a meeting with the President of Ivory Coast. Huzoor^rh also delivered his Friday sermon in Abidjan, the capital of Ivory Coast. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Vol. 4, p. 845)

6 February 1938: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra spoke to a gathering organised by the Ahmadiyya Intercollegiate Association in the hostel of Jamia Ahmadiyya Qadian. Huzoor’s blessed and important speech continued for three hours. This association based in Lahore had arranged a three-day trip to Qadian with its 56 members along with some non-Ahmadi fellow students. (Al Fazl Qadian, 8 February 1938, p. 2)

7 February 2016: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa inaugurated the ‘Voice of Islam’ radio station. Huzoor^aa also delivered a historic on-air message to launch the radio station and said, “The purpose of the Voice of Islam is to inform people of the true teachings of Islam and to make it abundantly clear that Islam’s teachings perfectly conform and relate to the needs of every era and every person. God-willing, the listeners of this radio station will come to recognise that Islam’s teachings are of peace, love and compassion for all of mankind.”

The ‘Voice of Islam’ can be listened to at www.voiceofislam.co.uk.

On the same day, Huzoor^aa also inaugurated and launched the new Makhzan-e-Tasaweer website (www.makhzan.org) and the exhibition, located at the Tahir House complex in South West London. Makhzan-e-Tasaweer, in its current form, has been working since 2006 to collect and archive historical images of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. (‘‘Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community launches ‘Voice of Islam’ radio to spread the peaceful teachings of Islam’’ And ‘‘World Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community inaugurates new Makhzan-e-Tasaweer website.” www.pressahmadiyya.com)

8 February 1914: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I^ra announced he received glad tidings from Allah regarding the spread of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat’s message in Africa. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 3, p. 502)

8 February 1974: To commemorate 100 years since the founding of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III^rh started a jubilee fund on this day and said it would be a spiritual plan to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the Jamaat. Huzoor^rh said:

“This plan is to win the hearts of humanity, through which it will establish an unbreakable relationship with God. This is a plan to inculcate the love of Muhammad^sa in every human’s heart.” (Khutbat-e-Nasir, Vol. 5, p. 413)