A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat
21 March 1894: According to www.eclipsewise.com, a lunar eclipse occurred on this day; it was Thursday, 13 Ramadan. According to Calcutta time, the lunar eclipse was visible in India in the evening between 7:00-9:30 pm, in accordance with the hadith narrated by Hazrat Imam Baqir Muhammad bin Ali, son of Hazrat Ali bin Hussain, Zain-ul-Abidin, may Allah have mercy on them:
“For our Mahdi, there are two signs that have never appeared before since the creation of the heavens and the earth, namely, the moon will be eclipsed on the first night in Ramadan (i.e., on the first of the nights on which a lunar eclipse can occur) and the sun will be eclipsed on the middle day (i.e., in the middle of the days on which a solar eclipse can occur), and these signs have not appeared since God created the heavens and the earth.” (Sunan al-Daraqutni, Kitab al-‘idayn)
21 March 1891: Hazrat Hakeem Maulvi Noor-ud-Deenra served in the state of Kashmir for years. On this day, in a letter to him, the Promised Messiahas highlighted his help for Jamaat, in the following words:
“Your employment is of a great benefit to us. Its exterior may seem worldly but intrinsically, it is all for the faith.
“Although there is a great conflict going on, there seems to be divine wisdom behind you being stationed at such a place.”
For more details about his life in Kashmir, see “Pursuit, betrayal and triumph: The formative years of Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin”, at alhakam.org (27 May 2022, p. 6).
22 March 2004: On this day, during his tour of Ghana, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa visited the Ahmadiyya Hospital in Techiman and also visited various other places, including mosques, schools, and mission houses in the Wa region of the country.
22 March 2016: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa strongly condemned the terrorist attacks that took place on this day in Brussels, saying:
“On behalf of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community worldwide, I express my deepest sympathies and condolences to the Belgian people following the barbaric terrorist attacks that have taken place in Brussels. Such heinous and utterly inhumane attacks must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.” (“Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community condemns Belgium terrorist attacks”, www.pressahmadiyya.com)
23 March 1951: On the completion of the major construction work of the Mubarak Mosque, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra delivered his Friday sermon at Mubarak Mosque, Rabwah on this day and, to mark the inauguration, led the congregation in a long prostration of gratitude. (Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 32, p. 48)
For a further read, see: ‘‘Masjid Mubarak – A blessed mosque’’ at www.alhakam.org (18 May 2019, pp. 21-23).
23 March 1989: On this day, members of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya UK had the good fortune of spending this blessed and historic day in the presence of their beloved Imam, Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IVrh and thereby witnessed the centenary celebrations in full swing.
To learn more, read ‘‘Memories of the 23 March 1989 centenary celebrations: A page from the history of Ahmadiyyat’’ at www.alhakam.org, 9 July 2021).
24 March 1936: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra led the congregation in prayer to mark the inauguration of a new mosque in Retichalla, a neighbourhood in Qadian, India.
Construction of the mosque had been stalled since 1935 due to government officials. On this day, on its completion, Huzoorra inaugurated it with prayers. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 7, p. 305)
24 March 1944: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra lodged a campaign for the youth of the Jamaat to devote their lives to the Jamaat, as it needed devotees in almost all departments to operate effectively. Furthermore, Huzoorra shared that the Jamaat needed 200 scholars and experts to devote their lives in the near future. (Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 25, p. 207)
25 March 2004: On this day, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa completed his trip to Ghana during his visit to Africa and arrived in Burkina Faso. Huzooraa departed from Tamale, Ghana and reached the Ahmadiyya mission house in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where 5000 Ahmadis were eagerly waiting to welcome their beloved Imamaa.
During the journey to Burkina Faso, Huzooraa inspected and inaugurated the newly built mosque in Kperiga and offered prayers there.
On the border of Ghana and Burkina Faso, Huzooraa inaugurated the newly-built mosque in the Paga Jamaat. At the border, a large number of Ahmadis were present to bid farewell to Huzooraa. Sounds of ‘assalamu alaikum’ were echoing from all sides. After leading a silent prayer, Huzooraa crossed the border and entered Burkina Faso. (Al Fazl, 2 April 2004, p. 11)
26 March 2004: While Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa was visiting Burkina Faso, the Prime Minister of the country, Paramanga Ernest Yonli, met him on this day.
After the meeting, Huzooraa addressed a press conference in which a delegate asked about the purpose of the meeting with the president. Huzooraa said that it was a courtesy visit. Another asked about the purpose of Huzoor’s visit to West Africa, to which Huzooraa said that he came to meet his people. (Al Fazl, 9 April 2004, pp. 3-4)
27 March 2004: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa addressed the closing session of the Jalsa Salana of Burkina Faso. During the proceedings, Omar Moaz Sahib recited a poem based on the revelation of the Promised Messiahas:
اِنِّيْ مَعَكَ يَا مَسْرُوْرُ
“Surely, I am with you, O Masroor.” (Tadhkirah [English], UK, 2019, pp. 1016)This revelation was repeated in the poem and 13000 Ahmadi Muslims, together in one voice, repeated the revelation during the recitation of the poem. (Al Fazl, 9 April 2004, p. 4)