This Week in History: 23-29 February

A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

23 February 1901: On this day, I‘jazul-Masih (Miracles of the Messiah), a book of the Promised Messiah^as, was published by Zia-ul-Islam Press, Qadian. It is a remarkable work in Arabic by the Promised Messiah^as which was prompted by the devious tricks of Pir Meher Ali Shah. The Promised Messiah^as penned this masterpiece in a very short period of time. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 2, p. 167)

23 February 1919: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra delivered a speech at Bradlaugh Hall, Lahore, about Islam and its teachings regarding other nations. (‘Islam and International Relations’: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s lecture at Bradlaugh Hall, Lahore, 1919, www.alhakam.org)

23 February 1966: On this day, upon assessing the situation in Pakistan in a sitting, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III^ra emphasised the importance of building strong ties between West Pakistan and East Pakistan. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 23, p. 487)

23 February 1986: On this day, a large gathering was held at Mahmud Hall, London, on the 100^th anniversary of the prophecy about Musleh-e-Maud. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^rh graced the closing session with his address. (Silsila-e-Ahmadiyya, Vol. 4, p. 838)

23 February 1994: Marking the centennial of the fulfilment of the Signs of solar and lunar eclipses, Ahmadis gathered to offer special prayers on this day, which was 13 Ramdhan. On 25 February, in his Friday Sermon, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^rh eloquently highlighted the significance of these Signs. (Silsila-e-Ahmadiyya, Volume 4, page 877)

24 February 1989: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^rh instructed the Jamaat to formulate a comprehensive response to Salman Rushdie’s infamous book. Additionally, Huzoor^rh emphasised the importance of education for Ahmadi youth, urging them to pursue careers in journalism extensively. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 8, p. 111)

24 February 1990: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^rh delivered a lecture in the English language at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London. This important lecture about Islamic solutions to contemporary problems was later expanded and published in book form under the title Islam’s Response to Contemporary Issues. (Silsila-e-Ahmadiyya, Vol. 4, p. 862)

24 February 1995: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^rh announced the financial fund for the construction of Bait-ul-Futuh Mosque in Morden, Surrey, UK. Huzoor^rh also encouraged the expansion of Ahmadiyya mosques all over the world. (Silsila-e-Ahmadiyya, Vol. 4, p. 882)

24 February 2012: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa inaugurated the Baitul-Wahid Mosque in Feltham, UK. On this occasion, Huzoor^aa also urged the Jamaat to pray for the Ahmadis of Hyderabad Deccan, India, where non-Ahmadi Muslims were attempting to occupy the Ahmadiyya mosque.

Speaking at the formal reception that was held in the evening, Huzoor^aa said, “The world today is fraught with danger and turmoil. We sit at an extremely critical juncture and so there is an urgent need for us to all recognise our Creator and to fulfil the rights of His creation. Otherwise, if we fail to uphold and discharge each other’s due rights, it will undoubtedly lead to great destruction in the world.” (“Love for All, Hatred for None: Baitul Wahid Mosque Opens in Feltham, London”, www.reviewofreligions.org)

25 February 2017: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa addressed the concluding session of the UK National Waqifaat-e-Nau Ijtema, at the Baitul-Futuh Mosque in London, which was attended by more than 1,500 women and girls, including nearly 1,000 members of the Waqf-e-Nau scheme. During an inspirational address, Huzoor^aa spoke in detail about the rights of women and their high status in Islam.

(“Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community addresses female Muslim youth event (Waqifat-e-Nau Ijtema) in London”, www.pressahmadiyya.com)

26 February 1919: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra delivered a lecture at the Islamiyyah College, Lahore, organised by the Martin Historical Society. The lecture was in Urdu and entitled “The Outset of Dissention in Islam”. The event provided the audience a chance to understand the accurate historical events of conflicts that arose after the Holy Prophet^sa during, mainly, the Khilafat of Hazrat Uthman^ra. (“100 Years Ago… – Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud r.a. Delivers The Outset of Dissension in Islam Lecture”, www.alhakam.org)

26 February 1936: On this day, Hazrat Maulvi Sher Ali^ra set out for England with the aim of translating the Holy Quran into English. He stayed there for three and a half years and returned to Qadian on 9 November 1938. Despite his old age, he made this long journey only to complete the English translation of the Holy Quran. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 7, p. 301)

27 February 1914: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I^ra received a revelation, upon which he decided to move out of the city to the open air. This was also the advice of the doctors. Following the advice of physicians, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I^ra moved to the house of Hazrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan^ra which was named “Kothi Darus-Salam” and was in the suburbs of Qadian. It was thought that fresh air from the countryside would help in his recovery. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 4, p. 470)

27 February 1922: During his visit to India, the Prince of Wales, who would later ascend to the throne as King Edward VIII of England, received a thoughtful gift from Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra – a book specially authored for him. To support the expenses associated with its printing and related costs, members of the Jamaat generously contributed one anna each. On this day, a delegation from the Jamaat had the honour of meeting the distinguished royal visitor to present this gift. The book was elegantly translated into English by Hazrat Chaudhry Zafarulla Khan^ra. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 4, p. 293)

28 February 1927: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra attended one of the sessions of the Legislative Council of Punjab on this day. Huzoor^ra attended the meeting as a visitor. Later in the day, members of the Intercollegiate Association met with Huzoor^ra and said their lectures took place at a time when Friday prayers were offered. Huzoor^ra replied by saying that it was permissible for one to offer the Friday prayers any time after sunrise until Asr time and advised them to offer the Friday prayers before the college lectures began. (Al Fazl, 8 March 1927, p. 2)

28 February 1971: On this day, the second Ahmadiyya hospital in Ghana opened in Asokore. The opening ceremony was attended by 4,000 people and the first doctor for the hospital was Dr Syed Ghulam Mujtaba. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 27, p. 8)

29 February 1924: On this day, while delivering his Friday Sermon, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra mentioned that at least some Ahmadis are present in China as well, although we have not sent any missionaries to this country. (Al Fazl Qadian, 7 March 1924, www.alislam.org)

29 February 1952: On this day, during his tour of Sindh, while delivering his Friday Sermon, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra briefed about the history of Jamaat in Sindh and directed local Ahmadis to learn the Sindhi language to do tabligh. (Al Fazl Rabwah, 16 March 1952, www.alislam.org)

29 February 2008: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa delivered his Friday Sermon amidst the renewed intensity of attacks on Islam, the Holy Prophet Muhammad^sa, and the Holy Quran. Huzoor^aa directed Ahmadis to refute these false allegations.