A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat
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)
25 October 1926: On this day, Hazrat Maulana Zahoor Hussain returned to Qadian after two years of imprisonment in the USSR. This devout missionary travelled to the Soviet lands to spread the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat but was apprehended upon his arrival on false suspicions of espionage. He patiently faced barbaric torture and other hardships during his captivity. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 4, p. 475)
25 October 2013: During his tour of Australia, on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa inaugurated a mosque in Brisbane, which was the first Ahmadiyya mosque in Queensland State, by delivering his Friday sermon in it. Huzooraa also mentioned some details about the building of the mosque and the financial sacrifices of the local Jamaat members.
26 October 1946: On this day, Al Fazl published a report, under the heading Entry of Ahmadi Missionaries into the Land of Switzerland, authored by Mr Nasir Ahmad Sheikh, who was the then In-charge of Ahmadiyya Mission Switzerland. To read the full story, see: “Pioneer Missionaries: Part 12 – Venturing Westward: Humble beginnings as missionaries set foot in Europe” at www.alhakam.org (1 September 2023, p. 15).
26 October 1979: The 22nd annual ijtema of Majlis Ansarullah began on this day. As the government (of Pakistan) did not permit the use of loudspeakers, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III’srh address was conveyed through the use of messengers (who would stand at a particular distance so as to relay Huzoor’srh words to the audience)
In his concluding address, some of the points Huzoorrh mentioned were as follows:
- Every child should know the rules for reciting the Holy Quran.
- Those who can recite the Holy Quran fluently should learn its translation and commentary.
- Every boy should at least study up to matriculation and every girl should pass middle school at least.
- Every Ahmadi should adhere to the beautiful teachings of Islam Ahmadiyyat.
The gathering was attended by about 3,000 ansar from 672 majalis. (Tarikh Ansarullah, Vol. 2, pp. 99-120)
27 October 1889: The Promised Messiahas was in Ludhiana, in the house of Hazrat Mir Nasir Nawabra. On this day, Huzooras wrote to Hazrat Munshi Rustam Alira that he was in Hazrat Mir Sahib’sra house, due to the poor health of Hazrat Mir Sahib’sra wife, who was the mother-in-law of the Promised Messiahas. Huzooras was also an excellent example of kindness and good conduct towards his in-laws. (Maktobat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, 2008, p. 562)
27 October 1963: On this day, the Alam-e-Inami award was introduced for Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya. Previously, it was distributed among the leading majlis of Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya only. The first-ever Alam-e-Inami was given to Majlis Sialkot. (Al Fazl, 31 October 1963, p. 8)
28 October 1966: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh laid the foundation stone of Masjid Aqsa, Rabwah. (Al Fazl, 20 October 1966, p. 1)
For more details of this mosque, see: “Masjid Aqsa, Rabwah” at alhakam.org (22 October 2021, pp. 10-11)
28 October 2016: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa delivered an historic lecture at York University in Toronto, Canada in front of an audience of more than 180 guests, including academics, politicians, media and thought leaders.
The event, titled “Justice in an Unjust World”, was organised by Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Canada in collaboration with York University.
During his address, Huzooraa spoke of the increase in conflicts the world experienced and the heightened risk of another world war. (“‘Justice in an Unjust World’ – Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community delivers historic lecture at York University”, pressahmadiyya.com)
29 October 1905: On this date, the Promised Messiahas, during his stay in Delhi, visited the shrine of the Sufi Muslim saint, Hazrat Muhammad Nizamuddin Auliyarh and that of Amir Khusrau. Khawaja Hasan Nizami also had an audience there with Huzooras.
One exemplary incident of the high standards of obedience shown by Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra is reported in books of history, when he acted without delaying a single moment. It is reported that he was busy examining his patients in his clinic in Qadian, when a telegram from Hauzooras reached him asking him to reach Delhi without any delay. He left everything on the spot and began his journey, literally dragging his half-worn shoes and tying his turban as he left. He did not even check whether he had money in his pocket for travel expenses. On this day, he reached Delhi. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 2, p. 425)
29 October 1982: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh launched the Buyut-ul-Hamd Scheme for building homes for the poor as a gesture of gratitude for the inauguration of the Basharat Mosque in Spain. This was the first financial scheme during his Khilafat. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Vol. 4, p. 818)
30 October 1913: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira laid the foundation stone of Hazrat Maulvi Sher Ali’sra house. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira laid two bricks with his own hand, and then the third brick was placed by Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmadra. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 3, p. 468)
30 October 1992: On this day, in his Friday sermon, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh announced a financial appeal to aid the war-torn orphaned children and adults of Bosnia and personally donated a thousand pounds. Huzoorrh also appealed for donations to assist the famine-stricken people of Somalia and for the construction of a mosque in Mississauga, Canada. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 11, p. 776)
For more details of Jamaat’s efforts for Bosnian Muslims, see: “Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya: Standing by oppressed Bosnian Muslims” at alhakam.org (9 June 2023, p. 15)