This Week in History: 25-31 August

A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

25 August 1899: On this day, the Promised Messiah^as wrote a letter to Hazrat Haji Seith Allah Rakha Abdur Rahman^ra addressing various matters like his proposed visit to Qadian, drastic changes in climate pattern, which was causing fears and concerns for farmers in Punjab and the growing number of plague cases in Calcutta. In this letter, Hazrat Ahmad^as shared an interesting story that was creating hype in newspapers during those days, that planet Earth would see its final destruction on 13 November 1899, as a gigantic meteor was approaching to hit the earth. Moreover, Huzoor^as mentioned that a newspaper has written that the Viceroy of India has received a vaccination against the ongoing plague. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, p. 394)

25 August 1946: In 1946, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra saw a vision in which he was foretold by Allah the Almighty that a delicate time was coming for Islam and Muslims needed to unite to tackle that issue. On this day, Huzoor^ra wrote an article titled Al-Inzaar (The Warning), wherein he mentioned his vision in detail and advised the Muslims in this regard. For more details, see Al Hakam’s articles in its 21 May 2021 issue.

26 August 1921: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra addressed the local Jalsa of Jamaat Asnoor in Kashmir. The total attendance was around 500. Huzoor’s^ra lecture lasted for four and a half hours. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 4, p. 284)

26 August 1988: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^rh began his tour to East Africa, which was the first ever visit to East Africa by any Khalifatul Masih. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Part 4, p. 849)

27 August 1973: On this day, during his tour of Europe, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III^rh left for Italy at 10am. Huzoor^rh, along with his entourage, entered Italy’s border at 7pm after a long journey. Huzoor’s^rh stay was arranged in Hotel Gabrielli Sandwirth, Venice. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 29, pp. 195-196)

28 August 2016: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa laid the foundation stone for the first Ahmadiyya mosque in Pfungstadt, in the state of Hesse, Germany.

29 August 1988: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^rh addressed a reception that was held in his honour at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. On the same occasion, the Kikuyu translation of the Holy Quran was also unveiled. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Part 4, p. 849)

29 August 2008: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa mentioned that in recent days, Ahmadi homes were attacked in Saharanpur, UP, India, where Ahmadis were beaten up and injured, their belongings were damaged, and even an attempt was made to put their homes on fire. Huzoor^aa added that the Ahmadis who were attacked were all new converts, however, they had firm faith in Ahmadiyyat. 

Huzoor^aa said that although those Ahmadis were brought to Qadian and the injured ones were being treated in hospitals, they had to endure huge losses to their homes and belongings.

Huzoor^aa said that these acts were done in the name of Islam by so-called Muslims, and Ahmadis were also being persecuted in some other Muslim-majority areas of India.

Huzoor^aa further said that a new wave of persecution had started in Pakistan as well; the police had removed the kalima from a Jamaat’s centre in Lahore, and stones were thrown at a mosque in Kunri and at Ahmadi homes as well.

30 August 1953: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra addressed a reception at the Beach Luxury Hotel in Karachi, Pakistan, organised in his honour by Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Karachi. The topic of Huzoor’s^ra address was “Haqiqi Islam” – True Islam.

For more details, see “Why previous prophets were called ‘Muslims’ in the Holy Quran: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s address at a reception in Karachi, 1953” (Al Hakam, 25 November 2022, Issue 245, p. 15).

30 August 1970: On this day, while addressing Ahmadi doctors, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III^rh narrated the details of the Nusrat Jehan Leap Forward Scheme, and encouraged them to offer their services in Africa under this scheme.

For more details, see “Nusrat Jehan Scheme: Khilafat’s impetus for ‘Africa to Leap Forward’ – A glimpse into the early years (1970-1982)” (Al Hakam, 27 May 2022, Issue 219, p. 17)

30 August 2016: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa laid the foundation stone of the Noor Mosque, the first Ahmadiyya mosque in Frankenthal, Germany.

31 August 1955: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra delivered a lecture in Zurich, Switzerland about the spirit of religion and its basic principles. According to volume 16 of Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, this lecture was given in English.