A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat
29 November 1940: On this day, the Lahore chapter of Sanatan Dharam, an orthodox Hindu organisation, convened a religious conference on the theme of worship. Representing the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Malik Abdur Rahman Khadim Sahib delivered a lecture in which he demonstrated that the most exalted form of worship is salat (Islamic prayer). (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 8, p. 206)
29 November 1996: On this day, during his tour of Europe, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh delivered a Friday sermon from Baitul Hamd, Malmö, Sweden. The sermon was broadcast live on MTA in collaboration with the national television. Huzoorrh emphasised that true transformation in this era could only be achieved through the highest standards of moral conduct and urged every Ahmadi to strive for moral excellence.. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 15, pp. 913-932)
30 November 1901: On this day, an Amin ceremony was held in Qadian to mark the completion of the first recitation of the Holy Quran by three children of the Promised Messiahas: Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Bashir Ahmad, Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Sharif Ahmad, and Hazrat Sahibzadi Nawab Mubaraka Begum, may Allah be pleased with them all. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 2, p. 194)
30 November 2008: On this day, during his tour of South India, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa inaugurated the Umar Mosque in Ernakulam, a famous business city in Kerala state. (“Establishing Peace, Love and Harmony in the Society”, alislam.org)
1 December 1888: On this day, the Promised Messiahas published an ishtihar on the demise of Bashir Awwal, titled “Haqqani Taqrir bar Wafaat-e-Bashir” – A Discourse upon the Demise of Bashir. Since it was published on a green paper, it is known as the “Sabz Ishtihar”, i.e. The Green Announcement. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 1, p. 282)
1 December 1952: Dr Curt Tiltack, a German orientalist, sought to write a book about the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat. To aid his research, a German missionary provided him with the book Ahmadiyyat or the True Islam, authored by Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra. Using this book as a resource, Dr Tiltack compiled material and later sent four questions in a letter to Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra for further clarification on this day. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra responded to these questions, and his answers are documented in Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat (Vol. 12, pp. 138-145).
1 December 1989: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh instructed parents and office-bearers of the Jamaat that every child who has devoted his or her life under the Waqf-e-Nau scheme must learn at least three languages. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 8, pp. 771-783)
1 December 2008: During his tour of India, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa was interviewed on this day by a correspondent of the Indian Express, a well-known newspaper in India. Huzooraa was also interviewed by reporters of The Hindu and a Malayalam newspaper, the Janam Bhumi. (Al Fazl International, 23 January 2009, pp. 11-12)
2 December 1912: On this day, at the request of Sir Muhammad Iqbal, the national poet of Pakistan, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira sent him a list of recommended Arabic literature. Huzoorra highlighted that renowned scholars, including German experts in the Arabic language, regarded the Holy Quran as the greatest book in Arabic. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 3, p. 429)
2 December 1982: On this day, a special reception was held in Rabwah in honour of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh. Huzoorrh, while addressing the attendees, underscored the significance of developing and disseminating scholarly responses to the allegations made by prominent orientalists worldwide. (Silsila Ahamdiyya, Vol. 4, p. 819)
2 December 1988: On this day, during his Friday Sermon at the Fazl Mosque in London, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh congratulated the people of Pakistan on the establishment of a democratic government following 11 years of martial law. Huzoorrh also encouraged the Jamaat to engage in the remembrance and praise of Allah. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 7, pp. 809-823)
2 December 2005: On this day, during his tour of Mauritius, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa inaugurated the 44th Jalsa Salana Mauritius with his Friday sermon. It was the first time that a Khalifatul Masih had graced the Jalsa Salana of Mauritius. (Khutbat-e-Masroor, Vol. 3, p. 701)
3 December 1905:On this day, Hazrat Maulvi Burhan-ud-Din Jhelumira, a distinguished scholar of the Jamaat, passed away. Earlier that year, the passing of Hazrat Maulvi Abdul Karim Sialkotira had deeply saddened the Promised Messiahas. Reflecting on these losses, he emphasised the need for advancing the Community’s standard of knowledge and scholarship. This concern ultimately led to the inception of Jamia Ahmadiyya. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 2, p. 399)
4 December 1992: On this day, during his Friday Sermon, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh shared the distressing news of a newly constructed Ahmadiyya mosque in Rajshahi, Bangladesh, being attacked and demolished by opponents. The attackers even removed every single brick, digging out the mosque’s very foundations. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 11, p. 867)
4 December 2012: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa answered questions from a range of media outlets during a 40-minute press conference in the Press Room of the European Parliament in Brussels.
A number of global media organisations from the UK, Spain, France, Belgium, Pakistan, and other countries attended. After this, Huzooraa delivered the keynote address at the European Parliament to an audience of more than 350, representing 30 countries. The event was hosted by the European Parliament Friends of Ahmadiyya Muslims Group, whose chair and vice chairs all took to the stage to welcome Huzooraa. Martin Schulz, MEP and then President of the European Parliament, also came to greet Huzooraa. (“Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat calls for peace during Press Conference at European Parliament”, and “Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community makes historic address at European Parliament”, www.pressahmadiyya.com)
5 December 1953: On this day, the fifth Jalsa Salana of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Sierra Leone commenced, lasting for three days. It was attended by 500 delegates from 41 regions. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra sent a special message encouraging members to work with unity and prayed for God’s blessings upon them. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 16, p. 209)