A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat
4 August 1893: On this day, an Arab religious scholar, Muhammad bin Ahmad from Mecca, wrote to the Promised Messiahas. This learned man visited India and made a stop-over in Qadian. After accepting the claims and beliefs of the Promised Messiahas, he enjoyed his blessed company for some time. Finally, he returned to his native country and wrote a letter from Mecca after performing Hajj. While replying to his letter, the Promised Messiahas penned a detailed treatise, which was later printed in the shape of a book, Hamama-tul-Bushra. (Hamama-tul-Bushra, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 7, p. 582)
5 August 1955: On this day, the editor of the magazine Eastern World had an audience with Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra. On the same day, some students from Zanzibar, Africa, had the opportunity to see Huzoorra and spend time in his company. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 16, p. 552)
5 August 2011: On this day, during his Friday Sermon, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa spoke on the blessed life of his mother, Hazrat Syeda Nasira Begum Sahiba, who had passed away a few days earlier. She was the daughter of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra and was born in October 1911. She had served as the sadr of Lajna Imaillah for a long time.
Huzooraa said that after he was elected Khalifatul Masih V, it was as if there was a change in their relationship, and whenever there was a conversation on the phone, he felt this. Huzooraa added that in Qadian in 2005, when he met her for the first time after Khilafat, it was a strange and unique experience. The respect for Khilafat that he had seen in her eyes for the previous Khulafa was evident for him as well. It was no longer a relationship of a mother and son; rather, it was a relationship of respect and reverence for Khilafat.
6 August 1898: On this day, the Promised Messiahas wrote of an idea for a graveyard for his Jamaat. In a letter to Nawab Muhammad Khan Sahib, he revealed this thought. He added that the idea of a special cemetery derived from the Islamic creed and that the Sharia wholly backed it. Huzooraa gave the example of the special burial ground made in the holy city of Medina. Notably, this was years before the establishment of Bahishti Maqbarah. (Maktubat-e-Ahmadiyya, Vol. 2, pp. 230-231)
6 August 1931: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra wrote an article for ‘Kashmir Day’ which was to be held on 14 August 1931. (“Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad’sra services to the Muslim cause: Guidance for Turkey, peace in the Arab world and the Kashmir Movement”, Al Hakam, 19 February 2021, Issue 153, pp. 42-43)
6 August 1976: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh inaugurated the Jalsa Salana of the United States of America. Prior to the inauguration, the mayor of New Jersey welcomed Huzoorrh. During his inaugural address, Huzoorrh shed light on the status of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya and advised the members to always hold fast to the rope of Khilafat, to always show complete obedience to Khilafat, and to strive to spread the message of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Part 3, p. 595)
6 August 1982: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh presided over the first-ever Majlis-e-Mushawarat of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Norway. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Part 4, p. 816)
7 August 1998: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh instructed that all institutions of the Jamaat should have a red book to note down important matters and flaws. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 17, pp. 537-553)
8 August 1976: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh travelled from Washington DC to Toronto. Around 400 people gathered to welcome Huzoorrh. This was the first time any Khalifatul Masih visited Canada. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Part 3, p. 595)
8 August 2014: During his Friday Sermon on this day, while speaking about the opposition to the Jamaat, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said:
“At this juncture, I am reminded of a dream, which I have previously narrated as well. That is, if we wish to see a change in circumstances and save the Jamaat from these trials, then, as a Jamaat [community], we must prostrate to Allah by purifying our souls for His sake and sincerely and earnestly praying to Him. If we submit to Allah in this manner, and this is the state across the Jamaat, and our nights are spent in such a way that we pray for the Jamaat, then in a matter of a few days, as a result of a few nights’ prayers, a revolution can be brought about. Otherwise, a revolution shall come and circumstances shall change, but this will take time. It is the Almighty Allah’s promise that circumstances will change, insha-Allah.” (“Patience and prayers: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat’s response to opposition”, Al Hakam, 27 January 2023, Issue 254, p. 15)
9 August 1899: On this day, the Promised Messiahas published an announcement regarding the marriage proposal of Maulvi Muhammad Ali Sahib, who was then young, had recently attained his law degree, and was working on the English translation of Hazrat Ahmad’sas books. Huzooras took the pain of many personal issues of his helpers out of his care and love for the servants of religion. (Majmu‘ah-e-Ishtiharat [2019], Vol. 2, pp. 535-536)
10 August 1897: On this day, the Promised Messiahas was in Batala for a court hearing at the court of Lt Col Montagu William Douglas, CSI, CIE. Huzooras reached the courtroom at around 8am. In the aftermath of missionary Henry Martyn Clarke’s humiliation in the field of argument and logic during Jang-e-Muqaddas, this abrupt accusation of attempted murder against the Promised Messiahas by him gained sensation and hype in the press. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 1, p. 625)
10 August 1916: On this day, The Civil and Military Gazette stated:
“We have received from Qadian the first part of a new edition of ‘The Holy Quran,’ with English translation and explanatory notes. This edition is being published under the auspices of Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad, the second successor of the Promised Messiah, by the Anjuman-i-Taraqqi-i-Islam, Qadian, Punjab.” (“Promised Messiah’s message spreads to corners of earth and continues through Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya”, Al Hakam, 17 March 2023, Issue 261, p. 8)
10 August 1945: On 6 and 9 August 1945, the USA callously dropped nuclear bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, respectively. During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra said:
“As a result of these happenings, I can foresee that in the future, wars will not reduce; rather, they will increase. […] Moreover, it is invalid and childish to think that atomic [power] will strengthen the hands of the big powers, and no one could attain military power against them. […] So, the need of the time is to reduce these lethal [weapons], instead of increasing them.”
For more details, see “The 6 & 9 August 1945 tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Ahmadiyya call for peace”, Al Hakam, 5 August 2022, Issue 229, p. 20.
