A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat
5 April 1948: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra delivered a lecture at the Special Government Hall in Peshawar, titled “Pakistanion se khuli khuli baatein”, as part of a series of lectures titled “Istihkam-e-Pakistan” — The Consolidation of Pakistan.
The Civil and Military Gazette, on 9 April, reported under the heading “First Observe Then Demand Shariat Law – Ahmadiya Head”:
“Mirza Bashir-ud-Din, the head of the Ahmadiya community, while addressing a public meeting here yesterday, accused all those who were not following the Shariat and even then clamouring for Shariat rule, of ‘being dishonest to themselves and deceiving the world.’ He asked the people ‘first to take strictly to the Shariat themselves.’”
For more details, see “‘Consolidation of Pakistan’: Lectures by Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud on how Pakistan can see success”, at alhakam.org (6 May 2022, p. 10).
6 April 1912: Allama Shibli Nomani, a prominent Muslim leader organised a three-day jalsa in Lucknow, commencing on this day, to find the solution to the Shuddhi Movement. On his invitation, Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmadra and Khwaja Kamaluddin Sahib attended this event as well. In this regard, Syed Sulaiman Nadvi writes:
“Maulana [Shibli Nomani] wanted that all sects should unitedly work for the propagation [of Islam]. For this reason, he did not even deny the participation of Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad Sahib – who is the current Khalifa of Qadian – and Khawaja Kamaluddin Sahib. Upon this, Maulana was questioned during the same jalsa as to why he had invited Qadianis to this jalsa, and allowed them to deliver speeches.” (Hayat-i-Shibli [ed. 1970], p. 571)
For more details, see “Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s response to the Shuddhi movement and the Jamaat’s relentless services for Islam” at alhakam.org (17 December 2021, p. 18).
6 April 1933: On this day, M A Jinnah attended a reception at the Fazl Mosque in London, on the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha. Reporting on this, the Sunday Times of London wrote on 9 April, under the heading “The Wimbledon Mosque”:
“[T]here was also a large gathering in the grounds of the little mosque in Melrose Road, Wimbledon, where Mr Jinnah, the famous Indian Moslem, spoke on India’s future. The chair was taken by Sir Nairne Stewart Sandeman, MP, and there were quite a number of other non-Moslems present.
“Mr Jinnah made unfavourable comments on the Indian ‘White Paper’ and the ‘safeguards’ from a national point of view. The chairman, in reply, took up the Churchill attitude on the subject, and this led to heckling by some of the Muslim students present, who were, however, eventually calmed by the Imam of the Mosque.”
For more details, see “Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s services to the Muslim cause: Guidance and support to leaders of the Pakistan Movement”, at alhakam.org (5 March 2021, p. 20).
6 April 1984: On this day, during his Friday sermon, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh emphasised the importance of reciting seven specific prayers to seek protection from the malign influence of adversaries. Additionally, these prayers encompass themes of praising Allah, invoking blessings upon the Holy Prophetsa, seeking forgiveness, mercy, steadfastness and Allah’s help. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 3, pp. 187-198)
7 April 1934: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra embarked on his first-ever visit to Lyallpur (now Faisalabad), British India.
The Civil and Military Gazette, on 10 April, reported under the heading “Ahmadiyas at Lyallpur”:
“For the first time in the history of Lyallpur, His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad, Head of the Ahmadiya Community visited Lyallpur and today delivered a message to a huge gathering of his followers. In the evening he was entertained at a garden party in the Dist. Engineer’s Bungalow.”
For more details, see “‘Our sole objective is to foster a connection between God and His servants’: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s first-ever visit to Lyallpur, 1934”, at alhakam.org (7 April 1934, p. 8).
8 April 1948: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra delivered a lecture at the Mission College (Edwardes College) in Peshawar, as part of a series of lectures titled “Istihkam-e-Pakistan” — The Consolidation of Pakistan.
For more details, see “‘Consolidation of Pakistan’: Lectures by Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud on how Pakistan can see success”, at alhakam.org (6 May 2022, p. 10).
8 April 1988: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih IVrh inaugurated the new building of the Baitur Rahman Mosque in Glasgow, Scotland and delivered the Friday sermon. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 7, pp. 229-244)
9 April 1908: On this day, Badr published a letter to the Promised Messiahas by Hazrat Munshi Muhammad Haider Khanra from Ceylon, wherein he mentioned some Ceylonese individuals who accepted the Promised Messiahas, and some who had a keen interest in Huzoor’sas teachings. He mentioned an individual named Abdul Azeez, who was the president of a Muslim association there, who later accepted Ahmadiyyat through a letter.
For more details, see “Early history of Ahmadiyyat in Ceylon: A glimpse into the Ceylonese newspapers”, at alhakam.org (26 January 2024, p. 10).
10 April 1988: On this day, the Ojhari Camp in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, witnessed a catastrophic disaster due to a series of explosions in a stored weapons depot. In response, volunteers from the local jamaat swiftly mobilised to provide physical and financial assistance to those affected. Furthermore, a message of condolence and a monetary aid of one hundred thousand rupees was dispatched from Markaz. (Silsila-e-Ahmadiyya, Vol. 4, p. 847)
10 April 2004: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa inaugurated Benin’s MTA studios. Then, the national amilas of Majlis Ansarullah and Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya had separate mulaqats with Huzooraa. (Al Fazl International, 30 July 2004, p. 23 )
10 April 2017: On this day, while in Germany, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa inaugurated the Aafiyat Mosque, which is located in the city of Waldshut-Tiengen. This mosque is historic in the sense that it is the 50th mosque of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Germany. Marking the opening of this mosque, a special reception was held which was attended by 110 dignitaries and guests. (“50th Ahmadiyya Mosque in Germany opened in Waldshut-Tiengen by Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community”, 13 April 2017, www.pressahmadiyya.com)