This Week in History: 8-14 September

A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

8 September 1894: On this day, the Promised Messiah^as notified Hazrat Haji Seith Allah Rakha Abdur Rahman^ra through a letter that he had received his contribution and shared that a new book, Anwar-ul-Islam, and an important announcement regarding Abdullah Atham were being printed with the help of his financial contributions. Hazrat Ahmad^as graciously produced the summary of this book and details of the prophecy regarding Atham in this letter for Hazrat Seith Sahib^ra. On the same day, the Promised Messiah^as replied to a letter from Hazrat Munshi Rustam Ali^ra, informing him of the best outcome destined by God Almighty in the matter of Abdullah Atham. Huzoor^as shared that to expound on the whole emerging situation, he had prepared an announcement, and 5,000 copies were being printed and would reach him in the coming days. Hazrat Ahmad^as guided him to rejoice because God had shown His clear sign in favour of Islam with the victory of the Muslim camp. (Maktubat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 2, pp. 331-333; 603)

9 September 1913: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I^ra composed some verses in Punjabi containing prayers.

On the night of 9 September 1913, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I^ra was suffering from pneumonia. Huzoor^ra was in great distress and wrote some poetic verses in Punjabi containing prayers. In those verses, he calls upon God as the only true Helper in difficult times, notes the fair-weather nature of human friendships, and expresses a strong desire to be a beacon of Islam. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 3, p. 463)

9 September 1927: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra advised the Muslims that the principle that is required for their progress is in fact their religious progress; thus, “the more their power of faith and conviction grows, the more they will move towards progress.” (“Communal harmony, Unity Conference and Muslim rights: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s 1927 visit to Shimla”, Al Hakam, 24 February 2023, Issue 258, pp. 13-16)

10 September 1982: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^rh inaugurated the Basharat Mosque in Spain with his Friday Sermon. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Part 4, p. 817)

10 September 2004: During his Friday Sermon on this day, delivered from Belgium, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa spoke on the reasons behind the failure of the UNO and other such organisations.

11 September 1924: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra called on the secretary of the religious and ethics department in the League of Nations, and a topic of mutual interest, world peace, was discussed in detail. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 4, p. 540)

11 September 1927: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra delivered a lecture at the Elphinstone Hall in Shimla, British India, and made the Muslims aware of their individual and national responsibilities.

For more details, see “Communal harmony, Unity Conference and Muslim rights: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s 1927 visit to Shimla” (Al Hakam, 24 February 2023, Issue 258, pp. 13-16).

12 September 1959: The Noor Mosque in Frankfurt, Germany, was inaugurated by Hazrat Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan^ra. This was the Jamaat’s second mosque in Germany and the fourth in Europe. This mosque is well known as the one where the heavyweight boxer, Muhammad Ali once prayed and visited. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 20, p. 525)

12 September 1969: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III^rh delivered a speech in which he urged the Jamaat to memorise the first 17 verses of Surah al-Baqarah. Huzoor^rh said:

“It is my heartfelt desire that every Ahmadi should memorise the first 17 verses of Surah al-Baqarah, which I have just recited. [Ahmadis should also learn] its translation and should also know the commentary of these verses, as much as possible. […] I hope that you will respond to this appeal, which I have made from the depths of my heart, and memorise these verses.” (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 25, p. 124)

13 September 1924: On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra delivered two lectures in Portsmouth, England, wherein he shed light on the second advent of Jesus^as and elaborated on the heavenly call of God for this age. (Al Fazl, 14 October 1924)

14 September 1907: To enjoy the blessed audience of the Promised Messiah^as, renowned Indian politician and influential community leader, Sir Mian Fazl-i-Husain paid a visit to Qadian on this day. He was accompanied by his father, Mian Husain Bakhsh, an ex-civil servant and magnate of Batala. Sir Fazl-i-Husain later founded the Unionist Party of Punjab and also reached the highest political rank for a native Indian, member of Viceroy’s Executive Council. (“Coming from every distant track: Sir Mian Fazl-i-Husain meets with the Promised Messiah”, Al Hakam, 18 March 2022, Issue 209, pp. 12-13)

14 September 2012: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa mentioned Muhammad Nawaz Sahib of Karachi, who was a police employee and was martyred while on duty.