A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat
9 May 1904: On this day, the City of Truro locomotive became the first in Europe to be recorded travelling at over 100 mph, a symbolic moment in the remarkable transformation of human transport. But this was just one of many milestones reached during the life of the Promised Messiahas, reflecting the gradual fulfilment of the Quranic prophecy:
وَ اِذَا الْعِشَارُ عُطِّلَتْ
(And when the she-camels, ten-month pregnant, are abandoned.) (Ch.81: V.5)
This verse alludes to the decline of primitive transport as new, faster and more efficient means emerged. Indeed, in the time of the Promised Messiahas, railways spread rapidly across continents. In 1853, for example, India saw its first passenger train run between Mumbai and Thane and in 1869, the American transcontinental railroad connected east and west for the first time.
9 May 2005: On this day, Jalsa Salana Tanzania commenced. This was the first Jalsa Salana of Tanzania Jamaat in which a Khalifatul Masih was present. Huzooraa delivered the inaugural address, inspected the printing press and presided over a children’s class. After family mulaqats, delegations from Burundi, Malawi and Zambia met with Huzooraa. That evening, Huzooraa also attended a reception to which dignitaries of the country were invited. (Al Fazl International, 3 June 2005, Page 11)
10 May 1903: On this day, the Promised Messiahas wrote to the tehsildar of Batala, Moti Ram, presenting around fifteen points that refuted the allegations that were being made by the opponents about the construction of Minaret-ul-Masih in Qadian. (Life of Ahmad, pp. 777-781)
For more details about the history of Minaret ul Masih, see: ‘‘A brief history of the construction of Minarat-ul-Masih Qadian’’ at www.alhakam.org (6 January 2023, pp. 10-11).
10 May 2013: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa delivered his historic Friday Sermon from the Baitul Hameed Mosque in Chino, California, as his first visit to the West Coast of the United States of America continued. (“Historic Address Delivered by Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in California”, www.pressahmadiyya.com, 11 May 2013)
11 May 1922: On this day, during a question-and-answer session, a person requested Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra to recommend a particular prayer for being able to have children. Huzoorra was also asked, “As the Promised Messiahas was mostly ill, did he still fast?” A person also asked, “Did the Promised Messiahas say salaam after offering two rak‘aat of witr prayer and complete the remaining one rak‘ah after, or would he offer the complete three rak‘aat in one go?”
To read the answers to these questions, see: ‘‘100 Years Ago… – Daily diary of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II: Prayer for having children, relaxing the shariah for new converts and objections of ghair mubai‘een at www.alhakam.org (24 June 2022, pp. 16-17).
11 May 2013: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa delivered the keynote address at a special reception held in his honour at the Montage in Beverly Hills, LA, USA. (“Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Delivers Historic Address in Southern California”, www.pressahmadiyya.com, 12 May 2013)
12 May 1970: On this day, the then acting Governor-General of Sierra Leone hosted a reception in honour of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh, which was also attended by various dignitaries of the country, including ministers and foreign ambassadors. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 26, p. 67)
13 May 1927: Lahore witnessed intense unrest and communal riots. On this day, Al Fazl published a detailed account by Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra. At the time, Huzoor’sra contributions extended beyond the religious domain to include active engagement in social and political matters. His views, guidance and actions were taken very seriously and held considerable weight. That same day, a comprehensive tract authored by him, titled What Can You Do for Islam and Muslims?, was also widely circulated. In it, Huzoorra presented 31 important points aimed at promoting unity within the Muslim Ummah.
13 May 1951: The Ahmadiyya Mosque in Samundri, Faisalabad, was ransacked and burnt on this day. Ahmadis present in the mosque were tortured and items available in the premises of the mosque were looted. However, the influential members of the neighbourhood and the city condemned this irreligious act committed in the name of religion. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 13, pp. 304-309)
14 May 1948: On this day, the leader of the Jewish settlers, David Ben-Gurion, announced the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine.
To learn more about this topic, see: ‘‘Borders of the Holy Land: A brief study in theology and geo-politics’’ at www.alhakam.org (12 May 2021)
15 May 1908: On this day, The Daily Paisa Akhbar and Akhbar Ahl-e-Hadith published a prophecy made by Dr Abdul Hakeem Khan of Patiala, who announced that the Promised Messiahas would pass away on 4 August 1908. Arrogantly, he claimed, “Mirza will fall prey to a fatal illness and shall die on 21 Sawan 1965 [i.e., 4 August 1908].” The Promised Messiahas passed away on 26 May 1908.
For more details, see: “Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s demise and Abdul Hakeem”, at alhakam.org (10 February 2023, p. 17).