Unique Relationship of a Father and Son

Allah the Almighty states in the Holy Quran:

وَكَذٰلِكَ نُرِىْ اِبْرٰهِيْمَ مَلَكُوْتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْاَرْضِ

“And thus did We show Abraham the kingdom of the heavens and the earth.” (Surah al-Anam, Ch.6: V.76)

The Promised Messiah^as states in one of his poetic works:

ميں كبھی آدم كبھی موسٰی كبھی يعقوب هوں

نيز ابرهيم هوں، نسليں هيں ميری بے شمار

“At one moment I am (an embodiment) of Adam^as, at another, of Moses^as, and at another, of Jacob^as; similarly, of Abraham^as; I have countless spiritual progenies.” (Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Part 5, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 21, p. 133)

Thus, Allah the Almighty manifested abundant tidings of upcoming events to the Abraham of the latter days, as well as divine visions. Accordingly, Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum^ra narrates that the Promised Messiah^as once said to Hazrat Amma Jan^ra:

“Every so often, I feel like telling these people about the Khilafat of Mahmud, but then I contemplate that the divine will of Allah will  become manifest at its given time in the future.”

Giving details of this historic occurrence, the words from the complete statement of Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum^ra are on the record in Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, volume 4, pages 59-60. 

Every child of the Promised Messiah^as received abundant kindness and compassion from him, but the promised son – about whom Allah the Almighty manifested a grand and extraordinary prophecy well before his birth following forty days of solitude and prayers in Hoshiarpur, comprising of 52 signs – received great attention, care and love from the Promised Messiah^as.

Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad^ra was born on 12 January 1889. Thus, for next nineteen years, he enjoyed the nearness and affection of Hazrat Ahmad^as. During this long period of time, he had the opportunity to witness all the engagements of the Promised Messiah^as and to record the sayings and happenings of the Promised Messiah^as for members of the Jamaat while sharing the same house. (Malfuzat, Vol. 3, p. 411 and Vol. 5, p. 29, 179 & 355)

After the birth of the promised son, the Promised Messiah^as carried out the sunnah of Aqiqa (sacrifice after the birth of a child) on 18 January 1889. (Maktubat-e-Ahmadiyya, Vol. 5, p. 163)

Huzoor^as looked after the well-being of this child and made special efforts to improve his health. 

It is on the record that Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra accompanied the Promised Messiah^as on several journeys while he was just a few months old, for instance, the journey of Ludhiana in which the first Bai‘at took place in 1889. Sirat-ul-Mahdi, part 1, page 18 narrates that the family of the Promised Messiah^as was present at the blessed occasion of the first Bai‘at. So, it can be said that the young Sahibzada Mirza Mahmud Ahmad^ra was also there.  

Hazrat Maulvi Abdul Karim Sialkoti^ra narrates a famous incident in which Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra was only three years old. One summer evening, in Ludhiana, the Promised Messiah^as was looking after his son who was constantly crying. Meanwhile, the young Sahibzada Mirza Mahmud Ahmad^ra put forward a unique wish saying: 

ابا، تارے جانا

“I want to go to the stars.” After narrating this incident, Hazrat Maulvi Sahib^ra states that the child stopped crying after exhausting himself. The Promised Messiah^as did not express a single word of discomfort or discontent during that interval. (Sirat Masih-e-Maud, Hazrat Maulvi Abdul Karim Sialkoti^ra, pp. 35-36) 

Recollecting a memory from the incidents of his childhood, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra narrates an account saying, “I would express my desire to go for walks with the Promised Messiah^as and I had this opportunity on many occasions. Once, we happened to pass through a place with many puddles due to excessive rainfall and it was not possible for me to jump over them as I was a child. So the Promised Messiah^as picked me up and helped me across.” (Al Fazl, 29 October 1926, p. 6)

The Promised Messiah^as used to express his love for the young Mahmud Ahmad^ra at times when most people do not give much attention to their children due to their small age. 

Hazrat Munshi Zafar Ahmad^ra narrates such incidents which he witnessed personally. He narrates that the Promised Messiah^as would always, himself, unbolt the door for his son Mahmud^ra. Likewise, when Sahibzada Mirza Mahmud Ahmad^ra would put small clay pots or toys in the pocket of the Promised Messiah^as, he would not permit their removal, saying, “Mahmud placed these toys in my pocket trusting me. If he asks for them, how will I return them [if they are not in my pocket]?” (Ashab-e-Ahmad, Vol. 4, p. 110)

Once, accompanying a group of fellow children, a young Mahmud^ra set fire to a precious manuscript of a book of the Promised Messiah^as. Thereupon the Promised Messiah^as said smilingly, “Very well. There must be a grand divine motive behind all this. Allah the Almighty wishes to teach me a much better subject.” (Sirat Masih-e-Maud, Hazrat Maulvi Abdul Karim Sialkoti^ra, Page 20-21)

At times, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra would accompany the Promised Messiah^as in the Gol Kamra [dining room near the house of the Promised Messiah^as] as the Promised Messiah^as would feed him and narrate stories for his tarbiyat. (Riwayat Sahaba, register no. 13, p. 455 [unpublished])

There is an incident when Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra was of a very young age. Once during a walk, Mir Nasir Nawab Sahib^ra was holding his maternal grandson, i.e. Sahibzada Mirza Mahmud Ahmad^ra. On the journey, out of love, the Promised Messiah^as kissed his son. (Riwayat Sahaba, register no. 12, p. 120, [unpublished])

Another narrator says that in the same age of childhood, if Hazrat Mian Sahib^ra came by himself or someone brought him in their arms, the Promised Messiah^as would say Assalamo Alaikum each time. (Sirat-e-Ahmad, Hazrat Maulvi Qudratullah Sanauri^ra, p. 176)

The sequence of the above-mentioned incidents shows the overwhelming kind-heartedness and tarbiyat of childhood. However, as Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad^ra grew, the honour and respect of the Promised Messiah^as grew deeper for him. The Promised Messiah^as paid special attention to the health and wellbeing of this promised son till the end of his own life.

The tarbiyat of childhood is of paramount importance. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra related that once he hunted a parrot. The Promised Messiah^as was very busy in some work, but sighting such an action, he said, “Mahmud, although the flesh of this bird is not forbidden, but Allah the Almighty has not created every animal for eating.” (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 4 p. 263)

How fortunate he was to have received such close attention. 

Sahibzada Mirza Mahmud Ahmad^ra was told to prepare an essay on the comparison of knowledge and wealth by his school. There started a discussion on this topic during a meal in the company of the Promised Messiah^as. Hazrat Ahmad^as explained that neither knowledge nor wealth was superior and that God’s beneficence surpassed everything in goodness. (Al Badr, 31 October 1902, p. 1)

The Promised Messiah^as once observed a small Mirza Mahmud^ra catching birds in the house and said, “Mian, you should not catch the birds of the house. The one who has no mercy, has no faith.” (Sirat Masih-e-Maud, Hazrat Yaqub Ali Irfani^ra, p. 342)

Hazrat Hafiz Syed Mukhtar Shahjahanpuri^ra narrates an incident of April or May 1893. Once Hazrat Mahmud^ra was playing with a little child of his age. Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin^ra approached him gently and softly asked him, “Are you playing?” In the same tone as the question was asked, Sahibzada Mirza Mahmud Ahmad^ra replied, “When I grow up, I will also work”. Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin^ra said, “Your father thinks the same; and so does Nuruddin. God knows best.” (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 4, p. 18)

Observing his son’s passion for hunting and boating, the Promised Messiah^as provided an air gun and a boat from Jhelum. He appointed a person to teach swimming to the child also.

The Promised Messiah^as provided a large horse of a decent breed for his son in around 1906 so that he may fulfill his passion of horse-riding.

There was a unique association of mutual love between father and son. 

During a storm and severe winds, lightning suddenly struck, causing a young Mirza Mahmud^ra to cover the head of the Promised Messiah^as with his hands in an attempt to protect him. The promised son already knew that the guardian of the age and the saviour from all atrocities was the Promised Messiah^as himself, but such occurrences happen out of extreme love and emotional attachment. (Al Fazl, 21 December 1935, p. 9) 

The Promised Messiah^as used to monitor his children in that they offered their five obligatory prayers regularly. It is narrated that he once enquired from Hazrat Mahmud^ra whether he offered the Jumuah prayer in the mosque. (Al Fazl, 18 June 1925, p. 7)

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra had a special inclination to hearing religious discussions from a very small age. He started to attend talks the Promised Messiah^as held with his companions in the same age. The Promised Messiah^as would also treat him with extreme kindness and let him sit on the right side of the Shah Nasheen [the seat commonly used by the Promised Messiah^as]. (Al Fazl, 29 July 1964, p. 3)

The Promised Messiah^as would assess, after hearing the religious discussions, to ascertain what had been grasped by his son. 

Hazrat Dr Mir Muhammad Ismail^ra narrates that after returning home from a speech of Jalsa Salana, the Promised Messiah^as asked about his speech from Mirza Mahmud^ra who was around 10-12 years of age at that time. The promised son, according to his age, understanding and memory recalled elements of the discussion. The Promised Messiah^as became extremely pleased at his observation. (Sirat-ul-Mahdi, Part 3, pp. 111-112)

Hazrat Sheikh Muhammad Ismail^ra narrates, “We have countlessly heard from the Promised Messiah^as, not once, but many times that the boy who has been mentioned in the prophecy is Mian Mahmud. Moreover, we have heard that he used to say that Mian Mahmud possessed such strong religious passion in him that at times he would especially pray for him.” (Al Hakam, Jubilee Number, December 1939, p. 80)

A brief study of the collection of books written by the Promised Messiah^as – Ruhani Khazain – indicates that the prophecy of Musleh-e-Maud and his advent has been mentioned over a hundred times in the books of the Promised Messiah^as. 

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra completed his first reading of the entire Holy Quran on 7 June 1897. On this joyous occasion, one can guage the delight of the Promised Messiah^as from the fact that he gifted a huge sum of one hundred and fifty rupees of his own free will to Hazrat Hafiz Ahmad Khan Nagpuri^ra who taught him to read the Quran. (Al Fazl, 26 October 1926, p. 6)

Moreover, every poetic verse written by the Promised Messiah^as on this occasion serves as a portrayal of that extreme delight.

The life of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra and the history of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyyat go side by side. The Promised Messiah^as was aware about the status of this son. The manifestation of this awareness is evident from the fact that during the case proceedings of Henry Martyn Clark, which was a serious case of attempted murder, the Promised Messiah^as asked Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra to pray and observe istikhara (prayer seeking good from Allah). (Al Fazl, 15 July 1919, p. 8)

Then came the age of school for Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra, but severe health problems befell him. The Promised Messiah^as asked Hazrat Pir Iftikhar Ahmad who was the headmaster of Lower Primary School of Qadian under the district board, “Take Mian (Mahmud) to school as well.” (Riwayat Sahaba, Vol. 7, p. 5 [unpublished])

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra continued to take worldly education but lacked regularity owing to the above-mentioned circumstances. Hence, a teacher at the school complained to the Promised Messiah^as, upon which the Promised Messiah^as responded that even his son’s occasional appearance at school was satisfactory for him as he believed that his son’s health did not permit him to study. He said that he was not going to open a utility store for which he would require an education in mathematics.

On the basis of a similar complaint regarding education, the Promised Messiah^as had an assessment of Sahibzada Mirza Mahmud Ahmad^ra and wrote some sentences with his own pen on a piece of paper and told him to copy them. In this manner, an examination was done. (Al Maud, Speech of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra on the occasion of Jalsa Salana, 28 December 1944)

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra established a society of youngsters to help them prepare for the promulgation of Islam. The Promised Messiah^as, out of compassion, named this society “Tashheez-ul-Azhan”.

At the age of thirteen or fourteen, the Promised Messiah^as permitted his son to fast.

When he was to travel to Batala to take a middle school exam in January 1902, the Promised Messiah^as received a revelation: 

 لِيَحْمِلُهُ رَجُلٌ

That he is weak and “a man should support him”. Thereupon, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq^ra went with him. (Tadhkira [English rendering], p. 1045)

The Nikah and wedding of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra with the daughter of Hazrat Khalifa Rashiduddin Sahib was carried out in October 1902. The letter sent to present the request for the engagement, had this written on it by the Promised Messiah^as: 

“It seems that Mahmud is also satisfied with this engagement.” (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 4, p. 45)

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra received his first revelation from God at the age of 15 or 16, which he immediately conveyed to the Promised Messiah^as. Without any delay, Hazrat Ahmad^as wrote it in the notebook. (Al Fazl, 7 March 1944, p. 2)

During the same time-frame, once it so happened that the Promised Messiah^as and Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra received identical revelations in one night. (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 9, p. 447) 

The Promised Messiah^as was so anxious about the health of his son that on the demise of Hazrat Maulvi Abdul Karim Sialkoti^ra, an occasion of extreme sadness, Huzoor^as verbally expressed his worry for Mahmud’s^ra health owing to the circumstances. (Al Hakam, Jubilee Number: December 1939, Page 10-11)

The Promised Messiah^as nominated Sahibzada Mirza Mahmud Ahmad^ra as a member of the Majlis-e-Mu‘tamideen (Society of Confidants) for Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya in January 1906. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 4, p. 59)

In 1908, the Promised Messiah^as travelled to Lahore and resided there for some time – this was his last journey. At that time, he told a doctor that although he was unwell, Mahmud^ra was also unwell and that he was very much perturbed about his health. He asked the doctor to carry out his treatment with full diligence. (Malaikatullah, p. 66, [Speech, Jalsa Salana 1920])

Thereupon, on 26 May, the incident that was feared by many occurred. However, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra lived up to the vow that was taken by him whilst standing at the bedside of the Promised Messiah^as, till his last breath:

“Even if all the people leave you and I am left alone, I will stand by you.”

Thus came to an end the extraordinary journey of companionship between a father and son, a master and disciple, extended over nineteen years and encompassing abundant invaluable pearls of divine matters.