Hadhur based his Friday sermon on some accounts of courage and bravery of a few companions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). These companions tried to understand religion and the Holy Qur’an with profundity and once they attained insight into it they endured all manner of persecution for their belief.

Hudhur said he has had accounts of the companions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) compiled in a register under different headings and cites them on various occasions.

Hadhrat Mian Abdul Aziz sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He writes that he and his friend Mirza Ayub Baig sahib asked a Maulwi who was a professor of Arabic why they and their master, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was called Kafir (disbeliever). He answered that such and such Maulwis had given Fatwa (religious decree) and he had followed suit. Mirza Ayub sahib asked him if the others were hell-bound, would he follow them. The Maulwi said it was his fault that he had not read the books of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). The two Ahmadis gave him some books to read and went back to see him after three months. The Maulwi told them that they were young and did not understand matters. Mirza Ayub sahib told him that he had passed his BA and he could teach him English if he so wished. The two went to see the Maulwi another time and took an elderly person with them thinking this would stop him from putting down their belief on grounds of their youth. But the Maulwi started talking to the elderly person about other matters. So they told him that on the Day of Judgement they will say to God that they had gone to see him three times but he had not answered them as to why he called them Kafir. The Maulwi said he did not care. They replied that if he did not care about God then they too did not want to know him.

Hudhur said the situation is the same to this day as regards the obstinacy of so-called educated people. It is understood that many say in the Arab countries that since the Pakistani Mullah has declared Ahmadis Kafir, therefore they are Kafir and the Arabs do not need to do any thinking in this matter.

Hadhrat Munshi Qazi Babu Alam sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He writes that when he went back to school after a break of four days someone called him over and asked him where he had been. He answered that he had gone to Qadian and when asked affirmed that he had taken Bai’at. The person told him not to mention it to anyone and said he too had taken Bai’at but had not mentioned it to anyone. Munshi sahib answered that he will not hide it. He mentioned this Bai’at to his teacher who taught him Qur’an and Hadith and he sternly disapproved and began treating him harshly. He would often ask him to repent and withdraw his Bai’at but Munshi sahib always talked to him about the life and death of Jesus (on whom be peace) based on the Holy Qur’an to which he did not answer. But his disapproval was so extreme that at the start of his class he would say to Munshi sahib ‘Oi Mirzai, stand up on the bench’. Upon asking what he had done wrong, he would answer that he was a Mirzai [derogratory word for an Ahmadi] and a Kafir. Eventually Munshi sahib complained to the principal who issued a circular and this made the teacher calm down.

Hudhur said such incidents are recurring in Pakistan to this day. Recently an Ahmadi student gained very good grades and secured a place in college. When he went to deposit his fee it came to be known that he was an Ahmadi. When he acknowledged that yes, he was an Ahmadi, they told him to take his money, cancelled his place in the college and told him not to return or they would break his legs. Similarly, a girl wrote to Hudhur that she is very good at her studies but while filling in the form to sit exams she came across the choice of Muslim or non-Muslim. Hudhur said earlier our children used to write Ahmadi but now that option is not there. As Hudhur has instructed that Ahmadis should write themselves as Muslim in forms the girl filled her form accordingly two or three times but when the declaration to use abuse for the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) is not ticked, the admission is cancelled. Thus harshness of this nature continues today and very able and competent students suffer. In the account mentioned earlier, a fair-minded principal put things right but now all this is carried out under legislation. It is affecting many children but the persecution continues. The children remain strong in their belief.

Hadhrat Mehr Ghulam Hassan sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He writes that someone came to him and describing his anxiety said Hamad Shah who was an angelic person and was praised by Hindu and Muslim alike had made a grave mistake. Upon asking the man told Mehr sahib that Hamad Shah had asked his uncle what was his opinion about Jesus, son of Mary (on whom be peace). His uncle replied that he was alive in heaven and will one day return to reform Muhammadan Ummah. Hamad Shah replied that this belief was shirk (associating partners with God) and it was insulting towards our master the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) in that he should be buried while Jesus (on whom be peace) is alive in heaven. Having listened to this, Mehr sahib said he acknowledged that Jesus (on whom be peace) had died, if Jesus was to be alive Tawheed (Oneness of God) was effected. He said he was not an Ahmadi yet but felt that ‘Mirza sahib’ was truthful in this matter. The person told him that if did believe this at least he should stay quiet but Mehr sahib said he would say it openly that it was insulting to the person of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to believe that Jesus (on whom be peace) was alive in the heaven. Mehr sahib mentioned this to his father who became incandescent with rage. Mehr sahib felt that he would face opposition of Maulwis so he found out what proofs ‘Mirza sahib’ had given as regards death of Jesus (on whom be peace). He was told that thirty Quranic verses had been quoted. Mehr sahib was astonished that the Qur’an was read day and night yet this matter was not known. He asked to be given only one verse and was given verse 118 of Surah Al Maidah: ‘…but since Thou didst cause me to die…’. The next day at Fajr Salat some people came with his brother and asked him why was he hostile to Jesus (on whom be peace) and maintained that he had died. Mehr sahib told them that Jesus (on whom be peace) had himself acknowledged his death. When they asked him where was this written, Mehr sahib told them in the Qur’an. They asked: ‘which Qur’an? The only that Mirza sahib has made up?’ Mehr sahib told them to have some sense for they were attacking God, because God has stated that no one can re-produce His Qur’an. He then read verse 118 of Surah Al Maidah in response to which was said that there was only one way to respond to this and that was not to discuss anything with Ahmadis and not even make eye contact with them. Mehr sahib writes that he took Bai’at and his wife and father also joined him. In fact at a later stage his brother also took Bai’at.

Hudhur said it is still said today that nothing should be discussed with Ahmadis and even eye contact should not made with them. Hudhur said fact of the matter is this is what used to be said 1400 years ago at the time of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Relating the account of Hadhrat Tufail bin Amr Ad Dausi (may Allah be pleased with him) Hudhur said when he came to Makkah the Quraish informed him that a person had made a claim of Prophethood in their area which had caused dissent among people. They said his words were sorcery and due to this families were breaking up. They told him to steer clear of him and insisted so much that he decided to find out for himself. He went to the Ka’ba where the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was offering Prayer. He stuffed cotton wool in his ears so that he could not hear the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) but somehow he heard some of what the Prophet was saying and liked it. He thought to himself that he was a wise person he should listen to what the Prophet had to say and then make up his mind. So he followed the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) as he left for his house. He told the Prophet that the Quraish had warned him against the Prophet and he had put cotton wool in his ears to protect himself but God so willed that he heard some of his words and wished to hear more. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) told him about Islam and read the Qur’an to him to which he replied that by God he had never heard something so beautiful before and he accepted Islam. Hudhur explained thus has been the way of opponents from the beginning, Prophets of God do not use sorcery, rather their detractors use it. The Qur’an verifies that sorcery is never successful. If in their opinion it is sorcery that is succeeding, it is not sorcery, it is the truth.

Hadhrat Khalifa Nurudin sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He writes that he had been advising someone for a year about the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). This person told him that he had heard that such and such person also receives revelation so he would ask him what God informs him about the claim of Mirza sahib. The answer Nurudin sahib got was that the person had indeed prayed but the answer from God came that Mirza sahib is a Kafir. On hearing this Nurudin sahib said that God forbid the God who sent that revelation appeared to be a coward for he had called Mirza sahib a Kafir but also a ‘sahib’ [a term of respect], how was one to rely on the revelation of such a God.

Hadhrat Hakeem Abdul Samad Khan sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He hailed from Delhi, he wrote that he took his Bai’at in 1905. He wrote that in 1891 he used take religious lessons from a Maulwi. One day the Quranic verse: ‘…O Jesus, I will cause thee to die a natural death and will exalt thee to Myself…’ (3:56) came in lesson and its explanation bewildered him. He wondered if it was an explanation of the original text or a challenge to it. He kept pondering over it late into the night. When his father found him awake he asked him what the matter was. When Hakeem sahib told him his father said what was his teacher for? He should ask his teacher, the Maulwi. When Hakeem sahib asked the Maulwi his answer was that this was the general belief and he should not argue. Hakeem sahib insisted that unless he understood what was being said he would not carry on with the lesson. His Maulwi teacher was displeased at this and contacted his father. The father said he was the teacher and should handle the matter. The Maulwi asked Hakeem sahib to move to the next lesson but he refused saying that until the matter was explained to him he would not move. The Maulwi slapped him and said, ‘there is you with this fixation and then there is Mirza.’ Hakeem sahib wondered who ‘Mirza’ was but was encouraged that his idea had some substance. He told the Maulwi that unless he explained the matter to him, he would not carry on. He said there was no compulsion in religion. Today he had slapped him once and wanted to make him follow one thing, another Maulwi could slap him twice and make him follow another thing and yet another Maulwi could slap him three times and make him follow another thing, He refused to read on. He went to another teacher in the evening he too said, ‘there is you with this fixation and then there is Mirza’. This strengthened him further that his idea was not weak. Hakeem sahib went to a third Maulwi sahib who told him this was a big issue and a claimant for this existed who said that Jesus (on whom be peace) had indeed died and he was the Jesus that people awaited. Hakeem sahib told him that he understood the first matter but not the second one. The Maulwi sahib told him that he had gone to Punjab and stayed there a few days. He then mentioned Hadhrat Maulana Nur-uddin (may Allah be pleased with him) as a follower of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and spoke very highly of him in religious and spiritual terms. The Maulwi sahib did not mention his Bai’at although he had taken it, he was wary of opposition and told Hakeem sahib not to speak out aloud, but Hakeem sahib said he did not care and could not resist from saying what the truth was.

Hakeem sahib continued with his education till 1905. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) visited Delhi and Hakeem sahib went to see him along with an opposing Maulwi. The Maulwi raised an objection and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) took a pen from Hadhrat Mufti Sadiq sahib (may Allah be pleased with him) and wrote an article and gave it to the Maulwi and asked him to read it and ask if there was something he did not understand. He also asked him to write a reply saying he should read his article first and then his own reply. The Maulwi read the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) article but did not write an answer saying he would give an extempore reply. After reading the article he stood there silent for a long period. The students he had taken with him complained that had they known he could not give an answer they would have taken someone else as their leader. The Maulwi slapped the person who said this and he slapped him back. Hadhrat Mufti Sadiq sahib (may Allah be pleased with him) mediated and stopped the row. Next the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) gave an address and people started making a noise. The people of Jama’at encircled the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) as a precautionary measure. Hakeem sahib saw a small opening in the circle and went and stood there. Someone pushed him thinking he was one of the opponents but Hakeem sahib went back to the position but was pushed again. At this Hadhrat Maulana Nur-uddin (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the person pushing why he was doing so. When the person said that he was pushing him away as he was an opponent, Hadhrat Maulana Nur-uddin (may Allah be pleased with him) replied that had he cut his heart open to know that? Meanwhile someone used abusive language for the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and Hakeem sahib retorted back. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said in his address that if anyone could not decide on his claim they should profusely recite the prayer ‘Guide us in the right path, The path of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy blessings…’ (1:6 -7) for forty days with complete sincerity and the truth will be unravelled to them by God. Hakeem sahib wrote that for him a week’s prayer was sufficient for the truth to be unravelled.

Hadhrat Hafiz Ghulam Rasool Wazirabadi sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He wrote that following his Bai’at many people became his enemy and someone mentioned his unpopularity to an aristocratic person Raja sahib, who asked what was the basis of the enmity. Raja sahib said ask Hafiz sahib to come and say that he accepted the Ra’fe (exaltation) of Jesus (on whom be peace) as it states in the Qur’an and also mention the advent of Jesus as Ahadith state. An announcement was made in the city and thousands of people from all sects gathered. Hafiz sahib knew what he had to say and also knew no one would understand him, apart from perhaps one of his relatives. Raja sahib asked Hafiz sahib did he accept ‘exalting’ of Jesus and his advent and he replied that indeed he did. He said if people quietened down he would explain. He then said that he accepted the ‘exaltation’ of Jesus (on whom be peace) as stated in the Qur’an and the advent of Jesus (on whom be peace) as stated in Ahadith. A loud cry of acclaim rose from the crowd and Hakeem sahib left. Hakeem sahib felt that someone had told Raja sahib that Hakeem sahib had managed to pull the wool over their eyes. Next day after Fajr a man came from Raja sahib and said that Raja sahib and the others were not satisfied with his response about the ‘exaltation’ and advent matter. Hakeem sahib asked what would satisfy them. The man said that he called Mirza sahib a Kafir. Hakeem sahib asked why should he call him a Kafir and the answer was because the Maulwis did. Hakeem sahib replied, ‘because the Maulwis call Mirza sahib Kafir, I also say Kafir.’ By this his intent was that he called the Maulwis Kafir. When the messenger went back and related what had happened it was opined that Hakeem sahib had once again pulled the wool over their eyes. The man was sent one more time and asked to get it in writing that Hakeem sahib considered Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Qadiani, God forbid, a Kafir. Two days had passed and Hakeem sahib felt courage of conviction and told the runner that what he had said was correct that he considered them Kafir who called Mirza sahib Kafir. They were disappointed at this. Hakeem sahib quoted the Quranic verse at this point: ‘…This day have those who disbelieve despaired of harming your religion. So fear them not, but fear Me...’ (5:4) Hakeem sahib wrote that following this court cases were brought against him and those from whom he never expected falsehood gave false statements to the court against him. Hakeem sahib wrote that when he mentioned this incident to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) he laughed and said to conceal one’s faith to prevent disorder and chaos has a station as it is stated in the Qur’an, ‘And a believing man from among the people of Pharaoh, who concealed his faith…’ (40:29). The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said it was good Hakeem sahib had understood the situation and saved his life from the hands of the wicked.

Thus are the tales of persecution of Ahmadis. These are not simply accounts of the past. Today, one hundred and twenty three years later, the same treatment is given to Ahmadis but the Ahmadis are moving onwards and are growing in strength of faith all over the world, keeping the commandment in view: ‘…so fear them not, but fear Me…’ (2:151). May God sustain our strength our faith and also enhance it.

Hudhur said another incident has taken place with those who demonstrate strong faith, especially in Pakistan. An elder Ahmadi has been martyred. Inna lillahe wa inna illaihe raji’oon. Chaudhry Akram sahib was an 80 year old Ahmadi. He hailed from the Faisalabad area. His grandfather had taken the Bai’at on the hands of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Akram sahib was currently on a visit to Pakistan from Australia where he had migrated some years ago. He was born in Faisalabad district and farmed lands with his father and moved to Nawabshah in 1960. Later he migrated to Australia. He was visiting Pakistan since November 2011. He was returning home with his grandson from his son-in-law’s shop when two unknown assailants on a motorbike shot him. He was rushed to hospital but passed away on his way there. His grandson was also injured in the attack and has been operated on. He is currently in ICU. Hudhur asked for prayers for his complete recovery.

When he lived in Nawabshah shaheed Akram sahib served the Jama’at for many years. He was finance secretary for 35 years and also served as deputy Ameer of the district. He was a person of high morals and was regular at Tahajjud. He was very keen in helping others and had an ardent love of Khilafat. On his current visit to Pakistan he asked for a list of the disadvantaged people in the area so that he could help them. He had the Nawabshah centre reopened and said that on his return to Australia he would send funds for the renovation. He aspired to martyrdom and used to say that this honour is granted to the fortunate. He leaves behind a widow, five sons and two daughters. His injured grandson is 18/19 years old, may God grant him perfect healing. Hudhur said he would lead funeral Prayer in absentia of shaheed Chaudhry Akram sahib.