Hudhur Aqdas said that Prophets of God come to the world to bring man closer to God, to make man a worshipper of God and to make man practice God’s commandments. Among all the Prophets the most perfect was our master the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and he fully honoured the teaching that was revealed to him and did this in a matchless manner. He took his message of Truth to the Bedouins of Arabia and to the slaves; he fearlessly took it to the tribal chiefs of Makkah and to powerful kings. After him, this great task was carried on by his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) who took the message to the world. 1400 years later, in accordance to Divine promise the advent of the true and ardent devotee of the Prophet took place who revived the mission and called the world to God and taught how to find the way to reach God. He informed that now the only way to reach God was through the religion of Islam. In one of his Urdu poetic lines he said:

‘Come people, for this is where you shall find the light of God’

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote: ‘A study of the religions of the world reveals that every religion, except Islam, contains some mistake or the other. This is not because they were all false in their origin, but because after the advent of Islam, God gave up the support of other religions. They became like neglected gardens, which had no gardener to look after them, and for the irrigation and upkeep of which no arrangement had been made, so that gradually they began to decay. Their fruit-bearing trees became dry and barren, and thorns and weeds spread all over. Those religions lost all spirituality, which is at the root of all religions, and nothing was left but bare words.’(Lecture Sialkot, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 20, p. 203 – Essence of Islam, Vol. I, pp. 14-15)

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) went on to write that Islam was the last and final Shariah, thus God protected it. He did this by sending a guardian at the top of each century and in the current age God has sent him as the Mujaddid of the last millennium. It is the duty of each Muslim to be associated with the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). He took the beautiful teachings of Islam beyond India and to the wider world and infused a spirit in those who took his Bai’at to take the message to the world to come to God and forge a connection with him.

Hudhur Aqdas said among those who took the Bai’at of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) were the poor, labourers, land-owners, farmers, uneducated rural people, business people, the educated etc. All of them understood the message of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) according to their individual capacity, benefitted from his august company and tried to spread the message in their spheres. These were people who tried to spread the true message and today Hudhur Aqdas took some of their accounts to relate in the sermon.

Hadhrat Imam Din sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he received a letter from someone asking him to come over with a Maulwi from Qadian because a debate was going to be held in a village. They duly arrived. During the debate the other party became insistent that they would only proceed if ‘Mirza sahib’s’ name could be shown in the Holy Qur’an written as ‘Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, son of Mirza Ghulam Murtaza’. The debate started and the Ahmadi Maulwi sahib remarked if the others could show citation of any earlier Prophets in the Qur’an complete with their parentage, they would reciprocate, but if this method was not documented as regards the earlier Prophets, why was this question raised? No sensible response was given to this argument. The person chairing the debate was a Sikh and he said the other Maulwi had no knowledge and was disparaging towards him. Thus God gave us victory. When this incident was related to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) he said, ‘why did Maulwi sahib not say that Allah the Exalted has given my name as ‘…His name will be Ahmad…’ (61:7) in the Qur’an?’

Hadhrat Pir Iftikhar Ahmad sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that his father believed in Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (peace be on him) during the time of his claim as a Mujaddid and propagated his message among his friends and others. He had a large poster printed for this purpose. He also contributed in financial giving along with his followers. He spent the final time of his life in propagating the message and trying to excel in financial giving.

Hudhur said today aside from books, the propagation of the message of Islam is being done through MTA. In the beginning we availed one satellite and today with the grace of God ten satellites broadcast MTA and efforts are underway in India for MTA viewing via smaller satellite dishes.

Hadhrat Master Nazir Ahmad sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he loved to do Tabligh from a young age. His family lived in the Bhaati Gate area of Lahore. An Ahmadi came to meet his father and seeing the young boy’s enthusiasm he taught him proofs and arguments regarding the life and death of Jesus (on whom be peace). Master sahib relates that he started going to see various Imams and presented his arguments to them. Once an Imam asked him that he should find a chance to be in the company of ‘Mirza sahib’ at a time when dusty wind was blowing. He should then notice if Mirza sahib’s face did not have dust like other people. Having witnessed this he should return to the Imam and the Imam would then respond to him and tell him what the facts were. Master sahib relates that he often had the chance to go to Qadian and on his next trip there he also happened to be in the company of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) on an early morning walk. He relates he would often run along with the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who walked briskly. By coincidence a dusty and sandy wind was blowing during the walk. On return from the walk, associates circled around the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Master sahib relates that he looked at the faces of all present and then he looked at the face of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and was astonished that there was no hint of dust on his face while others had dusty faces. Later in the day he mentioned this to Hadhrat Maulana Nuruddin (may Allah be pleased with him) who told him that absence of dust on his face was a sign of him being the Promised Messiah. On his return to Lahore Master sahib narrated this to the Imam who said he did not believe him and added that ‘Nuruddin’ had made up a story for him. Master sahib relates that while the Imam deprived himself of the privilege Master sahib witnessed the sign with his own eyes.

Hadhrat Sher Muhammad sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he once saw in a dream that there is a water well filled with milk and he is giving his friends buckets-full of milk to drink so much so that the water well is dried up. On his visit to Qadian he related this dream to Maulwi Abdul Karim sahib (may Allah be pleased with him) who interpreted it for him and said milk signified knowledge. Sher sahib said that he had no education. Maulwi Abdul Karim sahib replied that the knowledge signified here was that which comes from God and he told him that his friends would benefit from his knowledge and the drying up of the well meant that those who stopped him from Tabligh will be finished one day. Sher sahib relates that all these three things came true.

Hadhrat Qazi Muhammad Yusuf sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he had extensively travelled all over India and seen all the regions, including the tomb of Youza Asif . After his Bai’at everyone at school started calling him Qadiani and other such names. He relates wherever he went his faith was talked about and Ahmadiyyat became renowned. A series of questions and answers started and people began talking about Ahmadiyyat. When he started employment he had the opportunity to travel a lot and he used this for Tabligh purposes. He relates that with his direct and indirect Tabligh about 250 people accepted Ahmadiyyat.

Hadhrat Ahmad Din sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he once heard the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) mention in a Friday sermon that even the uninformed people of his Community will prevail over others. Ahmad Din sahib relates that his experience proved that in spite of being uneducated he would beat Maulwis in discussions so much so that they told him that he lied when he said that he was uneducated.

Hadhrat Dr. Muhammad Buksh sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he took Bai’at in 1903 via letter and had seen the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) a year before. During his conversation with the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) he told him that he was employed in the artillery and found that Tabligh was difficult in the army. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) assured him that he will not be alone [the only Ahmadi] for long. He advised him to continue Tabligh with resolve and to meet up with Jama’at wherever he was transferred to.

Hadhrat Mamo Khan sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he saw in a dream that the moon had fallen in his lap. Someone interpreted the dream for him and said he would either get a lot of respect or he would take the Bai’at of a holy person. During that time the incident of Lekh Ram was famous and Khan sahib thought that if it proved out to be true, he would take the Promised Messiah’s Bai’at. When the prophecy proved out to be true he sent a letter of his Bai’at which was replied to by Maulwi Abdul Karim sahib (may Allah be pleased with him). This took place in 1904. In 1906 Khan sahib took Bai’at in person.

Hadhrat Abdul Rasheed sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that a non-Ahmadi youngster became inclined to Arya thoughts. His parents took him to a Maulwi and when the boy presented some objections from the Arya perspective, the Maulwi got up to beat him. The young man ran off and people ran after him. An Ahmadi person joined the crowd and followed him to his house. He inquired from the young man as to what was the matter and then came and told Rasheed sahib. Rasheed sahib went to meet him. Initially he refused to discuss anything and clearly said that he was an Arya and he had given up eating meat and attended Arya assembles. However, Rasheed sahib continued to visit him and the youngster gradually became familiarised. Rasheed sahib used to go for walks with him. Soon it was Easter holidays and Rasheed sahib asked him to go to Qadian with him but he was not prepared to listen. But after much coaxing he agreed. In Qadian they met with Hadhrat Maulana Nuruddin (may Allah be pleased with him) who told him that he could raise any objection that he wished to and answers will be given. When Hadhrat Maulana Nuruddin (may Allah be pleased with him) was told that the young man did not eat meat he had special good fetched for him. This impressed the youngster a lot. He went with Rasheed sahib to the mosque where the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was present. In those days he was writing something on the Aryas and he gave some answers to objections raised by Arya people and again the young man was moved by what he heard. Later Rasheed sahib took him for Darsul Qur’an with Hadhrat Maulana Nuruddin (may Allah be pleased with him). After the Dars he answered questions that the young man asked which satisfied him. After Maghrib they remained in the mosque where people asked questions which the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) replied via Maulwi Abdul Karim and the young man sat listening but did not raise any objection after this. Next day he did Wadhu at Zuhr and offered Salat and on the third day he took Bai’at. Rasheed sahib wrote that now his love for Islam is so enhanced that he relates its qualities to the Arya.

Hadhrat Mian Abdul Aziz sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he did Tabligh to a middle-aged Pathan Maulwi in the Neela Gumbad area of Lahore. Following the Tabligh the Maulwi said that although he acknowledged the Promised Messiah was truthful, it was the way of his people that once they had rejected something even if God came and said it, they did not accept it. He ended up committing suicide. Mian sahib’s another experience was also with a Pathan Maulwi who used to say ‘there go Kafirs’ when they walked pass his shop in Lohari Mundi. Mian sahib once said to him that rather than calling names at least he should find out about them to which he replied that even if God came to him and told him about them he would not accept it. This man ended up eating poison and killing himself over a love affair.

Hadhrat Munshi Qazi Mehboob Alam sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he did Tablight to a Musa sahib, even took him to Qadian but there was no result. One day he told Musa sahib that a Hadith narrates that a Bedouin asked the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) that if he swore by God that he was a Prophet of God, he would accept him. The Prophet swore by God that indeed he was a Prophet of God and the Bedouin accepted and also offered his tribe for Bai’at. This had a lot of effect on Musa sahib and he promptly sent a letter to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) asking him if he would swear by God that he was the Promised Messiah. When the letter reached the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) he asked Maulwi Abdul Karim sahib (may Allah be pleased with him) to write back and say that he swore by God that he was the very same Promised Messiah whose promise was given to this Ummah by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Maulwi abdul Karim (may Allah be pleased with him) added a note from himself saying that he had had the oath of God’s Messiah and he should either take Bai’at or await God’s chastisement. Upon receipt of the letter Musa sahib took Bai’at along with his family.

A lawyer from Lahore named Abdul Karim was also known as Bakra. He used extremely abusive language for the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). One day Munshi sahib was discussing death of Jesus (on whom be peace) with him and said that he would prove it to him. The lawyer struck Munshi sahib so hard on the face that he fell down. Munshi sahib had a dream that night in which he saw the lawyer was lying on a broken bedstead and under the bedstead there was a hollow/cavity and he was falling in the cavity in a state of extreme helplessness. Munshi sahib went to see him the next morning and told him that he had been told in a dream that he will be disgraced. Soon after his unmarried daughter fell pregnant and died during an abortion. A police investigation followed and the lawyer suffered great humiliation. One day Munshi sahib called him and told him that he used to use abusive language for the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and he had had his comeuppance.

Hudhur Aqdas said today the situation is such that when a Maulwi is approached he uses the law to take legal action.

Munshi sahib further relates that he did Tabligh to his mother-in-law which affected her a lot but she did not take Bai’at. She gave her jewellery to Munshi sahib to offer it to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and submit it to him that may she have its reward on the Day of Judgement. Munshi sahib took the jewellery with him on his next trip to Qadian. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) accepted the donation of jewellery and said that InshaAllah she would get her reward. When Munshi sahib’s mother-in-law passed away he did not say her funeral Prayer. Later the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) remarked that Munshi sahib should have offered the funeral Prayer because the lady had proved with her actions that she was an Ahmadi.

Hudhur Aqdas said jewellery is very dear to women and Munshi sahib’s mother-in-law gave hers away for she had fear of the Day of Judgement and wished to attain God’s pleasure. However, Hudhur Aqdas explained that it is not that whoever says they do not consider us bad can be counted as an Ahmadi. The lady had given her dear objects for the propagation of Islam. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has also mentioned in another place that if someone does not consider us bad why do they not openly declare it and if there is no difficulty why do they not take Bai’at? Thus every decision is taken according to the situation.

Hadhrat Maulana Ghulam Rasool Rajiki (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that after his Bai’at he read up books of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and started doing Tabligh with great fervour. Wherever he saw four or five people gathered he would go up to them and say ‘congratulations’. When they inquired what for he would say the Imam Mahdi had come. Some laughed at him others queried him and he would find an opportunity for Tabligh. He relates how many people came into the fold of Ahmadiyyat through his Tabligh.

Hudhur Aqdas said these days we do Tabligh by distributing leaflets [flyers] the world over and when given the leaflets sometimes people ask questions and this should make further ways for Tabligh. It is not enough to simply hand over a piece of paper as a message of peace from Ahmadiyya Community. Rather, the link should be taken further as much as it can be. Similarly, mosques are being inaugurated these days, three mosques have been inaugurated and three will be inaugurated soon as the UK Jama’at is also drawn to this matter now. These should also open avenues for Tabligh. While new mosques attract criticism, they also generate interest and reports show that people are interested in gathering information. We should fully avail of this opportunity.

Hadhrat Mian Muhammad Abdullah sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that someone in his family had taken Bai’at in Qadian and then did Tabligh to his father. His father saw in a dream that a beautiful full moon is shining brilliantly from the direction of Qadian. His father interpreted it as truthfulness of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and sent a letter of Bai’at the very same day. He relates that he used to do Tabligh prior to his Bai’at as well but increased the Tabligh after Bai’at so much that hundreds of people came into the fold of Ahmadiyyat because of his Tabligh.

Next Hudhur Aqdas gave the sad news of another martyrdom in Pakistan. Hudhur Aqdas said our brother Maqsood Ahmad sahib who had lived in Rabwah for a while was martyred in Nawabshah. His family came from a village near Qadian and his grandfather was the first Ahmadi in the family. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) had sent his grandfather to Sind to look after the Jama’at lands there. His grandfather too was martyred when Maqsood sahib was only twelve years old and he was an eye witness of the martyrdom. In one of his Friday sermons Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (may Allah have mercy on him) had mentioned his grandfather during a discourse of early martyrs. Maqsood sahib moved to Rabwah from Sind in 1983 and was currently working in homeopathic sales in a firm called Curative Company. He had gone on a sales trip to Sind when two unknown assailants on a motor bike shot him in the centre of town. Hudhur said this is the second martyrdom in Nawabshah in the past few days. His wife has told that he was receiving threats. He was regular in offering his Salat in congregation and was also regular in financial giving. He had paid his wife’s chanda and had also paid all his chandas before leaving for his trip. He had inherited his grandfather’s enthusiasm for Tabligh and this perhaps became the cause of enmity. He was a very socialable person who was keen on serving others, had a great connection with Khilafat and had an ardent love of the Holy Qur’an. His wife had asked him if they could be included in the families of martyrs and he had answered, ‘why not, if Allah should choose them’. He leaves behind three sons and two daughters. May God elevate his station and may He bring about the chastisement of the enemy.

Hajira Begum sahiba, wife of a Dervish of Qadian passed away during the night of 4 and 5 March at the age of 79. She had spent her life as wife of a Dervish with great steadfastness and brought up her ten children very well. She was a Moosia. May God elevate her statin and grant steadfastness to the bereaved.