In continuation of last week’s subject of accounts of Tabligh as carried out by the companions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) Hudhur Aqdas related a few incidents. Hudhur said the objective of relating these incidents, as Hudhur has explained before, firstly is that prayer is made for the elders. They accepted the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) which has brought us among those receive blessings in this age. May God continue to elevate their stations. Without them many of us would have been deprived of this God-sent blessing. Secondly their piety, courage of belief, sense of honour for religion and enthusiasm to serve faith may inspire their descendants as well as those who may not be their blood-relations but have spiritual ties with them and that they all may take this fervour to their next generation.

Hudhur Aqdas said many write to him or tell him when they meet Hudhur about their relationship with any elder that Hudhur may mention in his addresses. However, Hudhur said the due of these relationships will be honoured only when people walk in the footsteps of these elders.

Hadhrat Mian Jamal uddin sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that a Maulwi Nawab uddin used to go from town to town in his assumption to ‘sort out/fix Mirzai people’. Mian Jamal uddin sahib came to know that he was visiting one of nearby villages and as he was the only Ahmadi in the area, they sent for him. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had stopped his followers from getting into undue religious arguments in those days. Mian Jamal uddin sahib sent a message that he was not interested in a debate, the other party should present their questions and he would give the answers. The travelling maulwi ended up in Mian sahib’s village along with three men. They got in touch with the village esquire who was a Hindu and asked him to arrange a debate with the ‘Mirzai’. Mian sahib received the message, he prayed most humbly for God’s help and went to see the maulwi. Many people, both Hindu and Muslim had gathered. Mian sahib opened the conversation and asked the maulwi what was his reason for travelling around. He answered he did so because of the dissent among the Ummah. Mian sahib asked him how many certificates etc. had he attained and the maulwi said he had many but could not show them because he had left them behind. He said his real objective was to debate with people that (God forbid) ‘Mirza’ was a Kafir (disbeliever) and was turning others into Kafirs. The maulwi said his creed was Hanafi and he believed in the Oneness of God and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) as true and believed on the basis of 20 Quranic verses that Hadhrat Isa (on whom be peace) was alive on the fourth heaven and whoever rejected this, the maulwi believed him to be a Kafir. He said his knowledge was certified. When Mian sahib was asked about his creed he said he believed in Oneness of God, and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) as the ‘Seal of all the Prophets’ and by virtue of Qur’an and Ahadith believed that Hadhrat Isa (on whom be peace) had passed away and that he truthfully accepted the Messiah who had come and considered anyone who did not believe him not to be on truth. He added that he did not have any certificates to show for his knowledge and that he was self-taught and had kept the company of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). He said if anyone could prove from the Qur’an and authentic Ahadith that Hadhrat Isa (on whom be peace) was alive on the fourth heaven, he would repent. The maulwi asked him to put this affidavit in writing and sign it. After Mian sahib duly wrote and signed this the maulwi tried to engage in other matters, like how much knowledge of the Qur’an Mian sahib had and his belief about the Khulafa e Rashideen etc. He would not be drawn to the matter under discussion until the Hindu village esquire asked him to present the Quranic verses which proved that Hadhrat Isa (on whom be peace) was alive in heaven. The maulwi asked for a copy of the Qur’an and when a copy was brought to him he started making excuses saying it was ‘Mirza’s Qur’an’ and he did not accept it. He was assured that it was not. Eventually he took the Qur’an, looked who was the publisher and asked who (God forbid) the writer was? Mian sahib asked him did he not consider it God’s Word to say something like that. The maulwi said he had made a mistake, but then asked who had compiled it. Mian sahib asked the maulwi to have some sense and look for the verse. The maulwi took twenty minutes looking through the Qur’an but did not find anything. Mian sahib asked him that he had said that he could produce twenty Quranic verses to corroborate his creed at the very least he should present one verse. The maulwi said he could not find it and added that he would read the verse from memory. He read the Quranic verse: ‘When Allah said, ‘O Jesus, I will cause thee to die a natural death and will exalt thee to Myself…’ (3:56) and translated it as: ‘When Allah said ‘O Jesus, I am about to raise your spirit along with your entire body to the heaven’. Mian sahib remarked that the verse should be found in the Qur’an and the discussion should be carried out with the [original] words in full view. The maulwi again took the Qur’an and looked through it for ten minutes but could not find what he was looking for. People started laughing at him saying what sort of Quranic knowledge he had that he could not find a renowned verse. Saying this people dispersed.

Hadhrat Munshi Qazi Mehboob Alam sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he was employed by a Hakim who opposed the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). One day in his antagonism he used the derogatory word ‘dayus’ (an ignoble man/ a cuckold) for the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Munshi sahib did a lot of Istighfar that night regretting having talked to the man in the first place. That night he saw in a dream that he is in the presence of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who asked him where the person who had called him ‘dayus’ was. Munshi sahib looked out and saw the Hakim walking towards them and he told the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that he was approaching them. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that he should be told that he would not meet him because he was a ‘dayus’. A few weeks after this the daughter of that man ran off with someone and the pair were found by an authoritative person. In explanation, the man told the authorities that the woman was his wife while the woman said that the man was her servant. As their statements differed the police became suspicious and the pair was presented before the deputy commissioner. The woman said her father was a ‘dayus’ who did not arrange her marriage and that she was on her way to be with an aristocratic person with the help of the man [who accompanied her]. The deputy commissioner advised the girl to go back to her family but she refused saying her father would kill her. However, the deputy commissioner arranged for her to be returned to her family and told her father that he was a ‘dayus’ for not taking care of his daughter and arranging her marriage. The daughter was returned to him after a bail payment of Rupees 5000 was made. The Hakim’s notoriety as ‘dayus’ spread in the city. After a short time his daughter became Christian.

Hadhrat Ameer Khan sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that when he heard that an acquaintance had joined the Lahore Ahmadiyya group he went to see him and made him aware of the realities regarding the group. His acquaintance was affected by what he heard and returned to Qadian. He relates that when another person whom he had done Tabligh to bring in the fold of Ahmadiyyat joined the Lahore group he exchanged letters with him which made him give up the group as well.

Hadhrat Maulwi Muhammad Abdullah sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he once went to see the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and was introduced by one of his companions as one who had had many debates but God had always made him triumphant. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that yes, truth is always triumphant. He relates that on hearing this from the blessed mouth of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) he was assured that he would stay firm on truth and God would make him triumphant. He relates that this came to pass.

Hadhrat Chaudhry Muhammad Ali sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that his father went to attend Jalsa at Sialkot and on his return he started doing Tabligh. His Tabligh bore fruits and multitudes started taking Bai’at.

Hadhrat Shaikh Abdur Rasheed sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that a mualwi he knew recited the Qur’an in a very melodious voice and his sermons were well attended by women. The maulwi started opposing the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) using rude language. Shaikh sahib discussed matters with him. Meanwhile Shaikh sahib’s parents clashed with him, especially his mother. The parents said they would disown him and he had to stay away from home for months. His father said to his mother that previously Shaikh sahib slept his time away but now he was regular at Salat and offered Tahajjud on what grounds could he disown him? Yet, in view of worldliness the father used to say to him to give up ‘Mirzaiyyat’. In this regard he had a few discussions with the aforementioned maulwi. Once the maulwi issued a poster rejecting the concept of a ‘bloody Mahdi’. This poster reached the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). He prepared an Istifta (an inquiry) and had it sent to religious scholars for a Fatwa (religious edict). Some refused to give a Fatwa. The Dr. sahib who took the Istifta around recounted to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that previously he used to take grapes and other fruits to maulwis and get the Fatwa of his liking from them. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) would partially cover his face with part of his turban and smile at this anecdote. Hudhur remarked that this practice of receiving ‘gifts’ by the maulwis continues to this day, only their rates have gone up somewhat!

Hadhrat Shaikh Ismael sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that one day after Asr Salat people sat in the company of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in Masjid Mubarak when someone said that a maulwi had visited their village and having gathered people, started enthusing them by quoting the Hadith ‘La Nabi Ba’adi (There is no Prophet after me). He said while the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) had said there was no Prophet after him, Mirza sahib of Qadian said that he was a Prophet, how could they accept him as a Prophet? The man said he stood up and asked the maulwi how would he interpret the saying of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) where he had said that there would be no mosque after his mosque (Masjid Nabawi). He then explained that he would interpret ‘La Nabi Ba’adi’ Hadith just as the maulwi would interpret the Hadith regarding the mosque. He also said that a Prophet who would cancel the Shariah as brought by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) could not be called a Prophet because his Shariah was the final Shariah. The maulwi looked astonished at this and started hurling abuse. The person replied by saying that he would not respond to his abuse. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was very pleased to hear this. Hudhur Aqdas said today people are turned against us by citing this idea that now no Prophet can come and these people consider Mirza sahib a Prophet.

Mian Sharafat Ahamd sahib relates the account of his father Hadhrat Maulwi Jalal uddin (may Allah be pleased with him): He says that his father was extremely enthusiastic about Tabligh even in old age and would surpass the efforts of younger people. In one of his Friday sermons of 1934 Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) called his father’s passing away as martyrdom and acknowledged that he worked more than young people. He added that he had seen three people who worked obsessively at Tabligh and these were; ‘Firstly the late Hafiz Roshin Ali sahib, secondly this Maulwi sahib and thirdly Maulwi Ghulam Rasool Rajiki sahib. These three work day and night at Tabligh.’

Sharafat sahib writes that his father used to relate a dream as regards his Tabligh work in which he saw that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) came to their house and asked for a pen. Later in Qadian, he went to see the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and took along a length of hand-woven white cotton fabric and two [pen] holders as a gift and recounted this dream to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and requested an interpretation. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) told him that he had fulfilled his dream; it signified that he would do Tabligh through his writings as well as verbally. Maulwi Jalal uddin sahib started fervent Tabligh from then onwards and his efforts bore fruit. His brothers took Bai’at, one of whom was a renowned scholar of his area. When people heard this they were utterly dismayed. Meanwhile the Tabligh efforts of Maulwi sahib created many a sincere Jama’at.

Mian Sharafat sahib relates that his father Maulwi Jalal uddin sahib did a lot of Tabligh during the Malkana episode in 1924. He would do Tabligh to the ordinary people and also forged connections with the notable people of the area and the authorities. Those people were amazed to see a seventy/eighty year old man in ragged clothes working day and night for people to become Muslim and they had a good view of him. Many people of the area came into Ahmadiyyat due to the efforts of Maulwi Jalal uddin sahib.

Hadhrat Hafiz Ghulam Rasool Wazirabadi sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that once the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that he had made the high school so that people sought education there and then went out in the world for Tabligh. But he regretted that after seeking education at the school people became busy in their businesses and his objective was not realised. He asked if there was anyone who would give him their son only to seek religious education. Hafiz sahib relates that his son late Maulwi Obaidullah was with him at the time whom he entrusted to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who took his hand in his blessed hand and asked someone to take the boy to Mufti Muhammad Sadiq sahib who was the headmaster of the school at the time. The boy studied at the school and became a scholar. Hadhrat Khalifatul Maish II (may Allah be pleased with him) sent him to Mauritius as a missionary where he served for almost seven years. God so willed that he passed away. Hadhrat Khalifatul Maish II (may Allah be pleased with him) sent Hafiz sahib to bring his widow and children back. After two years his widow also passed away and at the time of writing both the children were under the care of Hafiz sahib. The daughter had been married and the son was a student at Madrassa Ahmadiyya. Hafiz sahib wrote that it was his wish that after his education the son also did Tabligh like his late father. Hudhur said with the grace of God his son also served in Mauritius for a long time.

Mian Sharafat Ahamd sahib further writes about his father Hadhrat Maulwi Jalal uddin (may Allah be pleased with him) that he was going somewhere to lead Friday Prayers. On the way he bought a meagre amount of chickpeas to satiate hunger and started his travel. Soon afterward he suffered from heat stroke caused by hot wind; he fainted and fell down on the road. A passer-by reported at the police station that the ‘Qadiani maulwi sahib’ was lying on the road with heat stroke. A police man who was his follower came running. He could not find any carriage so he slowly managed to bring Maulwi sahib into town on foot. By this time hot wind was blowing with more severity, Maulwi sahib could not cope and laid on a terrace. People coaxed him to carry on but he said he had reached where he wanted to be. He was given medicine but to no avail. People said they would send a telegram to his son but he said no, his son was young and would be perturbed. And he passed away. His funeral Prayer and burial was arranged by non-Ahmadis. A couple of days later Ahmadis came to know about this and they informed Mian sahib and Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) who mentioned him in his Friday sermon and led his funeral Prayer in absentia.

Hudhur Aqdas prayed that may God continue to elevate the stations of these elders and may He keep their spirit alive. Next Hudhur read a few extracts of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

‘I consider those maulwis erroneous who are against modern sciences. In fact they do so to hide their own fault and weakness. They have it embedded in their heads that researching modern sciences turns one against Islam and leads astray. They have declared that intellect and science is completely contrary to Islam. As they do not have the capacity to critique flaws of philosophy, in order to hide this failing of theirs, they concoct that it is not warrantable to study modern sciences. Their soul trembles at the name of philosophy and prostrates before new researches.

However, they have not been given that true philosophy which is generated from Divine revelation with which the Holy Qur’an is replete. That is only given to those and those alone who devote themselves to Allah the Exalted with extreme humility and morality. Whose hearts and minds are rid of the stench of arrogant thoughts, who confess their weaknesses while acknowledging sincere devotion to God.

Thus, it is required that today modern science is acquired for the purpose of service to faith and to communicate the Word of God, and is acquired with great endeavour. However, it has also been in my experience and I mention this as a caution that those people who got involved in these sciences single-mindedly and were so obsessed and engrossed that they did not keep the company of spiritual people. They did not possess any Divine light of their own accord. Such people usually stumbled and became distant from Islam. Rather than making the sciences secondary to Islam, they tried in vain to make Islam secondary to the sciences and in their assumption became providers of religious and national services. However, remember that only that person can serve religion who has heavenly light inside him.’ (Malfuzat, Vol. I pp. 68 – 69)

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) also said:

‘My discourse is for those of you who have developed a connection with me and due to this connection have become my limbs; so that you may put my discourse in practice. And utilise reasoning and the Word of God so that the light of true knowledge and belief is generated inside you and you become a source of bringing others from darkness to light. Since these days objections are based on issues relating to nature, medicine and astronomy, it is essential to be aware of the intrinsic value and mode of these sciences. So that, we have a clear understanding of the objection before we respond to it.’ (Malfuzat, Vol. I p. 68)

Hudhur Aqdas said the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) reference to his followers as his limbs is a great honour and puts a huge responsibility on us to follow the true teachings of Islam.

He also said:

‘Listen to what I say and remember it well that if what one says is not from the sincerity of heart and does not have practical scope, it cannot be effective. The great truthfulness of our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) is evident from the success and winning of hearts that he received a measure of, and which is matchless in the history of mankind. All this came to pass because his words and deeds conformed perfectly.’ (Malfuzat, Vol. I pp. 67 – 68)

Hudhur Aqdas said it is our duty to follow the blessed model of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and this can come about with conformity in word and deed. May God make us fulfil the wishes of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and may we propagate religion and fulfil the due of being ‘his limbs’, may there never be a contradiction in our word and deed.

Next Hudhur Aqdas announced the sad passing away of the Sultan of Agadez, Niger on 21 February and said that he would lead his funeral Prayer in absentia. Al Haaj Umer Ibrahim, Sultan of Agadez came into Ahmadiyyat in 2002. He was the biggest sultan in Niger and was a member of the honorary cabinet of the president. He had been the Sultan of Agadez since 1960 was very well respected in Niger. He had made great efforts towards establishing peace in Agadez. The Sultan had attended the Benin Jalsa in 2002 and before returning to Niger he, along with his 12-strong entourage, accepted Ahmadiyyat. He came to attend the UK Jalsa in 2003 and had his first meeting with Hudhur Aqdas. Our missionary-in-charge in Niger writes that he found the Sultan a very hospitable and warm person who always asked after the Jama’at and Khalifatul Masih. Hudhur Aqdas said the Sultan came to Benin and met Hudhur Aqdas during Hudhur’s trip of 2004. The Sultan had travelled over two thousand kilo metres in the desert for three days and nights. He was very pleased to meet Hudhur Aqdas. Hudhur said there is great sincerity in the Ahmadis of Niger and in spite of being a Sultan, he had a lot of humility. May God elevate his station.