Hudhur Aqdas gave a discourse on the patience and resoluteness of the companions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in his Friday sermon today.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that without resoluteness Bai’at is incomplete. When man takes steps towards God he is met with many tribulations along the way and he cannot attain his objective without resolve. He also said that resoluteness cannot be gauged in good times, because everyone is happy and friendly during good times. Resolute is one who perseveres through every tribulation. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) called Durud a great source of attaining resoluteness and advised that one should profusely engage in reciting it. Not in a ritualistic manner but while being aware of the beauty and the favours of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and with his successes in mind. Durud recited in this manner brings about fragrant acceptance of prayer. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) enjoined: ‘Profusely engage in Istighfar for resoluteness of heart.’

Next Hudhur Aqdas related some incidents from the lives of companions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) highlighting their patience and resolve.

Hadhrat Nur Muhammad sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He writes that he went to Balochistan with his family in 1906 where the imam of the mosque and his religious teacher had found out that Nur sahib had been to Qadian. So he summoned him and said that Mirza sahib’s books were good but he enjoined his followers something else behind the scenes. Nur sahib wrote to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) regarding this. He received a reply that said: ‘We enjoin to give preference to faith over worldly matters and one who adds or subtracts from the actions or the words of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be on him) is accursed.’ When he told this to the imam he mockingly asked, ‘do you too have revelations?’ Nur sahib replied to him that yes, he did. Previously, he had read about the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in the newspaper and had prayed for Divine guidance and had received a revelation saying: ‘Accept him, he is truthful’.

Nur sahib writes that following his disclosure of Ahmadiyyat people started deriding him publically. He would pray that by virtue of the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) blessings his earlier prayer would gain acceptance. He regularly wrote to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) as his superior was a severe opponent. He would pray for transfer with promotion. Soon afterwards he was transferred. He was the only Ahmadi in the new place, so he sent daily postcards requesting prayers to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Within one year twelve people came into Ahmadiyyat and he received revelations almost every night. Among the new Ahmadis was a butcher name Shadi Khan. On the instigation of a local sardar (chief) people boycotted his shop and beat him up. Nur sahib resorted to litigation and received a revelation that said ‘Shadi Khan’s house will be saved’. He advised all friends with families who numbered around 36 to go to Shadi Khan’s house. That night Shadi Khan saw in a dream that he is in a large court where saints are sitting and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) is standing in the doorway while Shadi Khan has a head injury which is bleeding. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) takes Shadi Khan to someone who occupies the throne in the court and submits what should he do when his followers are thus treated? The person on the throne orders a decorated general to go with Shadi Khan and thus an army enters the city led by Shadi Khan and the general. In the morning Shadi Khan said he did not wish to carry on with litigation, God would retaliate on his behalf. Later, a huge flood came which destroyed part of the city and only Shadi Khan’s house was saved.

Hadhrat Jan Muhammad sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He writes that he was the first Ahmadi in Daska where opposition was severe. The water-carrier (person supplying fresh water) and the sweeper (cleaner) withheld their services. Jan sahib wrote to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) informing him of the situation and said that if the local leaders became Ahmadi, the Jama’at would prosper. In his reply the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote that it should not be assumed that if such and such became Ahmadi the Jama’at would grow. He enjoined patience and prayers and said that this movement was from God and was going to grow and reach the ends of the earth and all pious people will join it and mosques will belong to Ahmadis.

Hadhrat Abdullah sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He writes that when the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) passed away he was present. Outsiders stood by watching outside the building when overcome with grief one of the Ahmadis let out a scream. Hadhrat Mualana Nur ud din (may Allah be pleased with him) said: ‘Hadhrat Mirza sahib is gone, having accomplished his task. This is not a time to cry but to demonstrate resolve.’

Hadhrat Khair Din sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He writes that his religious teacher Maulwi Allah Ditta was a follower of Maulwi Muhammad Hussein Batalwi and had read something positive written by Maulwi Muhammad Hussein about the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). This inspired him to visit Qadian. When he arrived in Qadian and saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) he told him that his appearance resembled the description of the Imam Mahdi in Ahadith. The Promised Messiah smiled. When Maulwi Allah Ditta expressed his wish to do Bai’at, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said he was not [yet] commanded by God to do so. Maulwi Allah Ditta sahib was filled with love for the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and returned home. When the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) announced that he was to take Bai’at, Maulwi sahib promptly took Bai’at. Khair Din sahib writes that he did not oppose his teacher and stayed with him but somehow was lazy in accepting himself and delayed taking Bai’at till 1906 when he went to Qadian and took Bai’at on the blessed hand of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

Hadhrat Qazi Muhammad Yusuf ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He writes that he was employed in civil service for 27 years and earned salary of Rupees 15 per month to Rupees 200 per month and it was God alone Who helped him in difficult times. Many a tribulation came but passed easily. Let alone strangers, even his own mistreated him for a long time but God did not let those who rejected him and were envious of him succeed. He writes that he was slandered about insulting the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and a person was thus persuaded to kill him but it so happened that the bullet in the pistol turned askew and the pistol did not fire and the murderer-to- be ended up with a nine year prison sentence. He writes that the revelation of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was fulfilled: ‘Threaten me not with fire, for fire is my servant and indeed the servant of my servants’ [Tadhkirah, p. 476]

Hadhrat Mian Nizam ud din sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He writes that at a rally in Lahore he and his friends saw a man holding the Holy Qur’an in hand announcing that, God forbid, ‘Mirza’ had caught leprosy. He was also distributing leaflets about the same. Nizam ud din sahib and his friends thought to travel to Qadian and see the condition of Mirza sahib for themselves. The three friends arrived in Qadian and saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in good health. They were astonished and could not decide whether their Maulwi had lied or the person they had seen was not Mirza sahib. They stayed the night at Qadian and went and posed the question to Hadhrat Maulana Nur ud din (may Allah be pleased with him) the next day. He said the person they had seen was indeed Mirza sahib. He took out a leaflet from his pocket and said that the Maulwi’s leaflets had reached him as well. He told them it was up to them to decide who was truthful. After Zuhr Salat Nizam ud din sahib related the matter to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who laughed and said that Ahadith narrate that the religious leaders of the time of the Messiah will be the worst of creation. Nizam ud din sahib and his friends wanted to take Bai’at promptly and could not abide by the flagrant lies they had been told but the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) discouraged them from being hasty and told them to stay in Qadian for at least a week in his company and only take Bai’at if they found what he said as agreeable. He writes that later, he was dismissed from his employment due to his acceptance of Ahmadiyyat, everyone opposed him and boycotted him.

Hudhur Aqdas said this kind of attitude continues to this day. Recently Lahore High Court passed a resolution stating drinking Shezan [a beverage] as haram (forbidden) as it is owned by Ahmadis.

Nizam ud din sahib writes that one of the three friends could not deal with the boycott of his shop, and became a renegade. Nizam ud din sahib and his other friend endured great hardship and faced starvation for days at a stretch. He went to see the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who assured him that if he demonstrated resolve, it will bear fruit and God will soon bring about ease. He writes that a year went by and the situation did not change. He went to see the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) once again and in an emotional state asked his permission to emigrate to Africa. After prayer the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) told him that he could leave for Africa but asked him to inform people about the Jama’at once there.

Hadhrat Ghulam Muhammad sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He writes that prior to the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) Lecture Lahore when promotional advertisements were being put up the opponents would beat up Ahmadis. A Mualwi would climb on a tree near where the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was staying and utter abusive words.

Hadhrat Hafiz Ghulam Rasool Wazirabadi ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He writes that he arrived in Qadian and told the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that he had lost his house due to a false court case and false testimonies. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) consoled him and said that people lose their property on matters like weddings and circumcisions of sons, while he had lost his house for the sake of God and God would provide more. Hafiz sahib writes that he was completely assured by this. He settled in Qadian where he was married and had a family and had a much better house. He also relates that after the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) passed away Khawaja Kamal ud din said that those who studied at Madrassa Ahmadiyya would become mullah while people like him would do Tabligh. Therefore the Madrassa should be closed. On hearing this Mian Mahmood (may Allah be pleased be him) stood up and resolutely said that the school was established by the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and it would continue and InshaAllah it would produce religious scholars. This silenced Khawaja Kamal ud din.

Hadhrat Sheikh Abdul Wahab sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: Habib Ahmad sahib writes about new Muslim Wahab sahib that he had a special spirit to contend with the opponents and faced them with great courage. When matters turned to abuse he would keep quiet, complying with the advice of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace): ‘Pray for those who abuse you and comfort those who afflict you.’

Hadhrat Zahoor ud din sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He writes that after taking Bai’at he stayed in Qadian for one day because the person he had gone with was somewhat nervous about being found out but with the grace of God Zahoor sahib feared no one. He writes that he regrets not staying for longer. After accepting Ahmadiyyat he faced a lot of opposition and boycott. His water supply was cut off and he endured starvation for days at a time but with the grace of God, he remained resolute.

Hadhrat Ghulam Ahmad Ara’in sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He writes that his father told him many years ago that he felt it was time for the Promised Messiah’s advent and advised him to accept him as soon as he appeared. He had said that if was still around he would be the first to accept him. However, he passed away. Ara’in sahib writes that when the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) made his claim his nephew took Bai’at but Ara’in sahib objected saying the Mahdi was to be from a Syed family. His nephew told him that if he did not take Bai’at he would regret it so Ara’ain sahib went to Qadian to see if the Promised Messiah was truthful. He writes that he was introduced to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in Masjid Mubarak which was very small at the time. He sat beside the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and said that he believed that Jesus (on whom be peace) was to descend on a minaret in the Middle East and Imam Mahdi was going to be born in a Syed family and would meet Jesus (on whom be peace). The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) asked his companions to explain the matter to Ara’ain sahib. Once he was explained to, Ara’in sahib wanted to take his Bai’at immediately. After his Bai’at he asked the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that he had had his daughter engaged to his sister’s son and what was he to do now? The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) replied that it was not good to give what was pure to outsiders because they were his opponents and the progeny that would result from such a union will also be his opponent. Ara’in sahib replied that the engagement had been arranged some eighteen years ago and how could he handle the situation. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) replied that he had said what he wanted to say and the rest was up to Ara’ain sahib. He also told him that he could not offer his Salat behind non-Ahmadis. As a result of his Bai’at Ara’in sahib faced opposition from his brother- in-law but his wife stood by him resolutely. He arranged the Nikah of his daughter with an Ahmadi. Following this some of his relatives harassed him and beat him up.

Hadhrat Hafiz Nabi Bakhsh sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He writes that his seven year old son who was a student at Taleem ul Islam school died. He was under the treatment of Hadhrat Maulana Nur ud din who had prescribed some tablets for him but after taking the medicine the boy passed away. When he next returned to Qadian Hudhur asked him to join him and told him that he had demonstrated great patience and that he had prayed for him a lot and God would grant him children.

Next Hudhur related a few incidents portraying the sense of honour for faith as demonstrated by the companions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

Hadhrat Dr Muhammad Tufail Jan sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He writes that such was the glory of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that whoever wished his disgrace did not escape chastisement. A Maulwi teacher once used extremely insolent language for the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in front of the Muslim staff of the school. Tufail Jan sahib went to see the headmaster about this but then realised that the headmaster was a Christian and perhaps no sympathy could be expected of him. Instead Tufail Jan sahib was inclined towards prayer and wondered if the man had made the insolent remarks out of ignorance and would repent if reality was explained to him. So he prayed that he is shown a cautionary sign without suffering any loss. The sign shown to him was that during a railway journey his new born baby fell from his mother’s lap many times but remained unharmed. When he related this incident, Tufail Jan sahib explained to him that he had thus prayed for him to remain unharmed and he should value this sign from God but the person said it was a mere coincidence. However, God seized him once again, he fell ill and died. Before dying it became clear to him that he was punished for his abusiveness. When gravely ill he called Tufail Jan sahib and said that after all Tufail sahib had complained about him although he had said that he would not complain and added that Tufail Jan sahib was truthful and he had been wrong.

Hadhrat Hafiz Mubarak Ahmad sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: Hadhrat Roshin Ali sahib relates that Mualwi Khan Malik sahib was famous in the Punjab and also in the whole country. Many religious leaders were his student but in spite of his renown he was very modest of nature. He could not bear to listen to any harsh words against the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Once someone highly placed called him to tutor his children but used harsh language against the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). On this he said he was not prepared to teach his children.

Hadhrat Munshi Imam ud din sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He writes that when some Mirza Nizam ud din and Mirza Imam ud din blocked the way to Masjid Mubarak in Qadian, it caused great inconvenience to Ahmadis and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) decided to resort to legal proceedings and instructed for reliable witness statements to be collected. During the testimonies Mirza Nizam ud din used harsh language and it created discord. About a year later Mirza Nizam ud din met Munshi sahib somewhere and asked him why he was upset with him. Munshi sahib replied that he had used harsh language about his master and that had hurt him. Mirza Nizam ud din replied that he held the Promised Messiah in esteem and that he had benefitted due to him and offered reconciliation.

Hadhrat Khalifa Nur ud din sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He writes that he was a friend of Maulwi Muhammad Hussein Batalwi from his pre-Ahmadiyyat days. Once the Maulwi was leading Salat when Khalifa sahib too offered his Salat in the room. After finishing Salat Maulwi sahib was very pleased as he assumed Khalifa Nur ud din sahib had offered his Salat behind him. Khalifa Nur ud din sahib explained to him that let alone offer his Salat behind a non-Ahmadi, he would not even lead Salat for a non-Ahmadi. This astonished Maulwi sahib and he said this was not the belief of other Ahmadis. Khalifa Nur ud din responded everyone had their own way and quoted the Qur’an: ‘It is not for the Prophet and those who believe that they should ask of God forgiveness for the idolaters, even though they may be kinsmen…’ (9:113) He then asked Maulwi sahib were his beliefs not those of the idolaters? He aksed that as an Imam what could he pray for non-Ahmadis who followed him in Salat, that God forgive me and also forgive him who rejects Your Messiah? He writes that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) laughed when he mentioned this incident to him.

Hudhur Aqdas remarked that this was a good incident.

Hadhrat Muhammad Nazir Farooqi sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He writes that around 1908 a great wave of opposition started against Hakim Nawab Ali sahib in his surrounding area the specifics of which were very detailed. It was a matter of delight that he remained resolute throughout and did not disgrace his honour. God blessed his financial situation and he always remained grateful to God.

Hadhrat Sheikh Zain ul Abi’deen sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He writes that he went to Qadian as an adolescent. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) asked him if any arrangement had been made for his marriage or not. He replied that his engagement had broken off due to his inclination towards Ahmadiyyat. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) smiled and said that he had not yet taken Bai’at, why was the betrothal broken off? He replied that those people asked him to call Mirza sahib Kafir and this he could not do. He told them even if they offered ten proposals to him he would consider Mirza sahib a WaliUllah. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) replied that whatever God would will, would be for the better.

Hudhur Aqdas prayed that may God elevate the status of these elders and may He infuse the spirit of patience and resoluteness in their descendants who may remain firmly connected to Ahmadiyyat and Khilafat.

Next Hudhur announced two funeral Prayers. The present funeral Prayer announcement was for Amatul Hafeez Khanum sahiba who passed away on 8 April at the age of 81. She had recently arrived here. Prior to coming here she had served as sadr of Quetta for a very long time and had also served in Lahore. She was very keen on Tabligh and wished to learn a few phrases of English so that she could do Tabligh here. She was a pious lady, who served others and was very sympathetic to the under-privileged. Her connection with Khilafat was extraordinary. She was a Moosia and her connection with the Jama’at and Khilafat was a model for many. With the grace of God her children are also connected with the Jama’at, may God continue this through her generation so that it brings peace to her soul.

The other funeral Prayer was to be made in absentia and was that of Syed Muhammad Ahmad sahib. He was the son of a companion of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). May God keep his children connected to the Jama’at. He had served as sadr in Lahore and had organised the building of the guest house complex in the Defence area of Lahore.