Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih continued with the subject of inspiring traditions of the companions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

Hadhrat Muhammad Shah sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that he used to consider that a person of Syed lineage did not need to take anyone’s Bai’at. As a result although he accepted the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) he had not taken Bai’at. Whenever he heard the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) mentioned in a commendatory way he would listen with interest but when he heard something hostile about him he would leave the gathering. He once heard someone say something that made him think that it was demeaning not to have a spiritual mentor and indeed he did not have one. He learned a formulaic prayer from some good people and kept saying the prayer with the intention of finding a Syed spiritual mentor. He went to great lengths in this regard and made the prayer in wilderness and shrines of saints and did rigorous spiritual exercises for forty days but to no avail. He then had a dream in which a holy person told him, ‘son, the spiritual mentor you will find will outdo all the others.’ Later, in 1905 he had another dream. He saw a huge field which has been purified. A grand stage worthy of a king is set up and a man says that a gathering of Prophets is to take place and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) will place his dear son on the throne. Soon the field fills with pure, spiritual faces, all looking upwards. Shah sahib also looks upwards and sees beautiful flying cradles carrying people. Some have ladies in them and others men. Shah sahib recognises them as different Prophets of God and the ladies as Hadhrat Khadija and others. All the Prophets and holy ladies take seats and a wait begins. Just then a cradle descends from up which is the most ornate of them all. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) disembark the ornate cradle and sit on two elegant chairs on the stage placed side by side. First the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and then the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) say Salaam to Shah sahib. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) delivers an address in which he says that he would place his son about whom everyone has knowledge on the throne. Shah sahib says this is when he realised the reality of the term ‘Syed’ and the very next morning he wrote a letter of Bai’at to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

Hadhrat Muhammad Ali sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that his father was first to take Bai’at. He then saw a dream in which three doves were caught in a mesh. This was interpreted as his three sons becoming Ahmadi and this came true.

Hadhrat Maulwi Sher Ali sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that he took his Baia’at in 1906. After praying for forty days he was told that the ‘claimant was truthful’. As there was more than one claimant around at the time, he did not realise who the dream referred to. Next night he was told that the ‘one who has made a claim is truthful’ and the third night, he was given the decisive message of: ‘the one who made a claim in Qadian is truthful.’ He thus took his Bai’at.

Hadhrat Sheikh Muhammad Hayat sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that he took his Bai’at in 1903. A Maulwi Nur Muhammad sahib did Tabligh to him. In a dream Sheikh sahib was shown a fine-looking face and was told that this was ‘Ahmad from Qadian’. He mentioned this to Maulwi Nur sahib and said he was not sure. Maulwi sahib told him anything apart from the dream was satanic, so he took Bai’at.

Hadhrat Abdul Kareem Bootmaker ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that his maternal uncle and his sons had accepted Ahmadiyyat. Kareem sahib would learn the Qur’an from his uncle who would tell him that he was like his own son to him. He would tell him that although people disparaged ‘Mirza sahib’ his community was progressing. He would liken the scenario to when the more manure one puts in a field the better the crop is. Kareem sahib relates his huge sense of gratitude that he remained in the company of such people and became Ahmadi.

Kareem sahib relates that he wished to visit Qadian. His uncle told him to save up half of the fare money and said he would pay the rest. Kareem sahib says that he used to get a meagre amount of weekly pocket money which he saved up. He relates he could not recall exactly how much he saved but after several months his uncle paid for the rest and he travelled to Qadian. He says ‘he became a real Muslim after coming to Qadian.’

Hadhrat Abdul Sattar sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that he once mentioned to his father that he did not know about the issue of death of Jesus (peace be on him) and was only aware that he was alive. His father related a dream of his in which he saw two tents pitched by riverside. One of the tents is Holy Prophet’s (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and the other is the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace). He enters the tent of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and asks about the holy person who has made a claim. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) replied; ‘he is most capable, he is most capable, he is most capable.’ His father said he was sure after this that the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) claim was truthful and he did not feel the need to look into the matter of life and death of Jesus (on whom be peace) and simply took his Bai’at.

Hadhrat Chaudhry Nazam Din sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that owing to the fear of the plague epidemic some women travelled in cold and wet weather to Qadian for ake Bai’at of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Seeing their dishevelled condition the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was most compassionate and organised for them to have change of clothing and as they were cold he arranged fire for them. When the women were comfortable, they submitted to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that they had come for Bai’at. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) took their Bai’at. One of the women from the group conveyed Salaam of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). This delighted him and he said that no one else coming for Bai’at had conveyed this message of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to him before.

Hadhrat Chaudhry Karam Din sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: His son Haji Ayaz sahib relates about his father that when it was rumoured that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) would visit Jhelum, Karm Din sahib’s wife had a dream that the person who was going to visit Jhelum was truthful. She told her husband in the morning that it would be his good fortune if he could meet the person and take his Bai’at. The day when the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was expected huge crowds had gathered at the train stations and it seemed impossible that one could get a look at the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). However, on the day of the court case where the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was due, Karam Din sahib set off to Jhelum on foot early in the morning.

He says that he reached inside the court premises with great difficulty as many had gone to great trouble to arrive there to catch a glimpse of the blessed face of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Beyond the courts he saw some [Ahmadi] Maulwis preaching people and telling them that the true Mahdi and come and they should accept him. No sooner had the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) entered the court that he re-emerged and a cheer broke out: ‘Hudhur has been acquitted!’. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) got on a carriage and rode towards the station. Karam Din sahib wondered how could he reach the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and how could he do Bai’at? He ran to the train station. At the station the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had boarded the train. Police tried to turn the crowd out of the platform and as a result as far as the eye could see there was a mass of humanity behind the railings. Karam Din sahib caught sight of an acquaintance railway pointsman. He asked his help to avoid being driven out of the platform by the police. The pointsman handed a railway flag to Karam Din sahib, while he carried another flag in his own hand and they both started walking up and down the platform posing as railway employees. Only a few people remained on the platform, the rest were behind the railings.

Meanwhile, Karam Din sahib threw the flag and went towards the carriage in which the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) sat. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) looked at his watch and said, ‘there were ten minutes to go, call out that if anyone wishes to take Baia’at they should come.’ No sooner had he heard the word Bai’at uttered by the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that Karam din sahib leapt forward. A Maulwi sahib went out to call people for Bai’at and Karam Din sahib peered his head a little further into the carriage. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) asked him, ‘do you want to take Bai’at?’ He answered, ‘yes sir’. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) took his hand in his hand. Meanwhile, the Maulwi sahib had called for Bai’at and people had leapt over the railings and the platform was jam-packed with people. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) told people to place their hands on the arm of Karam Din sahib. Only a handful of people had placed their hands on his arm but a huge crowd had gathered, so the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) told people to place their hands on Karam Din sahib’s shoulders and those behind them should form a chain of people placing their hands on the shoulders of those in front of them. Karam Din sahib’s hand was in the hand of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) with people placing their hands on his shoulders and thus a long link was formed. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) held Karam Din sahib’s hand firmly, his eyes were almost shut and he had a snow-white turban on. After Bai’at the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) looked at his watch and said only one minute remained for the train to depart and asked everyone to disembark lest there was an accident. Karam Din sahib kept holding on to the carriage door, the train moved slightly, Karam sahib looked at the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) most longingly. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) leant forward and patted him on the back and said, ‘Alright, may God be your Protector’. Karam Din sahib got off the train. He relates that it was a most wondrous experience. There were people everywhere one could see, even on the trees.

Hadhrat Maula Dad sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that his brother fell ill with fever and was being treated by a Maulwi who was very hostile to the Jama’at. He used some impolite words for the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). His brother said he did not want the man to treat him anymore. Later, the Maulwi suffered from the plague. An alternative treatment was sought for his brother and he was told that they had no cure for him. A letter was written to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who wrote back and said not to worry, God gives life to the dead. He said he would pray and also asked the family to pray. The very next day the fever went away. Maula Dad sahib told his brother that he had received the Promised Messiah’s letter of prayer. His brother replied that now he was not going to die.

Hadhrat Sufi Nabi Bakhsh sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that when he first set eyes on the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace), it was an electrifying experience; he recognised him instantly as the holy person who had appeared in his dream during student days.

Hadhrat Imam Din Faiz sahib ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}: He relates that when he first went to see the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) he told him that only Prophets were recipients of revelation. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) answered him that even the honey-bee received revelation as well as saints and holy people. Imam Din sahib said that he had not come to enter a discussion; he would only believe if he saw a true dream, received a revelation or could see the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) advised him to do Istakhara. Imam Din sahib asked how. The Promised Messiah replied, ‘in the manner that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) performed it.’ Imam Din sahib relates that these two things convinced him that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was not a cunning person. He performed Istakhara after four months which was followed by a dream. In the dream he saw that he comes to the mosque for morning Prayer. After the Prayer the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) takes a seat in the mosque looking glorious and Imam Din sahib tells him that he seeks the truth of his claim. The Promised Messiah replies in a loud voice, ‘whoever was to come, has come’. Imam Din sahib says the voice pierced his heart and he had complete belief that this indeed was the Promised Messiah. He relates that he had made many humble prayers during Istakhara and had pleaded God that if he did not see clear signs and was questioned on the Day of Judgement, he would say that when he had asked to be told the truth, why was it not made evident to him.

Following this, Imam Din sahib started corresponding with the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) via letters and received many admonishments. Eventually he asked about Bai’at and said that he had taken Bai’at on someone else’s hand in the past and was it sufficient. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) replied that was different and told him that the real Bai’at would be the one he would take now. Imam Din sahib relates that he took Bai’at on the hand of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

Next Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih announced the passing away of Fazlur Rahman sahib, Ameer of Rawalpindi District. He passed away on 29 October in the UK. He had come for Jalsa and Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih had asked him to stay on. Fazlur Rahman sahib was an engineer by profession and had held high level jobs both in private and public sectors. In his student days he organised a meeting of his fellow students with Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) who happened to have other engagements on the day. However, as the planning had been finalised, he agreed to come. The Ameer of Lahore came of know of this arrangement later on.

He served the Jama’at in many different capacities and in 1998 Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (may Allah have mercy on him) appointed him Ameer of Rawalpindi district. Fazlur Rahman sahib had ardent love for Khilafat and the Nizam of the Jama’at and always advised his children regarding obedience of Khilafat. He was a very prayerful person. Even when hospitalised, coming in and out of drowsy spells, he would talk of praying. Many tributes have been paid to him by those who worked with him. He was most affectionate to everyone in his Jama’at. Since he became the Ameer, Rawalpindi was counted among Jama’ats that performed well. In general terms he served the Jama’at for about fifty years. Rawalpindi Jama’at had the honour of publishing a souvenir on the occasion of Khilafat centenary and the credit for it goes to Fazlur Rahman sahib who took personal interest in it.

When Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V was the Nazir e Ala in Pakistan he was asked by the Khalifa of the time to suggest for name for Ameer of Rawalpindi district. Fazlur Rahman sahib’s was the only name that was suggested and was promptly approved by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (may Allah have mercy on him) who said that he knew Fazlur Rahman sahib was a sincere and proficient worker.

Fazlur Rahman sahib fulfilled his duties till the very end. When Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V asked him to stay on in the UK after Jalsa he said InshaAllah. It was destined that his funeral Prayer was to be led by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih. Dr. Noori sahib writes about him that he was a person of many qualities and he always found him very God-fearing and one who always trusted in God in every sense of the word. He is described as a very affable, steadfast and grateful person who was a true depiction of giving precedence to faith over worldly matters. His Jama’at members have said that he was more affectionate than a father. He had great respect for the central office-holders of the Jama’at. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih said there was no exaggeration in any of these tributes whatsoever.

Mohsin Mahmood sahib was an African-American Ahmadi who passed away at the age of 84 on 19 October. He took his Bai’at in 1998 and following his Bai’at he had to face many difficult situations which he endured with great resolve. He had served as sadr of NY Jama’at for fifteen years. He was passionate about Tabligh work. He was a man of high moral standards, was regular in his Salat and had a benevolent, loving, charitable nature. He was devoted to Khilafat and afforded great courtesy to missionaries. Each year he planted flowers at Baitul Zafar, NY and cared for them throughout the year. His financial giving was more than his capacity. When in 2005 Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih appealed the Jama’at to join the scheme of Wasiyyat in greater numbers, and Mohsin sahib was approached locally, he asked what the obligations were. When explained that it required giving one tenth of one’s income he remarked that he already gave twenty to twenty five percent of his income. Yet, in obedience of the appeal of the Khalifa of the time, he promptly joined the scheme of Wasiyyat. In spite of being a retired individual, his chanda would be more than many.

May God forgive both the deceased and grant them Paradise and high station. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih asked for prayers for the family of Mohsin sahib and Fazlur Rahman sahib to remain firm in their connection with the Jama’at.