The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) cited publication of posters/pamphlets as one of the five branches for the purpose of his advent. He said: 'I have decided to have forty posters published today as completion of proof for the opponents and the deniers. So that on the Day of Judgement I can submit to God Almighty that I accomplished the task for which I was sent.'

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had numerous posters published even before he made his claim and he continued to have them published till his passing away. All these posters are a treasure for the religious world. It was his deep and intense wish to save Muslims, Christians and people of other faith from ruin. And for this he worked most diligently by himself. Even his smaller posters show his profound concern and compassion for mankind and its reformation.

Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that in spite of his ill health the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) worked day and night. He would have a poster published and while its opposition had not died down he would issue another poster. Some people thought frequent publication of posters could have detrimental effect but the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) would say that one needs to strike when the iron is hot. His posters would raise a storm of protestation. Yet he continued to work night and day on them.

In the times of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) Tabligh was done through posters/pamphlets which consisted of two to four pages. Their publication created a furore in the country. A thousand or two thousand pamphlets, a large number for that time, would be published. At times ten thousand were published. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that since the Jama'at had grown considerably perhaps 100,000 pamphlets should be published.

A few years ago Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V instructed the Jama'at to prepare small pamphlets and distribute them so that the world may come to know the reality of Islam and is also informed that God has sent the Promised Messiah in this age to revive the message of Islam. The pamphlet distribution around the world was very successful. Jamia students in Spain were instructed to take on the task and students of Canadian Jamia distributed them in Central American countries which widened Tabligh and resulted in bai'ats. Single or double paged pamphlets should be regularly published and distributed.

Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) cautioned about having pamphlets prepared privately as it can create an element of narcissism. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) used to relate a story in this regard. A woman had a very fancy ring made but none of the women among her acquaintances admired it. The woman set fire to her house and everything was burnt down. When people gathered she told them everything had been destroyed in the fire only her ring had been rescued. Someone asked her when she had it made. She replied if only someone had asked her before her house would have been saved.

Relating various accounts of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and his companions Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said when the Afghan martyrs were being stoned they accepted the situation valiantly. They only prayed for the guidance of those who stoned them. Ardent love of God transforms the way one thinks and one's words have great impact and one's face radiates spiritual glow. Thousands came to see the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in Qadian and seeing his face they said this cannot be the face of a liar and accepted him without hearing him say a single word. Even now people see photographs of the Promised Messiah and accept him.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) used to say there were three kind of people in his Jama'at at the time. Those who had heard his claim and had tried to understand it and then become Ahmadi. They knew the purpose of his advent and they also knew that they had to make sacrifices just as communities of earlier Prophets had to make sacrifices. Then there were some who had joined the Jama'at only because of Hazrat Nur ud Din (may Allah be pleased with him) who was their mentor and they considered him noble and wise, so they took bai'at because he had taken bai'at. They did not understand the wisdom behind the advent of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and the purpose of his mission. Then there were some young men who had joined the Jama'at because they were keen to be part of a community of Muslims and that is why they joined the Jama'at. When they realised the core objective of the Jama'at was religious they left. They were only keen to be part of an organisation and because it was not possible to have this arrangement among other Muslims they had joined the Jama'at. They considered the mission of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) an organisation not a faith community. Indeed, organisations progress in a different way to faith. Advancement of faith necessitates high morals, sense of sacrifice, Salat, fasting, reliance in God and His obedience. The world may look upon these traits as madness but in God's sight people who follow them are the wisest.

Even in the current age there are young Muslims who have misguided fervour and are only keen on having a group of Muslims which would give them a sense of Muslim identity. Reports show they do not have any knowledge of faith.

If we were to assume that we could tell lies when needed, deceive and trick others where needed and backbite and be spiteful when needed then we should remember that we will never partake of the progress which was promised to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). In matters of faith these aspects have no blessings, on the contrary they carry curse of God.

Relating early times when teachers in Qadian schools were mostly Arya (Hindu) Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said the Arya teachers would coach the boys against eating meat. The boys would go home and tell their families. He says on his first day at governmental primary school he was sent lunch from home. He went and sat under a tree to eat his lunch which consisted of liver. Another Muslim boy who was slightly older came by and expressed surprised that he was eating 'maas' (flesh/meat) a term used for meat by the Arya teachers. Hazrat Musleh Maud says this was the first time he had heard the term 'maas' and he had no idea what it meant. When this episode reached the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) he said no matter how but sacrifices should be made and our own primary school should be opened. Later, Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan Sahib was very keen to open schools and when he migrated to Qadian he opened a middle school there. A high school followed which took time to develop. At the time of writing Hazrat Musleh Maud said there were around 1700 students in Qadian and if girls were counted there were about 3000 students. Later Madrassa Ahmadiyya was formed and missionaries graduated from it each year.

In early days Jama'at members were mostly people of low income and there were only a few well-off individuals. So much so that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him) remarked that according to Qur'an and Hadith at first important and prominent people do not believe Prophets of God so this was also a sign of the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah.

Today with the grace of God the Jama'at runs hundreds of schools and colleges around the world and members of the Jama'at include prominent experts and important people. In place Ahmadis are members of national parliaments and in Africa many Ahmadis have high ministerial positions. Not only have they attained high status in worldly terms they are also enhanced in sincerity.

In early days Ahmadis faced harshness on all fronts. Among other things Maulawis passed edicts against Ahmadis and the wicked used these as a ruse to carry out their wickedness. Ahmadis were turned out of their homes and dismissed from employment. Their property was confiscated. Many migrated to Qadian and this put huge pressure on the meagre resources of Qadian. Yet it is astonishing that hundreds were fed twice a day and people of Qadian opened their doors to those who had migrated and entire families dwelled in single rooms offered by the hosts. Each morning would bring fresh trials and responsibilities just as each night fresh trials and responsibilities were faced. However, the firm belief in: 'Is not Allah sufficient for His servant?...' (39:33) diminished the intractable difficulties.

Today Ahmadis are persecuted in the world, mainly in Pakistan yet the situation is not as it once was. Ahmadis have migrated to all parts of the world. When faced with difficulties God's Words act as support even today. Today Messiah's Langar operates in all parts of the world. God did not ever leave us and if we stay connected to Him, He will not do so in future either. Indeed sacrifices are needed which Ahmadis readily give and each sacrifice opens new avenues with God's grace.

Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that a Hindu person had a sincere connection with the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) so much so that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) would even at times borrow money from him. The reason for this sincerity was that he had seen a few signs of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) long before he made his claim. They shared lodgings in Sialkot when one night the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) woke up and it was put in his heart that the house was hazardous. So, he woke his friends and suggested vacating the house. The friends complained that their sleep had been disturbed, they said there was nothing wrong it was just his imagination and went back to sleep. Meanwhile the Promised Messiah's (on whom be peace) feeling increased and he once again told his friends that he could hear squeaking noises from the ceiling and they should get out. He insisted so the friends were left with no choice but to agree. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was convinced that the house had remained safe thus far because he was in it and was Divinely protected so he asked his friends that they should get our first. When his friends were out and just as he also stepped out of the house the roof caved in.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) used to relate an account that once he travelled on a horse carriage from Amritsar. A large Hindu person rushed onto the carriage first and sat with his legs spread. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) sat on whatever little space was left. It was summer and the heat was merciless. God so willed that a small cloud travelled along with the carriage through the way up till the town of Batala providing much needed shade. The Hindu was compelled to remark: you seem to be a special holy person of God.

Indeed, God's treatment of His servants can be astonishing for others to behold. However, it is conditional to complete devotion to Him. Outwardly people of God may be disgraced in the eyes of the world but ultimately they are honoured. It begins with devotion to God which is ultimately rewarded with Divine succour.

An aficionado of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) Munshi Ahmad Jan Sahib passed away before the Promised Messiah's claim. However, with his acute spiritual insight he had recognised the messianic qualities of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Before passing away he counselled his children that he was leaving the world but they should heed that Mirza Sahib was definitely going to make a claim and he advised them to accept him. In his youth Munshi Sahib had served a Pir (saint/elder) for twelve years driving the mill stone for him as cattle would before the Pir imparted spiritual knowledge to him. People who were considered spiritual were extremely niggardly in giving spiritual knowledge to people. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) not only gave all the spiritual knowledge to the world but also disclosed matters hitherto unknown. However, as Ahadith predicted, people did not care. Seemingly spiritual people cannot contend with one who has been sent by God especially for the task of reformation of the world, to increase its spirituality and to take it closer to God.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that God had sent him to remove the bitterness that had developed in the relationship between God and His creation and to replace it once again with love and sincerity. To disclose the religious truths that had become concealed from the eyes of the world and to exhibit a model of the spirituality which had been buried under the darkness of selfish desires! And more than anything else to once again sow the sapling of resplendent Oneness of God which had all but left the world.

Two funeral Prayers in absentia were announced. Noman Ahmad Anjum of Karachi was martyred on 21 March when armed assailants fired at him while he was in his shop. A close by shop owner informed his brother who came to the scene, emergency services were called but Noman Ahmad Anjum passed away on his way to the hospital. He was born in Rabwah in 1985 and was a Moosi. He was a devoted young Ahmadi. Enemies of Ahmadiyyat had made threats to him in the past and he always told his younger brothers to be careful. May God elevate his station!

Engineer Farooq Ahmad Khan Sahib, Naib Ameer district Peshawar passed away in a road accident. He was born in 1954 and although Ahmadiyyat came in his family early on his family had joined the Lahore Jama'at. Farooq Sahib took bai'at in 1989 returning to Jama'at Ahmadiyya. He was a Moosi. May God forgive him and have mercy on him!