Hazrat Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Sayalra (1887-1960)
India
Rahman Bheena Sahib writes from Patra, Bengal that a jalsa of Ahmadis was held there on 27 to 28 December 1922. Apart from the Ahmadis, non-Ahmadis also participated and it had a positive impact on them.
A brief [tabligh] report has been received from Maulvi Khuda Bakhsh Sahib of Khanewal.
Muhammad Ali Sahib of Kalyanpur has sent a short report that a person is expected to accept Ahmadiyyat soon. Muhammad Ali Sahib is facing some difficulties. Ahmadi friends should pray for him.
Rahmat Sahib is engaged in tabligh in Jogowal Jamaat.
The ongoing debate in Jhelum has already been mentioned [in a previous issue of Al Fazl]. Paighami [Lahori] group is trying hard to hide their defeat. After [Hakim Muhammad Hussain Sahib] aka Marham-e-Isa, they have now sent Syed Mudassar Shah to Jhelum. By the grace of Allah the Almighty, the more they try, the more they suffer defeat.
Fateh Muhammad Sahib from Gugera, district Montgomery, reports that regular [tabligh] work has started there.
The work [of tabligh] has also started in Peshawar. If the current awareness of the Jamaat continues, it is hoped that very soon good results will be produced in the border area as well.
Samana Jamaat is doing [tabligh] work with courage and determination. Like the people of Qadian, members of this jamaat have started preaching in the neighbouring areas of Samana. May Allah grant them success.
Babu Abdul Hakim Sahib, who possesses a strong passion for tabligh, has come up with a new and creative proposal. He intends to publish a tabligh tract and plans to send it to all the well-known merchants of the Eastern Islamic countries. He will get their mailing addresses from business directories. It is a new and valuable idea. Missionaries working in foreign countries can greatly benefit from this suggestion. Those working in Egypt, London and America should give heed to this proposal. […]
Nur Muhammad Sahib, Amir Jamaat Negah, informed them about a seditious person named Abdul Latif, but his letter arrived at such a time that a missionary could not be sent there in time. Friends should always be conscious and aware of their surroundings. In addition to our financial difficulties, another challenge is that we have a very limited number of scholars in our Jamaat, but there is a great deal of work. Our state is like that of a poor man with many mouths to feed. On the other hand, sometimes the demand [for a missionary] is received at the final hour or rather late. Consequently, it is impossible for us to send [the missionary]. This is not only hurtful but also results in dissatisfaction. In Al Fazl, it has been repeatedly emphasised that the [tabligh] office should be notified at least a month before the missionaries are required. Thereafter, every week, a postcard should be sent to Qadian as a reminder.
Aziz Muhammad Sahib (lawyer) reports an awakening in the people of Dera Ghazi Khan. The jamaat there plans to hold a jalsa on 5 to 6 March [1923]. […]
On the apostasy of four hundred and fifty thousand Rajputs, the jamaats of Delhi, Saharanpur, Agra, Aligarh, Muzaffarnagar and Meerut were instructed to investigate the ground reality. Khan Bahadur Sheikh Muhammad Hussain Sahib has written from Aligarh that the people there have deep-seated ignorance and it must be remedied. Maulvi Rahmat Ali Sahib (Maulvi Fazil) and Mr Muhammad Shafi Sahib Aslam, teachers at Talim-ul-Islam School, have offered their services for this cause. We need more people who are willing to work at their own expense in the way of Allah.
The work of tabligh at the local level has also started and the passion of the friends of Qadian is increasing by the day. This week, people from another four villages were preached to. Last week, five men from Qadian took bai‘at. One of the new converts had previously been the only Ahmadi in his village. Another one has a wife and two children, bringing the total number of new converts to eight. A few discussions were held with Christian preachers as well. They lack knowledge and wisdom. These preachers had absolutely no idea that there were contradictions or alterations in the Bible.
Ceylon
Ceylon [now Sri Lanka] Jamaat is facing internal problems. However, matters are expected to be resolved soon. As no missionary from outside can enter this island, friends should pray that the problems of this oppressed jamaat be resolved.
London and Germany
Maulvi Abdur Rahim Sahib Nayyar has reached London.
As it has already been mentioned [in a previous issue of Al Fazl], Maulvi Mubarak Ali Sahib has bought 3/4 acres of land in Berlin for the Ahmadiyya Mosque. Moreover, Maulvi Sahib is getting the books, [The Philosophy of the] Teachings of Islam and A Present to the Prince of Wales, translated into German. Some German philosophers who have met Maulvi Sahib are becoming closer to joining the Jamaat. Rather, their letters show that Islam Ahmadiyyat is the only Islam that these people were already trying to find. These are the philosophers by whom Khawaja Kamaluddin Sahib got intimidated and wrote that rather than establishing a German Islamic Mission, an institution should be opened for the teaching of Islam. Just as Khawaja Sahib spread the teaching of Islam Ahmadiyyat without mentioning Prophet Ahmadas in India and England, he probably wants to spread the principles of Islam in Germany without mentioning Prophet Muhammadsa.
A long letter in English was written to Maulvi Mubarak Ali Sahib and the following books [and magazines] were sent to him:
Tash-heez-ul-Azhan, April 1911; Kalimat-ul-Fasal; The Review of Religions 1915, and Faisla Hakam, Simla.
America
The report of Hazrat Mufti [Muhammad Sadiq] Sahib is received regularly [from America]. On average, one person converts to Islam on a daily basis. The mission expenses in November and December have been sent [to America].
Gold Coast
Maulvi Fazlur Rehman Sahib’s letter has been received. Maulvi Sahib’s health has improved and he is actively and passionately engaged in tabligh work. May Allah the Almighty bless him with support and succour.
Australia
Hassan Musa Khan Sahib writes a two-page newspaper, Muslim Sunshine, with his own hands, and then distributes it to newspaper outlets and some of his friends. This is an amazing effort and a unique practice.
Mauritius
Sufi Ghulam Muhammad Sahib is engaged in the work of edification and moral training. On the occasion of a wedding ceremony of Ahmadis, tabligh was carried out. A discussion on social issues was held with the Aryas.
Wassalam,
Fateh Muhammad Sayal, Qadian.
(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu, published in the 5 February 1923 issue of Al Fazl)