Tahir Ahmed, Finland
A Finnish missionary’s prejudice
Henrik Erland Sihvonen (1873-1967) was a Finnish missionary who played a significant role in establishing mission stations and the Lutheran Church in China. His tenure as a missionary spanned from 1902 to 1929, during which he served as the head of the Chinese mission in 1906-1910 and again in 1913-1914.
Due to illness, he returned to Finland in 1929, where he continued to work for the Finnish Missionary Society. Sihvonen contributed extensively to theological literature, writing Chinese-language textbooks and translating numerous hymns into Chinese.
Despite his contributions to missionary work, Sihvonen’s perspective on religious movements outside of mainstream Christianity was often filled with bias and misrepresentation. This became particularly evident in his views on Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
In 1914, Sihvonen published an article titled “A False Messiah” in the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church’s newspaper Herättäjä. In it, he presented a highly prejudiced and inaccurate portrayal of the Promised Messiahas.
This article aims to analyse Sihvonen’s views critically, address the prediction he made, and highlight how the Promised Messiah’sas name reached Finland and beyond despite opposition in fulfilment of divine prophecy.
Sihvonen’s article and its misrepresentation of the Promised Messiahas
Sihvonen’s 1914 article in Herättäjä took a harsh and dismissive stance against Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas. He depicted the Promised Messiahas as a delusional figure who falsely claimed to be divinely appointed. His article ridiculed the beliefs of Ahmadi Muslims, particularly Huzoor’sas teachings on the survival of Jesusas from the crucifixion and his migration to Kashmir, where he ultimately passed away.
Sihvonen asserted that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas performed no real miracles and that his followers were misled. He also suggested that since Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas has been declared a liar and deceiver by many Christian missionaries and Muslim scholars, he should not be taken seriously. He even insinuated that British authorities ought to view the Promised Messiahas as a potential political threat.
Additionally, he criticised several prophecies of the Promised Messiahas, including those related to the plague and the demise of Dr Henry Martyn Clark’s associate, Athim, portraying them as failures. The writer even predicts that although Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas left behind many followers, his movement will decline and disappear after his death.
Dr Griswold’s influence on Sihvonen
One of the key sources that shaped Sihvonen’s perspective was Dr Hervey De Witt Griswold (1860–1945), a professor at Forman Christian College, Lahore. Griswold studied the claims of the Promised Messiahas and wrote two critical papers: “Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Mahdi Messiah of Qadian” and “The Messiah of Qadian.”
Griswold visited Qadian in 1901, where he observed the Promised Messiahas and his followers. His writings attempted to refute the claims of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas by twisting facts and presenting misleading arguments. Sihvonen, in turn, echoed many of Griswold’s criticisms, using them as a basis to introduce Finnish readers to the Promised Messiahas in a highly distorted manner.
The Promised Messiahas, upon learning about Griswold’s writings, displayed remarkable patience and wisdom. On 27 December 1902, he remarked:
“We should also respond. If he has sent [a copy of his] book as a gift, we should also send a gift in return. These are the works of God; a lot can be accomplished through the attention of opponents. I have experienced where an opponent stumbles, there lies a great wisdom.” (Malfuzat, 2022, Vol. 3, p. 476)
Reaching the ends of the earth
Indeed, history proved that opposition only helped spread the message of the Promised Messiahas. The Promised Messiahas received numerous divine revelations indicating that his name and mission would spread across the world. Among these, two key revelations stand out. The first was recorded in 1886:
“God will maintain your name with honour till the day when the world comes to an end and will convey your message to the ends of the earth.” (Tadhkirah [English], 2018, p. 181)
Allah the Almighty similarly promised him that, “I shall carry your message to the ends of the earth.” (Ibid., p. 407)
Despite the opposition from individuals like Henrik Sihvonen, these divine promises continued to manifest. The Promised Messiahas, referring to the Quranic verse “And when books are spread abroad” (Surah at-Takwir, Ch.81: V.11), wrote:
“Look at the vast number of printing presses that exist in India and other countries. This is indeed the work of Allah, so that He may assist us in our mission, spread our religion and our books and convey our teachings to every nation, so that they may listen and attain guidance.” (Tafsir Hazrat Masih-e-Maud, Vol. 8, p. 174)
One striking example is Sihvonen’s own article, which introduced the first-ever published picture of the Promised Messiahas in Finland. In this way, Sihvonen unknowingly played a role in fulfilling the divine prophecy. As the Promised Messiahas once remarked: “In a way, my opponents are actually my servants and helpers, because they convey my message to the east and to the west.” (Malfuzat [English], Vol. 2, p. 112)
Ahmadiyya Islam’s early presence in Finland
During the same period when Sihvonen published his article, Hazrat Chaudhry Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khanra, a prominent companion of the Promised Messiahas, visited Finland. (Reminiscences of Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan, p. 2)
In 1914, he wrote a letter to Hazrat Maulana Hakeem Noor-ud-Dinra, the first successor of the Promised Messiahas, mentioning his efforts in preaching Islam in Finland. He narrated an encounter with a Finnish woman who was deeply impressed by the simplicity and beauty of Islamic teachings. She remarked: “If this is Islam, then I might become a Muslim.”
He recounted that when he first met this woman, she initially assumed he was an uneducated villager. However, as soon as they began conversing, she was utterly astonished by the depth of his knowledge. He often anticipated what she was about to say, leaving her both amazed and bewildered.
Observing his conduct and demeanour, she was further struck by the stark contrast between his morals and those of Europeans. She particularly noted that, during ship travels, boys and girls often engaged in immodest behaviour, yet he remained distinctly different in such matters, which left a profound impression on her.
Over time, she developed immense respect for him and openly admitted:
“At first, I failed to recognise the true essence of your character. Now, I am constantly mindful of not doing anything that might fall short of the high moral standards you embody.” She even went on to say, “If I were to raise a child, I would model their upbringing after you. You cannot imagine the level of respect and admiration I hold for you.”
Hazrat Chaudhry Zafrulla Khanra humbly responded, “If you see any virtue in me, it is solely due to my faith in Islam. And any shortcomings I have are a result of my inability to fully live up to its teachings.” Later in their conversation, he briefly mentioned the Promised Messiahas and outlined his claims. By this point, she had developed such trust in him that she accepted his words as truth and reflected on them deeply.
Upon returning to London, he sent her a copy of The Teachings of Islam along with a pamphlet by Khawaja Sahib. In her response, she wrote, “A thousand thanks for the books! I have just received them. The Teachings of Islam seems incredibly profound. I have read a few excerpts and am delighted that I can now learn the principles of Islam.”
Chaudhry Zafrulla Khanra concluded:
“In all of Europe, she is the only woman I have encountered who not only takes a genuine interest in Islam but also appreciates its principles and customs, such as purdah (veiling) – unlike most European women, who often oppose it vehemently. She entirely rejects European culture, provides honest and straightforward answers, and never evades questions with vague responses.
“In essence, she possesses an Eastern mindset. Despite this, she is highly intelligent and accomplished, studying archaeology, and is poised to become the first archaeologist in Sweden, Norway, and Finland.” (This account is adapted and translated from Hayat-e-Noor by Abdul Qadir, 2003, pp. 644-649)
This interaction highlights the early seeds of Islamic awareness in Finland, contrasting starkly with the misinformation spread by Sihvonen.
Early mention of the Promised Messiahas in Finnish newspapers
One of the earliest mentions of the Promised Messiahas in Finland appeared in the Swedish-language newspaper Folkets Tidning in 1903. The article, titled “Messiah Competition,” referred to the famous prayer duel challenge issued by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas to John Hugh Smyth-Pigott, a self-proclaimed Messiah in England.
The article, translated from Finnish, reads:
“Mr Smyth Pigott, who a few months ago proclaimed himself to be the Messiah, has now fallen into complete obscurity in England. However, he has a rival in India who is keeping a close eye on him. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad from Qadian, Punjab, has issued a pamphlet in which he accuses Mr Pigott of blasphemy.
“‘I am the true Messiah, sent to declare the glory of God on earth,’ writes Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. He seems to be a kind of sportsman, as he continues: ‘If I die before Mr Pigott, I am not the true Messiah, nor am I sent by the Father. But if the Almighty allows me to witness Mr Pigott’s death, which will be brought about by the power of my prayers, then let the whole world bear witness that I am the Messiah sent by God.’
“If this life-and-death challenge, issued across half the globe, is accepted, the outcome may be somewhat uncertain, especially since the Indian claimant is about fifteen years older than the pretender from Clapton.” (Folket, 6 February 1903, Issue 6)
Another Swedish newspaper, Åbo Tidning, also published a detailed political analysis in its June 1905 issue titled “Is the World in Danger from Muhammad?” which contained positive views about the Holy Prophetsa and the Promised Messiahas.
Obituaries in Finnish papers
Furthermore, at least four newspapers published news of the demise of the Promised Messiahas in June 1908 under the headline “Mohammedan Messiah in India.” Hufvudstadsbladet wrote on 26 June 1908:
“A Mahdi named Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Khan, has recently passed away in Lahore, where he was primarily active as the leader of the Ahmadiyya scheme within the Islamic world.
“This man, who claimed to have been sent by God to earth in order to preach the true faith – which, according to him, had been distorted by Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike – was born in India, though his forefathers had migrated there from Samarkand. He served for a time in the government, but later resigned to devote himself entirely to his religious propagation.
“He wrote and published numerous books and pamphlets, in which he expounded his teachings. Unlike the founders of earlier religions, among other things, by being a newspaper editor; he even published two newspapers, one in the English language.
“According to his claims, Jesus of Nazareth did not die in Palestine. Instead, he was taken down from the cross alive and later travelled eastward, eventually passing away in Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir. He taught that Jesus was the Messiah of Moses, while Mirza himself was the Messiah of Muhammad. The majority of Muslims regarded this preacher as a heretic, yet he managed to gather a following of approximately 70,000 to 80,000 believers.
“In Lahore alone, he had around 10,000 followers. Mirza was said to predict future events and perform miracles. He was a highly educated man and was described by Englishmen who met him as a remarkable figure with sharp intelligence. The authorities allowed him to preach freely, as he was known to be highly peaceful and taught his followers to always obey the civil law. At the time of his death, he was around 70 years old.” (Hufvudstadsbladet, 26 June 1908, Issue 171, p. 6)
The other three newspapers that published the same news with similar wordings under the headline “Mohammedan Messiah in India” are Nya Pressen, 27 June 1908, Åbo Underrättelser, 28 June 1908, and Syd Österbotten, 30 June 1908.
Conclusion
The Holy Quran has laid down a principle that the truth always prevails (Surah at-Taubah, Ch.9: V.33), and the case of the Promised Messiah is a remarkable display of this. Despite its antagonistic stance, Sihvonen’s article, along with news in the Finnish press, became a stepping stone in spreading the name of the Promised Messiahas in a country where Islam itself was barely known at the time.
Today, over a century later, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has firmly established itself worldwide under the leadership of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya, including in Finland, where Finnish Ahmadis continue the mission of peace, dialogue, and the true teachings of Islam.