A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat
13 December 1991: On this day, while delivering the Friday Sermon at the Fazl Mosque in London, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh stressed the importance of the establishment of permanent tabligh centres in every country of the world. Huzoorrh said that these centres should house all essential literature for tabligh, useful references, and a basic library. He also advised those engaged in spreading the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat to strive to become such persons who reflect Divine attributes. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 10 pp. 959-980)
13 December 2014:On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa addressed the convocation of Jamia Ahmadiyya UK, in Haslemere. In his address, along with many other instructions, Huzooraa emphasised the importance of du‘a in the life of a missionary. (Al Fazl International, 2 January 2015)
14 December 1902:On this day, the Promised Messiahas was in Qadian and it is reported that there were some guests in town, some from Lahore and some who had travelled all the way from Burma, to seek blessings from the company of Huzooras. (Malfuzat [1988], Vol. 2, p. 574)
14 December 1936:In order to connect Qadian with other large cities, telephone lines were being set up. On this day, the installation work was completed. At the request of the Government of India, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra inaugurated the installation by making the first call to Hazrat Chaudhry Sir Zafrulla Khanra, who then had the portfolio of Railways and Commerce in the Government of India. (Al Fazl, 16 December 1936, p. 2)
15 December 1900:On this day, the Promised Messiahas published a lengthy announcement in which he invited Pir Meher Ali Shah to write a tafsir of Surah al-Fatihah. (Majmu‘ah-e-Ishtiharat, Vol. 3, p. 147)
To read more about this interesting contest, see: “All Prophets are rejected and questioned on their sanity – Part II” at alhakam.org (12 June 2020, pp. 12-13).
15 December 1926:On this day, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra launched Misbah, an Urdu magazine published to serve as a gazette and forum for the women of the Community. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 28, p. 150)
To read more about the history of this association of Ahmadi women, see: “Establishment of Lajna Imaillah and its glorious outcomes” at alhakam.org (28 September 2018, p. 4).
15 December 1929:On this day, a Dutch missionary and doctor, Mr Kremer visited Qadian and had an audience with Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra. Upon his return, he shared his pleasant experience of visiting Qadian and especially spending time in the company of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 5, pp. 154-155)
16 December 1991:Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh began his historic trip to Qadian, India on this day. This tour continued until 16 January 1992. On this day, Huzoorrh arrived at Delhi airport. The following day, aside from other engagements, Huzoorrh travelled to Fatehpur Sikri and Agra, and on 18 December, he visited Tughlaqabad and Qutb Minar. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Vol. 4, p. 868)
16 December 2005:During his first-ever Friday sermon from Qadian, delivered in Masjid Aqsa, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said it was the duty of the residents of the Promised Messiah’sas town always to give precedence to their faith over the world.
16 December 2009:During his tour of Germany, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa laid the foundation of the Bait-ul-Baqi Mosque in Pforzheim. (Al Fazl International, 22 January 2010, p. 16)
17 December 1965:Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh urged Ahmadis to create such an environment of brotherhood around them that any impecunious Ahmadi may not have to sleep hungry at night. Huzoorrh directed that presidents of local jamaats should oversee this important campaign. (Khutbat-e-Nasir, Vol. 1, p. 45)
18 December 1913:Owing to an article published in the Badr newspaper about Christianity, it was censored and had to cease its circulation on this day. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 3, p. 484) The newspaper Badr had been out of publication since then. On 20 December 1951, the historic paper was relaunched from Qadian and Maulvi Barkaat Ahmad Rajeki Sahib was appointed as editor. By March 1952, Badr had begun its publication on a regular basis. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 13, p. 394)
To read this source of knowledge, see: alislam.org.
18 December 1945:For the first time in Qadian, a delegation of nine missionaries departed for Europe to spread the message of Islam. Two more missionaries joined this unique group as they commenced their journey. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 9, p. 525)
19 December 1965:On this day, the first Jalsa Salana of Khilafat-e-Salisa commenced in Rabwah, continuing until 21 December. Despite some really challenging circumstances, the total attendance at the Jalsa reached 80,000. The event was prominently reported in the national news bulletin of Radio Pakistan. During his address, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh gave the following motto to khuddam:
تیرى عاجزانہ راہیں اس كو پسند آئیں۔
“He is pleased with your humble ways.” (Tadhkirah, Qadian, India, 2019, p. 961)
In the women’s session of Jalsa, speeches by Hazrat Syeda Maryam Siddiqua (Choti Apa) and Sayyida Mehr Apa were played via tape recordings. During this Jalsa, with Huzoor’srh permission, Hazrat Chaudhry Muhammad Zafarulla Khanra presented the proposal for the Fazl-e-Umar Foundation to the Jamaat members. He called for a reserve fund of 2.5 million rupees, and within a single day, pledges amounting to 1.5 million rupees were made. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 23, p. 326)
19 December 1991:On this day, during his tour of India, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh reached Amritsar from Delhi by a train named the Shan-e-Punjab Express. In Amritsar, Huzoorrh boarded a local train and reached Qadian at 7 pm. Thus, for the first time after the partition of India in 1947, the blessed presence of Khalifatul Masih was witnessed again in Qadian. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Vol. 4, p. 868)