This Week in History: 14-20 February

A glimpse into the rich history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat

14 February 2002: On this day, Oxford University’s renowned Professor Michael Anthony Dummet was presented with the book Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge & Truth written by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^ra. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Vol. 4, p. 909)

15 February 1920: On this day, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq^ra arrived on Philadelphia’s shores to spread the message of Islam Ahmadiyya in America. Unfortunately, he was barred from entering the country as he was a practising Muslim and was even detained by the authorities. During his imprisonment, he managed to convert many people to Islam Ahmadiyyat. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 4, p. 250)

15 February 1960: On this day, the supervisor of the Ahmadiyya mission in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Sheikh Amri Ubaidi Sahib, was elected as the mayor of Dar es Salam. He was the first native African to be chosen as mayor of the capital of Tanzania at the time. (Al Fazl, 11 December 1998)

16 February 2014: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa inaugurated a newly-built extension to Tahir House in southwest London. The building was purchased in 2002 to house various central offices of the Jamaat.

Currently, Tahir House is home to many central departments of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, including Al-Shirkatul Islamiyyah, Makhzan-e-Tasaweer and the Ahmadiyya Archive and Research Centre (Ahmadiyya ARC). (“Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Inaugurates Tahir House Extension”, www.pressahmadiyya.com)

17 February 1908: On this day, the nikah of Hazrat Nawab Mubaraka Begum^ra was announced with Hazrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan^ra, the chieftain (ra’is) of Malerkotla. Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Noor-ud-Deen^ra led this nikah at the Aqsa Mosque, Qadian and the mahr was set for 56,000 rupees. Several guests from outside of Qadian came to participate. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 2, p. 515)

17 February 1984: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^ra delivered a Friday sermon in Nasirabad, Sindh, Pakistan, during which Huzoor^ra narrated his three recent visions. These visions conveyed glad tidings of divine support for Jamaat. Huzoor^ra emphasized the importance of prayers for Ahmadis. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 3, pp. 97-117)

18 February 1922: On this day, Hazrat Sheikh Mahmud Ahmad Irfani^ra departed Qadian for Egypt to establish a mission of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat. He was able to establish the mission within a year. He continued to work in Egypt until 1926. He continued to offer his services following his return and passed away in February 1944.

On the occasion of his departure from Qadian in 1922, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra provided guidance, which can be read in the fourth volume of Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat (pp. 286-287).

18 February 1988: On this day, a delegation of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya presented the Hindi translation of the Holy Quran as a gift to the President of India, Ramaswamy Venkataraman, who served as the 8th President of India from 1987 to 1992 and was known for his extensive political and legal career. (Silsila Ahmadiyya, Vol. 4, p. 846)

19 February 1988: On this day, during the concluding part of his tour of Africa, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^ra delivered a Friday sermon in English in the city of Joscoro, Nigeria. In this sermon, Huzoor^ra highlighted the greatness of the African people’s character and gave some advice to Nigerian Ahmadis. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 7, pp. 91-104)

19 February 1993: On this day, in his Friday Sermon, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV^ra highlighted the atrocities being committed against Muslims in Bosnia, who were enduring severe persecution and displacement during the Bosnian War. Huzoor^ra urged members of Jamaat to establish bonds of brotherhood with the affected families. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 12, p. 143)

For more details, see: “Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya: Standing by oppressed Bosnian Muslims” at www.alhakam.org (9 June 2023, p. 15).

20 February 1915: On this day, Hazrat Sufi Ghulam Muhammad^ra set off from Qadian to Mauritius to establish a mission. He reached his destination on 15 June, spending months in Sri Lanka to establish a local chapter on this island. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 4, p. 169)

20 February 1944: On this day, a special Jalsa Musleh-e-Maud was arranged in Hoshiarpur, India, where Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra delivered a powerful and insightful speech. During the Jalsa, 18 missionaries shared tabligh achievements of their respective countries. After these faith-inspiring accounts, Huzoor^ra proceeded to Bait-ul-Dua (the room where the Promised Messiah^as would often pray in seclusion in Qadian), where he remained occupied in supplication for a heavenly sign. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 8, p. 580)

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