A tribute to Sahibzada Mirza Waseem Ahmad Sahib

Summary of Friday Sermon

delivered by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

May 4^th, 2007

In today’s Friday Sermon Huzur paid tribute to the extraordinary life of Sahibzada Mirza Waseem Ahmad Sahib who passed away in Qadian last week. Mian Waseem was the grandson of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and the son of Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him). Huzur felt that in light of the services, sacrifices and the excellences of Mian Waseem certainly Allah would elevate his station in Paradise.

Huzur acknowledged the numerous messages of condolence that are being received by him. He said everyone has to depart from this world one day but fortunate are those who spend their lives in seeking the pleasure of Allah, in service of faith and by exemplifying compassion for creation through their practice. Mian Waseem was such a man, may Allah grant him Paradise.

Huzur said people are expressing through their letters that there remains no more representation of the family of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in Qadian. It is true that through his special bond with the Jama’at of Qadian in particular and with India in general, people felt a sense of contentment in his presence.

Huzur said there was a long period of time when the relationship between the governments of India and Pakistan was frosty and Qadian had no direct communication with the centre, Rabwah. The means of communication were not like they are today, yet the dervishes of Qadian exhibited extraordinary courage as they had the contentment that the grandson of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and the son of Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) was among them. Through his practices Mian Waseem continually made those around him realise that the Jama’at and indeed Khilafat were all-important.

For about thirty years he served most humbly and sincerely as an ordinary member of the Jama’at. In 1977 when he was made the Nazir e Ala he fulfilled his obligation most meticulously. He had assumed the role of a dervish and spent his life accordingly.

A few days after Mian Sahib’s marriage, which took place in Rabwah as he was arranging the paperwork for his bride’s travels, Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) felt that tension between Pakistan and India was growing. He advised Mian Sahib to drop what he was doing and head straight back to India. He advised him to fly to India and if an airline seat was not available then to charter a plane, but returning to Qadian was paramount, lest it was assumed that Qadian had been abandoned. He said if the family of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) did not make sacrifices what could be expected of others? Huzur said Mian Sahib had related this incident to Huzur during his trip to Qadian of 2005.

Although an airline seat was booked for the travel, the plane was not to leave for two days. Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) travelled to Lahore (where Mian Waseem awaited the flight). He advised and guided Mian Waseem and saw him off himself. At the airport, he kept the airborne plane in his sight as long as he could, as he prayed.

Mian Sahib had stayed on in Qadian at a young age. From a worldly point of view he was the owner of the property in Qadian and was the son of the Khalifa of the day. However his obedience to the administration of the Jama’at was exemplary. His father had advised him to be mindful that he was the grandson of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and that he had to shape his life in accordance to that. Huzur remarked what inspired him as the grandson of the Messiah, and quoted the revelation of the Promised Messiah “He has liked your humble ways.” This is what he based his life on and this is what he inculcated in the Qadian and the Indian Jama’at.

Huzur explained that the marriage of Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) with the mother of Mian Waseem, Aziza Begum Sahiba took place despite some unlikelihood. Huzur’s aunt, Amatul Naseer Sahiba has written to Huzur that Hadhrat Nawab Mubarka Begum Sahiba (daughter of the Promised Messiah on whom be peace) had a dream just before she heard that Aziza Begum Sahiba was expecting a baby (Mian Waseem) that that she tells Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) that in a dream the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had told her that Aziza would have a son.

Referring to early days in Qadian for Mian Waseem Huzur said [post partition of India] the early days for all dervishes were of great hardship and fear; although a true believer does not fear anything but times were highly uncertain in terms of safety and security. Due to the gravity of the political situation even the governmental sector kept a suspicious outlook. The Hindus and Sikhs who had left their homes in Pakistan and gone to India harboured severe animosity. Food was in limited supply. In short, this period was extremely difficult for the dervishes. Gradually, the prayers of the Khalifa, prayers of Mian Waseem and the other dervishes gained acceptance and the attitude of others eased and the dervishes had relative peace though the poverty persisted.

Huzur remarked that he considers there is great insight in the fact that from all the children of Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) Allah gave the opportunity to spend life as a dervish and with great altruism to one whose maternal side of the family had Arabic lineage.

Mian Waseem would pray with great fervour and deepest of sincerity to be able to stay on in Qadian. In those days the family of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) took turns in staying at Qadian. Later, people complained about the constant comings and goings of convoys, and the situation got such that the government banned the travelling and thus Mian Waseem could stay on in Qadian. Later, in 1952 when Hadhrat Amaan Jaan passed away, the [political] situation did not allow Mian Waseem to travel to Rabwah and he bore the grief alone in Qadian. At the death of his own mother he got permission to travel to Pakistan with great difficult. After the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965 all communications broke down. They got the news of the illness of Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) on the radio and had it confirmed via the Jama’at in Sri Lanka. At the passing away of Musleh Maud, Mian Waseem gathered the Qadian Jama’at in Masjid Mubarak and advised them to bear the great loss with steadfastness.

His personal feelings were that he had always fervently prayed to be with his father during his last hours, however, he could not possibly go. He interpreted this as Allah guiding him to the fact that everyone in Qadian and in India were like the children of Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) and that Mian Waseem had to endure the separation like them all.

In 1971, when situation between India and Pakistan worsened again, certain elements tried to drive out the Ahmadi population of Qadian, albeit with cunning. Mian Waseem gathered everyone in Masjid Mubarak and addressed them in an ardently anguished tone saying that Qadian was their permanent centre and that they would most certainly not leave it. He said ‘we have one night to pray extremely fervently and supplicate ardently to God. Not even a single child should leave Qadian of his/her own accord. I shall not leave either; officials will have to drag me out of here. Each one of you should say we do not want to leave Qadian.’ That night entire Qadian supplicated and beseeched to God, in each nook and cranny earnest prayers were made. The anguished supplication of the dervishes gained acceptance with Allah. The next day, they met up with officials and had discussions. Later the officials came to inspect Qadian and then cancelled the plan to remove people.

Mian Waseem’s daughter Amatul Rauf says that her father’s ardent devotion to Khilafat was such that although he was unable to go to the funeral of Hadhrat Khalifa tul Masih III (may Allah have mercy on him) he wrote a letter the day after his passing away and gave it to his wife and daughter to read. In the letter he had signed his pledge of allegiance (bai’at) to the Khalifa tul Masih IV not knowing who he was going to be. He explained that his bai’at was not be based on his knowledge of the individual; rather his bai’at was for the Khalifa of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

Next Huzur related the supreme sense of duty Mian Waseem displayed, despite his poor health, especially in the presence of as well as for the office of the Khalifa of the day. Huzur spoke of his great sense of reliance and trust in Allah, his ardent devotion to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) – Huzur said his commitment to Khilafat was a succession of this. He had great love for people and huge affection for the dervishes. Hospitality was one of his excellences.

Huzur said many Hindus and Sikhs from all walks of life have paid tribute to him in that he rose above religious divide to strengthen the bonds of humanity.

Huzur said only a few days ago he had written to Huzur informing him that he had fully paid the contribution he had pledged for the Khilafat Centenary.

Due to his recent illness he had requested that Huzur entrusted the duty of Nazir e Ala to someone else. Huzur had responded to him that there was no need for this, and that he could delegate tasks as he wished. Huzur said it seems after this he continued to work despite his illness. May Allah elevate the station of this son of Hadhrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) who fulfilled his pledge to be a dervish in a superb manner.

Huzur said he was naturally concerned at his passing away in that a most assiduous elder has departed. He was not just my uncle, Huzur observed. Rather he was my right hand person and Allah had made him my great helper. However, one is assured by the Divine promise that with His grace He shall fill this vacuum.

Huzur prayed that may Allah enable the families of the dervishes and each resident of Qadian to keep his/her sense of sacrifice alive and may each inhabitant of Qadian appreciate their station in that when elders depart the responsibility of the next generation increases. Huzur said he hoped that the life-devotees of Qadian as well as the office-holders will increase in their mutual love and affection and will further develop in piety and righteousness. Huzur expressed his hope in their growing spirituality that would free him from the concern that the righteous among us are decreasing.

Huzur asked the world-wide Jama’ats to pray for Qadian and for the bereaved family. Huzur prayed that may Allah enable Mian Waseem’s children to follow in the footsteps of their great father.

Next Huzur advised the Qadian Jama’at to extend his gratitude to all those from outside the Jama’at who had come in their multitudes to pay their condolences. May Allah reward them all.