In his Friday Sermon today Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih related accounts of some companions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) which highlight their ardent love for him.
In his tenth condition of Bai’at, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has stated it essential that the bond of brotherhood and devotion with him must surpass all other worldly connections. It is essential because in this age he alone is the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) who, in accordance to the prophecy of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) brought back faith from the Pleiades, removed harmful innovations in religion and once again presented the pristine teaching of Islam. He thus identified the true station of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and connected man with God.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said: ‘I know from my veritable and complete knowledge that neither can any man reach God without following the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) nor can he receive perfect spiritual knowledge.’
His complete devotion and perfect subservience of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) became the source of his nearness to God. In return, God too deemed it essential that a bond of brotherhood and devotion with him is maintained.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that when man loves God in the true sense, God too loves that person. Acceptance is disseminated for that person on the earth and his true love is put in thousands of hearts and he is granted a power of attraction. A light is bestowed to him which always remains with him.
Hadhrat Allah Yar sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that owing to his deep devotional love for the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) he moved to Qadian and started his carpentry work. His savings were depleted and in order to make a living he started selling freshly made ‘halwa’ as a vendor. He set up stall directly underneath the residence of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Hearing him announce his merchandise Hadhrat Amaan Jan (may Allah be pleased with her) wondered aloud to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) at the new occupation chosen by him and she mused what other jobs he could possibly take on and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) explained the limitations Allah Yar sahib had. Meanwhile, Allah Yar sahib overheard this conversation from below. Later, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) gave him an order of 20 bedstead parts made with whichever timber was available.
Hadhrat Malik Khan sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he went to Qadian with Sahibzada Abdul Latif shaheed (may Allah be pleased with him) and perhaps it was the day after arriving there that he took Bai’at. It took place after Zuhr and first Sahibazada shaheed extended his hand and then Malik sahib. Later, they had spent a couple of days in Qadian when Sahibzada shaheed told him to return home, lest the rulers of Khost harassed him. Malik sahib says Sahibzada shaheed used to say that with the grace of God alone, he had not met a greater scholar than himself and that if he were to meet one, he would kiss his feet. Malik sahib says after taking Bai’at he saw with his own eyes Sahibzada shaheed kissing the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) blessed feet.
Hadhrat Maulwi Sakandar Ali sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that on one visit to Qadian prior to moving there, he went with the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) on his early morning walk. He remembers the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) saying that those who could not give up small matters, abandoning which would not upset anyone, like tobacco or other addictions, how could they give up bigger matters which would make their near and dear turn against them. Maulwi sahib writes that at the time he used to smoke the Hookah but instantly resolved to give it up. It was the love and devotion of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) which made it possible for him to give it up.
Hadhrat Shukr Elahi Ahmadi(may Allah be pleased with him): He relates about the time he was twelve or thirteen years old and completely unaware of religion. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) used to come to attend a court case at a nearby place to where his school was. He would skip school and go and look at the blessed face of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). He would be astonished at one of the companions who had a large fan in his right hand and would fan the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) with it with great vigour, as if it was run on electricity. As a child he wondered at the magical way the companion devotedly fanned the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) with one hand. He writes that he now realises that it was the ardent love of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) which made the companion serve him as he did.
Hadhrat Madad Khan sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he had newly joined the army and it was his great wish to visit Qadian before starting his employment and to take Bai’at by hand as his initial Bai’at had been via letter. He feared that if he left for his employment he may not get a chance to see the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). After arriving at Qadian when he saw the blessed face of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) he instantly felt that even if the entire state of Kashmir was given to him, he would not leave Qadian. Having seen the blessed face, it became very difficult for him to leave Qadian. He forgot everything else and felt that even if he was paid a salary of thousand rupees ‘outside’ but did not see the spiritual luminous face, it would not be worthwhile. He thought if he met his death while in Qadian the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) would lead his funeral Prayer and he would thus gain his objective. Each day he would leave an envelope for the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) but felt unsure if he was doing the right thing. One day the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote back to say it was a good idea to remind him of prayers regularly. He wrote that he prayed for Khan sahib and would also do so in future.
Hadhrat Muhammad Ismail sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he was twenty years old when the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) came to Gurdaspur for the hearing of a court case. Ismail sahib went along and saw that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had arrived and his own father was among the people around him. Ismail sahib started fanning the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) with a fan. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) smiled, looked at Ismail sahib’s father and said ‘Mian Ismael has also partaken of sawab/thawab’. Ismail sahib relates that each time he recalls that incident, he feels elated.
Hadhrat Sheikh Asghar Ali sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He writes that generally when visiting friends sought permission to leave Qadian, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) used to advise them to visit frequently. At other times, where he felt people could stay on, he used to ask them to stay for few more days. Every visitor left Qadian after seeking permission to go and having shook hands with the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). At times the turn to shake hand would come quite late and there would be a chance to miss the train but many a time the train would be late. Asghar sahib relates that this happened with him as well. They briskly walked and even ran to the train station to make it in time but found out that the train was in fact late.
Hadhrat Master Nazir Hussein sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He writes that it was his routine that whenever he had the opportunity to be in the blessed company of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace), he would keep a notebook and pencil with him to note down matters that should be acted upon and other beneficial things.
Hadhrat Allah Ditta sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that in 1901 or 1902 a nawab sahib came to Hadhrat Maulana Nur ud din (may Allah be pleased with him) for treatment with a couple of his workers. Meanwhile they got news that the viceroy was about to visit their area. It was the nawab’s wish that as he returned home he took Hadhrat Maulana Nur ud din (may Allah be pleased with him) with him but Hadhrat Maulana Nur ud din (may Allah be pleased with him) told him that his life was not his own, that he had a master who should be asked. The nawab’s workers went and asked the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who said that there was no doubt that if he put ‘Maulwi sahib’ in fire, he would accept it and if he was put under water, he would accept it, but he was much needed in Qadian where he treated the underprivileged and if the nawab needed his treatment he had to stay on. Hadhrat Maulana Nur ud din (may Allah be pleased with him) was most pleased to hear what the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had said about him. He said he was so happy that he could not speak that his master thought of him in those terms.
Hadhrat Master Wadaway Khan sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he was told that once in Qadian the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) pointed to Hadhrat Maulana Nur ud din (may Allah be pleased with him) and said, ‘this person is my true ardent devotee.’
Hadhrat Master Maula Bakhsh sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that once he came to visit Qadian in seasonal holidays. On his way out he did not want to go and sat in a field and sobbed and cried. He then returned to Qadian and returned after his seasonal holidays were over.
Hadhrat Maulwi Mohib sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he went to Qadian with his father in 1899. As soon as the carriage stopped in front of the guest house his father leapt out of the carriage and went inside. The luggage etc. was dealt with Hafiz Hamid Ali sahib who had emerged from the building. Next day his father and he went to the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) house after Fajr. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) answered the door himself. He sat on a divan surrounded by books. Mohib sahib’s father and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) talked at length. The father said he had brought Mohib sahib along for Bai’at. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) replied that his Bai’at was as good as taken but the father said he wished for him to take Bai’at so that he could be included in prayers. Mohib sahib relates he took Bai’at after Maghrib and it was then that he realised why his father had leapt out of the carriage the other day. It was indeed his ardent love for the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that had spurred him.
Hadhrat Haji Musa sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that once his four year old son insisted that he wanted to hug the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Such was his persistence that the next morning Musa sahib travelled with the little boy via train to Qadian. Once there a message was sent to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that the child wanted to hug him. When the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) emerged the child hugged his legs and said in the vernacular that he felt relieved/comforted!
Hadhrat Abdul Ghaffar sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that once when he was at the clinic of Hadhrat Maulana Nur ud din with his father, he saw the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) come out in the Ahmadiyya chowk [village square]. He told his father that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was there. His father told him to speak softly lest a crowd gathered and they would not get their chance to be near the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and listen to him. They went up to him and shook his hand. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) engagingly asked Ghaffar sahib’s father to relate something about Amritsar. His father said to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that people tended to interrupt with their own talk, but the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said that day only Ghaffar shaib’s father would talk. As they walked, someone told Ghaffer sahib’s father to stop talking, but the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said, ‘today only Ghulam Rasool will talk and no one else will talk.’
Hadhrat Sheikh Zainul Abideen sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that his brother who was a student of class/grade 8 fell ill. When all hope for his recovery was lost the family took him to Qadian. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had had a revelation that he was to lead a child’s funeral Prayer and he had thought it was to be one of his own children. While Zainul Abideen sahib’s brother was in Qadian, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) received another revelation that the boy would not survive and he should be taken back. Arrangements were made to take him home but he refused to go and said he wanted to be near the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). When the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was told about this, he smiled and said that was fine, he could stay, but he informed the family that he was going to die while being up and about. One evening he came home and told his mother that the lamp was about to be extinguished. His mother embraced him and he passed away while he hugged his mother. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) led the funeral Prayer. The funeral Prayer was so extended that it left people exhausted.
Hadhrat Mian Abdur Razzaq sahib (may Allah be pleased with him):He relates how when the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) once visited Jhelum to attend a famous court case multitudes of people gathered to see him and how fervently they all wanted to get a glimpse of him. The police and the crowd were eventually settled. Mian sahib relates that their main concern was that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) reached his place of residence safely.
Hadhrat Mian Wazir Muhammad Khan sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that when he first set eyes on the blessed face of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) his senses were dazed. He offered his Salat at Jummah near the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and noticed that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had given him an attentive look. This moved him so much that he cried profusely during Salat as well as afterwards.
Hadhrat Dr Ghulam Ghaus sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He writes that Mir Mehdi Hussein relates that once he was sent off from Qadian to Amritsar to fetch ice. On the way back on the train he looked out of the window and his muslin cap blew off. When he returned Mir Nasir Nawab sahib asked him if someone had beaten him up, why his head was uncovered. He said his cap had blown off. Mir Nasir Nawab sahib related this to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) who said he would give him a cap. Mir Mehdi sahib made no such demand and purchased an ordinary cap for himself. About six months later the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) gave him a cap, along with a very fine woollen coat and footwear. He used the coat and the cap but gave the footwear to his father. On his way home someone said to him that the cap looked a little used and they would get him a new cap from Amritsar. Mir Mehdi sahib replied that a cap like the one he had on could not be found in the heavens or the earth because it had been on the head of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) for a couple of years.
Hadhrat Maulwi Aziz Din sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that he may have met the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) around sixty to seventy times. He says every time as soon as he met the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) he used to take his turban off and rub the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) both hands on his head and until such time that he stopped, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) did not ever release his hands. Aziz sahib wrote that as a result he was 81 years old and had never been ill.
Hadhrat Sheikh Muhammad Ismail sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that when the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) stayed on after finishing Salat in Masjid Mubarak everyone would be elated. They eagerly looked forward to listening to matters of spiritual knowledge which would remove corrosions of their hearts. He relates that they would look eagerly and keenly at the blessed face of their beloved master so that they would understand very well what he spoke. They never tired of listening to him and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) did not ever stop them from asking.
Hadhrat Chiragh Bibi sahiba(may Allah be pleased with her): She was the daughter of one of the pupils of Sahibzada Abdul Latif shaheed. Badr du din Ahmad sahib writes about her that she related once the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was out for a walk in a garden and as a child she followed him around. Out of her love for the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) she would put her foot in exactly the footstep of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). She relates that she knew there was blessing in doing so. Hearing the sound of her footsteps, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) turned and looked at her and then resumed his walk.
Hadhrat Muhammad Zahoor ud din sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that three to four months after his return from Qadian he heard the news that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had passed away in Lahore. He writes that his father-in-law was beside himself with grief. They went to the station and asked that a telegram is sent to Lahore to find out if the news was correct or not. Seeing them so bereft, many non-Ahmadis derided and mocked them. He relates this was a most painful episode. When Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him) was elected they sent their letters of Bai’at and later attended the Jalsa Salana. The place which was once graced by the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) looked vacant and this saddened them. At the Jalsa Mian Mahmood (may Allah be pleased with him) made a speech in which he said that the tears of the Israelites shed due to the oppression of the Pharaoh became the river which drowned the Pharaoh. This speech left everyone in an entranced state. It was followed by a speech by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I (may Allah be pleased with him) and before making his speech he said that Mian Mahmood had spoken on a subject which had not even crossed his mind.
Hadhrat Sheikh Muhammad Ismail sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that while offering Salat in Masjid Mubarak one is spiritually moved with love and fear of God but he says being deprived of the ‘light of God’ [the Promised Messiah] fills him with sadness and remembering his blessed company his heart is pained. One forgot all one’s problems just by looking at the ‘light of God’ and while in his company it appeared as if they were in paradise. He relates that so filled were they with the love of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that as youngsters after offering one Salat they would eagerly anticipate the next Salat and hoped that they would get a place on his left hand side during Salat and could be near him. Such blessed was his person that they were nonchalant about the rest of the world. He had showed them the threshold of God.
Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih prayed that may we too be enabled to pay the dues of Bai’at and continue to strengthen our love and devotional bond with the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) so that we may be completely subservient to the Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and thus attain God’s love.
Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih announced that he would lead funeral Prayers in absentia of two esteemed ladies from Qadian. Rasheeda Begum sahiba was 85 years old, she was the wife of a dervish of Qadian and a daughter of a companion of the Promised Messiah. She had served as Sadr Lajna India for six years, she leaves behind three sons, one of her sons had passed away. Nazar un Nisa sahiba was 75 years old and was a Moosia. She leaves behind three sons who are all Waaqfeen e Zindagi. May God elevate the station of the deceased and may He enable their children to walk in their footsteps.