Birth and prophecy:
Around 10 o’clock in the evening of Saturday 12th January 1889, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih II (ra), was born in Qadian, India. He was the eldest son of the Promised Messiah (as), born from his second wife, Hazrat Sayyeda Nusrat Jahan Begum (ra).
His blessed birth was in fulfilment of a prophecy by Hazrat Masih Maud (as). In this prophecy, Allah told the Promised Messiah (as) that within a period of nine years he would be blessed with a son. The prophecy described Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) as:
“He will be characterised with grandeur, greatness, and wealth. He will come into the world and will heal many of their disorders through his messianic qualities and through the blessings of the Holy Spirit. ……..He will be extremely intelligent and understanding and will be meek of heart and will be filled with secular and spiritual knowledge…………….We shall pour our Spirit into him and he will be sheltered under the shadow of God. He will grow rapidly in stature……………His fame will spread to the ends of the earth and people will be blessed through him.”
Childhood:
Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nooruddin (ra) paid great attention and took care of his spiritual upbringing. Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) had weak eyesight and therefore could not read for long. Hazrat Khalifatul Massih I (ra) would call Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) to sit beside and read aloud to him.
Haafiz Ahmadullah Nagpuri started teaching Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) the Holy Qur’an and on 7th June 1897, at the age of eight years old, he finished his first complete reading of the Holy Qur’an.
Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad (ra) went to District Broad Primary School in Qadian, where Huzoor (ra) started his primary education. Then in 1898, he moved on to Talimul Islam High School after it was founded.
One of his teachers, Hazrat Sayyad Muhummad Sarwar Shahra, asked Huzoor (ra) whether he too had dreams and revelations from Allah, like his father the Promised Messiah (as). Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) replied that he didn’t have many dreams, but he did used to see one recurring dream where he was commanding a large army. The teacher quickly understood that Huzoor (ra) would one day go on to lead the Jama’at.
The Promised Messiah (as) appealed to the youth to come forward in servitude to Islam, Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) was one fo the first to step up. He established the Majlis Tashheezul Azhan, named by the Promised Messiah (as), and then went on to start a magazine of the same name.
From a very young age it was very evident that Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) was special. Unlike most other children his age, he spent his youth dedicated to worship and spreading Islam, never letting his ill health hold him back. On one occasion Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahiba recalled that he saw Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra), who must have been ten years old, praying next to the Promised Messiah (as) in Aqsa Mosque. He said that also Huzoor (ra) was but a child, he was bowed down (in sajdah) and constantly crying in holy supplication beseeching Allah Almighty.
On another occasion, Hazrat Sheikh Ghulam Ahmad Sahib (another companion of the Promised Messiah (as)), has decided one night to spend the night in worship at Mubarak Mosque. Upon his arrival he saw a young person bowed down in prayer. He felt so emotional that he too prayed to Allah that whatever this young man was praying for, Allah may grant it to him. When the young man finally arose, he saw that it was Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra). Hazrat Sheikh Ghulam Ahmad Sahib asked him: ‘Tonight what have you taken from Allah?’ Upon this Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) replied, ‘I have only asked that may Allah grant me the ability to see Islam as a living religion.’
When he was 19 years old, the Promised Messiah (as) passed away and Hazrat Khalifatul Massih II (ra) stood by the Promised Messiah’s (as) bed and vowed: “Even if all the people leave you and I am left alone, I would stand by you and would face all opposition and onslaughts on your mission”
Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) at the grave of the Promised Messiah (as)
Khilafat:
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I (ra) passed away on Friday 13th March 1914. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I (ra) used to say that there was no one who obeyed him as much as the sons of the Promised Messiah (as). The next day on the 14th of March 1914, at the time of Asr Prayer, in Masjid Noor Qadian, the election proceedings started. Maulana Syed Ahsan Amrohvi proposed the name of Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad (ra). Although, at first he was hesitant and refused, but realised that it was Allah’s verdict and accepted the oath of Allegiance of the Ahmadis and became the second khalifa (successor of the Promised Messiah (as)).
Highlighted Achievements During Khilafat:
The blessed period of the Second Caliphate lasted over fifty-one years. It began with Huzoor’s (ra) inauguration on March 14th, 1914 and ended on November 8th, 1965. During this long period Huzoor (ra) carried out many marvellous projects for the propagation of Islam.
AL-FAZL
In June 1913, Huzoor (ra) started “The Al-Fazl” newspaper. This newspaper publishes important educational, historical and informative news and is a great asset for the Jammat.
THE SCHEME FOR THE COMPLETION OF MINARATUL MASIH
On November 1914, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra) called on the Jamaat for financial contribution for the completion of the Minaratul Masih. As a result the Minaret was completed in December, 1916.
CALL TO DONATE FOR THE LONDON MOSQUE
On 7th February 1920, Huzoor (ra) called upon the Jammat to contribute towards the building of a mosque in London and the Ahmadis responded overwhelmingly and willingly.
MIGRATION OF JAMMAT FROM INDIA
In 1947, members of the Jammat left India for Pakistan. In Pakistan, the city of Rabwah was built under the guidance of Huzoor (ra). Offices, schools and colleges were established.
Huzoor (ra) himself said about Rabwah: “I am astonished, as to what was the force that brought and habilitated you in a place which even the Government had failed to habitat. Seeing Rabwah one is reminded of the times when Allah had re-laid the foundation of Mecca through Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his son Hazrat Ismail (peace be upon him).”
Translation of the Holy Qur’an
Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) was taught the meaning of the Holy Qur’an by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I (ra).
Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) went on to write Tafsir-e-Kabir (Greater (long) Commentary) which bears undeniable evidence of his God-given knowledge of the Holy Qur’an. Tafsir-e-Saghir is the shorter commentary.
It was also one of his great achievements that Huzoor (ra) got the Holy Quran translated in various important languages of the world so that, those who did not know Arabic could understand the wisdom of the Holy Quran. First of all the English translation of the Holy Quran was published, then its commentary. During Hazrat Musleh Maud’s (ra) Khilafat, translations in 14 other languages were in progress.
STRUCTURING THE JAMMAT
To organise the Jammat, Huzoor (ra) established regional and central Anjumas, as well as important Nazarats:
- Nazarat Dawato Tabligh
- Nazarat Taleem
- Nazarat Umoor-e-Aamma
- Nazarat Bait-ul-Mal and
- Nazarat Ulia above them to oversee, guide and direct all sections of the Jammat.
To further organise the Jammat, Huzoor (ra) further established the following auxiliary organisations:
- The Organisation of Ansaarullah for men above 40 years of age.
- The organisation of Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya for youth below 40.
- The Organisation of Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya for boys of below 15 years.
- The organisation of Lajna Imaullah for women.
- The Organisation of Nasirat-ul-Ahmadiyya for girls below 15 years.
TEHRIK-E-JADID AND WAQFE JADID
Through the important initiative of Tehrik-e-Jadid in 1934, many Ahmadiyya Muslim Missions were established the world over. Similarly, the initiative of Waqf-e-Jadid was established on September 27, 1957 to promote missionary activities Jammat in every city, town, and village in India and Pakistan by appointing teachers everywhere for rural communities.
Final Days and Demise:
During his final days Huzoor (ra) was quite ill. His wife Hazrat Sayyedah Maryam Siddiqah sahiba recalled that on Friday 5th November 1965 (Huzoor’s last Friday), a muezzin came to enquire who would lead the Friday Prayers. Usually Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) would appoint Maulana Jalaluddin Shams (ra). In case he was out of town, he would appoint either Maulana Abul-Atara or Qazi Muhammad Nazir. However, this time Huzoor (ra) said ‘Nasir Ahmad’. Huzoor’s wife was shocked as she couldn’t remember Huzoor (ra) ever asking for him. Upon asking again, Huzoor (ra) again responded with ‘Nasir Ahmad’. This was a clear sign that the forthcoming khilafat was to be transferred to Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh)
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra) breathed his last during the night on November 8th, 1965 at 2.20 am in Rabwah. He was 77 years of age when he met his beloved Lord and Creator. May his soul rest in peace.
The next day, November 9th at 4.30pm Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih III (rh) led the funeral prayer. Almost 50,000 people joined in the funeral prayer. Huzoor (ra) was laid to rest in Bahishti Maqbara next to Hazrat Amma Jan’s final resting-place.
References:
https://www.alislam.org/library/articles/Musleh-Maud.pdf
The Promised Son by Rashid Ahmad Chaudhry
https://www.alislam.org/articles/hazrat-mirza-bashiruddin-mahmud-ahmad/
Pictures – Makhzan-e-tasaweer & Ahmadiyya gallery
