hPersonal Biography:
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba), was born on the 15th of September 1950 in Rabwah, Pakistan. He is the great-grandson of the Promised Messiah (as). He was the first child born in Rabwah, and also the first boy to be born from the Promised Messiah’s (as) side of the family since the migration.
Rabwah was a barren land which in time became green. It is with Huzoor’s own efforts that Rabwah’s Gulshan-e-Ahmad nursery expanded and Rabwah became the lush green image it is today.
At the young age of 17, His Holiness (aba) became a Moosi (signed up for Wasiyyat). In 1977 he completed a Master’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Faisalabad, Pakistan and submitted himself for Waqf (dedicated his life to the service of Islam).
From 1977-1985, Huzoor (aba) served in Ghana. Through his efforts, wheat was grown on Ghanaian soil for the first time in the Nation’s history. Huzoor (aba) was the headmaster for two years of the Ahmadiyya Secondary School Salaga, in northern Ghana, and a further four years at another secondary school.
Huzoor’s (aba) house in Ghana was pretty much in the jungle and as you can imagine, there were many creatures such as snakes and scorpions. However, Huzoor (aba) never allowed his children to be afraid of such things. If seen, Huzoor (aba) would kill a small snake or scorpion himself. He never feared anything and only had fear for Allah. Huzoor (aba), has always been extremely brave and courageous and never wished for his children to have any form of cowardice in them.
Huzoor’s (aba) son Mian Waqas Ahmad Sahib relates that the house they were given in Ghana was not exactly one of comforts. They were faced with many problems whilst living there. But he says not once, no matter what the circumstances did he complain. Huzoor (aba) always praised Allah and showed gratitude towards Him. This is the definition of true patience and Mian Waqas Sahib says what he learnt from his father (aba).
Another vital thing Mian Waqas Sahib learnt from Huzoor (aba) is the absolute importance of Salat. He relates that there is one memory etched onto his mind where the family were once travelling to Karachi, Pakistan and had arrived quite late. The next morning at Fajr, with only a few minutes to spare Mian Waqas Sahib was woken up by his father,
Huzoor (aba) who was clearly distressed and his entire being was shaken because the time for prayer was almost over. Huzoor (aba) hurriedly got everyone up and ready for Salat. Mian Waqas, a child at the time, said ‘there is still time; what is all the fuss about?’ Huzoor (aba) was displeased by the comment, and always had a ‘no nonsense policy’ when it came to the worship of Allah.
‘If you continue to offer your Salat, Allah will continue to protect you’
In 1985, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (aba) returned to Pakistan.
In the year 1997 he was appointed Nazir-e-A’la (chief executive director) of Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya Pakistan and Amir Muqami, till his election as Khalifa.
In April 1999 in Rabwah, he had the honour of becoming a prisoner in the name of Allah. It was for 10 whole days and in that month, days were extremely hot and difficult to endure. Huzoor however, relates that he passed those days in comfort as Allah the Almighty would cause the heat to turn into a cool breeze. Huzoor also says ‘All I could witness the blessings of Allah. We remained in jail behind bars without any kind of feelings of worry and stress. In my heart, I knew that the penalty for the (false) charges that had been brought against me was either life imprisonment or the death penalty- I was going to receive one of the two. So, I decided that it was Allah alone Who I was going to seek help from and to win His pleasure’.
This clearly shows the steadfastness of Huzoor even then, and his trust in Allah alone.
Khilafat:
Huzoor (aba) was elected as the fifth Khalifa on 22nd April 2003.
From the beginning of his Khilafat, Huzoor (aba) wasted no time. One of the first Projects Huzoor (aba) initiated, was the setting up of the ‘Tahir Foundation’ in memory of the late Khalifa. The purpose was to push forward all the designs the late Khalifa had taken particular interest in.
Also in the first few months of his Khilafat, Huzoor (aba) put forth a spiritual plan for the Jamaat members which included prayers and fasts every month with the intention that may Allah keep the institution of Khilafat established.
In August 2003 Huzoor (aba) travelled to Germany. The main reason of this blessed journey was to address the annual convention of the Ahmadiyya community in Germany. Germany was only the beginning of Huzoor’s tours. In just the first 3 years of Khilafat, Huzoor (aba) had travelled to East Africa, West Africa, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Canada, Spain, Mauritius, Qadian, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Fiji!
That’s more than what the average person travels in their lifetime! The main purposes for Huzoor’s (aba) travels has always been attending the annual convention of that country and conveying the true message of Allah to the world.
Highlighted work:
On the 3rd October 2003 Huzoor (aba) inaugurated the Baitul Futuh mosque in London.
MTA2 was inaugurated on the 23rd April 2004, the second channel of MTA.
By the year 2004, 38000 Ahmadis had joined the Wasiyyat scheme. In August 2004 during his concluding address at the annual convention in the U.K, Huzoor (aba) initiated a plan to get another 15000 Ahmadis to join this blessed scheme by the year 2005.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) leads a worldwide campaign to convey the true message of Islam. In 2004, Huzoor (aba) launched the annual National Peace Symposium in which the promotion of peace and harmony is discussed and exchanged. Guests from a variety of backgrounds come to this event, some being religious leaders and politicians. Furthermore, an international peace award was launched by His Holiness (aba) and prized to individuals or organisations who conduct extraordinary commitment and service to the cause of peace and humanity. The winner of the last, ‘The Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize’ was Dr Fred Mednick.
In October 2005 the Jamaat reached a huge milestone when Huzoor (aba) inaugurated the first Jamia (University of religious theological studies) Ahmadiyya in Europe. As Jamia continued to grow, the space became limited and the Jamaat looked for a new property/ land to expand Jamia Ahmadiyya. In 2012 Huzoor (aba) inaugurated the newly built Jamia Ahmadiyya UK in Haslemere, Surrey.
Also in the year 2005 the Jamaat purchased a 208 acre land site Hampshire, U.K. Huzoor (aba) named it Hadeeqa-tul-Mahdi which literally means ‘the garden of the Messiah’. This is where all U.K annual conventions are held and many other Jamaat events.
Under His (aba) leadership, several schools and hospitals have been built in remote parts of the world. Huzoor (aba) continuously travels to different parts of the world to promote peace and facilitate humanitarian activities, having delivered keynote addresses in: Capitol Hill; European Parliament; Parliament of Canada as well as many others. Under His Holinesses (aba) supervision MTA international has expanded to a further nine channels which are run 24/7. He (aba) has authored several books, His Holinesses (aba) latest book “The great western revival” was the Sunday Times bestseller.
Day in the life
Currently Huzoor resides in Islamabad, Tilford. Along with countless of other duties, Huzoor communicates with individual members of the Jama’at through the thousands of letters he receives on daily basis, and Huzoor (aba) also meets with members in Mulaqats (private audiences). Every Friday, Huzoor delivers the Friday sermon addressing Ahmadi members internationally.
اللهم أيد امامنا بروح القدس وبارك لنا في عمره وأمره
O’ Allah strengthen our Imam with the Spirit of holiness and bless us through his long life and command
References:
https://www.ahmadipedia.org/content/personality/161
https://www.alislam.org/articles/mirza-masroor-ahmad-life-sketch-before-khilafat/
https://www.alislam.org/video/life-of-hazrat-khalifatul-masih-v/
Images from Makhzane Tasaweer & Ahmadiyya gallery
