Early Life
Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) was born on 16th November 1909 in Qadian, India. He was the first son of Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) and the grandson of Hazrat Masih-e-Maud (as), The Promised Messiah and Mahdi, founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
His birth had been foretold in a revelation to the Promised Messiah (as) and to his father Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra), who related that:
‘Allah has given me the glad tiding that I will be blessed with a son who will be a Nasir-e-Deen (helper of faith). He will be committed to serving Islam.
(History of Ahmadiyyat, Urdu, Vol 4, page 320)’1
Huzoor (rh) during his higher studies in England
By the age of 13 he had memorised the Holy Qur’an. In 1922, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III (rh) led the Taraveeh prayers during Ramadan in Qadian, completing full recitation of the Holy Qur’an. Regarding the Holy Qur’an, Huzoor (rh) said:
“I have studied the Holy Qur’an hundreds of times during my life with a great amount of deliberation. There is not a single verse in it which teaches us to distinguish between a Muslim and a non-Muslim in worldly matters…The Holy Prophet (sa) and his companions had won people’s hearts with love, devotion and compassion. If we want to conquer people’s hearts then we too shall have to follow in their footsteps. The teaching of the Holy Qur’an can be summarised as love for all, hatred for none. This alone is the way to win hearts. There is no way other than this.”
(Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih III (rh) Annual Convention UK, 5 October 1980)
He studied at the University of Punjab, where he obtained a Bachelors degree in Maulvi Faadil (Islamic Theology) in 1929 and later went on to complete a Masters degree in Economics and Philosophy at the world-renowned, Oxford University, England.
Prior to becoming the third Khalifa, Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) served as the Principal of Jamia Ahmadiyya Qadian and as the Headmaster of the Secondary School in Rabwah, Pakistan.
Period of Khilafat (1965-1982)
Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) was elected as Khalifatul Masih III on 8Th November 1965, where around 5,000 Ahmadi Muslims performed Bai’at (initiation into the Jama’at) at his hands. Huzoor (rh) was 56 years old.
Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) once said, “Somebody asked me if I had even thought of becoming a Khalifa prior to Khilafat. I said, ‘No sane person can aspire to it’. A short while after my Khilafat Allah revealed to me, ‘O Daud! We have made you a Khalifah on Earth’. To tell me that He was with me (He showed me this vision) very soon into my Khilafat. I had come back after leading Zuhr prayers and was in the room above the office having declared my intention for Sunnah Prayers when I saw the Ka’aba before me [in a state of vision]. I corrected my direction towards the Ka’aba and the vision ended. I pondered over its meaning thinking that God cannot desire to correct the Qibla [direction] each time; it must mean that God will not let me turn my direction the slightest bit away from the purpose for which I have been appointed”.
Newly elected Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) at the burial and Janaza of Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra)
Notable works:
Fazl-e-Umar Foundation (1965)
Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) established the Fazl-e-Umar Foundation in memory of Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra), where a fund was set up to promote and support work and activities relating to research and education; spreading the message of Islam through missionary work; and the economic welfare of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Through this scheme the Khilafat Library was founded in Rabwah, which now houses over 100,000 books.
Nusrat Jahan Scheme (1970)
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III (rh) founded the Nusrat Jahan scheme during his visit to seven countries in West Africa. The scheme was set up in order to raise funds and gather volunteers for the service of the Jama’at, to build hospitals and schools in order to support local efforts of providing education and healthcare to many communities in West African countries. By the Grace of Allah, through this scheme, 17 medical centres and 15 schools were set up in Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
Centenary Jubilee Scheme
During the Jalsa Salana of 1973, Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) announced the Centenary Jubilee Scheme, to celebrate and prepare for the 100-year anniversary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community on 23rd March 1989 with a project to raise funds for the expansion of:
1. missionary houses
2. for the translation of the Holy Qur’an in 6 languages
3. to establish modern printing press in Pakistan
4. to establish a radio station in an African country
5. and ultimately to spread the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat to the corners of the earth.
By the Grace of Allah, under this project, mosques and mission houses were successfully set up in Sweden and other European countries for the first time.
Waqfe-Aarzi Scheme (1966)
The waqfe-aarzi scheme was founded on 12th March 1966, where Ahmadi Muslims were directed to spend at least two weeks of their time serving the Jama’at by teaching the Holy Qur’an and providing religious training to local Ahmadi Muslims.
‘Love for All, Hatred for None’
Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) created the motto of ‘Love for All, Hatred for None’ when he laid the foundation stone of Masjid Basharat, Spain on 9th October 1980.
Stories and Events:
Hate crime against Ahmadi Muslims:
In 1974 there was a rise in violence and hate crimes against Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan, which was supported by the Prime Minister of time, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. On 7th September of the same year, the National Assembly of Pakistan passed an amendment which declared Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan as non-Muslims by law. This was a fulfilment of a prophecy of the Holy Prophet (sa), where he had been foretold that all sects of Islam would rise against the one true sect. It was under the guidance of Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) that Ahmadi Muslims were able to persevere through all the hardships and remain steadfast during this persecution. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community went on to thrive into a global community with over 10 million followers as is known today.
The Deliverance from the Cross Conference (June 2-4, 1978)
Scholars from different faiths were invited from Pakistan, India, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the USA to share their research on this occasion. In his address, Khalifatul Masih III (rh) refuted the belief that Jesus Christ was the Son of God and was lifted bodily to heaven. Many thousands listened to the address and were impressed by his knowledge and the event was reported around the world via newspapers, radio and television.
The Fulfilment of Prophecies
The renowned revelation of the Promised Messiah (as) that:
“Kings will seek blessings from thy garments”2
was first fulfilled through Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh). Sir Singhate, a devout Muslim was elected the Governor General of Gambia, West Africa – the highest governing authority in a state. After praying in earnest following his election, he wrote to Hazrat Khailfatul Masih III (rh) that he wanted to receive blessings from the garments of the Promised Messiah (as) and requested for a piece of the garment, which was sent to him from Rabwah. In this way the promise was fulfilled.1
Illness & Demise
On Wednesday 26th May 1982, Huzoor (rh) suddenly fell ill during Ishaa prayers. According to Dr Steven Jenkins (cardiologist), he was of the opinion that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III (rh) has suffered a severe heart attack.
Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) passed away in Islamabad on Wednesday 9th June 1982, at 12:45am after suffering from a heart attack at the age of 73. Around 100,000 people attended his funeral from around the world. He was buried next to the tomb of his father Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) in the Bahishti Maqbara (Heavenly Graveyard) in Rabwah, Pakistan.
References:
- Shaikh Khurshid Ahmad, translated by Zakaria Virk ‘A Brief History of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’ [online at: https://www.alislam.org/book/brief-history-ahmadiyya-muslim/caliphate-hazrat-mirza-nasir-ahmad/]
- Braheen-e-Ahmadiyya Part IV p520-521
- https://trueislam.com/leadership/the-third-khalifa-rh/
- https://www.alislam.org/library/books/Khalifatul-Masih-III.pdf
Photo credit: https://makhzan.org/en/exhibition/hazrat-khalifatul-masih-iii/ & https://www.ahmadiyyagallery.org/Personalities/Hazrat-Hafiz-Mirza-Nasir-Ahmad/Hazrat-Hafiz-Mirza-Nasir-Ahmad/i-8KvbKvk
