Review by: Aalia and Aafia Mazhar, Birmingham South
Book Title: A Man of God
Author: Ian Adamson
Summary:
This book is about Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (ra), the fourth Khalifa of the Promised Messiah (as). The book talks of his childhood as well as his Khilafat. We learned of his hobbies, such as writing poetry and playing kabaddi, a traditional game played in Pakistan. It includes many great incidences from his life including the guidance he was given by his father, Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-deen Mahmood Ahmad (Hazrat Musl-e-Maud (ra)). It has amazing moral stories that can be a lesson for us all. This book includes funny stories, but also those that tell us of the difficulties that were faced by Huzoor (ra) and the Jamaat at the time of the partition and afterwards.
One of my favourite part is, after migration to the newly-made Pakistan: once Huzoor (rh) started to settle in Rabwah, Huzoor (rh) recited a dramatic poem to keep up the spirits of the members of the community. Hazrat Musleh-Maud (ra) listened to it and said ”That’s the kind of poem we need at a time like this. I wonder who it is reciting this poem. ”He didn’t recognise that this was his son, and when one of his wives told him who it was, he made a noise in his throat and went away. Hazrat Musl-e-Maud (ra) was known to keep his emotions in control for all of his children.
Recommendations:
I would recommend it to anyone who likes reading biographies and learning about the difficulties and amazing progress of the Jamaat that led it to be what it is today.
