Home Pakistan and Ahmadis Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II …

Promised Messiah’s prophecy called him ‘Possessor of immense knowledge - spiritual and temporal’ and this was abundantly proved and acknowledged by friends and foes alike. He was not merely a theologian but, having made in-depth study of Islamic history and political developments of his country, he was accepted as an authority on these subjects as well. His comments on the political developments and the advice that he tendered at any political juncture was full of wisdom, indicated the maturity of his views and proved how deeply he had thought about these. His political commentary “The Rights of Muslims and Nehru Report” was widely hailed. Therefore the lectures that he delivered at Lahore were not only religious but also historical, political and scientific.

		Islam and International Relations
		Reply to the British Prime Minister
		Two lectures
		All India National League
		All India Kashmir Committee
		Formation of Furqan Battalion and Azad Jammu & Kashmir
		Six Lectures on “Future of Pakistan”

Lahore once again was the venue of two scholarly lectures, which were religio-political in nature, and were delivered in February, 1919. The first of the two on ‘Islam and International Relations’, presided over by Prof. Sayyed Abdul Qadir, Head of History Department, Islamia College, was delivered in Bradlaw Hall. The learned discourse, which took about three hours, was highly appreciated by the local press, which quoted extensively from his lectures. The President of the meeting was so greatly impressed by the depth of vision of the lecturer that he requested him to deliver another lecture in the meeting of Martin Historical Society of Islamia College. Acceding to the request, Hazrat Khalifa-tul-Masih II spoke on ‘Appearing of Dissension's in Islam’. It was a scholarly lecture presenting an analytical study which invited the comment from Prof. Sayyed Abdul Qadir, who presided at the meeting,

This was a befitting tribute paid by an expert to the one who really deserved.

The Hazrat, on his visit made in February, 1920 delivered a public lecture in Bradlaw Hall in which he made critical comments on the pronouncement of the British Prime Minister. The theme was developed in a very logical manner and some important points were raised.

Hindu Muslim Riots In March, 1927 Lahorites again had the privilege of listening to this great scholar. On March 2 he delivered the first lecture in Bradlaw Hall under the presidentship of Sir Mian Muhammad Shafi, the topic being ‘Hindu-Muslim Riots’. The lecture showed his deep understanding of the problem. Presenting exquisite analysis of the causes of the riots, he dealt on the course of action which was required to be followed by the Muslims.

Religion and Science His second lecture, delivered on 3rd March 1927 in Habibia Hall and presided over by Dr. Sir Muhammad Iqbal, the renowned national poet of Pakistan, was on ‘Religion and Science’. This was so scholarly and thought provoking lecture as to invite such remarks from the president: “It is after a long time that we had the privilege of listening to such an informative lecture. Specially worth praising is the beautiful interpretation which Mirza Sahib has given to the verses of the Holy Quran in this context. I would not extend my remarks any more lest the pleasure that I derived from the lecture may be lost.” This was a great tribute paid by a great poet to a great religious scholar who had deep insight into topics even other than the religious ones.

A storm of opposition was raised against the Jamaat in 1935. However the administration completely disregarded it and closed its eyes to this hooliganism. At this the Imam desired that an organization, to be known as “All India National League” be set up. Lahore became associated with this because Sheikh Bashir Ahmad, Advocate of Lahore became its first President. A subsidiary organization was also established and it was headed by Chaudhry Asad Ullah Khan of Lahore. The main function of both these organizations was to react peacefully to any cruelty and raise voice against it.

Kashmir, a state in the north west of India, having predominantly Muslim population, remained under the subjugation of the Hindu Dogra rulers, who perpetrated great cruelties on the Muslim population. Having been denied the fundamental rights, subjected to inhuman torture and literally trampled over by the Dogra rulers, the Muslims of Kashmir were a helpless nation. Their miserable condition aroused the sympathy of the Muslims of India and therefore with a view to voicing their demands for restoration of fundamental rights, a few prominent Muslims of India gathered at Simla on July 25, 1931. In this meeting it was decided to constitute a committee to be known as All India Kashmir Committee, with the main objective of waging a legal war for the restoration of the rights of the Muslims and ameliorating their miserable condition. Sir Muhammad Iqbal, who was present in the meeting, proposed the name of Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad, Khalifa-tul-Masih II, for presidentship of the committee and all present, being aware of his capabilities and potential, approved of the proposal. The committee, under the able leadership of the Hazrat, launched a vigorous drive which naturally was not to the taste of the ruling class. Consequently the Government of the state resorted to further oppressive measures i.e. of lodging false complaints of loot, arson, rebellion etc., against the Muslims and started throwing them into jails. The committee, guided by the Hazrat Sahib, stood up to the challenge and Ahmadi lawyers came forward to defend free of charge, the persons who were being persecuted. Lahore once again was in the lime light for among the famous Ahmadi lawyers who fought the cases in the courts were Chaudhry Muhammad Zafar-ullah Khan, Sheikh Bashir Ahmad (later judge of the High Court) and Chaudhry Asad Ullah Khan - all from Lahore. Thus Lahore, though not directly involved, functioned as a reservoir of legal knowledge and advice, which was ably utilized by the Hazrat Sahib.

The interest which the Hazrat had evinced in Kashmir did not die down with the passage of time for even after partitioning of the country, in September, 1947, he convened a meeting of the representatives of the Jamaat in Rattan Bagh, Lahore. And desired the formation of a Volunteers Corps to fight the battle for Pakistan in Kashmir. His address was so stirring and inspiring and it infused such a spirit of sacrificing lives for the sake of the country, that the voices of ‘Yes, I am ready’ were heard from all the corners. Consequently Furqan Battalion was formed in June, 1948. The volunteers fought heroically at Bhagsar Front from June 1948 to June 1950. The bold fight which they put up constitutes a glorious chapter in the history of defense of Pakistan.

Here, perhaps, it would not be out of place to mention that Rattan Bagh was that historic place where the Imam of Ahmadiyya Community convened a meeting of Kashmiri leaders and workers and it was in this meeting that the foundations of Azad Jammu and Kashmir state were laid and, according to the decision of this meeting, presided over by the Head of Ahmadiyya Community, Khawaja Ghulam Nabi Gilqar became the first President of this State on 4 October, 1947 and later, on his arrest, the Presidentship was entrusted to Sardar Muhammad Ibrahim. Thus Hazrat Sahib performed constructive role in the affairs of Kashmir.

Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad, having insight and breadth of vision - made deep study of history and critically and thoughtfully looked at his environments. Having maturity of thought, and keenness to see the newly-born state grow and prosper, he presented in six masterly orations a summary of his cogitation's on topics covering all developmental aspects of Pakistan.

	1.	The first lecture, presided over by Mr. Justice Muhammad Munir, delivered on the 3rd of December, 1947 touched on three important aspects, the topic being The future of Pakistan - its Defense, Agriculture and Industry. Nawa-i-Waqt, a Lahore daily, reporting about the lecture, said that the speaker emphasized the immediate commissioning of the barren lands and said that Pakistan was rich in mineral wealth. It has enough iron and so much of petrol that, if properly explored in Baluchistan, the quantity could far exceed that available in abadan.
	2.	The second presided over by Sir Malik Feroz Khan Noon, was on The future of Pakistan - Tree Plantation, Cattle Breeding and Agriculture. It, like the first, very exhaustively dealt with the topic and contained some useful suggestions. The Daily Zamindar quoting from the lecture said, “Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad observed that going in for foreign loans, especially from the US would jeopardize our freedom. It, he suggested, would be better if conditional permission was accorded to foreign firms to invest in Pakistan” The president praised the deep knowledge of the speaker and the expert handling of the subject. Here it may be added that the things would have been very different if this advice, tendered at the very inception of Pakistan, had been accepted in all seriousness.
	3.	The third lecture was on Future of Pakistan - its Moral and Spiritual Wealth, presided over by Malik Umar Hayat, Principal, Islamia College, Lahore and later Vice Chancellor of the Punjab University. Pakistan, the speaker said, having inherited the rich spiritual wealth of its Muslim ancestors, was morally and spiritually very rich. But the important thing was the utilization of this wealth. For this the speaker suggested that every citizen of Pakistan should, besides imbibing other virtues of his ancestors, become conversant with the translation of the verses of the Holy Quran.
	4.	The topic of the fourth lecture was Future of Pakistan -Development of its Air, Naval and Land Forces. Sir Mian Fazal Hussain, who presided, desired that the concrete proposals put forward by the speaker, should be acted upon.
	5.	The fifth lecture was on Future of Pakistan - its Naval Power and Politics. The president was Sir Abdul Qadir. In this the lecturer pleaded for better equipping the Navy with Destroyers, Cruisers and Submarines. He also suggested that clubs for imparting Naval training to the young men might be established in the universities. Speaking about any possible sabotage, he warned against the presence of the Indian Fifth Column in Pakistan. This was a timely identification of the hidden enemy and deserved due notice.
	6.	The sixth lecture, again presided over by Sheikh Abdul Qadir, was on Future of Pakistan - Its Constitutional Aspect Herein the speaker raised some fundamental points about the constitution of Pakistan which needed due consideration.

These six important lectures, dealing with the burning problems of the day and containing sound advice, showed how deeply concerned was the Hazrat Sahib for the development of this newly-born state. Sir Abdul Qadir, who presided over the last two lectures, suggested that the lectures be brought out in a book form to provide guidance to the relevant persons. Because of the expert handling of the topics of national importance, and the concrete suggestions these contained. This was a good tribute paid by an important dignitary to the political acumen of a great leader.

Copyright © 1997 New Canada and RAIN Service