Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih IV (rta) had a glowing countenance. His soft tone and manner of speaking left a deep impression on all those he came across. He was always smiling, uplifting the atmosphere of every gathering that he blessed.
Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (rta) once described this incident:
I love that moment very much, which occurred in London on New Year’s Eve. On New Year’s, at midnight, everyone gets together at Trafalgar Square and indulges in very immodest and immoral acts. When the clock strikes twelve at night, they forget all manners, restrictions, and faith, and think that they are free to do whatever they please. Once, by chance this night of mine was spent at Euston Station. I thought that the way many Ahmadis would celebrate this time is by worshipping God at midnight, so I too now have this same opportunity. I too stood amongst everyone. I laid down some pages of newspaper on the floor and began to offer two nawaafil Prayers. A short while later, I felt as if a person had come and stood close me. I had not yet finished my Prayer, when I heard someone weeping. Upon completing my Prayer, I saw an old Englishman standing and crying like a child. I became worried and thought perhaps that he thought that I had gone mad and was crying out of sympathy for me. I asked him, ‘What happened to you?’
He replied:
Nothing has happened to me, but something has happened to my people. The entire nation is busy celebrating New Year’s by engaging in immoral acts and only one man is celebrating it by remembering his Lord. Beholding this has made such a strong impression upon my heart that I could not bear it.
Hence, he kept saying:
God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you.1
Sayyed Mahmood Ahmad, a director of Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya, narrates:
Huzoor was very regular at offering Salat in congregation. This is not established from one incident, rather many events give proof of this. I observed many times, when Huzoor would return to Rabwah from a trip, the first question he would ask was, ‘What are the Salat timings at the Mubarak Mosque?’
He was always careful about this so that if the Prayer timings had changed [during his absence], he could ensure that he went to the mosque at the correct times, lest he miss congregational Prayers. Moreover, as it has just been mentioned, Huzoor (rta) would also encourage others to become punctual in their Prayers. This was a special characteristic of his personality. The way he did this was very unique and beautiful. Many people are regular and punctual in offering their Salat, but they do not care about encouraging others to perform Salat especially in the manner that Huzoor (rta) did.
He paid a lot of attention to people around him, to make sure that no one is procrastinating in their Prayers. One time when I was about ten years old, there was a match on TV. There was still some time remaining for Zuhr Prayer. Huzoor (rta) prepared for Salat and was about to leave. He saw me and said: ‘Do you know what shirk is? Shirk is not only idol worship, but a greater form of shirk is when a person believes in Allah and declares that he loves Allah, then when he hears the call to Prayer he pays no heed to it and continues to engage in materialistic and worldly activities.’2
Munir Ahmad Javed, who was the private secretary of Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih IV (rta), writes:
Huzoor had such great love for Salat that a person cannot even comprehend such love. He would offer his Salat standing up even during sickness and weakness. During Huzoor’s final illness, he was extremely weak but the way he took small steps to walk to the mosque to offer Salat can never be forgotten by the Jama’at. Huzoor (rta) would always try not to combine his Salat.
When Huzoor (rta) would be staying [and not travelling] somewhere, it did not matter if the weather was hot or cold, if it was raining or snowing—under any circumstances, Huzoor (rta) would always offer his Salat at the mosque. Now, listen how he offered Salat when he was travelling. On a trip to Norway during the winter, when it was extremely cold, we offered Salat behind Huzoor (rta) on the deck of a ship. In the same way we have also offered Salat behind Huzoor (rta) when it was extremely hot and mosquitos were biting us. During road trips within Europe we were always given instructions from Huzoor (rta) to stop at a decent place on the side of a road when it was time for Salat. He never let one Salat be combined with the next. He was the living embodiment of ‘Salat is the delight of my eyes.’3
Respected Munir Ahmad Javed writes:
A very important aspect of Huzoor’s life was his incredible love for the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sas) which developed during his infancy when he used to listen to lines of poetry in praise of the Holy Prophet (sas) by Sheikh Saadi (rta), as lullabies, in the following words:
He [Muhammad (sas)] reached the highest station through his perfection,
He removed darkness through his beauty,
Beautiful are all his attainments,
Blessings be upon him and his family.
Huzoor (rta) always kept the candle of this love illuminated, which had been created since his childhood. This light always kept Huzoor’s pure life illuminated. Whenever the name of the Holy Prophet (sas) came upon Huzoor’s tongue, his eyes would fill with tears and his voice would tremble and with difficulty—holding back his emotions—he would complete his narration of the Holy Prophet (sas). In his sermons, Huzoor (rta) repeatedly advised the Community to send salutations and peace upon the Holy Prophet (sas) and through this, he created a desire in everyone’s heart to remember the Holy Prophet (sas) morning and evening.4
The love which Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih IV (rta) had for the Holy Qur’an can be felt in his darsul-Qur’an sessions and from the translation of the Holy Qur’an classes, regarding which Huzoor (rta) stated:
I have prepared the translation of the Holy Qur’an keeping in mind all the rules of Arabic grammar… I have also prayed for the purpose of learning the translation. My Holy Qur’an class is the essence of my life. So, one should derive benefit from it in order to learn the translation of the Holy Qur’an.5
Huzoor (rta)—immersed in the love of the Holy Qur’an—stated:
Today Allah the Almighty has placed the sword of Qur’anic arguments in my hand in order to reveal the greatness of the Holy Qur’an and I will not let the Qur’an be attacked. I will not allow any attacks upon the Holy Prophet (sas) and his Companions. Whichever way and whichever form they come in, they will be unsuccessful and defeated, because that is what has been written in their destiny, because through the Promised Messiah (as) the days of singing the praises of the Holy Qur’an have arrived. Today this responsibility has been given to this servant of the Promised Messiah (as).6
Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih IV (rta) had a glowing countenance. His soft tone and manner of speaking left a deep impression on all those he came across. He was always smiling, uplifting the atmosphere of every gathering that he blessed.
Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih IV (rta) himself stated:
Whenever you face a difficulty you should pray to Allah the Almighty. If you create a habit of praying to Allah, then at the time of every difficulty you will find extraordinary help from Allah. This is something I have experienced all my life and now when I have reached old age, I can tell you that whenever I needed something and I prayed to Allah for it, I was never let down. Allah the Almighty always accepted my prayer.7
The MTA International administration writes that an agreement was made with a very large international satellite company. When the contract came to its final stage, everything seemed to stop moving forward. For some reason the contract was not getting completed. After enquiry, it was discovered that a lady who was the director in charge of handling the MTA International contract, was creating difficulties for no reason. It was feared that she would not let this contract get completed under any circumstances. Huzoor (rta) was told about this situation. In response, all Huzoor (rta) said was: ‘Okay, Allah will bless it.’
Within one week after Huzoor (rta) said this, the satellite company’s senior director, who was the supervisor of that lady, spoke to MTA International stating that she no longer worked at their company and he would now be handling the MTA International contract.
This was an example of the incredible support God had given to MTA International. It was simply amazing that a company’s director who had been working there for so many years would suddenly leave the company. Then, on top of that, the new person in charge turned out to be such a helpful person that from that moment on, at each step, he removed so many barriers that stood in the way of MTA International’s success.
Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (rta) stated:
I will tell you an incident that took place with me. In the days when there was a lot of chaos in Bangladesh (at that time it was called East Bengal), I was in Karachi. Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih III (rta) gave me the responsibility of completing a task and told me to leave for it right away. When I checked [flights] for a seat, they were all booked. All the related individuals said that there was no question of a seat [being available] because twenty passengers were waiting. Therefore, even if a seat became available, they would give it to them first [and] there was no chance of me going.
I said, whether anyone else goes or not, I will definitely go because I have been given an order. Hence, I went to the airport. There was a queue of people. The passengers were waiting and a little while later all the people were told that the airplane had taken off. After this announcement, everyone left. There was no one left there who could be given a chance to go, but I remained standing there. I was certain that it would be impossible that I did not go. Suddenly, a voice came from the desk saying, ‘There is room for one passenger. Is there anyone who has a ticket?’
I said, ‘I have a ticket’; they said, ‘Run, the airplane is waiting for one passenger.’8
Respected Zia-ur-Rahman (Waqf-e-Jadid, Rabwah) writes:
Huzoor (rta) had extraordinary love and respect for Khilafat in his heart. Often it happened that he would be busy with some important work and Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih III (rta) would call. Immediately, he would go to see Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih III (rta) and would not delay. If Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih III (rta) needed to purchase something, Miyan sahib [Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih IV (rta)] would himself go and buy the best quality things. If he would ask me to get something, he would always advise me to make sure to purchase the highest quality items.9
Sahibzadi Faiza, his daughter, narrates:
During the summer days in Rabwah, when the power would go out, the bedrooms became very suffocating and we had to sleep in the front yard. I remember I was very young at the time. At the time of a power outage, when we went out to sleep in the front yard, I slept next to father [Huzoor (rta)] on the bed, which did not have any sheet on it. Father had put his arm under my head as a pillow and he slept in that position all night and he had marks on his arm from it. I don’t know if he even slept in that position or not, but for the comfort of his child, he did not remove his arm.
One time, I remember Father had arranged for a get-together at the farmlands and many people were present there. I had gone with other ladies for a walk. My son Usman, who was about two and a half years old at the time, was fishing along with Father. Usman lost his balance and fell into the pond while he was looking into the water to find a fish. None of the security guards or other people present there had the courage to rescue him from the water. It seemed as if all of them were in shock; however, without wasting a single moment, Huzoor (rta) dived into the water and rescued him. In such situations typically one fears for his life and his ability to make decisions is diminished, but Huzoor (rta) did not have any such fear. That is why he always acted immediately whenever a need would arise.10
Abdul Ghani Jahanghir of London narrates:
A few years ago, during a cold evening on October, I received a phone call from respected Major Mahmud Ahmad. He directed me to immediately come to the Fazl Mosque waiting room to deal with a patient. I was worried as to who the patient could be, and immersed in these thoughts I arrived there and discovered that the patient waiting for me was not a person, but a pigeon!
Major Mahmud Ahmad told me that it had a habit of eating leftover food from the mosque kitchen and from the Langar Khana. Unfortunately, it fell into a janitorial bucket filled with water and oil. The poor pigeon was soaked in oil and was unable to dry itself and could not fly. It had dragged itself to the door of Huzoor’s home and was about to faint.
Huzoor (rta) had noticed the pigeon when he was coming back from Maghrib Prayer and had directed Major Mahmud Ahmad to take care of it right away. Major Mahmud Ahmad had assured him that he would take care of it himself. Major Mahmud Ahmad then informed me that Huzoor (rta) had told him to keep him updated and provide him with a report.
I washed the pigeon with shampoo three times, so that the oil would come out of the wings and then dried it thoroughly. For the next three days I kept the pigeon in my office and fed it properly and then presented it to Huzoor (rta). Upon looking at the pigeon, Huzoor questioned, ‘Is this the same pigeon? You have completely changed it. I want you to bring it to the French program [on MTA International] tonight and make a small documentary on it as to what happened to it and the treatment it received.’
That night in the French program this lucky pigeon was the star of the show. Huzoor (rta) was made aware of the entire story of the pigeon. Later, a documentary was shown on MTA International and the pigeon was set free, but it did not know how lucky it was to receive Huzoor’s loving care.11
Rafiq Ahmad Hayat, Ameer of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK, narrates:
Huzoor (rta) would regularly take some pieces of bread with him on morning walks which he fed to the birds. Some foxes lived on the outskirts of Fazl Mosque and would regularly come there. The security team of Fazl Mosque had instructions from Huzoor (rta) to arrange for some meat to feed the foxes which they would regularly return to eat.12
Khalil Ahmad Qamar writes:
In 1974 preparations were being made to present the Memorandum from the Jama’at in the National Assembly of Pakistan. Many of the Community’s scholars and various staff were engaged in this task. The manuscript was to be handed over to the copyists after being finalised. Around five or six copyists were busy working on this in the … office.
Arrangements had also been made there for food. Firstly, the manuscript would be prepared and then it would be taken by Hazrat Miyan sahib [Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad (rta)] to present to Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih III (rta). The final stage was that of the copyists. On one occasion it was time for lunch and the staff had already eaten. Hazrat Miyan sahib was with Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih III (rta). When he returned, he said, ‘Khalil, is there anything to eat?’
We were under the impression that Miyan sahib would proceed home after meeting Huzoor (rta). We became worried but he asked, ‘Why are you worried?’
I told him that the food had finished. He said, ‘Check the dishes. There may be something left.’
We had not yet collected the dishes but they had very little left and there was no bread. Miyan sahib’s gaze fell upon the few pieces of bread that were still on the table. He said, ‘There is bread.’ I watched in amazement as he ate the [leftover] pieces of bread.13
Zia-ur-Rahman narrates:
Huzoor (rta) used to be in-charge of Langar Khana Number 3. On one occasion all the staff had just finished eating when Miyan sahib arrived and asked, ‘Have you all eaten?’ I replied that we had. He asked, ‘Why did you not keep any for me?’
I said, ‘Miyan sahib, we will bring some more.’
Huzoor (rta) replied that there was nothing here. His gaze fell in front of him on some pieces of leftover chapatti that had freshly been made and which we had not eaten. He remarked that there were some chapattis before him and he began to eat those pieces. We felt incredibly embarrassed as to how we had discarded the edges of the chapattis and had been unthankful towards this blessing [of food]. In this way Huzoor (rta) taught us such a lesson that we would never forget.14
Ataul Mujeeb Rashid, Imam of the Fazl Mosque, London, writes:
Huzoor’s nature was very simple and free of pretence. His clothing would be very fine but free of false display. I remember once Huzoor (rta) came to deliver the Friday sermon and the cuff of his shirt did not have a button. During the sermon, when Huzoor (rta) was shown close up, the observant eyes of the devotees noticed this and some phone calls were received the same day [stating] that Huzoor’s shirt did not have buttons that day.
A friend narrated to me that once, during a journey, the time for lunch approached and Huzoor’s motorcade stopped by the side of the road in a town. The Khuddam began to search for an appropriate place where everyone could eat. In the meantime, Huzoor (rta) had his car boot opened and found some bread and some kheer (rice pudding). Huzoor (rta) made himself some kheer sandwiches and said to his companions that that was enough for him however they should still find a place to eat whatever they liked.15
Manzoor Ahmad Saeed narrates:
Once a man came to Huzoor (rta) and asked him to buy him a used bicycle. Huzoor (rta) said to me, ‘Manzoor sahib, buy him a used bike.’I searched the market but could not find one. I told Huzoor (rta) that a used bike could not be found. Huzoor (rta) stated, ‘Then give him my bike.’
Hence, I gave him Huzoor’s bicycle which was in good condition. Huzoor (rta) chose to travel by foot, giving the needy man his own bike and fulfilling his request.
Once a friend said to Huzoor (rta) that he wanted to enroll his daughter in college but he was not able to because her burqah was old. Huzoor (rta) instructed me to get the man’s daughter a new burqah, uniform, and shoes. Hence, I acted accordingly.The Merciful and Majestic God had filled his beloved servant’s heart with love for His creation from the very beginning. Hence, due to these blessed feelings Huzoor (rta), in 1960 when he was the director of Waqf-e-Jadid, began to give homoeopathic medicines free of charge. Initially he would distribute the medication from his home in the evenings. In 1965, Huzoor (rta) moved the medicines into the home of his sister, Sahibzadi Amatul Hakeem Begum.
Patients would obtain prescriptions during the day and after Asr Prayers. Sufi Abdul Ghaffoor would give the medication from the home of Sahibzadi Amatul Hakeem Begum.
This practice continued till 1968 when a dispensary was created in Waqf-e-Jadid. Up till then Huzoor (rta) would bear all the expenses himself. Thousands of patients benefitted from Huzoor’s expertise.
Huzoor (rta) would always take care of the poor. When old and poor women would visit the dispensary in the cold to obtain medication, Huzoor (rta) would instruct me to buy them warm clothes. Thus, in accordance with his instructions I would do so. Once a child came to the dispensary during the operating hours. Huzoor (rta) asked him which medicine he needed. He replied that he did not need any. Huzoor (rta) asked him what he needed. He replied that he had a younger brother and as it was very hot during the night and they did not have a fan, mosquito would bite them. He asked if Huzoor (rta) could buy him one. Huzoor (rta) asked, ‘Which fan would you like to have?’
He replied, ‘Please buy us a pedestal fan.’
Huzoor (rta) purchased it for them and had it placed on a tonga [a horse-drawn cart] and delivered to their home.
When I came to the Waqf-e-Jadid office as a member of the staff, my home used to be in Darus-Sadr16 and I did not have a bicycle. When I would return home, after office hours, Huzoor (rta) would have me sit behind him on his bicycle. He would not let me cycle even after I insisted and would simply say, ‘Please sit behind me.’
I would say, ‘It is hot and the breeze does not reach the back.’
Huzoor (rta) would reply, ‘Then come sit at the front.’17
Sahibzadi Amatul Basit, Huzoor’s sister, narrates:
Huzoor (rta) would distribute medicines from home. Once, on the third day of Jalsa, a daughter was born to him who passed away after six hours. Huzoor (rta) was busy in Jalsa duties; he came for a while, saw the daughter, and then left again for Jalsa.
The following day, though the Jalsa had ended, people who had come from far-off villages began to gather to obtain medication after Fajr. Huzoor (rta) continued giving out medicines till the afternoon. Our brother Mansoor [Mirza Mansoor Ahmad] came in angrily and said, ‘You are giving medicines here while Huzoor (rta) (Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih III) is waiting to lead the funeral prayer!’
Then, brother Mansoor began to tell off the patients saying that they had no sympathy that the funeral of this man’s daughter was about to be led and they all were seated there [keeping him engaged]. Everyone was embarrassed and they replied that Huzoor (rta) had not even told them.
Huzoor (rta) said to him: ‘Brother! These people come from far-off places once a year. If they do not get their medicines now, when will they? It is difficult for them to return, which is why I am giving them the medicines.’
However, as soon as Huzoor (rta) learnt that Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih III (rta) was waiting, he left immediately.18
Abdul Ghani Jahanghir Khan writes:
Once I was part of the mulaqaat [meeting or visit] of another Ahmadi with Huzoor (rta). I could not hold back my tears when he said: ‘Huzoor! I was unable to fulfil my obligations due to which I have many shortcomings. I was unable to do what you wished. Out of your generosity please forgive me.’ Huzoor’s eyes also became watery and he replied: ‘Alright.
I have realised from dealing with your affairs that you have righteousness in you. It is righteousness which Allah loves and it is for this reason that I too love you.’19
Ataul Mujeeb Rashid, Imam of the London Mosque, narrates an incident of a Canadian professor, Dr Gualiteri’s meeting with Huzoor (rta):
When the professor came out of the meeting, he said that when he had spoken to me, he got the impression that Ahmadis really love their spiritual leader. Afterwards, when he met with the spiritual leader of the Ahmadis, he concluded that Ahmadis certainly love their spiritual leader, though the truth is that heir spiritual leader loves them much more. What an accurate assessment the professor carried out!20
Bashir Ahmad, who was very close to Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih IV (rta), says:
You may have noticed that during his sermons and Jalsa addresses, whenever he used to launch a financial scheme, he would be the first to contribute a large amount to it. During the speech he would announce that he would be donating such amount to the scheme and would give that amount soon afterwards.
When an appeal was made for the Baitul-Futuh Mosque in Morden, he made a promise of £50,000 which he fulfilled. Then when he made the appeal a second time, he announced that he would bear 10% of the cost himself, which was equivalent to £500,000. After the sermon when Huzoor (rta) returned to his residence, I said to him that he had announced that he would bear 10% of the cost and whether he realised that such a percentage was not £50,000, but rather £500,000? Huzoor (rta) replied that he had said what he had said and that he would not reduce it and would try to make the contribution as soon as possible. Since the amount was a lot and Huzoor (rta) did not wish to delay its contribution and as funds were urgently required for Baitul-Futuh, Huzoor (rta) had to sell a part of his property [to pay the promised amount].21
Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih IV (rta) stated:
Someone may think regarding me that I have not undertaken any task which requires hard work or effort; merely obtaining everything through my inheritance. Therefore, I am describing the condition of my hard work. I myself have been attending to the crops. I used to work so hard that many from among you cannot undertake such effort. I have been carrying sacks weighing two and a half mounds22 so that labourers come to know that this task is not something which I myself am unable to do. I used to carry my crops on my own bicycle all the way home. I would work for eighteen hours a day on my field.
The work I did in London was shifting heavy packs of newspapers from night till morning, that is eight hours continuously. Whenever we would think the work had finished, another truckload would arrive. Then, after that, a third would arrive. This was such a physically exhausting task that when I returned home, I would get a fever from the fatigue. However, after some rest, I would return to work again. I carried out this work continuously for a month in England during the summer. So do not think that I do not know the value of strenuous work. Even now, with the grace of God, I carry out every kind of hard work for you. Physical hard work is also involved in this. I have mulaqaats with you—you do not realise how much effort is needed for this. I carry out strenuous effort to the extent that God has given me the strength to. The real blessing is hard work. Produce the dignity of hard work within yourselves. Work so hard that the world begins to learn the method of hard work from us.23
1 Friday Sermon, 20 August 1982.
2 Khalid, Sayyedna Tahir Number, pp. 5-6.
3 Tahrik-e-Jadid, Sayyedna Tahir Number, p. 56.
4 Tahrik-e-Jadid, Sayyedna Tahir Number, p. 56.
5 Al-Fazl International, 19-25 June, 1998.
6 Darsul-Qur’an, 27th February 1994.
7 Al-Fazl, 5th August 1999.
8 Al-Fazl, 25th September 1998.
9 Khalid, Sayyedna Tahir Number, p. 172.
10 Khalid, Sayyedna Tahir Number, pp. 24-25.
11 Khalid, Sayyedna Tahir Number, pp. 147-148.
12 Khalid, Sayyedna Tahir Number, p. 221.
13 Khalid, Sayyedna Tahir Number, p. 170.
14 Khalid, Sayyedna Tahir Number, p. 172.
15 Khalid, Sayyedna Tahir Number, p. 304.
16 Name of a local neighbourhood.
17 Khalid, Sayyedna Tahir Number, pp. 175-177.
18 Khalid, Sayyedna Tahir Number, p. 47.
19 Khalid, Sayyedna Tahir Number, p. 149.
20 Khalid, Sayyedna Tahir Number, p. 299.
21 Khalid, Sayyedna Tahir Number, p. 247.
22 One mound is equal to 37.3242 kilograms. [Publisher]
23 Al-Fazl, 7th July 2000.