Born in Sialkot to Muhammad Sultan and Hashmat Bibi in 1858, he was named Karim Bakhsh. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, on whom be peace, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi—who would later become his spiritual father and master, and to whom he gave every ounce of his devotion—named him Abdul-Karim.
Hazrat Maulana Abdul-Karim Sahib of Sialkot, may Allah be pleased with him, attained his elementary education at the American Mission School, Sialkot; later, he privately studied Arabic and Persian in Sialkot and Gujranwala. After completing his education, he was appointed as a teacher of Persian at the American Mission School in Sialkot. During this time he was always keen to discuss and debate matters of theology with Christians and delivered lectures expounding the qualities and merits of Islam.
In 1886, he developed a relationship with Hazrat Hakeem Maulana Nur-ud-Din Sahib, may Allah be pleased with him, who taught him the commentary of the Holy Quran and Hadith. Ultimately, it was this relationship of student and teacher that introduced this seeker of the truth to the Promised Messiah(as). Hazrat Maulana Abdul-Karim Sahib, may Allah be pleased with him, first met His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, on whom be peace, in 1881 or 1882, at a time when the latter was writing his magnificent work Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya. His affinity with the Promised Messiah(as) then brought him to Ludhiana in 1889 where he was blessed to accept this divinely commissioned one of God. After he swore his oath of allegiance to the divinely appointed Reformer of the Age, his spiritual transformation took him to ever greater heights until he became renowned as foreranking even among the most devoted and pioneer companions of the Promised Messiah(as).
In 1890 when the Promised Messiah(as) was writing his book Izala-e-Awham, he invited Hazrat Maulana Abdul-Karim Sahib, may Allah be pleased with him, to come to Qadian, to assist with various tasks related to the printing of the book. After this, Hazrat Maulana Sahib took up permanent residence in Qadian and bid farewell to all of his worldly ambitions, and to his homeland also, on the desire of his beloved master. From then on, Hazrat Maulana Sahib spent the rest of his life in the blessed company of his master with such selfless devotion and sincere love that to part with the Promised Messiah(as), even for a moment, was unbearable and unfathomable.
After moving to Qadian, Hazrat Maulana Sahib(ra) devoted his life completely to the cause of the Promised Messiah(as) and rendered valuable services to the community. He would review the proofs of books written by the Promised Messiah(as), translate his works into Persian and assist with correspondence. He penned articles, delivered speeches, and wrote letters expounding the teachings of Islam and demonstrating the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah(as). He accompanied the Promised Messiah(as) on various journeys. He was appointed to deliver the Friday Sermon and lead the congregational Prayer services in the mosque. He would also hold discussions on matters of theology and religious importance.
Blessed with a melodious voice, Hazrat Maulana Abdul-Karim Sahib, may Allah be pleased with him, was also a formidable speaker. In his time, he was classed among the most renowned and noteworthy speakers in the Punjab. Whether he spoke in Urdu or in Persian, he was gifted with the ability to captivate his audience. In 1896 at the Conference of World Religions held at Lahore, it was he who read out the well-known treatise of the Promised Messiah(as), entitled The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam. For one, this treatise was a matchless exposition unveiling the hidden verities of Islam; and when delivered most eloquently by a seasoned speaker such as Maulana Abdul-Karim of Sialkot, audience members were enthralled no matter their religion. In light of God’s promise, this divinely inspired exposition of the Promised Messiah(as) reigned supreme over all other essays read out at the conference. In 1904, Hazrat Maulana Sahib(ra) again had the opportunity to read out before a large gathering another exposition of the Promised Messiah(as), titled Lecture Lahore.
On 11 April 1900, at the occasion of Eid-ul-Adha, the Promised Messiah(as) delivered a miraculous sermon, extempore, in the Arabic language. A masterpiece of eloquence and divine insight, this is known as the Revealed Sermon (or Khutbah Ilhamiyyah). Along with Hazrat Hakeem Maulana Nur-ud-Din Sahib(ra), Hazrat Maulana Abdul-Karim Sahib(ra) was also instructed by the Promised Messiah(as) to sit close and note down the words of this divinely inspired sermon as it was delivered. After the Promised Messiah(as) had completed his sermon in Arabic, Hazrat Maulana Abdul-Karim Sahib(ra) was blessed with the opportunity to present the Urdu translation of this sermon to the gathering.
The Promised Messiah(as) loved this ardent devotee dearly. In 1905 when Hazrat Maulana Abdul-Karim Sahib(ra) fell ill, the Promised Messiah(as) took it upon himself to arrange for the most experienced physicians to treat him and supplicated profusely to his Lord for Maulana Sahib’s health. The prayers and supplications of God’s chosen one bore fruits and Maulana Sahib was restored to health. But, ultimately, the decree of Allah Almighty was that Hazrat Maulana Abdul-Karim Sahib(ra) would soon return to His Maker. On Wednesday 11 October 1905, after the Zuhr Prayer at approximately 1:30 pm, this ardent devotee of the Promised Messiah(as) bade farewell to this transient abode and returned to his Creator, well pleased with his Lord, and He well pleased with him.
The Promised Messiah(as) lead the funeral prayer of Hazrat Maulana Sahib(ra). He was the first to be buried in the blessed land of the Heavenly Graveyard (Bahishti Maqbarah) at Qadian.
The life of Hazrat Maulana Abdul-Karim Sahib, may Allah be pleased with him, was the epitome of service, submission, sincerity, devotion, loyalty and love. Every fibre of his being was imbued with love for God, and love for the Imam of the Age. He was among the most illustrious companions of the Promised Messiah(as). One incident will forever stand as a shining testimony to his selfless fidelity. In view of his exemplary abilities, when the ruler of Afghanistan, Habibullah Khan, invited Hazrat Maulana Sahib(ra) to Afghanistan, offering him employment with a very hefty stipend. Hazrat Maulana Sahib(ra) replied:
“Today, the wealth that I have received in Qadian is not available anywhere else in the world. After thirteen hundred years, God Almighty has sent His divinely commissioned one among us. To leave his pure company and pursue coins of gold and silver is but to consume the carrion of this material world. It is to trade the superior for the inferior. I swear by God that if all the treasures of the world were piled before me and in return for this if I was asked to leave Qadian, I would not even spit on this heap of gold and silver.”1
Hazrat Maulana Abdul-Karim Sahib was a shining star in the sky of Islam and Ahmadiyyat. His brilliant example will forever serve as a guiding light.
1 Al-Hakam, dated 16 August 1922