A Message from Heaven’ given to the people of Portsmouth

“Men and women of Portsmouth, I have brought you glad tidings, aye joyful tidings, viz., the message of God that He has not forsaken you, that the gates of His mercy have been opened to you and it is now for you to enter therein… the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) offers you a ready return. He promises you Union with God, not after death, but in this very life” 1

– Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra 

His Holinessra travelled to Portsmouth on September 14th to deliver a lecture and to visit an existing Jama’at in the city. On September 11th, Hazrat Fateh Muhammad Sayalra and Ghulam Fareed Sahibra were dispatched to Portsmouth to oversee arrangements for the upcoming visit and to finalise any pertinent details regarding the event. Additionally, they were tasked with gathering existing Ahmadis residing in the area. 

His Holinessra advised that focusing missionary endeavours in small towns and villages would be more effective, considering that urban dwellers are preoccupied with materialistic pursuits. He suggested that spreading the message of Islam in this way might be more fruitful.2

On 12th September, a telegram was dispatched from Portsmouth, confirming the arrangement of two lectures by His Holinessra in Portsmouth. Due to His Holiness’ busy schedule, he instructed Hazrat Maulvi Muhammad Dinra to write the second lecture on the topic of the Second Coming of Jesus, while His Holinessra would author his own lecture on the topic A Message from Heaven.3 His Holinessra decided that the following five individuals would accompany him to Portsmouth: Hazrat Zafrullah Khanra, Hazrat Maulvi Muhammad Dinra, Hazrat Dr Hashmatullahra, Hazrat Maulvi Abdul Raheem Dardra,and Hazrat Yaqub Ali Irfanira.4

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Hazrat Maulvi Muhammad Din’sra lecture was scheduled for 3:30 pm whereas His Holiness’ra lecture was scheduled for 6 pm in the evening.5 On the 14th, His Holinessra left from Waterloo and reached Portsmouth station. Upon his scheduled arrival at St John’s Church for the lecture to be delivered by Hazrat Maulvi Muhammad Dinra on the second advent of Jesusas. His Holinessra encountered Rev. H. W. Abott in the midst of delivering a sermon. Upon recognizing His Holinessra, Rev. Abott promptly suspended his sermon and proceeded to introduce him with due deference, extolling him as a righteous individual whose paternal lineage bore the mantle of prophethood in this contemporary age. Following the conclusion of his address, Rev. Abott invited Hazrat Maulvi Muhammad Dinra to expound upon the topic of the second advent of Jesusas. His Holinessra retired to his accommodations for a short rest before returning to the church later that evening to deliver his own address.6

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Commencing his address, titled A Message from Heaven, His Holinessra cited the scripture of Matthew 12:31-32, elucidating upon Jesus’as proclamation that “blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men”. He explained the imperative nature of accepting the word of God and interpreted this proclamation as indicating that rejection of the Divine message conveyed through the angel would incur punishment both in the present life and the hereafter. 

His Holinessra explained the consequences of rejecting God’s message:

“Similarly if the Word of God contains guidance for mankind, a contravention of it must result in pain, not because God is actuated by spite, but because the offender has chosen to tread on a path which leads to troubles and difficulties. The Word of God is not revealed in order to try mankind, but is meant to guide mankind along the only path which leads to the goal of human existence. In short, a message from Heaven is not a thing which might be ignored with impunity. It is a spiritual law, the contravention of which, like that of a physical law, is attended with penalties and deprives a man of spiritual well-being.” 7

He further clarified that, according to the Qur’an, the divine message from heaven was dispatched to various nations at different epochs. He expounded that:

“The name of the prophet who has brought the message of God to mankind in the present age is Ahmad, and those who accept his message and follow his teachings inherit the Grace of God, in the same manner as did those who accepted and followed the previous prophets. I am a follower of this Prophet and am also his second successor, and out of the love for our fellow-beings with which this Prophet has filled our hearts, I have come to deliver his message to you.”8

While explaining the truthfulness of the Promised Messiahas, His Holinessra declared:

“Men and women of Portsmouth, I have brought you glad tidings, aye joyful tidings, viz., the message of God that He has not forsaken you, that the gates of His mercy have been opened to you and it is now for you to enter therein…the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) offers you a ready return. He promises you Union with God, not after death, but in this very life.” 9

Speaking about the prophecy of the Promised Messiahas relating to England, he said: 

“Is it not marvellous that 34 years ago, a time when the Promised Messiah was alone in the world, he published a prophecy in one of his books, that his teachings would soon be published in England and that many people would accept them? Today you see a number of his followers proclaiming his truth throughout England, and several persons in this country have already joined his movement.” 10

He concluded his speech by emphasising that accepting the Promised Messiahas would require sacrifice and hardships as faith cannot avail without sacrifice, and the pleasure of God is dependent upon forsaking your pleasures and desires for His sake. His conclusion was a powerful call to action

“Behold, God has, in accordance with the prophecy of Isaiah, raised the righteous man from the East and has conveyed His will to you through him. May I hope that you will accept him in all sincerity of heart and will be his first standard-bearers in the West? If so, I assure you out of the knowledge that God has vouchsafed to me, that nations shall be blessed through you, and future generations shall bless you, and you shall attain to immortality in God.” 11

After delivering the lecture, His Holinessra returned to his hotel where he met with new Muslim converts, including several Ahmadis. These individuals expressed their concerns to His Holinessra, noting that they felt neglected, as no one came to visit them, while Christian missions were actively engaged in proselytising. His Holinessra reassured them that, until the establishment of the London mission, a missionary would be assigned to visit them regularly.12 Upon his return to London, His Holinessra commented on these individuals:

“These individuals are very devout Ahmadis and have remained steadfast in their faith for five years. Although they have not received any assistance from us, they frequently carry advertisements and tracts on ships and engage in preaching. In this manner, they function as young Ahmadi missionaries. Such dedication is not possible without firm and unwavering faith.” 13

His Holinessra emphasised that Portsmouth was an excellent location for their work, as agreed by Maulvi Mubarak Alirh, who suggested establishing a mosque there instead of in London. His Holinessra also praised Abdullah Quilliam, whose approach to reasoning and preaching aligned with his own views. Abdullah Quilliam shared an incident with His Holinessra, mentioning that he had worked diligently to spread the message of Islam, but people were initially unresponsive. Consequently, he joined the Temperance Society and gave a lecture against alcohol. He detailed the Prophet Muhammad’ssa efforts in Arabia, and a listener approached him after the lecture, recognizing the miracle of ridding Arabia of alcohol and asked:

“It was a miracle to rid Arabia of alcohol, which clearly shows divine intervention. Why not consider the Prophet who achieved this as God’s beloved and why don’t we become Muslims ourselves?14

Quilliam revealed to him that he was already Muslim, inspiring the listener to also convert. His Holinessra praised Quilliam’s effective preaching method, emphasising that true dedication indeed brings divine assistance.15

A Sitting with Indian Students

On 15th September, 1924, His Holinessra attended an event organised by Indian students studying in Britain. During the event, Mr. Sehgal, a Hindu student from Lahore, delivered a speech on behalf of all the students. He expressed gratitude to His Holinessra for graciously accepting their invitation and articulated the widespread dissatisfaction with contemporary Christianity in the West. Mr. Sehgal noted that even traditionally Orthodox Christian Russia had rejected it in favour of communism. He pointed out that this dissatisfaction also extends to countries like Germany, France, Italy, and England, where people are unknowingly embracing the simplicity and essence of Islamic teachings. He further emphasised that Europe is in search of religious truth, which Christianity fails to provide, and asserted that Islam is the only religion capable of addressing their spiritual queries. Additionally, he requested His Holinessra to work towards Indian unity, which he emphasised is a prerequisite for the country’s progress and welfare.16 

His Holinessra responded in Urdu, with Hazrat Chaudary Zafrullah Khanra providing an English translation for those who did not understand. His Holiness expressed appreciation for their comments and sympathies, and he concurred with the points they raised. He elaborated on the universal nature of Islam, emphasising that those who diligently pursue this cause will ultimately achieve their goals. He further noted that if Islam is presented to the Western world in its true form, there is no reason why it would not be accepted. His Holinessra stated:

“The truth of Islam is proven through reason and experience, and I firmly believe that if Islam is presented in its true form, it will undoubtedly spread throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and indeed the entire world because it has come for the whole world. There is no other religion that is universal. The Holy Qur’an contains the prophecy of its spread across the world and its dominance over all other religions, as it says: ‘He it is Who has sent His Messenger with the guidance and the Religion of Truth, that He may cause it to prevail over all religions.’ This means that Allah Almighty sent His Messenger with guidance and the true religion, with the purpose of making this religion prevail over all others and uniting all religions under one faith. We are certain that this will happen, and it is also an established fact that this is the time for it, and all our efforts are directed towards this goal.” 17

His Holinessra concluded by stressing the importance of sincerity, stating that India cannot truly prosper until Hindus and Muslims achieve genuine unity based on heartfelt sincerity rather than mere lip service. On 20th September, 1924, His Holinessra also hosted a group of Indian students who inquired about loyalty to a non-Muslim government and posed questions related to theology, jurisprudence, and socio-political matters concerning governance in Islam.18

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Protest Meeting at Essex Hall Strand

The protest meeting concerning the martyrdom of Nimatullah Khanrh in Afghanistan was held at Essex Hall on September 17th, 1924. S. N. Dasgupta spoke on the purpose of the gathering and Dr. Walter Wash the founder of Free Religious Movement, who chaired the meeting spoke against this barbaric act of religious persecution. He then requested his Holinessra to detail the incident of this inhumane act. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra himself read the address in the English language which had a profound effect on the audience.19

After detailing the incidents of martyrdom and persecution faced by Ahmadis in Afghanistan, His Holinessra stated that he harbours no enmity or hatred in his heart for the government of Afghanistan. Instead, he expressed his profound disapproval of their actions, stating:

“If any person or persons no longer retain moral and natural emotions, they are certainly in greater need of our sympathy than those who are only afflicted with physical sufferings. I have never harboured enmity towards anyone, and I do not wish to corrupt my heart because of this incident. I believe that my true followers will adopt the same approach. I do not participate in any meetings held for the purpose of expressing anger and rage. I know that oppression is neither met with oppression nor with enmity. Therefore, I will neither counsel oppression nor harbour feelings of enmity in my heart.” 20

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He then emphasised that the primary purpose of attending this meeting was to dispel the notion that the actions of the Emir of Afghanistan are representative of Islam. Islam, in fact, guarantees complete religious freedom , thus, “no individual has the right to attribute this action to Islam.” 21

He stated that the second purpose was to express disapproval of the Emir of Afghanistan’s actions, hoping that this consensus of disapproval might lead to his reform. He explained that as far as their mission is concerned, it cannot be deterred. He mentioned receiving twenty telegrams from individuals volunteering to go to Afghanistan to continue the mission of NImatullah Khanrh , and that Hazrat Chaudary Zafrullah Khanra had also expressed the same desire. He said: “Among our eight hundred thousand people, whether man, woman, or child, each one is prepared to traverse the path that Naeematullah Khan Shaheed chose”. He concluded by stressing that, irrespective of our differing governments and nations, our common humanity mandates and upholds the freedom of conscience for all.22 A resolution was adopted and subsequently submitted to the United Nations, urging a severe condemnation and a strong protest against the inhumane and treacherous actions that contravened its earlier proclamation of religious liberty within its dominions.

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(Scans courtesy of United Nations Library & Archives Geneva. Not to be reproduced without their permission.)
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(Scans courtesy of United Nations Library & Archives Geneva. Not to be reproduced without their permission.)
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(Scans courtesy of United Nations Library & Archives Geneva. Not to be reproduced without their permission.)

On September 19th, 1924, His Holinessra led Jumu’ah prayers at his residence in Putney. During this time, he received the sad news of the passing of a sincere Ahmadi, Adam Ado Yaqubrh, who served as the president of our executive committee in Nigeria. His Holinessra led Janaza prayers in absentia for Adam Ado Yaqubrh, along with other deceased members of the Jamaat. Later that afternoon, Sir Denison Ross, president of the Wembley Conference, paid a visit to His Holinessra. During their meeting, Sir Denison Ross highlighted the considerable interest shown by the press in His Holiness’ visit, with extensive coverage in various publications. He also commended the translation work of the Holy Qur’an carried out by the community, particularly the translation of the first part, and encouraged further translation of subsequent chapters into English. In addition, His Holinessra provided insights into George Sale’s translation, noting its reliance on an Italian translation and that Sale had not consulted any other Qur’anic commentary apart from Tafsir Baidawi.23

Lecture at St Luke Hall, Spiritualist Society Clapham & a Meeting with Colonel Douglas

On the evening of September 19th, 1924, His Holinessra received an invitation to deliver a lecture titled Life After Death at St. Luke Hall, organised by the Spiritualist Society in Clapham. Mr. Habibullah Lovegrove, an English Muslim convert to Islam, introduced His Holinessra to the audience. 

After the lecture, the society’s president expressed her gratitude to His Holinessra and remarked on the universal belief in the concept of life after death. His Holinessra proceeded to spend an additional twenty minutes engaging in conversation with the attendees.24

On the following day, September 20th, two Nigerians from Lagos, one who was an Ahmadi and the other who was close to joining the Jama’at, came to visit His Holinessra. On the 21st, His Holinessra met with Colonel Douglas, who had exonerated the Promised Messiahas from a false murder case in 1897, declaring Dr. Clark’s accusations as fabricated stories.25 Colonel Douglas expressed with great affection: “you are the son of my friend; I consider your honourable father a friend”. Colonel Douglas then inquired, “Have you come to attend the conference?” His Holinessra remarked that the conference was not the ultimate goal; however, it was indeed a catalyst: “I am here with the purpose of studying the prevailing conditions in European countries to propose a permanent scheme for the dissemination of Islam.” 26

His Holinessra and Colonel Douglas discussed the situation of Indian politics. Following their meeting, a photograph was taken featuring Colonel Douglas with His Holinessra.27

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Two members of the Nigerian Jama’at in the presence of His Holiness Khalifatul Masih IIra

Click here for part 6:
https://history.ahmadiyya.uk/the-islamic-renaissance-part-6-of-the-chronological-account-hazrat-khalifatul-masih-iisra-journey-to-england/

References:

  1. The Review of Religions (1924) October, p. 345 ↩︎
  2. Bhai, Abdul Rehman Sahib, Safar-e-Europe, Rabwah: Zia Press. pp. 225-226 ↩︎
  3.  Ibid, p. 234 ↩︎
  4. Ibid, p. 252 ↩︎
  5. Ibid, p.253 ↩︎
  6. Ibid, pp. 260-261 ↩︎
  7. The Review of Religions (1924) October, p. 334 ↩︎
  8. Ibid, p. 337 ↩︎
  9.  Ibid, p. 345 ↩︎
  10.  Ibid, p. 349 ↩︎
  11.  Ibid, p. 370 ↩︎
  12.  Ibid, pp. 262-263 ↩︎
  13.  Ibid, p. 258, p. 263 ↩︎
  14.  Bhai, Abdul Rehman Sahib, Safar-e-Europe, Rabwah: Zia Press. p. 280 ↩︎
  15. Ibid. ↩︎
  16. Fazl-e-Umar Foundation. Anwarul Uloom, Vol. 8. Surrey: Raqeem Press. pp. 488-490 ↩︎
  17.  Ibid, p. 491 ↩︎
  18. Ibid, pp. 503-518 ↩︎
  19.  Ibid, pp. 292-294 ↩︎
  20. Bhai, Abdul Rehman Sahib, Safar-e-Europe, Rabwah: Zia Press. p. 291; Fazl-e-Umar Foundation. Anwarul Uloom, Vol. 8. Surrey: Raqeem Press pp. 501-502 ↩︎
  21. Ibid. ↩︎
  22. Ibid. ↩︎
  23.  Al-Fazl (1924) 21 October p. 3 ↩︎
  24. Ibid. ↩︎
  25.  Ahmad, R. (2022) https://history.ahmadiyya.uk/debates-with-the-christian-clergy/, History of Ahmadiyya UK (website). 16 October ↩︎
  26. Al-Fazl (1924) 21 October p.4 ↩︎
  27. Al-Fazl (1924) 8 November, p.4 ↩︎

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