Nov 1901 – An English traveller Mr Dickson having travelled through Muslim lands ended up in Qadian. it is interesting as Qadian a small village was not a tourist attraction. During the morning walk  17th Nov 1901, the Promised Messiahas
decided to stop at the despensary of Hazrat Hakeem Maulvi Noorudinra, when suddenly a European man entered saying “Assalamualaikum”. ”. Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra was appointed as a translator at the request of the Promised Messiahas.  The Promised Messiahas asked the gentleman as to the purpose of his visit, and he answered that his name was Dickson and that he was a tourist. He had visited some Arab countries, Karbala and Kashmir and made his way (to Qadian).

The Promised Messiahas invited him to stay in Qadian for sometime, but he was only able to stay for a night. During his stay he visited the Talim-ul Islam School and in its library, he came across a book “The unknown life of Jesus Christ” by Russian adventurer Nicolas Notovitch and decided to study it. He was further preached to by Hazrat Doctor Khailfa Rasheed-u-Deenra, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra and Maulvi Muhammad Ali Sahib.

The next morning, he left for Batala. It was the practice of the Promised Messiahas to accompany his guests for some distance and he accompanied Dickson to the canal bridge outside Qadian, a distance of about four miles. The following topics were discussed: the purpose of the coming of the Promised Messiahas, the true philosophy of avoiding sin, personal experience of the existence of God, the miracles of the Promised Messiahas, the important mission of the Promised Messiahas, the understanding of divine reckoning, the understanding of Heavenly bounties, the company of the righteous and what is true ma’rafat (knowledge, insight in divine matters)?[1] Dickson was the second fortunate Englishman who had come to Qadian and was preached to by the Promised Messiahas himself.[2]


[1] Malfuzat Vol 2 P.347-367 (Edition 2016)

[2] Al Hakm Qadian, 24.11.1901, pp.1-3 / 30.11.1901, p.1 / 17.12.1901, pp.1-4. / 24.12.1901, pp. 1-3.