Voice of British Muslim Women

Nooresahar Ahmad, Hartlepool

“Today with the Grace of Allah, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has spread to 206* countries of the world and rather than tiny wooden sheds, Allah has bestowed upon us very large buildings with solid foundations in all parts of the world. Thus, the prophecy within the revelation ‘Enlarge thy house’ has been fulfilled on countless occasions throughout the world, Alhamdolillah.” -Khalifatul Masih V, 2015

History can sometimes feel like nothing more than a random series of events. The history of Khilafat, however, is different. And why wouldn’t it be? When an institution is so Divinely guided, is it any wonder that every action is completed with thoughtfulness, that consequences are prophesised, and that each moment is blessed?

In the Holy Qur’an, Khalifas are described as ‘successors in the earth’ (24:56) . Khilafat is not a blessing destined for a single country, and Khalifas are not here to lead the inhabitants of one particular place. Rather, they are guidance for the whole earth, and blessings follow them wherever they are.

The history of the Ahmadiyya Khilafat begins in Qadian. In the early period of the Promised Messiah’s (peace be on him) life, Qadian was unknown and difficult to reach . Yet this place was granted the honour of being the birthplace and home of the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) and the centre of Khilafat for 40 years. The development of Qadian, began by the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) who built Mubarak Mosque and made accommodation and meals available to all guests, was continued during the Khilafat of His Holiness Hakim Maulvi Nooruddin (may Allah be pleased with him) – a new neighbourhood was added and Aqsa Mosque extended. When His Holiness Mirza Bashirudin Mahmood Ahmad (may Allah be pleased with him) became Khalifa in 1914, the construction of Minaratul Masih was completed by 1916.

The Community began to spread outwards – Ahmadi missionaries landed in America, Africa and Europe for the first time, and mosques were constructed in Washington, Zurich and London. Qadian remained the pulse of the community, and home to the Khalifa. Today, it is a well-established town – a world away from the unknown village it was, less than two centuries ago.

In 1947, during the turbulent Partition of India and Pakistan, under the guidance of the Second Khalifa, the Community migrated to Pakistan – specifically, to 1500 acres of barren land we now know as Rabwah. Quickly, however, the town began to grow: the foundation for Fazl-e-Omar Hospital was laid by the hand of the second Khalifa, offices were set up and electricity connections made by 1956 . In less than 10 years Rabwah was unrecognisable, and from 1965 the third Khalifa, His Holiness Mirza Nasir Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) continued the abundant work of the Jamaat. The Khilafat Library was inaugurated, Fazle Omar Foundation established, and His Holiness guided the Ahmadi Muslim Community as they suffered severe persecution for their faith.

Whilst the blessings of Khilafat had turned an empty, insignificant patch of land, into a thriving historical site, this persecution meant that the ‘Markaz’ (Centre) would move in 1984. His Holiness Mirza Tahir Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) moved to London, England in order to safeguard the institution of Khilafat. The rest of his Khilafat was led from Fazl Mosque. MTA, Muslim Television Ahmadiyya, was set up in 1992, and the largest mosque in Western Europe at the time- Baitul Futuh- was built in London in 2003. London remained the centre for the fifth and current Khalifatul Masih, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Helper), who continues to propagate the message of ‘Love for All, Hatred for None’ not only in halls of Westminster, the Parliament of Europe or Capitol Hill USA, but in Africa, the Far East and recently in Guatemala, South America.

The reason I wanted to highlight the changes in the centres of Khilafat over the years, is partly because of how relevant it feels for us Ahmadi Muslims today. In the last month, we have seen our beloved Khalifa move from Masjid Fazl, London to Islamabad, Tilford Surrey. The creation of a new Markaz, a mini village in the rural farmlands of Tilford, Surrey, complete with its’ own Masjid Mubarak, hails a new blessed chapter in the history of the illustrious Khilafat of the Promised Messiah (peace be on him).

Since 1908, our community’s history has been defined by our Khalifas sacrificing their personal comfort for the sake of the propagation of Islam Ahmadiyyat. They have built upon empty land, left their homes without complaint, and unified the Community over and over.

‘Successors in the earth’- and may the earth and its’ inhabitants continue to flourish around them.

REFERENCES
*This figure now stands at 212, https://www.alislam.org/tj/sermons/FSJ20190322-EN.pdf.
1 https://www.alislam.org/library/press-release/head-of-ahmadiyya-muslim-community-inaugurates-baitul-aafiyyat-in-frankfurt/
2 https://www.alislam.org/library/articles/passage-quran-khilafat/
3 https://www.alislam.org/library/books/Ahmad-The-Guided-One.pdf
4 https://www.alislam.org/library/book/brief-history-ahmadiyya-muslim/milestones-of-his-caliphate/
5 https://www.alislam.org/library/ahmadiyya-history/construction-minara-tul-masih-qadian/
6 https://www.alislam.org/library/book/brief-history-ahmadiyya-muslim/establishment-of-rabwah/
7 http://www.irabwah.com/history-of-rabwah/