Fazl-e-Umar — Page 244
Fazle Umar 244 beginning of a new era in the history of the Community. Beside other auspicious movements, which are before the Community at this time, God has even made our college a sign amongst the manifold signs of the new era. In other words our college, from its very birth, is bringing the message of prosperity and bliss. All praises be to Allah for this! “The second peculiarity of this college is that it is coming into existence in the last part of the present World War, at a time when the greatest statesmen of the world are pondering over the New World Order, to be established after the termination of the War. In this way our college is coming closely tied with two great movements, one religious, the other secular and a Divine Community which is used to seeing the Divine hand working in every matter, cannot ignore its inauguration by putting it down as a mere chance…” 116 On the occasion of the opening of the College in 1944, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II [ra] delivered a most learned and detailed address setting out the purpose and objectives for which the College was being established, and the whole purpose and aim of higher education and the proper means of their achievement. In the very beginning of his address he observed: “The establishment of the Ta’limul Islam College has a double purpose. One purpose is to provide means of higher education without which no Community can improve its cultural and economic conditions. So far as that purpose is concerned the doors of the College will be open to all students irrespective of caste and creed. “Its second purpose is related to the influence of modern education upon religion…The Professors of this college should charge themselves, among other things, with the duty of repelling the objections raised against Islam on the basis of their particular subjects, through those very subjects. Thus while the Professors