Khilafat Centenary Souvenir 1908-2008 — Page 106
Khilafat Centenary were engaged by Hadhrat Ahmad as to read English and later his own son and successor, Hadhrat books, magazines and newspapers in order to prepare Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad, Khalifatul appropriate responses in that language from the Islamic Masih rr ra came to London in 1924, and delivered perspective under his personal instructions. European a speech inviting the West to accept Islam. Later, and American visitors sought his audience in Qadian, Khalifatul Masih III, Hadhrat Mirza Nasir Ahmadra and he would respond to their -------------- came to London several times enquiries at great length through and addressed the Western English interpreters. Hadhrat nations. His fourth Khalifa, Ahmad (as) understood the Western Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad rta mindset with an astonishingly migrated to the UK in 1984 and clear and deep insight. He would made London his headquarters. appreciate its secular advancement He also established MTA (the in technology, agriculture and Muslim Television Ahmadiyya) scientific fields, but pity its moral - a satellite transmission system and spiritual degradation. He that spreads the message from had full conviction that if the West was approached London to the entire world 24 hours a day, everyday properly and prayerfully, it would incline towards the of the year. In 2003, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor truth of Islam, discard the false creed of the Divinity Ahmad aha was elected to be the fifth Khalifa, and the of Jesus and accept the Unity of God. location where the election took place was London. In his book Azala Auham (1891 ), he wrote: The rising of the sun from the West (as predicted by the Holy Prophet of lslam saw ) means that Western countries, which have for centuries been in the darkness of non-belief and error, shall be illuminated by the sun of righteousness, and shall partake in the blessings of Islam. I once saw myself [in a vision] standing on a pulpit in London and delivering a reasoned speech in English on the truth of Islam and thereafter catching several white-feathered birds sitting on small trees , whose bodies resembled those of partridges. I understood this to mean that, though it may not be given to me to proceed personally to London, my writings would be published among those people and many righteous Englishmen would fall prey to truth. Western countries have so far not been conspicuous for their attachment to spiritual truths, as if God had bestowed divine wisdom on the East only, and the wisdom of the world on Europe and America. . . and spiritual men other than the prophets who attained nearness to God have also been confined to the Eastern peoples. But God wishes now to extend His beneficence to the West. Azala Auham, translation, p. 516 Spreading the Divine Message Hadhrat Ahmad's vision was fulfilled by the fact that first his writings did reach the West in his lifetime, In addition, Islam International Publication Ltd. is now constantly producing a profusion of Islamic literature from the United Kingdom. Plans to spread the true message of Islam among Europeans and Americans were discussed and implemented by Hadhrat Ahmad as himself. He initiated several advertisements for publication in the Western media and sent letters to thousands of eminent Westerners inviting them to study Islam. At one point in 1885, he mailed 16,000 registered letters to the world's renowned religious leaders, scholars and thinkers asking them to remove any doubts that they might have against Islam by communicating with him. Many outstanding men, such as Alexander Webb (an American journalist and diplomat), F. L. Anderson of New York and Dr. A. George Baker of Philadelphia, accepted Islam through corresponding with him directly. In 1893, he wrote a book entitled 'Aaina Kamalate Islam' (The Mirror of Islam's Excellences) and once again he issued a notice specifically praying for the Caucasian race - the British people - to accept Islam. He concluded with the following pra yer: Oh Gracious God/ Guide the tender hearts of the all the nations, so that they may have faith in Thy chosen Prophet Muhammad saw, and in Thy Holy Qur'an, and that they may follow the commandments contained 106