The Promised Son — Page 26
26 The place of refuge which I saw in my dream… is studded with rocky hillocks. This location is des- olate, whereas the place I saw was lush and green. Maybe it will become so through our efforts. On 6 September in a meeting to recommend a name for the new place, Hazrat Maulana Jalal-ud-Din Shams ra, who was later the Imam of the Fazl Mosque London and the Missionary in Charge of the UK , mentioned that ‘Rabwah’ was mentioned in the Holy Quran as the place of refuge granted by Allah to Hazrat Isa as ( Jesus) and his mother Mary ra. Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad ra approved the name Rabwah and formally announced it to the Jama’at on 20 September 1948. The plans of the town were approved by Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad ra and he proceeded to lay the foundation stone of the first mosque on 3 October 1949. This mosque now stands within the confines of the Fazl-e- Umar hospital. The lack of water was a major problem, but subsequent explorations did locate water in the lower lying areas of Rabwah and, over time, all the facilities required by a grow- ing town were sourced and implemented. All the necessities of life were also made available. Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad ra himself said of Rabwah: