المحراب

المحراب — Page 191

ANNOUNCEMENT This hand bill was published by the Promised Messiah on December 30, 1891 at the end of the first Jalsa Salana (annual convention) of Jama'at Ahmadiyya, to inform the members of Jama'at about holding of second Jalsa (1892)۔All the sincere members of the Jama'at who have entered the covenant of Ba'it with me, the while at the same time the Jama'at should acquire more knowledge and advance in realization of God and love for the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of God be upon him), and such a severance with the world should take place that the journey for the hereafter should not seem abominable۔But in order to achieve this object, it is necessary to stay in company and spend a part of the life in this path, so that with the will of God by witnessing the divinity of some definite manifestation, some weakness, infirmity or indolence might be removed۔And having attained perfect belief, fervor and zeal for divine love should be created۔So always be concerned and anxiously seek God's divine help and guidance, and until such favorable turn of circumstan- ces does not take place you must meet me off and on۔Because making a covenant of Ba'it and no: bothering to meet, such a Ba'it does not vouchsafe blessings, and it would only amount to fulfilling a formality۔And since for some people because of weakness of disposition or lack of means or the long distance, it is not possible that they should come and stay in company, or take the trouble of coming several times in the year for visiting, the hearts of most of the people lack the provocation to undergo discomfort or face great harm or damage۔Hence it seems advisable that 3 days in a year should be fixed for such a meeting in which all the sincere members provided they are healthy and have the time and if no strong impediments stand in their way should be able to be present on the fixed dates۔So in my opinion it should be better to keep 27th December to 29th December i۔e۔after today will be 30th December 1891۔In future if 27th December comes in my life, people should try as far as possible to come on these dates in order to hear divine speeches and to participate in prayers۔And in this meeting such information about the truth will be related which is necessary for the promotion and advancement of faith, belief and the knowledge of God۔Particular endeavor will be made to the best of one's ability in the elevated court of the most merciful Allah that, He may draw them to Himself, and accept them, and purify them and transform them۔Another advantage of these meetings would be that all the new sincere members who have come in the fold of the Jama'at during the year would be able to meet their fellow brethren۔And with this casual acquaintance, the bond of friendship, love and introduction will keep on developing۔During this period if any fellow brother dies, prayers for the salvation and deliverance of his soul will be held in this meeting۔An effort will be made with prayers to the most Glorious Allah that He may purify all the brethren spiritually and remove from them their unfamiliarity, coldness and differences۔And in this spiritual convention there will be many other spiritual advantages which will come to light from time to time with the will of God۔It would be appropriate for people with less means that they should plan for attending this convention۔If with a little domestic economy they put by a little for the journey every day every month then without any difficulty they would have enough money for this journey, in a way then they would be travelling without any cost۔People who accept this proposal should inform me right now so that a separate list of such names can be made who would try their best to come on these fixed dates and who make a fimm resolve for the rest of their lives that they would attend this convention with heart and soul, except in the case of such hindrance or impediment that might make it impossible to undertake the journey۔All the friends who attended this religious consultation meeting held on the 27th December, and faced the difficulties of the journey just for the sake of Allah, may God reward them and bless them for each step that they took for reaching here۔Amen۔3