First Trip Abroad—August 1975

أَوَمَن كَانَ مَيْتًۭا فَأَحْيَيْنَـٰهُ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُۥ نُورًۭا يَمْشِى بِهِۦ فِى ٱلنَّاسِ

Is he who was dead, then We raised him to life and made for him a light by which he walks among the people (Holy Quran—6:122)

On the list of the important objectives of the Ahmadiyya Movement—headquartered as it is in Pakistan—the duty of missionary work abroad has always been at the top. During its earlier eras, religious leaders and missionaries of the Ahmadiyya Movement had traveled abroad and carried out this duty with excellence in numerous countries. The move to England by Khawaja Kamal-ud-Din as a missionary and his missionary efforts—to which one can add famous individuals such as the British Lord Headley who accepted Islam and then the establishment of the Woking Muslim mission in England as a result of those efforts—do not need any introduction. After Khawaja Kamal-ud-Din, several other religious leaders of the Ahmadiyya Movement also rendered valuable missionary services: The grand mosque built in the German city of Berlin is a living testament to the laudable services of  the second president of the Ahmadiyya Movement, Maulana Sadr-ud-Din. In addition, numerous missionaries traveled abroad and established chapters of the Ahmadiyya Movement in the Netherlands, in Indonesia, in Fiji, in the West Indies, in the United States, as well as in several African countries. The Ahmadiyya Movement has remained engaged with great dedication to bring to reality the divine revelation that was received by the reformer of the age—Hazrat Mirza Sahib—that, “I will make your propagation of [the] religion [of Islam] reach the corners of the Earth.”

Following the severe jolt that the Ahmadiyya Movement was dealt in 1974, the hopes and aspirations of the headquarters were set on the success of its missions abroad: Acutely felt by the leadership of the Ahmadiyya Movement was the need to unite and organize its chapters and missions abroad to help recover from the aforementioned devastating shock. The first step taken in this regard was the appointment of Doctor Saeed Ahmad as the leader of the Foreign Missions Committee. And in the years that followed, Doctor Saeed Ahmad had the distinction of leading the missionaries who were sent abroad. As was proved by his subsequent services, there could not have been a more suitable individual than him to travel abroad to galvanize and reunite the foreign missions.

The Quranic words atop this section have special relevance to this final stage of Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s life, and in particular to his travels abroad. Those words—being the introductory part of verse 122 of Surah Al-An’am (The Cattle)—were relayed to him by way of divine revelation during the moments immediately after the surgery had been performed on him as part of the treatment for his severe tuberculosis. The surgery had been completed, and he was in a state of drowsiness. Those were the moments when he was in the throes of a struggle between life and death: Nobody knew at that time whether he would emerge alive from the grip of the potentially lethal tuberculosis. But it was through a display of the immense power of Allah the Most High that the initial aspects of the glad tidings in the divine revelation soon began to manifest themselves: Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s lifeless body regained strength, and he was cured forever from the life-threatening disease. At that time, he had completed 37 years of his life, and was in the 38th year of his life: As many years would be required for the fulfillment of the second part of the divine revelation. For his spiritual training, and for the completion of a personality resplendent and aglow with spiritual light, he had yet to walk on many thorn-riddled pathways. He had to undergo many tribulations and many trials. And he had to forge forward through a gauntlet of tests, and do so with steadfastness to receive the light whose glad tidings he had been given; that light which would not be limited to his person alone, but one with which he would enlighten others, too, by walking among them with it. As for the creation of that special ability—one which was essential for the reformation of humanity as well as for the propagation of religion—he needed a span of time during which his heart, being one at peace, would increase in its expensiveness and become aglow with God-given strength so as to infuse him with the courage and steadfastness to face head-on every opposition and every type of scheming aimed at disrupting the progress of the Ahmadiyya Movement. And with that light in his grasp, Doctor Saeed Ahmad would go from one place to another, illuminate others, and spread the light of Islam. His visits abroad are, in this regard, an important milestone in the history of the Ahmadiyya Movement.

Trip to England

The inauguration of Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s travels abroad began with his trip to England. Representing the headquarters, he traveled to England to participate in the convention that was to be held in London. In addition to him, a few other members of the Ahmadiyya Movement made up the delegation accompanying him, and one which he was leading.

He arrived in London on August 23, 1975, and stayed in the Ahmadiyya House located in an area known as Tooting. A few other members also stayed there.

Ahmadiyya House, London

The mission founded by Khawaja Kamal-ud-Din in the Shah Jahan Mosque located in Woking, England served as a center for Muslims, and was a source of much value and benefit. But with the passage of time, tragically and paradoxically enough, this mission slipped away from the hands of the Ahmadiyya Movement. Acutely being felt now was the need for suitable arrangements for establishing another such a mission in London. During the Annual Convention held in 1973 in Lahore, Doctor Saeed Ahmad had been entrusted with the task of making an appeal for funds to finance the aforesaid acquisition. And in response to this appeal, attendees at the convention had wholeheartedly and generously contributed: Rupees 90,000 were collected. Later, with some additional contributions, funds in the sum of Rupees 100,000 were dispatched to the London mission, earmarked and used for the purchase of the Ahmadiyya House.

During that Annual Convention, Shaikh Mohammad Tufail, along with the delegation that he was leading—it included men and women from the West Indies—had arrived in Lahore for the Annual Convention. They were eyewitnesses to the appeal for funds made by Doctor Saeed Ahmad, and were greatly impressed, taking back with them those momentous impressions.

First Day in London, and an Unexpected Situation

On August 24, 1975, following the Fajr prayer, the following words of the Holy Quran were among those recited by Doctor Saeed Ahmad:

۞ لَّا خَيْرَ فِى كَثِيرٍۢ مِّن نَّجْوَىٰهُمْ إِلَّا مَنْ أَمَرَ بِصَدَقَةٍ أَوْ مَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ إِصْلَـٰحٍۭ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ ۚ وَمَن يَفْعَلْ ذَٰلِكَ ٱبْتِغَآءَ مَرْضَاتِ ٱللَّهِ فَسَوْفَ نُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًۭ

There is no good in most of their secret counsels except (in) him who enjoins charity or goodness or reconciliation between people. And whoever does this, seeking Allah’s pleasure, We shall give him a mighty reward (Holy Quran—4:114)

Right around breakfast time, Shaikh Mohammad Tufail arrived in the Ahmadiyya House and met with Doctor Saeed Ahmad, conveying to him a piece of news that was not only unexpected, but also alarming and concerning. In referring to it, Doctor Saeed Ahmad writes:

Shaikh Mohammad Tufail came during breakfast time and said something that gravely troubled me: Yesterday, a meeting of members from the Western Hemisphere had taken place, one in which the decision had been made that when they would go to Woking today, a meeting of 30 individuals would be convened. Four representatives each from Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname, Fiji, Pakistan, the Netherlands, etc., would be present, and one missionary from each country would participate in it. Recommendations would be approved that the chapters of [the Ahmadiyya Movement in] every country—including Pakistan and England—should be made autonomous, and that a Supreme Council would be formed whereby each country would be represented by two individuals, being a Supreme Council which would govern the Ahmadiyya Movement’s missions all over the world, being also vested with executive powers. Moreover, the role and scope of the president would be altered, and in this way, [their proposal asserted that] the work of the Ahmadiyya Movement would be made to progress and advance.

Meeting of the Consultation Council in Woking

Doctor Saeed Ahmad traveled to the city of Woking at 10:00 AM via coach. The convention was taking place in the church hall. There he met various members, and also received an invitation to participate in a convention that would be attended by 30 individuals. Certain members made mention to Doctor Saeed Ahmad about the suggestion that had been narrated by Shaikh Mohammad Tufail. During the conversations, mention was made of the weakened state of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Pakistan. Doctor Saeed Ahmad translated and elaborated on the wisdom inherent in verse 114 of Surah Nisa, and said that this very verse of the Holy Quran would serve as the slogan and guiding light for that day as well as for the coming day. He further remarked that a gathering in which discussions were centered around reformation and goodness and wisdom and where the intention of the attendees was the seeking of Allah’s pleasure was a good thing. But he and his other members of the delegation from Pakistan would probably not have the authority to make a decision in the matter: They had come with specific directions. All the same, the conversation concluded amicably.

The gathering in the church hall concluded, following which the consultation meeting was initiated at 5:00 PM at the residence of Shaikh Khalid Iqbal. Doctor Aziz from Trinidad—he was serving as the president of the proceedings—delivered a speech, and then invited Doctor Saeed Ahmad to shed light on the conditions in Pakistan and for the Ahmadiyya Movement.

At the very outset of his speech, Doctor Saeed Ahmad clarified that since the meeting had been convened without any prior notification and without any sharing of the agenda, the members of the delegation from Pakistan were not in any position to make a decision; that all members of the delegation were not present at this time either; and furthermore, they had not had had any opportunity to consult among themselves. Therefore, whatever opinion an individual expressed would be that individual’s personal opinion, and nothing more than that.

Doctor Saeed Ahmad said that the grave events that had taken place in Pakistan during 1974 had caused grievous shock to the Ahmadiyya Movement. The decision made by the National Assembly of Pakistan on September 7, 1974 had not only increased but compounded the weaknesses of the Ahmadiyya Movement headquarters, which now faced numerous troubles on multiple fronts. Nonetheless, it had to be kept in mind that it was the headquarters and the Anjuman that was the fountainhead of knowledge and wise grace from which many attendees of this meeting had directly benefited. At this time, the headquarters needed the cooperation and assistance of these very people; the eyes of the headquarters were now looking toward them in turn. So it is all the more puzzling that despite the current situation of the headquarters, it is being viewed with derision, as being inferior and weak, and schemes were being hatched to spurn it, and to turn away from it. Doctor Saeed Ahmad also made mention of the devotion and zeal that had found expression in the London chapter of the Ahmadiyya Movement in 1973 in the form of the contribution of funds contributed; the majority of the attendees of this current meeting are eyewitnesses. His speech, in sum, was eminently pleasant. At its conclusion, many eyes could be seen moistened with tears, while a few faces showing hopelessness were also observed.

Doctor Saeed Ahmad writes about his impressions of that meeting as follows:

That prayer, one which I had offered at the time of my departure from Quetta [Pakistan], was answered during those moments, proving that my beseeching [Allah] had not been in vain. As an expression of thankfulness, and with that motivation alone, I am saying that the speech I ended up delivering in English—I, an unworthy individual, and from my lips—was far more elevated than my abilities could have possibly allowed. Allah blessed it with unusual effectiveness.

Immediately after the speech, a lady named Rita Rahman stood up and sobbed inconsolably. As it were, the speech completely changed the direction and momentum of the brewing storm.

O Allah, how can I possibly thank You in that You blessed me with delivering a speech in English that was free of even a single mistake; such was observed and reported by listeners. From which sources did you imbue my speech with the effectiveness with which it was received? O Allah, I am unworthy; I am unworthy.

During the coming days, a few consultation meetings were convened in which emphasis was placed on the establishment of a Supreme Council, effectively being recommendations to practically secede from the Ahmadiyya Movement headquarters. Using clear words—delivered in a decisive style—Doctor Saeed Ahmad elaborated his position and stance, conveying the message that those who had objections should dispatch their recommendations to the headquarters, because it was only the headquarters that had the authority to review them and make the appropriate decision. All the same, he elaborated, the objectors should not expect any cooperation in their proposed dismemberment of the Ahmadiyya Movement. His plain speaking delivery of the message and his steadfastness softened many hearts. In particular, members of the Ahmadiyya Movement from Guyana, Suriname, and the Netherlands expressed their sincere allegiance and support, declaring as essential the association with the headquarters.

The Impact of Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s Speeches

During the meetings convened on August 27th and 28th, Doctor Saeed Ahmad delivered two speeches, respectively titled “Sunrise from the West,” and “The Message and Role of the Ahmadiyya Movement.” At the conclusion of those speeches—specifically during the questions and answers sessions—he got the opportunity to remove the numerous doubts that had been troubling the audience. The positive results of those clarifications would be established in the coming days.

In this context, Doctor Saeed Ahmad writes:

At the wishes of those who did not know the English language, the meaning and essence of the speech—paragraph by paragraph—was also narrated. On this day, the Great Powers and Might of God were manifested. O Allah, I am your humble servant, Saeed Ahmad; such was the fluency and such was the impact of the speech; the pin drop silence enveloping the atmosphere; the rapt attention of the audience; I can scarcely recall any other moments in my life that bore such influence and impact. Perhaps it is on this day that the plaintive besieging of this unrequited man—the ones with which he had beseeched You in Quetta, the ones pertaining to the Holy Spirit—have been answered on this day. At the conclusion of my speech, Abdur Rahim Jaggoe spontaneously stood up and made a strong appeal for the speech to be translated into Urdu, Dutch, and Arabic. Two individuals pledged to take on the responsibility. I pledged to provide the translation in Urdu. The questions and answers session then followed. And I sensed that the ability with which I was blessed to answer those questions was beyond my power. When the proceedings came to an end—and while answering the final question—I made a heartfelt appeal, emphasizing the need for reformation and for unity. I expressed the stature of our Ahmadiyya Movement headquarters, and emphatically repudiated the attempts made to diminish that stature.

Creation of a Temporary Trust for the Ahmadiyya House

At the time of the purchase of the Ahmadiyya House, some obstacles stood in the way of directly registering it in the name of the Ahmadiyya Movement. As a result, that house had been registered in the name of Shaikh Mohammad Tufail; now it was necessary to establish a trust in order to transfer it to the Ahmadiyya Movement. The selection of members to oversee the trust was a complicated matter. After numerous working sessions—ones involving much debate and back-and-forth—a temporary trust was established, one in which three members from the local chapter were selected, and Doctor Aziz from Trinidad was designated as the president. It was also decided that in financial matters as well as in other activities, and following written approval by the president, it would be essential to get signatures from two members. And a permanent trust would be established sometime in the future.

Difficulties During the Stay in England

Soon after the arrival of Doctor Saeed Ahmad, in London, it became abundantly clear to the members of the local chapter, as well as to the organizers that he would not—in any way, shape, or form—join hands with those who were seeking to create discord and dissension within the Ahmadiyya Movement and who were supporting and promoting the formation of a new organizational structure. As a result, the local people behaved uncharitably, uncouthly, and turned a cold shoulder to Doctor Saeed Ahmad, not giving rightful consideration to his status and position. Rather, those people consistently ignored his status, one which he rightfully deserved as the Senior Vice President of the Ahmadiyya Movement, headquartered in Lahore, and as the leader of the delegation which accompanied him. All this continued to simmer below the surface. On a few occasions, their unbecoming conduct boiled over into the open.

Now, at the center of London is located a Swedish church. An inter-faith conference was hosted in that church, one in which Shaikh Mohammad Tufail was participating as a speaker. Doctor Saeed Ahmad was also asked to attend. The conference was scheduled for 7:00 PM. But at approximately 6:00 PM, Doctor Saeed Ahmad realized that there were no transportation arrangements to take him there. But through the efforts of Aziz Ahmad and his son, Zahid Aziz—and with the help of a map—they arrived at the church at 7:30 PM. At the conclusion of the session, when Doctor Saeed Ahmad returned to Ahmadiyya House, there were no dining arrangements. After snacking on a few crackers that he happened to have with him, he turned in for the night. In the morning, he woke up with a severe stomach ache; and he did not have the medication to treat it. So he himself took care of his ailment as best as he could in the circumstances.

Doctor Saeed Ahmad led the prayers in the Ahmadiyya House. Neither the mention of leading the Friday congregational prayers nor any word about delivering the Friday sermon had been communicated to him. The majority of the attendees were looking forward to being enlightened by his words. But in accordance with what seemed to have been previously planned, Mustafa Kamal Hydal came, stood up, and gave a good sermon. It was a source of satisfaction for Doctor Saeed Ahmad that the efforts of Naseer Ahmad Faruqui to train Mustafa Kamal Hydal had not been wasted. All the same, certain members of the Ahmadiyya Movement, ones with refined sensibilities, couldn’t have but sensed the thoughtlessness that had been shown by the organizers toward Doctor Saeed Ahmad, and they expressed this sentiment to him. It was his right to at least have been made aware of the program—as it related to the leading of the Friday congregational prayers, as well as the delivery of the Friday sermon—and he would not then have had any kind of objection. What’s more, much the same situation unfolded on the following Friday. Ignoring Doctor Saeed Ahmad in this way, and disparaging his status, were clearly indicative that all this was intentional.

Similar circumstances were observed in the following days and on numerous occasions. Challenges stood in his way at every step. But he carried himself with patience and forbearance. Foremost in his mind were the lofty goals of building the spirit of unity within the Ahmadiyya Movement chapter, and as such these minor challenges held no meaning insofar as they were intended to weaken his resolve. And he bore with bigheartedness all the unbecoming conduct aimed at him.

Formation of an Ahmadiyya Movement Chapter in London.

Many Ahmadiyya Movement households were resident in London, but because of misunderstandings or due to other personal imperatives, the majority of them were mistrustful of the Ahmadiyya Movement. And they remained disorganized. Doctor Saeed Ahmad, in his place, gave organizational discipline an important status, and rightly so, because without a principled and disciplined approach, a religious organization—any organization—simply cannot make progress. During his brief stay in London, his plain speaking style, his truthfulness, his lofty resolve, and his high morals had transformed the views of the majority of the people. And an atmosphere of placing trust in the Ahmadiyya Movement headquarters as well as cooperation with it could be seen emerging. The goal in front of him was to help the Ahmadiyya Movement families resident in London to establish themselves in a united and disciplined way whereby they could be placed on a sure footing to move forward to participate in Ahmadiyya Movement activities, and indeed in the mission of propagating Islam. In addition to his personal efforts, Doctor Saeed Ahmad continued to beseech Allah to assist him in achieving this goal. The following prayer is from one of his diary entries:

O Allah, I beseech You to carry out the work through me, that I go back only after establishing a strong and active organization, one that remains forever, one which continues to make progress.

To help encourage the Ahmadiyya Movements resident in London, as well as to organize them, he personally visited many households. The beginning of such efforts was with his visit to the household of Aziz Ahmad. Doctor Saeed Ahmad notes in his diary:

As promised, I called Aziz Ahmad, son of Doctor Allah Baksh, over the telephone, and at 11:00 AM, he, along with Zahid Aziz, came over to pick me up. I took Hafiz Sher Mohammad along with me. Their house is located at a distance of one and a half hours in an area called Slough. It is a beautiful house, a clean one, and situated in a most pleasant environment. His wife, Akhtar Bibi, daughter of Maulana Abdul Haq, and her daughter Samina, aged 14, were at home. After we had a meal, we began with Allah’s name the work of organizing the Ahmadiyya Movement chapter in the United Kingdom. With great eagerness, Akhtar Bibi as well as everyone along with her pledged to help make this recommendation a success. And the names of 10 members immediately came forth.

Located nearby is the house of Shahid Aziz, son of Aziz Ahmad. Doctor Saeed Ahmad then went to his house. Present were Shahid Aziz along with his wife as well as a few other relatives and guests. In this way, the launch of organizing a chapter in the United Kingdom came about as those 10 individuals pledged to cooperate with the Ahmadiyya Movement headquarters.

Then, in the company of Sultan Ali Shah and Hafiz Sher Mohammad, Doctor Saeed Ahmad went to meet with the Qazi household. He explained to them the reason for his coming and for establishing and nurturing an Ahmadiyya Movement chapter in the United Kingdom. Hafiz Sher Mohammad assisted Doctor Saeed Ahmad in answering questions; doubts were dispelled and misgivings addressed, following which the attendees immediately submitted their names and signed up as participants in the organization-building effort.

That evening, Malik Abdul Salam took Doctor Saeed Ahmad and his companions to the house of his brother, following which three more members enlisted in the effort to build an organization.

In this way, the series of visits to the Ahmadi households, one by one, continued. In certain quarters, Doctor Saeed Ahmad was treated with rudeness and with apathy. In one household, the degree to which he was demeaned was extreme: The head of the household disparaged Doctor Saeed Ahmad by reciting a verse of rhyme—one that was in horribly poor taste, replete with mockery. Moreover, some of those present applauded that crass recitation with loud and unseemly laughter. But in general, Doctor Saeed Ahmad was received and welcomed with love and with respect. It was in those days that Jamila Khan, Nasira Tufail, and Bano Khalid took the religious pledge and became participants in the activities of the Ahmadiyya Movement. And of course, Doctor Saeed Ahmad had from the earliest days the cooperation and support of Razia Faruqui and her household. Allah answered Doctor Saeed Ahmad‘s prayers and his efforts, and he succeeded in forming a small but active chapter of the Ahmadiyya Movement in the UK. Although the conditions in the Ahmadiyya House were neither favorable nor suitable for Doctor Saeed Ahmad, he nevertheless stayed there until September 3, 1975. Then on the following day he moved to the residence of Razia Faruqui where she herself, her son Ross Mahmood, her daughter-in-law Rana, and her nephew Hamid Rahman eagerly waited on Doctor Saeed Ahmad at all times to serve him. With great devotion, they joined hands with him to facilitate matters related to the Ahmadiyya Movement. And it was there that he spent the remaining days of his London stay, in pleasant and comfortable circumstances.

Trip to the West Indies —1975

As Doctor Saeed Ahmad set foot in the land of the West Indies, he was aware of the situation—in particular the one in Trinidad—wherefore he would not be welcomed. But his heart was suffused with the comfort that he would receive assistance in his noble goals from Allah the Most High. 

On the basis of his observations during the convention that had taken place in London, he had naturally and justifiably formed the opinion that the organizational matters of the Ahmadiyya Movement chapter in Trinidad, the internecine strife among them, and in the presence of elements seeking to secede—the growing divisions that continued unabated were a clear marker boding concern—immediate steps were warranted. Dark and ominous clouds foreboding the fragmentation of the chapter in Trinidad loomed large. But behind the scenes of this dark situation was a faint ray of hope—one which was bolstering Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s resolve—that when the light of the true facts of the matter would come to the fore, the dark clouds would surely be dispelled: Even though a visit to the West Indies was not part of his program that year, yet, based on the hope that his efforts would not go to waste, he had contacted the Ahmadiyya Movement headquarters in Lahore, did the istikhara (i.e. the prayer to be guided aright when undertaking an important matter), examined the expenses involved in the travel, and was satisfied that the £400—his personal money—would suffice to cover the travel expenses. Based on that, he finalized his resolve to travel. Now an individual named Adam Husain, one who originally hailed from Trinidad, was resident in London. During a meeting with Doctor Saeed Ahmad, he mentioned his intent of traveling to Trinidad, and in fact invited Doctor Saeed Ahmad to travel along with him. Doctor Saeed Ahmad accepted the invitation, and so it was that he arrived in Trinidad in Adam Husain’s company.

Trinidad

Adam Husain made arrangements for Doctor Saeed Ahmad to stay in a hotel. Contact was established with the local chapter of the Ahmadiyya Movement. The expressions of doubts, reservations, and the extension of the frostiest of cold shoulders to Doctor Saeed Ahmad by the president, by the secretary, and by the workers of the Trinidad chapter was not unexpected. Such, then, was the prevailing atmosphere. At long last, though, Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s lofty moral resolve and his steadfastness improved that atmosphere. Immediately after meeting them, Doctor Saeed Ahmad dispelled the misunderstanding according to which people thought that he had come to Trinidad at the instigation of some specific group or individual. He also said that what lay in front of him was the single minded focus on the unification and betterment of the Ahmadiyya Movement, and that he did not seek the creation of any disturbance whatsoever.

One of the members of the Trinidad chapter, Aziz Ahmad—an upright, generous, and philanthropic individual—took Doctor Saeed Ahmad along with him to his residence and served as his host with much devotion and affection. Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s stay consisted of five days, during which he met numerous individuals and had conversations with them. Many facts came to the fore, and elements of the local chapter were identified who were busily engaged, behind the scenes, working away at the goal of seceding from the Ahmadiyya Movement headquarters.

Now arrangements were routinely made for iftar in the various mosques in Trinidad. The imam of one such mosque invited Doctor Saeed Ahmad to an iftar reception, and also invited him to address the audience. During a brief yet comprehensive speech, Doctor Saeed Ahmad covered with excellence all aspects related to believing in the Promised Messiah, association with the Ahmadiyya Movement, and the need for being faithful to it. The audience was immensely impressed by his speech.

On September 12, 1975, Doctor Saeed Ahmad delivered the Friday congregational sermon and led the congregational prayers as well. Following the prayers, the audience asked him numerous questions. In the process of answering those questions, the importance of the Ahmadiyya Movement headquarters as well as the need for remaining associated with it were thoroughly clarified. As a result, the majority of the audience pledged to lend their cooperation and become associated with the headquarters.

During his stay in Trinidad, Doctor Saeed Ahmad went to offer fatihah at the grave of the Ahmadiyya Movement missionary, the late Maulvi Ameer Ali. He also went to meet many individuals in their respective homes. The outcome was positive.

Trip to Guyana

The chapter of the Ahmadiyya Movement in Guyana had been notified about the upcoming arrival of Doctor Saeed Ahmad, and they were eagerly expecting his arrival. In fact, the news of his arrival had been published in the local newspapers in anticipation. He was given a grand reception in Guyana on September 14, 1975. He found the Guyana chapter of the Ahmadiyya Movement functioning actively, with unity, and infused with true devotion to the Ahmadiyya Movement cause. As for those misunderstandings and distrust that had taken root here because of false propaganda, all that was dispelled by his presence and through his personal meeting with the people.

The individuals from the Guyana chapter who had met him during the convention in London were markedly impressed by his plain speaking of the truth and by his steadfastness. In fact, certain members of the Guyana chapter had themselves expressed their impressions of having been immensely impressed by Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s plain speaking style, his effectiveness at making decisions, his rock solid belief in his principles and his steadfastness, and it was their wish for Doctor Saeed Ahmad to ensure visiting them in Guyana.

During his four day stay in Guyana, a series of speeches took place. The sessions of questions and answers served to further strengthen the resolve and faith of the local members. Two of his speeches, as well as an interview, were transmitted over the radio station.

What follow are Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s impressions of his visit to Guyana:

The series of programs had begun immediately upon my arrival. As for my physical weakness, and any sense of apprehension that could have taken root regarding my [lack of] personal knowledge and powers of expression were transformed, purely through Allah the Most High, the Benevolent, and replaced by the power of confidence. Following that, everything which took place in the land of Guyana, it proved to be a manifestation of the great powers testifying to the existence of Allah the Most High, as well as the services of his humble servants such that my heart spontaneously seeks to remain bowed down at the threshold of the All-Powerful, the Ever-Living, the Beloved, the Patron, the Merciful, my Lord.

Doctor Saeed Ahmad in Suriname

At 10:30 AM on September 18, 1975, Mohammad Raza, along with Ali Baksh, and many youth of the Ahmadiyya Movement chapter in Suriname, were present at the Paramaribo Airport to receive Doctor Saeed Ahmad. The gathered delegation received him with much reverential love and warmth. The youth carried garlands of flowers in their hands.

A meeting was inaugurated at the residence of Illahi Baksh. The entire proceeding was recorded. Members of the Suriname chapter were acutely aware of Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s brief stay, yet on the basis of their enthusiasm and resolve, they availed every moment to the fullest extent. In addition to the speeches that were taking place during the numerous sessions, interviews were recorded for the newspapers, and photographs were taken.

In the delegation from Suriname that had previously met Doctor Saeed Ahmad in London was an individual who mentioned to him that there were many matters in which other people had created confusion and complexity, and thereby created much misunderstanding in the local chapter. All those matters were clarified through Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s speech in the Urdu language, one in which he outlined the various matters with great clarity. They did not even want to think of severing their ties with the headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Movement.

It was brought to Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s attention that the beliefs of the larger Muslim community in Suriname were the same as those of the Ahmadiyya Movement itself. However, governmental assistance to mosques was issued under the designation of the Anjuman Islamia. As a result, some members were apprehensive about publicly declaring themselves as members of the Ahmadiyya Movement, lest the governmental assistance be held back from them. But the majority were in favor of the Ahmadiyya Movement.

The convention was held in a central mosque. Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s speech was in the Urdu language and was delivered over 75 minutes, one in which he focused on the status of the Promised Messiah, the importance of identifying the organization through a unique name, and the special qualities of the Ahmadiyya Movement. Moreover, he shed light on the conditions in Pakistan from the point of view of the Ahmadiyya Movement.

What follows is an excerpt from Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s writings regarding his own impressions of that speech:

The impact of this speech was evident on the faces of the attendees. O Allah, how can I possibly thank You? You are my Living God. You grant life to the dead. All praise is for You. Following the speech, an announcement was made: “Please ask your questions.” Someone said: “There is no room left for any question.” Eventually, an individual stood up and said that he did not have a question for Doctor Saeed Ahmad; rather, he had a question for the entire audience. “Was an Ahmadiyya Movement chapter to be formed or not?” The men and women emphatically proclaimed: “We definitely need to form a chapter.” Some people, though, were unhappy.

Two Days in Trinidad

On September 19, 1975, the members of the highly motivated Suriname chapter bid farewell to Doctor Saeed Ahmad with teary eyes. Naturally, he, too, was sensing the impending departure from those zealously devoted individuals, and his eyes were teary as well.

During his two days long stay in Trinidad, he sensed flexibility and gentleness in the attitude of most of the members of the chapter. This welcome and encouraging transformation was a testimony to the successful accomplishment of his goals. He saw the members of the West Indies chapter with his own eyes; he became familiar with the whole situation; he also became familiar with what their expectations were of the Ahmadiyya Movement headquarters, and what the expectations of the headquarters were of them, which was crucial for setting matters on the right course and for the unity of the overall Ahmadiyya Movement.

Return Journey Home

On September 20, 1975, Doctor Saeed Ahmad departed from Trinidad, and arrived in London, where he stayed for a few days and accomplished certain important matters of the Ahmadiyya Movement. He traveled to Woking, delivered the Friday congregational sermon, and led the congregational prayer as well. Then on September 30, 1975, he began his journey back to Pakistan: By way of Karachi and Quetta, he arrived in Lahore on October 14, 1975. Members of the chapter in Lahore were eagerly awaiting him and gave him a befitting welcome.

An Excerpt from Paigham-e-Sulah – October 18, 1975

اَھْلاً وَ سَھْلاً وَ مَرْحَباً

اے آمدنت باعث آبادیٔ ما

Welcome, and welcome.

Oh, your coming is the basis of our prosperity.

At the conclusion of the Ahmadiyya Movement Convention in London—following which Doctor Saeed Ahmad went on to complete a visit of various chapters in other countries—he returned home to Lahore on October 14, 1975 by air.

He had traveled to London to participate in the Ahmadiyya Movement Convention as the leader of the Pakistani delegation. At the conclusion of the Convention, Doctor Saeed Ahmad traveled to Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad at the earnest request by the delegates of those countries who were also attending the Convention. And he has now returned home, bringing very positive impressions.

The airplane carrying him landed at the Lahore airport at ten minutes past twelve. A large number of members of the Ahmadiyya Movement—including ladies—welcomed him with great reverence and enthusiasm.

His return home has brought a spring-like atmosphere back to Dar-us-Salam. The faces of children are lit up by smiles. It is as if the head of the household has come back home after his blessed journey. Details will follow later.

— Reporter.