Hayat-e-Saeed

Third Trip Abroad — August 1977

The autobiographical travelogue of Doctor Saeed Ahmad begins with the following passage:

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ۔ وَالصَّلوٰاۃُ عَلٰی خَیْرِ خَلْقِہٖ مُحَمَّدِ وَّعَلٰی آلِہٖ وَ اَصْحَابِہٖ اَجْمَعِیْنَ

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. And blessings be upon the best of his creation—Muhammad—and upon his family and all his companions.

Saturday, August 20, 1977. Today, my third journey—the trip to England and Germany and Holland—the first day has finished, and I begin my diary entries as I sit in Room Number 422 of the Intercontinental Hotel in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

I did not have any intention of taking up a long journey this year. I did not have any clarity in my heart in this regard. But the circumstances of the Ahmadiyya Movement began to take shape such that the headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Movement once again decided that I had to travel at least to England. It became difficult for me to refuse. Moreover, a letter from the President of the London chapter of the Ahmadiyya Movement—Jamila Khan—was received in which emphasis was put on the urgent need for me to travel to the United Kingdom. A few portions of that letter were such that I could not help but be affected. In his capacity as the Secretary of the London chapter—Shahid Aziz—had then written on many occasions, conveying the need for me to travel to the UK. And then the resolution of the Executive Committee was received in which a formal request was made for my participation. A meeting of the AAIIL Trust [AAIIL being the Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha’at-e-Islam, i.e. the Ahmadiyya Society for the Propagation of Islam] was scheduled for August 28, 1977, and the Ahmadiyya Movement headquarters appointed me as a trustee [of the aforementioned AAIIL Trust.] This meeting is important for many reasons: The orders for the relocation of Sheikh Tufail Ahmad have created a situation of disturbance within the Ahmadiyya Movement. And the aforesaid imam and his supporters are using means which forebode nothing but danger for the future of the Movement. I look at the problems that I face and do not consider any strategy of my own—or any power [of my own] to solve those problems—and my entire trust is in the person of Allah the Most High, because He

عَلٰى كُلِّ شَیْءٍ قَدِیْرٌ

Has power over all things

بسم الله توكلتُ على اللهِ ولا حولَ ولا قوةَ إلا بالله

In the name of God, I put my trust in God, and there is neither power nor strength except with Allah.

Departure from Dar-us-Salam

Doctor Saeed Ahmad writes as follows about his impressions of his departure from Dar-us-Salam:

Today, on the morning of Saturday, approximately 30 men, as well as many women, participated in the Fajr prayer. After the prayer, it was with great effectiveness that Raja Muhammad Afzal explained the objective of my upcoming journey. He mentioned the background of my migration to Lahore [being the culmination of my leaving behind Abbottabad], and likened it to a destiny chosen by God Himself. And then he galvanized all those gathered to beseech Allah. After offering some words with which I led all those gathered in beseeching Allah, I gave a brief talk. Then I individually met everyone gathered. Almost everyone was in a state of spiritual rapture, and some sobbed uncontrollably. In particular, the Indonesian student Sardeman clung to me like a child and sobbed profusely such as when a child cries on being separated from his mother. Shahid, the son of Raja Muhammad Afzal, as well as Chaudhry Mohammad Hayat sobbed so much as to almost gag. I was greatly moved. I thanked Allah for the degree to which He had placed such immense affection in the hearts of the residents of Dar-us-Salam. It greatly fortified my resolve to travel.

Meeting of the AAIIL Trust in Ahmadiyya House, London

After arriving in England, and while he stayed there, Doctor Saeed Ahmad resided with his son Abdul Karim Saeed in Dartford. But he was in constant contact with the members of the Ahmadiyya Movement’s headquarters in Lahore, Pakistan. Prior to the proposed meeting of August 28, 1977, he had meetings with representatives of the Movement’s local chapter as well as with representatives of the headquarters—Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Aziz and Fazal Ahmad—for consultation and exchange of ideas.

On August 28, 1977, a meeting of the AAIIL Trust was convened under the chairmanship of Aziz Ahmad, who had especially traveled from Trinidad to attend the meeting in London. During the meeting, matters of the Ahmadiyya House, related matters, and other issues were debated. Regardless of the reasons for the directive from the Ahmadiyya Movement headquarters in Lahore regarding the transfer of Sheikh Tufail Ahmad, the entire episode was presented incorrectly, as a result of which the meeting began in an unpleasant and oppressively heavy atmosphere. Certain members were taking the position, much as they had done in past years, that the AAIIL Trust was independent of the headquarters, that it was an autonomous entity, and, moreover, that other chapters of the Movement outside the headquarters in Pakistan—including the chapter in London—were authorized to act autonomously, and that the position of the headquarters was secondary and in name only. Their position further asserted that the role of the headquarters was merely that of providing spiritual guidance. Now the headquarters had in the past rejected such demands, and this demand, too, was not acceptable under any circumstances. As such, Doctor Saeed Ahmad explained the facts of the matter per the relevant decisions made by the General Council as well as the full details. He also made it abundantly clear that the true objective of the Ahmadiyya Movement is to propagate Islam and the Holy Quran. The chapter in London, as well as all other chapters, remained eager to take up this work in a united way. And the headquarters would not under any circumstances permit the chapters to become autonomous. Therefore, it was baseless to argue any further about the matter.

The plain speaking style of Doctor Saeed Ahmad as well as his righteous, supporting arguments were embraced by the majority of those present. But the opposing members remained intransigent, unwilling to accept them under any circumstances. As a result, the meeting devolved into a morass of agitation and disturbance. And thus it was that, unfortunately, two more days were consumed by similar circumstances. The chairman of the meeting, Aziz Ahmad, was unacquainted with such unpleasant developments and was perturbed by the unruliness, which made him extremely agitated. His impassioned plea to those gathered—an entreaty marked by deeply felt distress—is captured by Doctor Saeed Ahmad in the following words:

It was with much distress that he [Aziz Ahmad] remarked how those people were bent upon destroying the headquarters [of the Ahmadiyya Movement.] After all, it was not for this outcome that he had donated [the sum of] 10,000 [British] pounds, or perhaps even more. He said that it was his thinking that the Woking Mission—a well-functioning organizational center—had slipped away from our hands, but now we had the opportunity to resurrect an alternative center in the service of Islam. He noted that he had spent thousands of dollars to travel [to London] and attend the meeting. That he had left behind his wife who was in the throes of life and death. That his daughter had come from another Trinidadian island—Greenland—to take care of his wife during his absence. That he had made arrangements for two medical nurses to take care of his wife during night time; that every moment of his waking time was overshadowed by the anxiety that his wife might die. And here, even in the hotel, people don’t leave me alone. And you all assail me with all this internecine in-fighting.

Doctor Saeed Ahmad further writes:

I had the apprehension that something harmful might happen to Aziz Ahmad. So I intervened and requested that a few minutes be granted for consultation. I appealed to Aziz Ahmad, and then said to everyone: “Right now, for the sake of God, let’s stop all this.” Someone—perhaps it was Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Aziz—seconded my request. Aziz Ahmad gave a period of 10 minutes [to the attendees.]

After the consultation, Aziz Ahmad announced: “I have arrived at the conclusion that no good outcome can be expected from this series of meetings. I’m postponing it for an indefinite period of time.”

Future Course of Action

On September 3, 1977, the Ahmadiyya Movement headquarters in Lahore convened a meeting in which decisions were made regarding the future course of action for the Movement, where everyone agreed that every effort would be made to strengthen the Movement, and it was decided that efforts would be made to unite members as well as to gain their cooperation. In this connection, the imam and the assistant imam designated by the headquarters would travel to London without any delay. All matters were decided upon with full consensus and unanimity.

Trip to Manchester

Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s wish to visit Manchester could not be fulfilled during the previous year. And it had been brought to his attention that many Ahmadi families had settled in Manchester. So it was his wish to meet them and encourage them to renew their association with the Ahmadiyya Movement’s chapter in London. On September 10, 1977, he arrived in Manchester in the company of Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Aziz and Razia Madad Ali. Zahid Aziz had the pleasure of hosting them. Now there was no contact between the Ahmadi families living in Manchester, as a result of which even the Annual Congregational Eid prayer would not be convened. As a result, and according to their own convenience, some of those Ahmadi families would join the Eid prayers with the non-Ahmadis, while others would join the Rabwah Jamaat Eid congregation.

During his two day long stay in Manchester, Doctor Saeed Ahmad met numerous Ahmadis. The street addresses for most of those individuals were obtained through his personal efforts, following which he went to meet them. On meeting them, he sensed that the majority of them were well-to-do financially, but because of the absence of mutual connection and the lack of religious education, their affiliation with the Movement was in name only, especially among the youth. While there was love for the Movement in their hearts, a strong and united chapter of the Movement could be established only if an able and ready missionary—one who was thoroughly knowledgeable in Islam as well as a true practitioner—could come and exert efforts to establish a strong and active chapter. At that time, he was mindful that the headquarters’ designated assistant imam—Masud Akhtar—would momentarily be arriving in London, and that he was capable of carrying out this work.

Eid, Ahmadiyya House, London

Eid-ul-Fitr was on September 15, 1977. Despite threats of a boycott and the withdrawal of cooperation, Doctor Saeed Ahmad was full of hope and inspired by the vision that the local chapter should not stay deprived of the blessings associated with the blessed day of Eid. The number of participants had reached 90. After leading the Eid prayer and delivering the Eid sermon, he deemed it necessary to address the audience with a few additional thoughts. By way of summarizing that address, he writes:

In the end, I made mention of the objective of my visit by way of a humbly offered personal note that I was bringing with me—on behalf of and representing the Ahmadiyya Movement headquarters—a message of peace and unity, coming here a third time. And after telling them about the proper stature of the headquarters, I emphasized the need for purifying hearts of impurities. I also asserted that I did not harbor ill will in my heart toward any individual. [I added that] differences of opinion are [certainly] not prohibited. But if there is an urge in the heart for life in this world, then it cannot be achieved without cleansing one’s heart of [all] hatred and distrust. I added I would be here for a few more days. So if anyone sought to have their doubts dispelled, then I am available. And I believe that I will be able to dispel those doubts.

The issues of the Movement’s chapter in London, the legal cases, the threats of a boycott, the legal hair-splitting in the written matters of the chapter—and many other estrangements aside—had been taking a toll on the sensibilities of Doctor Saeed Ahmad. In this matter, he would beseech only Allah in that He Alone would show the way out of the quagmire during these difficult times for the Movement, and whereby composure and tranquility of mind may be achieved to again engage with renewed focus on the work of propagating Islam.

What follows is another excerpt from Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s writings:

To what [trivial] end is our valuable time being spent? Oh, Allah! A big part of our lives is being squandered in the repulsion of evil. Please bring about an end to this evil so that we may get the opportunity and time to spend in the service of Islam and the Ahmadiyya Movement in a constructive way. O Allah! Have mercy on us. You are the

 ارحم الراحمین

The Most Merciful of those who have mercy

We are needy and weak humans.

 ربنا ولا تحملنا

Our Lord, place not upon us a burden

Participation in Interfaith Conference

During that year’s stay in England, Doctor Saeed Ahmad got the opportunity to attend an Interfaith Conference, one in which Sheikh Tufail Ahmad represented Islam and gave a good talk.

At the conclusion of the conference, Doctor Saeed Ahmad also visited the library that was located in the same building. He found that hundreds of books on every religion were available, while merely a handful of books were available on Islam. This is a cause of concern for all the scholars of Islam, and in particular for this Movement, one which has taken up the cause of taking the religion of Islam to the corners of the world.

Trip to the United States

Maulvi Muhammad Abdullah, his son Zafar Abdullah, and Jafar Husain had especially invited Doctor Saeed Ahmad to inaugurate the new center of the Ahmadiyya Movement in California, USA. So Doctor Saeed Ahmad submitted a visa application to the US Consulate in London, which was approved with a visa of a generous five years long duration, being one on which multiple entries into the USA were permitted. He arrived in San Francisco on October 18, 1977 and stayed at the residence of Zafar Abdullah in Hayward, California.

Inauguration of the USA Center of the Ahmadiyya Movement 

The missionary chapter of the Ahmadiyya Movement in San Francisco was established in 1947 during the presidency of its first worldwide president, Maulana Muhammad Ali. For the purposes of establishing the chapter, a building had been purchased, one which served as both the residence of Bashir Ahmad Minto as well as the chapter’s center. Bashir Ahmad Minto served missionary duties with distinction for a period of time. It was as a result of his influence that the secretary of the chapter, Jafar Husain, became inclined to render religious services. He was now an active and sincere worker of the mission. The building had been registered in the name of Bashir Ahmad Minto, and he had to sell it due to personal reasons when he returned to Pakistan, and as such the missionary chapter did not remain active after that. Had the chapter been running properly, there is no doubt that a lot of work would have been accomplished.

After a period of time, and thanks to the efforts of Maulvi Muhammad Abdullah, Zafar Abdullah, and Jafar Husain, this chapter has received life again. During the same year, a few months ago, Maulana Muhammad Ali’s elder son—Mohammad Ahmad—visited California. In his presence, and in fact, due to his involvement, the constitution of the Movement’s chapter in the USA was formulated, and it was officially registered. A building was purchased for hosting its missionary work, situated at some distance from Hayward near the city of Oakland.

The First Call to Prayer in the Ahmadiyya Movement Mosque

On October 9, 1977, Doctor Saeed Ahmad went to visit the new building of the Movement’s chapter. He writes about it as follows:

After the evening prayer, I said to Zafar that we should go see the building that has been purchased for the chapter. It is located at a distance of 10 miles from his house, and it did not take us long to get there as we traveled the majority of the distance via a freeway. My heart was gladdened on viewing the building. It is located on hilly terrain, at an elevation of approximately 10 feet above the street level, and reachable by climbing the 16 steps of a stairway, each six inches tall. This building had previously housed a library. The restroom is located at the back, then there is a large room, a kitchen, a storage room, etc. There is an adjoining piece of land at the back. The dimensions of the room are 24 feet by 40 feet. I had a magnetic compass with me. By making use of it, we found that—along the length of the room—the qiblah, being the South-East direction, was located approximately North. It felt as if this room was destined to serve as a mosque from its inception. The beautiful wooden floor had been recently polished and was shining. Fluorescent lights illuminated the room. Zakia, the wife of Zafar Abdullah, and their one year old son Riaz, were accompanying us. Given the freedom, the little boy began running around and playing, given the large room that had suddenly become available to him. I gave the first azan in the life of this place, and then the three of us performed the congregational Isha prayers. It felt as if it was just now that we had received the valuable earnest money pre-payment for coming here. May Allah make this journey of mine be a source of goodness, mercy, and good fortune for the Ahmadiyya Movement, for Islam, and for my own self as well.

Opening of the Center

October 15, 1977 was designated as the day for the inauguration of the Center. In Hayward, a regular series of congregational prayers and sermons of the Holy Quran had begun at the residence of Zafar Abdullah. One day before the inauguration, the very first Friday congregational prayer was performed in that new mosque in the Center. In this way, the performance of the azan, of the  Friday congregational prayer had already effectively inaugurated the Center. But the inauguration in the presence of guests was performed on October 15, 1977. Doctor Saeed Ahmad writes:

At 6:45 PM, we went to the door. They gave me the keys. Master [Maulvi Muhammad] Abdullah gave a brief talk in English about the inaugural ceremony as well as a few words about me. In response, I gave a brief talk regarding Surah Fatiha, mentioning that every good thing begins with this Quranic chapter, being the one with which the Holy Quran itself begins. The meaning of Fatihah is “that which opens.” Then I recited the Fatihah. Amen. The door was opened, the keys to the door were given to me as memorabilia, and then people entered through the door. From every corner, photographs were being taken with more than a dozen cameras, and one could hear the click click sounds from every direction. A movie camera or two were also on hand, and a video recording was also made.

After the Maghrib prayer, the series of speeches began. After the speeches by Maulvi Muhammad Abdullah and Zafar Abdullah, Doctor Saeed Ahmad delivered a speech and made an appeal for funds. Zafar Abdullah had instigated the need for such an appeal. Doctor Saeed Ahmad himself answered the appeal by making a donation of $25 from his personal funds. In the end, a sum of approximately $6,000 was collected.

Inauguration of the Ahmadiyya Movement’s Center and the Mosque—An Excerpt from Paigham-e-Sulah

As members know, the Vice President of the Ahmadiyya Movement, who is also the Chairman of the Foreign Missions Committee—Doctor Saeed Ahmad—has for the past three consecutive years been undertaking foreign travel in the service of missionary work as well as the work of uniting the Ahmadiyya Movement chapters abroad. In 1975, in addition to traveling to England, he also traveled to the West Indies, Trinidad, Suriname, and Guyana, visiting numerous chapters in those countries respectively. In 1976, he had traveled to England, Germany, Netherlands, and also to the United States. Then in the previous year, in addition to traveling to various locations in England, he traveled to the state of California in the United States, and finally returned home in November 1977. Members of our Movement reside in a few cities in California. In particular, many members live in the cities of Hayward and Oakland, the majority of them having migrated there from Fiji. For the purposes of housing the local chapter’s center and mosque, a building in the city of Oakland was purchased and for the inauguration of which the members of the chapter had especially invited Doctor Saeed Ahmad. And it was for this specific goal that he had traveled from England to America, and inaugurated the new center and mosque on October 15, 1977. In addition to the members of the Movement who took part, others—including African-American Muslims and non-Ahmadi friends of the Movement—also participated. On that occasion, he was informed that due to the purchase of the house, the local chapter had incurred a debt of $20,000. So when Doctor Saeed Ahmad made an appeal for funds, $6,000 was contributed, a source of great satisfaction for the Movement. During his brief stay there, in addition to getting introduced to and meeting the members of the local chapter, he participated in a special session in which thought and deliberation were given to various matters of the chapter, and ideas were exchanged regarding approaches to promote progress and regarding strengthening the local chapter. It is in that beautiful location in America that Maulvi Muhammad Abdullah and his sons are striving hard to propagate Islam. Zafar Abdullah is President of the local chapter, and Jafar Hasan is General Secretary.

Included in the inaugural ceremony of the chapter were the presentation of the mosque, the offering of a prayer for the general good, the performing of the Maghrib prayer, speeches by Maulvi Muhammad Abdullah and Zafar Abdullah as well as the speech by Doctor Saeed Ahmad. This reporter who is bringing you this news had the opportunity to listen to a cassette audio tape recording of the proceedings. And those are the details which have been compiled and are being presented to members of the Movement.

 —Abu Salman.

Meeting with Members of the Chapter, and Exchange of Ideas

The American chapter of the Ahmadiyya Movement had designated October 16, 1977 as the day for the members of the chapter to meet and consult with one another such that the future course of action could be decided in the presence of Doctor Saeed Ahmad and whereby his guidance could be received. Now, many Ahmadi families lived in California; the majority of them had migrated there from Fiji. A series of mutual differences had arisen and were still going on between a few members regarding matters of the Movement organizational aspects. Doctor Saeed Ahmad advised them to work together in a united way, reminding them that principles should never be compromised but small differences ought to be overlooked through mutual consensus in order to make progress and to move forward. He also shed light on the importance of taking the religious pledge as well as the fruits that would be borne by remaining associated with the Movement. Eleven individuals immediately took the religious pledge. The members gathered hugged one another in a pleasant atmosphere, and pledged to maintain a similar atmosphere of unity.

Return Trip

Taking with him the pleasant memories of his stay in San Francisco, Doctor Saeed Ahmad bid farewell to the members of the Movement’s chapter there on October 17, 1977. Then, after an airline flight of approximately one hour, he landed at the Borniek airport, where his intention was to meet his granddaughter Zahida. He spent two pleasant days in the company of Zahida and Rahman. In making note of their hospitality, he writes:

In their bedroom, myself on the bed, Zahida on the floor, and Rahman remaining seated in a chair. The pleasant feeling of being in a household after a while. They are both looking after me exceptionally well. A bouquet of flowers is placed prominently in my room. And they make all kinds of efforts to ensure that I am comfortable and well looked after.

Then on October 20, 1977, Doctor Saeed Ahmad departed from New York to London. His grandson Ahmi (Ahmad Tariq Shaukat) had especially come from the neighboring state of New Jersey to meet him. He spent a few pleasant hours at the airport in Ahmi’s company and highly encouraged him to remain affiliated with the Ahmadiyya Movement, which he promised that he would.

Arrival in London, England, of the Designated Imam and the assistant Imam

When Doctor Saeed Ahmad returned from the USA to London, he got the happy news that Nazir-ul-Islam (as the imam) and Masud Akhtar (as the assistant imam) were expected in London on the evening of October 22, 1977. What follow are his impressions on receiving the news:

Pasha announced:

Jamila Khan is on the telephone. As physically fatigued as I was, I made it to the next room. But after saying assalamu alaikum, I heard the first few words which infused me with great hope. Those people—Nazir-ul-Islam and Masud Akhtar—will be arriving at 7:30 PM. O Allah, is it really true that this second prayer with which I had beseeched you—a prayer by a distressed traveler in the home of Zafar [Abdullah] in Hayward and one during the night I spent at the home of Jafar Husain, again as a traveler—You accepted another one of the beseeching that this aggrieved traveler had beseeched You with. How can I possibly thank You?

لَىِٕنْ شَكَرْتُمْ لَاَزِیْدَنَّكُمْ

If you are grateful, I will certainly increase for you.

Satisfactory arrangements could not be made for lodging the newly arrived travelers. The relatives and friends of the former imam were residing, occupying all residential rooms. Therefore, a small room adjoining the kitchen was prepared for the two arriving imams. Members of the local chapter had brought from their homes several items of convenience as well as items for them to eat and drink. It was in this way that temporary residential and dining arrangements were made for the new imams.

In their place, the two imams were infused with the spirit of putting up with all difficulties on the path of righteousness and in following the mission of the Ahmadiyya Movement, and that, too, under the circumstances of being bereft of reasonable accommodation arrangements, and to which the two were resigned. Soon they could be seen busily engaged in the pursuit of their lofty goals.

On the one hand was the spirit of striving being demonstrated by those two imams, and on the other hand was the propaganda that had been launched against them. It had been publicized that neither had either of them have any skill in the English language nor could they converse in it; that one was an old man and lacked knowledge of religion while the other was hard of hearing, this allegation being made on the basis of a slight deficiency in the hearing capacity of Masud Akhtar; that the other individual was a lawyer by profession and completely lacking knowledge of religion; and that neither of them possessed any level of awareness with Western etiquette, not even having the sensibility to dress properly in western attire. In short, similarly absurd conjectures were being circulated everywhere, the goal being the establishment of opposition even before meeting the two imam.

Doctor Saeed Ahmad wished to spend as much time as possible with those two dear individuals, and often remained pained by their state of being bereft of reasonable accommodation as well as by the other discomforts the two were bearing. He writes in this regard:

In regards to them—now that they are present in this country—much sorrow and regret on being separated from them. Distances and means are not according to one’s needs, meaning that there is lack of transportation, not having one’s own vehicle, my weakened health; otherwise, had I been with them, my heart would have been at rest. I find it exceedingly hard to leave them here in these circumstances, being aware of the situation of these individuals in transit. O Allah, these are the two individuals who had pledged to fulfill the promise at my instigation, and now fulfilled it, in fact. You removed many difficulties along the way. O Allah! Save them from disgrace, continue to overlook their faults, and forgive the sins of this sinner, and then grant me success in my objectives that I have undertaken purely to gain Your approval. Nothing is difficult for You.

On October 28, 1977, Nazir-ul-Islam delivered his first sermon in the Ahmadiyya House in exceptionally eloquent English and led the Friday congregational prayers. And within a mere few days, a regular series of instructing children in reading the Holy Quran as well as religious education got off to an excellent start.

Death of the Wife of Maulana Muhammad Ali

It was while he was in England that Doctor Saeed Ahmad got news of the passing away of the wife of Maulana Muhammad Ali. Doctor Saeed Ahmad used to call her “Amma Ji”, and indeed, their relationship was one of mother and son, one which was established on the basis of the divine revelation that Maulana Muhammad Ali had received during the days when Doctor Saeed Ahmad had been gravely ill. Maulana Muhammad Ali had been praying for him when the following words spontaneously came to his lips: “O Allah, Grant good health to my son Saeed Ahmad.” Doctor Saeed Ahmad writes about his sentiments as follows:

When Sabiha called over the telephone, Razia [Faruqui] told her about the death of “Amma Ji” (the mother of Mohammad Ahmad), saying that Masud Akhtar had informed her. Razia was crying during my conversation with her. I, too, began to cry, and felt distress and grief in my heart.

 اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَ اِنَّاۤ اِلَیْهِ رٰجِعُوْنَ۔

To Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.

She passed away during the night between the days off October 16 and 17, 1977. I got this news in the month of October when I was in England. 26 years ago—also in the month of October—when Maulana Muhammad Ali, that individual who strived so greatly for the cause of Islam throughout his life, had passed away on October 13, 1951. It was in Stockholm, Sweden that I had received a telegram, perhaps on October 16. And I fell ill, remaining in my bed for three days in a state of sorrow. And for many days afterward, I used to walk around with a “sorrow band” [around my arm], signifying my sentiments in the matter. In the sorrows of my life—and next in severity after the death of my father—that was perhaps the greatest day of sorrow.

 اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَ اِنَّاۤ اِلَیْهِ رٰجِعُوْنَ۔

To Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.

To express his condolences, Doctor Saeed Ahmad went to visit Razia Faruqui, the sister of the recently demised wife of Maulana Muhammad Ali. He stayed there overnight as a token of his expression of sorrow and condolences.

Inauguration of the Mosque in The Hague, Netherlands

Doctor Saeed Ahmad was invited by the Ahmadiyya Movement’s chapter based in the Netherlands to perform the ceremonial opening of a mosque in the Hague. It was on November 10, 1977 that he arrived in Amsterdam in the company of Masud Akhtar. Abdur Rahim Jaggoe, accompanied by other men and women of the chapter were present to receive them. In a continuation of their distinct traditions, they bore garlands of flowers in their hands, their faces beaming with joy.

At 5:00 PM on October 16, 1977, the ceremonial opening of the mosque was performed by Doctor Saeed Ahmad. The scissors for the ribbon cutting ceremony were placed in his hand. After a brief address, he asked the attendees to raise their hands in prayer, following which he recited aloud Surah Fatiha. Everyone said amen together loudly, and then followed him into the mosque. The mosque was packed with attendees. The Maghrib prayer was performed in his leadership, following which  everyone headed toward the hall in which a session had been scheduled. That hall had been rented especially for this occasion.

The proceedings of the session began at 9:00 PM. Noor Sardar, the president of the chapter in the Hague, delivered the welcoming address. He mentioned in his address that a loan of 35,000 guilders had been taken out from the bank for the construction of this mosque. The plan was to pay the installments over a period of four years, on top of which the interest would have to be paid, making the actual payment amount 50,000 guilders.

Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s Address to the Audience, and Funds Appeal

What follows is an excerpt from his writing:

Noor Sardar, who was conducting the meeting, asked me to address the gathering. Prior to that, a feeling of awe had been weighing down on my heart. The moment I stood up, Allah dispelled [from my heart] that feeling. I had a compact copy of the Holy Quran in my pocket. I took it out. I had also brought with me a few points written down on a piece of paper, which I took in my hand. There was nothing in front—no table, no desk, etc.—so I took out my glasses and left them behind on the table at the back.

اَللّٰهُ نُوْرُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ

Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth.

Recited the section of the Holy Quran. Through that recitation, Allah gave a peaceful composure and contentment to my heart as well as to everyone in the audience—it consisted of somewhere between 200 and 300 individuals—and the effect of the recitation began to manifest itself. After that, as much as Allah the Most High blessed me with, I gave a talk. And whatever I said, and the style with which I was able to deliver the talk, it was all a blessing from Him. I didn’t even have to reach for the written points that I had brought with me on that piece of paper nor did I have to reach for my eyeglasses. However, the pure words of Allah were in my hand, an adoration; a source of blessings.

 اَلْحَمْدُ لِلہِ۔ ثُمَّ اَلْحَمْدُ لِلہِ۔۔ ثُمَّ اَلْحَمْدُ لِلہِ

All praise is for Allah. Again, all praise is for Allah. Again, all praise is for Allah.

He further writes:

On completing the subject of my talk, I made mention of the sacrifices that these people were making. I made mention of their work toward the goal of making progress—starting with the previous year, and going up until the end of this year—that if they could be freed from the weight of the debt that was weighing them down, then the income that they received on a monthly basis, and the rental payments from [renting out] the upper level of the house could be used for the great work of propagating Islam. I added that I, in the capacity of a traveler, had a few guilders. I don’t remember the exact amount; it is not a large sum. However little it is, I submit it, along with the request that the appeal for funds start with this submission of mine. I wish for my name to be entered atop the list so that I may get the reward of the one who leads those who contribute funds. I finally said assalamu alaikum and, as I was stepping away, Noor Sardar immediately lunged forward toward the microphone. Evidently, I had four notes of currency in my hand, and those I put in the hands of Noor Sardar. I had thought that perhaps I had 35 guilders. But when he counted them, the amount was actually 40 guilders. This episode had a strange effect on the audience, which became abuzz with activity. Regarding some points related to the appeal for funds, Fazil Ramzan—he was seated near me—and I kept communicating with Noor Sardar. Fazil Ramzan, too, had experience in fundraising from the years past in Lahore, Pakistan. Lo and behold, a downpour of funds began to rain down.

A few women in the audience contributed their jewelry and valuable coats toward the fund, which were immediately purchased by members of the audience for amounts exceeding their values, and those sums of money were contributed toward the fund. In this way, the entire amount of the loan was covered. Moreover, there was a surplus of 1700 guilders. Over the course of the session, the allotted time for the rental hall expired. Two white, Dutch employees of the hall had been witnessing the entire proceedings; they increased the allotted time by two hours, saying that this was their contribution to the funds. In this way, time became available for a few additional speeches. In referring to the speech by Masud Akhtar, Doctor Saeed Ahmad writes: “Masud Akhtar gave a brief yet forceful talk. My heart was gladdened.”

Eventually, the entire proceedings ended at 1:00 AM with Doctor Saeed Ahmad leading the beseeching of Allah in a moving and soulful way.

The Impressions of a Non-Ahmadi About the Appeal for Funds

In making mention of the appeal for funds by Doctor Saeed Ahmad, as well as his speech, Noor Sardar told him that a few non-Ahmadis had also been invited to the occasion. They, too, were immensely impressed by his speech, and by the overall atmosphere of the occasion. One of them remarked to Noor Sardar: “You people are strange, and your maulvi even stranger in that he donates money out of his own pocket. Our maulvis, on the other hand, take money out of our pockets and fill their own pockets with it.”

Masud Akhtar’s Impressions of the Trip to the Netherlands

We continued our journey after performing the Zuhr prayer in the center of the Movement’s chapter in Tooting. When time arrived for the Asr prayer—we were aboard a ship at that time—Doctor Saeed Ahmad performed an ablution. He told me to perform an ablution as well, following which we did our Asr prayer together aboard the ship. Once we had finished our prayer, the people around us inquired as to what we had been doing. Sensing the opportunity, Doctor Saeed Ahmad elaborated on the topic of prayers for 10 minutes. Privately, he told me that while Allah the Most High had permitted the shortening of prayers, the delaying of prayers had not been made permissible. Therefore, one should perform prayers at the time when the prescribed prayer time arrives. In London, I had seen that Doctor Saeed Ahmad had friendly relations with every single member of the chapter. But the chapter was a small one, making it possible to establish friendship with everyone. But the situation in the Netherlands was completely different. Hundreds of Ahmadi families resided there. So I was amazed when I witnessed how he personally knew the individual members of every family. Moreover, they were his enthusiastic devotees. After spending one night in Amsterdam, the Friday congregational prayer was performed in a mosque in which both Ahmadi and non-Ahmadi Muslims were gathered, although the majority of them were the non-Ahmadis. One evening in the city of Utrecht, after addressing a gathering, when we reached the Hague, there was the need for 35,000 guilders for purchasing a center for the Ahmadiyya Movement’s chapter there. On Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s appeal for funds, contributions kept coming in till 1:00 AM in the night. So moving was the spiritual atmosphere that it enlivened one’s faith. Funds exceeding 45,000 guilders were collected. The arrangement in effect was to vacate the rented hall at 11:00 PM. But the owner of the hall gave the allowance to keep it open till 1:00 AM and announced that the additional two hours would be considered as his personal contribution. Now this was a Christian individual. When we returned to our room late at night, I, 48 years old, was aching with exhaustion. But the 78 years old Doctor Saeed Ahmad was asking me: “Should I wake you up for the tahajjud prayers or not?” I replied that if he woke up, then he should wake me up as well. And thus it was that we both woke up and performed the tahajjud prayers at 3:00 AM in the night. The zeal for serving the faith had infused him in that advanced age with a physical vitality that exceeded that of youth. Allah the Most High has provided numerous allowances and conveniences to one during the state of travel. I got the chance to observe Doctor Saeed Ahmad closely during the travels. I saw that, regardless of whether he was in a state of travel or not, he carried out all his duties with great regularity and discipline. This is a quality which ensures success in every venture.

 —Paigham-e-Sulah, December 1998.

Inauguration of the Ahmadiyya Movement Center and Mosque in the Netherlands — An Excerpt from Paigham-e-Sulah

Mention has been made in the previous issue of Paigham-e-Sulah of the inaugural ceremony of the center and mosque of the Movement’s chapter in the Netherlands. On that occasion, the president of the Movement’s chapter in The Hague—Noor Muhammad Sardar—had given a talk, which had also been published. This current issue includes the complete text of the speech that was given on that occasion by Doctor Saeed Ahmad, who is Chairman of the Foreign Missions Committee. The chapter in the Netherlands had invited him to perform the opening ceremony of the center and mosque. This building had been purchased for 70,000 guilders, half of that amount having been arranged by taking a loan from a bank, and the interest charged by the bank was so great that the amount of 70,000 guilders would have to be paid over a period of four years. As a result, they were under a great deal of financial burden. Doctor Saeed Ahmad made an appeal for funds during the opening ceremony. At the very outset, he donated all the cash that he had with him. What happened next can best be likened to a rainfall of contributions. Men and women and youth through their actions created a spectacle that is the subject of the Quranic verse.

 فَاسْتَبِقُوْا الْخَیْرٰتِ 

So stay ahead in the doing of good deeds.

They were truly outdoing one another in their contributions. The spirit of sacrifice by the women was also notable. By the grace of Allah the Most High, the appeal for funds by Doctor Saeed Ahmad was so effective that, in addition to covering the entire amount of the aforementioned loan, a surplus of 35,000 guilders was collected. As a result, a current of joy spread throughout those gathered and the hall resonated with sounds of “God is Great,” and “Long live the Ahmadiyya Movement.” Although the removal of the burdensome loan in merely two hours was unexpected for the audience—and an amazing spectacle in its own right—it was befitting the traditions of the Movement. The history of the Movement is filled with tremendous examples of financial sacrifices made for establishing mosques and for enabling the light of Islam to shine forth from them.

Where men contributed funds beyond their means, the women did not lag behind in the least. For the purpose of the construction and furnishing of the house of God, they took their jewelry off and contributed it on the spot.

جزاھم اﷲ تعالیٰ باجزالعظیم

May Allah the Most High reward them with a great reward.

Abu Salman, MA.

Eid in London

On returning from the Netherlands, Doctor Saeed Ahmad intended to travel back to Pakistan. But at the insistence of the members of the Ahmadiyya Movement’s chapter in London, he decided to observe Eid-ul-Adha with them. Meanwhile, Nazir-ul-Islam had taken charge of his duties as a missionary, and the series of Friday congregational prayers, the religious education of children, and weekly sermons on the Holy Quran were well underway. Now, Nazir-ul-Islam led the Eid ul-Adha prayers, as well as the sermon in the presence of Doctor Saeed Ahmad. And this series, too, got under way. After a brief address to the gathering on the importance of remaining affiliated with the Ahmadiyya Movement, he led a prayer, and then bid farewell to the members of the chapter.

Death of Maulana Abdul Haq Vidyarthi

During those days abroad as a traveler, Doctor Saeed Ahmad faced another great sorrow. What follow are his impressions on the eternal severance from this world’s life of Maulana Abdul Haq Vidyarthi:

Shahid [Aziz] called me by telephone and relayed to me the news of the death of his maternal grandfather, Maulana Abdul Haq Vidyarthi. His death had occurred suddenly two days ago.

 اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَ اِنَّاۤ اِلَیْهِ رٰجِعُوْنَ۔

To Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.

He was a model of piety, forbearance, and knowledge. He, too, has left us, and our jamaat has gone from being poor to being poorer still. When I called Aziz Ahmad over the telephone, he spoke at length about the life of the departed, and said that it was as if a bolt of lightning had struck them. May Allah grant him paradise.

Now Razia Faruqui related over the telephone regarding Maulana Abdul Haq Vidyarthi that, prior to his death, when Naseer Ahmad Faruqui visited him during his sickness, he was told by Maulana Abdul Haq that [in the dream that he saw] Maulana Muhammad Ali came and told him [Maulana Abdul Haq] to get ready and to accompany him. Naseer Ahmad Faruqui began laughing and said that if Maulana Mohammad Ali were to ask him to accompany him, he was prepared to go with him. A little while before his death, Maulana Abdul Haq said that preparations were afoot.

اَلَّھُمَّ اغْفِرْہُٗ وَارْحَمْہُٗ وَ اَدْخِلْہُٗ فِیْ عِبَادِکَ الصَّالِحِیْنَ الَّذِیْنَ لَا خَوْفٌ عَلَیْھِمْ وَلَا ھُمْ یَحْزَنُوْنَ۔

O Allah, forgive him and have mercy on him and admit him among Your righteous servants, upon whom there is no fear, nor will they grieve.

Extending Condolences at the Residence of Aziz Ahmad, and Departure

Doctor Saeed Ahmad writes:

November 26, 1977. I took a bath early in the morning and began preparing for my journey. Ross and Razia arrive in their motor car at 11:30 AM. I bid farewell to Sabiha and the children, Pasha accompanied us. On our way, we picked up Nazir-ul-Islam and Masud Akhtar from the Ahmadiyya House and went to extend our condolences—on the death of Maulana Abdul Haq—to Aziz Ahmad at his Langley Road residence. Akhtar, the daughter of the departed, was crying profusely. Shahid [Aziz] and Zahid [Aziz], along with their wives, were present as well. We stayed there for one hour. We reminisced about the life of the late Maulana Abdul Haq. Then we performed our Zuhr and Asr prayers in congregation, and then headed for the airport.

The extended travels abroad as a traveler during 1977 marked an immensely trying time for Doctor Saeed Ahmad in terms of patience. But his line of thinking always remained constructive. If ever he made mention of any difficult circumstances, he did so by way of expressing gratitude to Allah in that it was the assistance of the Divine at every step that every difficulty and problems was resolved. During that period of over three months, seldom was there a day when he was not in the grips of cold sensations in the body, experiencing headache, or else feeling feverish. At night, he would take aspirin and some mild sleep-inducing medicine. When he would spontaneously wake up for tahajjud, he would thank Allah the Most High profusely that despite physical ailments, he had not remained deprived of performing the tahujjud prayer (i.e. the “night prayer”, being a voluntary prayer.).

After long days of work and exertion, when Doctor Saeed Ahmad would return home, exhausted with fatigue, the gentle smile on the face of his grandson Mujahid Saeed and the exuberant expression of happiness by his grandson Owais Saeed would dispel all his distress and troubles. On returning from his long journey to the United States, Doctor Saeed Ahmad was deeply satisfied by the news of his son Abdul Karim Saeed’s good performance on his medical professional examinations. Owais, a little boy at that time, had begun to take his first steps. And when he took two steps and reached Doctor Saeed Ahmad, the smile that lit up his face demonstrated that all signs of fatigue had been dispelled.

When the issue arose regarding the journey back from the Ahmadiyya House, Doctor Saeed Ahmad requested for the assistance of anyone to take him to the station, the sons of Doctor Allah Baksh—Aziz Ahmad and Imtiaz Ahmad—simultaneously expressed their readiness to take him to the station.

During the stay in England, in addition to his son Abdul Karim Saeed and his daughter-in-law Sabiha Saeed, he had the full cooperation of numerous men and women: Razia Faruqui, Ross Mahmood and his wife Rana were always eager to help, as were Aziz Ahmad, Akhtar Aziz and their sons Shahid Aziz and Zahid Aziz, Faiz Khan and Jamila Khan, Majeed Ali, Saadat Ahmad Chaudhry, and Doctor Saeed Ahmad’s friends and sincere companions Chaudhry Fateh Muhammad Aziz and Chaudhry Mohammad Hayat, who had arrived from Pakistan. They all helped Doctor Saeed Ahmad at every step and during every difficulty, bolstering his resolve, and enabling him to keep moving forward with a positive mindset. This was the assistance from the Divine that he received, and never did he have to face disappointment.

Arrival in Lahore

He arrived in Lahore Pakistan on the morning of November 27, 1977. He went to his residence in Dar-us-Salam in the company of his son-in-law, Mansur Ahmad. Doctor Saeed Ahmad writes:

We went straight to Dar-us-Salam. A few friends were standing in front of the hostel. On catching a glimpse of me, their faces lit up with delight.

After meeting the members of his household, Doctor Saeed Ahmad immediately emerged from his residence and met with members of the Movement headquarters in Lahore. The series of meetings and greetings continued into the evening. He writes:

Nonetheless, I have arrived at my current abode. And here we face troubling issues and face numerous distressing circumstances. At the same time are present the spiritual blessings emanating from the mosque in Dar-us-Salam, and the hope of refreshing one’s soul. How blessed is this blessing and how great a loss is deprivation from it. As people learned of my return, they came one by one. Following the afternoon, I rested for two hours, and a strange sleep overpowered me. On waking up, I was at first unable to regain alertness; confused regarding where I was, [confused as to] which city I was in. Performed the Asr prayer in congregation. It was spiritually satisfying.

Infused by the special grace of Allah the Most High, this fortunate soul—having returned home from abroad—was not desirous of resting for a day or an evening, or even for a few hours. The smile spreading across his face divulged that his heart was at ease. That same evening, after the Maghrib prayer, and then, the following morning, he began to take the next steps in the obligation he felt toward the service of the Ahmadiyya Movement’s mission. He went to extend his condolences to the wife of the late Maulana Muhammad Ali as well as the relatives of the recently deceased Maulana Abdul Haq Vidyarthi, and also went to inquire into the welfare of the families of Nazir-ul-Islam and Masud Akhtar. And then he resumed his routine by engaging in the regular official matters of the Movement.