Read the Special Sermon Below:
PROMISED MESSIAH DAY [23 MARCH 1889 - 23 MARCH 2020]
Today is exactly 131 years since the first oath of allegiance by divine order taken by the Promised Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of his followers.
The Promised Messiah (as) said, “This is an order from God: For the purpose of learning what true faith, true purity, love for the Lord, abandoning a life of iniquity, carelessness and unfaithfulness are, the seekers of truth must take before me the oath of allegiance (Bai’ah).
Let those who feel able to join me, I will share their pain and strive to lighten their burdens. Through my prayers and thoughtful care, God will bless them, provided they wholeheartedly conform to the conditions of the Pact of Allegiance which are divinely inspired.
Following this revelation, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), had his disciples take the oath of allegiance for the first time on 23 March 1889, in Ludhiana, India. “By His pure grace and His singular magnanimity, God made prayers and attentive care of my humble person a means by which will be made evident the healthy faculties and capacities of those who took the oath of allegiance before me - His holy Majesty filled me with enthusiasm to tackle the task of disciplining their hearts.”
Two months later, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) went to Ludhiana, and on 23 March 1889, the official establishment of the Ahmadiyya Movement took place. Dr. Maulvi Noor-ud-Din was the first to swear allegiance at the hand of the Messiah Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as). While he was building his clinic in Bhera, Dr. Maulvi Noor-ud-Din heard about Ahmad’s (as) claim, and went to Qadian to find out more about it. He only intended to spend the night there. But the doctor stayed a few more days at the request of the Messiah.
These few days turned into a few weeks. Dr. Maulvi Noor-ud-Din had all of his books transported to Qadian and gave instructions that the half-finished clinic be sold. He lived in Qadian for the rest of his life. Following revelations, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) began to wait for more specific revelations. He knew he needed more directives, and he resolved to submit to a Chilla (a 40-day retreat of meditation and solitary prayer during which one seeks communion with God).
This period of meditation and prayer has always been observed by holy men through the ages; Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh) in the cave of Hira, Moses (as) observed it on the mountain; Jesus (as) also did it in the desert. Many godly men did the same to seek help from God.
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), however, could not decide on the place where he could make such an undertaking; and it was not until January 1886 that God revealed to him that he had to go to Hoshiarpur, a small town. Hearing that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) had decided to settle there for a while, a citizen of Hoshiarpur provided him with a small two-story house in a suburb of that city.
Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) accepted the offer, and in late January 1886 left Qadian for Hoshiarpur in a bullock cart. At their request, three of his companions accompanied him. As they crossed the Biyas river in an old boat which was taking water from all sides, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) reassured his companions by telling them that despite the danger of drowning, the very fact to accompany a holy man in such conditions gives hope that they would reach the mainland unharmed.
Immediately installed in this house, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) asked one of his companions to bring him his two daily meals, put them on the ground and leave without saying a word to him. The vigil should not allow anyone to speak to him. It was only on Fridays that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) left the house with his followers to go to an uncrowded mosque located in a public garden outside the city and there he led the prayers.
Through him, God the Almighty performed many miracles and showed His extraordinary signs. Alhamdulillah.
So, at the end of my speech, I must emphasize that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) of Qadian (1835-1908) claimed to be the Promised Messiah and Mahdi in 1889. His mission witnessed ups and downs, but God the All Mighty never abandoned him and fulfilled His promises in so many extraordinary ways.
Today, we, the followers of the Promised Messiah of the past century, have received from God in this century this extraordinary blessing of living the blessed times of divine revelations and prophecies. By His immense grace, Allah raised His Caliph, the humble follower of Muhammad (pbuh) and Ahmad (as). May His grace, mercy, protection and light touch all my sincere followers until the Last Day of Judgement.
All praise belongs to Allah. May His blessings always be poured out on Muhammad (pbuh) and may His grace and revelations always descend on His chosen servants of the Muhammadan Ummah in order to preserve the authenticity and truthfulness of Islam in the world. Ameen.