The Promised Messiah [Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian] among his Friends
by Maulana Sadr-ud-Din, B.A.
The Young Islam, 1st August 1934 Issue (Vol. 1, No. 5, pp. 1, 4)
Equality and brotherhood of mankind is one of the greatest blessings that Islam has bestowed on the world. The teachings of the Quran are replete with the subject. The example of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessings of God be upon him) and his early successors is no less explicit. In fact, it is the practice of a principle in the daily lives of men that proves its worth. The true followers in the footsteps of our Holy Prophet have always shown in their lives that they feel among their associates as their equals.
In this dark age of gross materialism and irreligion the Almighty raised a Mujaddid [Reformer] and many persons are still living who witnessed with their own eyes how Mirza Ghulam Ahmad reflected in his life the noble qualifies of equality and simplicity. When explaining a most profound and learned a subject on religion he would turn round towards those around him, and addressing one of them—the nearest to him, though he may be an illiterate servant of the house—he would, in a child-like simplicity say,
“Of course you know it already that it is so-and-so.”
Undoubtedly he was a profound scholar and a deep thinker on matters of religion but in no case would he assume the airs of being such. By no means would he try or hint to impress others with his intellectual or spiritual superiority.
He was in the habit of going out to walks and during these moments there was no formality observed. While having these walks he used to dwell upon some subject presented to him. It would happen that friends eager to hear his conversation would flock round him so much so that often someone would accidentally put his foot on his stick which would fall from his hand. The Promised Messiah would not even turn round to see who had done it, continuing his talk as if nothing had happened. If any of his friends came from Gurdaspur or Batala [Punjab, India] and if he happened to see him while just arriving, he would forthwith leave every other engagement to ask the man to rest himself. After he had rested a while the Promised Messiah would himself fetch from his house food or tea for his refreshment.
It happened once that Maulana Abdul Karim [of Sialkot] fell from a tonga [horse carriage] while on his way to Qadian. The Promised Messiah, getting the news of the fall, exclaimed that it had broken his (the Promised Messiah’s) backbone to hear such a thing. He rushed out and walked some distance to meet the Maulana on the way and to know how the Maulana was feeling.
The compassion and mercy he felt for his associates was very great. Once Maulana Nur-ud-Din had to go to Sialkot on some business. During that time an epidemic was raging in the city. The Promised Messiah saw the Maulana before the latter left and implored him to take every precautionary measure for his safety. The Maulana himself used to relate this incident afterwards and would add that the way and manner in which the Promised Messiah instructed him at the occasion impressed him so much that the Maulana thought as if a mother was concerned about the safety of her child. Mirza Ghulam Ahmad was indeed a truly inspired person and the proof of it is evident from the great virtues he possessed. Knowing for certain as he did that the Almighty God had chosen him to revive the shaken faith in Islam and realising fully the fact that the future rise of Islam was associated with the method revealed to him, the Promised Messiah felt so equal and humble among his friends. While he sat and chat no one would feel for a moment that he was in any way exalting himself over others. His were the manners of a man truly following in the footsteps of his Master, unlike the pirs [spiritual guides] of today who relegate to themselves the position of a god among their followers. The revival of the faith of Islam is truly linked up with the appearance of such inspired and elevated persons who behave in their daily lives with their associates on a footing of perfect equality.