Khilafat and Mujaddidiyyat

Hazrat Hafiz Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rta) M.A (Oxon)–1909-1982–of blessed memory, the third Manifestation of Divine Providence, the Imam of the International Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at, the Voice Articulate of God, sign and fulfilment of His Promise and the Promised Grandson was elected as the third successor (Khalifa) of the Promised Messiah and Mahdi (as) on November 8, 1965 on the demise of his great and illustrious father, the second successor of the Promised Messiah (as), Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Deen Mahmood Ahmad (ra), al-Musleh Mau‘ud (the Promised Reformer). He occupied this exalted spiritual station for seventeen years till his death, and as the Promised Grandson of the Promised Messiah (as), he was a Sign of Allah Who bestowed on him His special Graces and Favours from the time of his birth to his death. With his piety, grace and qualities of head and heart and of leadership, his was a larger than life personality. Earlier on as an alumnus of Govt. College (Lahore), Balliol (Oxford), as founder member and Principle of T.I. College, as Head of Khuddam and Ansar, as member of Academic Council and Senate of the Punjab University and as Patron of sports like Badminton, Basketball, Mountaineering, Rowing etc., he transformed and left his mark on whatever he touched. All the time the steel was being tempered as it were. Soon after his assuming the Supreme office, the storm broke. Religion was politicized in Pakistan and a reign of terror and persecution with government connivance and help was let loose against the innocent Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama‘at, by the frenzied zealots led by the mullahs. In the backdrop of murder, looting and arson, he enjoined upon his followers to remain peaceful and calm and leave the result to the real Savior—God. He gave the Jama‘at the historic slogan: ‘Love for all, hatred for none.’ Nusrat Jahan Scheme (Africa Leap Forward) is a standing monument to his deep love and concern for Africa in particular and for the poor, exploited, ignored and despised humanity in general. That like Hazrat Musleh Mau‘ud (ra) he, too, had tender sense of nostalgia and affection for Spain is symbolised by the foundation stone he laid of the first Ahmadiyya Muslim mosque there with such hope and longing! He wanted all to be righteous and charitable and to re-live Islam in its pristine purity, holding fast to the Holy Quran and the example of the Holy Prophet (sas).