Mirza Nasir Ahmad
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Hafiz Mirza Nasir Ahmad (November 16 1909 – June 9 1982) was Khalifatul Masih III, head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He was elected as the third successor of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad on November 8, 1965, the day after the death of his predecessor, Mirza Basheer-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad. He was son of Mirza Basheer-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad, the second Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. He died age 72 in 1982. Hafiz Mirza Nasir Ahmad is credited with expansion of the missionary work started by his father. He also represented the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the National Assembly of Pakistan in 1974. Despite efforts by him the National Assembly of Pakistan declared Ahmadis to be Non-Muslim, he is seen as having shown great leadership and guidance to the community during this period.[1]
Caliphate
Mirza Nasir Ahmad led the Ahmadiyya Muslim community as Khalifatul Masih for 17 years. Shortly after his election as Caliph he set up the Fazl-e-Umar foundation in honour and memory of the Second Caliph, Mirza Basheer-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad. One of the projects envisioned by the foundation was the construction of a library. In 1971 the Khilafat library in Rabwah was inaugurated, which today houses over 100,000 books, rare manuscripts, children section and science displays.
Africa
In 1970, Khalifatul Masih III embarked on a nine week tour of various African countries. During his visit he attended numerous receptions held in his honour and inspected the educational, social as well as spiritual services rendered by the Ahmadiyya community of various African countries. He started the Nusret Jehan scheme and appealed for financial contributions from the community. Under this scheme, Ahmadi doctors and teachers are serving in various parts of Africa by running numerous medical clinics and secondary schools.
Ahmadiyya and the National Assembly of Pakistan
Following the riots and violence against Ahmadis in 1974, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto faced considerable pressure from religious leaders to declare the Ahmadies non-Muslim. Consequently legislation and constitutional changes were enacted, Ahmadis were socially boycotted and their religious practices were criminalised by preventing them from claiming to be Muslims or from “behaving” as Muslims.[1] Thereafter the Ahmadiyya community faced an eleven day inquisition where Mirza Nasir Ahmad himself and four other eminent Ahmadi scholars represented The Ahmadiyya Muslim community in the National Assembly of Pakistan. Mirza Nasir Ahmad personally answered all the allegations that were made against Ahmadiyya.[2] Eventually Ahmadis were declared non-Muslim by the National Assembly of Pakistan.
London
In 1978 Nasir Ahmad traveled to London where the conference of Jesus’ Deliverance from the cross was held at the Commonwealth Institute in Kensington. This was attended by various scholars belonging to principle faiths who read their papers discussing the circumstances surrounding the Crucifixion of Jesus, after which the Ahmadiyya viewpoint regarding the death of Jesus was presented. Presentations were also given by Sir Zafrulla Khan and M.M. Ahmad.
The Christian Church gave a statement dismissing the Ahmadiyya as not representing the teachings of Islam and refused to be drawn into the debate that had been re-opened by the discovery of the Shroud of Turin and now this conference.[3] There were participants from Pakistan, India, Africa, Asia, Europe, and the USA. On this occasion Nasir Ahmad also delivered a lecture on this issue. He dealt with the subject of Jesus’ survival from death upon the cross, his travel to the east, the Unity of God, and expounded the status of Muhammad.[4]
Compilation of Ahmadiyya texts
During his Caliphate, Mirza Nasir Ahmad is also known for having directed the compilation of the complete dreams, visions and verbal revelations claimed to have been received by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, which had hitherto been published in various books of Ghulam Ahmad, as well as various journals and newspapers. The compiled version of his entire revelations was published in the form of the Tazkirah. The complete dialogues or utterances of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad were also compiled under the directives of Khalifatul Masih III. This was published in the form of the Malfoozat, which include his discourses, speeches, question and answer sessions, sermons and casual sayings.
Spain
In 1980 Mirza Nasir Ahmad traveled to Spain, where he laid the foundation stone of the Basharat Mosque which was the first mosque to be built in Spain after a break of 750 years.[5] It was here that he also announced the Ahmadiyya motto “Love for all hatred for none”. The construction of the mosque was however completed after his death, in 1982.
Mirza Nasir Ahmad died on June 9, 1982 in Pakistan. And was succeeded by Mirza Tahir Ahmad, who led his funeral.
Lectures and discourses
- A Message of Peace and a Word of Warning
- Message of Love and Brotherhood to Africa
- Khilafat and Mujadadiyyat
Marriage, Wives and Children
Mirza Nasir Ahmad married Syeda Nawab Mansoora Begum in 1932. She was daughter of Nawab Mubarka Begum, the daughter of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and Nawab Mohammad Ali Khan. Mirza Nasir Ahmad had five children from this marriage. Upon the death of Mansoora Begum in December 1981, Mirza Nasir Ahmad married Tahira Sidiqqa in April 1982. He had no children with her.
Children
- Mirza Anas Ahmad, son
- Amatul Shakoor, daughter
- Amatul Haleem, daughter
- Mirza Fareed Ahmad, son
- Mirza Luqman Ahmad, son
References
- ^ a b 2nd Amendment of Pakistan Constitution, Gazette of Pakistan, Extraordinary, Part I, 21st September, 1974
- ^ thepersecution.org: Mahzarnama - The Memorandum
- ^ The Review of Religions, March 2008, Vol. 103, issue 03, © islamic publications 2008
- ^ A Brief History of Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam – Conference in London
- ^ An Elementary Study of Islam – Introduction