The Existence of God in the Life of the Third Caliph, Hazrat Hafiz Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh)

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Tariq Mahmood, Canada

In every age, God sends those who display His existence through their prayers and efforts. These servants of God continue to serve as a guiding light in the obscurity of spiritual destitution.

One such man was the Third Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh).

Born in 1909, Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) was the grandson of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (as), the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi. He was also the son of the Second Caliph, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra).

His birth was itself the fulfilment of a prophecy of the Promised Messiah (as) when Allah revealed to him ‘We give you good news of a boy as a grandson for you’ three years before the birth of Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh).

The life of Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) was devoted to God. A couplet he wrote encapsulates this devotion: ‘Undoubtedly, I will also look after my worldly affairs, but my heart and life-force will be for my Beloved.’ 

There was a rare form of dedication and perseverance Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) had in finding the Gracious God and understanding His nature. 

This dedication paid off, as Allah demonstrated miracles both small and large.

For instance, Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) narrates that once, after his wife had been admitted into the hospital for the birth of his son Mirza Luqman Ahmad, he went home. After offering Tahajjud (pre-dawn voluntary prayers), he laid his head on the pillow when it was revealed to him that an attempted arrest was imminent. 

Some moments after this, the military arrived to search his house. Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) states that the soldier was about to put his hand in the pockets of his sherwani (full-length coat) which hung in the closet. 

There was a letter in the pocket from Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra). Although there was nothing in the letter which endangered anyone, Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) did not want the soldier to read it. 

When the officer finished searching one pocket and reached for the other pocket, the sherwani turned, and the officer once again put his hand in the same pocket. This happened two or three times, after which the officer was satisfied and stopped searching the sherwani. 

Allah’s wisdom decreed that the letter did not fall into their hands. Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) addressed the soldiers saying ‘I already knew of your arrival. I was actually waiting for you, you were late!’^[1]

On another instance, Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) was wrongfully accused of a crime and thrown in jail. He narrates this incident:

‘We were also wrongfully and unjustly sent to jail. It was summertime, and I was kept in a cramped cell in which no wind passed through. Such people were often kept in these cells who were to be hung the next day. I was made to sleep on the floor with an old, tattered blanket to cover me, and my coat to place in front of me. I was in much pain. I prayed at that time: 

“O my Lord, i am not in this cell as a result of injustice, nor theft, nor murder or assault, nor any other sin. I was put in this cell because as I understand it (regarding my own case), I was someone who exalted Your name. I am in this community which You established so that the love of the Holy Prophet (sa) would be borne in the hearts of mankind. My Lord, I am not pained at my being sent here, I harbour no malice, nor any complaint. I am happy that you have afforded me an opportunity for sacrifice. I do not consider my pain to be true in my own estimation, but this much is true that I will not be able to sleep in this place due to a lack of wind passing through here.” 

I was offering this prayer, and my eyes were closed. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that I felt as if an air conditioner was placed near me, and a cool breeze began to flow in my direction, and I was able to fall asleep.^[2]

These are the stories found in one who has a relationship with God. It is the nights of prayer and the devotion of faith which lead a person to love and know His Lord. Once that relationship is born, the air of a humid jail cell in a scorching Pakistani summer turns to sweet wind, allowing the prisoner to remember he is free when his Lord is with him.

On another occasion, he was tasked with overseeing the construction of Talim-ul-Islam College in Rabwah, Pakistan. No matter the heat, he would persevere. Chaudhry Muhammad Ali, the principal of Talim-ul-Islam College, writes regarding the construction:

‘We witnessed wonderful miracles by the grace and kindness of Allah. When the lintel (a horizontal structural support above open openings such as doors) was to be placed, and a large amount of cement and mortar was made and ready, a dark cloud loomed above the surrounding houses. 

Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) pointed at the clouds and said “these are the materials of a poor community. If you rain down on these materials, they will be wasted. Go, leave from here.” In one way, this was a supplication to Allah, which was accepted. Just as it came, the cloud left.^[3]

The love that God has for His servants will always manifest. Instances such as the ones above show that Allah answers prayers in miraculous ways in order to tell us He exists! 

During his life, Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) devoted himself to prayer, and thus watered the seed of a relationship with God in his hearts through his prayers. 

During his Caliphate, we find that he devoted much of his prayers to his community. Many within his community noted the acceptance of their Caliph’s prayer in the matter of the birth of a child. 

A woman in Africa asked Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) to pray as she had been trying to have a child for 20 years. After Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) had prayed, the woman was bestowed a son. 

Maulvi Abdul Karim, an Ahmadi Muslim Missionary from Kaatgardh, was diagnosed with a deadly disease known as Multiple Myeloma, a form of cancer. The cancer had reached the last stages, and he was frequently unconscious. 

The doctors declared him beyond recovery. A letter to Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) was written. He sent a message back saying “Suchi Buti (a herbal remedy made of Fagonia Arabica) is to be given every morning and evening and he is to be kept in the hospital. Special prayers are being offered for him.”

Thereafter, the Missionary was brought back from the brink of death, and lived another 14 or 15 years.

In 1974, Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) fell from a horse and was told by doctors that he would never be able to squat again. He prayed ‘O my Lord, my responsibilities are known to you. Grant me health.‘

For three months he was bedridden, after which Allah enabled him to recover in a miraculous way and he was able to fulfil his responsibilities just as he had done previously.^[4]

These miracles occurred through the prayers of Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh), and are a demonstration of God’s existence and His willingness to show us His existence through His vicegerent on earth. 

Muhammad Ameen Khalid of Germany narrates one such beautiful incident. He states:

‘A pain developed in my sternum (chest bone). Several doctors attempted to cure me. All sorts of tests were done, but there was no relief from my pain. Ultimately the doctors became hopeless and declared my case beyond recovery. They told me that whatever days I had left of my life, I would spend them in this pain. 

During these days (in 1980), Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) came to Hamburg. This humble one waited in line to meet him. While meeting him, I told him of my ailment and also informed him that the doctors have said I am beyond recovery. I said to him that I cannot find relief from this pain now. 

Upon hearing this, Huzoor [His Holiness] proclaimed in a majestic voice:

“Who says you will not find relief?”

Then Huzoor opened a button of my shirt, circled a portion of my chest and asked “does it hurt over here?” I replied “yes Huzoor.” Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) then said “we will pray. Insha’Allah (God-willing) you will be cured. Do not worry!”’ 

Thus, Ameen Sahib writes that it has been 35 years since that incident. From that day until now, it is as if there was never any ailment.^[5]

These incidents prove the existence of God through His righteous servants. Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) and those like him were sent to remind humanity that any human can develop a connection with Allah. 

The God of Islam is not the God of the fables, nor of the ancients; He is alive today as he was alive before. The life of Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) proves this fact. 

It is our turn to discover the God that Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh) found, so that we may also partake of these blessings.

About the Author:Tariq Mahmood is a final year student at the Ahmadiyya Institute of Languages and Theology in Canada and serves as Secretary of The Existence Project Team for The Review of Religions.

ENDNOTES

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^[1]Hayat e Nasir, by Mahmood Mujeeb Asghar, page 171

^[2]Hayat e Nasir, by Mahmood Mujeeb Asghar, page 173

^[3]Hayat e Nasir, by Mahmood Mujeeb Asghar, page 173

^[4]Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmadby Syeda Tahira Siddiqah Nasir, page 167-168

^[5]Al-Fazl International, September 25th – October 1st, 2015, page 15