DawudTalut
Peace be upon you.
Peace be on you…Hazrat Khalifa tul Masih V (may Allah be his helper) paid tribute to a very dear personage, Mahmood Ahmad Shahid Sahib, Ameer Jama’at Ahmadiyya Australia [‘Shahid’ is the degree from Ahmadiyya religious institution, Jamia Ahmadiyya, he was also known as Mahmood Bengali Sahib by some], who passed away on 23 April 2014. ‘….Inna lillahe wa inna illaihe raji’oon.’ [‘…Surely to Allah, we belong and to Him shall we return.’ (Holy Quran chapter 2, from verse 157)]…He was an extremely devoted servant of Jama’at and a Sultan e Naseer [Capable Helper] of Ahmadiyya Khulafa. He was among those who try their best to live according to the Wish of Allah the Exalted, fulfill their Pledge, serve faith and humanity. People praise such righteous people and according to a saying of Holy Prophet (Peace and blessing of Allah be on him) Paradise becomes obligatory for such people.
According to Holy Khalifah (a.t.), Mahmood Ahmad Shahid Sahib operated in synchronization like pulse. He never felt uneasy for why an instruction was given and why was it given in a specific way; he would quickly comply even if something was asked which was against his will.
EARLY LIFE
His father was introduced to Ahmadiyya Islam as a student in Saharanpur, Utter Pardesh, India in the life time of Hazrat Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). When he (a.s.) came to Delhi, the young person was keen to see him but educational authorities did not allow. Latter, in 1943, he formally became Ahmadiyya Mulim – a first ever in his region. He was a scholar and enthusiastic to convey the divine message, which, his father accepted too.
Mahmood Ahmad Shahid Sahib was born on 19 November 1948 in a Bangladeshi [then East-Pakistan] village in Chandpur district. His father devoted him to serve faith on the motivation of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) in 1954. He joined Jamia Ahmadiyya Rabwah in 1962 and obtained degree of Shahid in 1974. He married to daughter of Ameer Jama’at Bangladesh in 1977. Their three daughters and one son are all actively serving Jama'at by the grace of Allah the Exalted.
Once he narrated that, in early time in Jamia, he was injured during football game, he was away from home, weather was very hot, water was saltish, he went back home and he had no desire to return. But the frequent letters from Principal of Jamia, Syed Mir Daud Ahmad Sahib led his return to Jamia.
He felt that prayers of his father had a profound effect on his life…. In those early days, when he wrote to his father that he felt downhearted, his father wrote back saying times in Mecca were also very harsh and he quoted verse 38 of Surah Ibrahim: ‘Our Lord, I have settled some of my children in an uncultivable valley…’(14:38) and counselled him through it and wrote that if you cannot live in the town that has been populated by the Khalifa of Allah, then your connection with your father is meaningless. Mahmood Sahib said a profound change came in his life after this.
His father would write to a relative in another city, not to let young son get sad so that he could study with focus in Jamia. This channel worked well.
SERVICES AND MERITS
In 1979 election of Sadr Khuddamul Ahmadiyya [President / Incharge of Ahmadiyya Muslim males of age 15 to 40] took place at Shura [assembly of elected representatives who present their opinions to Khalifah of time] ; his votes were in fifth place. At Fajr time, after the elections Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III (may mercy of Allah be on him) beckoned him and told him to engage in Istighfar [seeking Allah’s cover, forgiveness and help] abundantly and to recite Durud [invoking salutation on Holy Prophet (s.a.w.)] …… Mahmood Sahib was quite scared and thought he had committed a mistake. But soon Huzoor (ra) appointed him as Sadr, he realised that Huzoor (ra) was drawing his attention to humility in this way....When Mahmood Sahib learned about it, he felt extreme humbleness.
According to Hazrat Khalifa tul Messiah V (a.t.) : Therein is a lesson for all office-holders that when they are appointed they need to engage in Istighfar and Durud so that they maintain humility and are enabled by Allah the Exalted to serve in a proper way.
Mahmood Bengali Sahib was a devoted Ahmadiyya Muslim who was wholly dedicated to Khilafat. Perhaps in 1981 Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III (may Allah have mercy on him) had all the Sadr Khuddamul Ahmadiyya from 1960 up till then enumerated and then said that Mahmood Sahib had excelled them all in obedience and in being a recipient of prayer and said that this was the reason why he had appointed him Sadr in spite of his votes being in fifth position. He said he wanted to give the Jama’at a lesson that appointment by Khilafat is indeed better………Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III (ra) appreciated his services in these words: ‘Blessings are given to those who sincerely follow Khilafat because all blessings are associated with this system. And nothing besides it can gain acceptance with Allah the Exalted.’ He said: ‘Mahmood Ahmad Sahib was in fifth position as regards votes in the Khuddamul Ahmadiyya election held last year. I wanted to give this lesson to the Jama’at that the tasks of those four individuals who secured more votes would not have been blessed because of the number of votes they had. Rather, one who follows Khilafat with sincerity is the one who receives blessings. Therefore, I appointed Mahmood Ahmad Bengali Sahib as the Sadr. He is a very sincere person, may Allah enhance his sincerity. He has worked very hard and has received many prayers.’
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III (may Allah be pleased with him) said: ‘I wish to tell you that success is not with those who garner more votes but those who receive the prayers of the Khalifa of the time.’ He also mentioned the increase in certain results during Mahmood Sahib’s time.
When he was made Sadr of Khuddam, he felt difficulty in work, he very humbly requested to Third Holy Khalifah who said that when Khalifa of the time makes a decision and makes it after prayers, he does not alter it. My prayers are with you. You should come to me when in difficulty….. Mahmood Sahib used to say he went on to experience that prayers of Khulafa were always with him…….Upon the direction of Hazrat Khalifa tul Messiah (ra), he kept more direct contact with Khuddam and sat less in office. He was very much encouraging to serving people, but never complained if his due personal care was neglected.
Mahmood Sahib was the last worldwide Sadr of Khudamul Ahmadiyya who worked under the centre. Latter system was changed. After this appointment period was over he wrote a most humble letter to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (may Allah have mercy on him) who said in his reply: ‘You needlessly expressed embarrassment. What is there to be embarrassed about? MashaAllah, you have accomplished a very good tenure and have worked very well and with wisdom at a very difficult time. May Allah bless it! This is why you are being given the chance to serve in spite of joining Ansar Ullah. (He was given an year’s extension). Had you been incompetent this would have never been done. May Allah the Exalted continue to keep you a devoted servant of the mission and may you continue to be enabled to serve in an excellent way.’ …….He (ra) also said, ‘You have worked a lot as regards the welfare of the [Ahmadi] prisoners of conscience.’……‘I am delighted at your service for the prisoners of conscience. You are working excellently, just as I had meant it to be done.’ [This was the time around 1984 when hundreds of Ahmadiyya Muslim were being imprisoned for saying the Kalima ‘la elaha il-lallah muhammadur rasoollullah’ i.e There is none worthy of worship but Allah, Muhammad is His Messenger.].
During his tenure, many books were written, welfare fund for Ahmadiyya Muslim prisoners of conscience was launched, ambulance service was run for humanitarian service to mark the Jama’at Centenary, huge donations were collected towards making housing for elderly, land was purchased to build quarters for workers of Khuddamul Ahmadiyya, a valuable donation towards translation of the Holy Qur’an was presented.
Under the instruction of Khilafat, he visited many countries outside Pakistan for the organizational advancement of Khuddamul Ahmadiyya. He visited Europe, America and Western Africa. He went to Holland Belgium, Germany, UK, USA, The Gambia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ivory Coast etc….In 1989 he visited Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
He was enabled to serve in both the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries in accordance with Hijrah calendar and also served in the first and the second century of the Jama’at. Khuddamul Ahmadiyya completed its fifty years during his tenure and entered its fifty first year.
One always learned from him that one should take one’s capacities to their highest point in obedience to the Khulafa of the time and in observance of obligations. He was the confidant of Khulafa. If there was ever any questioning by the Khalifa of the time, over any matter, he always used qawl e sadeed (the right word) and never lost heart over Huzoor’s displeasure, rather he was ever keen on reformation and sought guidance from Khulafa for future. He prayed and asked for prayers.
CONTINUES
According to Holy Khalifah (a.t.), Mahmood Ahmad Shahid Sahib operated in synchronization like pulse. He never felt uneasy for why an instruction was given and why was it given in a specific way; he would quickly comply even if something was asked which was against his will.
EARLY LIFE
His father was introduced to Ahmadiyya Islam as a student in Saharanpur, Utter Pardesh, India in the life time of Hazrat Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). When he (a.s.) came to Delhi, the young person was keen to see him but educational authorities did not allow. Latter, in 1943, he formally became Ahmadiyya Mulim – a first ever in his region. He was a scholar and enthusiastic to convey the divine message, which, his father accepted too.
Mahmood Ahmad Shahid Sahib was born on 19 November 1948 in a Bangladeshi [then East-Pakistan] village in Chandpur district. His father devoted him to serve faith on the motivation of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) in 1954. He joined Jamia Ahmadiyya Rabwah in 1962 and obtained degree of Shahid in 1974. He married to daughter of Ameer Jama’at Bangladesh in 1977. Their three daughters and one son are all actively serving Jama'at by the grace of Allah the Exalted.
Once he narrated that, in early time in Jamia, he was injured during football game, he was away from home, weather was very hot, water was saltish, he went back home and he had no desire to return. But the frequent letters from Principal of Jamia, Syed Mir Daud Ahmad Sahib led his return to Jamia.
He felt that prayers of his father had a profound effect on his life…. In those early days, when he wrote to his father that he felt downhearted, his father wrote back saying times in Mecca were also very harsh and he quoted verse 38 of Surah Ibrahim: ‘Our Lord, I have settled some of my children in an uncultivable valley…’(14:38) and counselled him through it and wrote that if you cannot live in the town that has been populated by the Khalifa of Allah, then your connection with your father is meaningless. Mahmood Sahib said a profound change came in his life after this.
His father would write to a relative in another city, not to let young son get sad so that he could study with focus in Jamia. This channel worked well.
SERVICES AND MERITS
In 1979 election of Sadr Khuddamul Ahmadiyya [President / Incharge of Ahmadiyya Muslim males of age 15 to 40] took place at Shura [assembly of elected representatives who present their opinions to Khalifah of time] ; his votes were in fifth place. At Fajr time, after the elections Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III (may mercy of Allah be on him) beckoned him and told him to engage in Istighfar [seeking Allah’s cover, forgiveness and help] abundantly and to recite Durud [invoking salutation on Holy Prophet (s.a.w.)] …… Mahmood Sahib was quite scared and thought he had committed a mistake. But soon Huzoor (ra) appointed him as Sadr, he realised that Huzoor (ra) was drawing his attention to humility in this way....When Mahmood Sahib learned about it, he felt extreme humbleness.
According to Hazrat Khalifa tul Messiah V (a.t.) : Therein is a lesson for all office-holders that when they are appointed they need to engage in Istighfar and Durud so that they maintain humility and are enabled by Allah the Exalted to serve in a proper way.
Mahmood Bengali Sahib was a devoted Ahmadiyya Muslim who was wholly dedicated to Khilafat. Perhaps in 1981 Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III (may Allah have mercy on him) had all the Sadr Khuddamul Ahmadiyya from 1960 up till then enumerated and then said that Mahmood Sahib had excelled them all in obedience and in being a recipient of prayer and said that this was the reason why he had appointed him Sadr in spite of his votes being in fifth position. He said he wanted to give the Jama’at a lesson that appointment by Khilafat is indeed better………Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III (ra) appreciated his services in these words: ‘Blessings are given to those who sincerely follow Khilafat because all blessings are associated with this system. And nothing besides it can gain acceptance with Allah the Exalted.’ He said: ‘Mahmood Ahmad Sahib was in fifth position as regards votes in the Khuddamul Ahmadiyya election held last year. I wanted to give this lesson to the Jama’at that the tasks of those four individuals who secured more votes would not have been blessed because of the number of votes they had. Rather, one who follows Khilafat with sincerity is the one who receives blessings. Therefore, I appointed Mahmood Ahmad Bengali Sahib as the Sadr. He is a very sincere person, may Allah enhance his sincerity. He has worked very hard and has received many prayers.’
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III (may Allah be pleased with him) said: ‘I wish to tell you that success is not with those who garner more votes but those who receive the prayers of the Khalifa of the time.’ He also mentioned the increase in certain results during Mahmood Sahib’s time.
When he was made Sadr of Khuddam, he felt difficulty in work, he very humbly requested to Third Holy Khalifah who said that when Khalifa of the time makes a decision and makes it after prayers, he does not alter it. My prayers are with you. You should come to me when in difficulty….. Mahmood Sahib used to say he went on to experience that prayers of Khulafa were always with him…….Upon the direction of Hazrat Khalifa tul Messiah (ra), he kept more direct contact with Khuddam and sat less in office. He was very much encouraging to serving people, but never complained if his due personal care was neglected.
Mahmood Sahib was the last worldwide Sadr of Khudamul Ahmadiyya who worked under the centre. Latter system was changed. After this appointment period was over he wrote a most humble letter to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (may Allah have mercy on him) who said in his reply: ‘You needlessly expressed embarrassment. What is there to be embarrassed about? MashaAllah, you have accomplished a very good tenure and have worked very well and with wisdom at a very difficult time. May Allah bless it! This is why you are being given the chance to serve in spite of joining Ansar Ullah. (He was given an year’s extension). Had you been incompetent this would have never been done. May Allah the Exalted continue to keep you a devoted servant of the mission and may you continue to be enabled to serve in an excellent way.’ …….He (ra) also said, ‘You have worked a lot as regards the welfare of the [Ahmadi] prisoners of conscience.’……‘I am delighted at your service for the prisoners of conscience. You are working excellently, just as I had meant it to be done.’ [This was the time around 1984 when hundreds of Ahmadiyya Muslim were being imprisoned for saying the Kalima ‘la elaha il-lallah muhammadur rasoollullah’ i.e There is none worthy of worship but Allah, Muhammad is His Messenger.].
During his tenure, many books were written, welfare fund for Ahmadiyya Muslim prisoners of conscience was launched, ambulance service was run for humanitarian service to mark the Jama’at Centenary, huge donations were collected towards making housing for elderly, land was purchased to build quarters for workers of Khuddamul Ahmadiyya, a valuable donation towards translation of the Holy Qur’an was presented.
Under the instruction of Khilafat, he visited many countries outside Pakistan for the organizational advancement of Khuddamul Ahmadiyya. He visited Europe, America and Western Africa. He went to Holland Belgium, Germany, UK, USA, The Gambia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Ivory Coast etc….In 1989 he visited Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
He was enabled to serve in both the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries in accordance with Hijrah calendar and also served in the first and the second century of the Jama’at. Khuddamul Ahmadiyya completed its fifty years during his tenure and entered its fifty first year.
One always learned from him that one should take one’s capacities to their highest point in obedience to the Khulafa of the time and in observance of obligations. He was the confidant of Khulafa. If there was ever any questioning by the Khalifa of the time, over any matter, he always used qawl e sadeed (the right word) and never lost heart over Huzoor’s displeasure, rather he was ever keen on reformation and sought guidance from Khulafa for future. He prayed and asked for prayers.
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