Find Your Elders Among the 313
Dear Ansar Brothers,
As-Salamu ‘Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah
On October 20, 1962, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (may Allah be pleased with him) laid the foundation stone of the Khuddamul-Ahmadiyya offices (Mahmood Hall) in Rabwah, Pakistan. The event was attended by over 2000 members from across the country, including some companions of the Promised Messiah (may peace be on him) and members of Majlis Ansarullah. The construction was delayed and restarted in 1964. Leading the fundraising drive for this building, Sadr Khuddamul-Ahmadiyya requested Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) to call for 313 members to each contribute Rs. 313—to relive the legacy of the 313 companions of Badr. Huzoor himself contributed Rs. 1000 and so did Hazrat Mirza Nasir Ahmad (may Allah’s blessing be on him). Rising up to the call of their Imam, members donated funds; most of them donated an exact figure of Rs. 313.
In 1965, the then Sadr Majlis Khuddamul-Ahmadiyya appealed that 313 Majalis should also be inspired to contribute Rs. 313 each. As construction of Mahmood Hall was completed, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III (may Allah’s blessing be on him) had the names of contributors engraved on marble slabs, which are still on display in Rabwah.
Attached, you will find the pictures of those original slabs from Rabwah. Now over half a century later, as we embark to inspire 1313 souls to attend the National Ijtima of Majlis Ansarullah, USA, it is our prayer to also become like those 313. We ask you to find the names of your ancestors, your colleagues, your role models on these slabs and share their stories with us in the comments section below.
Please remember Za’im Sahib Boston, Dr. Karim Ahmad Sharif, and his family in your prayers as he was instrumental in obtaining all this information.
Wassalam,
Faheem Younus Qureshi
Serving Majlis Ansarullah, USA
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Saw. Jazakallah for sharing these valuable and historic information. What I know is in the period of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad shb or Mahmood Ahmad Bangali shb(marhoom) this scheme was again launched. I don't know the exact year but it remained active about couple of years. And there were names of the participants of those periods are also on the slabs. Is it possible to get the pictures of those slabs.
Jazakallah again for this great motive.
#259 Sultan Ahmad Tahir (Karachi)
Sultan Ahmad Tahir sahib was my uncle (Chacha). He served Karachi Jamaat in many capacities for a long time. After the sacrifice of 313 rupees, Allah blessed him so that he was the major contributor of the mosque and mission house in Mongat Uncha (Hafizabad) and then mosque in Pindi Bhattiyan, in addition to a legacy of sacrifices in Karachi. In 1973 uncle Sultan Tahir sent his mother (my grandmother) and my father Al-Haj Molvi Muhammad Sharif (Late) to perform Hajj. My father was arrested along with my grandmother on account of being an Ahmadi. My father was put on trial. When the prosecutors could not win over him in arguments, the Qazi threatened him with Capital Punishment. However, after keeping them for two months in solitary confinement, both were exiled from Saudi Arabia. Thus Sultan Tahir sahib also had a share in this event from the history of Ahmadiyyat when an Ahmadi was arrested for performing Hajj and he silenced the opponents with truthful arguments.
Ch Abdul Qadir #6 on list of 313
My very beloved father late ch Abdul Qadir Sb is younger brother of Late Moulvi Mohammad Ahmad Jalil Sb, mufti silsala Ahmadiyya. He had the honor of being invited by Hazrat Khalifa-tul_massih II RA, to take on the construction project of Aiwan-Mahmood. He also said Labaik to Huzoor's call and pledged Rs 413. Also, he was part of the engineering team who completed the project which took about a year.
May Allah exalt his status in paradise and enable his progeny to have the same spirit of sacrifice and love for khilafat. Ameen
Maulana Abul Ata Sahib Jalandhari #43
Hazrat Maulana Abul Ata Sahib Jalandhri Khalide Ahmadiyyat, a great scholar and Waqife Zindagi of Jamat. Father of Maulana Ataul Mujeeb Rashid Sahib Imam Masjid Fazl London.
479 Dr. Munir Khan
My father Dr. Munir Khan and my uncle Hakeem Fazal (Pabbi) Peashwar were the among the laid foundation for Mahmood Hall in Rabwah Pakistan.
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