A Conference on Some Living Religions

Last Friday Huzoor gave a discourse with reference to the prophecy of Musleh Maud as given to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and elucidated Hazrat Musleh Maud’s (may Allah be pleased with him) secular and spiritual knowledge and also mentioned views of others regarding his superlative knowledge and his commentary of the Holy Qur’an. These views and his achievements are most extensive and it would take months and years to mention them. However, Huzoor today spoke on an aspect that Huzoor wished to mention last Friday but could not due to shortage of time. This dates back to 90 years and relates to the city of London.

A conference on world religions was held here in London in 1924 which was graced by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him). These days our Jama’at is known to others and we have connections; due to the Ahmadiyya persecution many human rights organisations know about us. Due to our connections, we are known to MPs and academics here and other countries. We did not have these connections in those days. Yet God created special circumstances and following discussions, the management of the conference invited Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) to travel to London and address the conference. This was borne of special Divine succour. It was not a small matter for Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) to travel with eleven people, given the financial situation of the Jama’at at the time. He paid for his own passage but for the travel expenses of others loan had to be taken.

Initially it was decided not to travel. Later, after prayer and Istikhara and consultation with the Jama’at the journey was made with special Divine succour. This was a first ever European tour of a Khalifatul Masih. He also went to a few other countries [en route] including Syria and Egypt. Only Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) had the chance to visit Arab countries, later situation there worsened and restrictions continued to be put in place. Today Huzoor briefly spoke about the conference and the views/impressions of the English people as regards Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him). These views/impressions validate his exceptional academic prowess as well as special Divine succour and the narrative also has some historical aspects which our youngsters should be aware of.

Overseas travels was done by sea in those days and used to take many days. En route once Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) led Salat on the deck between the 1st class and the 2nd class and when finished he sat with his companions when the ship doctor, who was an Italian, happened to pass by. Seeing them, he spontaneously remarked, ‘Jesus Christ and his twelve disciples!’ Dr Hashmat Ullah Sahib relates that he was astonished upon hearing this. An Italian, who was a follower of the Pope, said something most accurate and spiritual. The twelfth person travelling with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (may Allah be pleased with him) was Dr Muhammad Sharif Sahib who had joined them but was travelling privately.

The said conference is widely known as Wembley Conference. In early 1924, a socialist leader William Loftus Hare suggested to hold a religious conference in conjunction with the renowned Wembley Exhibition to which religious representatives of the religions of the British Empire should be invited to expound principles of their religions. Organisers of the conferences which included some Orientalists concurred with this suggestion and a committee was formed under the auspices of The School of Oriental Studies of the London University to extensively prepare for the conference. The Imperial Institute was chosen as the venue and the conference dates were fixed as 22 September to 3 October. The committee chose to invite representatives from the following religions: Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Z