Khalifatul Masih II: Pearls of Wisdom

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) cited publication of posters/pamphlets as one of the five branches for the purpose of his advent. He said: 'I have decided to have forty posters published today as completion of proof for the opponents and the deniers. So that on the Day of Judgement I can submit to God Almighty that I accomplished the task for which I was sent.'

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had numerous posters published even before he made his claim and he continued to have them published till his passing away. All these posters are a treasure for the religious world. It was his deep and intense wish to save Muslims, Christians and people of other faith from ruin. And for this he worked most diligently by himself. Even his smaller posters show his profound concern and compassion for mankind and its reformation.

Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that in spite of his ill health the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) worked day and night. He would have a poster published and while its opposition had not died down he would issue another poster. Some people thought frequent publication of posters could have detrimental effect but the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) would say that one needs to strike when the iron is hot. His posters would raise a storm of protestation. Yet he continued to work night and day on them.

In the times of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) Tabligh was done through posters/pamphlets which consisted of two to four pages. Their publication created a furore in the country. A thousand or two thousand pamphlets, a large number for that time, would be published. At times ten thousand were published. Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said that since the Jama'at had grown considerably perhaps 100,000 pamphlets should be published.

A few years ago Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V instructed the Jama'at to prepare small pamphlets and distribute them so that the world may come to know the reality of Islam and is also informed that God has sent the Promised Messiah in this age to revive the message of Islam. The pamphlet distribution around the world was very successful. Jamia students in Spain were instructed to take on the task and students of Canadian Jamia distributed them in Central American countries which widened Tabligh and resulted in bai'ats. Single or double paged pamphlets should be regularly published and distributed.

Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) cautioned about having pamphlets prepared privately as it can create an element of narcissism. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) used to relate a story in this regard. A woman had a very fancy ring made but none of the women among her acquaintances admired it. The woman set fire to her house and everything was burnt down. When people gathered she told them everything had been destroyed in the fire only her ring had been rescued. Someone asked her when she had it made. She replied if only someone had asked her before her house would have been saved.

Relating various accounts of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and his companions Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) said when the Afghan martyrs were being stoned they accepted the situation valiantly. They only prayed for the guidance of those who stoned them. Ardent love of God transforms the way one thinks and one's words have great impact and one's face radiates spiritual glow. Thousands came to see the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in Qadian and seeing his face they said this cannot be the face of a liar and accepted him without hearing him say a single word. Even now people see photographs of the Promised Messiah and accept him.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) used to say there were three kind of people in his Jama'at at the time. Those who had heard his claim and had tried to understand it and then become Ahmadi. T