Maulana Muhammad Yaqub Khan again the Imam of the Shah Jehan Mosque, Woking
Muhammad Yakub Khan
The old enviable soldier of Islam with strong courage and deep conviction in the future destiny of Islam in the West wishes to work and die in the land from where the “sun of Islam is destined to rise”.
The venerable Khan went to England for the first time in 1928 and did an appreciable work there for two years. Again he went as the Imam in the latter part of the year 1956 when, at the sudden death of late Dr. Muhammad Abdullah in England, his valuable services were badly needed for this Mission. And now for the third time this old man in his seventies who still wields his pen with an amazing clarity and sound arguments, has left for England on the 10 th. of this month as the Imam of that world renowned Mission that has effected an appreciable change in the leading minds of the West in favour of Islam. Below we are publishing translation of extracts of his several replies in Urdu to farewell parties arranged in his honour.
“Propagation of Islam is of great importance. It instils a moral courage and a deep spiritual conviction. I am undertaking a kind of migration from my friends, kith and kins. Migration for a noble cause takes one to nobler states of a real life. A change in ideas, thoughts, conduct and ambitions is a kind of migration. The Migration in the very early period of Islamic history paved the way for the establishment and ultimate triumph of Islam emerging out as an amazing civilization in the annals of human history. And here I would advise that every one of us should undertake a migration in his own respective sphere. And I assure you that it would lead us all to the path of progress and prosperity. Ahmadiyya Anjuman Ishaat-i-Islam is upholding the bright lamp of Islam. It should be our utmost effort that we keep it burning and make it a guide for the groping humanity. World is in need of a code of universal teachings, such as Islam is. It is our foremost duty that we should take this Message to the four corners of the world. So far my study goes, I have found that our Muslim brethren are mistaken in the view that Islam and Quran need the help of a political power. We must remember that Islam and Quran do not stand in need of our help but it is we who need most the safe and proper guidance of these for our own benefit in obtaining the real object of our lives. The success of the Ahmadiyya Movement founded by the Promised Messiah is due to the golden principle to keep religion above all worldly affairs.If a religion fails to inculcate a pure and noble life into its adherents, it is no religion. It is a bungle of rites and rituals that has no tinge of religiosity in them. And we who are out to present a Living Islam have undertaken a hard and arduous task.
The Holy Quran says that there should always be a group of people who must work for and propagate the teachings of Islam. Ideological change is of essential importance. No Atom bomb can be so effective and cause such a wholesome change as propagation of a dynamic ideology. Such a revolution goes deep into the hearts. Atom bomb can affect the body but not the heart or the inner self which infuses human thought and action. That is why the Holy Quran stressed that the holy teachings of Islam must be propagated. Today the bend of western minds towards Islam is an opportune time we should accelerate our efforts towards the cause of Islam. Indifference towards this noble cause at the present moment to me is a treason against Islam. It is the voice of inner conscience of the western people that Islam and only Islam is the golden key to the woeful problems of life as it is based on those principles that are conducive to the people living in this Age of Universalism.It is an age of propagation. We are passing through Ideological Age. Today existence or status of a nation basically depends on a superior ideology and not on the superiority of arms and ammunition. What is of real worth is who gives a comprehensive ideology to the pressing problems of the modern life. That is why I say that Age of Religion has set in where in ideologies and concepts ae changing the course of history. It is a hard fact that religious ideologies at various periods of human history have given birth to an entirely new civilization.
I accepted the Promised Messiah in good faith. But now I can say on the strength of my inner conviction that whatever he said about the future of Islam, it was a Divine voice. The whole Europe will ultimately accept the universal teachings of Islam. Because with the progress and advancement in various spheres of learning and knowledge the inner beauty and wisdom of the teachings of Islam would come out with more brightness. And that is why Islam has a more favourable field in the west confirming the truth of the famous narration of the Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, that “in the latter Age the sun (of Islam) will rise from the West.”
Mounds of gold has been recovered from the sea in Pakistan. It is indeed, a commendable work of our new Government. But we must struggle even with more zealous efforts to rediscover the invaluable jewels that lies embedded in the Holy Quran in the shape of principles of human conduct of universal application. Heaps of gold are of least value as compared to these. And indeed, it would be a day of great happiness and rejoicing when we would rediscover this everlasting Divine gift.
Everything in this universe moves according to a set planning. Establishment of the Woking Mission was also a Divine planning. You would be surprised to know that the foundation stone of the Mosque Woking was laid in that very year when Hadzrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad claimed to be the Mujadid or Reformer of this Age. Was it not a Divine plan that very Mosque became the centre of propagation of Islamic teachings in the West through the efforts of the devotees of this Saint of Islam?
Woking Muslim Mission was founded by late Alhajj Khwaja Kamal-ud-din. He gave his precious life for this very cause. He was followed by a band of workers who also devoted their lives for this noble cause. Among these can be mentioned the names of late Dr. Sh. Muhammad Abdullah of revered memories and late Maulana Aftab-ud-Din Ahmad of revered memories. If my humble self also dies in this cause, I will consider it an honour for me. Individuals come and individuals go, but nation lives and works for the ideals of the movement. An organized effort is very essential for the furtherance of the cause of a movement. Keeping this important fact in mind and under divined command the Promised Messiah organized a community whose only aim was the propagation of the teachings of Islam. And it was a divine plan that through the efforts of this Movement the Islam was to be carried to the enlightened western world.
Besides the missionary work the Woking Mission is doing in England there is another very important field which should receive our serious attention. There are thousands of Muslims who have settled down there after marrying English girls. Being Muslims, they wish that their children should be given basic education in the fundamental principles of Islam. For this august purpose a hostel is very essential where Muslim children from various parts of British Isle may be provide an Islamic atmosphere. And besides their academic career they may be given basic education in the teachings of Islam. This would be a commendable work for the cause of Muslims in general and for Islam in particular.
(The Light – Dec.16, 1958)
