Leadership: 28/Oct/1951 – 15/Nov/1981
Lifetime: 01/Jan/1881 – 15/Nov/1981
Hazrat Maulana Sadr-ud-Din, the Amir `Head` of the Ahmadiyya community of the Lahore Section, and a companion of the Founder of the Movement `Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad Sahib of Qadian` passed away on the night between the 14th and 15th November 1981. "For God we are and to Him do we return." His loss is irreparable. He had been serving the cause of the propagation of Islam for a very long time in as much as he was one of the founders of the Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha'at-i-Islam, Lahore and a member of the first General Council constituted on the 3rd of May 1914.
As Head Master of Taleem-ul-Islam High School, Qadian:
I had the opportunity to see him from close quarters during 1913-14, when I was a student of the Taleem-ul-Islam High School Qadian, of which he was the Head Master. He left deep and permanent impressions of his attractive personality on my mind. It is no exaggeration to say that under his guidance the Taleem-ul-Islam High School was being run in many respects better than the English Medium Public Schools of that time, and even the modern ones. His discipline was exemplary and yet as far as I am aware he never treated a student harshly. In fact, everybody thought that he had a special fatherly interest in him. He loved his students and joined even the little children in their sports with the result that the academic and extra-curricular activities of the School were of a very high order. In addition, he gave special attention to the moral and religious training of the staff and students alike. All the five prayers were said regularly in Masjid-i-Noor attached to the School. The students attended even the Dars-i-Qur'an `religious talk on the Holy Quran` by Hazrat Maulana Noor-ud-Din after the 'Asr prayer. The personality of the late Maulana Sadr-ud-Din contributed to the establishment of the fame of the School far and wide. Even the late Sir Muhammad Iqbal sent his son Aftab Ahmad (who was my class fellow) to the Qadian School rather than to any other public school.
The Maulana's training left an unforgettable mark on the field of play. The circle Tournament in which many schools took part was once held in Amritsar. The Hockey final was played between the Taleem-ul-Islam High School Qadian and the Khalsa High School Amritsar. Our team won the match. When the referee blew the final whistle, all of our players, wherever they were on the playground, prostrated themselves before Allah in thanks giving. This left a deep impression on the spectators. The tradition set at Qadian has been kept alive by our National Hockey Team in Final matches of International level.
Recitation of the Holy Quran:
We all know that the late Maulana recited the Holy Quran in a very melodious manner. Whether it was during Dars or during a speech or during prayers, and whether it was a long recitation or a short one, it produced a special effect on the audience. At Qadian the students insisted that he should lead the 'Isha' prayer. Sometimes, he obliged. In this respect his contribution to the children's upbringing has been unique.
He dressed well, talked well, was humorous, hospitable and endowed with manly beauty as well. Yet by God's Grace he set an example of high moral character when he went to England and Germany as a missionary of Islam. Allah has bestowed His special blessings on the missionaries of this Anjuman that they have left marks of chastity and purity right in the heart of the immoralities of the Western civilisation. The Maulana had a high sense of aesthetics, amply manifested in the Berlin Mosque, and the get up of the German Translation of the Holy Quran.
Indomitable Courage:
The late Maulana was quite capable of displaying boldness where necessary. I remember the Anjuman entrusted the Maulana to take possession of the lands at Okara from those occupying it illegally. It was due to his bold efforts that the Anjuman succeeded in taking possession of the lands with the help of the Deputy Commissioner concerned. He displayed even greater courage during 1953, when he was in his seventies at which age personal courage and valour usually fade away. There were disturbances all over. and it was feared Ahmadiyya Buildings would be attacked. He was advised by friends to move to some place of safety. His reply was, "We shall not die. We shall live here. Where else can we go? Life and death are in Allah's hands." God saved him and indeed the entire Ahmadiyya Buildings and its residents miraculously. This happened again during 1974. He had such firm faith in his stand that he did not leave his residence.
An Eloquent Speaker:
He was an eloquent orator especially when his subject was the life of the Holy Prophet on whom be peace and blessings of Allah. His exposition of the Prophet's life had an enchanting effect on the audience. Even Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Ali of Blessed memory once remarked that God had granted Maulana Sadr-ud-Din special talent to speak on the Prophet's life. He also delivered Dars at the Ahmadiyya Buildings during the Annual Gatherings, with visible effect on the audience.
Once he came to the Dadar Sanatorium, of which I was the Superintendent. We arranged a function in his honour. This was attended by the Sanatorium Staff, a large number of patients and others. He spoke on the existence of God. The audience were much impressed and used to talk about it later as well.
Outstanding Services to the Cause of Islam:
He rendered outstanding services to the cause of the propagation of Islam. When Hazrat Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din returned home after serving the Woking Mission, Hazrat Maulana Sadr-ud-Din was sent in his place. He carried on the missionary work very ably, and returned in January 1917. In April 1917 the Anjuman established the Muslim High School Lahore which also catered for Senior Cambridge classes. In view of the good work done at Qadian, the Maulana was considered the fittest person to be appointed as its Principal. Under his guidance this School and College earned such good reputation that many children of the noble families joined it instead of going to the Chiefs' College. For example the late Nawab Gurmani ex-Governor of Punjab, Syed Amjad Ali Shah, ex-Finance Minister, Syed Maratab Ali Shah and his children all studied at this institution. Mr. Cross, famous Inspector of Schools who paid a surprise visit to the School was so much impressed by the discipline and high academic standard of the School that he remarked, "I came to surprise the School but I find myself surprised." An ex-student of this School, Mr. Ashiq Hussain Batalvi who became a literary man, an author and Secretary of the Punjab Muslim League and who is not an Ahmadi writes, "The school-day impressions received in the Ahmadiyya atmosphere cannot be effaced from the mind. We lived in the (Muslim) Hostel. Early in the morning there was Dars-i-Quran by the late Akbar Shah Khan Sahib Najeebabadi. The School started with a short discourse on Hadith by Maulana Sadr-ud-Din. In the afternoons we went to the Ahmadiyya Buildings which was the venue of Dars-i-Quran by Maulana Muhammad Ali Sahib on whom be Blessings of Allah – How can this impression be effaced?" (Paigham-i-Sulh, June 6, 1962).
Muslim Mission and the Mosque at Berlin:
In 1919 Hazrat Maulana Sadr-ud-Din again joined the Woking Mission, England. He proceeded to Berlin for the propagation of Islam when the Anjuman decided to open a mission there in 1922. He worked there for four years and started a magazine Moslemische Reveu in the German language. The articles published in this magazine were of such a high order that many learned German scholars embraced Islam. During his stay in Germany he constructed the Berlin Mosque which is a rare specimen of architecture and an ornament of West Berlin. It also portrays his own aesthetic sense. Propagation of Islam by a single person in an alien land is not an easy job. There were obstacles and difficulties but he faced them single-handedly. This could not have been possible except by a strong faith in the Almighty. In 1928, the Anjuman decided to have the Holy Qur'an translated in the German language. This great service to the cause of Islam was also arranged by him. The translation was published in 1940.
On his return from Germany he rendered valuable service to the Anjuman in various capacities. For a long time he was its Vice President. Then in 1951 on the death of Hazrat Maulana Muhammad Ali, on whom be Blessings of Allah, he was elected Amir `Head` which position he retained till his death. During this period he constructed Masih-i-Mau'ud Hall and Ahmadiyya Market Nos. 1 and 2, which considerably enhanced the Anjuman's income. These buildings also are unforgettable monuments of his industry and determination.
His death has taken him away from us, but his services will always be remembered by the Jama'at. May Almighty Allah grant him His nearness in Jannat-ul-Firdous (Heaven). Ameen.
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