Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad MA [ra] (حضرت مرزا بشیر احمد ایم اے) was born to Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah (as) and Hazrat Syeda Nusrat Jahan Begum (ra) in Qadian, District Gurdaspur, British India, on 20 April 1893, according to the following Divine prophecy:

يأتيك قمر الأنبياء، وأمرك يتأتى

"The moon of the Prophets will come to you and your affair will become manifest." (Tadhkirah [English], 12 October, 1892, p. 268)

With the blessings of Allah, the prayers of the Promised Messiah (as), the guidance given to him by his elder brother, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih II (ra), and his God-given abilities, he was able to serve the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat throughout his life in various capacities. He was a great religious scholar, a prolific writer, and his books, articles, and speeches are easily comprehensible to an average reader

Education

Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) began his early education at the Lower Primary School and then Talim-ul-Islam High School in Qadian. He excelled in his studies, passing the Matriculation Examination at the Punjab University in 1910, standing first in his school. Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) then attended Government College in Lahore, where he completed his Intermediate Examination of the Punjab University in 1913. He initially continued his studies for a BA degree but withdrew to study the Holy Quran and Hadith under the guidance of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I (ra) in Qadian. Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) later earned an MA degree in Arabic from the Punjab University in 1916.

Marriage

In May 1906, he married Hazrat Sarwar Sultan (ra), the daughter of Maulana Ghulam Hasan Khan of Peshawar. They had nine children.

Service of Faith

Throughout his life, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) continued to serve the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in various roles. In 1911, he was nominated as a Member of Sadar Anjuman Ahmadiyya (Central Ahmadiyya Executive) by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I (ra). After the election of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra) in 1914, he assumed duties as Editor of Al Fazl and Manager of Madrasa-i-Ahmadiyya (Theological School). He also served as the honorary teacher at Talim-ul-Islam High School, Qadian, and undertook private study for the BA degree.

He was the Principal of Madrasa-i-Ahmadiyya, an honorary teacher of Mathematics at the Talim-ul-Islam High School, and served as Assistant Editor, and later Editor, of the monthly Review of Religions. He held positions such as Naib Amir (Deputy Chief) of the Community in India, Secretary of Education, and Officiating Nazir 'Ala (Chief Secretary). Additionally, he was appointed Secretary for Qadian Affairs, a division that oversaw the population left in Qadian during the 1947 partition of the sub-continent.

As the commander of the population in Qadian, he cared for the Community and the Muslim refugees who had sought shelter there before moving to Pakistan. Later, he relocated to Lahore and continued to serve as Secretary for Qadian Affairs, a division that was renamed Hifazat-i-Markaz (Service of Centre) and subsequently Khidmat Darveshan (Service of Dervishes, i.e., volunteers who had chosen to stay at Qadian). He also served as Nazir-i-'Ala (Chief Secretary) of the rehabilitated Community Secretariat in Pakistan for some time. In 1955, during Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra)'s second tour of Europe, he was appointed Amir (Chief) of the Community at Rabwah (District Jhang, Pakistan), the newly-established Centre of the Community. He also served multiple times as the Chairman of the Majlis-i-Shura (Annual Session of the Ahmadiyya Delegates' Conference), which discussed the budget and exercised overall vigilance over the institutions of the Community.

In 1961 and 1962, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) was elected and approved for appointment as Sadr of the Nigran Board (Chairman, Vigilance Board) by the Majlis-i-Shura, a position he held until his demise.

Contributions to Islamic Scholarship

Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)'s most notable contribution to Islamic scholarship was his writing of Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin (The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets), for which he was relieved from administrative work in 1938 to focus on the project. He was also the Secretary of Compilations and Research in 1941, contributing further to the body of Islamic scholarship within the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Demise

Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) passed away in 1963 in Lahore. His funeral was attended by more than 15,000 people and was led by Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Nasir Ahmad (rh). He was buried at Bahishti Maqbarah, Rabwah, Pakistan.

His dedication to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and contributions to Islamic scholarship have left a lasting legacy.

Bibliography

Throughout his life, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad wrote extensively on a wide range of topics, from Islamic theology and scholarship to contemporary events and societal issues. His works, published both as books and articles, continue to be highly regarded within the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and beyond. Here is a list of some of his notable publications:

• 1915 - Kalimat-ul-Fasl (Arguments Conclusive): Addressed to the Lahore Group of Ahmadis who seceded from the main Community in 1914.
• 1916 - Al-Hujjat-ul-Baligha (Argument Persuasive): Argues for the natural death of Jesus Christ (as) based on the Holy Quran and Hadith.
• 1919 - Sirat Khatamun-Nabiyyin (The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets): A biography of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa), began in articles and later published as a multi-volume work.
• 1922 - Tabligi-i-Hidayat (Invitation to the Path): Presents the claim of the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement as the Promised Messiah (as), drawing on the Holy Quran and Hadith.
• 1923-1939 - Sirat-al-Mahdi (Life of the Mahdi): A biography of the Holy Founder of the Ahmadiyya Movement, collecting eyewitness accounts and recording important events and sayings.
• 1924 - Hamara Khuda (Our Conception of God): Presents the Islamic conception of God on the level of enlightened common sense and argues for God's existence.
• 1934 - Ek aur taza Nishan (Yet Another Sign): Describes the Promised Messiah's prophecy about the Bihar earthquake.
• 1934 - Imtihan pass Karne ke gur (Rules for Success at Examinations): Practical advice for students preparing for examinations.
• 1939 - Silsila Ahmadiyya (The Ahmadiyya Movement): A historical account of the Ahmadiyya Movement, covering the first 25 years of the second Ahmadiyya Khilafat.
• 1946 - Khalsa Hoshiar Baash (Sikhs, Beware): An essay warning Sikhs about the potential consequences of the partition of the Punjab.
• 1947 - Qadian ka Khuni Roznamcha (Qadian Diary): An account of the days of anxiety and violence experienced in Qadian during the partition of the sub-continent.
• 1953 - Khatm-e-Nabuwwat ki Haqiqat (The Meaning of Khatm-e-Nubuwwat): Explains the significance of the title "Seal of Prophets" as used in the Holy Quran.
• 1953 - Achhi Maain (Good Mothers): A practical book on mother-craft for mothers bringing up happy and dedicated children.
• 1956 - Ruhaniyat ke Do Zabardast Satun (Two Pillars of the Life of Spirit): Expounds the importance of prayer and piety for all ages.
• 1959 - Khandani Mansuba-bandi (Family Planning): Teaches moderation on both sides of the topic of family planning.
• 1960 - Do Rukhi Wafadari (Dual Loyalty): Comments on the dual loyalties of Catholic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy.
• 1959-1962 - Sirat Tayyiba, Durr-i-Mansur, Durr-i-Maknun, Aina-i-Jamal: A series of speeches on the life and character of the Promised Messiah (as), presented at annual gatherings.

Additionally, Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra) wrote numerous articles and booklets during the last 10 to 15 years of his life. Some of these publications include Id ki Qurabanyan, Tasdiq-ul-Masih, Ishtirakiyat aur Islam, Islami Khilafat ka Nazriyya, Tarbiyiti Mazamin, Jamaati Tarbiyat aur us ke Asul, Punjab ki Taqsim, Istihkani-i-Pakistan, Ahmadiyyat ka Mustaqbil, Mas'ala Janaza ki Haqiqat, Sailab ki Tabah Karian, Ghalib Kaun Hoga, and others. These writings span a wide range of topics and demonstrate Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad (ra)'s depth of knowledge and varied interests.

Note: The list of booklets is a tentative list and requires further research for correction and fuller description.

(Source: The Review of Religins, Vol. LVII, December 1963, No. XII, pp. 646-654)