Hazrat Sufi Ahmad Jan (rh) was a famous sufi of Ludhiana.
He was introduced to Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), the Promised Messiah when the first three volumes of Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya were published. In a detailed review of the book, Hazrat Sufi Ahmad Jan (rh) expressed his impressions in very heartfelt words and stated:
ہم مریضوں کی ہے تمہی پہ نظر
تم مسیحا بنو خدا کے لئے
Hazrat Sufi Ahmad Jan (rh) had recognised Hazrat Ahmad (as) as the reformer of the age and someone who Allah had sent. He would request Hazrat Ahmad (as) to take bai’at, but Hazrat Ahmad (as) would respond by saying that he had not yet been commanded by Allah to do so. However, Hazrat Sufi Ahmad Jan (rh) passed away before Hazrat Ahmad (as) announced to take bai’at in 1889.
In this manner, Hazrat Sufi Ahmad Jan (rh) recognised the truthfulness of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), the Promised Messiah, long before anyone else.
Hazrat Sufi Ahmad Jan (rh) met Hazrat Ahmad (as) for the first time in 1884 when he visited Ludhiana.
In early 1885, when Hazrat Sufi Ahmad Jan (rh) was about to embark on Hajj, Hazrat Ahmad (as) wrote down a prayer and asked him to read it upon witnessing the veil of the Ka‘bah. The wording and gist of this prayer show his steadfastness, righteousness and love for the revival of Islam.
On 19 September 1885, which was 9 Dhul Hijjah 1302 AH, Hazrat Sufi Ahmad Jan (rh) read out the prayer in the field of Arafat, which was written by Hazrat Ahmad (as).
While Hazrat Sufi Ahmad Jan (rh) was returning to India after performing Hajj, he got ill and soon after reaching Ludhiana, passed away on 27 December 1885. Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), the Promised Messiah, led his funeral prayer in absentia in Qadian, and also went to Ludhiana for condolences.
On 23 March 1889, Hazrat Ahmad (as) took the bai’at for the first time at the house of Hazrat Sufi Ahmad Jan (rh) in Ludhiana. This house was gifted to the Jamaat by the sons of Hazrat Sufi Ahmad Jan (rh), and later Jamaat built a mosque and a library there.
Among the women, the first to pledge allegiance was Hazrat Sughra Begum (ra), daughter of Hazrat Sufi Ahmad Jan (rh), who was married in 1889 to Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin (ra). Later, her daughter, Hazrat Syeda Amatul Haye Begum (ra) got married to Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra), Khalifatul Masih II.
