Sunday, November 12, 2017
It has been my good fortune to have seen my beloved Hasan Muhammad Khan Arif Sahib, in our childhood in Rabwah, and the spending lots of hours under his guidance in various Jama’at projects, I always found him very devoted work of Jama’at and submerged in love of Khilafat may Allah give him high status in Heaven , Ameen!
In Friday November 10, 2017 Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aa) offered the Janaza Ghaib and said
“After the prayers I will lead the funeral prayer in absentia of Mr Hasan Muhammad Khan Arif Sahib, who was the son of Mr Fazal Muhammad Khan Sahib Shimalvi. Mr Hasan Muhammad Khan Arif Sahib was the former Vakeel-e-Tabshir, Rabwah and was also the editor of the Ahmadiyya Gazette, Canada. He passed away on 3rd November 2017 at the age of ninety-seven. To Allah we belong and to Him shall we return. By the grace of Allah he was a Moosi (part of the institution of Al-Wasiyyat). Mr Hasan Muhammad Khan Arif Sahib was born in Jalandhar, on 26th January 1920. In 1915, his father, Fazal Muhammad Khan Sahib Shimalvi had the opportunity to perform Bai'at at the blessed hand of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra). In 1943, during Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra)'s visit to Delhi, despite serving in an office for the Indian Government, Hasan Muhammad Khan Arif Sahib decided to devote his life (for the services of Ahmadiyyat). When he told this news to his father, he was delighted, but at the same time he advised him by saying: "You are about to devote your life, do not think that it will be a life of ease. If you wish to be a devotee of life in the true sense of the word, then remember that it is a bed of thorns. In this path you will not receive royalties or luxuries, and will have to live like common folk. Your allowance as compared to your current salary will be negligible, but you will have to manage within that amount. "I am also acquainted with him since my childhood, yet after Khilafat, his attitude changed completely to an astonishing degree. In the beginning when there were no computers, he would prepare the Urdu section of the Ahmadiyya Gazette by hand and would get the English section typed up. He would also translate the Sermons into English and would check over them repeatedly until he was satisfied, and only then would he include it in the Gazette. He had an exceptional memory and extensive knowledge about the History of Islam. He would always read a book or magazine. He would read the newspaper regularly and also narrate faith inspiring incidents from the lives of the Companions. May Allah shower His mercy and forgiveness on the deceased and elevate his status. May He enable his children and progeny to remain firmly attached with Khilafat and Ahmadiyyat.” Ameen!
You always will remain in our prayers
