Hadhrat Maulvi Haji Hakim Nuruddin
(1835-1908).

The first khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Maulvi Hakeem Nuruddin was the most devoted follower of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad. A talented physician and Islamic scholar, he was the first follower of Ahmad to take the Oath of Allegiance in 1889. He was khalifa from 1908-1914. During his khilafat, the Community established its first foreign mission in London, translated the Holy Qur’an into English and established its first madrassa (religious school). He also thwarted an attempt by some rogue members of the Community to usurp the mantle of khilafat.

Family Background

He established a clinic in Qadian and started giving free treatment to the poor. He fully enjoyed the company of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ^{(peace be upon him)} and dedicated his life to the cause of his mission. He taught the Holy Qur’an and Ahadith to the children of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ^{(peace be upon him)} and to hundreds of other students. He served as a teacher in Arabic in the Ta`leemul Islam High School. He was appointed President of the Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya, Qadian. He contributed to the newspapers Al-Hakam and Al-Badr and completed a translation of the Holy Qur’an.

Education

He learned the Holy Qur’an from his mother and received his general education from public schools in Lahore and Rawalpindi. His academic record was excellent and soon he was appointed as headmaster of an English School in Pind Dad Khan. After only four years he left his job and his quest for knowledge took him all over India. At the age of 25, he traveled to the cities of Mecca and Medina. There, he studied Hadith and performed Hajj. Throughout his journey, he would meet renowned teachers and saints to further his learning. Then, he himself matured into a learned scholar of Qur’anic studies, languages and natural medicine.

On his return from Arabia, he established a school of Qur’anic studies and started a clinic that offered treatment in natural medicine. His main objective was to serve his countrymen and spread the Qur’anic teachings. At the age of about 40 years, during a journey of one month, he memorized 14 parts of the Holy Qur’an and later on became a Hafiz by memorizing the entire Qur’an. God had given him a miraculous healing power and his prayers were abundantly accepted. People from remote corners of India started visiting him for treatment. When the Maharajah of Kashmir heard of his fame, Maulana Nooruddin ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} was appointed as his court physician.

The First Person to Take Bai`at (Initiation) – March 23, 1889

For the first time, he heard of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ^{(peace be upon him)} from a person named Sheikh Ruknuddin of District Sarghoda. Then, probably before March, 1885, a Hindu fellow passed on to him an announcement Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ^{(peace be upon him)} had published which impressed him.

Soon after, he went to see Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ^{(peace be upon him)} in Qadian, who had not yet made any proclamation about himself. But Maulana Nooruddin ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}, at the very first sight of him, recognized the truth which he personified and became his most devoted companion.

Later, on March 23, 1889, when Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ^{(peace be upon him)}, accepted the first-ever Bai`at (Initiation) in Ludhiana, Maulana Nooruddin <sup>(may Allah be pleased with him)</sup> was the first person to take Bai`at.

Settlement in Qadian (April 1893)

Soon after his first visit to Qadian, he offered to leave his job and settle in Qadian, but Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ^{(peace be upon him)} did not accept his request at that time. Therefore, he stayed in Kashmir up to September 1892, when the new Ruler of Kashmir terminated his job. He now returned to Bhera and started the construction of a large clinic. In April 1893, the construction of his clinic was near completion. He went to Qadian on a short visit. But when the time came for him to take leave, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ^{(peace be upon him)} asked him to forget about his hometown and make Qadian his permanent home. So he stayed and from that moment on, he never even thought of returning to Bhera.

His Life in Qadian

He established a clinic in Qadian and started giving free treatment to the poor. He fully enjoyed the company of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ^{(peace be upon him)} and dedicated his life to the cause of his mission. He taught the Holy Qur’an and Ahadith to the children of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ^{(peace be upon him)} and to hundreds of other students. He served as a teacher in Arabic in the Ta`leemul Islam High School. He was appointed President of the Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya, Qadian. He contributed to the newspapers Al-Hakam and Al-Badr and completed a translation of the Holy Qur’an.

His Khilafat (May 27, 1908 – March 13, 1914)

After the sad demise of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ^{(peace be upon him)}, Maulana Nooruddin ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} was elected as first Khalifa. On that occasion, nearly 1,200 members of the Jama`at took Bai`at at his hands. The first and foremost task performed by him, was the consolidation of the system of Khilafat. Some of the important events of his Khilafat are as follows:

1. On May 30, 1908, Baitul Maal or the Treasury was set up. On March 5, 1910, Huzur laid the foundation-stone of Masjid Noor.
2. On March 1, 1909, Madrasa Ahmadiyya was opened, replacing the Branch of Religious Education which was previously opened (January 1906) in Madrasa Ta`limul Islam, Qadian. The purpose of this branch was to produce missionaries according to the instructions of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ^{(peace be upon him)}. The same Madrasa Ahmadiyya progressed and eventually became Jamia Ahmadiyya on May 20, 1928 during the time of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IIra.
3. On November 18, 1910, Huzur fell down from his horse and received a serious head injury. Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ^{(peace be upon him)} had seen this event take place in a dream in 1905.
4. In February 1911, Anjuman Ansarullah was set up by Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad Maulana Nooruddin ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}. On July 25, 1912, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih Ira laid the foundation stone of Ta`leemul Islam High School.
5. On June 19, 1913, the newspaper Al-Fadl was published for the first time. In the same month, the first foreign mission was established in England.
6. On December 26-28, 1913, he delivered two magnificent lectures in the Jalsa Salana, which turned out to be the last Jalsa Salana of his Khilafat.

His Illness and Demise (March 13, 1914)

In January 1914, Maulana Nooruddin ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} fell seriously ill. His health continued to decline as time passed. But his religious activities, particularly his Dars-ul-Qur’an, were not interrupted. On the 13th of March, 1914, the last Friday Prayer of his Khilafat was led by Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}. The same day, at 2:20 p.m, Maulana Nooruddin ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} passed away, while he was saying his prayer.

The next day, Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)} was elected as the second Khalifa of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ^{(peace be upon him)} and led the funeral prayer of Maulana Nooruddin ^{(may Allah be pleased with him)}. He was buried in a graveyard known to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community as “The Heavenly Graveyard” next to Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ^{(peace be upon him)}.

Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad ^{(peace be upon him)} expressed his love and regard for him in a beautiful Persian couplet:

“How wonderful would it be if everyone among my followers were to become Nooruddin. It can happen only if every heart is filled with the light of certainty of Faith.”