I was in my village on 10th December, 1956 on vacation. I had come from Rabwah a few days earlier
for my wedding. It was a very cold day. The surface of the village pond was frozen and the village children were throwing pebbles to break the frozen surface. There were no heating arrangements in the houses in those days. To warm up, blankets, woolen socks and woolen jumpers were used. The only consolation was the bright sunshine and a clear sky on that day. There was a lot of hustle and bustle in our house and Hujra in particular and the in the village in general in connection with the wedding ceremonies. The previous night women of the village had gathered in our house for singing and merry making. By 10’o clock in the morning the wedding party had assembled in our spacious Hujra where my father was entertaining them to tea, Parathas and sweets. The whole atmosphere was charged with joy and jubilation. I had stitched a new Achkan (A long coat) for the occasion and a new Karakuli cap. In one corner of the Hujra a cow and two lambs were tied to a wooden peg. These were to be slaughtered the next day for Walima lunch. Professional cooks, cauldrons, crockery and tables were hired from the nearest town. Most of the young members of the wedding party were wearing guns for firing shots in the air, on their return to the village as a Pathan custom. Some young cousins of mine wanted to play music in the bus but my father strictly forbade it.

Around 11 in the morning we were all ready to proceed to Peshawer. Ladies were given seats in the front and men at rear of the bus. I along with my sisters took seats in the van. The entourage started moving at 11.30 and we arrived at 90 B, Civil Quarters, at Peshawar where my Khaloo Abdur Rehman Khan lived. We were received by him and his brothers at his house. Lunch was ready so without wasting any time it was served in the outside lawn. By1’o clock it was all over and we went to the nearest mosque for our Zuhr prayer.

We returned to the bride’s house and after a few ceremonies inside the house we were ready for our return journey. The bride ( Salima Nahid) and I and my sisters occupied our seats in the van and the rest of the party boarded the bus. I was sitting on the front seat in the van with the driver. Salima was sitting in between my sisters and was crying. My sisters were consoling her. While we were returning home my thoughts took me on a long journey. I thought that I was a devotee of life and that I had pledged everything to the Community. I knew that I was going to live an austere life while Salima had come from a well to do family. Will she be able to accept happily the austere and difficult life that I had chosen for myself? I was a graduate from the Punjab University and could have acquired for myself a lucrative job with all the modern facilities. My class fellows had gone into professions which brought them wealth and a luxurious life style. I could have done the same but I devoted my life to the service of Islam and Ahmadiyyat. I was told at the outset that life would not be easy in the Waqf and that the Jamaat would only provide for the bare necessities of life. Would Salima be able to sacrifice her ambitions and dreams of a comfortable life for me and the Jamaat? These were the thoughts that occupied my mind during the one hour journey back home. We arrived in the late afternoon with a bang of volleys fired by my cousins in jubilation of our wedding. Salima was now calm and composed. I helped her alighting from the car and brought her home where a large party of relatives had assembled to welcome her. They were singing wedding songs. I left Salima with the ladies and came out to our Hujra where a large number of well wishers had gathered. The elders including my father had gone home and the Hujra was under the control of my young cousins. They had brought a guitar and an earthen water pot to be used as Tabla. I also joined them. They sang various melodious songs. Tea was provided by some of my cousins. It went on until midnight.

The next morning i.e. the 11th of December cooking started in the early morning. The cow and two lambs were slaughtered. By 12’o clock the lunch was ready. Open invitation had been extended to the villagers to come for lunch between 12 through 3 pm. Pulao and Zarda were prepared for lunch. The two lambs were roasted and served to the special guests and village dignitaries. A large number of Ahmadis had come from Peshawar and other nearby towns. Pulao was really delicious. Guests left in the afternoon and the professional cooks also gathered their utensils and left.

Half a century has elapsed since that day. The journey that the two of us started was blessed by Allah and today we are not just two but in dozens. Allah blessed us with six children. Unfortunately one of them, Jamil Ahmad was taken away by Allah at the age two plus. We have 15 grand children and a great grand child is on the way. Allah, out of His mercy never put us to the trial of poverty and all our lives we were provided by Allah abundantly. Never in my whole life had I stretched my hand to others for help. My children did help me but they are a part of me. God gave me most obedient and loving Son in laws. Our prayers were answered by Allah and He supported us all our lives.

There are many happy returns of the days in one’s life but the fiftieth wedding anniversary never returns. It occurs only once in a lifetime. We are fortunate to have had this day in our lives. I had never thought even in my wild dreams that I would see this day in my life. God is Great who has graciously dawned upon us this happiest day of our lives.

I would request all of you to please pray for us. It is now the evening of our life and the end is nigh. Please pray that whenever Allah calls us back to the eternal World we depart from here in peace. I love you all and I pray for you all the time. I might not have given you material assets but I am leaving for you a whole treasure of my prayers. Allah will never forsake you provided you obey Him in every thing. May you live long. God bless you.