Intro
Rev. Munshi Hassan Ali Safir was originally a Muslim from the Alwar State in the Rajputana area of British India. He was well-versed in various languages, such as Urdu, Arabic, Persian and English. He later converted to Christianity and actively preached the Christian faith in the Rajputana areas alongside Rev Dr Colin S Valentine (See Nur-i-Afshan, 20 March 1896, p. 6).
In the 1860’s, mentioning the missionary activities in the Rajputana areas, John Robson DD has written about the conversion of Hassan Ali Safir in the 1860s. He wrote that the first convert at the Nasirabad Mission, named Lachman, was “not a man of brilliant parts”, however, “the next convert was quite a contrast. His name was Hassain [sic.] Ali; he was a Mohammedan, of considerable genius and force of character. His conversion and baptism produced a great sensation in the native community” (See Missions of the United Presbyterian Church, Edinburgh, 1896, Offices of United Presbyterian Church, p. 86).
In 1889 (Aug-22), Rev Hassan Ali Safir had been stationed at the Ajmer Mission House Nur-i-Afshan, 22 August 1889 (See the Nur-i-Afshan, 22 August 1889).
In 1889 (Oct), Rev Hassan Ali Safir took charge as the Assistant Editor of Nur-i-Afshan in and the question was published on 26 December 1889, so the meeting might have taken place between early October and 25 December 1889.
In 1889 (Dec-26), “Question: “Will those who believe in Tawhid [Oneness of God] attain salvation or not? If the answer is ‘yes’, there is no need to believe in the Trinity; if the answer is ‘no’, then what will be the status of the previous Prophets prior to Masih [Jesus (as)] and their salvation? “Author, an inquirer.” We can make an estimate of the time frame as to when that encounter between the young Yaqub Ali and Rev Hassan Ali Safir may have taken place.
In 1890 (Jan-9), Rev Hassan Ali Safir is hired to work at the Nur-i-Afshan newspaper as the Assistant Editor (See Nur-i-Afshan, 9 January 1890, p. 3).
in 1890 (Jan-9), “In the previous year’s 26 December issue of Nur-i-Afshan, an inquirer asked whether or not the believers of Tawhid will attain salvation? The inquirer is kindly requested to elaborate as to what he means by believing in Tawhid? In your view, what is meant by believing in Tawhid? […] As long as these points are not explained in detail, this question would be deemed inappropriate. If you explain it, I will be ready to answer” (Nur-i-Afshan, 9 January 1890, p. 12).
In 1890 (Jan-23), Boota Singh Peter from RP Mission Roorkee, who mentioned the question by the young Yaqub Ali and while answering it, he asserted that “in my view, anyone who believes in Tawhid and rejects Trinity has not truly recognised God.” He concluded by saying that since the beginning of this world, “all those who have attained salvation were believers of the Trinity” (See Nur-i-Afshan, 23 January 1890, pp. 5-6).
In 1890 (Oct-9), Munshi Hassan Ali Safir was well-versed in poetry, as evident from various issues of Nur-i-Afshan. A compilation of his ghazals was published entitled Guldasta-e-Safir (See Nur-i-Afshan of 9 October 1890, p. 3).
In 1893, Rev. Imad-ud-Din Lahiz, in the appendix of his paper for the 1893 Parliament of the World’s Religions, has included Safir’s name among the prominent clergy in Punjab Missions as follows: “Sayad Hassan Ali, Safir. Baptized, American Presbyterian Mission, Lahore. A Christian poet, a descendant of Mohammed, Editor of The Nur Afshan; American Presbyterian Mission, Ludhiana” (The Church Mission Intelligencer, Vol. XLIV, London, 1893, p. 585).
In 1895 (Aug-12), Rev Hassan Ali Safir passed away on 12 August 1895 (See Nur-i-Afshan, 23 August 1895, p. 11).
In 1895 (Sep-13), after Rev Hassan Ali Safir died, it was expressed by a Christian writer that “it seems difficult for the newspaper to retain its status after Hazrat Safir” (See Nur-i-Afshan, 13 September 1895, p. 5).
In 1896 (Mar-20), his life story was given in the Nur-i-Afshan, 20 March 1896, p. 6. Hassan Ali Safir was originally a Muslim from the Alwar State in the Rajputana area of British India. He was well-versed in various languages, such as Urdu, Arabic, Persian and English. He later converted to Christianity and actively preached the Christian faith in the Rajputana areas alongside Rev Dr Colin S Valentine. John Robson DD further mentioned that in Jaipur, Rev Dr Colin S Valentine was joined by Hassan Ali Safir and thereafter, in Alwar State, Rev Henry D St Dalmas “gathered a few native converts, and organised school and other missionary work” where “his chief coadjutor” was Hassan Ali Safir (See Missions of the United Presbyterian Church, Edinburgh, 1896, Offices of United Presbyterian Church, p. 100 and 113-114).
In 1915, Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfani mentions Hassan Ali Safir and how he met him many years ago (See Hayat-e-Ahmad, Vol. 3, pp. 213-214, footnote via Ahmadiyya sources).
In 1958, narrating about how he developed an interest in reading the newspapers and writing articles, Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfani states in his account – recorded in Tarikh-e Ahmadiyyat – as follows: “It was due to the editor of Nur-i-Afshan, Mr. Hassan Ali Safir, that I grasped a great opportunity to read newspapers” (See Al Fazl, 6 May 1958, p. 4).
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