Laiq Ahmad Mushtaq, Missionary, Suriname
In the Holy Quran (chapter 9, verse 18) Allah the Almighty says:
“Verily, he alone is worthy fo maintaining the Mosques of Allah who believes in Allah, and the Last Day, and observes Prayer, and pays Zakat, and fears none but Allah; so these it is who are far more likely to be [counted] among the guided.”
Allah the Almighty also says: “And [all] places of worship belong to Allah; so call not on anyone beside Allah.” (Surah al-Jinn, Ch.72: V.19)
Hazrat Uthmanra bin Affan narrated that he heard Allah’s Messengersa say:
“Whoever builds a mosque for [the sake of] Allah, then Allah will build a similar house for him in Paradise.” (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Salah)
By the grace of Allah, 25 April 2021 marked 50 years since the inauguration of the first mosque of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Suriname. Over the last five decades, Nasir Mosque has been a source of innumerable blessings for the Jamaat. This mosque also serves as the headquarters for the Ahmadiyya mission in the country.
Suriname is one of those fortunate countries where the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat reached during the blessed era of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra. A resident of this small country in South America travelled all the way to Rabwah, Pakistan and got the opportunity to live near Khalifatul Masih IIra for almost four years. According to Mr Abdul Aziz Jummanbakhsh’s diary, he reached Rabwah on the evening of 20 December 1953. Later on, he had the privilege of meeting Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra and performing allegiance.
After the arrival of Maulana Rashid Ahmed Ishaq in November 1956, the Jamaat was officially established in Suriname.
Among the very first people to be blessed to accept the message of Ahmadiyyat, was Mr Hoseni Badoella.
A few years after accepting Ahmadiyyat, he decided to build a mosque on his own land, dedicating 3,000 square meters of land to the community for this purpose.
A few days after the commencement of the construction of the mosque, a formal inauguration ceremony was held on 18 June 1961.
Maulana Bashir Ahmed Orchard, Missionary of Jamaat Guyana, especially travelled to Suriname to participate in this event. The construction of the mosque took about 10 years to complete due to a lack of funds and manpower.
It is worth mentioning that Mr Badoella himself did most of the construction, along with his sons. As there was no missionary in the country, Maulana Ghulam Ahmad Naseem and Maulana Fazl Illahi Bashir visited Suriname from the neighbouring Guyana and supervised the work.
On Sunday, 25 April 1971, the history of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Suriname was commemorated with the official inauguration ceremony of the Nasir Mosque.
On this occasion, a written message was received from Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh. A congratulatory telegram was also received from Wakil-ut-Tabshir, Sahibzada Mirza Mubarak Ahmad Sahib.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh said in his message:
“Congratulations on the occasion of the inauguration of the first mosque of Jamaat Ahmadiyya in Suriname. May Allah the Almighty make this mosque a source of divine blessings for everyone, amin. The Jamaat should always remember that all blessings are in obedience to God’s command and obedience to God’s chosen servants, whether they are God’s prophets or the prophet’s Khulafa. Khilafat brings the blessings of Allah, so hold fast to it. May Allah be with you.”
From 29 May to 4 June 1991, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh visited Suriname, the first and only time a Khalifa visited this country. On 31 May, Huzoorrh delivered a Friday Sermon on the subject of gratitude, at the Nasir Mosque.
Huzoorrh said:
“Whether it is the Ahmadis of Fiji, Suriname, Mauritius, China, Japan, Russia or America, if they all listen to the advice of the Khalifa of the age, live, their moral training will be done in the same way. All of them will become one nation, even if these peoples are very different in their appearances. The colours of their faces and skins may be different, but their hearts will be of the same colour. Their appearance may be different due to the difference in their features, but the appearance of their souls will be the same. I came here and saw that this Jamaat is made of great sincerity. Indeed, this Jamaat is a mine of sincerity. But if mines are not excavated and valuable gems are not obtained therefrom, then of what benefit are they? These gems remain mixed up in clay. There is in your midst such sincere material that if your missionaries and office-holders take benefit from it and bring out these hidden treasures, then the whole area can benefit from your blessings and be filled with the light of Ahmadiyyat, by the grace of Allah. May the Almighty Allah grant you the capacity to do this. Amin.” (Al Fazl, 23 September 1991)
In 2006, the Nasir Mosque was completely renovated. The wooden roof was removed and a steel frame was made and installed. PVC sheet ceilings were installed, along with aluminium doors and windows. New mats were laid on the floor. Thus, the appearance of the mosque was completely changed. Members of the Jamaat made great financial as well as other sacrifices to reach this goal. After its completion, a detailed report was sent to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa.
Huzooraa replied:
“Masha-Allah, the mosque has become very beautiful. You have said that a lot of this work has been done by Waqar-e-Amal, and there is also a huge contribution by the grandchildren of Hoseni Badoella Sahib. May Allah reward them and bless their wealth and progeny.”
Readers of Al Hakam are requested to remember Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Suriname in their special prayers.