Guidance regarding basic Islamic issues – which Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa has given on various occasions in his written correspondence and during MTA programmes – is being officially published below for everyone’s benefit
Zaheer Ahmad Khan, Head of Records Department, Private Secretariat, London
Stillbirths
Someone wrote to Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa and asked some questions concerning the stillbirth of their daughter. In a letter dated 20 February 2020, Huzooraa gave the following reply to those questions:
“Placing a picture of a stillborn baby girl at home is likely to cause you more pain. Moreover, since the girl is stillborn, it may be that her photo is not that clear and may even frighten other children. Thus, there is no need to hang up a picture of the girl at home or to keep it on you.
“Stillborn babies are usually not given a ghusl [bath], nor is a janazah [funeral prayer] performed for them. However, there is nothing wrong with a parent doing so for the satisfaction of their own hearts.
“As far as visiting the grave every day is concerned, if you can maintain your patience as you visit the grave of the baby girl and visiting the graveyard does not cause any discomfort to you or the rest of your family, then there is no harm in visiting the graveyard to pray for a few days. However, if going there has a bad effect on your health and causes you to lose patience, then instead of visiting the graveyard every day, stay at home and pray.
“Remember that the girl was actually a trust from Allah the Exalted which He had given you for a certain amount of time and when that time was over, He took it back. Therefore, you should consider this to be the will of Allah the Exalted and show patience.”
Reading the Promised Messiah’sas books: An allegation
Someone wrote to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa that non-Ahmadi Muslims, including some of their family members, raised the allegation that the Promised Messiahas had written that one who had not read all of his books three times, had not understood his claim. Such people asked if all Ahmadis had read these books three times. The questioner asked what the reply to this allegation was.
Huzooraa, in a letter dated 20 February 2020, gave the following reply to this question:
“The Promised Messiahas has not written anywhere that anyone who had not read all of his books three times did not understand his claim; rather, the Promised Messiahas has stated, ‘And he who does not listen to the words of God’s Appointed One and Messenger attentively and does not read his writings carefully, has also partaken of arrogance. So, endeavour and let there be no arrogance in you, so that you may not perish and you be saved along with all of your family.’ (Nuzul-ul-Masih [Urdu], Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 18, p. 403)
“This statement of the Promised Messiahas means that those who only remain occupied with worldly books and sciences and do not pay attention to religious books and knowledge have a kind of arrogance in them because they consider worldly knowledge to be sufficient. However, acquiring religious knowledge is very important for man’s deliverance. And religious knowledge comes from the study of religious books.
“At one place, the Promised Messiahas said, while emphasising about his book Haqiqatul Wahi [The Philosophy of Divine Revelation]:
“‘Our friends should read Haqiqatul Wahi from beginning to end with great attention — in fact, they should memorise it. No maulvi will be able to stand before them because all the necessary matters have been elucidated in it and replies have been given to the objections.’ (Malfuzat [Urdu], Vol. 5. p. 235, 1988)
“Thus, if it were true that a person who did not read all of the books of the Promised Messiahas three times could not understand his claim, then the Promised Messiahas would not have emphasised on carefully reading Haqiqatul Wahi once, but would have instructed that we read it three times like the rest of the books.
“The Promised Messiahas himself has not stated this anywhere in his writings. Nevertheless, there is a narration from Siratul Mahdi which reads that ‘the Promised Messiahas used to say that one who did not read his books at least three times had a kind of arrogance in him.’ (Siratul Mahdi [Urdu], Vol. 1, p. 365, Narration No. 410)
“This narration also carries the same meaning as I have stated above, namely that reading only worldly books while leaving aside religious books and acquiring only worldly knowledge while neglecting religious knowledge reflects the existence of arrogance in a person. Therefore, every Ahmadi ought to take maximum benefit from these spiritual treasures.”
Pause between the two Friday sermons
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa was asked as to why, at the end of the first Friday sermon, the imam sits down and then gets up to deliver the second sermon [khutbah thania].
In a letter dated 23 February 2020, Huzooraa gave the following guidance on this issue:
“This is the sunnah of the Holy Prophetsa. Hence, in the books of hadith, the method of delivering the Friday sermon of the Holy Prophetsa is described as follows – that he would stand up and deliver his sermon and upon completing his preaching, he would sit down quietly for a few moments. He would then get up again and deliver the khutbah thania. The purpose of this, as some scholars have written, may be to clearly distinguish between the two sermons.
“However, it should also be kept in mind that if an imam is unable to sit down due to some difficulty, he can deliver the first sermon and stand in silence for a few moments and then deliver the second sermon as was the practice of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh, when he could not sit down because of having fallen from a horse. At that time, after delivering the first sermon, he would stand quietly for a few moments and then deliver the second sermon. In the same way, during the sermon on the first Friday after I had a gallbladder operation, I also followed the same practice of standing in silence for a few moments and then delivering the khutbah thania.”
Ahmadis being permitted to marry outside the Jamaat
A Jamaat official expressed his concerns to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa over Ahmadi girls being permitted to marry non-Ahmadi or non-Muslim men and sought guidance on the issue.
In a letter dated 29 February 2020, Huzooraa gave the following guidance on this issue:
“Some of the commandments of Islam are of an administrative nature regarding which God Almighty has not given any authority to the general Muslims to change them but has given the authority to the Prophet and his successors to modify them and to make a judgement according to the circumstances.
“In my view, the issue of marriage of Muslim men and women with non-Muslims is one of such administrative matters. Therefore, whether an Ahmadi man or a woman is allowed to marry a non-Ahmadi or a non-Muslim is a matter for the discretion of the caliph of the time [Khalifa-e-Waqt]. Nobody else has this authority. The Khalifa-e-Waqt decides in each case according to the circumstances. Therefore, whenever I am contacted for permission, your job is only to send me a report with your opinion. Your job does not extend beyond that.”
Huzoor’s busy schedule
During a virtual mulaqat of Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya Germany with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, which was held on 29 November 2020, a tifl asked how Huzooraa was able to complete so many tasks.
Huzooraa gave the following reply:
“Firstly, one should get in the habit of completing their work on a daily basis as soon as time becomes available.
“Secondly, at certain times, two tasks can be carried out simultaneously. If I am listening to someone, at the same time, I may also be reading a letter; I can manage to do both tasks simultaneously. In this way, a lot of work can be completed in a short amount of time.
“Moreover, if one has the determination to finish a particular task, they will devote their attention to that task and in this way, it will be completed. If you also strive and endeavour to work hard, your work will also be completed. Develop the habit of working hard and you too can work in this manner. It is not difficult.”
Huzoor’s preparation of Friday sermons
During the same virtual mulaqat [of Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya Germany with Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa which was held on 29 November 2020], a tifl asked as to how Huzooraa prepared his Friday sermons.
Huzooraa replied:
“There are certain topics which are research-based. For example, nowadays I am narrating the historical accounts of [the lives of] some of the Companionsra. The research team working with me find the references etc. and sends them to me.
“However, for the general sermons I deliver on various topics such as Tahrik-e-Jadid, Waqf-e-Jadid or in relation to tarbiyat, I take a verse of the Holy Quran and prepare all the citations myself by hand in order to further explain and elaborate it. The research team assists me in this as well if I need any references. Sometimes I extract all the references myself, at other times I tell my research team to find me such and such reference and then I prepare the Friday Sermon.”
Predestination
During the same virtual mulaqat [of Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya Germany with Hazrat Amirul Mumineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa which was held on 29 November 2020], a tifl asked Huzooraa, “Does Allah the Exalted already know if we will go to Heaven or Hell? If He knows, then what is the purpose of our lives?”
Huzooraa replied:
“You see, on the one hand, there is the knowledge of Allah the Exalted, and then there are our deeds and actions. Indeed, Allah the Exalted has the knowledge of whether or not someone will go to Hell. However, He shows everyone the path whereby if they do good deeds, they will go to Heaven, and if they commit evil deeds, they will go to Hell.
“This is why a person should pray for a good end, i.e. when our end comes, when it is time for us to pass, [we pray] that at that time we are amongst those who obey the commandments of Allah, so that we may enter Paradise. The Holy Quran has also taught us the prayer in which we pray that Allah the Exalted may cause us to die in a state whereby He is pleased with us and so that we may enter Paradise and attain the pleasure of Allah the Exalted.
“Other than that, there is the Rahmaniyyah [grace] of Allah the Exalted which grants forgiveness to a person.
“There is a narration about a man who was very sinful and had committed numerous murders; a total of 99 murders. He realised that he was a very evil person and that he should now reform himself so that Allah the Exalted may be pleased with him and allow him to enter Paradise. So he went to a religious cleric and told him about his sins and how many murders he had committed in his life, and asked him whether he would still be permitted to enter Paradise. He responded by saying, ‘No! There is absolutely no chance of you entering Paradise. You will most certainly be sent to Hell.’ So the man killed the cleric as well, thinking that since he had already committed 99 murders, he may as well reach a total of 100 murders.
“After committing 100 murders, he then asked someone else if there was any way he could please God. The person responded by saying that he should go and see so and so who lived in a particular town as he would be able to tell him the right method by which he could please Allah. Whilst on his journey there, he passed away.
“Upon his death, Allah the Exalted moved the town, from where he had come out after killing a person, away from him and brought the place to which he was going closer to him. This account is in metaphorical terms. Allah the Almighty then commanded the angels to go and give their verdict in relation to him. Thus, both angels went before God; the one assigned to take people to Paradise, as well as the one assigned to take people to the Hellfire. Subsequently, there was a dispute between both the angels. The one who wanted to take him to the Hellfire was adamant about taking him there by stating that the person had committed 100 murders and therefore he was going to request God to send him to the Hellfire. However, the other one was adamant to take him to Paradise and said that Allah the Exalted had sent him to measure the distance he had covered in his journey.
“Eventually, it was agreed between the two that they should measure the distance, and if he was closer to the town of where he was journeying towards, to seek to have his sins forgiven, then he would enter Paradise. However, if he was closer to the town from which he left having committed a murder, then he would go to Hell.
“As I already explained, the distance to his destination was already made shorter by God. Hence, when they measured the distance, he was closer to the town where he was travelling to in order to seek to have his sins forgiven.”
(Huzooraa then indicated the length of a span with his hand to the children.)
“It was just by a span of one hand like this that he was closer to the town he was heading towards and Allah the Exalted granted him His forgiveness and granted him Paradise. Thus, this was the mercy of Allah the Almighty.
“Similarly, there is another narration in which a man once asked someone if he would be forgiven. The person whom he posed this question to responded by saying that he would not be forgiven because he was a very sinful person. Upon this, Allah the Exalted asked the individual who deemed himself to be very pious and offered a lot of prayers, ‘Who are you to decide who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell?’
“It so happened that both individuals died at the same time and were presented before Allah the Exalted. Subsequently, the one who deemed himself to be pious as if he had been granted a guarantee to enter Paradise, and had told the other individual that he would go to Hell, was told by Allah the Exalted that he had no such guarantee and instead would be sent to the Hellfire, and the other individual regarding whom he said that he would go to hell would enter Paradise. So this is the mercy of Allah the Exalted.
“Therefore, it is our duty to continue to strive in seeking the pleasure of Allah the Exalted. Allah has knowledge of all things, and at the same time, He is also Omnipotent and All-Powerful. Allah is Gracious, that is He manifests His Ramaniyyat. He is also Al-Ghafoor, the Most Forgiving. Therefore, ultimately if He wills He can change His decision and one’s destiny. If He has the power to do everything then He also has the power to change His decision.
“So, one should not think that since Allah the Exalted has already decreed that they will go to Hell, therefore they may as well continue committing sins and eating unlawful things such as the flesh of swine, drinking alcohol and committing other sins and assume that since they have already committed so many sins, it was unlikely that God would forgive them. In fact, Allah the Exalted states that this is not the case.
“In fact, one should continue to strive to do good and He can grant His forgiveness even in one’s final stages of life. Therefore you should try to seek the forgiveness of Allah the Exalted from the very start, and then pray to Him throughout one’s life to have a good end and to continue performing virtuous deeds. This is why we should continue to make efforts in this regard.
“Does Allah the Exalted not have the authority to do whatever He wills? He is Al-Maalik, the Master. He indeed has the authority to do whatever He wills. He can also forgive someone at the very last stage of their life. If you think that you are sinful and therefore Allah the Exalted may not forgive you, but remember if He can forgive the one who had committed 100 murders, then He can also forgive you.”
Life after Covid
During the same virtual mulaqat [of Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya Germany with Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa which was held on 29 November 2020], a tifl asked Huzooraa, “Would life ever become normal again after Covid?”
Huzooraa replied:
“Allah the Exalted knows best. Even though it may return to normal, the economic state that has developed after the coronavirus pandemic will have consequences for the world. Even if there is no physical warfare or major conflict, it will still take years for the global economic situation to stabilise. However, usually, we observe that the economic situation worsens under such circumstances which more often than not leads to warfare.
“By looking at the current situation of the world, it does seem that it could eventually lead to wars. If a war is ignited after the coronavirus then the situation of the world will become even more perilous and it will take many years for the situation of the world to return to normal.
“So, we must pray that may Allah the Exalted grant the people of the world sense and wisdom so that instead of bowing before materialism and usurping the rights of one another, the world’s leaders and nations are able to see sense and strive for peace and harmony. If they try to work together so that the world becomes more united, they will be able to return the situation to normal much faster. If such efforts are not made, then the situation will not return to normal and it may take many years for the situation to return to normal and a very dire situation will unfold.
“However, I feel that it is quite possible that a war or a conflict could break out after this pandemic of coronavirus ends and its ruinous effects could last for many years before it returns to normality. Thus, we must pray that such circumstances may not arise, that may lead to wars and that world leaders act with sense so that the global situation can stabilise as quickly as possible and return to normal.
“To achieve this, it is necessary that mankind turns towards God. Otherwise, we will see more pandemics or other trials etc. in the future and then they will get punished.
“Thus, the situation will not return to normal until mankind bows down before its Creator and fulfils His rights and the rights of His Creation. Therefore, Ahmadis should strive more than ever for this and carry out tabligh [propagate the message of Islam]. We should inform people that there is only one solution to help the situation of the world return to normal and that is for mankind to turn to Allah the Exalted and to fulfil His rights and the rights of His creation.”
(Translated by Al Hakam)