On 14 March 2021, missionaries currently serving in Ghana, along with Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Ghana, were blessed with the opportunity of meeting Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, in a virtual mulaqat.
After conveying salaam, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa noted that Amir Sahib was not wearing a mask. Huzooraa said it would be better to wear a mask and only to take it off when it was his turn to speak. Upon this, Amir Sahib immediately wore his mask.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa then led everyone in dua, after which he noted the Internet connection being used by Ghana seemed better than Nigeria’s.
Addressing Muhammad Yousaf Sahib, Naib Amir Awal, Huzooraa asked about his assignments and tasks. He responded by saying that he worked on anything Amir Sahib assigned to him.
Umar Farooq Sahib introduced himself and said he was serving as the administrative secretary. Hearing this, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said, “Yes, you told me last time too.” Huzooraa then asked him about his staff, to which he replied that there were 54 members working as his staff.
Whilst addressing Aleem Mahmud Sahib, Muawin Amir, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa asked about his responsibilities. Aleem Sahib replied his work mainly consisted of correspondence with the markaz and archiving daily records. Hearing this, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa asked what was being stored in the archives. Huzooraa enquired if historical records of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Ghana were being archived and preserved. Huzooraa added that the graves of the pioneering missionaries should be preserved and maintained properly.
Following this, Hafiz Muhammad Sharafudeen Sahib, Muawin Amir, whilst explaining his duties, said he was mainly doing tabligh on television and radio channels and had interactions with non-Ahmadi scholars.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa then asked, “You have a talent for learning languages, why don’t you learn Urdu? […] If you learn Urdu, then you can read the books of the Promised Messiahas yourself in the original language. Although there are quite a number of books in Arabic, which you must have read, but if you read the Urdu books, that will also be beneficial for you, insha-Allah.”
Huzooraa added, “The English translation cannot do proper justice when compared to the actual text.”
Then, alluding to MTA Ghana, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa asked if he (Hafiz Muhammad Sharafudeen Sahib) made any programmes for the channel. Huzooraa then said, “Ask your programming department to make some live programmes. These live programmes have more of an impact than any other recorded programme.”
Hafiz Sahib further said that he was having discussions with an imam who studied with him at university. He added that he was ready to accept Ahmadiyyat. Hearing this, Huzooraa commented, “He is quite a courageous person, masha-Allah! […] May Allah the Almighty bless him.”
Addressing Bilal Ahmad Qamar Sahib, Missionary in Tema – a city on the bay of Benin and Atlantic coast of Ghana – Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa asked about his bai‘at target; he responded that he had not yet set a target. Huzooraa then said, “You should set a target and a purpose and proceed in fulfilling it. Set a target, work hard and also pray.”
Syed Nematullah Taier Sahib, Missionary in Accra, capital of Ghana, after being asked if he had any target for tabligh, said that he had not set a special target but was exerting efforts in tabligh.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said, “If you have not set any special target, then how will you make any special efforts? Every missionary should set a special target and make special efforts for [achieving] it. Without this, you may not see fruitful results.”
Speaking with Muhammad Ishaq Sahib, Missionary in Kasoa, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa asked how many Ahmadis lived in his region, to which Ishaq Sahib said there were 2,351 Ahmadis who lived there.
Following this, Mubarak Ahmad Adil, Missionary in Koforidua, intricuded himself and reported that every week, he held a tabligh programme on the radio through which two people had accepted Ahmadiyyat.
Alluding to bai‘ats, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said, “Do not simply convert people [to Ahmadiyyat] for the sake of box-ticking. I want sincere [Ahmadis]. Pray for this, make a habit of praying and work hard.”
Speaking with Hafiz Ali Sahib, Missionary in Akim Oda, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa asked when he graduated from Jamia and how many jamaats he was responsible for. Hafiz Sahib said that he passed Jamia in 2019 and that he was overseeing 25 jamaats. Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa then fixed a target for him of 100 bai‘ats for the remainder of the year.
Next to present his report was Abu Bakr Ibrahim Sahib, Missionary in Nkawkaw, a town in southern Ghana. Huzooraa asked how many Ahmadis lived in the area. Abu Bakr Sahib replied by saying there were 400 Ahmadis and said he had set a personal target of five new converts. Hearing this, Huzooraa confirmed by asking, “Five?”
Huzooraa explained, “Your target should be ambitious. Only then will you make efforts in achieving it […] The greater the target, the more you will focus and work hard and [in this way] you will pay more attention towards prayer.”
Addressing Rashid Mahmud Minhas Sahib, serving as a missionary in Sefwi, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa asked about the conditions of roads in his area. He replied that they were better now, to which Huzooraa added, “They must be better than when we used to live there!”
Whilst addressing Fahad Ahmad Sahib, serving as a missionary in Obuasi, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa asked how many Ahmadis were in his region, to which he replied that there were 2,528 Ahmadis. To this, Huzooraa remarked, “You are very precise in terms of counting.”
Fahad Sahib said that his target was to bring those members closer to the Jamaat who were gradually losing touch. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said that he ought to set a two targets: one focusing on tabligh and another for bringing back those individuals to the Jamaat who had drifted away. Alluding to those members who were gradually losing touch, Huzooraa added, “Treat them with love and affection.”
Abdul Hameed Tahir Sahib, Missionary in Kumasi, whilst presenting his report, said that every Saturday, for two hours, he distributes leaflets and The Review of Religions. He added that his bai‘at target for the year was 150.
Following this, whilst addressing Abdul Jabbar Adam Sahib, Missionary in Tamale, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said that he should start a one-to-one tabligh session to bring those members back to the Jamaat who were gradually drifting away. Huzooraa also told him to read one page of Malfuzat daily, to which he responded that he read two pages of Malfuzat daily. Huzooraa said, “If you read two pages aloud, it will help you to speak fluently in Urdu.”
Speaking with Muhammad Quaye Sahib, serving in Bolgatanga, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa asked how many members Ahmadis were in his region, to which he replied that there were 2,050 Ahmadis, of whom 1,500 were new converts. He added that his target for tabligh was 500 bai‘ats.
Addressing Ismael Abdul Hamid Sahib, Missionary in Assin, Huzooraa said, “Every missionary should dedicate two nafl for [achieving] bai‘ats and should offer two [nafl] for the Jamaat.”
Speaking with Hafiz Ismael Ahmad, Coordinator Wahab Adam Studios, Huzooraa said, “You should also do tabligh when you get the chance to.”
Huzooraa said, “Now, there are many local Ghanaian missionaries, who should set an ambitious target and plan.”
Addressing Abdul Hakim Sahib, Missionary in Volta, Huzooraa said, “Within two years, your challenge is to convert more people. There should be as many Ahmadis there in Volta as there are in the Central Region.”
Following this, addressing Amir Sahib and missionaries, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa emphasised setting targets for bai‘at and tarbiyat. With regard to mosques, Huzooraa said, “Where there is no mosque, you should build one.”
Huzooraa then said, “Masha-Allah! Jamia Ghana, building-wise, is the best. People visit it and are very inspired and intrigued.”
Towards the end, Huzooraa advised:
“All missionaries should especially focus on their prayers and nawafil. They should pay special attention and ponder over the Holy Quran.”
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa then conveyed his salaam and the meeting came to a close.
(Report prepared by Al Hakam)