On 24 October 2021, the national amila of Ireland Jamaat met with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa in a virtual mulaqat.
After conveying his salaam, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa asked the amila where they were seated; to which Dr Muhammad Anwar Sahib, National Sadr (President) Ireland replied that they were seated in Masjid Maryam. He said that there were 19 members in the national amila and all were present in the mosque for the mulaqat.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa then started the meeting with a silent prayer.
During the mulaqat, members of the national amila had the opportunity to introduce the departments and tasks they were given and provided a brief background of what had been accomplished.
Speaking with Ibrahim Noonan Sahib, Missionary In-Charge Ireland, Huzooraa asked how long he had been serving as a missionary in the field; to which Ibrahim Sahib replied that he had been serving for 19 years. Hearing this, Huzooraa smiled and said, “I hope after 19 years, you must have learned some Urdu; or not yet?”
Huzooraa then asked that if he spoke in Urdu, whether Ibrahim Sahib would be able to reply in Urdu; to this Ibrahim Sahib replied in the affirmative and said that he could understand Urdu only a little bit.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa then asked if he had any other assignments given to him, apart from serving as missionary in-charge of Ireland. Dr Muhammad Anwar Sahib, National Sadr Ireland said that Ibrahim Sahib was serving as a naib sadr.
Next, Shehzad Ahmad Sahib, General Secretary and Naib Sadr II, presented his report. Huzooraa asked how long he had been living in Ireland; to which he said he had been living in Ireland for 15 years.
Shehzad Ahmad Sahib said that Ireland consisted of five jamaats, with a total of 467 Ahmadis living in Ireland.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa asked if all jamaats were regular in sending their reports. Shehzad Ahmad Sahib said that some sent their reports very regularly and others needed to be reminded.
Huzooraa stated that as there were only a few jamaats in Ireland, there should be no issue or delay in sending or receiving reports.
Dr Hamid Ahmad Khan Sahib, Sadr Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya and National Secretary Tabligh (Preaching) reported that this year, only one person in Ireland joined Ahmadiyyat, who was Irish and worked as a lecturer. Huzooraa then asked what the bai‘at target was for the year; to which Dr Hamid Ahmad Khan Sahib stated that the target was 10 bai‘ats. Hearing this, Huzooraa said:
“You have accomplished one [bai‘at] out of the 10-bai‘at target. If you had set a big target, you would probably have worked with more effort. You have set a small target, so the effort was less too.”
Dr Hamid Ahmad Khan Sahib said that they would increase the target next time.
Huzooraa then asked how they conducted and carried out tabligh. The National Secretary Tabligh, Dr Hamid Ahmad Khan Sahib answered that they usually organised leafleting and tabligh stalls. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa then said that one-to-one meetings should also be held, and more relations should be built. Huzooraa explained that leafleting was one way and more avenues of tabligh should be explored.
Dr Hamid Ahmad Khan Sahib said that they had displayed a photo of the Promised Messiahas on buses with the message, “The Promised Messiah has come”. He said that this helped in tabligh and the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat reached thousands of people this way. Another bus campaign was planned.
Atta-ur-Rahman Khalid Sahib, a missionary who has recently been posted in Dublin, was next to present his report. Seeing him, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said, “Yes, Maulvi Sahib? Have you adjusted yourself in Ireland?” Atta-ur-Rahman Khalid Sahib replied in the affirmative.
Huzooraa laid emphasis on tabligh and the need to expand tabligh efforts. Atta-ur-Rahman Sahib reported that when he conducted tabligh, he tried to establish a relationship with those interested and who wished to learn more. He said that he had joined a local cycling club to broaden his contacts with people in Ireland, and to create more opportunities for preaching.
Mehmood Mirza Sahib, National Secretary Talim (Education), was next to present his report. Huzooraa asked where he was born and when he came to Ireland. Mehmood Mirza Sahib replied that he was born in Pakistan and moved to Canada when he was five years old. He said he then shifted to Ireland 10 years ago.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa asked him how many Ahmadi students were attending schools, high schools and universities in Ireland. Mehmood Mirza Sahib reported that he had a list of 59 students, out of which 35 students were in university and 24 were in the last two years of high school, also known as The Leaving Certificate in Ireland.
On this, Huzooraa asked if any measures were taken to guide and counsel the students. Mehmood Mirza Sahib replied that they had started a one-to-one session last year where they helped, guided and had discussions with students.
Next, Muhib Ahmad Sahib, Secretary Ishaat (Publications) reported that they were working on publishing Huzoor’saa book, World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace in Irish. Huzooraa asked Muhib Ahmad Sahib if he was born in Ireland. He replied that he was born in Pakistan and moved to Ireland in 2001. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa then asked if there was any regular magazine that was published in Ireland; to which he replied that the Al-Noor magazine was published once a year. Hearing this, Huzooraa said to try and make this a quarterly magazine. Huzooraa added, “You are a healthy young man, only 30 years of age; so, you should work with the enthusiasm and passion that young men have. Young men should be ambitious in their work.”
Nasir Ali Usman Sahib, Secretary Ishaat Sami-o-Basri (Audio and Video) was next to present his report. Huzooraa smiled and asked if he was there to recite a nazm; to which he replied that he would if Huzooraa wished. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa smiled and said, alluding to two nazms Nasir Ali Usman Sahib had recited a few weeks ago, “The two nazms you recited, which were written by Asif Basit Sahib, were recited very well.”
Huzooraa then asked for a report on his work. Nasir Ali Usman Sahib stated that all the programmes that took place in Ireland were recorded and then a report was made and sent to MTA which was then shown on MTA News.
Speaking with Aleem-ud-Din Sahib, Secretary Rishta Nata (Marriages) Huzooraa said that counselling and guidance should be given to those who wished to get married.
Next, Dr Humayon Malik Sahib, Secretary Umur-e-Kharija (External Affairs) stated that he was in contact with members of parliament and added that five state ministers sent their recorded messages for the 19th Jalsa Salana of Ireland.
He said that regular contact and meetings were held with IHREC Ireland (The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission) about the persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan.
Fazl-ur-Rehman Butt Sahib, serving in the department of umur-e-ama (general affairs) was next to report. He said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, medicines Huzooraa prescribed were sent to families in Ireland and various other help was offered to those who needed assistance in various capacities. He added that winter clothes were distributed to the homeless after collaborating with local charities.
Speaking with Rafiq Ahmad Khan Sahib, Secretary Ziafat (Food Preperation) Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa asked what food was cooked and prepared for the amila members; in response, he said that lamb biryani had been made.
Speaking with Malik Mansoor Sahib, Secretary Maal (Finance), Huzooraa discussed various budgetary matters and asked how many members had done Wasiyyat. Malik Mansoor Sahib replied that there were a total of 99 musis in Ireland, and of the 99, around 72 were earning members. He added that 126 members of the Jamaat were earning members.
Rizwan Mehmood Sahib, Secretary Waqf-e-Jadid stated that the collection for Waqf-e-Jadid was going smoothly and stated that every year, the target was always being accomplished. He added that the target was increasing year by year.
Habib Ahmad Sahib, Secretary Tahrik-e-Jadid, whilst giving his report, said that the collection for this year was still undergoing and that the budget target was accomplished for the year. He said 439 members were partaking in this blessed scheme.
Whilst speaking with Ijaz Ahmad Sahib, Secretary Wasaya (Wills) Ireland, Huzooraa asked if any student had done Wasiyyat. Ijaz Ahmad Sahib replied that no student had done so. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said:
“Encourage students who are 19-20 years of age to also do Wasiyyat. Perhaps in this way, they will be able to fix their habits.”
Yusuf Pender Sahib, Secretary Tarbiyat Nau Mubai‘een (Training of New Converts) was next to report. Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa asked how many converts there were in the last three years and wanted to know whether they were in contact with the Jamaat. Yusuf Sahib said there were five converts and all of them were in contact with the Jamaat through missionaries and local nau mubai‘een secretaries. Huzooraa asked what the plan of the department was for the year. Yusuf Sahib said that since the lockdown period, they had held many online programmes for all the new converts. With restrictions easing, the next plan was to hold an Ijtema for the new converts.
Huzooraa asked Yusuf Sahib about the latest restrictions of Covid-19 in Ireland, the number of cases and the rates of vaccinations. Huzooraa also asked Yusuf Sahib if he had been vaccinated, to which Yusuf Sahib said he had been.
Enquiring more about the new converts in Ireland, Huzooraa asked whether they were strong in their faith, or at least trying to grow. Yusuf Sahib said he was positive about their progress and that they were striving to increase their knowledge about Ahmadiyyat.
Dr Mashood Ahmad, Sadr Majlis Ansarullah Ireland was next to report. Huzooraa asked how many ansar there were. Dr Mashood Sahib reported there were 76 Ansar and five majalis. In his plans, Dr Mashood Sahib said MajlisAnsarullahhad planned to start paid video advertisements on YouTube. Addressing Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa, Dr Mashood Sahib also said:
“Huzoor, I wanted to say that last time you visited [Ireland] in 2014, you instructed me to learn how to make chai. I wanted to tell you that I have learned how to make it and we are now awaiting your arrival.”
In response, Huzooraa lovingly said:
“Masha-Allah. Okay, until then, keep on practising.”
Dr Mamun-ur-Rashid Sahib, Secretary Jaidad (Properties) was next to report. Huzooraa asked what properties had been acquired so far. Dr Mamun-ur-Rashid Sahib reported there were six properties, including Bait-ul-Ahad. Huzooraa enquired about further details about the properties and their developments, and gave advice.
At this, all the national amila members had reported to Huzooraa. Dr Muhammad Anwar Sahib, National Sadr Ireland thanked Huzooraa for the meeting and blessing them with his time and guidance. He expressed how they were waiting for Huzoor’s arrival in Ireland.
In a light-hearted and loving response, Huzooraa said that in the meantime, the chai Dr Mashood Sahib had practiced preparing should be sent to Huzooraa or that the amila members should test his tea first and if it was good enough, they should inform Huzooraa.
Huzooraa then gave further advice on the developments of Jamaat properties in Ireland.
Sadr Sahib requested Huzooraa to allow some amila members to ask questions they had – Huzooraa permitted.
Dr Mashood Ahmad Sahib asked, “In your opinion, due to the current pandemic, do you believe the world has learned any lessons?”
Huzooraa responded:
“Does it look like anyone has learned a lesson in Ireland? […] Everything continues, materialism continues in the same way, they are continuing with their same systems – they have not returned to God, and they don’t want to either. There is only talk.
“Now the floods which came, or continue to come – there were lots of floods in Germany – did they learn any lesson? They thought of Allah for a moment, and they joined the queues for food and began to cry and thereafter forgot everything when conditions improved.
“So, as Allah the Almighty has said in the Holy Quran, that ‘when they fall into any trouble, they bow towards Me and ask for My help’”, when they are trapped at sea, “but when they reach dry land, they return to their previous sins and forget who Allah was etc.
“It seems forceful onslaughts are yet to come for them to learn a lesson – one or two won’t suffice.”
Yusuf Pender Sahib then thanked Huzooraa for the opportunity of meeting them through a virtual mulaqat and expressed his love for Huzooraa. He asked, “My experience on the tabligh stall is that sometimes people say that they like the spiritual teachings of Islam, but they would find it difficult to follow the Shariah of Islam – the dos and don’ts of Islam. Is it ever permissible to say to someone that ‘you should accept Islam and then later you begin to work on those things that are not allowed’, or should we say in the beginning that ‘if you’re going to accept Islam, from the beginning, you should leave those things which are not permissible’?
Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said:
“You see, we do not do tabligh just for the sake of increasing our number. What is the use of asking somebody to join Ahmadiyyat and Islam without his determination of reforming himself?
“What is Islam and what is religion? Religion wants you to reform yourself – to bow before Allah, to discharge your duties you owe to Allah the Almighty. And you have some other moral duties as well – these duties are with regard to the creation of Allah the Almighty. So, you should tell them, ‘These are the Islamic teachings […] and don’t only think that this is the only life […] you will have to face another life which is an eternal life and here you will be answerable to Allah the Almighty for all of your deeds. If you have done something good, you will be rewarded; if you have done wrong, you will be punished. So, you’ll have to realise this fact that this life is not the permanent life, and you should always think of the life which is yet to come, and that is life after death. And there, you will be answerable for all your deeds.’
“If they come to realise [this], then of course they should accept Ahmadiyyat, they should accept Islam and should try to reform themselves. Otherwise, what will be the use of getting more people in the fold of Ahmadiyyat and Islam and they are just useless. They will rather spoil your own system – they will be doing whatever they like: They will go to clubs, they will go to casinos, they will drink alcohol, they will commit fornication and adultery, right? And there are so many other sins which are not sins according to their moral code – that is part of [their] life. But in the Shariah of Islam, Allah the Almighty says, ‘You have to leave all those bad things’. Allah the Almighty’s moral code is different from that of human beings, made by human beings. So, we can tell them, ‘[You] must realise that there is another life which is after death and that is an eternal life.’
“If they come to realise it, well and good; otherwise [there is] no need in increasing your number.”
A final question to Huzooraa was whether one could offer their sunnah prayers after Fajr prayer, if they had missed them. Huzooraa said:
“Yes, one can most definitely offer them. They are necessary. Ensure not to offer Fajr prayer at such a time that when you perform the salaam of fardh, the light of the sun immediately begins to manifest. [If this is the case] then wait for the sun to rise fully, and then after it has risen offer [the missed sunnah]. […]”
Huzooraa then conveyed his salaam to all the amila members and the meeting came to an end.
(Report prepared by Al Hakam)