Canada Day is the occasion of celebrating the anniversary of Canada’s independence. 1 July 1867 was the day when three colonies united into a single country, free from the British Empire. Originally named Dominion Day, the day was renamed Canada Day in 1982. The 152nd Canada Day celebration was held on 1 July 2019 and by the grace of Allah, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya celebrated this important day across Canada to show their love and loyalty to the country.
Celebrations were held in 65 chapters of the community where local dignitaries, including mayors, MPs and MPPs attended the events. Members enjoyed activities such as free BBQ, henna application, kids show, bouncy castle, cake cutting ceremony, glass mosaic and Canadian flag hoisting to honour Canada. Below are highlights of the events held across Canada.
Vaughan
The event started with hoisting of flags. City of Vaughan Mayor Hon Maurizio Bevilacqua hoisted the Canadian flag and MPP King-Vaughan Hon Stephen Lecce hoisted the Ontario flag followed by silent prayers led by Amir Jamaat Canada, Malik Lal Khan Sahib. Young children dressed in Red and White colours of the Canadian flag recited the national anthem. Many people in the audience joined the children with enthusiasm and pride.
Recitation of the Holy Quran started the formal portion of the ceremony followed by translation. Young children gave short presentations on what Canada means to them. City of Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, Member Parliament of Canada Julian Fantino, regional councilors, and city councilors spoke on Canada Day and appreciated the efforts of the Ahmadiyya Community in building a better Canada. Amir Jamaat Canada, Lal Khan Malik Sahib gave the concluding remarks. Approximately 5,000 people attended this programme.
Calgary
In Western Canada at the Baitun Nur Prairie Winds Park in Calgary, Alberta, the Jamaat hosted a successful Canada Day celebration with the theme of “Loyalty to Homeland is Part of Faith”. Thousands of Calgarians from all walks of life attended, including several dignitaries. These included the premiere of Alberta, mayor of Calgary, provincial ministers, MPS, MLAs, city councilors, and community leaders.
The dignitaries recognised the Jamaat’s leading role in promoting peace and harmony. A free BBQ, children’s games, activities for families and a flag hoisting ceremony were all part of the celebrations. A conservative estimate puts attendance at 10,000.
Ottawa
In Cumberland Village, Ottawa members of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya held their Canada Day celebrations. Various celebratory events included free BBQ, henna application, kids show, bouncy castle, cake cutting ceremony, glass mosaics and hoisting of Canadian Flag.
Barrie
In the township of Oro Medonte, about one-hour north of Toronto, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was the official partner for the first time at the local Canada Day Celebrations 2019 held at the Maryam Mosque. There were lots of family fun activities and free BBQ for all attendees. Over 270 people attended the event including Mayor of Oro Medonte Harry Hughes, Attorney General Ontario/MPP Doug Downey, various township councilors and many community leaders.
Saskatoon
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is located in Central Canada where the Jamaat celebrated Canada Day at Baitur Rahman Mosque. The activities included a flag hoisting ceremony, singing of the national anthem by Atfal and Nasirat, a few speeches and cake cutting ceremony. The Mayor of Saskatoon, Mr Charlie Clark attended the ceremony.
Similar programmes were held in Brampton, Durham and many other chapters.
Loyalty to our country is part of our faith. May Allah enable us to continue to follow this beautiful teaching and work towards a better future of this country and the world. Amin.
Hazrat Jabir, Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
“The one dearest to me and the one nearest to me on the Day of Judgment will be the one who is most well-mannered. The most loathsome from among you and furthest removed from me on the Day of Judgment will be the boastful, the braggarts and the mutafayhiqun.” The Companions equired, “We know the ones who are boastful and those who brag, but who are the mutafayhiqun?” The Holy Prophetsa answered, “They are those who are arrogant and spiteful.”
With the start of the month of July in London, the Jamaat’s atmosphere begins to buzz with the same excitement that could once be seen in Qadian and later in Rabwah in December. The passion of Jalsa preparations comes into full swing. On 1 July, as I sought guidance over a certain matter to do with the Jalsa Special Number of Al Hakam, Huzooraa mentioned something in relation to Jalsa Duties. This clicked, and I presented a question to Huzooraa:
“Huzoor, you have had the opportunity of serving in Jalsa Salana. Is there anything that you recall in relation to your Jalsa duties?”
The reply I received is hereby presented as a gift from Al Hakam to Ahmadis around the world on the momentous occasion of Jalsa Salana 2018:
“I started performing Jalsa duties from a very young age. As far as I can remember, I do not recall any Jalsa when I was not on duty. Abba [Hazrat Mirza Mansoor Ahmad Sahib] was the Nazim of Langar Khana Number 1 – the Langar Khana situated behind Nusrat Girls School in Rabwah. His days and nights were spent there. As a very young child, I would accompany him. I remember walking to the Jalsa duty, holding his finger. I must have been six, seven or maybe eight because it is quite unusual for a child older than that to walk while holding someone’s finger.
“I recall how amazing the Jalsa Salana atmosphere used to be. The atmosphere of Jalsa was very exciting. Most of my time was spent in the Langar Khana [kitchen], and that too thrived with the buzz of Jalsa. On one side would be many queues of hundreds of degs [cauldrons] on stoves in an orderly fashion while there would be lines of hundreds of clay-ovens on the other where bakers would be baking rotis. The clay-ovens would also be placed in a well-organised manner. Abba would walk between both lines, constantly inspecting the work.
A scene from Jalsa Gah Rabwah | ahmadiyyagallery.org
“Wood was used for fire in the stoves and clay-ovens and thus, the whole Langar Khana would be filled with smoke. Our eyes would be exposed to this smoke and we would also inhale it, but we loved this atmosphere so much that it never put us off and I would carry on going with Abba to assist him. I, along with other children of my age, would also assist in counting rotis.
“Abba had his own way in that if work needed to be sped up or if rotis were running short, he would hold a competition among the bakers; whoever baked a hundred or two-hundred rotiswould win two rupees in prize. Back then, two rupees was quite a decent reward. If more rotiswere required in the given time, he would set the prize money at five rupees. With this, every baker would try to exceed the other in an attempt to win more money in reward. The bakers would chant slogans to keep up their motivation, and the winners would especially chant slogans in celebration as they received their prize money. What a wonderful atmosphere it was!
“Cooks had to be called from other towns to prepare food for Jalsa Salana in the Langar Khana. There were those who would cook food in the degs, some who would knead the dough, others to make dough-balls and, of course, bakers; all these people would be hired on contract. Such contracts were in place for most tasks and agreeing and signing them would be a major step.
“Once, the bakers called a strike saying that they wouldn’t bake rotis. Their demand was probably an increment in wages or some other demand of such nature. They knew that they were desperately needed in Jalsa days, so they must have thought it the best way to have their demands met. With their strike, the situation was that roti could not be baked to feed the thousands of thousands of guests as there were no bakers. Even if there were a few Ahmadi bakers, they seemed next to none in that situation.
Kneading dough on a mass scale at Jalsa Salana
“The administration informed Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh about the situation and requested his guidance. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh, in his opening address, instructed the attendees of Jalsa to consume one roti instead of two so that there were sufficient rotis for everyone. He also instructed that local Ahmadi households of Rabwah should bake rotis and send them to the Langar Khana so that there was no shortage. The Jalsa Salana administration also arranged for flour to be sent to contributing households. Now, guests would stick to having only one roti in a meal while rotis started pouring in from houses. The result was that rotis, instead of the supposed shortage, were more than sufficient and plenty without any problem.
“The bakers also understood that it was pointless to call strikes there. They simply asked to be pardoned and got back to work.
“The Langar Khana would remain functional day and night. Most of the workers would stay there overnight where there was a parali [paddy stems] laid as loose matting. The labourers and bakers would sleep by their clay-ovens as that was probably the most comfortable place for them in the bitterly cold weather. The little wink of sleep that one could manage to catch was done so there. When I grew up and was in my college-going age, I too would stay there for night-shifts and would catch a bit of sleep on the parali. I would sometimes come home. We would wake up the workers, labourers and the bakers at around half-past-one or two o’clock in the morning, and work for the day would start from then on.
“As the days of Jalsa drew closer, stacks of parali could be seen in various parts of Rabwah, from where it was distributed to various departments and accommodation areas. Almost every household of Rabwah would host Jalsa guests, so local residents were also given parali [to use as bedding].
“I always offered my duty in Langar Khana, even when I was a tifl. Then at every stage, I was blessed to serve in the Langar Khana of the Promised Messiahas. I was a khadim [servant] even as a tifl; I was a khadim as a khadim; a khadim in Ansarullah and, to this day, I remain a khadim.”
May Allah bless our humble Imam with a large number of khadims. Amin
Prime minister visits exhibitions, takes part in MTA discussion and addresses gathering at convention
Mukarram Nazeer, Canada Correspondent
The 43rd
Jalsa Salana Canada was held on 5-7 July 2019 at the International Centre, Mississauga,
Ontario, where thousands of devoted members of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Canada, USA
and other parts of the world joined to become recipients of the prayers of the
Promised Messiahas.
One aspect that made this year’s Jalsa
Salana Canada unique was the attendance of the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin
Trudeau, who visited on the last day.
Speaking to Al Hakam about the
attendance of the Canadian prime minister at Jalsa Salana, Asif Khan Sahib,
Secretary External Affairs said:
“About four years ago, the prime minister
had promised to return as the prime minister. This was the last year for him to
potentially keep this promise as the election is coming up in October.”
Explaining the purpose of his visit, Asif
Khan Sahib said:
“The purpose of the visit was to mainly
address the audience and, of course, to pay tribute to the efforts of the
Jamaat. As well as speaking to the gathering, the prime minister was shown
various exhibitions, for example Humanity First, the Quran exhibition, Muslims
for Remembrance and the Pathway to Peace exhibition. He also met with members
of the national amila and Lajna media team members.
“The prime minister arrived at around
2:30pm and spent almost 3 hours with us. Before taking to the stage, he was
invited to the MTA International studios where I conducted a short discussion
with him.”
During the discussion for MTA, whilst
discussing unity, the prime minister said:
“It is easy to scare people, it is easy to
divide people; it is harder to bring people together. Only when all of us, who
believe in a better future, stand strongly together, will we be able to build
that better future.”
Regarding his thoughts and views on Hazrat
Khalifatul Masih Vaa, he said:
“Your leadership, as I told, His Holiness,
is really important in this world at this time … Having had the opportunity to
sit down a few times now with His Holiness and to hear his deep commitment to
the world, not just to the Ahmadiyya Community, but to seeing more peace and
more openness and more love throughout the world is truly astonishing and
encouraging.
Courtesy of AMJ Canada
“This Ahmadiyya message of ‘Love for all,
hatred for none’ is one of those things that we need a lot more of in the
world. And his efforts, whether it’s reaching out to global leadership, or
inspiring and challenging Ahmadiyya Muslims to keep stepping up and keep
pushing to respond when communities are facing hardship, when there are
disasters or incidents or when people just take note of, in their everyday
lives, trying to be positive forces and positive actors in their communities.
That is an important thing and it’s a difficult message to be leading with in
the world today … The work His Holiness is doing, and indeed the entire
Ahmadiyya Community, is an inspiration to us all.”
When asked about his message for the
youth, the prime minister said:
“I think one of the things that we’ve seen
around the world is a sort of disengagement; a cynicism or a skepticism about
not just politics, but about our institutions and their ability to solve some
of the challenges that people are facing … Be involved in your community, be
involved in politics, be involved in various initiatives that you feel can make
a difference in the world …
“It’s very easy for individuals,
particularly young people, to say, ‘But I’m only one voice. What can I do to
change my community?’ Well, the opportunities to step up, the opportunities to
make a difference are absolutely essential and they are there. So, anything I
can do to encourage more people to look at the world around them and see how
they can help, how they can serve, how they can build a better future in an
active way, regardless of your age, regardless of your background, it makes it
easier for all of us to succeed.”
The prime minister also spoke about the
persecution of Ahmadis, and while addressing religiously persecuted members of
the Jamaat, he said:
“My message is to stay strong and rooted
in faith and in the conviction that the world is filled with goodness and we
need to continue to contribute to it and we need to continue to build towards
it.”
Speaking about the significance of the
prime minister’s visit and what he had to say to the Canadian Jamaat, Asif Khan
Sahib said:
“I feel it speaks volumes that the prime
minister actively participated in Jalsa Salana in this way. He simply could
have said that he would only address the audience. However, when informed of
the various exhibitions, he keenly expressed his desire to view them. He was
particularly impressed by the bullet points mentioned in the Pathway to Peace
exhibition and said that he was very much looking forward to reading the book World
Crisis and the Pathway to Peace.”
The first day of this year’s Jalsa started
on Friday, 5 July with the recording of the Friday Sermon delivered by Hazrat
Khalifatul Masih Vaa at Jalsa
Salana Germany. A brief Friday Sermon was then delivered locally by Naib Amir,
Hadi Ali Chaudhry Sahib followed by Jumuah prayers. Lunch was served to all
guests of the Promised Messiahas.
An interactive session with various media
representatives during a press conference was a key highlight of the day.
Additional Nazir Islah-o-Irshad & Dawat Ilallah and Mufti-e-Silsila
Ahmadiyya, Mubashar Ahmad Kahlon Sahib, along with National Amir Canada, Lal
Khan Malik Sahib, answered questions presented by media representatives.
Just outside the men’s hall in the plus 30
degree Celsius summer heat of July, Liwa-e-Ahmadiyyat was raised beside the
Canadian flag. Silent prayer was led by Markaz Representative, Mubashar Ahmad
Kahlon Sahib.
Back inside, the air-conditioning provided
relief to the audience who listened to the recitation of the Holy Quran with
translation, which signalled the start of the First Session. Three Khuddam
presented a beautiful and harmonious tarana (choral poem) on Khilafat. National Amir Jamaat Canada, Lal Khan Malik Sahib
spoke to the attendees on “Turning Fear into
Peace”, which was
delivered in both English and Urdu.
A beautiful poem with English translation
came next followed by an interesting English speech on “Islam: The True
Defender of Women’s Rights” delivered by Missionary Vaughan, Imtiaz Ahmad Sra
Sahib.
Some announcements and a dinner wrapped up
the first session of Jalsa Salana Canada. Jamaat members socialised and enjoyed
food, tea, the Bazaar, the bookstore and a exhibition. Volunteers provided
excellent assistance in security, parking, first aid, translation,
transportation, food preparation, registration, water supply and many more
departments.
All the Greater Toronto Area mosques and
Salat centres held daily congregational Maghrib and Isha prayers for all
members.
In the darkness of another warm summer
morning, pre-dawn Tahajud and Fajr prayers followed by dars were held at all
mosques and Salat centres around the Greater Toronto Area.
The Second Session of Jalsa Salana Canada
started with the recitation of the Holy Quran and translation. A comforting
poem with translation was presented before a presentation on “Faith Inspiring
Stories of Ahmadi Martyrs in the Era of Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih II, may Allah
be pleased with him” by Mohtamim Umur-e-Tulaba, Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya
Canada, Ahmed Bazid Sahi Sahib.
Missionary Peace Village, Attaul Mannan
Sahib explained how to give priority to faith over worldly things in his
speech, “Experiencing God in a Materialistic World”.
The annual award of Alam-e-Inami Majlis
Ansarullah Canada was presented to Emery Village Weston Region. Majlis
Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Scarborough South was recognised with the Alam-e-Inami
Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Canada and Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya Saskatoon
North took the top prize of “Alam-e-Inami Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya Canada”.
Various high achieving students received
academic achievement awards followed by awards to four dedicated young Huffaz
(sing. Hafiz – person who commits the entire Quran to memory) who graduated
from the Hifz-ul-Quran School Canada, memorising the entire Quran in a total
period between 2-4 years.
Winners of Alam-e-Inami Majlis Ansarullah
Canada, Emery Village Weston Region
Winners of Alam-e-Inami Majlis
Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Canada, Scarborough South Region
Over 6,000 kilometres away at Jalsa Salana
Germany, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah strengthen his hand, had
addressed the ladies and the recording of that address was shown at Jalsa
Salana Canada. Traditional announcements and lunch service for all attendees
brought the Second Session to a close.
After congregational Zuhr and Asr prayers
at the Jalsa Gah, the Third Session of Jalsa Salana Canad initiated with the
recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by a beautiful poem with translation.
Mubashar Ahmad Kahlon Sahib of Rabwah delivered a heart-warming speech titled,
“Goodness Lies in Coming Unto Me With Sincerity”.
A well known and respected former Federal
Cabinet member and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Lloyd Axworthy was
the recipient of the 8th Annual Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khan Award for
Distinguished Public Service.
The programme shifted focus back to
Germany with the recorded address of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa to the German Guests at Jalsa
Salana Germany earlier that day.
After the speech, many familiar faces
among the distinguished guests were invited to the stage to present some
personal thoughts on Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Canada. The Prime Minister of Canada,
Mr Justin Trudeau was among the many friends of the Canadian Jamaat who spoke
from the podium.
Various announcements concluded the Third
Session and Jamaat members along with guests made their way to the food area to
benefit from the Langar Khana of the Promised Messiahas. Many
members left the Jalsa Gah and quickly gathered for congregational Maghrib and
Isha prayers at nearby mosques and Salat centres to add to the spiritual
blessings of the day.
Many members also woke up early on the warm,
pre-dawn morning to offer Tahajud and Fajr prayers and listen to a dars at one
of the many mosques and Salat centres around the Greater Toronto Area.
It was an early start to Day 3 of Jalsa
Salana Canada as the Fourth and Final Session began with a traditional
breakfast service at the Jalsa Gah. Thousands of members and guests
prepared for the live broadcast of the International Ba‘iat ceremony with
Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa from Jalsa Salana Germany. The audience at both
Jalsas repeated the words of Ba’ait after Huzooraa in unison. A powerful concluding address was then
delivered by Syedna Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa to conclude both Jalsas
at the same time.
Many members embraced each other and gave
thanks for another successful Jalsa Salana in both countries.
The
final lunch of Jalsa Salana Canada was followed by congregational Zuhr and Asr
prayers. Huzooraa announced the total Jalsa Salana Canada
attendance as 18,572, which included 900 guests and over 1000 Jamaat
volunteers, by the grace and blessings of Allah.
Jalsa Salana preparation is an ongoing project that runs throughout the year. For Jalsa Salana 2019, formal meetings and planning commenced in January 2019 after approval of the organising committees by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa. The Jalsa Salana Management Committee began to meet on a weekly basis to review red book points and settle contracts with marquee, lavatory, cabin, track and other supply contractors.
To date, monthly reports have been presented to Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa and Huzooraa has graciously given us constant guidance regarding Jalsa Salana preparations.
We have a 28-day period in which the whole Jalsa Salana site along with its infrastructure must be setup and then, after the Jalsa, dismantled. As such, there has been continuous work in progress at Hadeeqatul Mahdi since our 28-day time frame started. Marquees are being marked out and set up, Khuddam are volunteering for waqare-amal, our stores are being stocked and specialist teams (such as the electrical team) consisting of Jamaat members are setting up their various departments.
The air-conditioning system that was set up last year within the Jalsa Gahs, with the permission and instruction of Huzooraa, will be installed this year as well, aiding in case of high temperatures.
This year, with our new Markaz in Islamabad, there is a whole new setup and extensive planning has gone into catering for the scores of guests expected at Islamabad. They will certainly come to the new Markaz to meet Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa, offer prayers behind him and pray at Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV’srh resting place. Therefore, new marquees, guest areas, scanning stations, prayer overflow and a langar area are being set up at Islamabad.
A distinct feature of Jalsa Salana UK is of course the fresh rotis (flat breads) that are made on site for the guests of the Promised Messiahas. Accordingly, the over-hauling of our roti plant in Hadeeqatul Mahdi has started to ensure quality when Jalsa Salana arrives.
The work is increasing daily as we approach Jalsa Salana and we are witnessing volunteers arriving from across the UK. In fact, volunteers from the USA and Canada will also be arriving to assist in the Jalsa build-up, Insha-Allah.
All readers of Al Hakam are humbly requested to pray so that we can serve the guests of the Promised Messiahas and work in the manner that beloved Huzooraa expects of us. May Allah cover our shortcomings and bless our efforts. Amin.
Having
been appointed Political Delegate of the Ahmadiyya Community, I am very busy in
delivering lectures, writing letters and articles to the papers and visiting
the officials to make the English public well understand what reforms India
really wants with special reference to the needs of our community which is
spread all over India and has always been loyal and faithful to the British
rule. My articles and letters have already appeared in some of the papers in
this country such as the News and Chronicle, the West London News,
the Mercury the Record, the Morning Post the Observer,
etc.
To the Royalty
1. A
letter of welcome with some literature was sent to Dr Epitacid Pessoa, the
Brazilian President, during his short visit to London.
2. A
letter of congratulations on behalf of the Ahmadiyya Community was sent to His
Majesty the King-Emperor on His Majesty’s birthday, 3 June.
3. Two
copies of my lecture presented to Her Majesty the Queen-Empress and His Majesty
the King-Emperor have been duly acknowledged.
4. His
Highness the Sultan of Egypt was congratulated on contracting marriage with the
Sultana Nazli.
5.
Ahmadiyya literature sent for the Mediterranean Mine Clearing force has been
duly acknowledged by the Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief.
To the Notability
1. A
letter of congratulations with some literature was sent to Mr Hawker, the
famous Airman who has been granted Rs. 75,000 as Consolation Prize for his
attempt to fly [over] the Atlantic Ocean.
2. A
letter was written to Miss Ruth Law, America’s well-known woman flier who is
going to attempt a Transatlantic flight in a Curtis Aeroplane. She has been
given the tidings of the advent of the Promised One.
3. The
Ahmadiyya movement has been brought to the notice of Miss Jane Addams,
President of the Women’s International Committee for Permanent Peace, Zurich
and some literature has been supplied to the respectable lady.
4. The
glad tidings of the reappearance of Christ in this day, was sent with some
literature to Mr Prebendary, whose lecture on the End of the World has been
much discussed of in the press. I have explained to him in my letter that the
chief thing to be considered in connection with the end of the world is no
doubt the promised advent of the Messiah, as pointed out by the lecturer, but
only God knows in what form he ought to have appeared.
Activities in London
We have
been very busy in the month of June in various kinds of mission work. Brother
Abdullah’s severe illness with bronchitis and asthma increased our work and
worry. He is much better now, thank God, and feels quite well sometimes, but he
still requires a long rest before being able to take up some active work.
I am still suffering from granular eyelids
which has rendered me unable to do any reading or writing work. Some English
Muslim friends (such as Mrs Jameela Shah, Mrs Abasi and Miss Besset) and Mr
Abdul Rahim Alabi Smith, a young Nigerian Ahmadi, have been of great help in
disposing of my correspondence. May God be their reward.
The following lectures have been delivered
during the month:
1. 1
June – I delivered a lecture on the subject of “unbelievers,” proving that
those who do not believe in the temporal or the spiritual rulers of the day can
derive no advantage from believing in the rulers of the past ages.
2. 8
June – I delivered a lecture on the subject of “Spring Cleaning” showing the
necessity of the appearance of a spiritual reformer on the basis of evidence
from nature.
3.
Friday, 13 February – A sermon on the subject of political reforms in India was
delivered in the East End which has been reported in a London paper named News
and Chronicle, dated 17 June 1919, and is as follows:
Home Rule in India
“Mufti
Muhammad Sadiq, the representative of the Ahmadiyya Community in India (founded
by the Prophet Ahmad and numbering about 600,000) delivered a sermon before
Friday Prayers at 121 East India Dock-road, Poplar, expressing his community’s
views on the Indian Reform Bill. While advocating some necessary reforms to
give a better and higher hand to the Indians in governing the country, he
affirmed that India is not yet prepared for such a big jump as Home Rule or
anything like it. India contains many different sects and communities which are
generally at daggers drawn against each other, and some of them being very
small in number want the protection of a paternal government from being
devoured and put to dust by their rivals. Moreover, a majority of the Indians
being still illiterate are quite unable to even understand what Home Rule is.”
4.
Sunday 15 June – A lecture delivered by me in Ahmadiyya Lecture Hall on the
Indian Reform Bill.
5. Two
lectures were delivered by Mr SC Ahmadi at Hastings on the subjects of the
modern Christ, and the loyalty of Indians to the British Crown. Both the lectures roused a good deal of
interest in the Town, and were reported by the local papers, as a result of
which a respectable lady has joined the mission.
6.
Sunday 22 June – A lecture was delivered by me on the subject of “What India
Needs” and a paper on Islam was read by Mr Smith. Mr Hadji delivered a short
sermon on the Prophethood of the Promised Messiah.
7.
Sunday, 29 June being the Eed [Eid] Festival day, we had a big gathering of
Indian and English Muslims, the majority of whom were entertained with dinner
and afternoon tea. The prayer was conducted by me and a sermon delivered after
it as usual.
8. Mr
Abdullah, who is now convalescing in Hastings, delivered a lecture there on the
Message of Prophet Ahmad on Monday, 30 June, and is busy in distributing
literature in that part of the country.
A New Leaflet
A new
leaflet named “A Call to Truth” which is a reprint from the writings of His
Hazrat the Khalifatul Masih II is now being widely distributed in this country.
New Converts
By the
grace of God we secured three converts to Islam during the last month: Miss
Rosetta Hobson, Mr MeCarteney and Miss Eliza Gabel. They have been given the
Muslim names Gulab Bi, Jareeullah and Amina respectively. The form of
initiations signed by them has been posted to Qadian.
A learned Muslim young English lady
(journalist by profession) named Miss Ameena Oliver, has joined the fold of the
prophet Ahmad and adopted her new name as Ahmadi-ji. Her form of application
for initiation into the Ahmadiyya movement is being forwarded along with others
to His Hazrat the Khalifatul Masih.
El
Mufti, 4 Star Street, Edgware Road, London, W. Q. 2 July 1912 [1919]
“Beware that Allah the Almighty has not given the plague the name of mercy, so that the one who dies from it be considered a martyr. This age is full of threats. It has occurred as a sign. It would leave after distinguishing between a believer and a non-believer. Its name is رجز [punishment] and it has been called a torment in my revelation.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 2, p. 542 [1988 edition])
Highlighting the words of the Promised Messiahas from the above extract, “It [the plague] would leave after distinguishing between a believer and a non-believer”, the opponents of the Jamaat and the Promised Messiahas claim that the distinction between a believer and a non-believer was not established or witnessed during the plague epidemic.
The opponents have not presented any proof
or evidence to support their claim; a mere baseless objection. The devastatios
caused by the plague in the Indian subcontinent and the way it vehemently
destroyed villages and towns is recorded in history. In those circumstances,
Ahmadi Muslims were greatly safeguarded by Allah the Almighty as compared to
the opponents. If, God forbid, Ahmadi Muslims had been affected by the plague
in large numbers at any place, opponents would have raised their voices and
published this in countless newspapers of that time. However, we do not find
any such incident where the opponents recognised the deaths of Ahmadi Muslims
in large numbers which demonstrates that Ahmadis were in fact saved in greater
numbers than those who opposed the founder of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat.
Moreover, the Promised Messiahas,
along with nearly 80 members residing in his house, was safeguarded as per the
promise of Allah the Almighty. Furthermore, the opponents have themselves
admitted that there was a rise in the number of Ahmadis from 300,000 to 400,000
by March 1906. Instead of dying from the plague, Ahmadi Muslims increased.
Hence, the distinction between a believer and a non-believer becomes evident
from the course of events that took place during the outbreak of the plague.
Opponents object to another saying of the
Promised Messiahas in which he sheds light on the ranks of the Holy
Prophet’ssa companions under the heading The Plague and Ahmadis.
Once, a bigot Maulvi [Muslim cleric] asked the Promised Messiahas
regarding the [handful of] Ahmadi casualties due to the plague and mockingly
enquired about its cure. The Promised Messiahas responded by saying:
“Have
you [Maulvi Sahib] formulated a remedy [to refute] the sign of the solar and
lunar eclipse as well? At present, there lies a discussion regarding the signs
and not the cure. Surely, the one who accepts me with full sincerity will
certainly be saved, but I do not know who that person is as I do not see beyond
the hearts of anyone. A group of companions also embraced martyrdom due to the
plague. However, you must observe that Abu Bakrand Umar, may Allah
be pleased with them, did not pass away due to plague. God Almighty has made a
distinction between His people, as he states:
‘And of them are some who suppress their
desires, severely, and of them are some who excel others in acts of goodness’
(Surah al-Fatir, Ch.35: V.33).” (Malfuzat, Vol. 7, p. 141)
Referring to the above extract, opponents assert
that the founder of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat has rebuked the likes of Hazrat Abu
Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrahra and
those companions who passed away due to plague, and that kufr
(infidelity) or faith has nothing to do with the matter of falling victim to
the plague.
Allah the Almighty has declared the ranks
of true believers in the Holy Quran. As it is stated:
“And of them are some who suppress their
desires, severely, and of them are some who excel others in acts of goodness by
Allah’s leave. And that indeed is the great distinction” (Surah al-Fatir,
Ch.35: V.33).
Likewise, Allah the Almighty has declared
the ranks of righteous persons at another place in the Holy Quran:
“And whoso obeys Allah and this Messenger
of His shall be among those on whom Allah has bestowed His blessings, namely,
the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs, and the Righteous. And excellent
companions are these” (Surah al-Nisa, Ch.4: V.70).
Hence, these verses highlight that Allah
the Almighty has divided his near ones and spiritually adept in various ranks.
Moreover, every holy person does not belong to a single group. There are
different ranks according to their spiritual status and some may fall in one
group while the others may possess an elevated status, becoming part of a
spiritually higher ranked group.
In the statement, mentioned by the
opponents, the Promised Messiahas has discussed the two groups of
the companions. Firstly, the group that comprised of Khulafa-e-Rashideen or the
first four rightly guided successors of Islam and secondly, the group of all
the other companions of the Holy Prophetsa. The Promised Messiahas
has expounded that even though some companions embraced martyrdom through
plague, but the Khulafa-e-Rashideenremained unharmed because they had
prominence over the others in the eyes of Allah the Almighty.
This explanation clarifies that the
founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat has not carried out that discourse in order
to mock or rebuke any companion of the Holy Prophetsa. In fact the
opponents have deliberately mentioned the name of Hazrat Abu Ubaidah ibn
al-Jarrahra to arouse the sentiments of Muslims as they are
emotionally attached with the Holy Prophetsa and his companions.
Otherwise, the statement of the Promised Messiahas speaks for
itself; he has not in any way reproached Hazrat Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrahra.
The statement of the Promised Messiahas
pointed out by the opponents is dated 21 August 1904. He has addressed the same
matter on various other occasions as well. He stated under the heading “Death
From Plague”:
“This objection of the opponents is wrong that why do people from our Jamaat pass away due to the plague. We have not prophesied at any time that every person who takes Bai‘at on our hand will be safeguarded from plague. However, we say that the most superior in rank [spiritually] do not die by contracting this type of disease … Plague spread in the era of Hazrat Umarra but was he affected by it? … The number of prophets who have appeared earlier is 124,000. Can anybody claim that even a single one among them died of plague? However, there is no doubt for sure that in the times of this disease, certain believers of [spiritually] lower rank contract plague but they are [considered] martyrs. Allah the Almighty covers their weaknesses and sins in the same way He did in the Jihads [holy wars which were fought to defend Islam] against the kuffar [infidels] by the Holy Prophetsa. Although there was a prophecy that only kuffar would be thrown in hell in those Jihads, but certain Muslims were also killed. However, the most prominent class of companions, i.e. the likes of Hazrat Abu Bakrra and Hazrat Umarra were not martyred and the Holy Prophetsa was not martyred as well. This shows that the most elevated group of people [spiritually] are not martyred in this way during a war. Similarly, if any individual from our Jamaat falls victim to the plague, then it will be a source of martyrdom for him and God Almighty shall reward him for it.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 9, pp. 283-284)
Citing the above mentioned extract of 5
May 1907, opponents suggest that the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaatconsidered Hazrat Hamzara bin Abdul Muttalib, a martyr of
Uhud, and Hazrat Hussainra, a martyr of Karbala, to be lower in rank
than the other Companions. The opponents emphatically ask how those who were
martyred could be lower in rank and those who survived be higher in status.
Moreover, they assert that there is no such reference in the history Islam to
support the supposed viewpoint of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat’s founder.
Pondering over the saying of the Promised
Messiahas, singled out by the opponents, we find that he has
elucidated the same matter, as explained earlier, that Allah the Almighty has
established a distinction between the spiritual ranks and status of His holy
persons. The Promised Messiahas has again pointed out two groups and
used the term “superior rank” or “superior status” for the first group and
“lower rank” for the second group. Hence, he has by no means criticised or
defamed any single companion of the Holy Prophetsa.
We would like to point out for the
knowledge of the readers that the statements of the Promised Messiahas
under discussion have been taken from the reporting of various newspapers. The
reporter published the sayings of the Promised Messiahas in
accordance with the level and extent of his comprehension. Hence, there lies a
possibility of error and misunderstanding in these reports.
In order to fully understand the
perspective of the Promised Messiahas, his actual writings hold
significant importance as theywould clarify his stance on the
matter under consideration. He states in his book Haqiqatul Wahi (The
Philosophy of Divine Revelation) published on 15 May 1907:
“Ever since the creation of this world, no
Prophet of God has ever died of the plague. True, such believers who are not
totally cleansed of sin, do sometimes contract the plague and die from it. This
kind of death serves as an atonement for their sins and it is a kind of
martyrdom, but nobody would have ever heard that, being Musa, someone
contracted the plague. Only a person who is extremely wicked, filthy, and
depraved could dare hold the belief that a Prophet or Vicegerent of God ever
died of the plague. Therefore, if this kind of death by the plague had been a
laudable type of martyrdom, upon which there could be no kind of criticism,
then the Prophets and Messengers of God would have been the first to merit it.
But as I have just stated, no one can prove that any Prophet or Messenger or a
holy person of the highest order, who held the distinction of converse and
discourse with God, ever suffered from this evil disease since the inception of
the world and then died of it. On the contrary, the primary targets of this
disease have, from the very beginning, been those very people who were guilty
of a variety of sins and transgressions or who were disbelievers and faithless.
Reason does not at all permit that Allah’s Prophets, Messengers, and recipients
of His revelation should similarly suffer from the disease which God has
prescribed to punish the disbelievers since the earliest of times.
“The Torah, the Gospel, and the Holy Quran
– all three unanimously declare that the plague has always been sent down to
punish the disbelievers. Moreover, as is borne out by the revealed Scriptures
and history, God has caused hundreds of thousands of disbelievers,
transgressors, and wicked people to perish through this very plague from the
very beginning. God is far above and beyond allowing His Elect to become victim
of this chastisement together with the disbelievers, and allow His exalted
Prophets to suffer the same chastisement from which thousands of evildoers have
always been dying during the time of the Prophets.” (The Philosophy of
Divine Revelation, pp. 682-683)
The Promised Messiahas further
states:
“The Holy Quran and the Torah both testify
that the plague symbolises the wrath of God. Believers of the highest class and
the Elect of God like Prophets and Siddiqin [the Truthful] have never
suffered from the plague. No one can prove that people belonging to this class
ever contracted the plague, because it is a chastisement of God which comes
down to punish the disbelievers and transgressors and those who go on
committing sin. The Elect of God are never made to partake of it.”(The
Philosophy of Divine Revelation, pp. 705-706)
(Research conducted by a panel of scholars at the Research Cell, Rabwah. Translated by Al Hakam)
From 8
to 14 June 2019, 38 Waqifeen-e-Nau from various parts of the UK partook in a
trip to the symbolic and historic land of Palestine and Israel. The purpose of
this trip was to enable Waqifeen-e-Nau brothers to foster strong relationships
with one another, as well as recognise the importance of the Waqf-e-Nau scheme
and further develop their religious and historical knowledge.
The group travelled from London, Luton
airport and arrived in Tel Aviv at approximately 9pm local time. From there,
Waqifeen travelled by coach to the current headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Community in the Middle East, Mahmood Mosque in Kababir, Haifa, where they
stayed for the duration of their trip. They were received with a warm welcome
and treated to excellent hospitality and care by the Kababir Jamaat that would
remain as such till their final day.
Here, I would like to mention that Haifa
was also visited by Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, Khalifatul Masih II,
when he visited Europe in 1924.
The first day consisted of a packed
itinerary in Haifa. It began with a visit to one of the most popular
destinations in Israel, the Bahai gardens. Next, the group visited the
historical Al Istiqlal Mosque, the oldest Mosque in Haifa. The group were able
to offer nawafil there and feelings of admiration for architectural
significance of the site was felt.
The home of Prophet Elijahas,
in the steep hills of Mount Carmel, was the next destination for the group.
This location is also believed to be where he once travelled to contest the
claims of some certain false prophets during the time of his own prophethood.
The group had the chance to stop here and also received a welcome address by
Sadr Sahib Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Palestine and later tucked in to a
fantastic barbecue that had been arranged by the local Khuddam. The day ended
with a sitting with Amir Sahib Kababir at Mahmood Mosque. Ameer Sahib covered a
number of topics during his talk, including a fascinating and inspirational
account of Huzoor’saa election as Khalifatul Masih V, which, being a
member of the election committee, he was able to witness first-hand.
Day two was relatively relaxed in
comparison. First, the Waqifeen-e-Nau spent a couple of hours near Carmel
Beach. Here, they enjoyed soaking in the sun and participating in activities
such as water volleyball in the Mediterranean Sea and beach football. Prior to
departure, everyone took their chance to grab a customary ice-cream, as of
course, a trip to the beach can never feel complete without it!
Upon returning to the mosque, the group
offered Zuhr prayers followed by a sitting with the missionary of Kababir for a
discussion on the historical significance of the sites that they were to visit
in the coming days. In the evening, Waqifeen-e-Nau participated in an indoor
football competition that the Kababir Jamaat had specifically organised for
them.
After Tahajud and Fajr prayers and
breakfast on day three, the Waqf-e-Nau prepared for their first trip to the
West Bank, Palestine, accompanied by Amir Sahib. Following a three-hour journey
south, their first stop was at the home of a recent Ahmadi convert where they
were invited for breakfast before continuing on to Hebron. Here, they visited a
mosque which houses the tombs of Hazrat Abrahamas, his wife Hazrat
Sarahas, their son Hazrat Isaacas and his wife Hazrat
Rebeccaas. This was followed by a visit to the tomb of Hazrat Jonahas
shortly after, located in the nearby Nabi Younus Mosque.
The next stop was Bethlehem where Waqifeen
visited the Church of the Nativity. A holy site for Christians, the church gets
its significance for being built over a cave which is commonly believed to be
the location where Hazrat Maryas gave birth to Hazrat Jesusas
and as such, is a place of great importance to Christians (and indeed those of
other faiths) all over the world.
After departing from Bethlehem, the
Waqifeen-e-Nau embarked on a journey to what was perhaps the most significant
destination of the trip to the land of the Prophets, the holy city of Jerusalem.
A place of great significance to adherents of the main Abrahamic religions –
Judaism, Christianity and Islam – Waqifeen-e-Nau first visited the Dome of the
Rock. After offering Zuhr and Asr prayers here, the group moved on to see the
even more historic Al Aqsa Mosque which is situated in the same vicinity.
Nearby, the Waqf-e-Nau also had an opportunity to view a site of religious
significance to the Jews, the Wailing Wall. They also visited the site of where
Hazrat Jesusas was put on the cross. The group was also able to take
in the famous atmosphere of the old city as they walked through the
narrow-cobbled streets of Jerusalem and saw the old town markets brimming with
merchants selling their products and food vendors with enticing displays of
different and colourful cuisines.
On the fourth day, Waqifeen returned to
the West Bank accompanied by the missionary. This time they travelled along the
Jordan border headed for the lowest point on Earth, the famous Dead Sea. On the
way, the group stopped off at a few other interesting destinations such as the
site on the Jordan River where Hazrat Jesusas is alleged to have
been the recipient of the first baptism by John the Baptist. The group was able
to see not only the significance of this sight but also the practice of the
Christians to immerse themselves within the river as tribute to what happened
there many centuries ago. They then travelled to the city of Jericho, which is
recognised as being the oldest continuous inhabited settlement and dates back
more than 10,000 years, and also the Nabi Musa Mosque. Following arrival at
Kalia Beach, Dead Sea, Waqifeen-e-Nau had lunch and then enjoyed a couple of
hours floating in the buoyant waters of the Dead Sea and masking themselves in
the mineral rich soil found on the seabed before their journey back to Kababir.
Day five was the final day of sightseeing,
though no less busy. Waqifeen-e-Nau visited a variety of locations which
included; the Church of Annunciation in Nazareth, where Hazrat Maryas
received the revelation from God regarding Hazrat Jesusas; Tiberias,
where many Christians believe Jesusas performed the miracle of
walking on water. Additionally, Waqifeen-e-Nau also had the opportunity to
visit a bee farm owned by an Ahmadi brother in the beautiful area of the Golan
Heights. The farm, hidden deep within the towering mountains that border
Palestine and Syria and shadowed by the Sea of Galilee was a place where they
gained a wealth of knowledge on the lives, and importance of bees and how they
can relate this to their everyday life and the work they do for the Jamaat. The
honey bee taught them the beautiful lesson of obedience to Khilafat. They also
had an opportunity to purchase a variety of authentic honey products. Finally,
before departing for Kababir for the last time, the group made a visit to the
coastal town of Akko, famous for its coastal beauty, its links to countless
civilisations of the world and its crushing victory against the invasion of
Napoleon Bonaparte’s army.
On the last day of the trip, as it was a
Friday, the group offered the Jumuah prayer and listened to Huzoor’saa
sermon which was broadcast live from the UK.
This was followed by a delicious lunch
that served roast chicken, a group picture with Amir Sahib and a last chance
for Waqifeen to exchange farewells with the Kababir Jamaat and thank them for
their truly amazing and tireless hospitality and care.
Waqifeen-e-Nau
departed from Tel Aviv for Luton at approximately 11pm on 14 June 2019 and
arrived at Islamabad, Tilford at Fajr time. This marked the end of a most
exceptional, historic and inspirational trip, Alhamdollilah.
Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania, USA, 12-14 July: On Thursday, 11 July 2019, the
inspection for the 71st Jalsa Salana USA officially began.
This year’s Jalsa Salana was held at the
Farm Show Complex, located in the heart of Harrisburg, the capital city of the
state of Pennsylvania.
The Jalsa inspection began at 7:40pm with
Amir Jamaat USA, Sahibzada Dr Mirza Maghfoor Ahmad Sahib passing through the
security gates.
After the initial security inspection and
visit to various departments, Amir Sahib addressed the volunteers of Jalsa
Salana USA.
Recitation of the Holy Quran was presented
by Imam Faheem Arshad Sahib of Phoenix, Arizona, after which Amir Sahib
addressed the volunteers of this year’s Jalsa.
In his remarks, Amir Sahib reminded the
volunteers:
“Every year, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih, may
Allah be his Helper, addresses the volunteers of Jalsa and reminds them of
their responsibilities. Those are the real guidelines for us all to abide by.
We should all remember that each and every guest at the Jalsa Salana is in
reality the guest of the Promised Messiahas and as such, must be treated with the utmost respect
that they rightfully deserve.
“It was observed that some volunteers lost
their temper in previous years while on duty. This is not an acceptable
behaviour. We must never lose our temper, come what may. Similarly, the badges
that we all wear should serve as a constant reminder that we are servants of
the Jamaat and must obey the nizam while treating everyone alike with kindness and
compassion.
“Keep an observant eye on your surroundings
as that is the best form of security. Huzoor-e-Anwaraa has time and again reminded us that those who are on
duty must offer their prayers in congregation. If someone is unable to offer the
prayers with the main congregation, then they must offer it in congregation
with other such volunteers later on.”
Then addressing the Ziafat (kitchen)
needs, Amir Sahib said:
“In previous years, our Ziafat department
has had food shortage due to which not all the guests at Jalsa Salana were
served. Ziafat department should do their best to address this issue so that
food is prepared in enough quantities so that every single guest of the
Promised Messiahas is served in the
best possible manner.”
At the end, Amir sahib led everyone in
silent prayer.
Around 500 volunteers, including men,
women and children were present at the Jalsa Salana inspection.
99 years ago, when Hazrat Mufti Muhammad
Sadiqra was not permitted
to enter the country upon his arrival in the USA, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra addressed the Jamaat and stated:
“America, which claims to be a world power,
has only faced worldly powers until now and has defeated them. However, it has
not faced a religious power until today. If it ever faces this community, it
will realise that it cannot defeat us because God is with us … It is our hope
that one day in America, the sound of “La ilaha illallahu
Muhammadur-Rasulullah” will most definitely echo”. [Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat,
Vol. 4, pp. 250-251]
Alhamdolillah, a
testament to that historic day once again dawned on us on a beautiful Friday
morning in Harrisburg, USA. Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya USA celebrated its 71st historic
Jalsa Salana.
This momentous day began with the
observance of Tahajud prayer followed by Fajr at the Hadi Mosque in Harrisburg
along with all the hotels where guests of the Promised Messiahas
stayed this year. Then, a few hours later, the live Friday Sermon of Hazrat
Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa was listened to and soon after, everyone started
making their way to the Jalsa Gah.
This year’s Jalsa Salana had an amazing
pictorial exhibition on Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya in Islam, capturing the history of
Khilafat and the various visits by Khulafa to the United States over the span
of several decades. Similarly, a book store, a tabligh booth with its own
exhibition, multiple booths for The Review of Religions magazine, a Humanity First exhibition, multiple food halls
and multiple bazaars were also set up for the guests of the
Promised Messiahas.
At 12pm, lunch was served to the guests of
this year’s Jalsa Salana USA. At 2pm sharp, Azhar Hanif Sahib, Naib Amir and
Missionary In-charge USA, presented the Friday Sermon based on the one of 1
January 1988 by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh highlighting the significance of Friday prayers in
Islam and comparing it with the institution of Sabbath in Judeo-Christian
scriptures. He mentioned the great service that the Promised Messiahas had rendered for the Muslim Ummah by petitioning the
British government to grant Muslims a partial leave on Fridays so that they
could participate in the Friday prayers.
At 4:10pm, the flag hoisting
ceremony took place at the entrance of the main Jalsa Gah, where the
Liwa-e-Ahmadiyyat (flag of Ahmadiyyat) was raised high next to the American
flag. This was followed by a short silent prayer. Everyone then proceeded to
the Main Jalsa Gah where the opening session of the 71st Jalsa Salana USA began
promptly at 4:30pm, which was presided by Amir Sahib.
Message from Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa
After
tilawat and nazm, Amir Jamaat USA, Sahibzada Dr Mirza Maghfoor Ahmad Sahib read
out the message that Jamaat USA received from Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa.
The
message read:
“Dear members of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat
USA, Assalamo Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.
“By the grace of Allah, you have been
granted the opportunity of convening another Jalsa Salana. As most of you are
aware, one purpose of holding the Jalsa as has been explained by the Promised
Messiahas is that the
members of the Jamaat should gather together to advance their religious
training and spirituality. Religious and spiritual matters should be the
subjects of the Jalsa so those attending may develop a closer relationship with Allah and endeavour
to increase in their spiritual status.
“Similarly, another objective of the Jalsa
is to promote love, affection, unity and compassion with the Jamaat. So, you
should strive to adopt these values much more than before. Always remember and
adhere to these principles.
“Further, the purpose of the advent of the
Promised Messiahas was to teach us
that by fulfilling the obligations due to Allah, we would increase in piety. We
are also required to fulfil the rights owed to others by following the
commandments of Allah, that is to behave lovingly and with affection and
cultivate better relationships with each other. Therefore, adhering to the
teachings of the Promised Messiahas will prove a source of blessings for you in your
tasks. Whereas such actions will be beneficial for your tarbiyat and keep you
aright in your affairs, they will also prove blessed for you in your tabligh
work and you will be able to convey the message in the best manner.
“Another point you should always remember
is that irrespective whether you are implementing a tabligh programme or a
tarbiyat activity, or you are striving to improve your personal character, your
efforts cannot succeed until you develop khashyatullah that is the fear of Allah. Once this is firmly
established within you, you will then witness how Allah blesses your work and
your efforts.
“Your every endeavour should be independent
of personal gain. The office-bearers are expected to fulfil their responsibilities
by considering the service of Islam as a blessing.
“This year in the Jamaat elections, some
new and some serving office-bearers have been given the opportunity to serve
the Jamaat. It is now your responsibility that you direct even more attention
towards the service of religion. You are to forge ahead along and together with
the other members of the Jamaat.
“Similarly, the members of the Jamaat
should realise that they are expected to dispel all thought of personal
interest and offer their service purely for the sake of Allah, and in complete
obedience to Nizam-e-Jamaat. As the relationship between the office-bearers and
the general members of the Jamaat develops, your work will be blessed and you
will be enabled to express your attachment to Khilafat genuinely with your
hearts, and thereby you will be able to fulfil your pledge. If this is not the
case, then your statements are empty words.
“In this age, Allah has favoured us with
the divine institution of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya and so to fulfil our obligations
towards Khilafat, it is incumbent on the office-bearers and all other members
of the Jamaat that they should deal with each other affectionately and with
love, and by cooperating with one another; they should become of those who
strive for the success of the Jamaat. When all of you join and work together,
then you will be considered among those who have truly entered the Jamaat of
the Promised Messiahas and are most
rightly fulfilling the obligations of your Bai‘at.
“Allah Almighty sent the Promised Messiahas as the Imam of this age and servant of the Holy
Prophet Muhammadsa. Only
if we follow the teachings of the Promised Messiahas with sincere hearts and fulfil the requirements of our Bai‘at,
can we consider ourselves to have fully exhibited our total allegiance to the
Holy Prophetsa and his
commandments. May Allah enable you to do so. Amin.
“Yours Sincerely, [signed] Mirza Masroor
Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V”
This was followed by the first speech of
the day’s session on the topic of “Al-Wali – the True Friend and Protector of
Believers” presented by Omar Shaheed Sahib. In this speech, various anecdotes
were mentioned that showed how Allah helps and protects those who truly believe
in Him with all their heart and keep Allah as their ultimate friend.
Next was another exhilarating speech on the topic of “Tazkirat-ul-Auliya – Narrations and Noble Qualities of the Friends of God” by Rizwan Khan Sahib. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra had mentioned that the “Companions had an ishqiyya [loving] temperament whereas the youth of today only have a philosophical temperament”. The speaker then illustrated various faith inspiring incidents from the lives of the blessed Companionsra and tabi‘een of the Holy Prophetsa as well as from the lives of the Companionsra of the Promised Messiahas exemplifying their expressions of love for these blessed personages.
The third and the final speech of the day
was presented by Dr Waseem Sayed Sahib on the topic of “The Tenth Condition of
Bai‘at – Our Matchless Bond of Love With Khilafat”. Outlining the true purpose
of our Bai‘at, the speaker quoted the Promised Messiahas where he stated that the system of Bai‘at had been instituted solely with the purpose of
bringing together a large group of righteous people who should cast their own
virtuous influence upon the world. The
speech highlighted many practical examples through which an Ahmadi Muslim can
enhance their relationship with Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa.
The first day of Jalsa Salana USA ended
with dinner, after which Maghrib and Isha prayers were offered in congregation.
Courtesy of Al Islam
Day 2 of Jalsa Salana USA began with
congregational Tahajud prayer followed by Fajr Salat and a brief dars at the
Jalsa Gah and various hotels where the guests of the Promised Messiahas stayed.
Prior to the morning session, fresh and
warm breakfast was served at the Ziafat halls at the Jalsa Gah.
The morning session was presided by Naib
Amir Dr Hameedur Rahman Sahib, which began with a beautiful recitation of the
Holy Quran and a nazm of the Promised Messiahas. After this, the
first speech of the day was presented in Urdu by Haris Raja Sahib on the topic
of “Survival of the Fittest – Living in the West Without Losing Faith”.
Raja Sahib quoted Hazrat Khalifatul Masih
Ira where he said that
the biggest problem of this day and age is materialism and this is why the Imam
of our Jamaat, the Promised Messiahas added the proclamation, “I will give precedence to my faith over worldly
matters”. After this, Raja
Sahib shared many anecdotes from the stories of prophets from the Holy Quran.
Raja Sahib also shared
many faith-inspiring incidents from the lives of Ahmadi Muslims who are new to
the USA but have not given up on their religious values and are being blessed
by Allah in every sense of the word.
The second speech of the morning session
was on “Our ‘Ilah’ is One! – Demolishing Inner Idols That Hinder Sincere
Belief”. This speech was presented by Sahibzada Usman Latif Sahib. He presented
the example of Hazrat Sahibzada Abdul Latif Sahib Shaheedra who laid down his life in order to set the example of
true belief in Allah in this day and age.
The following speech was on the topic of
“The Modesty and Humility of Our Messengersa – How to Avoid Immoral Societal Trends”. This speech was presented by Abdul Hai Thomas Sahib
who shared a detailed contrast between the concept of haya (modesty) and riya (showing off). He presented many faith inspiring
incidents from the life of the Holy Prophetsa where his modesty prevailed over the societal ills.
The blessed model of the Holy Prophetsa serves as a citadel of refuge for us in dire
times when society is ridden with myriads of spiritual ills.
The final speech of the morning session
was presented by Imam Mahmood Kauser Sahib on “The Critical Need of Life Devotees
to Spread the Light of Islam”. Imam Kauser presented the life of Hazrat Musabra bin Umair, the first life devotee for the sake of
Islam. He shared many incidents from the lives of life devotees of the past and
present who are known as stalwarts of Islam Ahmadiyyat. At the end, he shared
the dire need that Islam Ahmadiyyat requires in this day and age from all of us
and that is to come forward and present ourselves for the ultimate sacrifice to
dedicate our entire lives for the sake of propagating our faith.
At the end of the morning session,
Humanity First USA recognised some of its volunteers for exceptional services
that they had rendered in the service of humanity via different projects under
the Humanity First USA flagship.
The session concluded with lunch break
followed by Zuhr and Asar prayers in congregation.
A special lunch with Amir Jamaat USA,
Sahibzada Dr Mirza Maghfoor Ahmad Sahib was prepared for the dignitaries that
had come to this year’s Jalsa USA. The notables included US congresswoman Norma
Torres (D-California), Kurt J Werthmuller (Policy Analyst), US Commission on
International Religious Freedom Blake Strayhorn, President Habitat for Humanity
Durham Sue Henderson, Vice President of US & Canada, Habitat for Humanity
International Hon Neftaly Aldana Herrera, Judge of Constitutional Court of
Guatemala, Siddique Abou Bakr Wai (Ambassador of Sierra Leone to the US), Craig
Considine (author and professor of sociology), Rice University Representative
Andrew Lewis, Member Pennsylvania House of Representatives Bob DeSousa,
Representative from Office of US Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa) and Rushan Abbas
(Executive Director Campaign for Uyghurs).
After Zuhr and Asr, lunch was served to
the guests of the Promised Messiahas. The afternoon session started
at 3:45pm and was presided by Naib Amir Dr Nasim Rehmatullah Sahib. In this
session, there were two speeches; the first was presented by Mujeeb Ijaz Sahib
on the topic of “Service to Humanity – A Fundamental Form of Divine Worship”
and the second speech was presented by Rasheed Reno Sahib on the subject of
“Compassion in a Time of Crisis”.
The Ahmadiyya Community of USA presented its annual Humanitarian Award to two awardees this year. The first was Blake Strayhorn, President and Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity of Durham. The second recipient was Congresswoman Norma Torres of California for her underlying commitment to protect the rights of immigrant communities, especially those fleeing from violence and persecution. In her acceptance speech, she commented:
“I want every immigrant to have the
experience I had; to be welcomed into a loving community. I am so honoured to
be here. I am grateful for this award and our friendship”.
Another guest speaker, Hon Judge Neftaly
Aldana Herrera of Guatemala, said:
“I want to express my gratitude to this
community for its commitment to serve humanity and create bonds based on love
and peace and humanity. Nasir Hospital (Guatemala) is a hope for our
community”.
Miss Rushan Abbas, the Executive Director
for the campaign for Uyghurs said:
“The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has given
us the most precious gift: the light of hope”.
Special messages were received and
presented at Jalsa Salana from Tom Wolf (Governor of Pennsylvania), Bob Casey
(US Senator, D-Pa) and Eric Papensfuse (Mayor of Harrisburg).
After the evening session ended, a special
dinner was organised for tabligh guests which was presided by Amir Sahib along
with Missionary In-charge Azhar Hanif Sahib. Various new converts to Islam
Ahmadiyyat presented their motivating stories of how and what led to their
conversion to Ahmadiyyat, the true Islam.
One young new convert in the gathering was
Alejandro Pino of Puerto Rico, who said, “I was in a spiritual search for
something to satisfy my soul which I ended up finding in Ahmadiyyat, the true
Islam”.
A question and answer session was also
held with tabligh guests and new converts where Azhar Hanif Sahib and Amir
Sahib answered many questions from members of the audience. Azhar Hanif Sahib
said, “Faith is part of the human family, our history, our daily experiences …
We are blessed to have prophets to guide us to God”.
The special dinner ended with Amir Sahib
reading an excerpt from the writings of the Promised Messiahas on how to avoid sin and attain nearness to God,
followed by silent prayer.
The second day of Jalsa Salana USA ended
with Maghrib and Isha prayers at 8:40pm.
Day 3 of Jalsa Salana USA also began with
congregational Tahajud prayer followed by Fajr Salat and dars. Breakfast was
served to the guests of Jalsa after which the closing session of the Jalsa
began at 10am.
The closing session was presided by Amir
Jamaat USA, Sahibzada Dr Mirza Maghfoor Ahmad Sahib. The session began with
tilawat of the Holy Quran by Salman Tariq Sahib and the recitation of a nazm
written by the Promised Messiahas by Bilal Raja Sahib.
The award for the best Majlis of
Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya was announced thereafter. This year the “Alam-e-Inami”
went to the South Virginia Majlis where Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa recently inaugurated the newly acquired Masroor Mosque
in 2018.
Next on the agenda were the educational
awards for the men’s side who, over the course this past year, acquired
exceptional excellences in various educational fields. The same awards ceremony
had taken place the day before on the ladies’ side for the ladies of the
Jamaat.
After the announcement of educational
awards, the first speech of the closing session was presented by Dr Bilal Rana
Sahib, National Secretary Umur-e-Ama on the subject of “A Crumbling Tradition –
The Benefits and Blessings of Marrying While Young”. Dr Rana spoke about the
ill effects of not marrying early in this day and age. He presented statistics
to show that early marriage solidifies the bond of love between couples as they
stick together through thick and thin.
The second speech was on “From a Single
Soul – Islam’s Response to the Rise of Racism” by Nasirullah Ahmad Sahib,
National Secretary Waqf-e-Jadid. Nasirullah Ahmad Sahib discussed the history
behind the racial and systematic oppression that the African American community
has endured over the span of many centuries. Nasirullah Sahib further
elaborated that systematic racism is still ongoing in America and the only way
out of it is to adopt the pious teachings of the true Islam.
Next was another faith-inspiring speech on
the subject of “Loyalty to the Messengersa or Love of the World” by
Naib Amir and National Tarbiyat Secretary, Dr Faheem Younus Qureshi Sahib. In
his speech, Naib Amir Sahib mentioned the incident of the Battle of Uhud and
the unmatched loyalty and bravery of Hazrat Abdullahra bin Jubayr who obeyed the command of the Holy Prophetsa even when 40 of his fellow archers left their critical
positions. He further mentioned that although Hazrat Abdullahra bin Jubayr was martyred by the disbelievers, he did not
die, rather he transcends in every era and that we need to become like Hazrat
Abdullahra bin Jubayr who
gave up his life and never disobeyed the Holy Prophetsa even for a single moment.
The last speech of the Jalsa Salana USA
was by Missionary In-charge and Naib Amir, Azhar Hanif Sahib on the topic of
“Zikr-e-Habib: Befriended by God as if One Chord of Two Bows”. Azhar Hanif
Sahib mentioned that those who are friends of Allah are dear to Him and He
blesses them in such a way that when they say something, Allah readily accepts
their prayers and at times, certain actions are performed by them that serve as
miracles and prophetic in nature. But among all such friends of Allah from
among the prophets and otherwise, the one who enjoyed the highest and closest level
of friendship with Allah was none other than the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa.
Azhar Hanif Sahib shared many examples from the life of the Holy Prophetsa to show his close relationship with Allah the Almighty.
The Jalsa Salana came to its conclusion
with the concluding remarks by Amir Sahib in which he mentioned that this
year’s Jalsa Salana USA began with the message from Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa which was read out to the audience. Amir Sahib then
mentioned that the real test began now for everyone. We ought to not just
remember what Huzooraa mentioned in his message, Amir Sahib added, but we
must also act upon these words of our beloved.
Amir Sahib presented a detailed analysis
of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya USA and expressed his concern for the wellbeing of the
youth specifically and everyone else in general. Amir Sahib shared the
expectations the Promised Messiahas had of members of his Jamaat and urged everyone to pay
heed to his teachings.
Towards the end, Amir Sahib asked everyone
to introspect and make the firm pledge to walk the path of righteousness. Amir
Sahib then led everyone in silent prayer.
The
total attendance at this year’s Jalsa Salana, by the sheer grace and mercy of
Allah, was 9,294, Alhamdolillah. Jalsa Salana USA ended on Sunday,
14 July with Zuhr and Asr prayers at 1:15pm.
Hazrat Anas bin Malik, Allah be pleased with him, narrates that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:
“Whoever prays like us and faces our Qibla and eats our slaughtered animals is a Muslim and is under Allah’s and His Prophet’s protection. So do not betray Allah by betraying those who are in His protection.”
