Al Hakam - 14 June 2019

The Ills of Modern Society and How to Safeguard Against Them

Prophecies of the Promised Messiahas – Part XI

100 Years Ago...

Tabligh in Malabar, Egypt, Mauritius and the UK

Were Ahmadis affected by the plague in India and what was the claim of the Promised Messiahas regarding the plague? Page 6

Al Fazl, 10 June 1919 Page 4

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Launch of leafleting campaign:

Page 8

Stop World War 3 On Saturday, 8 June, hundreds of Ahmadis gathered at Westminster for the launch of the leaflet campaign, Stop World War 3.

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THE WEEKLY

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Trade wars, step-downs and global unrest Along these lines, afflicted nations have abandoned America and consented to new trade agreements with different nations. For instance, the Chinese company Huawei has signed a deal with a Russian telecoms firm to handle the ban

Remembrance of Allah

The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: “Allah the Exalted says, ‘I am as my slave expects me to be, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me inwardly, I will remember him inwardly, and if he remembers Me in an assembly, I will remember him in a better assembly [i.e., in the assembly of angels].”

(Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, In His Own Words

The spiritual quest The spiritual quest is to embark upon the path of Allah and His Messengersa as a result of one’s own understanding and sense. For example, Allah the Exalted states: َّ َ ّٰ ُ ُ ُْ ّٰ ُ ‫ق ْﻞ ِإ ْن كن ُت ْم ت ِح ُّبوْ َن الل َه فات ِب ُعوْ� ِ ْي يُ ْح ِب ْبک ُم الل ُه‬

imposed by the Trump administration.

Moreover, they have announced that they have prepared their own operating system as well.

Meaning, if you desire to become the beloved of God, then follow the Noble Prophet, on whom be peace. It was this Perfect Guide and Messenger who shouldered such afflictions as are unparalleled in the history of the world.

He did not rest even a single day in his life. Now, those who truly emulate their Master can only be ones who follow his every word and action with assiduous toil and labour. Only he is a follower who obeys the Holy Prophetsa in all respects. Allah the Exalted does not like those who flock to comfort and flee from hardship. Rather, such a one shall incur the wrath of Allah Almighty.

In this verse, Allah the Exalted has commanded obedience to the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. The task of a seeker of God ought to be to first study the entire life of the Holy Prophetsa and then follow him. This is called ‘the spiritual quest.’

There are great trials and tribulations in this path. It is only after these difficulties are shouldered that a person becomes a seeker of God.

Continued on page 2

(Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, Malfuzat, Vol. 1, pp.

25-26)

ations are engaged in yet another war, known as the trade war, not N only with their neighbours but with

various other countries as well. These rising economic escalations are resulting in conflicts and disorders throughout the world.

America, under Trump’s rule, is the leading nation which is involved in a trade war with China, the EU, Mexico and Canada.

Recently, America has banned Huawei, a Chinese multinational telecommunication equipment company, owing to security issues which have caused a great stir across the globe.

Certain critics are of the view that these actions would not only undermine global peace but also have a huge impact on the economy of America on a long term basis.

Hadith-e-Rasul – Sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa

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Friday 14 June 2019 | AL HAKAM

This Week in History 14 - 20 June

Continued from page 1

Meanwhile, the UK’s Prime Minister Theresa May resigned from party leadership as she was unable to deliver Brexit and thus lost support of her own members of parliament. May’s step-down in May has pushed Britain into a tough situation and leaves behind significantly more deep-rooted divisions than when she became the prime minister. Now, there is a race for who will be the next leader of the United Kingdom.

Nations are trying to protect their national interests and complying with beggar-thy-neighbour polices which would result in a chain reaction, leading to great catastrophe. The worldwide head of Ahmadiyya Muslim community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, considering the present state of affairs, stated: “In terms of verbal proclamations, it is very easy to say that ‘Yes we do desire the best for others’, however in practice, it is much more difficult and challenging.

Wherever there is a conflict of interests, most people tend to prioritise their own interests and welfare over and beyond the rights of others.” (Lecture at York University, Toronto, 28 October 2016) Members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community recently gathered in front of the UK parliament in order to enlighten the British public on the need of justice to avoid World War III. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa states on another occasion: “The severity of the situation is such that a third world war could begin at any time – in fact, in reality, a third world war has already begun on a small scale. I have been warning of this for a number of years but only now analysts and world figures have started to agree.” (Friday Sermon, Baitul Futuh Mosque, 4 December 2015) World superpowers and stable countries should sense the turning tides across the globe and look after the interests of weaker nations in order to sow the seed of peace and harmony on this planet. Nations should seek to establish justice even if they have to sacrifice their national gains and welfare.

14 June 1908: Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin, Khalifatul Masih Ira called the attention of Ahmadi scribes and invited them to come and reside in Qadian to expedite the process of printing of the Jamaat’s publications.

of the graveyard in Qadian. The judge gave two options: four months imprisonment or a 100-rupee fine. Under the guidance of Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra, Jutt Sahib opted to go to jail and remained there until 9 July.

14 June 1956: Syed Kamal Yusuf Sahib and Chaudhry Abdul Latif Sahib reached Gothenburg, Sweden and established the Ahmadiyya Mission in Scandinavian countries. In those early days, this whole venture was supervised by the neighbouring Germany Jamaat.

17 June 1928: On the instruction of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, events began internationally to commemorate a day for sirat-un-Nabi – the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa. On this day, the first Sirat-un-Nabi Day took place in which speeches were delivered in over 1,000 locations.

Aside from Muslims, people from all religious backgrounds took part. On 12 June, Al Fazl published 7,000 copies of its Khatam-un-Nabiyyin special issue, after which even more copies were required and had to be printed again. In the event held in Qadian, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra delivered a speech called Dunya ke Mohsin (The Benefactor of Mankind) which was soon published as a book.

15 June 1905: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira was severely ill health. Huzoorra felt that his condition was deteriorating so he wrote down his will.

But God Almighty had revealed to the Promised Messiahas early on that Hazrat Maulvi Sahibra would recover and gain health, and thus it happened accordingly.

15 June 1912: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira travelled to Lahore and laid the foundation stone of the house of Sheikh Rahmatullah Sahibra. Sheikh Sahibra had been told by the Promised Messiahas that he would bless the house by laying its foundation stone, but destiny did not allow him. On this, the first successor of the Promised Messiahas did not desire for a single promise of his master to remain unfulfilled. Accordingly, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira bore patiently the hardships of travel and reached Lahore to lay the foundation stone. The following day, Huzoorra delivered a lecture too.

Huzoorra returned to Qadian on 19 June. It is said that during this journey, Huzoorra gave speeches in Amritsar, Batala and Lahore.

15 June 1915: Hazrat Sufi Ghulam Muhammadra arrived at Port Louis to establish the Ahmadiyya Mission in Mauritius.

15 June 1918: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra arrived back in Qadian after his voyage of Mumbai.

15 June 1950: Maulana Fazl Ilahi Bashir Sahib constructed a mosque in East Africa. This experienced missionary remained posted in different areas of Africa and the Middle East.

15 June 1950: A ceasefire was agreed upon at the front line of Kashmir between India and Pakistan.

Upon this, the group of Ahmadi volunteers, the Furqan Force, was disbanded. On 17 June, a special ceremony was arranged in Sarai Alamgir, and the message from the commander-in-chief was read out. Everyone concerned witnessed and lauded the efficiency and loyalty of the Ahmadi volunteers.

16 June 1937: A prominent Ahmadi figure in Qadian Hazrat Maulana Abdur Rahman Jutt was charged in court in a dispute related to the land

17 June 1937: Professor of religious studies in USA, John Clark Archer arrived in Qadian on this day and met Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra.

17 June 1943: An incident took place at Bhamari, a village 5 miles from Qadian. After a failed attempt to stop a Jamaat event there, bricks, sticks, daggers and swords were used against the Ahmadis after the event had finished, causing many injuries and leaving 50 Ahmadis wounded.

The amir of the group of Ahmadis was Hazrat Mir Muhammad Ishaqra.

18 June 1913: Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra, with great efforts, launched a newspaper, which Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira named Al Fazl.

19 June 1942: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra instructed men to keep beards, as was the practice of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa.

19 June 1944: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra delivered a Friday Sermon on the importance of the Arabic language and its need in the current age.

20 June 1932: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra travelled to Rawalpindi and stayed there until 4 July. During this visit, Huzoorra received treatment for his eye condition from an ophthalmologist.

20 June 1943: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra departed on a journey to Dalhousie, leaving behind Hazrat Maulvi Sher Alira as amir-e-muqami (amir in his stead).

20 June 1955: Mian Afzal Hussain, former vicechancellor of Punjab University distributed awards at Talim-ul-Islam College’s award distribution ceremony.

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Friday 14 June 2019 | AL HAKAM

Launch of leafleting campaign: Stop World War 3

Nadim Vanderman UK Tabligh Office

n Saturday, 8 June, hundreds of O Ahmadis gathered at Westminster for the launch of the leaflet campaign, Stop

World War 3.

Around 300 people attended with the help of London Jamaats, Majlis Ansarullah UK and Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya UK. Special posters and banners were created containing the messages of “Stop WW3”, “WW3 is on the horizon”, “Today the Fifth Successor Alerts Us of WW3” and “We Stand On The Brink of WW3, One Man Tells Us How to Turn Back”. Members were given t-shirts to publicise the message.

At 11am the campaign was launched with tilawat followed by short talks by Farooq Aftab Sahib, Usman Ahmad Sahib, Shakil Butt Sahib and Ibrahim Ikhlaf Sahib, National Secretary Tabligh.

Ibrahim Ikhlaf Sahib said, “It is our duty to advise mankind to establish a relationship with God the Almighty and through this to establish justice … The outcome of justice is peace … We should reflect on the words of our Khalifa, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his helper) who has been warning the world of the possibility of world war.”

A silent prayer was then offered.

After the formal session ended, members went to different areas to distribute leaflets. Approximately 11,000 leaflets

were distributed on the day. Feedback was generally good and the message was well received by the public. The leaflet campaign will now move to cities and regions throughout the country.

There was media presence from MTA, Voice of Islam and the Review of Religions.

In addition, Pakistani television stations A1, Aaj and GEO were present.

The event was heavily promoted on social media with #StopWW3. In order to get a trend, Huzoor’s name (Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad) was used since various quotes of Huzoor’s speeches on the topic of the looming world war were used as tweets.

By the sheer blessings of Allah Almighty, both of these hashtags trended amongst the top topics in the UK and Pakistan. The topics started trending right away in Pakistan, while it started trending in the UK as soon as the event commenced in Westminster.

It continued to trend for around 2 hours in the UK, and for around 8 hours in Pakistan. Both the terms also were top two trends in London, Faisalabad, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore.

More than 40,000 tweets with the two terms were posted by 950 participants within 8 hours, Alhamdolillah. Those participating included missionaries from across the world. There was participation from the UK, Pakistan, Germany, Canada, USA, India, Jordan and many more countries. The tweets were potentially viewed by tens of thousands of people around the world.

The Stop WW3 campaign was launched in February 2019 by the National Tabligh Department with the guidance of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa. It is based on the warnings given by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa that the world is heading towards a third world war.

“Every person, in every part of the world, needs to take individual responsibility towards establishing peace. Conflicts continue to ignite and burn throughout the world and so let us not be in any doubt that the shadow of a fateful war looms before us.”

(Copenhagen Address, 2016) Huzooraa has delivered speeches at Capitol Hill, the EU and the UK parliament, and has written numerous letters to world leaders. Through these speeches and letters, Huzooraa has appealed for a change in international and domestic policy towards peace, built on the foundations of honesty and justice.

“Peace cannot be established without justice. And justice cannot be established without forming a relationship with the Higher Being. A relationship with the Creator of this World is a prerequisite for justice.” (UK Peace Symposium Address, 2011) “Whilst some are saying that another World War is now unavoidable, I believe that even now there is time for the world to wake up to the stark reality it faces and to arrest this threat.” (UK Peace Symposium Address, 2015)

In this campaign the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK is calling on all persons in the UK to take a stand, by petitioning members of parliament to change direction by endorsing this pathway to peace initiative.

This can be done by sending a letter to each local member of parliament through the dedicated website stopww3.co.uk and urging them to follow the Khalifa’s pathway to peace.

The Pathway to Peace initiative has nine points: 1. Establish absolute justice 2. Recognise the Creator 3. Foster global unity 4. Seek nuclear disarmament 5. Eliminate weapon profiteering 6. Create economic equity & eradicate poverty 7. Work for the good of one’s nation 8. Reject extremism 9. Instil service to humanity To date the campaign has worked on the following initiatives: - Bill board adverts - Newspaper advertising - Social media advertising and promotion - Ad vans - Exhibitions - Leafleting A tailor-made web portal was created on the True Islam website and a bespoke leaflet has been written and printed.

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The ills of modern society and how to safeguard against them

Omar Farooq Student Jamia Ahmadiyya Canada

َّ َّ َ َْ َْ ْ َ َ َ ْ ْ َ َّْ ُ َ َْ َ َ ‫اس ل ُِي ِذيق ُه ْم بَ ْعض ال ِذ ْي‬ ِ ‫ظهرَ الفساد فِي البرِ وال َبح ِر ِبم ُا ك َس َب َّت أي ِدي الن‬ َ ‫َعملوْا ل َعل ُه ْم يَ ْرج ُع‬ ‫ون‬ ِ ِ

“Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what men’s hands have wrought, that He may make them taste [the fruit] of some of their doings, so that they may turn back [from] evil.” (Surah al-Ra‘d, Ch.30: V.42) Head lowered like a branch fully laden with ripe fruits, a triumphant ruler rode upon his horse into a city that had persecuted, shunned and exiled him. Yet he spoke no harsh word, raised no sword and desired no wealth for his aim had never been such.

Indeed his opponents had suffered a horrible defeat, however, his true victory was in the fulfillment of a prophecy made long before him as he “shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints.”

(Deutronomy 33:2 [KJV]) In a mere 10-year period, a nation rose from the ashes of a dead society, a vile and degenerate world, devoid of all light, akin perhaps to a black hole obliterating the light of morality and righteousness into its bottomless pit of nothingness and oblivion.

No society bears more striking resemblance to our own modern global village of moral and spiritual decrepitude, where Satan’s claws are extended forth clasping upon the throat of morality, virtue and belief, than this one.

Yet, such a phenomenon manifested upon the sands of Arabia over 1400 years ago that the dead became alive, the blind began to see and the deaf began to hear. Hence, it is entirely befitting that in order to find the lost light and life amongst the rampant darkness and death in our world, we must turn the dial of time back, once more, 1400 years. It was upon the sands of Arabia long ago, that the solution to all evils, ills and vices that have risen again to plague society at a hitherto unbeknownst intensity and scale was miraculously manifested by the nurturing and moral training of our master, the Seal of the Prophets, the Holy Prophet Muhammad,

peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. It is regarding this wonderful miracle that the Promised Messiahas writes beautifully: َ َ َْ َ ً َّ ‫ادف َت ُھ ْم قوْ ًما ک َر ْو ٍث ِذلۃ‬ ‫ص‬ َ َُْ َ ْ ْ َ ‫ان‬ ِ ‫ف َج َعلتھ ْم ک َس ِب ْیک ِۃ العِق َی‬ “You found them to be a group of people who [owing to their sins] were despicable like dung; But [due to your spiritual power] you transformed them into an ingot of pure gold.”

It may not be possible to do justice to this vast topic by attempting to discuss every moral issue and ill facing our society. It is in fact impossible for human beings to even comprehend the innumerable ways in which we are forever increasingly plunging into certain moral and spiritual decays. Hence, it is only fitting that we should look upon the only One who knows all and sees all, Allah the Almighty.

Allah, the Most Gracious, has blessed us by simplifying the whole complicated affair into three words in the following verse: َ َْ ُْ ْ ْ ْ ّٰ َ ‫ان َو ِإيْ َتا ِء ِذي الق ْربَى َويَن َهى َع ِن الف ْحشا ِء‬ ‫ِإ ّن الل َه يَأ ُمرُ ِبال َع ْدل َوالْإ ْح َس‬ ْ َ ْ َ َ ُ ِْ َ ِ ِ ‫والمنك ِر والبغ ِي‬ “Verily, Allah requires you to abide by justice, and to treat with grace, and give like the giving of kin to kin; and forbids indecency, and manifest evil, and transgression.” (Surah al-Nahl, Ch.16: V.91) This verse lucidly defines for us the various aspects of all evil and sin: fahsha (indecency), munkar (manifest evil) and baghy (transgression). The Holy Quran also teaches us which steps must be taken in order to combat the various evils.

Islam seeks to provide total cure from these ills; hence, it also deals with specific ills and vices and clarifies for us what our response to them should be and what their solution is. Furthermore, the greatest quality of Islamic teachings is that it truly strikes at the root of all problems and solves all issues and matters by demolishing their root and base. Hence, in order to understand and find a working, pragmatic method to safeguard against the modern world’s moral ills, it is

imperative to explore all these aspects.

The Promised Messiahas has explained multiple times that the root of all sin is a lack of ma‘rifat (deep insight), hence, in order to uproot evils and vices, we must first gain knowledge and understanding into their true nature and ill effects on our body and spirit. Once a state of understanding and recognition is reached regarding any harmful action, we naturally will avoid this action and any path that leads to it. For example, if we are certain that cobras inhabit a place, no one would dare even take the path that crosses this place. Hence, recognition and understanding lies at the root of safeguarding ourselves from such evils.

Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih II and Musleh-eMaudra states: “In order to safeguard against ill deeds, it is imperative to gain a perfect recognition of God” (Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 7, p. 643) Fahsha are such indecencies and moral evils as pertain to the individual and their personal wrongdoings. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra has explained in Tafsir-e-Kabir under this verse that in this category fall all ills that may not be affecting other members of society but may be done in secret and their circle of influence is the person committing them.

There is no lack of such shameful immoral actions in our society. In fact, all around such heinous propaganda to jump into this abyss is apparent as puts any decent person to shame. This category of moral ills includes all matters related to sexual misconduct – hypersexualisation, premarital and extramarital relations – and may include other addictions.

Munkar (manifest evil) points to such evils as not only affect the individual, but rather negatively affect others as well. Let us first understand the ill effects of these moral evils on our body and spirit; as Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra has explained, lack of understanding and true recognition is the mother of sins.

Recent studies which have been reproduced time and again show that

Friday 14 June 2019 | AL HAKAM by the age of 20, 75% of Americans have premarital relations, and by the age of 44, that percentage jumps to 95%. Among those 25% of Americans who abstained until the age of 20, 81% were no longer celibate by the age of 44 (Dr Lawrence B Finer, Trends in Premarital Sex in the United States, 1954–2003 Public Health Reports [2007] National Centre for Biotechnology Information). Approximately 30-60% of all married persons in the United States of America had an affair and did not remain faithful to their partners (Dr David M Buss and Dr Todd K Shackelford, Susceptibility to Infidelity in the First Year of Marriage, Journal of Research in Personality [1997]).

Premarital relations have a strong connection with extra-marital relations because, due to the culture of dating and breaking-up, they make light of the bond of marriage which can be broken whenever desired. Hence, the rate of divorce also rises, which destroys families, and such children as grow up in these broken family systems often grow up to repeat the same wrongful behaviours, thus beginning the cycle anew.

Islam places great importance upon family systems, because they are the building blocks of a society and the centre for the moral training of future generations. As these building blocks crumble under the nonchalant, “playful” and careless behaviour of dating and cheating, it only escalates immorality and the domino effect of moral destruction keeps claiming one generation after another. As premarital relations and affairs have risen, so have the divorce rates naturally risen. It is estimated by some studies that in the earlier 20th century, the divorce rate was under 5%, however, now studies suggest that in the United States, divorce rates are as high as 40-50%. (www.politifact.com/ new-jersey/statements/2012/feb/20/stephensweeney/steve-sweeney-claims-more-twothirds-marriages-end/) As far as pornography is concerned, no statistics are required for this. It is a disease so rampant that seldom is one safe from it.

Simply pondering over the effects of this evil reveals that it is also directly connected to divorce, hyper-sexualisation, objectification of women and, worst of all, assault and violence cases against women. In a study included in Rolling Stone magazine, in the 1960s it was found that 11% of men and 44% of women were sexualised, meaning they were purposefully portrayed in an overtly oversexualised manner. In the 2000s, the numbers increased to 17% of men being portrayed in such a manner and an astounding 83% of women (Patricia Donovan, Study Finds Marked Rise in Intensely Sexualized Images of Women, Not Men, University at Buffalo News Center [website], 16 September 2018).

That is a devastating 55% increase, how can we imagine that it would be without any ill effects?

All such immoral behaviors are creating a society which accepts and celebrates lustful thoughts and behaviors, be that in music, media or entertainment. This in turn destroys the moral base of society and severs the connection with God Almighty. Hence, Islam lays stress upon modesty and purity of thoughts. The Holy Quran calls adultery an abominable sin and forbids it, and striking at the root of all deeds, it guides regarding stopping the entrance of such thoughts into the mind. Before instructing women to cover their beauty and not display it, it states: “Say to the believing men that they restrain their looks and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. Surely, Allah is

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Friday 14 June 2019 | AL HAKAM Well-Aware of what they do.” (Surah al-Nur, Ch.24: V.31) However, we must treat the problem at its grand level, so that a cure can be found which may be applicable not only in specific situations, rather may be effective against all issues. Allah the Almighty states in His blessed word: َ َْ ْ َ َ َّ َّ َ َ َّ َ َ َ ْ َ َ ْ َ َ ْ ُ َ ُ ْ ‫الص�َاة تن َهى َع ِن الف ْحشا ِء‬ ‫اب وأ َقِ ِم الص� ٰاة ِإن‬ ‫اتﻞ ما أو�ِ ي إليﻚ ِمن ال ِکت‬ ّ َ ُ َ ْ ّٰ ِ ُ ْ َ َ َ ُ ْ َ ِ َ‫الل ُه يَ ْع َل ُم َما تَ ْص َن ُعوْن‬ ‫والمنك ِر ول ِذکر الل ِه أكبر و‬

1908, p. 4) This fact is also supported by the greatest servant of the Promised Messiahas, Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddin, Khalifatul Masih Ira. He states in the commentary of this verse: “Namaz has been made obligatory for the purpose of safeguarding against manifest evil (munkar) and indecency (fahsha).” (Haqaiqul Furqan, p. 338) Now that it has become abundantly clear from all these references that in fact it is Salat Recite that which has been revealed to that is our greatest shield against all evils, thee of the Book, and observe Prayer. Surely, we must understand how. How is it that a Prayer restrains [one] from indecency and mere composition of movements – standing, manifest evil, and remembrance of Allah bowing, and prostrating, while saying some indeed is the greatest [virtue]. And Allah words in Arabic – can possibly be considered knows what you do. (Surah al-Ankabut, a shield against all vice and evil? In order to Ch.29: V.46) understand this, we must understand the In the simplest words, to answer our truth and essence of prayers and its various question of “how to safeguard against ills”, it is parts. quite clearly stated in the verse quoted above: Islamic prayer known as Salat is not a Salat. Salat is the answer that God Almighty simple exercise, rather every single part of it has given us in order protect ourselves from bears grand wisdom in it, and it provides the both indecency and manifest evil. Hence, solutions to all forms and shapes of problems it is the most potent cure available to us in one may experience living in any society and order to combat all forms of moral ills in our at any time in the world. society, for these two categories encompass The Holy Prophetsa is reported to have said most of our modern society’s issues. that cleanliness is half of faith, therefore, this For a cure to be considered worthy of highlights for us that it must have an effect on applying to such a massive issue, two things our moral state as well. In fact, cleanliness has are necessary in order to testify to its potency a deep connection with purity of mind and and effect: firstly, whether the source of abstaining from lustful thoughts and eventual sexual misconduct.

Islam clearly stresses cleanliness throughout one’s daily actions, and in fact this starts quite early in age.

According to one Hadith, prayer is to be taught to a 7-year-old and becomes obligatory at age 10 (Sunan Abi Daud, Kitab alSalat). At this age a child generally Some genres of music openly flaunt immorality and hypersexualisation learns of their private this cure is reliable and good, and secondly, parts, and girls, in some cases, start their whether it is proven to be working? In the periods. Hence, with prayer, the emphasis on case of the first question, the source is the cleanliness should also be kept in mind.

Almighty and All-knowing God of all the Regarding the cleanliness of the child and worlds, the Creator and Master of everything, its effect on them, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin therefore, we must agree that the source is Mahmud Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IIra states the best possible one. To answer the second in Minhaj-ut-Talibin (The Way of Seekers): question, we need only look at a mere 23 years “Let the child have a clean body. Its impact of a once insignificant deserted peninsula on his mind will be great. As a consequence, known as Arabia, whose people would rise to the child will come to have a clean mind and become the leaders and teachers of the entire will become immune to sins which are caused world, because a man of God taught them by uncleanliness. Medical research bears out this simple cure. It not only transformed their that a child commits their first sin because personal lives but also their national identity. they are dirty. Dirt irritates the anal passages Where they once drank alcohol like water which the child rubs and manipulates. They five times a day, it was replaced with five daily find pleasure in the process and becomes doses of its cure, and the results are evident conscious of sex. They can be safeguarded to every person, friend or foe. The Promised against sexual errors to a very large extent if Messiahas states: they are kept clean. This training must begin “What is Namaz [Salat]? It is a form of the very day they are born.” (The Way of prayer which safeguards a person from all Seekers, p. 51) evils and indecencies, making them worthy The Promised Messiahas has explained of goodness and receiver of divine blessings.” regarding the importance of cleanliness while (Malfuzat, Vol.3, p. 37) speaking about prayers: Hence, when we speak of any type of “As long as uncleanliness remains in a indecency and moral ill that may be rampant person, Satan remains in love with him.” (Al in our society and various ways to safeguard Badr, 13 February 1903, p. 27) ourselves, the message of God Almighty, His There are various other ways that prayer Prophetsa and the Imam of the age is crystal protects us against moral ills. Hazrat Khalifatul clear; Salat is the answer. The Promised Masih IIra has explained in the commentary Messiahas further explains: of this verse (Ch.29: V.46) that prayer surely “Namaz is such a deed that by observing saves one from impurities and indecencies. It it, a person is saved from every type of evil not only saves us on an individual level but deed and indecency.” (Al Hakam, 10 January on a collective level as well, because the time

spent in prayers, especially congregational prayers, will take time away from other activities and keep our minds focused on God. Also, Huzoorra mentions, that Salat contains many supplications, hence, these supplications shall be a source of not only personal but collective reformation. Then, Namaz also contains recitation of the Quran and professing God’s glory and praise, which has a very strong effect on the heart. The most influential effect of Salat, however, is that it “grants the human heart a shining light and with its help, a person can abstain from evils and bad deeds”.

Then, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra continues that this is due to the prayers that Salat contains “through which the glory of Allah the Almighty and Him being truly worthy of love becomes manifest upon the person.”

(Tafsir-e-Kabir, Vol. 6, p. 643) As far as addictions are concerned, nothing need be said regarding their physical and spiritual harms. That is an obvious and well understood fact. Addictions impair individuals on every level and block the process of conscious thought. It is for this reason a person is told to stay away from prayer in the state of intoxication (Surah alNisa, Ch.4: V.44). When something affects one’s prayer, then that impairs their ability to defend against other evils as well, hence, addictions in this manner give birth to countless evils.

Salat offers a solution against this as well. Where the other effects have been discussed above, it is very interesting how Salat ties in with popular habit-reformation and behaviour-modification techniques and knowledge. The premise for most of habitreformation techniques is quite simple, since habits are based on habit loops, starting from a cue, then a routine, ending with a reward.

Researchers such as Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habits, suggest that in order to reform a habit, we simply need to replace the routine while keeping the same outcome and cue. Let us now look at Salat.

Most addicts and drunks indulge because they desire to alleviate a stress or other feeling from their life; this action provides them with pleasure and temporary relief. Now, what if the cue – stress, loneliness, company etc. – was followed by another routine that resulted in the same reward of pleasure and stress alleviation, while providing much better company? The Holy Quran states, “Aye! it is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts can find comfort.” (Surah al-Ra‘d, Ch.13: V.29) This is not merely a theory, in fact, this

was displayed beautifully in the lives of the companions of the Holy Prophetsa, when prayer became their safe-haven, their hobby and their passion; it annihilated all other desires. It is to this effect that the Promised Messiahas writes: ُ َّ َ َ ْ ُ َ َ ‫ﺗ َﺮ� ْﻮا اﻟﻐ ُ ُب ْﻮق َو ﺑَﺪﻟ ْﻮا ِم ْﻦ ذ ْو ِﻗه‬ َ َ َ ّ َ َْ َ ْ َ ‫ان‬ ِ ‫ذوق اﻟﺪ�ا ِء ﺑِﻠ ْيﻠ ِﺔ ا��ﺣﺰ‬ “[Following your instructions, O Prophetsa] they gave up their [habit of] evening drink, and in exchange for drinking pleasure, they adopted the [practice of deriving] pleasure of prayers in nights of grief.”

In conclusion, Islamic moral philosophy is quite simple: do not do things that take you away from God, and do things that take you towards God. All moral ills take one away from God, therefore, they are to be shunned entirely because God Himself is to be loved above all. His attributes – or as mentioned in the Holy Quran, “sibghatullah” – are to be adopted in one’s life in order to become closer to Him and save oneself from evil; this is the greatest weapon against moral decay and societal evils.

In order to achieve this, God Almighty provided us with the gift of Salat and the other forms of worship such as fasting, Zakat and Hajj. All of these are merely expressions of love for God and teach us to adopt His love in our lives, and therefore are not the cure themselves, rather, they allow us to reach the cure – the love of God. All of Islamic moral philosophy is encapsulated by this simple understanding. At the end of the Biblical verse of Deuteronomy quoted in the beginning, it states “from his right hand went a fiery law for them”. This completes the prophecy and states that the law given by him will be a “fiery law”. As Muslims, this should not be very difficult to understand. Almost every Ramadan, we are reminded that fasting and Salat literally mean burning because they burn away sins. This was the law of the Holy Prophetsa; it burned away all evil and he didn’t just theorise what this teaching would achieve, he practically showed its power and cleansed the rust and dirt from the hearts of the Arabs and the rest of the world for centuries.

It is not the movements or words of prayer or the act of fasting that safeguard us against evils, rather it is these forms of worship that connect us to God and allow us to recognise and love Him by providing the necessary pathway to reach purity of heart, mind and soul.

Friday 14 June 2019 | AL HAKAM

6 Responding to Allegations

Prophecies of the Promised Messiahas – Part XI

Were Ahmadis affected by the plague in India? following revelation: َّ َ َْ ُ َْ ّ َ ُ َّ َ ّ َ ُ ّٰ َ ‫إِ ّن الل َه لَا يﻐ ِی ُر َما بِقوْ ٍم َحت ٰى يﻐ ِی ُر ْو ا َما ِبأ�ف ِس ِه ْم۔ ِاﻧ ُہ ٰا َوى الق ْريَۃ‬

O

pponents often level an allegation against the Jamaat and Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiahas that Ahmadis were also affected by the plague and that it is falsely said that Ahmadis were either entirely safeguarded from the plague or only a handful of Ahmadis fell victim to it as compared to the casualties of other individuals in the plague affected regions.

Opponents claim that there is no evidence of this assertion that Ahmadis were completely saved from the plague and in fact the total number of Ahmadis in the year of the plague did not exceed 300, hence, they ask, what comparison do 300 individuals possess with the remaining millions of people present in India?

The opponents deceitfully raise the above allegation as no reference is provided from the writings of the Promised Messiahas or any Khalifa which supports their claim, that according to the Jamaat, not a single Ahmadi life was lost during the outbreak of plague.

Below is the extract of the Promised Messiahas that the opponents present to reinforce this assertion: “Several members of our Jamaat mistakenly declare that not a single member of our Jamaat will pass away [from the plague], but this is a huge misunderstanding and an improbability. Although Allah the Almighty has promised to a certain degree [that our Jamaat will be safeguarded] but it does not mean that nobody at all from our Jamaat will be affected by the plague.

Our Jamaat must bear this fact in mind that Allah the Almighty has certainly not promised that none among us would pass away [from the plague]. Surely, Allah the Almighty states: ْ َ ْ ُ ُ ْ َ َ َ َّ ُ َ ْ َ َ َّ َ ‫ض‬ ِ ‫أما ما ينفﻊ الناس فيمکﺚ فِي ال�ر‬

“‘As to that which benefits men, it stays on the earth’ (Surah al-Ra‘d, Ch.13: V.18), hence those persons who make themselves beneficial to mankind, Allah the Almighty will prolong their lives. Act mercifully towards the creation of Allah the Almighty; the rights of mankind must be fulfilled in their entirety.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 5, pp. 123-124 [2016]) The above mentioned statement was made by the founder of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat on 9 May 1903 which clearly states, “Our Jamaat must bear this fact in mind

that Allah the Almighty has certainly not promised that none among us would pass away [from the plague]”, thereby contradicting with the fraudulent claims of the opponents which indicate that members of the Jamaat hold this view that not one Ahmadi was affected by the plague. The accusation of the opponents is quite contrary to the claims of the Promised Messiahas.

Secondly, the opponents demand factual proof which shows that only a handful of Ahmadis suffered from the outbreak of the plague in comparison to others and put emphasis on their fabricated deposition by saying that Ahmadis were only 300 when the plague spread, and to draw their comparison with millions of individuals belonging to India appears irrational.

It would have been more reasonable and rational if the opponents had provided a factual statistical analysis from history to prove their claim and to falsify the Jamaat’s point of view. However, they do not present a single historical reference in their support, and it is impossible for them to do so because there is no basis to their fictitious assertions.

Now we present those facts which show that Ahmadis were far less affected by the outbreak of plague than anyone else.

Moreover, we will highlight the actual claim of the Promised Messiahas regarding the plague.

The opponents point out that the total number of Ahmadis was only 300 at the time of the plague. A detailed response to this allegation has been recorded in an earlier

article of Responding to Allegations series, under the heading The Ahmadiyya Jamaat shall prevail (Prophecies of the Promised Messiahas – Part VII) A look at the figures of the Jamaat in the time of the Promised Messiahas and it has been clearly proven through external sources that Ahmadis were not just 300 in the years of the plague epidemic, but in fact they numbered in thousands.

However, if for instance we consider the viewpoint of the opponents to be true that the entire Jamaat comprised of 300 individuals in the years of the plague, it would certainly support the perspective of the Jamaat and the founder of Ahmadiyyat that merely a handful of Ahmadis were afflicted by the plague because had it not been the case, the Jamaat would have been totally wiped out from the face of earth. Hence, a huge rise in the number of Ahmadis and the spread of Ahmadiyyat in more than 200 countries and territories of the world clearly proves the fact that Ahmadis were surely safeguarded from the plague in large numbers.

Moreover, opponents admit on other occasions that the increase in the number of Ahmadis stopped in the year 1906 and their number did not exceed the figure of 400,000, as though they acknowledge the fact that Ahmadis rose in number from 300 to 400,000 after the plague epidemic.

Opponents not only hide facts but also the actual claim of the founder of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat that he presented with respect to the prophecy of the plague. The Promised Messiahas, while explaining the

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“Allah does not bring about a change in the condition of a people until they bring about a change in their own lives. He will give shelter to the town [after it has suffered a little]” that he received about the plague, states in his book Dafi‘-ul-Bala (1902): “Awa is an Arabic word that means ‘safeguarding from destruction and disorder’, and ‘taking into one’s protection’.

This is a sign pointing to the fact that among the types of plague the most dreadful type is the one called ta‘un-e-jarif – meaning, ‘the sweeper’ – from which people flee from place to place and die like dogs. The situation is beyond the limits of human tolerance. Thus, this divine revelation contains the promise that this condition will never affect Qadian.

This revelation’s interpretation is provided by another revelation: َ َ َ َ ُ َ ْ ْ َ َْ ُ ‫ﻚ اﻟ ْ ُﻤ َﻘ‬ ‫ام‬ ‫ﻟﻮ �� ا� ِ��ﺮام ��ﻠ‬ Meaning that, had Allah not held this Movement in high regard, then He would have destroyed Qadian as well. Two points are gleaned from this revelation: First, it would not matter if Qadian were to experience an incident on rare occasions – which is within the bounds of human tolerance, does not wreak havoc and does not induce a panic-driven exodus – because such an extremely rare occurrence amounts to nothing. Second, it is necessary that a devastating plague must break out in those cities and villages which, in comparison with Qadian, house the extremely rebellious, wicked, oppressive, corrupt, immoral and dangerous opponents of this Movement, to such a degree that people will lose their senses, and run in every direction. In accordance with its vastness, I have the defined the word awa in this manner. I claim with conviction that ta‘une-jarif, which empties and swallows villages entirely, shall never break out in Qadian.

In contrast, however, in other cities and villages, where the oppressive and corrupt are, dreadful scenes are sure to manifest.

In the entire world, it is Qadian alone for which this promise was made.” (Defence Against the Plague and a Criterion for the Elect of God, pp. 11-12 [English Translation of Dafi-ul-Bala]) Regarding the above-mentioned explanation of the Promised Messiahas,

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Friday 14 June 2019 | AL HAKAM opponents of the Jamaat allege that anyone can present a similar claim. However, during the outbreak of plague, the statements of the people are recorded by the Promised Messiahas in the same book Dafi‘-ul-Bala where he states: “I have heard that when the plague first broke out in Bombay, the initial view of the people was that this was a miracle of Imam Hussain because the epidemic first broke out among certain Hindus who had been in dispute with the Shiites. But when the same disease broke out among the Shiites, their slogans calling upon Imam Hussain abated.

Such are the ideas that the Muslims have proposed to eradicate the plague.

“The Christian viewpoint is illustrated by a recent announcement published by Reverend [Herbert Udny] Weitbrecht and his organisation. It is proposed that there is no means of eradicating the plague other than to believe in the Messiah [i.e. Jesusas] as god and to accept his atonement.

“Among the Hindus, members of the Arya sect are vehemently proclaiming that the calamity of the plague is caused by the neglect of the Vedas. They call upon the believers of all other faiths to accept the ‘true teachings’ of the Vedas and – God forbid – denounce all the prophets as impostors.

They claim that this measure would avert the plague.

“Then, there is the Sanatan Dharam sect of the Hindus. This sect has suggested an altogether different idea for eradicating the plague – which I would have missed, had I not read the newspaper Akhbar-e-Am. Their view is that the calamity of the plague has broken out due to the [sacrilege of the] cow. If the government were to pass a law prohibiting the slaughter of cattle forever in this country, this would effectively eradicate the plague. In fact, at another place in the same newspaper it is reported that a person even heard a cow saying that the plague has come to this country because of it.” (Defence Against the Plague and a Criterion for the Elect of God, pp. 9-10) Contrary to the statements of various religions, the Promised Messiahas declares the prophecy of the plague, vouchsafed to him by Allah the Almighty, a criterion to ascertain the truth or falsehood of all religions. The Promised Messiahas states: “Now, should anyone deny this Messenger of God Almighty and this sign, and if anyone believes that only superficial observances of prayer and supplication, or worship of the Messiah, or blessings of the cow, or belief in the Vedas – despite opposition, enmity, and disobedience towards this Messenger – will quell the plague, then such an opinion, unless supported by evidence, is not worthy of acceptance. Hence, a truly excellent opportunity now presents itself to any individual from among all these sects who wishes to furnish proof in support of the truthfulness of their respective faith. It is as if God has provided an exhibition hall so that the truthfulness or falsehood of every religion can be demonstrated. And God

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Himself took the initiative to put forth the name of Qadian [in order to establish its truth].

“Now if the Arya people consider the Vedas to be true, they should prophesy that their Parmeshwar [God] will protect Benares from the plague, for it is the true seat of Vedic learning. Similarly, the people of Sanatan Dharam should prophesy that the plague will not enter a city where cows are found in large numbers. For example, they could foretell that Amritsar would be saved because of the blessings of the cow.

If the cow should exhibit this miracle, it would be wholly understandable if the government enforced a ban on the slaughter of such a wondrous animal. Similarly, Christians should prophesy that the plague will not afflict Calcutta because the great bishop of British India resides there. In the same way, Mian Shams-ud-Din and members of his Anjuman Himayat-e-Islam should make a prophecy about Lahore, that it shall remain protected against the plague. And the accountant, Munshi Ilahi Baksh, who claims to receive revelation, has an opportunity to aid the Anjumane-Himayat-e Islam by making a prophecy concerning [the protection of] Lahore.

It would also be appropriate for AbdulJabbar and Abdul-Haqq to make a prophecy concerning the city of Amritsar. Moreover, since Wahhabism prevails in Delhi, it would be appropriate for Nadhir Hussain and Muhammad Hussain to make a prophecy that Delhi shall remain protected from the plague. So, in this way, the whole of the Punjab will be delivered from this fatal disease. And the government too will be absolved of its responsibility at no cost. But should they fail to do so, it will perforce be determined that the true God is He who has raised His Messenger in Qadian.” (Defence against the Plague and a Criterion for the Elect of God, pp. 18-19) Lastly, we present the challenge of the Promised Messiahas which he issued regarding the plague: “I swear by God Almighty that I am the Promised Messiah. I am the one who was promised by the Prophets. The Torah, the Gospel and the Holy Quran all give news about me and the era of my advent and expound that, in the heavens, the moon and the sun would be eclipsed at the time of my appearance, and a terrible plague would befall the land. This is my sign; each and every opponent – whether he lives in Amroha or Amritsar, whether in Delhi or Calcutta, whether in Lahore, Golra or Batala – if any of them should swear on oath that their area of residence shall remain free from the plague, then it will surely be swept up by the plague, for they would have committed insolence against God Almighty.” (Defence against the Plague and a Criterion for the Elect of God, pp. 29-30)

Khilafat Day in Canada Sahib and was appreciated by the audience. Asif Arif Sahib gave the main speech on the topic of Importance of Personal Relationship with Khalifa. The Jalsa concluded with silent prayer by the Amir of Calgary, Majeed Ahmad Meer Sahib.

The total attendance was 1,150 members. After the event, iftari and dinner was served to guests.

S Mukarram Nazeer Canada Correspondent

To celebrate 111 years of Khilafat-eAhmadiyya, Jamaat Canada held Jalsa Khilafat Day across the country. Below are details of the events for some of the larger Jalsas: Combined event for Peel and Vaughan Jamaats The biggest event was held at the Baitul Islam Mosque complex. Members of Peel and Vaughan Jamaats attended. Amir Jamaat Canada, Lal Khan Malik Sahib presided the session.

The programme started with the recitation of the Holy Quran followed by its translation in English and Urdu. This was followed by a poem and its English translation. Amir Sahib Canada gave the opening address and highlighted the importance and significance of Khilafat Ahmadiyya.

The first speech was delivered by Tahir Ahmad Mian Sahib on the topic of Khilafat and Unity in Islam. Imtiaz Sara Sahib then elaborated on the Blessings of Khilafat.

Thereafter, a choral poem was recited by Fateen Riaz Sahib and Farrukh Tahir Sahib.

The concluding speech was delivered

by Mirza Muhammad Afzal Sahib on Obedience to Khilafat. National Amir Sahib made the concluding remarks and the Jalsa ended with silent prayer. The event saw a total attendance of 1,525 members. Iftari and dinner was served to all.

Calgary Calgary’s Bait-un-Noor mosque held the second largest Khilafat Day event in Canada.

The recitation of the Holy Quran was followed by English and Urdu translations.

A poem with English translation was also recited.

A video on Khilafat for Mankind was shown. An interesting quiz competition on Al-Wasiyyat was conducted by Zahid Abid

Weston In Weston, tilawat and poems were followed by their translations. A video on the importance of Khilafat was shown. Speakers highlighted the blessings of Khilafat for Jamaat-eAhmadiyya. The total attendance was 1,032 members.

Vancouver On the west coast of Canada, Bait-urRahman mosque Vancouver welcomed Ahmadis to the Jalsa. Atfal who went to meet Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa in London in March 2019 shared their experiences of spending time with their beloved Imam.

A speech in English was made by Sabahat Sahib on unique aspects of the leadership of Khilafat. A video showing the visit of Khulafa to Vancouver was shown.

The concluding speech was made by Amir Vancouver, Naeem Ahmad Lakhan Sahib on Tahrik-e-Jadid; A Divine Scheme. 670 members attended the event, after which iftari and dinner was served to all.

Mississauga Baitul-Hamd Mosque was the venue for the Jalsa in Mississauga. Tilawat and poem were followed by their respective translations.

Missionary of Mississauga, Sadiq Ahmad Sahib spoke on the topic of Khilafat is a Blessing. Amir Mississauga Jamaat, Ahsan Gardezi Sahib gave the concluding address.

600 in total attended the event.

Toronto For Toronto Jamaat, Jalsas were held at local levels. This allowed members to attend their local namaz centres and benefit from the blessings of these Jalsas. In total 400 members were recorded to have attended the Khilafat Day Jalsas in Toronto. All attendees were served iftari and dinner.

Generally, Khilafat Day Jalsas are held in all the 8 regions and 32 Jamaats of Canada.

The total number of people attending Khilafat Day Jalsas around Canada is around 8,000 members.

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Friday 14 June 2019 | AL HAKAM 100 Years Ago...

Tabligh in Malabar, Egypt, Mauritius and the UK Al Fazl, 10 June 1919

Two revered ladies embrace Islam Through the blessings and benevolence of Allah the Almighty, the tabligh of Islam is progressing here by each passing day.

We have received pleasing news that this week two respected ladies by the name of Miss Best and Mrs Sulsh, have embraced Islam through the tabligh of Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq, missionary of Islam.

They have been given the Islamic names of Majeedan and Fatima respectively, Alhamdolillah.

City Temple, London, where Qazi Abdullah Sahib delivered a lecture on religious tolerance

Their requests of Bai‘at have been sent to be presented before Hazrat Khalifatul Masih, Amirul Momineen[aa].

Weekly gatherings are being held regularly. Last Sunday, Hazrat Mufti Sahib delivered a scholarly lecture on the need of the Imam. The Jalsa was attended by a large number of people.

This humble one delivered a brief lecture at the request of an English friend in the lecture hall of London’s famous City Temple where a conference was being held in order to establish the League of Religions. The subject of the lecture was that every religion should highlight its own qualities and refrain from carrying out heart-tormenting attacks on the founders and holy persons of other religions because it is the only way to achieve mutual harmony. By doing so, Islam would triumph eventually.

Wassalam, Qazi Abdullah 4 Star Street, London, W2. (7 May 1919) Malabar Visiting various regions of India with the purpose of tabligh, respected Maulana Ghulam Rasul Sahib Rajeki and Sheikh Mahmud Ahmad Sahib, son of Sheikh Yaqub Ali Sahib, have reached Malabar, where two families accepted Ahmadiyyat, the true Islam on 9 and 10 May respectively. [A person named] Marham-e-Isa has reached

Serving Humanity Zubair Khalil Khan Director Projects in Balkan Countries, HF Germany

rior to Eid-ul-Fitr, on 27 May 2019 the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Bosnia P along with Humanity First Germany

prepared Eid food packets for distribution among the refugees stranded in Sarajevo Refugee camp.

On arrival, Mufeezur Rahman Sahib of the Ahmadiyya Mission and Humanity First Bosnia along with his team and with Balkan Director of Humanity First Germany were welcomed by the camp director. Later, a tour of the camp was conducted by the camp authorities and food cooking and distribution facilities were shown to the visiting team. Along with IOM (International Organisation for Migration) local humanitarian organisation Pomozi. ba managed all the matters related to this food donation.

According to camp authorities, the help provided by Humanity First through AMJ Bosnia will suffice for 3,500 meals for the camp residents. Currently, the camp houses above 800 refugees. Food help in the month of Ramadan was very much applauded by

all concerned.

Following the donation in Bosnia, food security and medical camp projects were organised another four times by National President of AMJ Macedonia, Wasim Sahib with the financial help of Humanity First. These projects continued from 30 May to 2 June 2019. The municipality of Berovo, Macedonia was generous enough to provide a big hall for distribution of the food packets and to conduct medical check-ups.

Director of Health for the region was personally present along with doctors and medical staff who volunteered to help their countrymen. A unique aspect of the project was visiting the houses of those people who, due to their weak conditions, were unable to come to the municipality hall. It took many hours for doctors, medical staff and volunteers of HF to visit the houses in remote villages of Berovo and to hand out medicine as well as food packets.

One could feel the emotions of those who received the needed items at their door steps. The local media was highly impressed with this gesture of AMJ and Humanity First. Television channels

there as well. He is staying with a person who does not understand Urdu while he himself is completely unfamiliar with Arabic. The only knowledge that he does possess [of Arabic] is limited to uttering “ijlis” [sit] in front of people. On the other hand, the lectures of Maulana Sahib being delivered in Arabic language are proving extremely beneficial and the opponents are in a state of awe at his compelling fluency of speech and wisdom. May Allah the Almighty cause the efforts of the opponents to turn against them and the truth to become visible.

Egypt Babu Abdul Karim Sahib Ahmadi states from Suez that he is engaged in carrying out tabligh. He went to Paltan 1/152.

Muhammad Ibrahim Sahib (dresser) resides there. People used to show hostility towards him. Abdul Karim Sahib preached to them.

Muhammad Ibrahim Sahib is displaying strong resoluteness. Abdul Karim Sahib requests to pray for him and his dear ones…

Mauritius The proceedings of a false case concerning a mosque filed against Ahmadis by nonAhmadis in Mauritius are in full swing.

However, by the grace of Allah the Almighty, the handful of members of Mauritius Jamaat is withstanding the force of 41,000 individuals from the island with passion

covered the event and gave prime time news coverage. Similarly, newspapers also covered the event.

After Berovo, the Humanity First team travelled 200km to the city of Kumanovo, bordering Kosovo. This time, food packets were distributed to deaf people. The municipality was kind enough to provide a hall as well as an interpreter to understand what the people wanted to say about this project of AMJ and HF. Local television outlets also covered the event and news was broadcast several times covering the efforts of the Jamaat and Humanity First.

After Kumanovo, another refugee camp 250km away in the city of Gevgelije, bordering Greece, was chosen to deliver the food packets. The camp is administered under UNHCR. Local humanitarian organisations Red Cross, JSR and Legis were extremely cooperative to undertake the distribution of food items donated by HF through AMJ Macedonia. Local television channels remained with the Humanity First and Jamaat team during the whole project and later covered the news in prime time.

On 3 June, the Humanity First team visited the refugee camp

and devotion. People are surprised by the courage of Ahmadis. Opposing witnesses are giving statements and cross-examinations are being carried out. During a crossquestioning, a great opponent confessed that in the time of the Holy Prophetsa, Christians were allowed to worship in Masjid-e-Nabawi. In response, it was stated, “Is the Ahmadi religion even worse than the Christians?”, as they are not allowed to offer prayer in mosques. Crowds of people have thronged to hear the proceedings and the case is proving to be a source of tabligh for countless people. The Ahmadiyya Jamaat is progressing by the day.

May the blessings of Allah the Almighty shower upon the poverty-stricken Mauritius Jamaat. May they be granted strength in their courage and victory in every sphere.

The summary of recent letters of Maulvi Obaidullah Sahib, a missionary in Mauritius, is that there are abundant opportunities for tabligh. Once, at a certain place, the beliefs of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat were addressed from 8am to 10am. A person by the name of Suleiman was there. He had been a great opponent while his sister accepted Ahmadiyyat a long time ago and she is a devoted lady. She is the secretary of the Ahmadiyya women’s Anjuman in Mauritius and instills great religious passion in them.

Suleiman Sahib was so strong in opposing his sister that when she converted to Ahmadiyyat, he did not meet her for years.

Eventually, Allah the Almighty granted him the strength to accept Ahmadiyyat. He went to his sister, apologised for his mistakes and cried his heart out. In this manner, many more wise individuals are accepting Ahmadiyyat.

in Sofia-Bulgaria. There, waited almost 100 youths who were without parents and had been living in the camp for a few months.

Families with young children also received the Eid gift packets. All recipients were extremely happy and thankful to Humanity First for remembering the less privileged thousands of kilometres away.

Jawwad Sahib, Abdullah Sahib, Zia Sahib, wife of Jawwad Sahib and his mother took all the trouble to purchase, pack and distribute the Eid gift packs.

Through the service of humanity, the Jamaat has a good reputation in these areas.

The Jamaat and Humanity First is now well known in these Balkan countries due to continuous humanitarian projects.

May Allah accept this humble effort and shower His ever-increasing blessings on all those who take the trouble to serve humanity.

9

Friday 14 June 2019 | AL HAKAM

Friday Sermon 17 May 2019 Delivered from Mubarak Mosque

Inauguration of Masjid Mubarak

U

pon entering the mosque, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa stated: Assalamo alaikum wa rahmatullah [may the peace and mercy of Allah be upon you]. I have just unveiled the plaque to commemorate the opening of the [Mubarak] mosque and the official inauguration has now taken place.

When Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra inaugurated Masjid Mubarak in Rabwah, he said that arrangements should be made to offer two nawafil [voluntary prayers] before the inauguration. However, since this could not be arranged at that time, he said that they would perform sajda-e-shukar [prostration in gratitude to Allah] instead.

(Khutabat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 32, pp. 48-49, Khutba Jumuah 23.3.1951) Usually, the tradition has been that whenever I unveil a plaque for an inauguration, we offer silent prayer.

However, today, keeping in line with that practice, instead of a dua, I will perform sajda-e-shukar and all of you should join me for God Almighty has granted us this modest headquarters [markaz] and also this mosque. Following this, the Friday Sermon shall commence.

Join in me Sajda-e-Shukar.

[The congregation of worshippers then joined Huzooraa in performing Sajda-eShukar.]

After this brief announcement, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa recited Tashahud, Ta‘awuz, Surah al-Fatihah and verses 30-32 of Surah al-A‘raf and then stated: The translation of these verses is as follows: “Say, ‘My Lord has enjoined justice.

And fix your attention aright at every time and place of worship, and call upon Him, making yourselves sincere towards Him in religion. As He brought you into being, so shall you return.’ Some has He guided, and as for others error has become their desert.

They have taken evil ones for friends to the exclusion of Allah, and they think that they are rightly guided. O children of Adam! look to your adornment at every time and place of worship, and eat and drink but exceed not the bounds; surely, He does not love those who exceed the bounds.” (Surah al-A’raf, Ch.7: V.30-32) Alhamdolillah [All praise belongs to Allah] today, God Almighty has granted us the opportunity to offer the Friday prayer at this mosque in Islamabad. As I mentioned a few sermons ago regarding the move of

the headquarters to Islamabad, managing of the offices adjacent to the Fazl Mosque had become very difficult and there was a need for a larger and better space for offices.

Now, by the grace of God Almighty, with the completion of the construction project in Islamabad, our requirements have been fulfilled to a large extent.

Likewise, within the space available, some of those serving the Jamaat and working in the offices have also been

occasions. However, there is a multipurpose hall adjacent to the mosque, which has been constructed in the direction of the qiblah.

This has been used to offer prayers as it also has additional capacity.

Nonetheless, the purpose of mentioning these details is that, by the grace of God Almighty, in the UK Jamaat as well as other various countries of the world, mosques are being constructed. Owing to the grace of God Almighty, in the past

provided with accommodation. Similarly, the residence of the Khalifa has also been constructed. It is important that a mosque be available adjacent to the residence of the Khalifa so that people may easily offer prayers behind him and he can perform other tasks such as delivering sermons and speeches, etc.

Although, we are officially inaugurating this mosque today with the Friday prayers, but in reality, the prayers and other activities had commenced as soon as I moved here.

Large delegations of Khuddam, Atfal and Lajna continued to visit from outside.

Sittings with them took place in this mosque. As for those with whom other events took place in the smaller halls, there was adequate space to accommodate them in the mosque to offer the prayers. The capacity of this mosque is approximately four times greater than that of the Fazl Mosque. However, when the delegations visited, it became evident that even this mosque proved to be too small during those

10 or 15 years, Jamaats have paid special attention to the construction of mosques.

However, this mosque, which I have named “Masjid Mubarak”, is significant because the residence of the Khalifa is located here.

Similarly, for those serving the Community, there is adequate residence for approximately 29-30 families. All of the offices, with whom I deal with on a daily basis have also been constructed here. Thus, this site and this mosque holds a special significance as it serves as the Markaz [headquarters].

May God Almighty enable this mosque to be a true reflection of the Masjid Mubarak. May it be granted the beneficence of God Almighty and may it be blessed in every respect.

When the name of the mosque was under consideration, various names came to mind and suggestions for some names were also received. However, the revelation of the Promised Messiahas came to mind as a result of which I named it as such. The revelation is as follows:

ُ ُ َ َ ُ َ ُّ ُ َ ٌ َ َ ُ َ ٌ َ ُ ‫ار ٍک ي ْج َعل ِفي ِه‬ ‫وکل ا ٍمر مب‬ ‫مبا ِرک ومبارک‬

The translation of this in the very words of the Promised Messiahas is, “This mosque is the source and recipient of blessings and every blessed deed will be performed therein.” (Tadhkirah, p. 83, Vol. 4) May God Almighty enable this mosque to also become the recipient of the prayers of the Promised Messiahas, which he offered in Masjid Mubarak in Qadian, as well as his desire and heartfelt prayers for Islam to spread across the world and triumph. And may this mosque and this centre always serve as a means through which the unity of Allah and the message of Islam will be spread across England, Europe and the entire world. May the move of the headquarters here prove to be a blessed one in every regard. May all of the initiatives launched

by Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya always receive the blessings of God Almighty. Moreover, may this mosque also become the recipient of the blessings of God Almighty associated with the mosque of the Promised Messiahas.

Until yesterday I was not aware of this fact and it was only then that this came to my attention that even when Rabwah was initially established, Hazrat Muslehe-Maudra said the very same words at the construction of Masjid Mubarak that may it also serve as a reflection of Masjid Mubarak in Qadian. (Khutbaat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 30, p. 316, Khutbah Jumuah 30.9.1949).

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra mentioned this in reference to Masjid Mubarak in Rabwah.

Nevertheless, Khilafat remained there for a long time and even today, the central offices are present there. However, having migrated from there, new offices, buildings and mosques have been required here for the past 35 years. Due to the law of the country [Pakistan], Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya had to migrate from Rabwah. Subsequently, in order to fulfil the needs here as well, God Almighty opened the doors for progress even greater than before. May God Almighty continue to increase the resources of the Jamaat which He has blessed us with.

The opponents, in their estimation, thought to seize the blessings which God Almighty had granted us, however, may God Almighty through establishing this mosque and headquarters manifest signs of even greater blessings than before.

The intellectual state and level of ignorance of those who believe that the progress and destiny of the Jamaat lies in

10 their hands is such that someone showed me a social media clip in which a politician of the Pakistan People’s Party was passing some comments and said that they had placed restrictions on the Ahmadiyya Jamaat and did not allow them to flourish in Pakistan. However, the new government has now come into office and allowed Ahmadis and “Qadianis” to establish their headquarters in Islamabad [Pakistan]. This is the state of their intellect. Some time ago, another politician also passed an ignorant statement similar to this, after which they released a statement saying that they were mistaken and that they had not understood the matter correctly.

Nevertheless, these are the views of who are engrossed in worldly pursuits.

Little do they know that the progress of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat is purely owing to the blessings of God Almighty. Neither can any worldly government halt the progress of the Jamaat, nor is Ahmadiyyat in need of support from any worldly government. As long as we follow the commandments of God Almighty and as long as we endeavour to acquire His pleasure, we will continue to be the recipients of the blessings of God and will continue to witness this progress.

Hence, we should continue to assess our conditions.

Those people, who have been granted the opportunity by God Almighty to reside in this new dwelling and those who, due to the headquarters being established here, are coming to settle in the surrounding areas, or are currently settled here, should endeavour to reform themselves in such a manner that other people are able to see a true manifestation of Islam and Ahmadiyyat in this area. Our life devotees and workers have lived in Islamabad for many years and the local people are acquainted with Ahmadis.

The locals have also been introduced to Ahmadiyyat through the Jalsas [annual conventions], which had been held here for a long time until 2004, and are now currently being held in Alton, a place near here. Irrespective of all of this, the situation is now completely different and as such, the local people will also look at us from a new perspective. The local people have already taken note of the fact that Ahmadis have suddenly started to acquire homes here and have said that the reason for many people moving here is because the residence of the Caliph, leader of the Ahmadiyya Community, has relocated here.

Therefore, you will have to set an example that is even better than before and you will have to leave a good impression on them. If our neighbours are disturbed by our noise, failure to adhere to the traffic regulations or any other reason, then we will be conveying the wrong message to the locals. Our gratitude to God Almighty will be mere lip service if we are not demonstrating the correct message of Islam through our conduct. Being grateful to God Almighty necessitates that our words, actions and teachings are all in line with one another. It should not be the case that we say one thing and do another. God Almighty has provided us with guidance in the Holy Quran in relation to mosques as well. Even in the verses which were recited, we have been reminded of very important matters.

If we remain mindful of these matters then, alongside fulfilling the rights of worship of God Almighty, we will also fulfil the rights

Friday 14 June 2019 | AL HAKAM of His creation.

In these verses, God Almighty clearly announces to the believers, i.e. the Muslims, that if they wish to earn the pleasure of God Almighty, they ought to adopt faith and adhere to religion purely for the sake of God Almighty. If one fails to do so, then instead of progressing, they shall fall into an abyss of misguidance. The purpose for which mosques are established must be fulfilled, only then can one become the recipient of God Almighty’s bounties. One must perform worship solely for the sake of God Almighty in order to become heirs to the rewards of God Almighty. One must cleanse their minds of worldly inclinations and desires; only then can one attain the grace of God Almighty. When one strives to achieve this five times a day, only then can one be counted among those who adheres to faith purely for the sake of God Almighty.

Thus, God Almighty commands us to purify ourselves and this is only possible when one remains firmly on faith only for the sake of God Almighty. Those people who do not strive to attain guidance, those who do not remain on their faith purely for the sake of God Almighty consequently fall into an abyss of misguidance. These people are such that instead of seeking the protection of God Almighty, they have befriended Satan.

Despite this they believe that their actions are in accordance with the pleasure of God. This is the condition of those who reject the One sent by God. It is the condition of the evil-minded Muslim “scholars” of today who, along with themselves, are misguiding the masses. In their imagination, they believe that there is no one who practices Islam more accurately than them. In order to achieve their objectives, they do not leave any means, manner or design untried, and even governments remain in fear of them.

These days in Karachi, Pakistan, this same sort of opposition is on the rise, and even the government there insists that we demolish our minarets. We have tried to reason with them countless times stating these are minarets of old mosques which have been built 50-60 years ago, but they do not understand. There is an unprecedented fear of the Muslim clerics. These people are continuing to increase in their oppression upon the members of the Jamaat. They have exceeded all bounds in their hatefilled propaganda and agendas against the Promised Messiahas. It is these sorts of people regarding whom God Almighty states that misguidance and transgression has become their prerogative. The so-called Muslim scholars who are behind this indeed fall into the category of those regarding whom the Holy Prophetsa said that the mosques of that era would apparently seem populated to the onlookers – which is what we see nowadays in non-Ahmadi mosques – but they would be devoid of divine guidance, and that disorder would emerge from within them and would return to them, and such people would be the ones who defame Islam and would be the worst among all of creation.

(Sha‘bul Iman lil Baihaqi, Vol. 3, pp. 3173318, Hadith 1763, Maktabah Al-Rushd, Beirut, 2003) In such a situation, our responsibility increases even more towards purifying our own condition of worship and making the world aware of the true teachings of Islam.

God Almighty Himself opens many more ways and means for the spread of Islam’s

true teachings than our own efforts, and the establishment of new headquarters is an example thereof. Hence, we should understand our responsibilities. If it had been left to our personal efforts or to the efforts of the Jamaat, this could have never been built. It is only due to the sheer grace of God Almighty that He granted us a new headquarters. During the blessed days of Ramadan, the days in which God Almighty has secured for us the means for our spiritual betterment, it is all the more incumbent upon us to strive even more than before towards adopting our faith exclusively for the sake of God Almighty.

The Promised Messiahas guided us on how to purify our faith and to make it exclusively for God Almighty. At one place, describing this, he writes: “It is written in the Holy Quran: ّ َُ​َۡ ۡ ُ ‫الدیۡ َن‬ ِ ‫ۡاد ُعوۡہ ُمخل ِ​ِصین لہ‬ ‘Pray unto Him, being sincere to Him in religion’ (Surah al-A‘raf, Ch.7: V.30). One should remember God Almighty and ask for His blessings with sincerity. One should possess sincerity, virtue and turn to Him in such a manner that He alone is the Lord and the true God.” The Promised Messiahas further states: “In short, the essence of the principles of worship are that one ought to stand before God as if they are beholding Him or that God is watching them. One should be free from all types of impurities and shirk [associating partners with God] and should keep in mind God Almighty’s grandeur and providence.”

The Promised Messiahas further states: “One should make those supplications granted to us as well as other prayers as much as possible, seek forgiveness and repent often and express one’s weakness over and over so that the soul may be purified; also, so that one may develop a true bond with God Almighty and that they may be submerged in His love.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 9, p. 451) Thus, when one practices faith sincerely for the sake of God Almighty, the soul will become pure, and one shall have the opportunity to cleanse themselves. They will fulfil the rights due to the worship of God and they shall strive to act upon the commandments of God Almighty.

Someone showed a video from social media wherein Muslims had made full preparations for iftari [breaking of the fast]. Thereafter, they began hurling abuse at one another, perhaps over the food, which quickly escalated to exchanging of fists. They were punching one another, fighting, tearing at each other, all the while the food was scattered everywhere. Some people were fighting in one place and others further away. They neither had any respect for their elders, nor did they have any regard for those younger than them. They were fighting one another all whilst in a state of fasting, and as is their custom, they came to pray wearing long dresses and robes, but all of them were involved in the brawl.

God Almighty has said that one should not utter anything immoral whilst in a state of fasting, not to reply to anyone who hurls abuse and instead merely say that they are fasting. God Almighty has also said that He Himself is the reward for the one who fasts.

Can God Almighty be the reward for such people observing the fast in this manner?

Are these the ones who attain the pleasure of God Almighty? Is this the purification of the soul which they are achieving through fasting?

The importance of accepting the Imam of the age becomes even clearer from all this and just how much the Muslims are in need of reform through the Imam of the age. Since he has appeared and they refuse to accept him, this all draws our attention even more to analyse ourselves, to reform ourselves, to remove even the smallest of rancour and restlessness in our hearts and that we should fulfil the rights of fasting.

We should worship God Almighty whilst being sincere to Him and act upon His commandments.

On one occasion the Promised Messiahas stated: “Today the image of Islam has undergone great distortion. All kinds of immoralities have become rampant (i.e. all types of wrongs, evils and vices have become widespread) and that sincerity ّ َُ َۡ ۡ which is mentioned in ‫الدیۡ َن‬ ِ ‫‘ ُمخل ِ​ِصین لہ‬Being sincere to Him in religion’ has been lifted to the heavens. (It is not found anywhere.)

Sincerity and loyalty, love and trust in God Almighty is all but finished. Now God Almighty has ordained that these faculties be revived once again.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 6, pp.

352-353) The Promised Messiahas states: “In this day and age, lowly traits such as pretentiousness, self-admiration, egotism, arrogance, conceit have greatly flourished.

(In other words, people are progressing in adopting these evil behaviours) but the good qualities such as being sincerely devoted to faith have ascended to the heavens”.

The Promised Messiahas further states, “Qualities such as resigning to the will of God and putting one’s trust in Him have become non-existent.” This means that people do not have faith in God. A believer entrusts God Almighty with their affairs, but this is not witnessed amongst the socalled believers. They quarrel over trivial matters and their moral condition has become deplorable. However, the Promised Messiahas states, “God desires to once again sow the seeds of establishing high morals.”

(Al Badr, Vol. 3, No. 10, 8.3.1904, p. 3) Earlier the Promised Messiahas stated that God Almighty desires to revive those morals qualities, whereas in this particular quote, he states that God Almighty desires to sow the seeds of establishing the moral qualities – this indeed has taken place through the advent of the Promised Messiahas. Moreover, God Almighty desires to revive these moral qualities, to purify the acts of worship, to offer the rights due to God and the rights due to humanity through the Promised Messiahas. We must become branches of the trees and plants that have grown forth from these seeds. We can accomplish this by purifying our worship for the sake of God Almighty and by taking heed from the weaknesses of others, we ought to strive to reform our own selves and attaining the pleasure of God Almighty should become our foremost priority.

On one occasion, the Promised Messiahas stated, “Sincerity is the precondition for good acts.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 8, p. 354) An action lacking sincerity and a deep longing to attain the acceptance of God Almighty is futile. Such prayers are also of

11

Friday 14 June 2019 | AL HAKAM no use. Hence, this is an admonition for us that there is no benefit of worship until it is offered with sincerity and devotion.

The Promised Messiahas states: “Let it be known that according to the Holy Quran, the natural state of man has a very strong relationship with his moral and spiritual states, so much so that even a person’s manner of eating and drinking affects his moral and spiritual states.”

As mentioned already, the incident that took place during an iftari where people had gathered to eat during the month of Ramadan, their outward condition depicts their spiritual state. These actions connote that they have no spirituality left within them. Thus, these matters should draw our attention towards this.

The Promised Messiahas further states: “If the natural state of a person is subjected to the control of the directions of divine law, it becomes their moral state and deeply affects their spirituality, just as it is said that whatever falls into a salt mine is converted into salt.”

The Promised Messiahas states that if one was to be mindful of the commandments of God Almighty in relation to one’s natural faculties, for example, if one were to eat and drink in moderation, and similarly there are many other natural faculties, which if governed according to the Shariah, they would become high moral qualities. The Promised Messiahas says that once they become part of one’s moral qualities, they will deeply impact one’s spirituality.

The Promised Messiahas further continues: “That is why the Holy Quran has laid stress on physical cleanliness and postures, and their regulation in relation to all worship and inner purity and spiritual humility.”

Cleanliness of one’s body, physical etiquettes and to keep oneself presentable is also necessary because only then can one become a truly well-poised person with a balanced nature. The Promised Messiahas further states, “Upon reflection, this very philosophy is borne out as exceedingly accurate; namely, that physical conditions deeply affect the soul. For instance, when our eyes are filled with tears, even if the tears are artificially induced, a spark from these tears impacts the heart (the heart is greatly affected) and following the tears, the heart becomes sorrowful. In the same way, when we begin to laugh, even if the laughter is artificially induced, the heart begins to feel cheerful.”

The Promised Messiahas further says: “It has also been observed that physical prostration in prayer induces humility in the soul. (At times, by simply going into the position of prostration instils a feeling of humility and meekness within a person.)

As a contrast, when we draw ourselves up physically and strut about with our necks raised and our chests pushed forward, this attitude induces a mood of arrogance and vain glory. These instances establish clearly that physical conditions certainly affect spiritual conditions.” (Islami Usul ki Philosophy, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 10, pp.

319-320) The Promised Messiahas states that the type of food one eats also has an effect on one’s spirituality. Thus, one needs to adopt moderation in relation their diet as well.

One should not be given to a diet consisting of only meat and nor should one only have

a diet of greens and vegetables. One should adopt moderation in all the various foods God Almighty has provided for mankind and which He has declared as halal [lawful] and tayyab [pure and wholesome] and one should not exceed beyond the limits.

Subsequently, such a practise will also affect one’s spirituality. When one adopts a balanced diet, they also develop a balance in their moral state and will remain inclined to the worship of God. The Promised Messiahas states that it is indeed the beautiful teaching of Islam which has provided us guidance in all matters. Furthermore, the Promised Messiahas states that it is an immense favour of God Almighty which He has bestowed on man that He has laid down certain principles to maintain good health. In fact, God Almighty has stated: ۡ ُ​ُ ُ ُ ‫کلوۡا َواش َربُوۡا َولَا ت ۡس ِرفوۡا‬ That is to say, indeed one should eat and drink but in moderation and not eat excessively. (Ayyamus-Sulh, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 14, p. 332) The reason for this is because this will also adversely affect one’s physical condition which then ultimately has an impact on one’s spirituality as well.

Thus, a true servant of God, who wholly devotes himself in the worship of God, not only seeks to improve his spiritual condition and develop a bond with God Almighty, but also seeks to improve his physical condition and utilise all the bounties endowed to him

by God Almighty in order to attain His pleasure. The comforts and luxuries of the world and consuming food and drink are not a believer’s ultimate objective, rather one only seeks to derive benefit from these worldly bounties in order to attain the pleasure of God Almighty. Endeavouring to attain the pleasure of God Almighty is in fact the ultimate objective. Similarly, a believer is always mindful of fulfilling the rights of God Almighty’s creation. It is only the religion of Islam which not only draws the attention of man to fulfil the rights of God, but also towards fulfilling the rights of God Almighty’s creation.

Thus, in offering our gratitude at the establishment of the new headquarters here, we should raise the standard of our worship and also our moral conditions. Particularly now in this new environment, the nonAhmadi neighbours will be observing us with a particular focus, therefore we need to strive even more than before to demonstrate the beautiful teachings of Islam through our practise and our speech. If we lead our lives whilst being mindful of this objective, this alone can become a huge means of our tabligh [preaching the message] and moreover, this will enable us to become grateful to God Almighty and become the recipients of His blessings.

I would also like to mention here that some people display an excellent conduct towards their neighbours and towards others in their society, however their conduct at home towards their wives and children is extremely poor. This does not just impact them alone – although on a personal level God Almighty will punish them for these injustices – however their actions also have an impact on the unity and harmony of the Jamaat. The discord in the home impacts the children and instead of becoming an excellent asset of the Jamaat in the future, they become distant from the Jamaat and their faith.

In order to propagate the message of Islam and to become wholly devoted to God, it is vital to provide the young generation with a proper upbringing.

However, if one’s own practise is contrary to this, it will consequently cause children to go astray. Thus, in this respect, this is something that has to be addressed at a Jamaat level. The children will look at their fathers and will think that although he seems to be very religious and is considered very respectable in the Jamaat, yet his conduct at home is completely different, and this ultimately ruins the children. Also, owing to the disputes at home, discord and resentment gradually develops between the families of the husband and wife, consequently affecting the society at large.

Thus, homes in which such issues have developed should make a firm resolve to establish peace in their homes. Moreover, as a way of expressing their gratitude to God Almighty for His grace and blessing for attaching them with the Jamaat, they should bring about a change in themselves by being wholly devoted to God Almighty and adhering to His commandments. Similarly, those women who become angry over trivial issues, they should also bring about a change in their conditions for the sake of their children’s upbringing. They should make this month of Ramadan unique in this respect as well in that they are to bring about a reformation within their homes through the blessings of this month.

During the month of Ramadan, many people’s attention has been drawn towards mosques. However, the true adornment of the mosque is in fact taqwa [righteousness] and so, one should also strive to excel in this as well. The Promised Messiahas has stated that whilst treading on the path of righteousness, one should safeguard themselves from all kinds of display of pride, arrogance and vanity. The more God Almighty bestows His blessings, the more we ought to reflect upon striving to find ways of winning the pleasure of God Almighty in all aspects of our lives. We should not become like those who pray but only incur the wrath of God and their prayers become a means of their ruin, in fact, we should be counted amongst those who seek to attain the pleasure of God Almighty and become the recipients of His rewards. The foremost purpose of establishing this headquarters here is in order to serve our faith. However, even if we were to look at it from a worldly perspective, it is a great blessing of God Almighty which He has granted us. As I mentioned earlier, it was not possible for us to acquire this merely though our own efforts. Thus, through the establishment of the headquarters here, God Almighty has rewarded us both spiritually and from a worldly perspective as well. Thus, we should be grateful to God Almighty by keeping in view all these various aspects.

When a worldly person witnesses the scale of the mission of our community, they are left astonished. However, they are even more astounded when they learn that this is all happening purely due to the blessings of God Almighty and the sacrifices of the members of the Jamaat – because in reality we are a very small community whose resources are extremely limited. Such people then realise that the Living God exists even today and grants help and succour to whomsoever He wills. Thus, through this

means as well a worldly person becomes inspired by our teachings and receives the message of Islam. In order to demonstrate the existence of God Almighty, it is essential for our speech and actions to be such that they inspire others.

Thus, from whichever aspect we look, we are humbled before God for He has enabled us, out of His blessings, to develop this land. Although it is equal to the size of a small neighbourhood of a town, or in fact even smaller, however as I mentioned earlier, it holds great significance as it serves as the headquarters.

God Almighty has granted us a centre in that part of the world which not only lacks belief in the unity of God but is also engrossed in shirk [associating partners with God]. From here, we ought to spread the unity of God with a new resolve and fulfil the mission of the ardent devotee of the Holy Prophetsa. Then, we will see that day in which entire towns and cities will proclaim the unity of God and those people, who today utter what they like against the Holy Prophetsa, will feel a sense of pride coming under the flag of the Holy Prophetsa and will send salutations upon him.

Thus, this responsibility is not only for the residents of Islamabad or those who have taken residence nearby, but rather every Ahmadi residing in this country and Ahmadis around the world ought to strive to find ways how one can wave the flag of the Unity of God and how one can bring the world under the flag of the Holy Prophetsa; they ought to strive as to how they can further aid the mission of the Promised Messiahas; how they can assist the objectives of the Khalifa and how they can support him through prayers and their own efforts.

God Almighty has granted us the opportunity to inaugurate this mosque in the month of Ramadan. I am not aware if this has taken place during the era of any previous Khalifa, however, in my time, this is the first occasion in which I have inaugurated a mosque in the month of Ramadan.

Derive full benefit from this blessed month, in which prayers are greatly accepted, and pray ardently for the progress of Ahmadiyyat and for the purpose behind establishing the new headquarters in this part of the world. May this headquarters continue to expand and may the Ahmadi population nearby continue to increase.

May we witness the masses entering into the fold of Islam. May we witness the schemes of our enemies go to ruin. May we be granted safe passage to Rabwah and also to Qadian, the abode of the Promised Messiahas. May the journey to Mecca and Medina – the home of our guide and master, the Holy Prophetsa and the permanent headquarters of Islam – be made accessible for us. May the people living there receive the true message of Islam and may they accept it and attest to the truth of the Ardent Devotee of the Holy Prophetsa. May God Almighty enlighten all those who harbour prejudice [against Ahmadiyyat] owing to their ignorance and may He hold all those accountable who are instilling hatred amongst the people against Ahmadiyyat only because of their hatred and to fulfil their agendas. May the Muslims unite by performing Bai‘at at the hand of the Promised Messiahas and through this unity, may they become embodiments of the true teachings of Islam and may the rest of the

Friday 14 June 2019 | AL HAKAM

12 non-Muslim world swiftly come under the banner of Islam.

I will also speak briefly regarding the mosque and the construction project overall. By the grace of Allah, in this mosque, the prayer hall is approximately 314 square meters and can accommodate approximately 500 worshippers. Similarly, adjacent to this there is a hall which can accommodate 1,200 people and another place in which 110 people can offer their prayers. In addition to this, there is a covered area in front of the entrance to the hall in which a further 300 people can offer their prayers. Combining these – 1,200 and 300 – makes it 1,500 worshipers, but the total number of people who can offer their prayers here is over 2,000 people.

As I mentioned earlier, houses have been constructed as well as offices.

Although there are only three office blocks, however, there are almost five offices in these blocks. This space should also suffice for MTA for their studios etc. There are adequate facilities to perform ablution and washrooms etc. Furthermore, solar panels have been installed and they have tried to install all modern-day facilities in order to provide ease.

This project was such that despite its enormous scale, there was no separate financial appeal made for it and according to my knowledge, this is the first project which has been completed without the need of a separate appeal. As for the design of the mosque, some people like the design whereas others do not. In any case, according to the experts, its design saves electricity and energy. Similarly, according to them,

as opposed to the conventional designs, this is cheaper to construct. In terms of the calligraphy of the mosque, previously our mosques had never been adorned with this much calligraphy, but owing to the design of the mosque, I said that there is no harm in doing so as they are attributes of God Almighty. For this, Razwan Baig Sahib, who organises a Quran Exhibition during Jalsa Salana, wrote them and helped a lot in this regard. May God almighty reward him. Similarly, the editor of The Review of Religions, Amer Safir assisted greatly in this. Then there were two missionaries, one of whom graduated this year from Jamia Canada – Basil Butt – Musa Sattar and Musawer Din, they glued together each word, or each letter rather, using a special glue. This was an arduous task, may God Almighty reward all of them. In addition to this, the UK audio-video team and the MTA team also worked very hard; may God Almighty reward them for this.

With regard to the overall construction, a committee was formed who would assess the situation from time to time. There were two people who supervised the project on a daily basis; Idris Sahib, who was on waqfe-arzi [temporary devotion] and the other is a waqf-e-nau, Fateh Ahmad, who is an engineer and waqf-e-zindagi [life devotee].

Although there may be some shortcomings, nonetheless, they supervised the project and are still continuing with the project. In addition to this, a member of the committee who sacrificed his time to come here on a voluntary basis was Chaudhry Zaheer Sahib. He worked very well in this regard.

May Allah reward him also. He took a

personal interest in the project and due to his experience, he managed to resolve many issues.

As mentioned earlier, there was no special scheme launched for this development, despite the fact that this was an enormous project. Alongside this, there were major projects in other countries as well; especially in Qadian, Mali and Tanzania. On occasions, I would worry lest we have to temporarily stop any one of these projects, but then God Almighty would shower His blessings and each project reached completion.

In Tanzania, a multi storey building has been constructed which has many offices and other amenities. A new mosque has been constructed and a new complex along with it. In Mali, a large mosque has been built and as well as other buildings.

An excellent complex has been built with complete facilities, and whoever has seen it has complimented it. In Mali, seeing the new mosque and the new buildings, people have begun to say that from this, it seems that the Jamaat is very rich.

In terms of worldly affluence, we are not rich, however God Almighty has granted us true wealth in the form of His blessings.

Therefore, as long as we seek the blessings of God Almighty, He will continue to shower His blessings. If we fulfil the due rights owed to Him, God Almighty will continue to send down His blessings. May God Almighty enable us to do so.

In recent days, a doctor from USA went to Mali for waqf-e-arzi [temporary devotion]. He says: “When I left from the airport, I saw a beautiful mosque alongside a large building.

I asked the driver, ‘Who has constructed this beautiful mosque?’ The driver replied, ‘This mosque belongs to the Ahmadis and this is where you are going.’”

Thus, whoever sees the mosque, compliments it. Indeed, it was an enormous project, which was completed due to the blessings of God Almighty. The planning etc. was carried out by the Ahmadi Engineers and Architects Association [IAAAE]. May God Almighty reward them for their hard work.

Nonetheless, may God Almighty continue to shower His blessings. May He enable us to complete all the projects currently under construction and may He enable us to continue with more projects in the future. God Almighty has instilled within the members of the Jamaat to offer financial sacrifices. It is through these sacrifices that all these projects are completed and are being completed and, God willing, shall be completed in the future.

May God Almighty increase the financial capacity of the members of the Jamaat and may He bless their wealth and offspring. As there was no special appeal for these projects and they were carried out using the overall budget of the Jamaat, therefore all the Jamaats around the world have a part in this. There is no distinction that certain Jamaats gave more or less. May God Almighty reward everyone and bless their wealth and offspring.

[Translated by The Review of Religions.

Originally published in Al Fazl International on 3 June 2019, pp. 5-9]

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