Al Hakam - 2 September 2022

Strive to conquer hearts, not countries, and show Islam’s superiority over Western ideals Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s advice to the Muslim world Page 8

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150 years ago: The King of the Pen publishes his first article in defence of Islam

100 Years Ago ...

Delivering the message of Islam to the people of America, Africa, Australia and Egypt

Mahmooda Basit: The devoted wife of a life-devotee husband

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Page 12

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THE WEEKLY

www.alhakam.org AL HAKAM | Friday 2 September 2022 | Issue CCXXXIII Ahmadiyya Archive & Research Centre (ARC), 22 Deer Park Road, London, SW19 3TL, UK info@alhakam.org | ISSN 2754-7396

A lone voice, supported by the Divine

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

Building a mosque for the sake of Allah

َّ َ ْ ْ َ َ ُ ْ َ َ ُ َ َ َ ‫ ﻗال � ِ� ْعﺖ َر ُﺳﻮل‬،‫اب‬ ِ ‫ﻋن ﻋ�� ب ِن ا��ﻄ‬ َ ّ ٰ َّ ُ ُ َّ ّٰ ‫الل ِہ َﺻلی الل ُہ َعل ْي ِه َو َﺳل َم يَقﻮل‬ َ ْ ً ّٰ ْ ‫اﺳ ُم الل ِہ ب َ َنی‬ ‫َم ْن ب َ َنی َم ْﺴ ِﺠدا يُذ� ُر ِفي ِه‬ َ ّٰ َ ْ ‫الل ُہ � ُہ ب َ ْي ًﺘا �ِ� ا��َ ّن ِﺔ‬ Hazrat Umarra bin Khattab narrates: “I heard Allah’s Messengersa say, ‘Whoever builds a mosque in which the Name of Allah is mentioned, Allah will build a house for him in Paradise.’”

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Kitab al-Masajid wal Jama’aat, Hadith 735)

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, In His Own Words

Three avenues for one to contend against a man commissioned by God

Prophet Muhammadsa foretold that Allah would revive Islamic teachings – when Muslims would forsake them – through an elected class of men who were His chosen ones and of “Persian” descent.

This narration of Prophet Muhammadsa is to be found in the most authentic book of hadith, Sahih al-Bukhari. The Prophetsa, putting his hand on Hazrat Salman alFarisira, a Persian companion, said: “If faith were to reach the Pleiades [the highest stars] even then some men or a man from these people [i.e. Hazrat Salman’sra nation (Persians)] would retrieve it.” (Sahih

al-Bukhari, The Book of Tafsir of the Prophetsa, Hadith 4897) In another narration mentioned in Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, the Holy Prophetsa recited the verse:

َّ َ ُ َ َ ُ ُ َ َُ ُ َْ َ ‫وإِ ْن ﺗ َتوَلوْا یَ ْس َت ْﺒ ِد ْل ﻗوْ ًﻣا ﻏي َر� ْم ﺛ ّم �� یَﻜونوا أ ْﻣﺜالَﻜ ْم‬

“[…] And if you turn your backs, He will bring in your stead a people other than you, then they will not be like you.” (Surah Muhammad, Ch.47: V.39) The Companionsra asked who these “people” were. In reply, the Holy Prophetsa “patted the shoulder of Salman, and said:

‘This one and his people, this one and his people.’” (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, The Book of Tafsir of the Prophetsa, Hadith no. 3260) It is well known that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, the Promised Messiah and Mahdi was not only a non-Arab but of Persian descent – a direct fulfilment of the prophecy. He came as the reviver of faith, the Prince of Peace, who began a new enlightenment of peace for the world that was based on true Islamic teachings.

Without Islam – the truest of all religions – there can be no lasting peace. The very Continued on next page >>

This week [i.e. the week ending on 10 July 1899] a letter was received from the claimant of revelation who lives in Lahore, in which he has made one or two prophecies against the Promised Messiahas and his community. The Promised Messiahas said in this relation: “Allah the Exalted knows how my heart throbs and is overwhelmed with passion for these people on account of my sympathy for them. I am posed with a challenge as to how I should advise such people. They do not come forth to contend against me by any Continued on page 2

Friday 2 September 2022 | AL HAKAM

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absence of true Islamic teachings meant the wider world could not experience lasting peace.

Therefore, the reformers Prophet Muhammadsa foretold were not only for the Muslims but for the whole world, which has to become a global village as per the prophecies.

Interestingly, Prophet Muhammadsa did not just refer to one man in the above narrations (though the Promised Messiahas was the primary recipient of the prophecy) but also spoke of “people” or “men” [rijal] of Persian descent who would continue to revive Islam, thus enabling the world to escape the shackles that tied it down.

The history of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya shows how magnificently the prophecies of the Holy Prophetsa were fulfilled and today his words continue to be fulfilled through another man of Persian descent: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, Fifth Successor to the Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdias.

For almost 20 years, he has been a lone – yet divinely inspired – voice that has warned the world about an impending disaster, powerful enough to shake humanity to its core. Despite naysayers and sceptics, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V’s words have rung true; analysts now agree that the threat of nuclear war and complete and utter devastation is not a stretch of the mind or an exaggeration.

The warnings of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa have not been mere alarm bells – he has given actionable Islamic solutions for the unrest we are experiencing. He has paved the pathway to peace – true and unadulterated Islamic teachings. Teachings like upholding absolute justice, shunning vested interests and turning to Allah as a means for lasting peace and morality. His addresses and discourses are full of gems and actionable advice, yet world leaders and humanity at large fail to take heed.

Just recently, during Jalsa Salana UK 2022 and Jalsa Salana Germany 2022, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa delivered pertinent addresses that unpacked solutions for peace and harmony in our personal, national and international lives. During Jalsa Salana UK 2022, Huzooraa spoke about the rights of men and women that Islam affords and how they benefit society as a whole – creating a just world while giving due rights. In his Continued from page 1

means. There are only three ways.

They can either contend against me in the manifestation of signs in light of those shown in the previous age; they can contend against me in showing new signs for the future; or if nothing else, they can at least pray that the one who is more beneficial to the people be blessed with long life, according to the following divine promise:

ۡ َ ۡ ُ ُ ۡ َ َ َ َّ ُ َ ۡ َ َ َّ َ َ ‫ض‬ ِ ‫واﻣا ﻣا یﻨﻔﻊ الﻨاس ﻓیمﻜﺚ ﻓِی ا��ر‬

“But as to that which benefits men, it stays on the earth.” [Surah al-Ra‘d, Ch.13: V.18] It shall then become clear who is beloved and chosen in the sight of God.” (Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, Malfuzat, Vol. 2, p. 28)

Th 2 September 2005: During his Friday Sermon from the Baitur Rasheed Mosque in Hamburg, Germany, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa granted valuable guidance to members of the Jamaat following a successful Jalsa Salana Germany.

3 September 2004: During his Friday Sermon on this day, from Zurich, Switzerland Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa spoke on Islamic teachings concerning meeting each other and visiting each other’s homes. address to Lajna, Huzooraa also showed how exemplary Muslim women led the world in their greatness of sacrifices and high levels of faith and how Ahmadi women should strive to achieve those great heights. He reminded Ahmadis around the world about the internal spiritual revolution they have to instil within themselves in order to honour their pledge of allegiance to the Promised Messiahas. If acted upon, all the guidance of Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa would create a revolution in the world.

In his concluding address during Jalsa Salana Germany 2022, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa spoke on the current and dire geopolitical situation of the world – its causes and solutions. Huzoor’s analysis shows how he has the support of Allah behind him as no other leader or analyst can pinpoint with such accuracy and profoundness – and give solutions – to the underlying issues that prevent lasting peace and harmony.

For example, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa told world leaders and nations that while peace is was lauded and desired around the world, in reality, nations only desired peace for themselves, not for others. This had led to clashes between politicians and injustices between countries and peoples.

The selfishness only createed disorder – and the desire for “peace” in turn became a curse

as it was peace for one, not the other. Today, standards differed and in reality, peace was only desired for a select few, not the whole world.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said that the Holy Prophetsa of Islam taught that once one realised there was a Higher Power Who watched over us, we would understand and act on the “golden rule” that we must desire for others that which we desired for ourselves – a teaching Islam has at its core. In turn, universal peace would be established.

Another point Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa raised was that belief in a God, Who was “Lord of all the worlds”, would break down the barriers of hatred and discord amongst people. By realising God is One and the Lord for all, one removes hatred towards any other, whether a Christian, Jew or Muslim.

These addresses and discourses of the man who stands today as the reviver of faith, following the footsteps of the Promised Messiahas, are to be acted upon.

As Ahmadis, we should be the first to take heed and change ourselves for the better.

We must be the change we desire and to stay protected from the ills and vices of the world, we must endeavour to follow every instruction of Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa, whether the world acts on his guidance or not.

Moreover, Huzooraa instructed members of the Jamaat to pay attention to prayers (du‘a).

3 September 2010: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa mentioned that on that day a sad piece of news came from Pakistan about a suicide attack on an Ahmadi mosque in Mardan, Pakistan. The khuddam on security duty took timely action and prevented the attacker’s attempt to enter the mosque. On realising his failure, the attacker blew himself up near the gate of the mosque and as a result, Sheikh Amir Raza Sahib was martyred and a few khuddam were injured as well.

3 September 2016: Hazrat Sheikh Amir Raza Khalifatul Masih Sahib Vaa addressed an audience of more than 1,000 nonAhmadi guests on the second day of Jalsa Salana Germany. During his address, Huzooraa quoted from the Holy Quran and the practice of the Holy Prophetsa to disprove allegations that Islam advocates extremism and violence.

4 September 2015: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa mentioned Sahibzadi Amatul Bari Sahiba, who had passed away. She was the paternal granddaughter of the Promised Messiahas, daughter of Hazrat Mirza Sharif Ahmad Sahibra, and the paternal aunt of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa. She was born in 1928 in Qadian.

Huzooraa mentioned that there was a coat of the Promised Messiahas (other than the well-known green coat),

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AL HAKAM | Friday 2 September 2022

his Week in History which was inherited by Hazrat Mirza Sharif Ahmad Sahibra and then by Amatul Bari Sahiba. She gifted this coat to Huzooraa as a gesture of her love for Khilafat.

5 September 2003: During his Friday Sermon on this day, delivered from France, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa called the attention of the Jamaat to invoking salutations on the Holy Prophetsa by reciting Durood Sharif.

5 September 2008: During his Friday Sermon on this day, while mentioning the martyrdoms of Ahmadis, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said that these martyrdoms and the ongoing persecution of Ahmadis was the forerunner of the fulfilment of the Quranic promise:

ً ُ َ َ َ َ َّ ‫ِانا ﻓ َت ۡحﻨا لَﻚ ﻓ ۡت ًحا ّﻣ ِﺒ ۡیﻨا‬

“Verily, We have granted thee a clear victory.” (Surah al-Fath, Ch. 48: V. 2) Huzooraa further said Allah will never let the opponents of the Jamaat succeed in their aims and their “happiness” will be short-lived.

6 September 2013: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa mentioned Adam bin Yusuf Sahib of Ghana, who passed away. He accepted Ahmadiyyat in 1956 at the age of 27 and had a great passion for preaching the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat. Through his humble efforts, hundreds of people accepted Ahmadiyyat in Ghana, and for this very reason he was known as “Yusuf the Preacher”.

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Huzooraa also mentioned two martyrs, Dr Syed Tahir Ahmad Sahib and Malik Ijaz Ahmad Sahib, who had been martyred in Karachi, Pakistan.

Adam bin Yusuf Sahib

6 September 2016: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa inaugurated two mosques in Germany; the Subhan Mosque in Morfelden-Walldorf and Salam Mosque in Iserlohn.

6 September 2017: Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa condemned the persecution of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (Burma). He said: “All Ahmadi Muslims are extremely grief-stricken to hear of the cruel treatment inflicted upon the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and we pray that all of these cruelties and injustices come to an immediate end.

“The fact that these Muslims are being targeted seemingly with impunity is a result of the division and sectarianism within the Muslim world itself. If there was unity amongst Muslim nations and communities, such tragedies would never unfold.

“On behalf of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, I hope and pray that the international community comes together to help the Muslims in Myanmar and in this effort the Muslim nations should be at the

Baitur Rasheed Mosque Hamburg, Germany

Subhan Mosque Mörfelden-Walldorf, Germany

forefront.

“I pray that the persecution of the Muslims in Myanmar, and indeed of all people who are denied their religious rights in the world, comes to an end. We believe that all people should be free to practice their faith or beliefs without any fear and that all people should be equal under the law of their land.” (“Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community condemns persecution of Rohingya Muslims”, www.pressahmadiyya.com)

7 September 2012: During his Friday Sermon on this day, Hazrat

Khalifatul Masih Vaa mentioned Rao Abdul Ghaffar Sahib, who had been martyred in Karachi. He was a school teacher in Chakiwara, Karachi.

8 September 2018: On this day, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa delivered an address to an audience of more than 1,000 dignitaries and guests on the second day of Jalsa Salana Germany, and granted valuable guidance in regards to the immigration crisis and the subsequent rise of the far-right in the Western world. (www.alislam. org/articles/muslim-migrantsintegration/)

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Friday 2 September 2022 | AL HAKAM

150 years ago: The King of the Pen publishes his first article in defence of Islam Al-Hafiz Yunus Omotayo Missionary, Nigeria

25 August 2022 marked 150 years since, precisely, on 25 August 1872, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas had his first ever article in defence of Islam published in an Indian newspaper, Manshur-e-Muhammadi.

Impressively, in the decades that followed, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas would assume the Messianic spirit and power that would go on with the Jihad of the Pen (intellectual striving in the cause of Allah) through the vast corpus of writings and religious debates and discourses to earn him the honorific title of The King of the Pen (Sultan al-Qalam) through a Divine revelation (Tadhkirah, p. 91) in recognition of his unprecedented intellectual contributions to the renaissance of Islam and the demonstration of its supremacy over all religions.

To relive the beginning of his phenomenal intellectual and spiritual revival of Islam, the following excerpt from pages 16-19 of Ahmadiyyat – The Renaissance of Islam, written by Hazrat Sir Muhammad Zafrulla Khanra (President of the Seventeenth Session of the UN General Assembly and ex-President of the International Court of Justice) takes us on a memory lane to the earliest years when Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas began his Jihad of the Pen to revivify Islam and defend it against the staunch intellectual attacks from other religions, particularly by the Hindu Pandits and the Christian missionaries in colonial India. He wrote: “From about 1872 onwards, [Hazrat] Mirza Ghulam Ahmad began to emerge as a champion of Islam, defending it against the attacks of Christians, Arya Samajists and Bramho Samajists and setting forth the excellence of its teachings in every sphere. He did this by writing articles for publication in newspapers and journals. His earliest article was published in Manshure-Muhammadi which used to be published every ten days in Bangalore, Mysore, South India.

“In addition to Manshur-e-Muhammadi, he subscribed regularly to Vakil, Safeer-eHind, Vidya Prakash and Riaz-e-Hind all of which were published from Amritsar, and Brother Hind (Lahore), Aftab Punjab (Lahore), Wazir-e-Hind (Sialkot), Noor Afshan (Ludhiana) and Ishaat-us-Sunnah edited by his friend Maulvi Muhammad Husain of Batala. Occasionally he contributed his own articles to some of them. At a later period, he also subscribed to Akhbar-i-Aam of Lahore.

“In his first article published in Manshur-e-Muhammadi on 25 August 1872, he announced that his experience and observation extending over more than

a score of years had convinced him that the of 7 December 1877, a statement was basis of all goodness in human affairs and published on behalf of the Arya Samaj, on relationships was truth and that an easy way the authority of Swami Dayanand, founder whom of determining the truth of (on a religion was be of peace) the Arya Samaj, to the effect that the to discover to what degree it had put forth number of human souls was infinite and was effective and emphatic teachings designed not known even to God, so that however to establish its followers firmly on the truth. many of them might attain salvation their He challenged the followers of all religions number would not be exhausted. “[Hazrat] Mirza Ghulam Ahmad[as] to set forth from their recognized religious books their respective teachings in this wrote a series of articles refuting this position regard. He promised to award a prize of Rs which were published in the Safeer-e-Hind 500 to any non-Muslim who would set forth of Amritsar from 9 February to 9 March from his own religious books one-half or 1878. Swami Dayanand was touring in the even one-third of the teachings in support Punjab at the time. In his article, [Hazrat] of truth that he himself would set forth from Mirza Ghulam Ahmad[as] challenged the the recognized and authoritative books on Arya Samaj to vindicate, its position and Islam. No one came forward to take up the offered a prize of Rs 500 to anyone who challenge. would establish the correctness of the “Thereafter [Hazrat] Mirza Ghulam statement mentioned above. The arguments Ahmad[as] challenged every statement that put forward by him were so conclusive and was published in an article or book which convincing that Lala Jiwan Das, Secretary was in conflict with the fundamental of the Central Samaj of the Punjab, issued teachings of Islam and refuted every such a statement that the doctrine refuted by statement so effectively that every intelligent [Hazrat] Mirza Ghulam Ahmad[as] did not person was convinced of the correctness form part of the basic principles of the and rightness of his views. One out of many Arya Samaj. He added that the members instances might be mentioned by way of of the Arya Samaj were not blind followers illustration. In the issue of Vakil, Amritsar, of Swami Dayanand. They did not accept

all that the Swami said unless it was found reasonable.

“Swami Dayanand himself put forward no refutation of the articles of [Hazrat] Mirza Ghulam Ahmad[as] and declared that the number of souls was not in fact infinite, but through perpetual transmigration, their number was not exhausted. He invited [Hazrat] Mirza Ghulam Ahmad[as] to a debate on the point in a letter addressed to him. The invitation was accepted by him in an open letter dated 10 June 1878 published in Brother Hind of Lahore, edited by Pandit Shiv Narain Agni Hotri, who commented on the letter as follows: “‘So far the Arya Samaj had staunchly held, according to the teachings of Dayanand, based on the authority of the Vedas, that the number of souls is infinite, but it now appears that when [Hazrat] Mirza Ghulam Ahmad[as] refuted this doctrine, Dayanand was compelled to declare that the number of souls is not infinite but that the transmigration of souls is established. What we wish to observe is that Dayanand had instructed his followers, on the authority of the Vedas, that the number of souls was infinite and that they were self-existing.

Now that his belief has been refuted, his confession that the number of souls is not infinite clearly shows that Dayanand is going against the Vedas. If the Vedas really teach that which Dayanand has now declared, this is a serious reflection upon his position as a Leader, as he has set forth two contradictory teachings from the Vedas. If the Vedas are silent on the point, it is a reflection on the Vedas.’

“There is no evidence of any response from Swami Dayanand, but Pandit Kharak Singh, a member of the Arya Samaj of Amritsar, came to Qadian and offered to hold a debate with [Hazrat] Mirza Ghulam Ahmad[as]. It was agreed that the subject of the debate should be the transmigration of souls, and a comparison of the teachings of the Vedas and the Quran on the subject.

Accordingly, [Hazrat] Mirza Ghulam Ahmad[as] wrote a paper which was read out in a public meeting held for the purpose.

The Pandit tried to make an answer but felt unequal to the task, lost his temper and returned to his home, whence he wrote to [Hazrat] Mirza Ghulam Ahmad[as] that he would like to continue the debate through the columns of a newspaper. “[Hazrat] Mirza Ghulam Ahmad[as] promptly notified his willingness and suggested that the columns of the Safeer-eHind (Amritsar) or Brother Hind (Lahore) or Arya Darpan (Shahjahanpur) might be used for the purpose. He also promised to award Pandit Kharak Singh Rs 500 if, in the opinion of judges to be appointed for the purpose, he should be declared to have established his thesis, and proposed that the

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AL HAKAM | Friday 2 September 2022 Rev. Mr Rajab Ali, a Christian missionary, and Pandit Shiv Narain, a Brahmo Samajist, be appointed as judges.” “[Hazrat] Mirza Ghulam Ahmad[as] wrote a paper in support of the thesis that God is the Creator of the universe, that human souls are not co-existent with God, and that they are all created by God. Pandit Kharak Singh made no response to the proposal of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad[as].

Sometime later he became a Christian and wrote several pamphlets condemning the teachings of the Arya Samaj.”

“In 1879 [Hazrat] Mirza Ghulam Ahmad[as] had an exchange of views with Pandit Shiv Narain Agni Hotri on the subject of revelation, through correspondence which was later published.

Pandit Shiv Narain Agni Hotri was a teacher in the Lahore Government High School.

He was also editor and proprietor of the Hindu Bandu and was looked upon as a

leader of the Brahmo Samaj which denied the possibility of verbal revelation. The exchange of views continued from 21 May to 17 June I879.

“Kharak Singh’s experience was repeated in the case of Agni Hotri. In later life, he ceased to be a member of the Brahmo Samaj and claimed that he himself was a recipient of divine revelation and founded a new sect called Dev Samaj.” (Ahmadiyyat – The Renaissance of Islam, pp. 16-19, www. alislam.org/book/ahmadiyyat-renaissanceislam/) It is interesting to note that Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas would go on to claim, under Divine revelation, to be the divinely appointed Mujaddid (Divine Reformer) of 14th Century Islam. More so, in 1889, he founded the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and a couple of years later claimed to be the Messiah and Mahdi promised by the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa

to champion the cause of Islam in the Latter Days of the world through the revival of its pristine and peaceful teachings as enshrined in the Holy Quran and demonstrated by the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa through his Sunnah (the Prophetic Practice).

Summarily, and interestingly, too, up to the day of his demise on 26 May 1908, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas wrote and published around 90 books (in the Urdu, Arabic and Persian languages). However, apart from these books which have been later compiled and published in 23 volumes (known as the Ruhani Khazain), he also wrote thousands of epistles or religious letters that have been compiled and published under the title of Maktubat-e-Ahmad.

More so, his spoken speeches (written speeches not inclusive) which were instantly transcribed have been compiled and published under the title of Malfuzat.

Furthermore, his hundreds of leaflets and

handbills have been compiled and published in three volumes under the title of Majmuae-Ishtiharat.

All these treasures of Islam are available on the internet via www.alislam.org.

Today, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has continued to advance the Jihad of the Pen initiated by Hazrat Ahmadas through the publication of hundreds of thousands of Islamic literature through the print media; the Internet and the broadcast media etc.

More so, the community has continued to thrive as an international Islamic revivalist movement and missionary organisation under the leadership guidance and direction of its global leader, the Khalifa (Caliph), Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa.

Today, it has established its presence across the globe with tens of millions of memberships.

First Ahmadi mosque in Niger’s Zinder region Muhammad Jamal Niger Correspondent

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Niger had the opportunity to inaugurate the first mosque in Grain Todo Jamaat of the Zinder region.

The construction of this mosque commenced in May 2022. The regional missionary, Khalid Mehmood Sahib oversaw the construction of the mosque.

The members of the Jamaat regularly participated in the construction by carrying out tasks such as supplying water and providing labour for the construction project (being a desert country, water is always scarce in Niger). This volunteering helped save a significant amount of money.

The construction work was completed in a short period of two months.

The mosque was inaugurated on 12 August 2022 by Asad Majeeb Sahib, Amir and missionary-in-charge Niger, with the

Jumuah prayer.

A large number of Ahmadis and nonAhmadis participated in this blessed event.

Among those present were the chiefs of nearby villages, the mayor of Mirya, a representative of the traditional chief of Mirya and many religious figures.

In his speech, amir sahib welcomed the guests and introduced Jamaat-eAhmadiyya. Keeping the presence of nonAhmadi guests in mind, he informed the audience about the purpose of the advent of the Promised Messiahas.

After the Jumuah prayer, various government officials appreciated the efforts of the Jamaat and some senior imams and chiefs of other villages also expressed their views.

The mosque can accommodate approximately 100 worshippers and is equipped with a solar power system and sound system as well.

Ahmadiyya delegation in Sri Lanka meets Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs A Abdul Aziz Sri Lanka Correspondent

On 22 August 2022, a four-member delegation of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Sri Lanka visited the Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs in Colombo.

The ministry officials welcomed the delegation and arranged a meeting with Hon Vidura Wickramanayaka, Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs.

Prior to the presentation of the Holy Quran’s Sinhala translation to the minister,

the Jamaat delegation briefed about the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and showed the pictures of the Promised Messiahas and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa. The minister was told about the claims and purpose of the advent of the Promised Messiahas as well.

The honourable minister was very much delighted and respectfully accepted the Holy Quran’s Sinhala translation and the Sinhala translations of the books Life of Muhammad and World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace.

Friday 2 September 2022 | AL HAKAM

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100 Years Ago...

Daily diary of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II: How to educate children, relief in hardships, advice for Muslim students and the purpose of punishment Al Fazl, 17 & 24 August 1922

9 July 1922

[…] Tarbiyat of children Before leaving for Hong Kong with his two sons, Mian Ghulam Mujtaba Sahib requested Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra] to give them some advice.

Huzoor[ra] said: “Before exhorting your sons, I advise you to take special care of the religious and worldly tarbiyat of your children. In general, there are two faults in parents, i.e. they either blindly trust or highly doubt their children. The lack of balance in these two things spoils the children.

“The parents, in good faith, think when their children see them obeying the rules of religion and hear them talking about religion, they will automatically learn, so there is no need to tell them anything.

However, this idea is completely wrong, the result of which is that the children are deprived of acquiring religious knowledge.

On the contrary, some parents doubt that their words have any effect on their children, so there is no need to tell them anything; they think their children will learn on their own.

“Both of these things should not happen and instead of such mistrust, there should be good faith. Moreover, rather than blind trust, there should be some cautious wariness. Thus, it should be realised that the children will not be able to learn by merely watching their parents or listening to their words, rather they also need to be instructed and advised.

“Moreover, we should also realise that whatever we tell the children, it will have an effect on them and they will accept it. We should pay special attention to these things.

“Apart from the above, there are two more things which cause a defect in the tarbiyat of children and that is that either too much kindness is shown or too much strictness. No matter what the children do, they are not exhorted. Even if they defame the sacred religious things, it is said that their hearts should not be dispirited for now – they will understand when they grow up.

On the contrary, sometimes the children are treated so harshly that they begin to hate their parents. These two defects are such that owing to them, children are ruined. Neither should one be overly strict nor overly kind. […]”

Obedience to parents [Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said]: “After advising you (Mian Ghulam Mujtaba Sahib), I believe it is enough to tell your children to obey you and listen to what you say.

“Guides are not always available to everyone and should be considered as God’s grace. There are many people whose eyes fill with tears when they see someone’s father guiding his children and they wish there was someone to advise them too. However, the strange thing is that the world always likes the opposite. Those whose parents are alive and give advice to them say they are always hard on them and never let them rest, and those whose parents have passed away complain that they wished their parents

were alive and would advise them. Thus, the presence of parents should be considered a blessing by the children and should be highly cherished.”

13 July 1922 The works of the Promised Messiah in the eyes of Khawaja Ghulam Farid Sahib Maulana Ghulam Ahmad Sahib Akhtar submitted that before Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira was called for treatment by Nawab Sahib in the Darbar of Bahawalpur, Hazrat Khawaja Ghulam Farid of Chacharan was also consulted. On this, some people who were in prominent positions in the state at that time and considered themselves

religious, objected that “Hazrat Sahib (i.e.

Hazrat Khawaja Ghulam Farid) sometimes does not care about religion at all and now he has suggested that a ‘Mirzai’ [a derogatory term for Ahmadis] should be called [for the Nawab of Bahawalpur].” When this matter reached Khawaja Sahib from a source, he said, “Mirza Sahib’s [the Promised Messiah’sas] works are full of wisdom like that of Shaikh al-Akbar [Ibn Arabirh]. These people do not understand this fact and keep raising their voices.”

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said: “On the one hand, these people used to revere him as ‘Hazrat Sahib’ [i.e. Khawaja Ghulam Farid of Chacharan] and on the other, they thought he did not care about religion.”

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AL HAKAM | Friday 2 September 2022

Al Fazl, 24 August 1922 6 July 1922 Relief in hardships Advising a friend who had been encircled by difficulties for some time, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said: “One faces a lot of difficulties, but many times there is relief in hardships. You can comfort your heart by saying that you are sick and thus cannot work. However, look at the companionsra [of the Holy Prophetsa] who went through so many hardships and suffering when they could have worked but were not allowed to do so. They endured afflictions for 13 years. Those who [migrated] to Abyssinia returned at the time [of the conquest] of Khyber. What a great trial it was, but then Allah changed their state.

“Sometimes the time for the end of the trial has arrived, but a person loses courage by mistake and becomes disappointed.

Thus, you should not lose heart. I will pray and you should also do istighfar [ask for forgiveness]. There was also a practice of piri-muridi [hagiocracy] in your family.

Perhaps Allah the Almighty wants to purify your wealth.

“If the hardships do not go away, then the only reliance of the believer is not on this world but the next world. A believer considers his time in this world to be of less status than the interval in which a traveller sits under a tree during his journey. The non-Ahmadis say that they [Ahmadis] roam around without hearth and home.

You should not feel sad about it because the earlier people have even objected to the prophets and they were laughed at too.

As far as [the accusation of] wandering is concerned, the believer only prostrates on the threshold [of God] and this is the only door for him. You should understand that God has caused these people to help you, so this is not a bad thing because God has many ways of giving. He blesses a person through whichever means He wills.

“The state of the companionsra at the time of the Battle of Ahzab [Trenches] was that on one side were the Jews who were opposing and on the other side was the enemy’s army, and hunger had left everyone on the verge of death. They had tied stones on their stomachs [due to hunger]. The Holy Prophetsa himself had tied stones as well. The hypocrites also taunted at that time that, ‘These are the people who say they will conquer the Arabs and now they cannot even leave their homes.’ However, God helped them [and they triumphed].”

7 July 1922 Advice for Muslim students On the mention that Muslim students fail more in exams, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said: “The mental condition of Muslim students is such that they cannot work hard in acquiring knowledge. This deficiency is caused by excessive eating of meat. Muslim students should reduce meat consumption, and along with that, they should make a habit of bathing every day. Moreover, they should drink cow’s milk instead of buffalo milk. Buffalo milk is useful to increase body fat, but it does not benefit the brain, and in fact, it is harmful.

“Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] I used to say that whoever drinks buffalo milk becomes like a buffalo. By merely looking, we observe that the mental state and the way of thinking of a cow is not found in a buffalo. The cow’s eyes look as if she is thinking and pondering over something. It seems that such an appearance of the cow attracted the Hindus to worship her. Since the buffalo does not have the same level of understanding as the cow, its milk does not have the same effect on the brain as cow milk.

“It is a proven fact that the traits found in an animal have an effect on a person who uses any of its parts. It is for this reason that Islam forbids eating the meat of carnivores, etc. so that their ferocity does not affect human nature.”

The idea of ​​cow worship On the mention that the Vedas state that beef was served to guests, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said: “The idea of cow ​​ worship arose later among the Hindus, and in those countries where the economy of the people is based on agriculture, the worship of cow had already started. Hence, the cow was also worshipped in Egypt, which shows that since the cow was a useful animal for agriculture and needed to be protected, they began to worship it to keep it safe. However, this method was not correct. Behold, how wisely Islam did the same thing [in another way]. In Arabia, the horse was a very useful and necessary animal, and its shortage could have harmed the country. Therefore, in order to protect it, its meat was declared makruh [disliked]. Makruh is not unlawful but its use is not preferred. Thus, where the horse was protected, it was also ensured that people did not worship it by considering it a sacred animal because the consumption of its meat was only declared makruh and not forbidden.”

Ijtema of Majlis Ansarullah Indonesia Hafizurrahman Indonesia Correspondent

On 19 August 2022, Majlis Ansarullah Indonesia held its annual Ijtema which was organised simultaneously at 30 places throughout Indonesia.

The event was inaugurated by Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Indonesia, H Abdul Basit Sahib through a hybrid [online and inperson] conference from the Nasr Mosque, Bogor.

Amir sahib addressed the attendees and called their attention to various matters.

This was followed by an address by Sadr Majlis Ansarullah Indonesia, Wawan

Jamaat Indonesia invites speakers from the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) on Independence Day

17 July 1922 Record of human actions A friend asked, “It is mentioned [human] actions are recorded, is there a register with the Lord Almighty in which all these actions will be recorded?”

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said: “These actions will be preserved. We observe that the [sound] vibrations we make here are present in the air and are recorded through an instrument. Hence, is it not possible for the Lord of all the worlds to preserve human actions?”

The purpose of punishment The same friend asked, “Punishment is given to the criminal so that people may get a lesson, but who will learn a lesson from the punishment that will be given in hell?”

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said: “Punishment is not only given to teach a lesson [to others], rather it also has other benefits. The fact that it serves as a lesson is a general concept, however the most deserving of the punishment is the person himself who has committed the crime, so they may realise their mistake.

“If a person has a child and he commits a mistake, the parents who punish him do not intend to teach a lesson to others, but they do so to make their child correct themselves for the future. Hence, punishment has two benefits. One is to teach a lesson to others

Rustiawan Sahib, in which he advised members of the majlis on various matters in light of the guidance of Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa.

Hafizurrahman Indonesia Correspondent On 20 August 2022, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Indonesia held an event on the theme “Nationality and Challenges Towards 100 Years of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia”, at the Baitul Afiyat Complex

and most of all to reform the person himself.

“The fact is that Allah is Holy and free from faults. A servant cannot achieve His nearness unless they are also purified. The people who have faults and sins make their hearts dark and rusty, their defects will be removed through what is called punishment or the torment of hell.

“Its name is actually islah [reformation], but it is called punishment because we can only understand it as punishment. An example to explain this matter is that if a

in Kemang, Bogor, where a lecture was delivered by a member of the Geopolitics and Archipelago Insights from the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas), Major General TNI (ret), E Imam Maksudi.

At the beginning of his lecture, Imam Maksudi alluded to the history of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

He explained how 17 August 1945 marked the independence of Indonesia from colonising powers. The date marked how the nation united and was freed. He said that now the common enemy of the Indonesian nation was ignorance and ego which could create a great downfall for the nation. He emphasised that education was essential to eliminate ignorance but along with acquiring knowledge we also had to improve our morals so the nation could develop further.

Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Indonesia, H Abdul Basit Sahib then delivered a speech and stated that until now there were still many challenges not only for the Ahmadiyya Jamaat but also for the Indonesian people.

He said that the challenges faced were not only from the outside but could also arise from within the country itself.

person who is ignorant sees a doctor piercing him with a sharp instrument, he will think the doctor is stabbing him with a dagger.

However, those who understand [surgery] know that it is not a dagger and his body is being restored by removing harmful and toxic substances. It should be called islah or an operation. Hence, the word punishment is used in the general sense.” […]

(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu published in the 17 and 24 August 1922 issue of Al Fazl)

Friday 2 September 2022 | AL HAKAM

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Strive to conquer hearts, not countries, and show Islam’s superiority over Western ideals: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s advice to the Muslim world Ata-ul-Haye Nasir Al Hakam

At the beginning of his inaugural address during Jalsa Salana Rabwah on 26 December 1951, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, while mentioning the opposition of the Jamaat, said that the enmity and opposition from the opponents do not make us disappointed or disheartened since we have a firm belief that such treatment is a great blessing which is always granted to divine communities.

Huzoorra said: “The love of God Almighty is so precious that if it could be attained through the enmity of opponents, then a [believer] will not only accept it but would even desire for such enmity, so that their love for God may intensify. [...]

“Therefore, the opposition, disrespect and humiliation can never divert us from our real objective or dishearten us. Thus, members of the Jamaat must remember that in reality, we have been granted the most honoured and respectful status. The most powerful kings, rulers and leaders rely on human support and during their troubled times, very few come forward to help them, however, during your times of trouble, the One God Himself descends from Heaven to help you.” (Al Fazl, 1 January 1952, p. 3) Huzoorra further said that this era is a blessed one as God has sent his prophet [Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas], and “this is a blessing which was granted to the Jamaats of the Holy Prophetsa, Isaas, and Musaas, and for this blessing God has taught us the prayer:

ۡ َ َّ َ ۡ ّ ‫ا ْھدنَا‬ ‫الص َر َاط ال ُم ۡس َت ِق ۡی َم۔ ِص َر َاط ال ِذیۡ َن ان َع ۡم َت َعل ۡی ِھ ْم‬ ِ ِ ِ

[‘Guide us in the right path. The path of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy blessings.’ (Surah al-Fatihah, Ch.1: V.6-7)]” (Ibid, pp. 3-4) Huzoorra added that in this era, Allah the Almighty has granted Ahmadis the blessing and honour which has always been granted to His beloved people. Therefore, members of the Jamaat needed to be grateful to Allah the Almighty that He granted them this blessed era.

Huzoorra concluded by saying that let us pray to God Who is the All-Powerful, turns the impossible into the possible, disappointments into hopes, and doubts into certainty, that He enable us to establish unity, peace and such an order that the world witnesses those peaceful times for which it was longing for centuries. (Ibid) On 27 December 1951, during his second-day address at Jalsa Salana Rabwah, Huzoorra recited Surah al-Asr in the beginning and then said that upon pondering over the world’s history:

“One finds that there are losses, destructions and conflicts everywhere, however, there is something which is unaffected from all these negative impacts, and that is a believer’s faith, righteousness, truthfulness and patience.” (Al Fazl, 21 March 1962, p. 3) Huzoorra said that these four characteristics are the remedy for all the mischief in the world. Huzoorra added: “The most important characteristic is faith. It is true that if one attains strong faith then worldly problems and oppositions become insignificant.” (Ibid) Huzoorra continued by saying that if one attains the nearness of God Almighty after facing various kinds of dangers with firm faith, then one cannot ask for anything better, as God becomes their Helper then.

“Therefore, one needs to care for their faith and to ponder whether their actions are in accordance with the desire of God or not and whether they have reached that level where a person becomes completely secure from all kinds of dangers to their spirituality. [...]

“The Holy Prophetsa states that the smallest pleasure of faith which one attains is: َ َّ ْ ُ ْ َ َْ َْ ْ َُْ َْ َ َ ْ َ ْ َ َّ ‫النار أ َح‬ ِ‫ب ِ ُإلي ُِه ِم ْن أ ُن ير ِجع ِفی الكفر‬ َ َ ْ َ ْ ِ َ َ ْ َ ‫من كان أن يلقى ِفی‬ ‫بعد أن أنقذه اللہ ِمنه‬ “Meaning that when a person ‘prefers to be thrown into the fire than to return to

disbelief after Allah has rescued him out of it.’ (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman [Hadith 43b])” (Ibid, pp. 3-4) Huzoorra further said that the Muslims had completely forgotten their real objective and indulged themselves in worldly aims.

For this reason, Allah the Almighty had sent the Promised Messiahas who advised the Muslims that they needed to realise their status and objective, i.e. service to Islam.

Huzoorra said there was no doubt that the Muslims needed political strength, and worldly and social progress, however: “The purpose of the Holy Prophet’ssa advent was the spiritual victory of Islam over all the world. This great objective means that the arguments for the greatness of Islam and Muhammad Rasulullahsa may become so powerful that the opponents should shy from arguing with the Muslims.

“Today, the European literature which is published [against Islam] points out that Islam has such and such ‘flaw’ and ‘defect’.

However [we need to refute these allegations to make] Islam victorious in such a way that the Europeans should write in their books: “‘Such and such teaching of Islam is very great, however, Christianity has also presented this teaching to some extent, as it is proven from a certain saying of Jesusas that he also presented to the world a similar kind of teaching.’

“When European-influenced Muslims look at European democracy, they say:

“‘These fundamentals [of democracy] are also supported from the Holy Quran to some extent, and this feature is also found within us [Islam].’

“This is an apology which the contemporary Muslims are presenting, and this is certainly not a proud day for Islam.

The proud day for Islam will be when the following will be testified in Europe and America: “‘The teaching which Islam presents in regards to purdah is also supported by the Gospels to some extent, and it is also proven from a certain saying of our Messiah [Jesusas] that this kind of purdah should be followed.’

“The proud day for Islam will be when the Christians of Europe and America will testify: “‘The teaching of polygamy which the Muslims present, is undoubtedly correct, and though the Christians had opposed it in the past, it was merely due to their lesser understanding of this matter.’

“This will be the victory of Islam and the greatness of Muhammad Rasulullahsa.”

(Ibid, p. 11) Huzoorra continued: “Who had presented this ideology?

It was only presented by Hazrat Mirza Sahibas [the Promised Messiah], and for this, edicts of kufr [disbelief] were issued against him. It was said [by his opponents] that ‘how strange is this idea. Islam can only

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AL HAKAM | Friday 2 September 2022 be victorious by picking up swords and killing the disbelievers.’ However, ponder over and see which ideology is helping the establishment of Islam’s greatness and which ideology can satisfy a true Muslim’s heart.

“The Promised Messiahas presented the pathway that Islam will be spiritually victorious over the world and the spiritual victory means to bring a religious, political and moral revolution in the world. [...]

“Today’s Muslims claim to have freedom, however, they adopt intellectual slavery by wishing to be good followers of the Western civilisation and feel honoured to be its followers. [...] However, the Promised Messiahas presented to the world the objective that one day Europe and America will also be his followers.

“Now see, the objective which the Promised Messiahas presented is to make the people Muslim by changing their religious and moral point of view, and then to mould their actions in accordance with [the teachings of] Islam. This is the objective, that one should keep in their mind and this is also proven by the Holy Quran. Allah the Almighty states:

ۡ َ ۡ ۡ َ ۤ َّ ‫ُہوَ ال ِذ ۡی ا ۡر َس َل َر ُسوۡل َ ٗہ ِبال ُہ ٰدی َو ِدیۡ ِن ال َح ّ ِق ل ُِیظ ِہرَ ٗہ َعلی‬ ُّ ّ ‫الدیۡ ِن ک ِل ٖہ‬ ِ

“Meaning that ‘He it is Who has sent His Messenger with the guidance and the Religion of Truth, that He may cause it to prevail over all religions.’ (Surah as-Saff, Ch 61: V.10) َ ۡ ‫ل ُِیظ ِہ َر ٗہ َعلی ِّ یۡن‬ ّ ُ “Not with sword or stick, ِ ‫الد‬ ‫‘ ک ِل ٖہ‬that He may cause it to prevail over all religions’, not over all the countries, since it is not a big deal to conquer countries, however, conquering hearts is a big milestone. Now, this verse states the same teaching which the Promised Messiahas has presented [in this era].” (Ibid, pp. 11-12) Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra then advised the Muslims to make efforts to spread the beautiful teachings of Islam throughout the world, and if they wanted to be successful, they must follow the pathway which has been presented by the Promised Messiahas.

During his Friday Sermon on 1 February 1952, Huzoorra mentioned some of the false propaganda initiated by the opponents of the Jamaat and explained how they were trying their utmost to harm the Jamaat.

After narrating the whole situation in detail, towards the end of his sermon, Huzoorra said: “Whatever the Promised Messiahas did, was solely for the sake of God Almighty and he had sincere intentions, otherwise, what is the reason that all the maulvis are exerting all of their efforts yet they did not succeed in harming Ahmadiyyat in any way? [...] It is clear that God Almighty is helping this Jamaat. When the opponents realise that they cannot overcome Ahmadiyyat through tabligh, they begin their inciteful campaigns, but that also goes in vain.

“The opponent’s inciteful campaigns could physically harm us temporarily, however, the reality is that this community will continue to flourish. [...] Even if all the satanic powers of the world unite together to stop the progress of this community [Ahmadiyyat], the prophecies regarding its propagation in the world will surely be fulfilled, insha-Allah ta’ala, with His Grace and Mercy.” (Al Fazl, 13 February 1952, p. 5)

Ahmadis in Kosovo gathered to listen to Huzoor’s concluding address at Jalsa Salana Germany 2022 Besmir Yvejsi Kosovo Correspondent

On 21 August 2022, members of Jamaat-eAhmadiyya in Prishtina had the opportunity to listen to the concluding address of Jalsa Salana Germany 2022 delivered by Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa. The members listened

to Huzoor’s address in Albanian translation.

Despite the fact that Kosovo, like the entire European continent, is facing an energy crisis and power cuts every day, and in the absence of electricity during the concluding speech, Jamaat Kosovo was prepared through other technological devices to connect with the live streaming

From alcohol, depression and loneliness during Covid-19 to finding the Mubarak Mosque in Virginia, USA Faran Rabbani USA Correspondent

Oscar (Ameen) Payan was born to a Honduran practising Catholic mother and an El Salvadorian father. He grew up in a religious environment. Growing up, his parents would religiously take him to the church, where he would serve as an altar boy, helping the Catholic priest with the prayer services.

In his teenage years, a couple of decades ago, he befriended his peers from different countries. Among them was a young Ahmadi Muslim boy named Haris Choudhary. But at that time, neither Oscar nor Haris spoke of religion to one another. Oscar and his friends used to hang around on a hillside dirt road in the city of Chantilly, where he grew up. He used to come here and play with his friends. But then, in high school, he became rebellious towards everything and everyone and got into bad company. Eventually, he got into trouble with the law and ended up in prison.

He also went through a failed marriage, as a result of which he was now unable to meet his son as well.

In 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the United States hard, everyone went into lockdown, and so did Oscar. But the lockdown hurt him, and he became depressed. In his depression, he became heavily dependent on alcohol to feel calm.

He would wake up every morning at 6 am and would walk to the local alcohol store to purchase it. One day he got tired of this, and after waking up, something inside of him told him to visit the place on the hillside where he used to play with his friends growing up.

So, on one cold morning in January 2022, he decided to walk to this place. Lo and behold, there now stood a beautiful structure on that hillside by the dirt road.

That building is the Mubarak Mosque of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Virginia. It was still dark, and cars were arriving; Oscar decided to muster the

courage and walked inside. It was time for the Fajr prayer. He sat at the back of the hall on a chair and observed and even participated in the prayer itself.

Afterwards, he was welcomed by the local members that were there. I, the local missionary, was out of the country and came back a few weeks later and saw Oscar at the mosque at Fajr prayer and became friends with him instantly. I, along with regional Qaid MKA USA, Bilal Raja Sahib, started talking to Oscar about Islam Ahmadiyyat and how it can help him with the problems he was facing in his life, from substance abuse to alcohol addiction, anger issues to lack of focus and an overwhelming sense of loneliness. We spoke about different issues and topics from time to time. And then, one day, we presented to him the Ten conditions of Bai‘at and explained them one by one.

Afterwards, we asked Oscar to pray to God and ask Him if Ahmadiyya Islam was the truth. Over the course of our discussion, we

of Jalsa Salana.

The participants (which included external guests) had travelled from cities such as Peja, Mitrovica, Malisheva, Fushëkosova and the surrounding villages.

After dinner, there was a question and answer session about the key points of Huzoor’s address.

even showed him a picture of the Promised Messiahas and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa as well.

Upon seeing the picture of Huzooraa, Oscar expressed his desire that he would love to meet the Khalifa. When told that the Khalifa lives in London, UK, Oscar became overwhelmed and said he would love to go to London to see and meet Huzooraa. I told him to pray and that perhaps Allah might make it so that he travelled to London or that Allah brought London to him, so that he could meet Huzooraa.

Three days later, Oscar met us at the mosque and told us he was ready to become an Ahmadi Muslim. He added that he felt his prayers were answered and already felt calm whenever he thought about the mosque and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. And that it was no coincidence that he ended up at the Mubarak Mosque on that lonely morning and that he took this as the sign from Allah the Almighty guiding him to Islam Ahmadiyyat.

On Friday, 24 June 2021, Oscar Payan joined the community and signed his bai‘at at the Mubarak Mosque in Virginia.

Oscar took the Muslim name “Ameen” and is improving his religious knowledge daily. Oscar, now known as Ameen at the local mosque, still wakes up at 6 am in the morning, but instead of walking to the alcohol store to buy alcohol, he walks 30 minutes to the mosque to come for Fajr prayer.

Oscar Ameen Payan signing the bai‘at form

Friday 2 September 2022 | AL HAKAM

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Mahmooda Basit: The devoted wife of a life-devotee husband Asif M Basit London

A few days after my mother’s demise, a friend asked me what was taking me so long to write about her when eulogies of others had slipped off my pen in no time. How I dodged this question is not important; what is important is the fact that to write a eulogy, one has to believe that the subject is actually no more. Also, the subject being my mother, I didn’t see why the Jamaat’s publications should lug my personal grief.

But then it occurred to me that there was a side of my mother’s life that can be of general benefit – that she companioned her waqif-e-zindagi husband for 62 years and that too like a waqif-e-zindagi herself.

So, here we have a lifetime of waqf, spanning over more than half a century – a qualification that calls for a eulogy.

I am here, with this intention, sharing some flashbacks from her lifetime of sacrifice and duty, but please do pardon me if my personal feelings seep through the cracks of a bereaved author’s narration – it is but natural I believe.

My mother’s life can be divided broadly into two major realms: Self-forgetfulness and complete forgetfulness. The latter made its way into her being as the clutches of dementia took hold of her, but the former is what makes most part of her exemplary life – the self-forgetfulness that is the cornerstone of waqf-e-zindagi; a state of complete devotion. She remained devoted to her waqif-e-zindagi husband, to the service of his parents and to bringing up six children while he was serving the cause of Islam Ahmadiyyat in Africa, and for teaching hundreds of children the reading of the Holy Quran.

My earliest memories of my childhood are of a household where my mother was in charge of all affairs in the absence of my father. So we go to Rabwah for these recollections, where this brave woman, my Ammi, lived with her six children in a humble abode – two rooms and a kitchen and very basic facilities.

She was the one who introduced me to my father, in absentia of course, and this introduction fashioned him as a hero in my innocent mind. She would show me his photographs with great affection and, knowing that photos could only serve to build a visual impression, she would talk so very fondly about him as we went through the small collection. I could see her love and pride bubbling and pouring as she spoke about him. This expression of hers left me, and my older siblings, with a great sense of respect and honour for the man who was introduced to us first as a waqif-ezindagi and then our father.

When I innocently asked why our father did not live with us, she used this opportunity to instil in my heart the concept of sacrifice and the idea that what he was doing was more important than just living with us. Such sessions left me in great

awe of not only Abbu but also of waqf (life devotion) and the propagation of Islam.

But what came as a by-product of these talks was that my mother became an intermediary between my father and me – more of an intercessor for me. After 47 years, I lost this medium and am left floating in a vacuum.

Another by-product was that I began to see my mother as an embodiment of sacrifice. Not that she ever said so, but I picked this up from how she led her life.

More than a by-product, I would classify it as a full product born purely out of my own observation.

Among many flashbacks that memory lane throws at me, one is of sizzling summer afternoons, when charpoys were laid in our backyard and a portable fan set up as Ammi got ready for the dozens of children that flocked to our house to learn to read the Holy Quran. From that moment on, and until they left, Ammi was fully engrossed in giving lessons of the Qaida Yassarnal-Quran and the Holy Quran to the children that flanked her.

These lessons were not only about reading the words but also about inculcating a deep sense of respect for the Holy Quran, so much so that if she saw a child’s copy of the Qaida or the Holy Quran dog-eared, she would fix them and tell the child never to let that happen again and to keep their copies as neat and clean as possible. For some, she would even create a jacket for their copy by sewing an old calendar page through the spine.

If a child had a runny nose or was sniffling to hold it in, Ammi would never allow them to blow it or wipe it with their hand or a part of their clothes. She would instruct them to immediately go and blow their nose in the bathroom, wash their hands and cleanse themselves before touching the Holy Quran.

It did seem a bit harsh at times, but it was no different for us, her own children, when it came to dog-eared pages or cleanliness. For her, it was about upholding the sanctity of the Holy Quran, even in matters that could easily be ignored as negligible.

Thus was spent the whole evening

where Ammi was a fully functional academy; but an academy she was from dawn to dusk as she lived her simple life – teaching us many good things through what she said, and even through what she chose not to say.

She kept a very keen eye on everything we said or did: Whether we were all saying our salat on time and how well; whether we were reading the Holy Quran daily in portions that she would prescribe for us; how well we were treating guests and whether or not we were showing an adequate level of respect for them; whether we were learning the manners of an “acha bacha” or not. All this was Ammi’s focus of attention in any part of the day (and night). Why so?

Because she was bringing up the children of her waqif-e-zindagi husband who was in service thousands of miles away. She could not afford to let him down.

Hospitality was one of the charms on the string that she wore around her neck.

Whosoever came to visit our house could not escape at least a cup of tea that Ammi would insist on, though this might have been out of her own love for tea; I still cannot forget the aroma of tea that floated out of her kitchen and into every corner of our house. My own love for tea is likely a pursuit of the aroma of Ammi’s tea – one that the best of brands, from Darjeeling, Assam, Ceylon and Kenya, have failed to fetch for me.

This hospitality reminds me of a funny situation that would often arise. Ammi, while sitting with the guests, would call aloud and instruct my sisters to bring tea and something to go with it. My sisters would huddle in the kitchen and discuss how to tell Ammi that the luxury of “something to go with” tea had been extinct for many days. But hats off to Ammi’s frugality that “something” – however humble it may have been – would emerge from some nook of a kitchen cabinet.

Ammi was a very hardworking woman – a machine rather. The first ray of daybreak would fail to beat Ammi when it came to starting the day. What started with Tahajjud and carved its way through Fajr and then the recitation of the Holy Quran, then sending

us to schools, cleaning the house (which she was very particular about), running errands, doing all the chores, cooking food for us all, and then teaching local children the reading of the Holy Quran – all this and sewing and knitting and many more activities would make a day in Ammi’s life.

Coming back to Ammi’s frugality, those brought up in affluent households might not understand that the households where poverty reigns, achaar (pickle) is placed at a very high status. When nothing is available, achaar comes to the rescue and alleviates the hardship.

As soon as the mango season started, Ammi would buy unripe mangoes in large quantities, cut them into small pieces and lay them on charpoys to dry in the summer heat. They would endure this heat treatment – and we their strong, peculiar smell – for quite a few days when finally they qualified to be pickled. Then one day, Ammi would sit in the courtyard with many large jars and the smell of spices would mix with that of the dried-up mangoes and remain in the atmosphere for the many days that followed. Ammi would somehow always cook us something for food, but I remember many occasions when she would have only achaar with roti. If we asked why she wasn’t having food, she would calmly say that she felt like having only achaar and nothing else. Perhaps she was right, as I do not want to doubt anything she ever said to us. We never doubted her even then as she never complained during the tedious preparation of achaar; on the contrary, it seemed as if it was her hobby.

Speaking of hobbies, sewing, embroidery and knitting were Ammi’s favourite skills.

Frugal as she was, she had invested these hobbies very cleverly in living up to the challenge of making ends meet. She would sew our clothes and, as she did so, ensured that my sisters were sat beside her and learned the craft. I had to wear her sewn clothes up to my early teen years – “had to” because I had reached the age where I started to deem those clothes as inferior to those of others. Looking back, they now seem to me even better than the best branded – the poor woman was doing her best to cover her six children and yet stay within her limited resources. Allah bless her for managing everything on her own, without worrying our father who was far away from us in the service of Islam Ahmadiyyat.

While we’re on the topic of clothes and garments, I cannot move on without being thankful for the Landa Bazar (second-hand clothes market) of Rabwah. Ammi would frequent this bazar, especially as winter approached, to buy woollen wear for us.

Jumpers, scarves and woollen hats would last years as an item bought for the eldest would spiral the “hand-me-down” chain in succession for at least six years. When these woollen items would finally give in, Ammi would undo their knit, make rolls of their wool and reknit new mittens, hats and jumpers out of them. When these

11

AL HAKAM | Friday 2 September 2022 too would wear out, Ammi would not let go and put them through another stage of their lifecycle. She would undo them and have them woven into multi-coloured, and sometimes discoloured, blankets – discoloured for a brown scarf or a yellow hat thrown into a red blanket short of a few dozen yards of wool.

I must mention here that most items had to be new; shoes, socks, school uniforms all had to be bought off the shelves of various shops in Rabwah. I do not know how, but she always provided whatever necessity we required. I remember how, in the very early days of school, I got obsessed with the idea of wearing a panama hat to school (I never knew what it was called; I had seen someone wear it and just had to have it). I remember Ammi going from this general store to that garment shop around the town to fulfil a silly desire that had budded in the heart of her lastborn child. I remember the same happening when I wanted a school satchel of my choice. The realisation that she did all this to inculcate a love for education in our hearts occurred much later – so late that I could only look back and regret why I put her through all that pain.

As for our moral grooming and training, Ammi left no stone unturned and was very sharp-sighted in this area. I recall one morning in Ramadan, Ammi was taking a nap after serving sehri and saying her Fajr salat. I had to leave for school and needed pocket money but did not want to disturb Ammi, whom I knew had been up most of the night. I tiptoed into her room and picked a one-rupee coin from where she kept the loose change. As I walked out of the front door, she called me back and told me to get some pocket money. I told her that I had already taken it from her bedside. I thought she would be happy to know how much I cared for her rest, but, on the contrary, she told me in a very stern tone: “Taking anything without permission leads to the habit of theft. You are a waqif-ezindagi’s son. Never do this again!”

Ammi was not very educated herself but cared a great deal about making sure that we all got the best education. Just before the new academic year dawned, she got busy arranging textbooks and notebooks for us all. She would already have contacted her acquaintances whose children were one class ahead of us. You can imagine what this meant with six children and what kind of an operation she must have put herself through. But then not every book could be acquired in this way and she would buy new books to fill in the gaps.

As for notebooks, she would purchase bundles of ruled-paper, loose but folded, and sew them through the spine, thus making available for us what can be called a poor man’s notebook. This, at prima facie, might not seem too difficult a task, or craft, but to provide books and stationery for all six children, was no less than a challenge.

But Ammi was one for taking challenges on the chin.

I must mention here a great challenge she created for herself (and myself as well) only to ensure that I got the best education possible through our humble means.

When we returned to Pakistan from Zambia, my father was posted in Rabwah and that meant we too would accompany him. Since my education had always been in schools where the medium of instruction

was English, Ammi decided that I remain behind in Karachi with my brother and sister-in-law and got me enrolled in a school there immediately. I was only twelve. It came as a shock to me. I know that most children go to boarding schools in a similar age band, but then they are brought up accordingly.

Ammi had brought me up holding me firmly against herself and had never given me even a shred of the imagination of living without her.

But she thrust me away from herself and left for Rabwah – many hundreds of miles away. Although my brother and sister-inlaw took great care of me, with love and affection, but having been shoved into a life without Ammi scarred my mind – the scab of which remains etched across my heart and soul even today.

In the early days of this hurtful episode, I would hide from everyone and cry my eyes out. I shed so many tears missing Ammi that it made it easier to grieve Ammi’s death when it came to that. Perhaps I had shed all my tears reserved for her parting many years ago.

Thus, through a sacrifice offered by her (and myself) for the sake of my education, she prepared me for the time when we would part, never to meet again. Not even in summer holidays or winter breaks. Never!

When I passed high school, I moved back to Rabwah and got enrolled in college.

I came back to life again as I was reunited with my long-lost mother but realised that I had been left with a strong apprehension of losing Ammi again, in any way or form.

I would wake up at night to secretively see whether Ammi was breathing and was well.

How ironic that the nurse, informing me of Ammi’s passing many years later, said: “Asif, your mum has stopped breathing!”

Now, coming back to my college days, I recall Ammi always telling me, as do many Pakistani mothers, that she wanted me to become a doctor. When I started college, I respected her wish and opted for science subjects. I soon realised that my natural inclination was more towards humanities and not sciences. I waited for many months when, one morning, I declared that I was no longer going to pursue science subjects and I did not want to be a doctor.

Ammi picked up her breakfast silently and walked out of the room into the kitchen.

After a few minutes, I followed her to see a heartbreaking scene. She was leaning her elbows on a worktop, her face hidden in her hands, and weeping bitterly. Between her cries and sobs would slip the words: “Where did I fall short? What did I not do right?”

It was as if she had witnessed her youthful son being stabbed to death before her eyes.

Up to that moment, I had known that it was Ammi’s desire to see me become a doctor, but that I was her child and hence the last chance for her dream to come true had never occurred to me as such. She had invested a lot of energy in providing the best means of education that she possibly could, but none of us had made it to higher education.

With my announcement, she felt like her dream of her children being well educated had shattered to pieces. Ammi saw it as not only a dream falling apart, but as if she had betrayed her husband’s trust.

But then mothers have this thing for forgiving and forgetting. She soon forgot

all about it and let me continue with the subjects of my choice. When I finally got my master’s degree was when she came back to life. She took great pride in telling everyone that her son was now an MA. Allah is ever so Sattar, the coverer of shortcomings, but in the case of mothers, He seems to show special care. Allah cover my shortcomings always.

Our house – or the two rooms that we lived in – had not just emerged into existence. It was a single room that was

London after she moved here permanently in 1999.

She took upon herself the tutoring of my son, Romaan in Qaida YassarnalQuran and then the Holy Quran. This was another medal she won for herself which she would boast, with a combination of pride and humility, telling anyone she met that she had taught Romaan the reading of the Quran at the age of four-and-a-half years.

When it came to my daughters, her

first built, then another later on and then a separate kitchen had come into being. The roofs were built in a way that bricks were laid on beams that stretched from wall to wall, and were plastered with clay.

With such roofs, monsoon for us was more of a nightmare than a mere season where rainwater would seep through cracks in the clay-plastered roof and drip into the rooms. Abbu was away, all the children were still too young and calling a builder to fix the issue was no less than a luxury – where luxury meant less than or maybe a hundred rupees.

Ammi would knead shredded haystraw into a large amount of clay, wait for the night to set in, and when it was dark enough to protect her purdah, she would wrap a shawl around herself and climb onto the roof. My brother and elder sisters would place themselves on the ladder and work as a conveyor belt to get the clay-laden pans and water buckets up to the roof, and back. Ammi would do the plastering and ensure that no cracks were left for the water to create any more mischief – it was her nest and mother-birds know no limits when it comes to protecting their fragile abode.

Another memory of Ammi, deeply etched on my mind, is her unshakable habit of reciting the Holy Quran regularly.

Habits have a thing for rubbing off on even those who witness them, and by the grace of Allah, it did rub off on us. Her constant reminders, paired with this practice of hers, worked as perfect ingredients for a very noble recipe. Not only her own children, but also hundreds of other children became her beneficiaries. Wherever she lived, local children would flock to her to learn the recitation of the Holy Quran. In Zambia, she succeeded in teaching women who were illiterate in English, not to speak of Urdu or Arabic. She proudly wore these success stories as medals, and very rightly so as it was a near impossible task. She went back to Rabwah to carry on the practice and also in

health was failing but she listened to my wife’s reading of the Holy Quran – to ensure that she could read flawlessly – before passing her the baton in what she saw as a relay race of generations. I thank Allah for making Ammi a source of this great knowledge for all three children of mine.

Ammi showered her children with love. When they got married, she showed the same level of love for her sons- and daughters-in-law. They too reciprocated with all their heart.

After living a very successful life, Ammi fell prey to the parasitical disease called dementia. When this exactly happened is hard to say as it is impossible to put a finger on its onset. Symptoms start to appear so subtly that it takes time before those close to the patient realise that the changes they notice are actually symptoms that call for medical attention.

She had already been suffering from arthritis for many years before dementia struck. Ammi could no longer accompany Abbu for walks, so he would seat her in a wheelchair and take her out for a stroll.

Ammi would hesitantly protest by saying that she did not like to see him push her wheelchair. Abbu would say: “You served my parents while I was away in Africa, can I not even do this much?”

I must make it clear that when I mention the difficult times that Ammi endured while Abbu was away, it ought not to be taken to mean that Abbu lived a carefree life away from us. His stay abroad was a sacrifice in its own right. He tried to provide the best facilities to sail through the rough sea of a challenging life that Ammi lived back home when he was away.

He respected Ammi’s sacrifice not only verbally, but also through every act of his.

He has remained the best example of ‫خیرکم‬ ‫ خیرکم لاہلہ‬throughout.

But with the onset of dementia, all other medical conditions subsided and, Continued on next page >>

Friday 2 September 2022 | AL HAKAM

12 << Continued from previous page

gradually, Ammi started to forget all other ailments and pains. Dementia usually overcomes its prey in a span of a few months or a year or two. But Ammi fought it for almost seven years. But we all know what happens to the walls when the cornerstone of a building is shaken.

Ammi crept away into some other world – a world of her own. It was a testing time not only for Ammi but also for the whole family around her. She remained before our eyes, but spoke from a different world and a dimension unknown to us. During the last few months, most things had slipped off her memory, except my father. How could he slip off? She had remained in love with him for sixty-two years; he had been her companion through thick and thin; through hardship and pain; through sorrow and joy; through every phase of life.

Ammi knew by heart many couplets from Durr-e-Sameen, Kalame-Mahmud and Durr-e-Adan. They too remained intact and would start to roll off her tongue, once reminded of the first word or two. After her passing, my brother sent me a recording of one such instance. Ammi is singing in her melodious but frail voice: “The world is but a roadside inn; “Whoever comes your way, is only a passer-by.

“If one has lived a century; “They too must, eventually die.

“But there’s no reason to complain; “As this abode is mortal and vain.

“Blessed be this day; “O the Pure One, Who watches over me!”

O Allah! Blessed be this day, and all days to come, for the woman who relied solely upon You. And, O Allah! Make this day blessed for us, her family, by giving us the comfort that You have placed her among your loved ones.

And, of course, there is no reason to complain. Ammi lived a long and successful life. She served her waqif-e-zindagi husband with the same spirit as his, if not more. She tried in whatever way she could to serve your beloved Faith. She sowed in our hearts the seeds of love and respect for Khilafat.

We can only be thankful to you.

Providing care and service to parents is not something to be measured in worldly units. The mercy that our parents have for us is such a favour that no one can ever return.

But I must mention here that my wife, my sister-in-law, my brother and my sisters all did their best in taking care of Ammi in the hardest time of her life.

I, spoiled by Ammi’s love, was unable to do anything for her.

In Ammi’s last days, in a solitary moment, I confessed to Ammi how useless I had been. I begged her forgiveness. Ammi, in response, just stared at me with a lost gaze. She didn’t say a word. I know that she hardly ever spoke in those days, but this silence of hers struck me really hard. She left me floating in my unfathomable guilt.

O Allah! Please ask my mother to forgive me. I know she will as she always did. And You, O Allah, are more forgiving than all mothers of the world. May you please forgive me too!

ً ‫َر ّب ْار َح ْم ُه َما َك َما َر ّبَ َياني َص ِغ‬ ‫يرا‬ ِ ِ

100 Years Ago...

Delivering the message of Islam to the people of America, Africa, Australia and Egypt The Review of Religions [English], September 1922

Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiqra

America During the period under report, Brother Dr Sadiq had to undergo special treatment for his eyes by a specialist, Dr Bonine by name.

This man is a well-known practitioner whose house is visited by many patients from all parts of the country – people coming to him for special treatment from as far as Europe itself. He is a good-natured man of amiable disposition and leads a simple life.

The poor he treats free of charge, sometimes helping them out of his own pocket. Our brother conveyed his message to him and gave him some literature to read. Twice in the week, the brother had to see the doctor for the scraping of his granular lids and their medication and for the rest of the week he was free to roam about in the neighbouring towns. In this way, our brother was able to convey his Islamic message to various towns. His chief topics of address were The Islamic Unity of God and The Glad Tidings

about the Advent of the Promised Messiah.

After his treatment, our brother stayed for a few days at Benton Harbour which is a famous waterside resort on account of its being situated on the shores of a lake.

There, in a hall, our brother addressed an audience of 30 persons who were very much impressed; most of them said that up to that time they were given to believe that the Muslims worshipped Muhammad and disbelieved in God. Our brother replied that the Muslim disbelief in God was only confined to a triune deity, but they worshipped Allah the one God of the universe.

It was during his stay at Benton Harbour that our brother, happening to pass by a chapel, heard the priest inside telling his flock that the Muslims worshipped Muhammad. Of course, our brother deemed it his duty to go in and tell the simple priest that what he had said about Islam and the Muslims was not true but a misstatement at which the priest expressed his wonder and astonishment. That is, of course, the picture of Islam as painted by Christian missionaries and anti-Islamic propaganda carried on by foreign political societies.

This ignorance of Islam is not confined to the general population alone; people situated in high society as well as welleducated folk who are expected to know better, are not better than others in this respect. There is a daily paper published in that town where our brother was staying.

In one of its issues talking of meteors or the falling stars, the editor in order to show his learning, wrote that once a stone from a shooting star fell in Arabia which the superstitious Muslims put in their Kaaba and which they now worship as something supernatural. To corroborate what he had written he alleged that even now, Muslims in the East preserve such relics and worship them. No sooner did our brother read this misstatement than he hurried to the office of the learned editor and acquainted him with the statement of facts. The latter was very thankful for this information and for a long time he detained our brother inquiring about his mission, work and the condition of India. He promised to correct his previous misstatement but when in the evening the daily edition was out, though it contained a long article on our brother’s missionary work, and his conversion of some two hundred Christians into Muslims, the starting of Moslem Sunrise and his lectures in Benton Harbour, it did not at all refer to its publication of a false statement.

In the town of Benton Harbour, there lives a Christian sect called Israel. These people number about a thousand all of whom are Americans and their chief articles of faith are as follows: 1. No true Christian ever dies. All true Christians remain alive in this very body.

Those who die are imperfect Christians.

2. It is wrong to shave off one’s hair from any part of the body. Like the Sikhs of the Punjab, they wear long hair.

3. All flesh is unlawful. Like some Brahmans of India, they live on vegetables.

4. They think it wrong to amass money. All live in a house, eat together, and whatever one earns he deposits in the common treasury and the society bears the expenses of all.

For two hours, our brother talked to a party of them and conveyed the message of the Holy Messenger[sa] of God to them.

As soon as he left them and came out of their precincts, he met a white-haired octogenarian who said that he too once belonged to Israel [sect] but as he had objected to their misuse of his money, therefore, they had turned him out and now the case was before the court.

In the period under report, twenty-three Christians became Muslims.

Lady Jane Hooper who is no mean lecturer herself and at whose instance our brother delivered several lectures in her hall at Detroit, has solemnly entered into the fold of Islam and has openly declared herself an Ahmadi. Though she is past sixty, her health is quite good and she has promised our brother that in future she would convey through her lectures the message of the Promised Messiah[as].

Our brother addressed congratulatory letters to: 1. The New Pope on his instalment, 2. Princess Mary on her wedding, 3. HM King of Egypt and HE Abdul Khaliq Thabit Pasha, the Prime Minister on the new status of Egypt, 4. General Smuts on his suppression of the communistic revolt and 5. Viscount Peel on his assumption of the charge of the India Office.

In all these, the message of Ahmad[as] was included. Moreover, our brother wrote a sympathetic letter to Mr Montague on his relinquishing charge of India Office. The message of the Promised Messiah[as] was also conveyed to Prince Ibrahim, the heir apparent of Egypt who was in America as well as to a famous German Surgeon who is an expert in operating upon lame and crippled children and who was touring the country operating free of charge. In short, our brother has a unique way of missing no opportunity to convey the message of Islam to high and low alike.

Whilst staying with Dr Bonine, our brother during his peregrinations in his off days, happened to visit South Bend, Indiana State, which is a thriving town with a population of about sixty thousand people.

Our brother met an editor of a daily paper to whom he explained the general ignorance about Islam. The editor very kindly found space for our brother’s article on Islam

13

AL HAKAM | Friday 2 September 2022 which was published in its issue of 9 May [1922]. The whole town became astir with the news, and two lectures were arranged one under the presidency of Priest Silva Schieffer in the Monroe Hall and the other under the presidency of Priest Thompson in the Woodman Hall. Though priests of Christianity, they were liberal and generous enough to listen to what our brother had to say and at the conclusion of the lectures on behalf of the public they acknowledged their indebtedness to our brother’s illuminating lectures. Some of the audience offered to become subscribers for the “Moslem Sunrise” while others secured address cards from our brother for future correspondence.

Some of them evinced a desire to see our brother at his hotel but as he had to go off to see his doctor therefore very reluctantly, he had to postpone this meeting. Anyway, the seed is sown and Insha’Allah, a time is coming when this seed will sprout into a big harvest.

During the last week under report, our brother was in Chicago. In addition to the distribution of Ahmadiyya literature and general propaganda [tabligh] work our brother had to deliver three lectures in Chicago itself. The first was in the Masonic Temple, the second in 154 Randolph Building, and the third in Sans Francisco and Monroe Street Church. In all three lectures, misrepresentations against Islam were exposed. Three more ladies and 2 more gentlemen joined our movement. Our brother intends to establish a permanent central office at Chicago for which money is required. The importance of a permanent central office cannot be overlooked in these days of wide publicity and we look to the Ahmadiyya Community to shoulder this burden also.

(Latest news says that he has secured one, [i.e. permanent central office]. [Editor, The Review of Religions])

West Africa Brother Nayyar has had to face growing opposition not only at the hands of the Christian missionaries but also from the ignorant Muslim priests who are known as Alfas in that part of the country. Finding their livelihood of fleecing the too confident and credulous public gone, they have taken up preaching against the Ahmadiyya movement for as soon as a person enters into the fold of Ahmadiyya, he no longer believes in their amulets and charms and incantations, neither does he follow the other polytheistic rites, hence these people find every day their opportunity of growing fat at the expense of the people slipping from their hands.

Brother Nayyar has drawn up a syllabus of his propaganda [tabligh] work which he is following these days. Firstly, regular daily discourses on the Holy Quran and the sayings of the Holy Prophet[sa]. Secondly, special lectures for the females, thrice a week. Thirdly, two lectures every Sunday, the first between 5 and 7 and the second between 7:30 and 9:30, the first for the young men and the second for the old folk.

This is all due to a lack of accommodation.

Fourthly, open-air lectures. Fifthly, Friday sermons; and sixthly, individual religious talks and interviews.

For the purpose of efficient working, the town of Lagos has been divided into three circles, each with its own special committee.

Hazrat Maulvi Abdur Rahim Nayyarra

This work has been taken up in right earnest. In one of these circles, the Ahmadis have been forcibly ejected from a mosque, therefore there is a proposal to build our own mosque and a meeting hall. There is, moreover, a proposal to start a High School, and correspondence for the acquisition of some three and a half acres of land for the mission work is being carried on. The Ahmadiyya Community there hopes with the help of God to have a mosque and a school for every circle in addition to the central mosque and school.

(Latest news state that a great advance is made in this direction and the beginning has been made. [Editor, The Review of Religions]) A few miles outside of Lagos there is a place called Agigi which has its own Ahmadiyya Community. There, our young men under the leadership of old and respected members, are trying to set up their own place of worship.

The arrival of brother Hakim Fazlur Rahman has created a regular stir.

Everybody is saying that “Ahmadiyya movement means business.” (He has made 117 new conversions according to the latest news about him. [Editor, The Review of Religions]) Some of the educated Christians have become fully convinced of the truth of Islam and they openly declare that their thoughts about Islam have undergone a radical change. Their pastors and ministers, now doubt whether they can make any headway among the Muslims. The Ahmadiyya preachers have set the whole educated native Christian community amoving.

[Christianity faced nothing like it] Before the advent of Ahmadiyya missionaries, there was a strong tendency among educated Muslims in favour of Christianity. But now this is all stopped.

There are no new educated converts to Christianity from among the Muslims, and those who had gone over to it are now only waiting for an opportunity to come back. As soon as a decent mosque and a Society Hall suitable to their position in life is secured or built, it is hoped many of them would flock back under the banner of Islam. This is not an empty vaunt. It is well borne out by the Missionary Review of the World. It does not, of course, mention by name what the foe

it dreads is, but the context makes it clear that it is the Ahmadiyya preaching that has brought about such a wonderful change. It says that Christianity has never had to face anything like the one it has to face now. It is the determination of the Muslims to bring all the Non- Muslim African population into the fold of Islam.

Mr Ibrahim Louis, who is a reis [chief] of a part of the country in the neighbourhood of Lagos and who possesses a central place of residence in the town and which is being used as the headquarters of the movement for Lagos, has ever been an admirer of our movement and in spite of strong adverse influences has stuck to the friendship that he has formed for our movement. He has openly declared his adhesion to our faith and brother Nayyar had to undertake a journey of some 12 miles upcountry to carry out the initiation ceremony.

A new circle of propaganda work had to be created of which the village of Abroa forms the nucleus, and the whole circle has been named as Agigi. A good mosque has been built by a sincere and newly converted reis, while Mr Muhammad Saul Louis, a highly educated and sincere young man, has been put in charge of the mosque as well as the propaganda work of this circle.

The Christian opposition here is strong. We hope and pray that with God’s help the new preacher’s difficulties will all be got over.

Two very successful lectures were delivered by brother Nayyar on the occasion of Lailatul Qadr and Eid, and both of them had a good effect on the audience including Christians.

The intensity of growing opposition to our movement may be realised from the fact that on one occasion our preachers were so well pelted with stones that three of them came out with their heads bleeding.

But the work of God is proceeding apace; there can be no going back. In addition to stone throwing people who have a regular distaste for truth have hit upon another method of teasing and annoying and that is the youngsters are made to sing about defamatory verses against our creed, and instead of “Ahmadiyya” our brethren there are insultingly called “Amodiyya” which in their speech signifies a contemptuous youngster. It is at it should be, for Jesus says that none but the children can enter the kingdom of heaven.

On the occasion of the Eid festival, brother Nayyar sent a printed circular to the non-Ahmadi notables, the contents of which are as follows: “Respected Sir, “On behalf of the Ahmadiyya Preaching Delegation, I wish you a happy Eid and pray for your well-being, temporally and spiritually. The best token of this wellwishing that I can present you on this auspicious occasion is the message of the Promised Messiah[as]. My respected brother in faith! the prophet of God, Muhammad, peace and blessings of God be upon him, has said: 1. My people will split into seventythree divisions, one alone being the rightly guided.

2. Verily God shall raise for my people at the beginning of every new century a reformer who is to renew and reinvigorate the faith.

3. He who does not recognise and believe in the spiritual leader of the time

dies the death of the days of ignorance (like Abu Jahl).

“Now brother, it is for you to decide which division of the Muslims is treading the right path? Where is the reformer of the 14th century? Is it not the 40th year of the [hijra] century?

“Dear brother, search for the Imam of the time, for without his recognition you incur the wrath of God. I am here at your disposal. I bring to you the glad tidings of the advent of the Promised Reformer, the Mahdi and Messiah of the age. I am: “Yours sincerely, Nayyar.”

During the period under report, 55 persons including nine Christians and other non-Muslims joined our movement. There are many more who regularly attend our lectures, and discourses on the Holy Quran and the ahadith.

Australia

Hazrat Sufi Muhammad Hassan Musa Khanra

From the latest issue of the Moslem Sunrise, we learn that brother MH Musa Khan, our Missionary in Australia is regularly publishing and circulating his valuable periodical “The Muslim Sunshine” whose tenth number is already out. We learn, moreover, that the latest number contains an interesting comparison of the Promised Messiah’s statement with what the Christian writers have said of the Islamic Sword and Pen. This is all very gratifying but we wonder why our brother has up to this time left us quite in the dark about his various activities. We wish we could receive regular reports about his work and if unfortunately, he cannot find time to despatch separate reports to various destinations at least he would do us the favour of publishing the same in his periodical “The Muslim Sunshine” and send the same directly to us.

Egypt Our young volunteer missionary Shaikh Mahmud Ahmad, son of Shaikh Yakub Ali, the Pioneer Journalist of Ahmadiyya movement, having crossed the ocean has pitched his missionary tent in Cairo. In the short time that he has been there, he has created a regular stir and he has already been successful in winning over a “Bey” to the Ahmadiyya faith. We do hope that his work will be for the glorification of Allah.

(Transcribed by Al Hakam from the original published in The Review of Religions, September 1922)

Friday 2 September 2022 | AL HAKAM

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Friday Sermon 5 August 2022 Jalsa Salana UK 2022: Guidance for Workers and Attendees After reciting the tashahud, ta‘awuz and Surah al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said:

By the grace of God Almighty, Jalsa Salana UK is being held once again on a large scale this year since 2019. The Jalsa was held the previous year as well, but with limited capacity. Although only the UK Jamaat and a very limited number of international guests are attending this year’s Jalsa Salana, every jamaat within the UK is permitted to attend all three days and they will do so, insha-Allah. I am hopeful that, insha-Allah, the attendance will be good.

As we are all aware that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, one year we did not organise the Jalsa at all and we were unable to derive full blessings of the Jalsa. This year, the outbreak of the pandemic has fluctuated and even now, it has not completely gone away. As a matter of fact, in certain areas here, as well as in other parts of the world, it has increased recently. However, there are not many restrictions imposed by the government in relation to gatherings.

Nevertheless, this does not mean that we discard all precautionary measures. Every participant should remain mindful of all the precautionary measures and adhere to them. One such precautionary measure is that all participants and workers on duty inside the marquee should wear a mask and also while walking around outside.

Similarly, this year, the organisers have made arrangements to provide a homoeopathic medicine, which they believe to be most suitable for this illness, in the morning on entering [the Jalsa] and also when leaving. May Allah the Almighty grant cure through it. It is only Allah the Almighty Who bestows cure through any medicine. However, we must also adopt all practical measures as well. In this regard, I ask every participant to cooperate with the organisers.

Usually, in the Friday sermon the week prior to the Jalsa, I draw the attention of the workers and volunteers, who sacrifice their time for the guests of the Promised Messiahas, towards certain aspects of the Jalsa. I was unable to do so in the previous Friday Sermon. Therefore, today, I will say a few words in this regard. Among the workers there are some children, some youths and others who are new to duties and thereby this will draw their attention to

various aspects.

Over the last three years, many people have come from Pakistan, who do not have any experience in doing duties at Jalsa, because the Jalsa Salana has not been held there for many years. By drawing their attention towards this, they become, or will become, mindful of how to discharge their responsibilities. Similarly, it will serve as a reminder for the workers who are experienced. Nevertheless, I will briefly say a few words in this regard and I will also say a few words as a reminder for the participants. If we remain mindful of these matters, we will continue to derive benefit from the atmosphere of Jalsa, insha-Allah.

The Promised Messiahas has said that this Jalsa is not a worldly festival. (Shahadatul Quran, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 6, p. 395) In fact, we gather here in order to listen to the words of Allah and His Messengersa and to act in accordance with them. If we act in accordance with the words of Allah and His Messengersa, then we will be able to become those who fulfil the rights due to Allah and those due to mankind in the best manner.

Nevertheless, as I said, I would first like to say a few words to the workers. I have already spoken about wearing masks and taking the medicine, so that should be adhered to. By the grace of Allah the

Almighty, our youth, our children, our elders as well as our women have the desire and also understand the importance to offer their services to the guests of the Promised Messiahas attending the Jalsa and to do so in the best manner possible. All the workers who offer their services do so with this passion, regardless of their profession, family status and whether they are rich or poor. The work surrounding the Jalsa is not limited to the three days of Jalsa alone; rather, it commences several weeks before and now, MTA regularly updates on the work that is going on in its news in the form of short clips.

Despite the fact that some of the work is done by other companies and contractors, there is a lot of other work which requires manpower and this is provided by volunteers, who do so by sacrificing their time and by offering their services. As I mentioned, people from all walks of life participate in this.

In the outside world, people try to get volunteers, but the history of the Ahmadiyya Community presents examples of quite the contrary in that so many volunteers show up that the organisers find it difficult to accommodate them. In terms of the formal duties over the Jalsa, a chart and programme are made first and the required number of volunteers are then provided to every

department. However, for the work that is carried out before and after Jalsa, since a general announcement is made for all members, at times more volunteers turn up than expected.

Last Sunday, so many volunteers showed up in Hadeeqat-ul-Mahdi than the organisers had expected and I came to know that adequate food arrangements could not be made for them. However, the organisers should have taken note of the number of people and made arrangements beforehand. This is the duty of the hospitality department. These volunteers did not gather together for a meal. They were working since the morning or were present from before. I believe that when I asked towards the end of the previous Friday sermon to pray for the Jalsa as well as the volunteers, more volunteers passionately came forward.

Nevertheless, the organisers should make special arrangements, particularly on the weekends. The hospitality department should note this for the future.

Similarly, even during the days of Jalsa, the hospitality department should prepare food in greater quantities. The estimated number of attendees for this year’s Jalsa is uncertain. Some people feel that perhaps people may not attend due to their concerns and fear of illness [Covid-19]. On the other hand, some people believe that since the Jalsa is being held after some time, therefore people will certainly attend. Regardless, when it comes to expenditure, our organisers, especially the hospitality department, have a negative mindset. Instead of preparing food in abundance, they prepare less food as they believe that fewer people will attend. This is absolutely wrong. It is the responsibility of the hospitality department to fully accommodate the guests that are arriving.

Also, with regard to food provisions, I would also like to give some instructions to the hospitality department that since the weather is hot, therefore they should make arrangements that as they begin to cut the meat, they should put the small portions of meat in a chiller straight away, rather than leaving it out all day which will cause it to go off and cause people to become ill as a result. Similarly, the rest of the food should be properly cared for as well.

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AL HAKAM | Friday 2 September 2022 In any case, the volunteers who I was mentioning before came to perform duties and irrespective of whether they received food or not, they left without saying anything. However, this brought to light a shortcoming on the part of the administration.

I also wish to say to the volunteers that during the three days of Jalsa, they should serve the guests of the Promised Messiahas with such passion, whereby they always understand and bear in mind that they are not serving in order to seek any sort of reward from their officers or the guests. In fact, they must serve these guests in order to attain the pleasure of Allah the Almighty.

They should follow the example of that companion and his wife who put their children to bed hungry and also remained hungry themselves in order to fulfil the due rights of their guests. They turned out the light and made it seem to their guest as if they were eating along with him. Allah the Almighty was so pleased with this act of theirs that He also informed the Holy Prophetsa of it. The following day, the Holy Prophetsa said to that companion, “Even Allah the Almighty smiled at your plan last night (of feeding the guest).” Allah the Almighty was very pleased and smiled, and Allah the Almighty has mentioned people who offer such sacrifices in the Holy Quran. These are people who selflessly offer sacrifices and these are the people who are successful. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Manaqib-ul-Ansar, Hadith 3797) Hence, this was the manner in which the Companions extended their hospitality and served their guests. How fortunate are those who strive to do justice in serving their guests for the sake of attaining Allah the Almighty’s pleasure, and on the other hand, how fortunate are those guests who have hearkened to the call of the Imam of the Age and have come to listen to the words of Allah and His Messengersa, with the hope of attaining the pleasure of Allah the Almighty.

Fortunate are all those volunteers who serve the guests coming for the sake of their faith, and do so solely in order to please Allah the Almighty.

When there is a large number of attendees, there are usually people of various temperaments; some are short-tempered, and at times, speak to the volunteers or demand something in a harsh manner.

However, both male and female volunteers must ensure to never be harsh towards anyone. They should never respond harshly to someone who speaks harshly to them; instead, they should respond with a smile.

If they are able to fulfil their need, then they should do so, otherwise, they should kindly and gently excuse themselves or take the individual to their superior officer who can tend to the guest’s need. Sometimes this can be very challenging, but it should be done in order to attain the pleasure of God Almighty. One should keep control over their emotions and their words.

Similarly, volunteers should also be kind when speaking to one another and the officers and superiors should be gentle when speaking to their workers. If someone makes a mistake, they should advise them in a kind manner. Those in charge should remain cognisant of the fact that these are volunteers who have come to serve the guests of the Promised Messiahas in order to attain the pleasure of Allah

the Almighty. Despite the fact that their specific department may not be their area of expertise, they have come with a passion to serve and are doing so selflessly. Hence they should be encouraged. May Allah the Almighty enable everyone to work together with mutual cooperation. However, we can only foster this spirit within us when the supervisors and volunteers understand that they are to serve with a spirit of sacrifice.

There is a narration which shows the standard of service and sacrifice established by the Holy Prophetsa, despite a guest’s misbehaviour: It is recorded that once, a non-Muslim guest arrived who was presented with food and was given a bed at night to sleep on. At night, he soiled the bed, either because his stomach was upset after having eaten too much, or he did so purposefully in order to be a nuisance, and then left early in the morning. The Holy Prophetsa did not become upset at what he did. Instead, he asked for some water and began cleaning it himself. The Companions relate that despite saying, “Why are you taking the trouble to do this? We are here, ready to serve. Let us clean it”, the Holy Prophetsa said, “He was my guest, therefore I will do this myself.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 5, p. 295.

1984 Edition) (Masnavi Molvi Maanvi, Vol. 5, pp. 20-25) The Holy Prophetsa said, “Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day ensures to honour their guest.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab-ul-Adab, Hadith 6018) Hence, it is the responsibility of our volunteers, men and women alike, and whether one is in charge or an ordinary worker, to serve the guests of the Promised Messiahas, who have come for the sake of their faith and whilst hearkening to the call of the Promised Messiahas. They should serve them even if they have to make sacrifices and they should always exhibit a high standard of patience and serve in a spirited manner without expressing any sort of displeasure on their faces.

By the grace of Allah the Almighty, many of our volunteers possess this spirit and it is my hope that this is the passion with which all volunteers will serve. Those who have been put in charge of the various departments should also always bear in mind that they have been afforded the opportunity to serve due to the blessings of Allah the Almighty. They should fulfil their responsibilities, considering themselves to be ordinary workers, rather than officeholders. If they exemplify high moral conduct, then the workers and assistants under them will also display high moral conduct. May Allah the Almighty enable everyone to do so.

The Promised Messiahas has provided guidance regarding the kind treatment of guests on various occasions. On one occasion, the Promised Messiahas said, “There are many guests who have come, some of whom you know; some you recognise and others whom you don’t.

Hence, you ought to consider everyone to be worthy of respect and extend them your hospitality.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 6, p. 226) This principle should be kept in mind by every volunteer, especially those who are directly dealing with people and departments such as hospitality and dining, in particular, should adhere to this.

This year, since great care must be taken due to Covid-19, the arrangements should

be such – and I believe the department has tried to do so – whereby there should not be a large crowd for an extended period of time while eating and people should leave the marquee quickly after having eaten. The guests should also be mindful of this and cooperate with the organisers. Of course, while eating there is no option [but to remove one’s mask]; however, generally, as I have stated, everyone should make sure to keep wearing their masks and while eating, everyone should limit their conversations to a minimum. Try to eat in silence and swiftly exit [the dining marquee]; do not cause difficulties for yourself or the organisers.

I have given some basic guidance to the volunteers and have also drawn their attention toward serving guests. Now the guests should also take heed of some advice. If the guests understand and adhere to the teachings of Islam whereby guests should not become an unnecessary burden upon their hosts, then this helps maintain an atmosphere of love and compassion.

Problems arise when guests hold their hosts to wrong and unreasonable expectations.

Hence, guests should not have unreasonable expectations so that the hosts and those tasked with taking care of the guests, and the guests themselves can remain at ease. Hence, always keep this in mind.

Those who are residing under the Jamaat’s accommodations should be thankful to the volunteers, their Ahmadi brothers and sisters who, despite the positions they hold, have presented themselves to serve the guests. Sometimes the food may not be to the guests’ liking, although every Ahmadi knows the tradition of our Community whereby alu gosht [meat and potato curry] and dal [lentil soup] are generally prepared during the days of Jalsa. However, even if guests receive food which is not to their liking, they should still eat it happily.

The Holy Prophetsa has stated that whatever a guest is presented to eat by the host should be happily accepted. (Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 5, p. 204, Hadith 15048, Alim-ul-Kutub, Beirut, 1998) In previous years, if someone did not wish to eat the food which was cooked in the langar, they would go and eat something from the bazaar which was temporarily set up on the Jalsa premises. This year, the bazaar will not be available as per usual, hence those who have different preferences for food should happily eat whatever is available for the sake of attaining the pleasure of Allah the Almighty. However, I reiterate to the hospitality department that they should strive their utmost to cook good food. Although people of such nature are usually only a few in number, at times these few can become a cause for concern.

Exhibiting high moral conduct is not only the duty of volunteers but also of every attendee. The Promised Messiahas has said to the participants of Jalsa that they must exhibit good morals and take care of one another. (Shahadat-ul-Quran, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 6, p. 394) All attendees should bear in mind that they have taken part in this Jalsa to quench their religious, intellectual and spiritual thirst. In order to fulfil this objective, it is incumbent to always remember the statement of the Promised Messiahas that this Jalsa is held solely for the sake of God. Hence, never should one express impatience or enmity over trivial matters. Volunteers are

also human; if ever they commit a wrong, it should be overlooked, and this is a great way in which can reform their moral conduct.

It is true that sometimes, a situation arises wherein something is said which incites another person’s anger, either by the guests or the volunteers. However, high moral conduct demands that the matter should be overlooked and one should remove themselves from that situation so as to avoid increasing the conflict. Such circumstances can come about amongst the youth, and so, it should always be borne in mind that the purpose for which we have gathered here is very lofty; it is to quench our spiritual thirst, to increase our spiritual knowledge, to learn the ways in which we can fulfil the rights owed to God and the rights owed to His creation. In order to achieve this, the least we will have to do is sacrifice our emotions and seek help from Allah the Almighty.

When this passion rises forth, when tongues remain inclined towards the remembrance of Allah, when there is increased attention towards repentance and seeking forgiveness, then even if one is inconvenienced by another, they will react by pardoning and overlooking the grievance.

Hence, these days, always bear in mind that we have left our homes and journeyed here for the sake of Allah the Almighty. Once, while teaching a prayer for undertaking a journey, the Holy Prophetsa said to pray by saying, “O Allah, we beseech You for good and attaining righteousness on this journey, enable us to perform those virtuous deeds which please You.” (Sahih Muslim, Kitab-ulHajj, Hadith 3275) Thus, when we pray in this manner, Allah the Almighty will fill our stay here and our journey with blessings.

Thus, during these days, engage profusely in prayers and the remembrance of Allah. The Holy Prophetsa has taught us a prayer for every occasion. Some people have left their homes behind to benefit from the blessings of Jalsa. Those people will also be worried about their families that they have left behind. In relation to this, the Holy Prophetsa stated that we should recite the prayer: “O our God, I seek refuge from the hardships of travel, unpleasant and worrisome circumstances, negative repercussions to my wealth and family, and unpleasant changes [in my journey].” (Sahih Muslim, Kitab-ul-Hajj, Hadith 3275) This is a very comprehensive prayer. It is a prayer to seek Allah’s protection in all respects while travelling and also for the safety of one’s family. When every man and woman here walks with this mindset and whilst making such prayers, then the atmosphere will become peaceful, the hearts will find comfort, and Allah the Almighty will protect everyone from unpleasant circumstances. At present, the Covid-19 [pandemic] is a cause for concern. You must be more mindful of prayers that may Allah the Almighty protect the attendees here and also those sitting at home. During these days, aside from praying in general, you should give special attention to reciting durood [invoking salutations upon the Holy Prophetsa]. Likewise, come to offer your prayers on time and do not waste time in discussions outside. Furthermore, the volunteers who do not have to perform their duties during the prayer timings should try to offer prayers in congregation. All the

Friday 2 September 2022 | AL HAKAM

16 attendees should try to sit in the Jalsa Gah during the Jalsa proceedings and listen to the speeches. The speakers make a great effort in preparing their speeches, and one can benefit from them both in terms of gaining knowledge and spirituality. For this reason, do not only consider listening to those who deliver good speeches or speak well; instead, ponder over the significance of the topic and consider the extent of its benefits. Normally, the speeches cover topics that are in need of the time, and if one listens carefully, then they can find the answers to many questions that come into their hearts.

Thus, listen very attentively to the speeches. Although there is no Bazaar this year, as I had mentioned, during the breaks, visit and benefit from the exhibitions on display – even though they have been organised on a smaller scale. Insha-Allah, when conditions become better, the exhibitions will be made more vast and the rest of the arrangements will follow suit.

The weather is also very dry this year and we should be mindful of it. It is not raining much. Owing to this, I hope that, inshaAllah, we will not face as much difficulty in the car park as last year. Due to the rain last year, there were a great many difficulties.

However, there are improvements in the preparations this year with better

arrangements for a track [for vehicles].

With the help of experts, a lot of work has been conducted for a permanent system of water drainage. Last month, the manner in which the water was drained during the rains suggests that, insha-Allah, this work will prove to be of great benefit in the future.

Nonetheless, this year, the weather forecast shows dry weather these days. However, sometimes the organisers face difficulties due to a high volume of cars in the car park. If those coming [to the Jalsa] by car show their cooperation, then everything can be managed easily. The guests coming by car should be patient and cooperate with the arrangements that have been made for traffic so that there are no difficulties.

Similarly, as I mention every year, whilst using the toilets and washrooms, be mindful of their cleanliness and also do not waste water, particularly this year.

Owing to the lack of rain, the government has also drawn attention toward using less water. Therefore, be considerate whilst using water. Also, the dry grass can very quickly catch fire, therefore take great caution in this regard. Any kind of negligence could potentially cause harm to yourself and to the neighbours. Moreover, everyone should be vigilant from a security point of view and keep a close eye on their surroundings. If

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anyone sees any suspicious bag or object, they ought to immediately report it to the administration. The administration and those on duty at scanning should ask everyone to remove their facemasks when checking their ID cards to ensure it matches the photo on the card. May Allah the Almighty grant everyone His protection from every kind of harm and bestow His special grace.

Once again, I would like to say that pay particular attention to the remembrance of Allah and worship during these days.

Especially pray for the success of the Jamaat and for it to remain protected from the enemy. Pray for those who have been imprisoned due to Ahmadiyyat and are having to endure great hardships; may Allah the Almighty establish the means for their swift release. Particularly pray during the Friday prayers and also in the days to follow.

In the end, I would like to present a prayer of the Promised Messiahas with regard to the Jalsa. The Promised Messiahas states: “I pray that may Allah be with all those who are travelling in order to attend this Jalsa and may He bestow great rewards upon them, show mercy to them, alleviate their states of trouble and tribulation and remove from them their hardships and

sorrows. May He grant them freedom from all afflictions and enable them to attain that which they desire and raise them up on the Day of Resurrection amongst those to whom He has shown His mercy and grace, and so that He may be their Protector till the end of the journey. O Allah! O Bestower, Benevolent and Merciful! O Remover of hardships! Hear these supplications of mine and grant us victory over our opponents by aid of great and clear signs, for You are the Possessor of all power. Ameen.” (Majmua Ishtiharaat, Vol. 1, p. 342) May Allah the Almighty enable everyone, men and women alike, to become the recipients of the Promised Messiah’sas prayers for the attendees of Jalsa. Some people travelled with the intention of attending the Jalsa and have also come from abroad but have fallen ill after arriving here, and despite their immense desire, they are not able to attend. May Allah the Almighty reward them for their intentions and enable them to also become the recipients of these prayers.

(Official Urdu transcript published in Al Fazl International, 26 August 2022, pp. 5-8.

English translation prepared by The Review of Religions.)

Let it be clear that an authentic hadith testifies that he who does not recognise the Imam of his time, dies the death of ignorance. This hadith is enough to make the heart of a righteous man seek after the Imam of the age, for to die in ignorance is such a great misfortune that no evil or ill-luck lies outside its scope.

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah & Imam Mahdias

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