AL HAKAM | Friday 31 March 2023 some Afghan Ahmadis and Munshi Akbar Shah Khan Sahib, held the vigil. Then, Khan Sahib led the separate Jumuah prayer, as was instructed by Amir(-ulMomineen, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira), after the people had returned from the Aqsa Mosque.’ (Al Fazl, Qadian, Vol. 1, No. 4, 9 July 1913, p. 1) “Thus, while it is possible to have another Friday prayer after one has already been offered, it should be noted that such a situation should only arise out of necessity or compulsion, as confirmed by the above reference. Additionally, obtaining permission from the local administration is also a necessary step for this. Furthermore, [according to this particular reference], it is necessary not to offer the Friday prayer again in the same mosque where it has previously been offered, but rather to find a different location. If another location is not feasible, then the second Friday prayer may be held in the courtyard of the same mosque, behind its prayer niche [mihrab], or in a corner of that mosque.”
Reciting the basmalah during congregational salat Someone wrote to Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa and asked that, since the basmalah is part of Surah al-Fatihah, why the imam starts the loud
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recitation of Surah al-Fatihah from ‘alhamdu lillahi’ instead of starting it with the basmalah? Huzoor-e-Anwaraa, in his letter dated 7 January 2022, provided the following answer to this question: “The ahadith make it abundantly clear ّٰ that the basmalah, i.e., the phrase ‘بسم اللہ ٰ ’الر ّ حمن ّ , is a verse and an integral part of الرحیم every surah of the Holy Quran [...]. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra provided a detailed explanation of this concept in his commentary [tafsir] of Surah al-Fatihah. “In each rak‘ah of the prayer, we recite the basmalah before reciting Surah alFatihah or any other [complete] surah [apart from Surah At-Tawbah]. However, it should not be recited aloud, but rather in a quiet voice, as it is established from authentic Hadith sources that the Holy Prophetsa used to recite the basmalah quietly before reciting Surah al-Fatihah and other surahs during salat. “Hence, it is narrated by Hazrat Anasra that, ‘Whenever the Holy Prophetsa, Hazrat Abu Bakrra and Hazrat Umarra would start the [loud recitation in] salat, they would begin with the phrase ‘al-hamdu lillahi rabbi l-‘alamin’’. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab as-azan, Bab ma yaqulu ba‘da t-takbir) “In another account, Hazrat Anasra narrated that, ‘I prayed behind the Holy Prophetsa, Hazrat Abu Bakrra, Hazrat Umarra, and Hazrat Usmanra. I never heard any of them recite the basmalah aloud (before reciting a surah during salat).’ (Sunan an-Nasa’i, Kitab al-iftitah, Bab tarki l-jahri bi bisimillah) “The Promised Messiahas also followed the same practice of not reciting the basmalah aloud. This practice has been continued by his khulafa, who do not recite the basmalah aloud either. The unity
and uniformity of the Jamaat demand that the imams of congregational prayer adopt the same practice as demonstrated by the Holy Prophetsa, the Promised Messiahas, and their khulafa. “However, it is true that if someone still recites the basmalah aloud during salat, we do not consider it invalid, as there are some ahadith that mention that, on some occasions, the Holy Prophetsa recited it aloud too. Hence, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira stated: “‘It is permissible to recite the basmalah in both ways; aloud or quietly. Our Hazrat Maulvi Abdul Karim Sahib (may God forgive him and have mercy on his soul) was of an energetic nature. He used to recite the basmalah aloud. Hazrat Mirza Sahib [i.e., the Promised Messiahas] did not use to recite it aloud. I also recite it quietly. Among the Companionsra, there are two schools of thought in this regard. I advise you not to quarrel over how anyone recites it. The same is true of amin; it too is permissible in both ways. In some places, the Jews and Christians used to dislike the Muslims’ saying amin. So, the Companionsra used to say it very loudly. I enjoy both methods. One can recite it aloud or quietly.’ (Badr, No. 32, Vol. 11, 23 May 1912, p. 3) “Hazrat Maulvi Abdul Karim Sahibra of Sialkot embraced Ahmadiyyat later in life. Before joining the Ahmadiyya Movement, he used to recite the basmalah aloud, as is also confirmed by the practice of the Holy Prophetsa. Therefore, the Promised Messiahas did not prohibit him from continuing this practice. However, it is also established through the narrations of many senior Companionsra, such as Hazrat Mian Abdullah Sahibra of Sanaur, Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahibra,
Hazrat Qazi Muhammad Yusuf Sahibra of Peshawar, and Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahibra, that the Promised Messiah’sas own practice was in line with the most frequent sunnah of his lord and master, the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa, the chosen one. “Thus, in order to maintain unity and uniformity in this matter, we should adopt the same approach that was most frequently chosen by the Holy Prophetsa and which was also followed by: • his rightly-guided caliphs, who assumed the throne of the Islamic caliphate during the first establishment of Islam, • the Promised Messiahas, who was sent as a spiritual heir and the ardent devotee of the Holy Prophetsa to bring about a revival of Faith during the Islamic Renaissance, • and by every manifestation, i.e., Khalifa of the true Islamic caliphate that was established through the Promised Messiahas. “On one occasion, someone said to Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra that there were other books, besides Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, that did mention the Holy Prophetsa reciting the basmalah aloud. The person asked if there is no harm in reciting the basmalah loudly, should he continue to do so or abandon it? In order to preserve the aforementioned unity and uniformity, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra replied: “‘According to Bukhari and Muslim, the Holy Prophetsa did not recite the basmalah aloud. Do other books have greater authority than Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim?’ (Farmudat Musleh-e-Maud Darbarah Fiqhi Masa’il, pp. 56-57)” (Compiled by Zaheer Ahmad Khan, Head of Records Department, Private Secretariat, London. Translated by Al Hakam)
Tahir Mosque inaugurated in Tafiré, Ferké, Ivory Coast Shahid Ahmad Masud Regional Missionary, Ivory Coast
Tafiré is a town that is located in the north of Ivory Coast, in the Ferké region. The population of this town is about 20,000. Ahmadiyyat was established here 25 years ago. The Jamaat members have continued to offer prayers at the local mu‘allim’s house since then. In 2021, the jamaat got the opportunity to build a mosque, which was formally inaugurated on 26 February 2023. The piece of land for the mosque was offered by a local Ahmadi family, situated beside the highway that connects Ivory Coast to two neighbouring countries, Burkina Faso and Mali. A non-Ahmadi Muslim liked the building of the mosque and took responsibility for its renovation. The inauguration ceremony was held on 26 February 2023. Amir and missionaryin-charge Abdul Qayyum Pasha Sahib, along with his delegation of national
heads of auxiliary organisations and national amila, attended the ceremony. The deputy governor, deputy mayor and local (Gendarmerie) police commander and a representative of the grand imam were present. The ceremony started with the recitation from the Holy Quran followed by an Arabic qasidah written by the Promised Messiahas. After this, a brief introduction of Jamaat-e- Ahmadiyya was presented to attendees. Amir Sahib delivered a speech on the “Importance and Objectives of Building a Mosque”, and some other speeches on different topics were delivered by other members in French. The Deputy Governor congratulated and appreciated the humanitarian services of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, and concluded the event with silent prayer. More than 300 people were present at this ceremony and half of them were non-Ahmadis. Two journalists were also present. In this manner, the true message of Islam Ahmadiyyat was conveyed to them in an effective way.