Al-Akseer Issue #3, September 2022

AL-AKSEER

ﺮﺴﻛﻻا

WINTER + SPRING 2022

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M A J L I S K H U D D A M U L A H M A D I Y Y A N E W Z E A L A N D

A L A K S E E R | P A G E 1 CONTENTS Ramadan pg.2 Discover Islam pg.5 ANZAC Poppy Collection pg.4 Mid Winter Camp pg.16 Muslims for LifeBlood Drive pg.9 Pray, Learn and Play Weekly session for Khuddam to get together for congregetional prayers, increasing religious knowledge and sports pg.14 Volleyball Exhibition Match pg.14 Photo Gallery pg.17 Acknowledgements pg.19

"O ye who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become righteous." - The Holy Quran, 2:184

“Fasting is not merely staying hungry and thirsty; rather its reality and its impact can only be gained through experience. It is human nature that the less one eats, the more one’s spirit is purified and thus his capacity for [spiritual] visions increases. The will of God is to decrease one kind of sustenance and to increase the other. A person who is fasting should always be mindful that he is not just required to stay hungry. On the contrary, he should remain engaged in the remembrance of God so that he can cut asunder ties of worldly desires and amusements and is wholly devoted to God. Hence, the significance of fasting is this alone that man gives up one kind of sustenance which only nourishes the body and attains the other kind of sustenance which is a source of comfort and gratification for the soul.”

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad(as),Malfuzat Vol. 5, (Rabwah: NazaratIsha’at Rabwah Pakistan), 102.

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Ramadan

By the grace of Allah the Almighty, we have been through another Ramadan in our lifetimes. Every year, as the blessed month of Ramadan draws near, Muslims worldwide await in joyous anticipation for the opportunity to observe fasting— the fourth of five foundational pillars of the Islamic faith. Ramadan is the Holiest month for Muslims and the only Islamic month mentioned in the Holy Quran, “The month of Ramadan is that in which the Qur’an was sent down as a guidance for mankind with clear proofs of guidance and discrimination.” (Surah AlBaqarah, Ch2 v 186). The memorization and reading of the Quran during Ramadan are of great importance. The Holy Quran was started to be revealed in the month of Ramadan for the guidance of mankind. Allah is very pleased with those who spend more and more time in the recitation of His Holy Book. Furthermore, A big part of Ramadan is serving humanity. Islam teaches us to help the needy, especially during Ramadan. This year again, Majlis KhuddamulAhmadiyya New Zealand held many of its events this Ramadan across different departments, which have helped serve the community and increase our spiritual progress.

The Holy Prophet, (SA), says: “Allah, the Lord of Honor and Glory says: All other deeds of man are for himself, but his fasting is purely for Me and I shall reward him for it. The fast is a shield. When any of you is fasting he should eschew loose talk and noisy exchanges. Should anyone revile him or seek to pick a quarrel with him, he should respond with: “I am observing a fast.” By Him in whose hands is the life of Muhammad, the breath of one who is fasting is purer in the sight of Allah than the fragrance of musk. One who fasts experiences two joys: he is joyful when he breaks his fast, and he is joyful by virtue of his fast when he meets his Lord.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

RamadanSurahMemorisation

The memorization and reading of the Quran during Ramadan are of great importance. The Holy Quran was started to be revealed in the month of Ramadan, and in the final Ramadan in the life of the Holy Prophet (sa), the angel Jibreel revised the whole of the Quran twice with him. Allah is very pleased with those who spend more and more time in the recitation of His Holy Book. Every person in the Jama’at gets an opportunity to learn a small portion of the Holy Quran for the sake of blessings.

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RamadanFoodDrive

A big part of Ramadan is serving humanity, Majlis Khuddam-ul Ahmadiyya held its annual Ramadan Food Drive, one of the best in past years. All across the country, from North to South, many Khuddam sacrificed their time for this food drive. By Allah's grace, we were able to give out a total of 160 cartons across Auckland, including ten cartons to Akl City Mission, eight cartons to Otahuhu Budgeting, and 12 cartons to Monte Cecilia, 15 cartons to Family works and 15 cartons to Mangere Budgeting. Majlis Waikato had 36 cartons of street distribution in Ngaruawahia and Hamilton. Our Christchurch brothers donated 16 cartons of food to NZ Gifts of love and strength in Christchurch. Finally, Majlis Wellington donated approximately $1k worth of food items to the Compassion Soup kitchen Wellington.

Our Muslim youth are already looking forward to doing it again next yearJazakamullah to those who volunteered their time, energy, and money. May you receive Allah's grace and blessings

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ANZACPoppyCollection

For the second year running, Majlis Khuddam ul Ahmadiyya New Zealand held an ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Poppy Collection with the RSA (Royal New Zealand Returned and Services) on the 21st and 22nd of April. With AnzacDay coming up, our Kiwi Muslim youth have been assisting the RSA with the poppy appeal, to help us remember the brave men and women who fought for their country.. A total of $1000 was collected at Countdown Takanini.

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DiscoverIslam

"The Tabligh department has been very active and productive throughout the year under the leadership and guidance of Mothamim Tabligh, Murabbi Sabahuz–Zafar sahib. This year they have done many Discover Islam campaigns in Pirongia, Kumeu, Frankton, Hamilton, Taupo, Turangi, Feilding, Palmerston North, Whanganui, and New Plymouth. These include activities such as Meetings with politicians and community leaders, street campaigns, meetings with members of the public, and exhibitions in street markets.

FourDayTablighTrip

From 30th June to 3rd July, the discover Islam Roadshow departed on a four-day road trip across the North Island. A team of 6 under the leadership of Murabbi Sabah-uz-Zafar visited Turangi, Feilding, New Plymouth, and Wanganui. This blessed trip was featured multiple times in articles across New Zealand's news companies, such as The New Zealand Herald and The Stuff. The journey started with Respected Sadr sb, who led Dua and gave guidance before they set out.

On the 30th, they held their Meet a Muslim campaign which has been going on since 2017, and a Coffee Cake & True Islam Session at Turangi. There they had a wonderful meeting with the Mayor of Taupo, David Trewavas. On 1st July, the team set out to Fielding a town in the Manawatu District, where they held a Holy Quran & Islam Exhibition at the Farmer market They set out for Whanganui, where they had another Holy Quran Islam Exhibition, which was covered in an article in The New Zealand Herald under the title 'Meet a Muslim' comes to Whanganui to break down anti-Islamic views. Mashallah, there was a great turnout by members of the public.

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Finally, on the last day, Sunday 2nd July they rounded off the blessed trip in New Plymouth, located in the Taranaki region, where another Exhibition was held. New Zealand Herald again wrote an article titled: 'Meet a Muslim' comes to Taranaki to break barriers and challenge stereotypes as the Discover Islam team invites various national and community members. Member of parliament Glenn Bennett was at an exhibition in New Plymouth.

Overall this was a blessed four-day tabligh trip by the grace of Allah and a great turnout of the public in all their exhibitions.

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MeetingwithMPandMayor

On the 13th of July, Murabbi Sabah-uz-Zafar Sahib and Rafay Basharat held a Coffee Cake & True Islam Session in Taumarunui, which was attented by members of the public and MP (member of parliament) of Rangitikei, Ian Mckelvie who is also an editor for the Taumarunui Bulletin, which is a local community paper. The two also drove down to Ohakune and met with the Mayor of Ruapehu District Council. They had an overwhelmingly deep discussion about various topics & in particular, Islam. It was an honour, says Murrabi Sahib, to have presented him the Holy Quran & the book of Huzur (aba), World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace, as a gift to him.

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Pray,LearnandPlay

By the grace of Allah, Khuddamul Ahmadiyya NZ has been running a programme called Pray, Learn, Play (PLP) for the past 2-3 years. The purpose of this initiative has been to facilitate a suitable program for Atfal and Khuddam of all ages in the effort to encourage joining in congregational salat, the learning of both religious and secular knowledge and participation in sports activities.

For instance, according to the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) congregational prayers rewards a believer 27 times more than a prayer offered alone. Hence, through PLP the goal is to encourage a higher participation in congregational salat at Baitul Muqeet. So, Atfal and Khuddam can reap the blessings from it.

StudyoftheEnglishTransliterationoftheHolyQuran

Study of the English Transliteration of the Holy Quran, which is a relatively new session started and its key focus has been to provide a deep dive into the meanings of each Surah of the Holy Quran for the enlightenment of our youth. As, one should not simply inherit one's faith but must learn and understand it for themselves also. This session was hosted by Murabi Sabah Ul Zafar Sahib.

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Article&BookStudies

Book studies, hosted by Badee Ur Rehman Sahib focuses on exploring various articles taken from Jama’t sources such as Al Hakam and the Review of Religions and extracts from the writings of the Promised Messiah.

For example, this paragraph taken from the collection of the writings of the Promised Messiah (AS) in Malfuzat – Volume II (Tilford, Surrey: Islam International Publications Ltd., 2019), 82-83.

The Meaning of Trust in God

Those people who trust in their own power and strength, and forsake God Almighty, do not meet with a good end. This does not mean that trust in God is to sit on one’s hands and do nothing. To make use of means and to employ the faculties which God Almighty has granted us is also a manner in which we show gratitude to God. Those people who do not make use of their abilities and only verbally claim that they trust in God speak falsehood. Such people do not appreciate God. In fact, they test God and essentially suggest that the faculties and powers granted by Him are futile. In this manner, they are disrespectful and insolent towards God. They become distanced from the essence of ﺪﺒﻌﻧكﺎﻳإ (Thee alone do we worship) and do not act upon it, yet desire to see the results of كﺎﻳإ ﻦﻴﻌﺘﺴﻧ (Thee alone do we implore for help) fulfilled in their favour. This is not right. Insofar as possible, and to the extent of one’s ability, an individual ought to make recourse to means, but must not deem them to be his god and the resolver of his difficulties. On the contrary, man must first exhaust these avenues and then hand the matter over to Allah; he must offer prostrations of gratitude, thanking the very same God for having conferred upon him these faculties and strengths in the first place.

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Gems of the Promised Messiah &; Imam Mahdi (as) –

This week in the world hosted by Musawer Ahmad & Badee Ur Rehman Sahib concentrated on taking contemporary issues and presenting info on relevant topics backed by Islamic perspective on such matters. For example, one pressing issue discussed was climate change and its impacts on the planet and what efforts can be made on our part to help mitigate pollution to the earth’s atmosphere. The Islamic guidance around this issue mentions the fact that it is evident from Hadith that Muslims have a religious duty to safeguard the world’s natural environment.

For instance, the Holy Prophet (sa) said: ‘The world is sweet and green, and verily Allah has appointed you as a representative and trustee over it’. Furthermore, Prophet Muhammad (sa) understood the significance of trees in protecting the environment from climate change thousands of years ago. He always forbade his companions from destroying trees and laid great emphasis upon planting more of them.

He says: ‘There is none amongst you who plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, but that would be taken as an act of charity for him.’ and: ‘Anyone who plants a tree and waits patiently for it till it bears fruits, that will be on his behalf an act of a charity whenever anything benefits from this tree.’

KhuddamSyllabus+Sports

Khuddam Syllabus, hosted by Musawer Ahmad Sahib, covers various Islamic topics such as The Purpose of Man’s life, The Islamic Beliefs (The Articles of faith), Islamic Worship, Khilfat (Succession in Islam) etc. As well as the Life of the Promised Messiah and the history of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

Lastly, for the Play portion of the program. So far games such as Indoor Cricket, Football, Dodgeball, Floor is Lava Obstacle course, Tug of war and Spike ball have been played.

Isaac Mohammed - Mohtamim Taleem

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MuslimsforLife-BloodDrive

On the 23rd of August 2022, Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya had their "Muslims for Life" blood drive. We had about 5 Khuddam that participated, led by the Mohtamim Khidmet-e-khalq Manoor Cheema Sahib.

VolleyballExhibitionMatch

On the 3rd of July, we had our first ever Volleyball Exhibition match between Majlis Auckland and Hamilton at The Peak in Hamilton.

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Mid-WInterCamp

MKA NZ held its mid-winter Tarbiyyat and Sports camp from Saturday 23rd July to Sunday 24th July 2022. The programme began with Qur’an Tilawat and Nazm followed by the opening address from Sadr Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya, Azeem Zafarullah sahib.

The highlight of the first day was the letter writing sessions to Huzoor Anwar (atba) and Interactive Discussions facilitated by Murabbi Mustenser Qamar sahib. The second and final day began with Tahajjud and Fajr prayers followed by a session of “This Week with Huzoor” viewed by all participants. Khuddam and Atfal then departed Masjid Baitul Muqueet Auckland for “The Peak” Sports Centre in Hamilton where sports competitions were held including volleyball, football, and handball. This was followed by Zuhr and Asr prayers and a tasty lunch! The programme concluded with prize distribution and a concluding address by Sadr MKA NZ. By the Grace of Allah, Khuddam and Atfal attended from across New Zealand. Attendance over both days exceeded 60.