Maryam Jan-Mar 2021 (English)

JANUARY - MARCH 2021

ISSUE 37

My Experience: Project Manager of COVID-19 Vaccine Trial

Virtual Mulaquat of Waqifaat-eNau Mauritius

FAQs Concer ning Women During Ramadan

The Ten Men of Paradise Part 1

CALLING ALL WAAQIFAAT-E-NAU!

Would you like to contribute to Maryam Magazine?

We welcome all Waaqifaat-e-Nau to send in their articles, poems and suggestions in English or Urdu to:

chiefeditor@maryammagazine.org

From the Editor...

The past year has been an extremely unique experience for the whole world, having had to endure the impact of a very dangerous pandemic.

Even through these difficult times, we as Ahmadi Muslims have been everblessed with the guidance and reassurance of our beloved Imam, Hazrat Mirza Masroor AhmadMay Allah be his helper.

In his Friday Sermon on 1st January 2021, Hazur-e-Aqdas , speaking about the coronavirus pandemic, mentioned that everyone in the world must consider the fact that this pandemic may have come about as a warning for us to start fulfilling the rights we owe to God and one another. Hazuraba stated that it was our duty as Ahmadi Muslims to make others aware of this, and in order to do this, we would need to assess our own spiritual conditions: aba

“We, who have accepted the Imam Mahdi and Promised Messiah of this age, must ask ourselves whether we are at the level where, alongside fulfilling the rights owed to God Almighty, we are fulfilling the rights owed to His creation and whether we are doing so solely for His sake. Or do we still need to work towards reforming ourselves and increasing our mutual love and affection to a high standard? Thus, every Ahmadi should reflect upon the fact that they have been tasked with a great responsibility.

And to complete this task, we must first create an atmosphere of love and brotherhood in our own Ahmadi society and then bring the entire world under this banner, which was raised aloft by the Holy Prophetsaw – the banner of the Unity of God. Only then will we be successful in fulfilling the purpose of our bai‘at [pledge of allegiance] and doing justice to it. Only after doing this will we become the recipients of the bounties of Allah… May Allah the Almighty enable us to do this and by understanding their responsibilities, may every Ahmadi man, woman, child and elderly pledge that they will use all of their faculties to bring about a transformation in the world this year.

May Allah the Almighty enable every Ahmadi to fulfil this pledge.”

May Allah enable us all, especially as Waqifeen-e-Nau, to follow this beautiful guidance of Hazur-e-aqdasaba, Ameen.

In this issue of Maryam Magazine our readers can enjoy articles written by our Waqifeen including ‘The Ten Men of Paradise’, ‘Frequently Asked Questions Concerning Women and Ramadan’, ‘My Experience as a Project Manager of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Trial’ and ‘2020 - A Year to Remember’.

i Ahmed a n i H ENGLISH EDITOR

CHIEF EDITOR

Zanubia Ahmad ASSISTANT CHIEF EDITORS Dure Jamal Mala Nayla Muzamil

ENGLISH EDITOR Hina Ahmedi

ENGLISH SUB-EDITOR Hamooda Arif

EDITORIAL BOARD

Sabah Un Noor Tahir Hibba-Tul Mussawir Maleeha Mansur Meliha Hayat

Salma Manahil Malik Mashel Chaudhry

Samina Yasmeen Arif

Amatul Wakeel Maha Sameera Mirza Kashifa Qamar

Safina Nabeel Maham COVER DESIGN

Soumbal Qureshi PAGE DESIGN & SETTING Soumbal Qureshi Naeema Amjad Atiyya Wasee Naila Fowad

Hina Farooqi

Zara Tahir Ahmad PRINTED UNDER THE CENTRAL

Do you have any comments, suggestions or want your article featured in our next edition?

Email us at: chiefeditor@maryammagazine.org

OFFICE WAQF-E-NAU MANAGER

Luqman Ahmad Kishwar PRINTERS

Raqeem Press, Tilford UK

CONTENTS JANUARY - MARCH 2021 | ISSUE 37

03. The Holy Qur’an

27. Story: The Boiling Water that Softens the Potatoes, Hardens the Egg

04. Hadith

28. Frequently asked Questions

06. Writings of the Promised

Concerning Women and Ramadan | Naima Clarke

as

Messiah

07. The Life and Character of the Seal saw

32. The Ten Men of Paradise - Part 1 of the series on the Ashra Mubashra |

of the Prophets

Naila Tahir

12. Tarbiyyat Page

37. Poem: ‘O Children of the Community, I need to Say Something’

14. My Experience as a Project

| A poem by Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmadra, Khalifatul Masih II

Manager of the Oxford/ AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Trial | Uzma Khan

38. The Choice is Yours! | Mustabshira Qayyum

21. 2020 A Year to Remember | Sajia Majeed

41. A Change in Attitude | Maleeha Mansur

22. Waqifaat-e-Nau Class | Virtual Meeting of Waqifaat-e-Nau from Mauritius with Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaba

24. Kids’ Spread

42. Arts & Crafts Page | Ear Saver Mask Extension

‫‪The Holy‬‬

‫‪Qur’an‬‬ ‫﷽‬

‫قرا ٓن جمید‬

‫َۡ‬ ‫َ َ َ َ َ َ َ ۡ َ ۡ َ ۡ َ ۡ ٌ ُ ۡ ُ َ ۡ َ َ َّ َ‬ ‫الد ِاع ِاذا َد َع ِان ۙ فل َی ۡس َت ِج ۡی ُب ۡوا‬ ‫و ِاذا سالک ِعب ِادی ع ِنی ف ِا ِنی ق ِریب ؕ ا ِجیب دعوۃ‬ ‫ۡ َ ۡ ُ ۡ ُ ۡ ۡ َ َ َّ ُ ۡ َ ۡ ُ ُ ۡ َ‬ ‫ِلی و لیؤ ِمنوا بی لعلہم یرشدون۝ )‪(Al-Baqarah: 187‬‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫( سورۃ البقرۃ‪)187 :‬‬ ‫‪Translation: And when My servants ask thee about Me, say: ‘I am‬‬

‫‪near. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he prays to Me. So‬‬ ‫بج‬ ‫‪should‬وہں‬ ‫‪hearken‬داعاکوجابداتی‬ ‫‪Me‬ںیم‪to‬داعرکےنواےلیک‬ ‫‪and‬وہں۔‬ ‫ںیمرقبی‬ ‫وسالرکںیوتًانیقی‬ ‫‪they‬ےس‬ ‫‪may‬دنبےھجت‬ ‫بجریمے‬ ‫‪ : the‬اور‬ ‫‪they‬‬ ‫‪believe‬‬ ‫قلعتم ‪in‬‬ ‫ریمے‪Me,‬‬ ‫‪that‬‬ ‫‪follow‬‬ ‫‪right way.’ (English translation‬‬ ‫الںیئ ‪by‬‬ ‫‪Hazrat‬‬ ‫‪sahib‬ابت‬ ‫وہےھجماکپراتےہ۔سپاچےئہہکوہ)‪ra‬یھبریمی‬ ‫اتہکوہدہاتیاپںیئ۔‬ ‫‪Maulvi‬رپاامین‬ ‫‪Sher‬ںیہکاورھجم‬ ‫‪Ali‬رپ ّلبیک‬

‫رترتہمج‬ ‫ہمج‬

‫بح خلیفۃ المسیح الرابع رحمہ ہللا ٰ‬ ‫تعالی )‬ ‫اصبح‬ ‫دمحاص‬ ‫رہاادمح‬ ‫ہمجازرضحترمزااطاطرہ‬ ‫(رترتہمج‬

‫‪Commentary: Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiahas,‬‬ ‫‪explained the meaning of the above verse:‬‬

‫حی‪ :‬ذموکرہابالآتی یکریسفترکےتوہےئرضحتادقسحیسموموعدؑرفامےتںیہ"ینعیارگریمےدنبےریمےووجدےسوسالرکںیہک‬ ‫رشتحی‬ ‫رشت‬ ‫‪‘If My servants ask you what is there to prove My existence, and why‬‬ ‫واولوکوجاب‬ ‫‪believe‬اےنپاکپرےن‬ ‫زندکیوہں۔ںیم‬ ‫ںیمتہب‬ ‫ےہہک‬ ‫‪that‬وجابہی‬ ‫ےہ۔وتاساک‬ ‫‪very‬ہکدخا‬ ‫ویکرکناھجمساجےئ‬ ‫ویکرکناسیکیتسہاثتب‬ ‫‪they‬‬ ‫‪should‬‬ ‫‪Me,‬یہ ‪in‬‬ ‫‪tell‬‬ ‫‪them‬‬ ‫‪I am‬‬ ‫ےہ ‪I‬اور‪near.‬‬ ‫‪answer‬‬

‫‪who‬انبوںیہکںیمان‬ ‫ںیئتاےسی‬ ‫‪Me,‬ہکاےنپ‬ ‫سپاچےئہ‬ ‫‪his‬وہاتوہں۔‬ ‫‪voice,‬مہ الکم‬ ‫‪and‬اوراسےس‬ ‫اتنُسوہں۔‬ ‫ںیماسیکآواز‬ ‫‪For‬اکپراتےہ‬ ‫بجوہےھجم‬ ‫وہں۔اور‬ ‫داتی‬ ‫‪anyone‬‬ ‫‪calls‬‬ ‫‪I hear‬‬ ‫‪I speak‬‬ ‫‪him.‬وت‪to‬‬ ‫‪their‬‬ ‫‪part,‬‬ ‫‪let My servants make themselves deserving‬‬ ‫‪converse‬‬ ‫‪of‬وکریمیراہےلم۔"‬ ‫‪My‬اتان‬ ‫اامینالوںی‬ ‫‪and‬اورھجمرپاکلم‬ ‫‪have‬وہوکسں۔‬ ‫ےس�م‬ ‫)‪perfect faith in Me, so that they may find My path.’ (Lecture Lahore, p.18‬‬ ‫وہرہحفصربمن ‪(159‬‬ ‫رچکیلالالوہ‬ ‫نئدلج‪،، 20‬رچکیل‬ ‫ینزخاانئ‬ ‫(روواحاحین‬

‫‪Hadith‬‬

‫)‪(Sayings of The Holy Prophet‬‬ ‫)‪(May Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon Him‬‬

‫دحثیایبنلﷺ‬

‫‪A Muslim is one from Whose Tongue‬‬ ‫‪and Hands the Muslims are Safe‬‬

‫املسمنوہےہسجیکزابناورسجےکاہھتےساملسمنالسیتمںیمرںیہ‬ ‫عن عب ِد ِ‬ ‫هللا بْ ِن َعم ٍرو ر ِ‬ ‫ال‪:‬‬ ‫ض َي هللاُ َع ْن ُه َما َع ْن النِ يِ‬ ‫صلَّى هللاُ َعلَْي ِه َو َسلَّ َم قَ َ‬ ‫َ ْ َْ‬ ‫َّب َ‬ ‫ْ َ‬ ‫"الْمسلِم من سلِم الْمسلِمو َن ِمن لِسانِ​ِه وي ِد ِه والْم َه ِ‬ ‫اج ُر َم ْن َه َج َر َما َ​َنَى َُّ‬ ‫اَّلل‬ ‫ْ َ َ​َ َ ُ‬ ‫ُ ْ ُ َْ َ َ ُ ْ ُ‬ ‫َع ْنهُ‪( ".‬البخاري‪ ،‬كتاب اإلميان)‬ ‫‪Translation:‬‬ ‫ت‬ ‫رتہمجرضحتدبعاہللنبرمعوریضاہللہنعروايركےتںیہہك آرضحنتیلصاہللہیلعوملسےنرفامای‪:‬الصاملسمنوہےہ‬ ‫‪Abdullah‬‬ ‫‪that‬‬ ‫ںیم‪the‬‬ ‫‪Holy‬‬ ‫‪Hazrat‬وھچڑدے۔‬ ‫عنمرفامایےہ‬ ‫‪ibn‬وکےسجاہللےن‬ ‫‪Amr‬ابت‬ ‫‪relates‬ےہوجاس‬ ‫الصاہمرجوہ‬ ‫رںیہاور‬ ‫‪Prophet‬السیتم‬ ‫‪said:‬اہھتےساملسمن‬ ‫سجیک‪A‬زابناور‬ ‫‪saw‬‬

‫‪ra‬‬

‫;‪Muslim is one from whose tongue and hands the Muslims are safe‬‬

‫‪ َ which‬م ُ‬ ‫َمُ‬ ‫‪and‬‬ ‫‪is one‬‬ ‫‪who departs‬‬ ‫‪Allah‬اْل مس ِل مم‪ :‬ال وج ا‬ ‫آاتےہ۔ ینعی‬ ‫‪an‬ےئل‬ ‫‪emigrant‬ےک‬ ‫)‪(muhajir‬ےہ وج ااہظر امکل‬ ‫زندکی دہع اخریج‬ ‫اشرنیح ےک‬ ‫‪from‬ںیم ےہ‪ ،‬ضعب‬ ‫‪ْthat‬ل مس ِل مم‬ ‫رشتحی ‪:‬‬ ‫‪the Almighty has forbidden.‬‬

‫اکلماملسمنوہےہ سجیکزابنےساورسجےکاہھتےساملسمنالسیتمںیمرںیہ۔ینعیہنوقلےسیسکوکفیلکتدےاورہن‬

‫لعفےس۔وچہکنااسننزابنےسربےےلھب ایخالتاکااہظرركاتےہاوراہھتےسارثکاکمااجنمداتیےہ۔اسےئلرمادقلطم‬ ‫)‪(Bukhari Vol. 1 Kitab ul Iman Hadith No.10 p. 47‬‬

‫وقلولعفےہ۔ینعیہنیسنہےھٹھٹےس‪،‬ہناگیلولگچےس‪،‬ہننعطوعینشتےس‪،‬ہنتبیغوتمہتےسیسکاکدلداھکےئ۔اورہناہھت‬

‫ےس یسک وک آزار اچنہپےئ۔ےسیج امران ‪ ،‬لتق ركان ‪ ،‬وچری ركان۔ رغض رہ مسق اک ان اجزئ رصتف۔ (حتف اابلری زجء اول ہحفص‬ ‫َ‬ ‫‪75‬۔دمعۃااقلری زجء اول ہحفص ‪ )132‬نکیل "ا مل "اہیںیسکامکلےکا�لےکااہظرےکےئل اعطقًںیہن‪،‬ہکلب جنسیہےہ۔‬ ‫قلطمرعتفیےک معن‬ ‫ِ‬ ‫ےںیہ۔ویکہکناالسیماوصلےکاابتعرےسرتکاذیاامکلںیہنہکلبادتبایئاحتلےہ۔املسمناکامکلہی‬

Explanatory notes: The word: ‘Al-Muslim’: Some commentators have expressed the view that the use of ‘Al’ mentioned in the Hadith, is to show the excellence of something. An excellent Muslim is the one from whose tongue and hands other Muslims are secure, meaning that he does not harm other Muslim either with his words or with his actions, because a person expresses his thoughts whether good or bad with his tongue and works mostly with his hands that is why here in the Hadith it means all words and deeds. It means a Muslim does not hurt other’s feelings with his jokes or jests, abusive language, sarcasm, backbiting or false accusations, and he also does not harm other Muslims with his hands, for example by beating, killing or stealing from others etc. meaning by every type of unjust use of hands. Imam Bukharira further explaining the meaning of this says that in another Hadith someone asked The Holy Prophetsaw ‘What is the best practice in Islam?’ The Prophetsaw replied: ‘The practice of the person from whose tongue and hands, others are safe’. Meaning that every action of this particular person is excellent, his faith, his salat, his fast, his zakat etc. Nothing is good without this practise explained by the Holy Prophetsaw. It means that the First condition to be a true Muslim is that the others are secured against his vice.

Abandoning evilness is the first step towards spiritual progress.

When a person takes this first step all his actions become good. And the second part of the Hadith ‘Muhajir is the one who departs from that which Allah has forbidden’ also supports this.

(Bukhari Vol. 1 Kitab ul Iman Hadith No.10 p. 47)

Writings of the as Promised Messiah MAKE PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND FORGIVE YOUR BRETHREN THEIR SINS

“Be careful lest a few accomplishments delude you to think that you have

sufficiently fulfilled your purpose. For God desires a complete transformation in

your being and He demands from you a death whereafter He should revive you.

Hasten to make peace with one another and forgive your brethren their sins. For

he who is not inclined to make peace with his brother is wicked and will be cut off,

because he is the cause of dissension. Part with your ego in every way and do away with mutual grievances. Be humble like the guilty, though truth be on your side, so that you may be forgiven. Do not feed your vanity, for those who are bloated cannot enter the gate to which you have been called.

How unfortunate is the one who does not believe in that which has come from the

mouth of God and which I have set forth. If you desire that God should be pleased with you in heaven, unite with one another as though you were brothers from the same womb. The one who most forgives the transgressions of his brother is the

more honourable among you. Unfortunate is the one who is obstinate and does not forgive. Such a person has no part in me.”

[Noah’s Ark p.20,21, Ruhani Khazain Vol 19]

THE LIFE AND CHARACTER of the Seal of Prophets (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him)

Personal Scribe of the Holy

would instruct many other companions to

Prophet

commit it to memory as well. Moreover,

saw

and Learning Hebrew

The scope of the correspondence of the

Holy Prophetsaw was now expanding and it was felt that a faithful companion of the Holy Prophetsaw should gain knowledge of Hebrew as well. In this manner, correspondence and the drafting of treaties, etc., with the Jews could be facilitated and the risk of deceit could also be removed. For this purpose, the Holy Prophetsaw instructed a young companion by the name of Zaid bin Thabit Ansarira, who had learned to read and write Arabic from the captives of the battle of Badr, and who was the personal scribe or private secretary of the Holy Prophet , to saw

learn how to read and write Hebrew as well.

Hence, Zaidra, who was remarkably intelligent, managed to learn Hebrew in an effort of merely fifteen days. It is also worthy to note 1

that this is the very same Zaid bin Thabitra, who collected and copied the Holy Qur’an in the form of a manuscript or book, in the era of Hazrat Abu Bakrra, upon his instruction.2 In this way he sowed the seed of great ambition and high resolve.”3

Compilation of the Qur’an

We have already written above that Zaid bin Thabit Ansari collected and copied the ra

Holy Qur’an in the Khilafat of Hazrat Abu Bakr in the form of a manuscript. This does ra

not mean that prior to this the Holy Qur’an had not already been collected. Rather, the truth is that as the Holy Qur’an was gradually revealed to the Holy Prophetsaw,3 he would not only arrange it under divine inspiration and memorise it himself, but

the Holy Prophetsaw had assigned the duty to such companions as were more skilled in this respect, to teach others as well.4 As a further act of precaution, he would also have it committed to writing along the way.

As such, it is ascertained from the Ahadith that the very same Zaid bin Thabitra, who later compiled the Holy Qur’an in the form of a single volume, and who was a man of extraordinary intelligence, was commissioned to record Qur’anic revelation in the era of the Holy Prophetsaw.5 In addition to him, other companions would also render this service.

For example, there was Hazrat Abu Bakrra, Hazrat Umarra, Hazrat Uthmanra, Hazrat Alira, Zubair bin Al-Awwamra, Sharjil bin Ḥasanahra, Abdullah bin Sa‘d bin Abi Sarah, Ubayy bin Ka‘bra, Abdullah bin Rawaḥahra, and others.6 Therefore, the actual task of compilation and arrangement had already taken place in the very life of the Holy Prophetsaw under his own guidance. This is not merely conjecture; rather, it is explicitly mentioned in the Ahadith. A narration is related by Abdullah bin Abbasra, that Hazrat Uthman bin Affanra, the third Khalifah, would state: “It was a practice of the Holy Prophetsaw that when a revelation would be received by the Holy Prophetsaw, the Holy Prophetsaw would summon one of his scribes and instruct him to record it and would also instruct that it should be placed in the following Surah at the following place. In this manner, the Holy Prophetsaw would arrange the various Surahs himself.”7

This was a practice of the Holy Prophetsaw

the Holy Qur’an every year in the month

from the very start of his claim to

of Ramadan with Gabrielra, and in his last

prophethood. As such, we have written in

year two full rounds.11 All of these facts

Volume I of this book that in the early days

categorically establish that the actual task

of Makkah, when Hazrat Umarra became a

of the arrangement and compilation of the

Muslim he was brought towards Islam by

Holy Qur’an had already taken place in the

a recitation of the Holy Qur’an, which was

very life of the Holy Prophetsaw. Therefore,

being read aloud by Khabbab bin Al-Arat

all that is inferred by the collection of Zaid

to the sister and brother-in-law of Hazrat

bin Thabitra is that under the instruction and

Umarra from a written script.8 Therefore, the

supervision of Hazrat Abu Bakrra, the first

Holy Qur’an was committed to writing, and

Caliph, he compiled and wrote the Holy

compiled and collected as it was revealed.

Qur’an in the form of a manuscript, as a

“It was a practice of the Holy Prophetsaw that when a revelation would be received by the Holy Prophetsaw, the Holy Prophetsaw would summon one of his scribes and instruct him to record it and would also instruct that it should be placed in the following Surah at the following place. In this manner, the Holy Prophetsaw would arrange the various Surahs himself.”

Further evidence of this is that the Holy

single volume or book, so that an authentic

Prophetsaw and his companions would regularly recite portions of the Holy Qur’an in their Salat, and at times they would recite very lengthy portions. It is ascertained from a narration that on one occasion, in a single Tahajjud Salat, i.e., the voluntary pre-dawn prayer, the Holy Prophetsaw recited the first five Surahs of the Holy Qur’an, which collectively equal a fifth portion of the Holy Qur’an, together and in proper sequence.

9

It was these very lengthy periods of time for which the Holy Prophet

saw

would stand

and his feet would often become swollen.10 Then, certain narrations state that the Holy Prophetsaw would complete a round of

copy of the Holy Qur’an compiled by the Holy Prophetsaw could be safeguarded in one place. It is ascertained from narrations that afterwards, Hazrat Uthmanra, the third Caliph, used this very same manuscript to produce authenticated copies and sent them to the various regions of the Islamic world at the time. Then, further publication continued on the basis of these authentic copies.12 Moreover, in every era, thousands, rather, hundreds and thousands of Huffaz have always preserved the Holy Qur’an in their hearts and provided an additional apparent means for its preservation. In order to determine how eagerly Muslims have

‫‪In Volume I of this book it has already been‬‬

‫‪always memorised the Holy Qur’an, the sole‬‬

‫‪mentioned that Fatimah bint Asad and Abu‬‬

‫‪narration is sufficient that on one occasion,‬‬

‫‪Ṭalib had four sons named Ṭalib, Aqil, Ja‘farra‬‬

‫‪for some reason, when Hazrat Umarra felt‬‬

‫‪and Hazrat Alira and one daughter named‬‬

‫‪a need to survey the number of Huffaz, it‬‬

‫‪Ummi Hani.‬‬

‫‪was ascertained that at the time, there were‬‬ ‫‪more than 300 Huffaz present in only a single‬‬

‫‪References‬‬ ‫‪1) * Al-Iṣābah Fī Tamīziṣ-Ṣaḥābah, By Aḥmad bin Ali bin‬‬ ‫‪Ḥajar Al-‘Asqalānī, Volume 2, p. 491, Zaid bin Thabit,‬‬ ‫)‪Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon (2005‬‬

‫‪contingent of the Muslim army.13 Even in the‬‬ ‫‪current age, when the inclination towards‬‬ ‫‪religion has greatly declined, in the Islamic‬‬ ‫‪world, the number of Huffaz definitely runs‬‬ ‫‪into the hundreds of thousands.‬‬

‫‪* Tārīkhul-Khamīs Fī Aḥwāli Anfasi Nafīs, By Ḥusain bin‬‬

‫‪of Hazrat‬‬ ‫حض ‪Ali‬‬ ‫‪Passes Away‬‬ ‫رت ع‬ ‫‪Mother‬والدہ یک و‬ ‫یلؓ یک‬ ‫زمدیوبثتہیےہہکآپ اورآپ ےک احصہباینپ‬ ‫امنزوںںیمرقآن‬ ‫ل‬ ‫حضرت عیلؓ یک والدہ یک وفات‬ ‫ایساسل ‪4‬رجہی ےکآرخںیمرضحتیلعؓ یکرمعر‬

‫‪Muḥammad bin Ḥasan, Volume 1, p. 465, Ta‘allumu‬‬ ‫اساک‬ ‫اسھت اسھت طبضل رحتریںیم آرکرمبت وہات اور عمجوہات ایگ اھت۔‬ ‫‪Zaidibni Thabit Kitābal-Yahūd, Mu’assasatu Sha‘bān,‬‬ ‫‪Beirut‬‬

‫‪ra‬‬

‫‪The very same year, towards the end of 4‬‬

‫‪A.H., the elderly mother of Hazrat Alira, whose‬‬

‫‪2) Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī,‬‬ ‫‪Kitābu‬‬ ‫‪Jam‘il‬‬‫امنزوں‬ ‫ضعب اواقت‬ ‫‪Faḍā’ilil-Qur’an,‬اور‬ ‫‪Bābu‬رفامای رکےت ےھت‬ ‫التوت‬ ‫رشفی یک اباقدعہ‬ ‫‪This revered lady had been like‬‬ ‫‪Ḥadīth No. 4986‬‬ ‫‪Madinah.‬ںیم‪ in‬ااقتنل ایک۔ ہی‬ ‫ادس اھتدمہنی‬ ‫‪Qur’an,‬ردیسہوادلہےننج اک انم افہمط تنب‬ ‫رمع‬ ‫یک‬ ‫ایساسل ‪4‬رجہی ےکآرخںیمرضحتیلعؓ‬ ‫‪a mother to the Holy Prophet , because‬‬ ‫ںیمیبملیبملرقٔاںیت ڑپےتھےھت۔ انچہچناکیرواتیےسہتپاتلچےہ‬ ‫یلص‪of‬اہلل‪ّ demise‬‬ ‫‪after the‬‬ ‫آرضحنت‪his‬‬ ‫‪paternal grandfather‬‬ ‫‪should be remembered that the Holy Qur’an was‬‬ ‫یکامںیکاقمئاقممںیھت‬ ‫ہیلعولس‬ ‫ایک۔‪3) It‬ہی زبرگ اخوتن وگای‬ ‫اک انم افہمط تنب ادس اھت دمہنی ںیم ااقتنل‬ ‫ےناکییہدجہتینعیفصنبشیکامنزںیمرقآن‬ ‫ہکاکیدہعفآپ ‪gradually revealed over a span of twenty-three years,‬ل‬ ‫‪Abdul-Muttalib, it was she who raised the‬‬ ‫اہلل ‪ّ years to‬‬ ‫‪Prophet‬‬ ‫‪in her own home‬‬ ‫‪as her own.‬‬ ‫‪or twenty-two and a half‬‬ ‫‪be precise.‬‬ ‫‪Although‬‬ ‫‪Holy‬دعب اوہنںےن یہ‬ ‫وافت ےک‬ ‫دادادبعابلطملیک‬ ‫یکامںیکاقمئاقممںیھت۔ویکہکنآپ ےک‬ ‫ہیلعولس‬ ‫آرضحنت یلص‬ ‫مجنپہصح‬ ‫ےک‬ ‫رکمی‬ ‫رشفییکیلہپاپچنوسروتںیکومجمیعوطررپرقآن‬ ‫ل‬ ‫‪She loved the Holy Prophet dearly, and he‬‬ ‫‪there would be pauses in between and on certain days‬‬ ‫وروےسییھبوہآرضحن‬ ‫رطحاپالاھت‬ ‫‪by‬وچبںیک‬ ‫‪demise.‬ںیم‪her‬اےنپ‬ ‫‪Upon‬اےنپرھگ‬ ‫اوہنںےن‪a‬یہ آپ وک‬ ‫وافت ےک‬ ‫دادادبعابلطملیک‬ ‫ےک‬ ‫‪deeply‬ا ‪was‬‬ ‫‪saddened‬‬ ‫‪larger portion‬‬ ‫‪be revealed‬‬ ‫‪at once; however,‬‬ ‫‪would‬دعب ‪9‬‬ ‫اوریہیوہ‬ ‫یھت۔‬ ‫رفامیئ‬ ‫رقٔات‬ ‫ابرتلبیت‬ ‫اور‬ ‫ںیہایھٹک‬ ‫ےکربارب یتنب‬ ‫‪seeing the body of the deceased,‬‬ ‫‪the eyes of‬‬ ‫‪in mathematical terms, if the total number of verses‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ںیھت۔‪the‬اسےئلانیکو‬ ‫ےستہبتبحم‬ ‫‪with‬ہیلع‬ ‫یلصاہلل‬ ‫آرضحنت‬ ‫‪Holy‬وہ‬ ‫وروےسییھب‬ ‫رطحاپالاھتا‬ ‫وچبںیک‬ ‫ںیماےنپ‬ ‫ریتھک‪Holy‬‬ ‫‪Prophet‬‬ ‫ولس ‪began‬‬ ‫‪to flow‬‬ ‫‪tears.‬‬ ‫‪of the‬‬ ‫‪Qur’an, which‬‬ ‫‪equal 6,234‬‬ ‫‪are divided‬‬ ‫‪by‬‬ ‫اجےت‬ ‫وتمرموہ‬ ‫ےبملایقمںیہنجیکوہجےساسباواقتآپےکاپؤں‬ ‫‪In his immense love, the Holy Prophet gave the total number of days which span the propheticّ era‬‬ ‫وکدھکیرکآپیکآںیھکن‬ ‫انیکوافتاکآپوکتہب دصہموہااورانیکشعن‬ ‫ولسےستہبتبحمریتھکںیھت۔اس‬ ‫راضمن ‪his own shirt to serve as her shroud. He stood‬‬ ‫‪of the Holy‬‬ ‫‪Prophet , which according to the lunar‬‬ ‫ےئلہل‬ ‫رہاسلام‬ ‫ےھت۔‪10‬اورضعبرواوتیںےسہتپاتگلےہہکآپ‬ ‫‪her grave and made all the arrangements‬‬ ‫‪system, equate to approximately 7,970 days, this equals‬‬ ‫صیمق‪in‬ااتر رک اںیہن انہپ‬ ‫آںیھکنرُپآبوہںیئگ۔ ووف لرتبحمںیمآپ ےناینپ‬ ‫وکدھکیرکآپیک‬ ‫‪day.‬یکشعن‬ ‫‪This‬ان‬ ‫دصہم‪the‬وہا‪is‬اور‬ ‫‪for her burial himself. When she was being‬‬ ‫‪0.78, i.e., less than one‬‬ ‫‪verse per‬‬ ‫‪very‬‬ ‫وررفامایرکےتےھت‬ ‫د‬ ‫رشفیاک‬ ‫ںیمربجلیہیلعاالسلمےکاسھترقآن‬ ‫ل‬ ‫َ‬ ‫َ َّ ْ‬ ‫ً‬ ‫َ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ٰ‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫ہحفص‬ ‫دلج‪1‬‬ ‫زراقین‬ ‫ارتےو‬ ‫‪119،120‬‬ ‫‪Holy‬ہحفص‬ ‫اشہمدلج‪1‬‬ ‫(‪)8‬انب‬ ‫(وسرۃرفاقن‪:‬‬ ‫یلمعریسفتےہ‬ ‫رقآینآتییک‬ ‫یہیاس‬ ‫ےہاور‬ ‫‪lowered‬‬ ‫‪into‬‬ ‫‪her‬‬ ‫‪the‬‬ ‫‪Prophet‬‬ ‫ہکرتلنہ ترِتیل )‪of‬‬ ‫‪, Sūrah‬‬ ‫‪Al-Furqan,‬‬ ‫‪Verse‬‬ ‫‪33),‬‬ ‫دتنیفاکااظتنموخد‬ ‫نیفکتو‬ ‫بس‬ ‫‪grave,‬اور‬ ‫ںیم‬ ‫ربق‬ ‫انیک‬ ‫‪explanation‬انہپیئ اور وخد‬ ‫اںیہن‬ ‫ااتر رک‬ ‫ےناینپ صیمق‬ ‫ووف لرتبحمںیمآپ ‪11‬‬ ‫‪meaning,‬وک‬ ‫ڑکٹےابت‬ ‫ابںیتاس‬ ‫بس‬ ‫‪down‬ااتراہی‬ ‫رفامای۔‬ ‫لمکم‬ ‫دہعف‬ ‫‪offered the following supplication274،273‬‬ ‫‪in a very‬‬ ‫‪‘We‬‬ ‫دور ‪the‬‬ ‫‪Qur’an‬‬ ‫‪at once,‬‬ ‫‪did‬آہتسہ‬ ‫‪not‬ہتسہ‬ ‫‪send‬تہب آ‬ ‫ہکلب‬ ‫تخلکی ںیہن‬ ‫رقآن وک‬ ‫ےن‬ ‫دو ینعی مہ‬ ‫ور آرخی اسل‪)33‬‬ ‫‪emotional‬‬ ‫‪rather,‬‬ ‫‪revealed‬‬ ‫‪it slowly‬‬ ‫بس‪and‬‬ ‫‪gradually‬‬ ‫’‪in parts.‬‬ ‫ےنرتّقرھبیآوازںیمرف‬ ‫ُاتریںیئگوتآپ‬ ‫وہربقاتکبںیما‬ ‫ااظتنم‬ ‫دتنیفاک‬ ‫نیفکتو‬ ‫ارتےاور‬ ‫‪voice:‬رکوعہ‬ ‫اٰولصلۃاببما یقول الرجل فی‬ ‫بجاوبداؤد‬ ‫وخدایک۔ اور (‪)9‬‬ ‫ںیمااتراےہ۔‬ ‫ربقرکےک‬ ‫ڑکٹے‬ ‫یقیقح‬ ‫اک‬ ‫عمج‬ ‫اور‬ ‫رتبیت‬ ‫یک‬ ‫رشفی‬ ‫رقآن‬ ‫ہک‬ ‫ںیہ‬ ‫رکیت‬ ‫ینیقی وطر رپاظرہ‬ ‫)‬ ‫‪10‬‬ ‫(‬ ‫آن‬ ‫ارقل‬ ‫اضفلئ‬ ‫اخبری‬ ‫)‬ ‫‪4‬‬ ‫(‬ ‫اخبریاوبابالتہُجد َ ْ ً َ َ ْ ُ ْ َ ْ َ ُ‬ ‫ہ‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫َ‬ ‫)‪4‬‬ ‫*‬ ‫‪Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī,‬‬ ‫‪Kitābu‬‬ ‫‪Faḍā’ilil-Qur’an,‬‬ ‫‪Bābu‬‬ ‫‪Kāna‬‬ ‫یعرضیرالق ٓراا ٍّنم‘‘ دخااعتٰیلںیہمت‬ ‫جبریل ِت خ‬ ‫ارقلآنرابابلقکاند کن‬ ‫اضفلئم خی‬ ‫� ِم‬ ‫اك‬ ‫آوازںیم‬ ‫ےنرتّقرھبی‬ ‫ُاتریںیئگوتآپ‬ ‫م آرضحنت (‪)5‬ںیم‬ ‫اہللااتکباضفلئ ّ‬ ‫سپزدیرفامای‪’’:‬ج (ز ِ‬ ‫اتکبن ا ٍّ‬ ‫ارقلآنابباتکبایبنل‬ ‫یلصاخبری‬ ‫‪)11‬اخبری‬ ‫اھت۔‬ ‫وہایگ‬ ‫یہ‬ ‫یکزدنیگںیم‬ ‫ہیلعولس‬ ‫‪Jibrīlu Ya‘ridul-Qur’ana ‘Alan-Nabiyyisa, Ḥadīth No.‬‬ ‫(‪)6‬حتف ْ ُ‬ ‫اابلریمدلج َ‪9‬خ ْی ًہحفصرا َل‪َ،19‬ق ْ‬ ‫‪311‬ات ُ‪326‬‬ ‫زراقینُک ْندلج ِ‪3‬ہحفص َ ْ َ‬ ‫ہحفص‬ ‫‪9‬‬ ‫دلج‬ ‫اابلری‬ ‫حتف‬ ‫ارقلآنو‬ ‫عمج‬ ‫ابب‬ ‫ارقلآن‬ ‫اضفلئ‬ ‫اتکب‬ ‫اخبری‬ ‫)‬ ‫‪12‬‬ ‫(‬ ‫رتہبنیزجادےمت‬ ‫ےننبیک‬ ‫ایھچ‪the‬امں‬ ‫اکیتہب‬ ‫ریمی‬ ‫‪“May‬‬ ‫‪God‬‬ ‫‪Exalted‬‬ ‫‪grant‬‬ ‫ےس‪you‬‬ ‫رطف‪the‬‬ ‫ںیہمتریمی ‪best‬‬ ‫اعتٰیل‪4997,‬‬ ‫ت خیر ام‘‘ دخا‪4998‬‬ ‫د‬ ‫ا‬ ‫نباثتبےکعمج ِمن‬ ‫ٍّ‬ ‫ٍّ‬ ‫رضحت‬ ‫ےن‬ ‫اوہنں‬ ‫ہک‬ ‫ےہ‬ ‫رماد‬ ‫ہی‬ ‫رصف‬ ‫ےس‬ ‫رکےن‬ ‫ارقلآن وحتف اابلری دلج‬ ‫‪Faḍā’ilil-Qur’an,‬اضفلئ‬ ‫‪Bābul-Qurrā’i‬و دنسم ادمح وحباہلٰوکشمۃ‬ ‫(‪ )7‬اوب داؤد و رتذمی‬ ‫‪reward for having been a very good18،17‬‬ ‫;‪mother‬‬ ‫‪* Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī,‬‬ ‫‪Kitābu‬‬ ‫‪14‬‬ ‫‪for‬ہصحا ّولںیمہی‬ ‫‪you‬ےک‬ ‫اتکب‬ ‫اضفلئ۔‬ ‫ںیھت‬ ‫امں‬ ‫اببیفایھچ‬ ‫اامعللیہ‬ ‫‪20‬وہحفص‬ ‫‪9‬ہحفص‪،19‬‬ ‫اہنتی‬ ‫زجا‬ ‫ایھچامں‬ ‫‪395003,‬تہب‬ ‫اکی‬ ‫ریمی‬ ‫‪indeed‬ارقلآن‬ ‫لضفیف‬ ‫اکی‪)13‬زنک‬ ‫‪Min‬متًاتقیقح (‬ ‫‪were‬‬ ‫ارقلآن ‪a‬‬ ‫‪most‬‬ ‫‪exemplary‬‬ ‫‪No. 4999,‬‬ ‫‪5004‬‬ ‫دےوک‬ ‫‪Aṣḥābin-Nabiyyisa,‬دیجم‬ ‫لےکمکحاورانیکرگناینےکامتحترقآن‬ ‫وبرکبؓمہفیلخ ا ّو‬ ‫‪Ḥadīth‬ےننبیکرتہبنی ل‬ ‫”‪mother.‬‬ ‫(‪)14‬اترخیاسیمخلدلج‪1‬ہحفص‪526‬‬ ‫یہایھچامںںیھت۔ ‪ 14‬اتکبےکہصحا ّولںیمہیایبنایکاجاکچےہ ہک افہمط تنب ادس اور اوب اطبل یک رنہنی اوالد اچرڑل‬ ‫کی فحصم ینعی دلج ای اتکب یک وصرت ںیم ااھٹک رک ےک اھکل اتہک‬ ‫افہمط تنب ادس اور اوب اطبل یک رنہنی اوالد اچرڑلوکں ینعی اطبل ‪ ،‬لیقع‪ ،‬رفعج اور رضحت یلع رپ لمتشم یھت اور اکی‬ ‫رضحنتیلصاہللہک ّ‬ ‫ہیلعولسےکرمبترکدہرقآنیکاکی�اور‬

‫‪name was Fatimah bint Asad, passed away‬‬ ‫‪saw‬‬

‫‪saw‬‬

‫‪saw‬‬

‫‪saw‬‬

‫‪saw‬‬

‫‪saw‬‬

‫‪saw‬‬

‫‪14‬‬

5) Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābu Faḍā’ilil-Qur’an, Bābu Kātibin-

Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī,

Nabiyyisa, Ḥadīth No. 4989-4990

Volume 2, p. 6, Islamul-Fārūq, Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)

6) * Fatḥul-Bārī Sharḥu Ṣaḥīḥil-Bukhārī, By Al-Imām Aḥmad bin Ḥajar Al-‘Asqalānī, Volume 9, p. 27, Kitābu

9) Sunanu Abī Dāwūd, Kitābuṣ-Salat, Bābu Mā Yaqūlur-

Faḍā’ilil-Qur’an, Bābu Kātibin-Nabiyyisa, Ḥadīth No.

Rajulu Fī Rukū‘ihī Wa Sujūdihī, Ḥadīth No. 874

4990, Qadīmī Kutub Khānah, Ārām Bāgh, Karachi * Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-

10) Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābut-Tahajjud, Bābu Qiyāmin-

Ladunniyyah, By Allāmah Shihābuddīn Al-Qusṭalānī,

Nabiyyisa Bil-Lail....., Ḥadīth No. 1130

Volume 4, p. 559, Fī Imrā’ihī Wa Rasūlihī Wa

11) Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābu Faḍā’ilil-Qur’an, Bābu Kāna

Kuttābihī....., Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon,

Jibrīlu Ya‘ridul-Qur’ana ‘Alan-Nabiyyisa

First Edition (1996) 12) * Ṣaḥīḥul-Bukhārī, Kitābu Faḍā’ilil-Qur’an, Bābu 7) * Mishkātul-Maṣābīḥ, Volume 2, p. 417, Kitābu

Jam‘il-Qur’an, Ḥadīth No. 4986, 4987

Faḍā’ilil-Qur’an, Bābu Ikhtilāfil-Qi ā’āti Wa Jam‘ilQur’an, Al-Faṣluth-Thālith, Ḥadīth No. 2222, Dārul-Kutubil-

* Fatḥul-Bārī Sharḥu Ṣaḥīḥil-Bukhārī, By Al-Imām Aḥmad

‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (2003)

bin Ḥajar Al-‘Asqalānī, Volume 9, pp. 14/16/24, Kitābu

* Fatḥul-Bārī Sharḥu Ṣaḥīḥil-Bukhārī, By Al-Imām Aḥmad

Faḍā’ilil-Qur’an, Bābu Jam‘il-Qur’an, Qadīmī Kutub

bin Ḥajar Al-‘Asqalānī, Volume 9, p. 27, Kitābu Faḍā’ilil-

Khānah, Ārām Bāgh, Karachi

Qur’an, Bābu Kātibin-Nabiyyisa, Ḥadīth No. 4990, Qadīmī Kutub Khānah, Ārām Bāgh, Karachi

13) Kanzul-‘Ummāl Fī Sunanil-Aqwāli Wal-Af‘āl, By Imām

* Fatḥul-Bārī Sharḥu Ṣaḥīḥil-Bukhārī, By Al-Imām Aḥmad

‘Alā’uddīn Ali Al-Muttaqī bin ḤusāmidDīn Al-Hindi,

bin Ḥajar Al-‘Asqalānī, Volume 9, p. 50, Kitābu Faḍā’ilil-

Volume 2, p. 124, Kitābul-Adhkār....., Bābun Fil-Qur’ani

Qur’an, Bābu Ta’līfil-Qu ’an, Qadīmī Kutub Khānah,

Faṣlun Fī Faḍa’ilil-Qur’ani Muṭlaqan, Ḥadīth No. 4016,

Ārām Bāgh, Karachi

Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon (2004)

8) * As-Sīratun-Nabawiyyah, By Abu Muḥammad

14) Tārīkhul-Khamīs Fī Aḥwāli Anfasi Nafīs, By Ḥusain

‘Abdul-Mālik bin Hishām, p. 252, Islamu Umar bin Al-

bin Muḥammad bin Ḥasan, Volume 1, p. 468, Wafātu

Khaṭṭāb....., Dārul-Kutubil-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon,

Fāṭimata Ummi ‘Aliyyibni Abī Ṭālib, Mu’assasatu

First Edition (2001)

Sha‘bān, Beirut

* Sharḥul-‘Allāmatiz-Zarqānī ‘Alal-Mawāhibil-

Taken from ‘The Life and Character of the Seal of Prophets

(May Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon him)’, Volume II,

By Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad M.A., p.390-393, 401

TARBIYYAT PAGE Make the Waaqifeen Children Pleasant Mannered Some future needs of the Jama’at are related to affability and civil manners about which I have spoken in the past and which I would like to emphasize again. Great attention should be paid to the moral conduct of the Waaqifeen children. They should be taught amiable manners. One aspect of good morals is related to high moral qualities and I have spoken about it several times. The other aspect of good morals, generally known as affability, is the ability by which one makes more friends and few enemies.

An ill-tempered person cannot be a good Waaqif. A bad-tempered person can be called a Mulla (pedagogue) but he cannot be a good spiritual man.

Once I received complaints that a certain Waaqife-zindaghee was surly and rude to people. When I drew his attention to it, he said; “They are lying.

There is nothing wrong with me. I am following the right path. They have certain faults. When I bring these faults to their attention they get upset”. I said to him that Hazrat Muhammadsaw was the one who paid the greatest attention to human faults.

There was an enormous disparity between himsaw and the people of hissaw time, while the disparity between him and the Ahmadi youth did not equal even a one thousandth of a percent. Besides Hazrat Muhammadsaw was an immaculately innocent person while he himself had some faults. The people that Hazrat Muhammadsaw was addressing had vices of all kinds while the young men he was dealing with were well-mannered, polished and a hundred times better than any young men outside the Jama’at. What was the reason that they got offended when he advised them to mend their ways whereas people fell in love with Hazrat Muhammadsaw when he told them to cast off their evil ways? I told him that it was not unusual to get complaints about a missionary once in a while. A man who has been assigned to do a job cannot please all and some people are likely to get offended. But when there is a flux of complaints about one person then this couplet by Ghalib (Urdu poet) is true about him: Sternness in speech is permissible, but not to the extent that Whoever you talk to should complain about it

SOME GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION OF THE NEW GENERATION OF WAAQIFEEN Friday Sermon delivered by Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IV (May Allah have mercy on him) on February 17th 1989 in Holland.

Their Good Manners Should Win the Hearts of People Teach affable manners to your children so that they can talk sweetly and their love can conquer the hearts of people and move the hearts of strangers and even of enemies. In this way they can penetrate the high society.

Otherwise, neither tarbiyat (training) nor tabligh (propagation) is possible. Some Muballagheen (missionaries) are blessed with this ability, so even in a brief meeting with the great dignitaries of their countries they are able to captivate them and as a result, great opportunities for tabligh become available to the Jama’at.

‘Sermons on Waqf-e-Nau’ by Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IVrh, p. 54-56 https://www.alislam.org/book/sermons-waqf-e-nau/

My Experience as a Project Manager of the Oxford/ AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Trial

BY UZMA KHAN

Choosing Research as a Career: The Holy Qur’an states:

“You are the best people raised for the good of mankind; you enjoin good and forbid evil and believe in Allah.” (3:111) In this verse, Muslims have been instructed by Allah the Almighty to serve mankind and promote goodness. If they fail to achieve this, then they cannot state that they are the “best people”. Thereby, Islam teaches that Muslims must always be ready to serve mankind and have love and kindness for all of Allah’s creation. One form of abiding by this verse and serving humanity is by working in the field of research. Hazuraba in his Friday Sermon on the essence of the Waqf-e-Nau also encouraged us to work and excel in the field of research: “….I will advise the students that they should go into research in different disciplines of science as well. And in this, generally, both Waqfeene Nau and other students are included. If, in various departments of science, our best scientists are produced, then, in future, whereas the Ahmadis will give the religious education and the world will depend on us to learn about the faith; there will be Ahmadis who will be imparting the secular knowledge as well.” (Friday Sermon – the Essence of a Waqfe Nau 28th October 2016) I embarked on my journey of becoming a Project Manager by graduating with a First-Class Honours Bachelors in Physiology and Pharmacology from the University of Westminster.

Subsequently, I completed my post-graduation masters in Preventative Cardiology from Imperial College London. During my final BSc year, I lost my father due to a sudden heart attack. I routinely wrote to Hazuraba to request special prayers for me to cope with the loss of my father and also continue to stay focused and committed in my education. Although I faced a very personal hardship in my life by losing my father during my BSc time, I can confidently say that solely due to the result of Hazur’saba dua for me as a Waqf, my achievements were remarkable enough to enlist me into the Dean’s list of high achievers. Following this, I also qualified to receive the Academic Award at Jalsa Salana 2015 and 2017 for my BSc and MSc qualifications respectively from Hazuraba. Subsequently, the decision to undertake a postgraduate degree as per Hazur’saba guidance also resulted in me being able to work in a vast variety of research fields and eventually lead to working as a Project Manager in Infectious and Immunity diseases a year prior to the pandemic.

Normal Trial vs COVID-19 Trial Under normal circumstances, a clinical trial set up can take up to 3-5 months. This primarily depends on the nature and complexity of the trial and the arrangements that are required to be made prior to initiating the trial. Among many factors, some may be:

Factors

Brief explanation

Applications to regulatory authorities are submitted, laying out purpose of trial and the design that will be followed

Approval must be granted prior to initiating the study at any participating site

Contractual agreements - Financial agreements - Milestone agreements

The more selected sites there are in a study, the longer it may take to set up the contractual agreements due to local policies/differences

Pre-site selection visit

Completed to assess the site facilities at which research activities will take place

Consumable/equipment orders

The more experienced a site is, the fewer equipment related orders may be needed.

However, consumables will be required as they are study specific

Laboratory arrangements

For study designs that require laboratory sample processing.

N/A to data collection survey etc.

Study specific training and site initiation visit

To complete paperwork relative to the study and sign off all documents that reflect study specific training has been completed

The above-mentioned activities are a basic checklist which were all expedited in the light of the urgency that the pandemic presented itself in terms of the high prevalence and mortality figures. Initially, as the regulations and guidelines took a while to establish, quite a few of our trials were still on-going whereby we conducted home-visits to facilitate our paediatric participants – this we could foresee to change in the near future. Just before the Oxford Vaccine Group approached our team to take part in the COVID-19 vaccine development trial, most of the other studies were put on hold as they did not classify as an urgent public health study anymore and presented a higher risk of staff and volunteers being subjected to the COVID-19 virus.

As part of the Infection and Immunity research institute, our team had an established infrastructure and facilities required to conduct such a fast paced and challenging study. We were an experienced team of chief/ principal investigators, clinical research fellows, research nurses, research midwives and project managers, but nobody had worked under the influence of a pandemic previously. This meant that everyone’s input in this trial from the setup to recruitment and ongoing follow up phase required an extra effort and sacrifice in time and energy. Thereby, the mental and physical adaptation to working in the pandemic environment and successfully manage this trial was not an unfamiliar situation for me but there was an additional pressure of being labelled as a ‘critical worker’ which increased with time as the numbers of deaths across the globe increased.

Moreover, the preparation, conduction and administration of this trial were very different to the previous trials I had been involved in. We were required to adapt to ever changing and newly emerging information and then subsequently undertake training in a short amount of time in order to be ready to implement the new change. Furthermore, our site recruited more than 400 participants into the trial and as the project manager of the study, I was required to continuously sustain a line of communication with our participants and keep them informed about the developing changes in the trial. I remember writing to Hazuraba on a monthly basis to request for his prayers in the success of our trial and development of a vaccine that could help the thousands of people who were suffering from the COVID-19 virus.

As the project manager of this trial, I was responsible for ensuring that the current study procedures were being followed, within the allocated budget and in compliance with the regulatory requirements. Additionally:

• Coordinating and managing the collection of research follow-up data according to the trial protocol • Ensuring data is collected on time and study visits were being held on time • Communicating with trial participants • Completing trial monitoring procedures • Keeping the investigator site file up to date with current documents and any new amendments that were received • Ensuring new team members were appropriately trained prior to working on the trial; it was mandatory to hold a good clinical practice certificate and be familiar with study standard operating procedures Prior to the pandemic, I was managing 6-8 trials at the same time but the major difference this time around was the complexity and scale of the COVID-19 vaccine development trial which required an extraordinary amount of effort and commitment. I certainly feel that my training and experience of serving in the Jama’at presented itself as a blessing in disguise. Having served in the national General Secretary team and having volunteered in MTA on a regular basis for 12 years, provided me the basis of self-discipline, steadfastness and resilience to working under pressure which were all skills that I could transfer into this job.

Release of Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine Each and every visit that a participant completed for the trial, provided us with invaluable data for the success of the vaccine. During the recruitment and follow up phase of the trial, one of the many continuous tasks that we completed were data cleaning and answering queries. As with any clinical study, the primary focuses of the trial were a) to ensure participant safety and b) to ensure that the data is collected in an unbiased way and stored securely. The more follow up visits that were completed by participants (across all sites), the closer we were reaching to the point of being able to complete an interim data analysis and see preliminary results of the vaccine. This would allow the statistical data management team to measure variables of interest

in an established methodical fashion that answered predetermined research questions, test the study hypotheses and evaluate outcomes of safety and efficacy of the trial vaccine. As the study design of the trial was a randomised controlled trial, we were blinded to the type of vaccine given to a participant (either ChAdOx1 nCOV-19; study vaccine or MenACWY; control vaccine. Thereby, for us, it was imperative to ensure all the data was accurately measured and collected as either way it would contribute to the results of the study.

The process of data cleaning involved contacting participants occasionally to ensure that any ambiguity on participant history were ironed out. Additionally, participants were continuously reminded to report any unexpected symptoms to an on-call doctor so that those could also be recorded and assessed appropriately. These activities took a serious turn when we were given a data cleaning deadline by the Oxford team to ensure that all the data could be submitted to the regulatory bodies on a designated date to assess the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. This was jointly actioned by the entire team just before the winter break.

Alhamdolillah, the work that commenced in March 2020 finally provided its initial results in December 2020. On 30th December 2020, University of Oxford was able to publish the news that the UK government had accepted the recommendation from the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency to authorise the emergency use of ChAdOx1 nCOV-19 vaccine in the United Kingdom. Once the vaccine was approved, AstraZeneca worked in collaboration with Oxford University to globally manufacture and distribute the vaccine across the globe. At this point and throughout the trial period, I have been continuously very grateful to Allah the Almighty for giving me this incredible opportunity. As for everyone, this has also been one of my unthinkable experiences of living in a lockdown; further strengthening my realisation that this world is fully under the control of our Creator.

Under His Divine law of nature, one virus brought the entire world to a standstill and even motivated us to develop innovative ways to stay connected within the Jama’at. Being able to work on reverting this ‘new’ normal and preserving the real connected way of living between humans has been a humbling opportunity and as mentioned only been possible by perusing a career recommended by Hazuraba .

I would strongly recommend for any Waqf-e-Nau to embark on a career in this field as it is very rewarding to be able to contribute to developments that help humanity and treat diseases. *For any further information about the progress of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, please go to: https://covid19vaccinetrial.co.uk

2020 A Year to Remember Another factor this year that was massively affected was Ramadan (the month of fasting) leading to the event of Eid-ul-Fitr. Considering the new lockdown rules and regulations, we weren’t allowed to invite friends and family for Iftar (opening of the fast) so instead we delivered home-made meals to each of their families. Another opportunity lockdown gave to us, was being able As a year 8 preparing for future studies, I was emito help the elderly and donating food, clothes and nently dedicated to my school work. This is when PPE to the local food banks. Eventually Ramadan we were hit with our very first lockdown. My pricame to an end concluding with Eid-ul-Fitr. Instead mary thought was complete contentment that I of having a get-together, my family and I visited would no longer have to attend school, but as time our friends and family in a social distancing progressed my opinion changed. I was finding it manner; distributing sweets and Eid gifts to profoundly hard to focus as there was no everyone. Ramadan and Eid this year were the instructor to guide me through my work; without a most memorable yet and I know will forever be teacher I would get very easily distracted. engraved in my memory.

Nevertheless, what helped me exceedingly were 2020 was not what any of us hoped it would be, online classes and courses prepared by voluntary but it has benefitted us all in one way or another, teachers from my community. They covered a whether that is by allowing us to help those in broad range of subjects; French, Spanish, Urdu, need, learn a new skill or even by helping our English, maths, science, moral and religious studies loved ones, we should all be thankful for everyand also lessons on different skills like baking, thing this year has helped us with. May Allah help graphic designing, photography, creative writing us get through this time and slowly make the and art. I’m remarkably overwhelmed by their flame burning our world die out. Ameen. generosity; because of these lessons I was able to learn 2 new skills: photography and graphic Sajia Majeed, 13 years old designing. If we were never put into lockdown, this never would have happened.

This year has been a small flame slowly expanding, crumbling our world. Blazing Australian fires illuminating the earth, men, women fighting for the freedom they deserve and a deadly virus causing loved ones to perish and locking us up in our own homes. Yet, every negative our society has faced always has its positives.

Waqf-e-Nau Women and Girls from Mauritius have Honour of a Virtual Meeting with the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community On 20th December 2020, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaba, held a virtual online meeting with female members of the Waqf-e-Nau Scheme from Mauritius.

Hazuraba presided the meeting from his office in Islamabad, Tilford, whilst the Waqf-e-Nau members joined from the Darus Salaam Mosque in Rose Hill, which serves as the National Headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Mauritius.

The event started with the recitation and translation of verses of the Holy Qur’an, followed by a poem and a brief report outlining the activities of the Waqf-e-Nau in Mauritius.

For the rest of the hour-long meeting, members of Waqf-e-Nau had the opportunity to ask Hazuraba a series of questions regarding their faith and contemporary issues.

Hazuraba was asked about Qur’anic verse that ‘And we have not created the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in vain’ (chapter 38, verse 28) and that some people asked the value and benefit of certain living beings such as insects.

In reply, Hazuraba said: “Allah has not created anything in vain. No part of creation is useless. For example, a scorpion’s venom has been used in certain medicines. The same is true of snake venom, which has been used in homeopathy. There are other medicines that have been developed using insects or creatures that might otherwise have been considered useless. So, there are quite a number of things which though we may not understand their purpose, Allah has instilled within them some purpose and so none of His creation is useless.”

Hazuraba was asked about social media and whether it was advisable for young girls to permit their non-Ahmadi friends to post photos of them together on social media.

In response, Hazuraba said: “If you are of an age where you observe Hijab and take a photo with your friends then you should ask them not to post your photos on social media. To avoid risk, try to avoid having such photos taken in the first place but where they are taken then, as I said, ask your friends not to post them on social media. If they are your good friends, they will accept and honour your request.”

Another Waqf-e-Nau member asked how a person can attain the love of God Almighty and know that God is satisfied with them.

In response, Hazuraba said: “If you always obey what Allah the Almighty has said then you will acquire His love. There are quite a hundreds of commandments in the Holy Qur’an and so if you follow all of them then you will attain the love of Allah the Almighty. If you are properly worshipping Allah the Almighty then you can attain the love of Allah the Almighty.

However, if you are disobeying Him then Allah cannot be satisfied and happy with you.”

Hazuraba was asked how children should respond if their parents disciplined or punished them. In response, Hazuraba said that parents should not scold their children for trivial or small matters and should instead guide their children with love and kindness. He also stated that parents should particularly treat their daughters with tenderness and in a gentle way.

Hazuraba said: “The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) said that he did not like for parents to unnecessarily scold their children over petty things. Rather he taught they should show patience and should pray for their children that Allah the Almighty may reform them and remove their shortcomings and the problems they have.”

In addition, Hazuraba also said that children, as they grew older, also had a responsibility to follow the commandments of God Almighty.

Another Waqf-e-Nau mentioned the prevalence of illegal drugs in society and how the lives of young people were being gravely harmed through their use.

In response, Hazuraba stated that the use of illegal drugs was a huge social problem across the world.

He strongly condemned drugs cartels and suppliers as totally immoral and stated that they were corrupting societies worldwide. Hazuraba expressed his dismay and horror at the fact that there were now drug dealers who were even ensnaring young children into the fold of their crimes by using them as mules for their illicit activities.

Hazuraba said: “The use of drugs is prevalent everywhere in the world and is being controlled by a large mafia, who are even utilising school children to sell their drugs. They offer them a small amount of drugs for free and when they become addicted then they ask them, ‘Okay, we shall give you more drugs free of cost if you sell them for us among your fellow students or others.’

So, the society is now completely corrupted. There are no morals in the society. They do not care what they are doing with their children and the children of the nation.”

Hazuraba further stated: “So, we must be very vigilant and parents must keep a close eye and advise their children about the dangers of bad company and the main thing is to pray for your children that they are never involved in such type of dangerous habits. Further, if you come to know of any person involved in such activities who are destroying the lives of children then you should inform the concerned authorities to take action against those people. Parents have to be very careful and watchful with regard to their children and their day-to-day activities and then pray for them.”

As the meeting drew to a close, a member of Waqf-e-Nau asked Hazuraba how to ensure that a person’s spiritual state never declines or falls back.

In reply, Hazuraba said: “Offer Istighfar – seeking the forgiveness of Allah the Almighty – continuously. Seek Allah’s Help. Beseech Him for His Help. Fervently pray to him that once you have attained a certain spiritual status that you never fall back. Offer the five daily prayers with regularity, as Allah the Almighty has said that the daily prayers are the best source of keeping a person safe and free from the harmful effects of the worldly, materialistic society. And whenever any bad thought enters your mind always remember that Allah the Almighty is watching over you and that your every deed and action is being watched by Him.” https://www.pressahmadiyya.com/press-releases/2020/12/waqf-e-nau-women-and-girls-from-mauritius-have-honour-ofa-virtual-meeting-with-the-head-of-the-ahmadiyya-muslim-community/

Kid’s Spread Focusing on Prayers & Waking Up for Tahajjud Ho w to wake u p fo r Tah ajju d pra ye r There are three types of prayers: Fardh (obligatory), Sunnah

(performed by the Holy Prophetsaw) and Nawafil (voluntary). Some

Nawafil are performed during the day, others carry special blessing and are performed during the late part of the night instead. These are called Tahajjud prayers. Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:

“Verily, getting up at night is the most potent means of subduing

the self and most effective in respect of words of prayer ”. (73:7) On the next page are different tips on how to wake up for

Tahajjud prayer. Match the cards on the left to their explanation on the right side.

Good Luck!

Pe r fo r m Wu d h u b efo re g o i n g to b e d …

s o it is ea s ie r fo r yo u to ph ys ically remo ve yo u r s elf f ro m yo u r b e d in th e mo r n i n g.

De c i d e f i r m ly at b e d t i m e to w ake u p fo r Ta h aj j u d ...

b e cau s e An g el s do n ot a s s o ciate w ith th e u nc lean an d do n ot a ppro ac h th em.

C h a n g e yo u r s o ft b e d to a h ar d o n e...

s o th e s o u l w ill b e at th e th o ug ht of o ut o n a e s s ent ial an d wake s yo u

re stle ss m is s in g pra ye r u p.

Do n ot p e r fo r m yo u r V itr pra ye r afte r Is h a pra ye r, d ela y it t i ll th e n ex t m o r n i n g...

s o yo u s p en d th e n ig ht in a state of w o r s h ip an d can ea s ily co nt in ue th is w h en yo u wake u p.

R e c ite s o m e Z i k r b efo re g o i n g to s le e p...

s o yo u fall a s lee p in a state of f re s h n e s s an d th u s wake u p ref re s h e d, rath e r th an s lee p y.

M ake s u re yo u r b e d a n d b e d d i n g are c le a n ...

Be cau s e th e w ill p o we r of yo u r m in d w ill h el p yo u r b o d y.

Ho w to m ai ntai n co ncentrat i o n i n pra ye r s There are different ways to ensure we stay focused whilst performing prayers.

The Holy Prophetsaw was once asked, “What is Ihsan (goodness)?” He responded,

“Pray to Allah as if you are seeing Him; but as a minimum be aware that He

is seeing you.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitabul-Iman, Bab Suaalin-Nabiyyi (sa) ‘AnilIman wal-Islam wal-Ihsan wa ‘Ilmis-Saa’ah)

Below are some further points to help increase concentration and focus in prayer. Circle the correct answer for each point!

1. If you are unable to concentrate in your prayer, recite the words of Namaz quickly / slowly

2. To help with your concentration, is it better to offer prayers in congregation / by yourself.

3. To help you visualise that you are standing before God, it is better to offer your prayers at home / in the mosque.

4. To stop your mind wandering, it is better to close your eyes / keep your eyes open and focus on the space between your feet.

5. To reduce distractions, it is better to have a separate area of your home reserved for worship which is simple and clean / decorated and busy.

6. To stay alert throughout prayer, during Qiyam, it is best to put all your weight on one leg / distribute your weight equally.

References: https://www.alislam.org/library/books/Remembrance-of-Allah.pdf

�(!Jo�� thatSofk,u the f/Jo-taliJeA, _. ..,__,. the� Our story begins with a young girl complaining to her father that life was miserable and she did not know how to move forward in life.

Upon hearing this her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot and ground coffee beans in the third pot. He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The young girl groaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing.

After twenty minutes he turned off the burners.

He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup. Turning to her, he asked.

"Daughter, what do you see?"

"Potatoes, eggs and coffee," she replied in an irritated tone.

"Look closer" he said, "and touch the potatoes." She did and noted that they were soft.

He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a sense of peace and happiness to her senses.

"Father, why did we do this? What does this m ean?" she asked.

He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity the boiling water. However, each one reacted differently. The potato went in strong, hard and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak.

The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became hard.

However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.

"Which one are you?" he asked his daughter.

"When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean?"

Moral of the story:

In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is how you choose to react to it and what you make out of it. Life is all about learning, adopting and converting all the struggles that we experience into something positive.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS CONCERNING WOMEN AND RAMADAN

By Naima Clarke As we once again approach the wonderful period of Ramadan, many of us have genuine dayto-day questions about the practicalities behind Ramadan and what it means for women.

This article will look into some frequently-asked-questions on this subject and aims to briefly answer those queries.

Do we have to make up for lost fasts during menstrual days?

Fasting is an incredible source of blessings and as such, women who are able to should endeavour to reap the blessings of fasting in all cases. Having said this, during the month of Ramadan, menstruating women are exempt from fasting but are still required to complete the missed fasts later on, this is according to the Holy Qur’an, Surah AlBaqarah, Verse 185-186.

Further concession is then also made for those Muslim women who are unable to complete their missed fasts later on as well; in such a case they are required to pay the fidya (a compensation for not fasting— in the form of feeding the poor).

(Holy Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 185) (The Significance of Ramadan, Aizaz Ahmad Khan) [https://www.alislam.org/articles/significance-of-ramadan/] When should a girl start fasting?

One should start fasting when one reaches the age of maturity, although this age differs from country to country, this is usually around the age of 17-18 years old. This is when it becomes farz (obligatory) to keep the fasts of Ramadan. Of course, practising much shorter fasts which are less in duration or intensity can be a practise if one wills at a slightly younger age.

(Gulshan e Waqfe Nau Melbourne, Australia Lajna Nasirat 12th Oct 2013) [https://www.alislam.org/video/from-what-age-fasts-becomeobligatory/] Does your fast break when menstruation starts?

As is the case with all the acts of a Muslim, they are judged and rewarded according to intention. If a woman establishes her Niyah (intention) to fast in the morning then she will indeed Insha’Allah reap the blessings of that fast. If, however her menstruation starts during a fast, she must open her fast as this automatically breaks it, but the reward for that fast will still be awarded to her as the niyah to fast was nevertheless intact.

(Ramadhan and its Blessings by Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad- Chapter 4- ‘Rules of Fasting’) [https://www.alislam.org/book/ramadhan-blessings/rules-of-fasting/]

What do I do if I start menstruating whilst sitting I’tikaaf?

Remember that every action is performed not to strong-arm the blessings of Allah, but rather to please and obey Him. A woman during her time of menstruation is not required to fast. Hence if a woman’s menstrual cycle starts during her time in I’tikaaf (a period of seclusion to focus on worship), she must discontinue the I’tikaaf. This is because she is neither liable nor able to fast in such a state, and the I’tikaaf is to be performed by those who are in a state of fasting. She should not however feel disheartened and should instead endeavour to reap the pleasure of Allah the Almighty through her obedience to Him and other forms of worship.

(‘Itikaaf Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions’ - Prepared by Tarbiyyat Department USA) [https://www.alislam.org/articles/itikaaf-guidelines-frequentlyasked-questions/] Can I do I’tikaaf at home?

Yes, one may sit I’tikaaf at home, if you can find a quiet place in the house where no one will disturb you during your worship. Having said this, one should remember that we endeavour to follow the ‘Mathnoon’ way- i.e., the way practised by the Holy Prophet Muhammadsaw. His way was observing the 10 days of I’tikaaf within the vicinity of the mosque, and so we emulate his example so as to reap as many blessings as possible.

Hazrat Musleh Maudra states: ‘I’tikaaf can be offered outside the mosque, but it will not carry the same blessings as the one offered at the mosque.’ (Farmoodat-e-Musleh Maud p.171). Ultimately, Allah knows and understands our individual circumstances and conditions and will reward us and judge us based on our intentions.

(‘Itikaaf Guidelines and Frequently Asked Questions’ - Prepared by Tarbiyyat Department USA) Can I leave my room during I’tikaaf?

The Promised Messiahas, whilst addressing two companions who were doing I’tikaaf, said:

‘It is not necessary that in I’tikaaf you only stay inside. You may go out on to the roof where it is warmer due to the sunlight - In the rooms down here it is cold. You may also speak about essential matters.

[But] One should be mindful of what is important. Every action of a believer (if done with the right intention and bearing the sanctity of I’tikaaf in mind) is a form of worship.’ (Fiqhul Masih p.220) This is a very befitting guiding principle, that the purpose of sitting I’tikaaf is the worship of God, that is the goal and the objective that should be continuously kept in mind. Gossip or meaningless wandering is a waste of precious time and divert one’s attention from the treasure trove of spirituality that is laid open during these days.

How can I achieve nearness to God if I am menstruating and not able to fast or pray?

Zikr-e-ilahi (the remembrance of Allah) is the true bond between Allah and His worshipper, and this can be done in many forms. Listening to the recitation of the Holy Qur’an or reading books about Islamic practice and spirituality are brilliant forms of worship to gain Allah’s nearness and knowledge during those days. Look past the obvious and understand that you are making this sacrifice out of obedience to the law of Allah, remember this is where the true sacrifice and reward lies. Allah resides closer than we imagine, He can be spoken to and confided in at all times - not just on the prayer mat.

(Pathway to Paradise, Lajna Imaillah USA, 1996, Chapter 1) [https://www.alislam.org/book/pathway-to-paradise/islamicbeliefs-teachings/]

Can I fast if I am pregnant/ breastfeeding?

Hazrat Anasra relates that the Holy Prophetsaw said: ‘Indeed, God has exempted a pregnant or a suckling woman from fasting.’ (The fasts thus lost can be kept after this period has passed. The same applies to a sick person and women during their monthly periods).

(Ibn Majah, hadith No. 1,667) In truth this is a gracious allowance given to women. The fact that women can reap the same blessings without partaking in the act itself is a gift and blessing from Allah and shows the love and compassion that our Beloved Creator has for His creation. It also goes hand in hand with the keeping of one’s health and ensures that the fast (which at times can be difficult) in no way impairs the health of the mother or that of her baby.

(Ramadhan and its Blessings by Sheikh Mubarak Ahmad- Chapter 4- ‘Rules of Fasting’) [https://www.alislam.org/book/ramadhan-blessings/rules-of-fasting/] Do I need to make up for fasts missed whilst pregnant/ breastfeeding?

Yes. One should make up for any fasts missed whilst pregnant or breastfeeding. This can either be done by giving fidya, or by completing fasts after the pregnancy/breastfeeding has finished.

When the Promised Messiahas would miss the fast due to health reasons he would in fact make up the fast and also pay the fidya for the sake of blessings. This is a practise which many women do as well in order to attain the pleasure of Allah the Almighty.

(Friday Sermon of September 21, 2007) [https://www.alislam.org/archives/2007/summary/FST20070921-EN.pdf]

How should I best avail my day during fasting?

Your day should be spent in zikr-e-ilahi, tasbeeh (glorifying Allah), recitation of the Holy Qur’an as much as possible and the performance of good deeds that will please Allah the Almighty. Remember the narrations of Satan being chained up and heaven drawing closer are metaphoric and mean that there is much greater opportunity and propensity for us to do good and adopt righteousness and piety in our lives during this month. Worship is not just an action, rather it is a way of life and involves everything we do. If we align our intentions in the way of pleasing God, everything we do forms a part of worship, be that fulfilling the rights of Allah, or indeed the rights of His creation.

(Friday Sermon, May 18th 2018) [https://www.alislam.org/friday-sermon/2018-05-18.html] Can I lead the prayer at home with my children?

Yes. A mother with children at home but no one else to lead her in congregational prayer, may lead her children or members of her household in prayer. She may lead a congregation of children of either gender, but not one consisting of adult men. In addition, as a point of note, a female imam stands in the middle of the front row, and not ahead of the congregation as in the case of a male imam.

[https://www.alislam.org/question/female-lead-congregational-prayer/] Why is Eid Prayer in congregation farz for women?

The Eid prayer is Sunnat-e-Mu‘akidah - a practice that the Prophet Muhammadsaw told us to follow. As such everyone should come for Eid prayer. Even women having their period should also come to the mosque, but they should not take part in the prayer and instead, occupy themselves in the remembrance of Allah. We read narrations to this effect that even menstruating women at the time of the Holy Prophetsaw were told to come to the mosque to partake in this community-wide celebration of Allah’s blessings.

[https://www.alislam.org/question/why-how-eid-ul-fitr-celebrated/]

THE TEN

MEN OF PARADISE (Part 1 of the series on the Ashra Mubashra) | By Naila Tahir What is meant by the term Ashra Mubashra?

Ashra in Arabic means 10 and ‘Mubashra’ means good news or glad tidings.1 The Ashra Mubashra were ten pious companions of the Holy Prophetsaw who were foretold the news by the Holy Prophetsaw in their lifetime that they would enter paradise after death.

“And whoso obeys Allah and this Messenger of His shall be among those on whom Allah has bestowed His blessings, namely, the Prophets, the Truthful, the Martyrs, and the Righteous. And excellent companions are these.” (Holy Qur’an 4:70) Of whom is the Ashra Mubashra comprised of?

The narration pertaining to these ten companions is recorded by Ahmad (1/193) and At-Tirmithee (no. 3747). ‘Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn ‘Awfra narrated that the Holy Prophetsaw said:

َ ْ ‫ال َّن ِة َو َع ِل ٌّي ِف‬ َ ْ ‫ال َّن ِة َو ُع َم ُر ِف‬ َ ْ ‫َأ ُبو َب ْك ٍر ِف‬ ‫ال َّن ِة َو ُعثْ َم ُان ِف‬ َ ْ ‫ال َّن ِة َوال ُّز َبيْ ُر ِف‬ َ ْ ‫ال َّن ِة َوطَ لْ َح ُة ِف‬ َْ ‫الر ْح َمنِ بْ ُن‬ َّ ‫ال َّن ِة َو َعبْ ُد‬ َ ْ ‫اص ِف‬ َ ْ ‫َع ْو ٍف ِف‬ ٍ ‫ال َّن ِة َو َس ْع ُد بْ ُن َأبِي َو َّق‬ ‫يد بْ ُن َزيْ ِد‬ ُ ‫ال َّن ِة َو َس ِع‬ َ ْ ‫اح ِف‬ َ ْ ‫بْنِ َع ْمرِو بْنِ ُنفَيْ ٍل ِف‬ ‫ال َّن ِة‬ ِ ‫ال َّن ِة َو َأ ُبو ُع َبيْ َد َة بْ ُن ْال ََّر‬

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“‘Abu Bakr is in Paradise, ‘Umar is in Paradise, ‘Uthman is in Paradise, ‘Ali is in Paradise, Talhah is in Paradise, Az-Zubair is in Paradise, ‘Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn ‘Auf is in Paradise, Sa’d Ibn Abee Waqqaas is in Paradise, Sa’eed Ibn Zayd Ibn ‘Amr Ibn Nufayl is in Paradise, and Abu ‘Ubaydah Ibn Al-Jarraah is in Paradise.” 2 1. Hazrat Abu Bakrra 2. Hazrat Umar Farooqra 3. Hazrat Uthmanra 4. Hazrat Alira 5. Hazrat Talhara 6. Hazrat Zubair ibn-e-Awamra 7. Hazrat Abu Obaida ibn-al-Jarahra 8. Hazrat Abdul Rehman ibn-e-Aufra 9. Hazrat Saad ibn-e-Abi Waqasra 10. Hazrat Saeed ibn-e-Zaidra 1. Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be pleased with him) Period of Khilafat: 632-634 AD Hazrat Abu Bakrra was the first Khalifa of Islam. His daughter Hazrat Aishara was one of the wives of the Holy Prophetsaw. His name, Abu Bakr means the father of Bakr, but his personal name was Abdullah. He was born in 572 AD in Mecca.

Hazrat Abu Bakrra had a close relationship to Hazrat Muhammadsaw prior to his daughter’s marriage; he was a close companion and a sincere

https://szshaikh.wordpress.com/2018/11/22/ashra-mubashra-the-ten-blessed-companions/ Jami’ at-Tirmidhi, Book 49 (The Chapters on Virtues), Hadith 4112.

friend of the Holy Prophetsaw. Hazrat Abu Bakrra became one of the first people to accept Islam.

He had gone on a business trip and on his return, he heard that the Holy Prophetsaw announced to the people that the Almighty God had raised him as a prophet. Upon hearing this Hazrat Abu Bakrra went straight to the Holy Prophetsaw and asked him, to which he replied yes and explained as to why, then Hazrat Abu Bakrra interrupted as to whether he had declared his prophethood to which the Holy Prophetsaw replied yes, to this Hazrat Abu Bakrra immediately stated, “Then I bear witness that you are a Messenger from God.” Because he was one of the first people to accept Islam Hazrat Abu Bakrra had earned the title of Siddiq, i.e. the truthful. He was the only companion with whom the Holy Prophetsaw migrated from Mecca to Medina and took refuge in the Cave Thaur during the journey when the Quraish were following them. Whilst in the cave Hazrat Abu Bakrra, rather than fearing for his life, was concerned for the safety of the Holy Prophetsaw and stated: “O Prophet of God! I fear not for myself, but for you. For, if I die, I am but an ordinary man; but if you die, it will mean death to faith and spirit.” But the Holy Prophetsaw reassured him and said, “Fear not. Allah is with us.” 3 After the sad demise of the Holy Prophetsaw, Hazrat Abu Bakrra was elected as the first Khalifa.

The greatest achievement of his Khilafat was the collection of the Holy Qur’an in one place, which was written on different pieces of leaves, slates and skin. While the arrangement of the writing of the Holy Qur’an was done under supervision of the Holy Prophetsaw, during the lifetime of the

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Holy Prophetsaw, Hazrat Abu Bakrra organised the system of Huffaz, or those who committed it to memory, in a systematic way, for the preservation of the Holy Qur’an.

Hazrat Abu Bakrra passed away in 634AD, after remaining ill for fifteen days. He remained Khalifa for two years.

2. Hazrat Umar bin Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) Period of Khilafat: 634-644 AD Hazrat Umar Farooqra was born in 581AD in Mecca and belonged to a noble family of the Quraish. He was the second Khalifa of Islam. However, prior his acceptance of Islam he was a fierce opponent of Islam.

Upon hearing the Holy Prophetsaw announcing his prophethood, he became intent on killing the Holy Prophetsaw. On his way to carry out this deed, someone informed him that his sister and brother-in-law had accepted Islam and so he went straight to them. He knocked on their door and heard the recitation of the Holy Qur’an inside.

Furious he went inside and started attacking his brother-in-law and wounded his sister in the process. His wounded sister then said, that even with all his violence against them they would not leave Islam. This statement from his sister calmed Hazrat Umarra down and then he asked them to recite the Holy Qur’an, which moved him so much that he went straight to the Holy Prophetsaw and accepted Islam. This miraculous change in Hazrat Umar’sra heart was in fact the result of the Holy Prophet’ssaw prayers and because Hazrat Umarra was an influential, courageous and wealthy man

Siyarus-Sahabah, vol. 1, part 1 (Khulafa’-e-Rashidin), ‘Abdus-Salam Nadwi, vol. 1, p. 28, Idarah Islamiyat, Lahore.

in Mecca, he had been shown to be a source of strength for Muslims.

3. Hazrat Uthman (May Allah be pleased with him) Period of Khilafat: 644-656 AD

In fact, the Holy Prophetsaw used to pray for Hazrat Umarra for his acceptance to Islam, as Ibn Umar reported: “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “O Allah, strengthen Islam with one of two men whom you love more: Abu Jahl or Umar ibn al-Khattab.” Ibn Umar said, the most beloved of the two was Umar.” 4 (Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3681)

Hazrat Uthmanra, was the third Khalifa of Islam.

He was related to the Holy Prophetsaw on account of being from the lineage of Abd Manaf, as his maternal grandmother was the sister of the Holy Prophet’ssaw father.

Hazrat Umarra was so concerned regarding the welfare of his people as a Khalifa that he used to go around the city at night in disguise to see if anyone was in need of help. One night he saw a woman cooking something in a pot, while her two children were crying; later he found out the family had not eaten in two days and the mother was just consoling the children by pretending she was cooking something. He then immediately went to the treasury and brought all the food items to the woman himself. On the way his servant offered to help carry the load, but he stopped him and said: “On the Day of Judgment you will not carry my load.” The woman who did not recognise Hazrat Umarra was so happy that she said: May Allah make you the Khalifa in place of Umar. On hearing this Hazrat Umarra started crying and without saying a word left the place.

When Jerusalem in Palestine was conquered by Muslim in 17 Hijri, Hazrat Umarra personally visited the city on the request of the Romans and signed a treaty between the Muslims and the People of Jerusalem.

Hazrat Umarra, was martyred while offering his prayers in the mosque. He was stabbed by a Persian slave and passed away during 644AD. He was Khalifa for ten years.

4 5

The Holy Prophetsaw married his daughter Ruqayyah to Hazrat Uthmanra, however she passed away during the days of the Battle of Badr. The Holy Prophetsaw then wed his daughter, Umme Kulthum, to Hazrat Uthmanra. Thus, Hazrat Uthmanra, was also known as Dhun-Noorain, meaning the possessor of two lights.

Once, Hazrat Uthmanra, went to meet the Holy Prophetsaw along with Hazrat Talha bin Ubaidillahra, prior to their acceptance of Islam. The Holy Prophetsaw explained to them the true message of Islam, upon which both accepted Islam. Hazrat Uthmanra, told the Holy Prophetsaw that one night when he returned from Syria and heard a cry that Ahmad had manifested in Mecca and when he went to Mecca, he heard of the Holy Prophet’ssaw claim and thus, went to meet him.

When the Holy Prophetsaw set out for the Battle of Badr, he instructed Hazrat Uthmanra to not go to battle, rather that he should stay behind and tend to Hazrat Ruqayyahra, who was ill.

Hazrat Ruqayyahra passed away during the days of the Battle of Badr. After the demise, the Holy Prophetsaw met Hazrat Uthmanra in the mosque and told him that Gabriel had informed him that God had decreed for his daughter Umme Kulthum to be married to Hazrat Uthmanra. Once, the Holy Prophetsaw asked Umme Kulthumra, how Hazrat Uthmanra was as a husband, to which she replied that he was an excellent husband. 5

https://abuaminaelias.com/dailyhadithonline/2012/09/17/umar-converts-to-islam/ https://www.alislam.org/friday-sermon/2021-01-22.html

During the Khilafat of Hazrat Uthmanra the Islamic Empire expanded still further; the whole of Iran, Asia Minor and Egypt came under Muslim control and it was during his Khilafat that a navy and an Islamic fleet were established.

One of the most important deeds carried out during his Khilafat, was that standard copies of the Holy Qur’an were prepared from the ones compiled by Hazrat Abu Bakrra and sent to all the provinces of the state. The Holy Qur’an, as compiled today was completed during his Khilafat and under his direct supervision.

Hazrat Uthmanra was martyred in 656 AD, while he was reciting the Holy Qur’an. He certainly sacrificed his life for the integrity of Khilafat in the best interest of Islam. His Khilafat lasted for 12 years.

4. Hazrat Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) Period of Khilafat: 656-661 AD Hazrat Alira was the fourth Khalifa of Islam. His father’s name was Abd Manaf who was better known as Abu Talib, and his mother’s name was Fatimah bint Asad bint Hashim. Hazrat Alira shared many relations to the Holy Prophetsaw - he was his first cousin as well as the Holy Prophet’ssaw son-in-law, through marriage to his daughter Hazrat Fatimara.

During a state of famine in Mecca, the Holy Prophetsaw approached his uncle Abbas and suggested that since his other uncle Abu Talib had many children and was not very well-off, and times were difficult due to the famine, that they would adopt one child each in order to make it easier for Abu Talib. Thus, they both went to Abu Talib with this idea, to which he agreed. Thus, Hazrat Alira came into the care of the Holy Prophetsaw.

At the time of his acceptance of Islam, Hazrat Alira was thirteen years of age, whilst according to some other narrations, his age was eleven years.

According to historians, Hazrat Alira was the first child to accept Islam.

Once, according to the divine command that the Holy Prophetsaw should warn his family and invite them to Islam, the Holy Prophetsaw instructed Hazrat Alira to invite the family of Abdul Muttalib for a meal. After the meal, the Holy Prophetsaw wished to give a speech, inviting everyone to the religion of Islam. However, the treacherous Abu Lahab said something whereby everyone who was present dispersed. Then the Holy Prophetsaw asked Hazrat Alira, to invite his family again, and on that occasion, he encouraged his family to accept Islam and the One True God. The Holy Prophetsaw asked if they would support him in this mission.

Everyone remained silent, except for the thirteenyear-old Hazrat Alira, who spoke up and said that though he was the youngest and the weakest present, he would support the Holy Prophetsaw.

Amidst the increasing opposition of the Makkans, the Holy Prophetsaw was informed by God regarding the Makkans plans to assassinate him. He was then divinely commanded to migrate from Makkah to

Madinah. Thus, the Holy Prophetsaw left his home at night, even as it was surrounded by Makkans.

He left Hazrat Alira in his home, ensuring him that by the grace of God, nothing would happen to him. The Holy Prophetsaw instructed Hazrat Alira to lay in his bed, so that when the Makkans would look inside, they would not suspect that he had left. When the Makkans closed in, instead of the Holy Prophetsaw they found Hazrat Alira.

On June 23rd 656 AD, six days after the death of Hazrat Uthmanra, Hazrat Alira was chosen as the fourth successor of the Holy Prophetsaw and the public swore allegiance at his hand one by one.

Hazrat Alira announced that his top priority was to restore law and order in the state, and only then he would be able to bring the assassins of Hazrat Uthmanra to justice. Hazrat Alira urged Amir Muawiah, who had not taken the Bai’at, to submit to him in the best interest of Islam. But Amir Muawiah refused to submit on the pretext that the blood of Hazrat Uthmanra, who also belonged to family of Umayyah, must be avenged first.

Amir Muawiah, with the help of Amr Bin As, started raising an army. Hazrat Alira had no alternative but to advance towards Syria to fight Amir Muawiah.

In July 657 AD, the two armies met in a battle at Saffain. The battle ended in an accord that the matter be decided by an arbitration committee.

This arbitration ended in failure.

A large group of people, who were against the proposal of arbitration, separated from Hazrat Alira and chose an independent Amir for themselves.

This group was called Khawariji, meaning `The Outsiders’. At first, Hazrat Alira tried to persuade them to submit to him but failed. This led to a fierce battle in which most of the Khawariji were killed.

After this crushing defeat, the Khawariji planned to assassinate Hazrat Alira. Hazrat Alira was fatally wounded by his attacker, while going to the mosque for Fajr prayer. Two days later, this courageous and pious Khalifa passed away on 20th Ramadan 661AD, as a martyr. Undoubtedly, Hazrat Alira sacrificed his life for the integrity of Khilafat. His Khilafat lasted for 6 years.

O Chi ldren ofthecommuni ty, Ineed to saysomethi ng A poem byHazratMus l ehMaud,HazratMi rza Bas hi ruddi nMahmudAhmadra,Khal i f at ulMas i hI I , whi chwaspubl i s hedi nAl Hakam onOct ober17,1920.

Thi sNazm i sbei ngmadeavai l abl et oal lWaqi f eeneNauchi l drenundert he aba gui dancef rom HazureAnwar i nwhi chhes t at edt hateveryWaqf eNau chi l ds houl dunders t andwhati sbei ngs ai di nt hes ecoupl et sofHazrat 1 Mus l ehMaudra ast hi sNazm l aysoutt hees s enceoft rueWaqf .

MayAl l ahenabl eal lWaqi f eent ot rul yi ncul cat et hes et eachi ngsi nt hei r l i ves ,Ameen.

Thepoem t rans l at esas :

Oc h i l d r e no f t h ec o mmu n i t y , I h a v es o me t h i n gt os a y , B u tt h ec o n d i t i o ni st h a tmyme s s a g es h o u l dn o tb el o s t .

I w a n tt og i v ey o uaf e ww o r d so f a d v i c e S ot h a tn ob l a mef a l l su p o nmel a t e r o n .

Wh e nw eh a v ep a s s e da w a y , t h ee n t i r eb u r d e nw o u l df a l l u p o ny o u— Gi v eu py o u r s l o t h f u l n e s s— d on o tb e c o mes e e k e r so f c o mf o r t .

C o n s i d e r t h es e r v i c eo f F a i t ha sab l e s s i n gf r o mGo d ; N e v e r b et h es e e k e r o f r e c o mp e n s ei ne x c h a n g ef o r i t .

T h e r es h o u l db ep a s s i o ni nt h eh e a r t ; t h ee y e ss h o u l db es h e d d i n gt e a r s— Y o us h o u l dp o s s e s st h es p i r i to f I s l a m— n o tj u s tt h en a me .

T h e r es h o u l db en op r i d ei nt h eh e a d— n or eo f w r a t hi nt h ee y e s— T h e r es h o u l db en oma l i c ei nt h eh e a r t— n oa b u s e su p o nt h el i p s .

B ed u t e o u su n t oP r a y e r sa n dF a s t sw i t ht h ei n c l i n a t i o no f t h eh e a r t— N op a r to f t h ei n j u n c t i o n ss h o u l db eo v e r l o o k e d .

I f y o uh a v ew e a l t h , t h e np a yt h ez a k ā ta n da l msf r o mi t— Y o us h o u l dh a v ec o n c e r nf o r t h ep o o r —n o tw o r r yf o r w o r l d l ya ff a i r s .

D e a r o n e s !

Myp r a y e r f o r y o ui st h a t , Ma yt h eP r o t e c t i o no f A l l a ha l w a y sb eu p o ny o ua n dma yy o un e v e r b eu n s u c c e s s f u l .

Gu l s h a n eWa q f e Na uKh u d d a mC l a s s , UK-5 t hF e b r u a r y2 0 1 7

1

The Choice is Yours!

By Mustabshira Qayyum

“What we learn from History is that we do not learn anything from History” George Bernard Shaw The number of planes landing and taking off at Heathrow Airport in 2019 was recorded to be 476,000 with around 80,957,272 passengers travelling from Heathrow Airport alone that year. We were living in a time when we ran to catch the bus and tube every morning, hoping to get a seat, rushing to get to school and work on time, and coming home tired every day. Humans had become so smart that we were discovering the remains of extinct animals and were tirelessly finding life on other planets. It seemed almost impossible to think we could ever slow down. Everyone was thinking so far ahead, praying for the third world war not to take place, that no one thought we could go back in time and be struck brutally by a tiny organism, a tiny virus called Coronavirus!

Three influenza pandemics struck in the 20th century with the most severe being the Spanish Flu. The Covid-19 pandemic is the second pandemic of the 21st century, the first was caused by the H1N1 virus in 2009.

We are privileged to now be living in a time where some of the governments are able to support its citizens by offering grants, by creating alternative means of work and have provided the facility of furlough. Due to our sophisticated intelligence in technology, we have been able to work remotely and have been able to stay in touch with friends and relatives every single day, which was not possible in the 20th century. As awareness and the use of social media has influenced us greatly, we are able to know what is happening in the world instantly. Today, we have daily figures of new cases in the country and around the world making it impossible to hide any information from the public.

One should try not to get over-whelmed by all this information, as the aim here is for us not to forget the need for the government rules and restrictions. It is simply to remind us that a year since the pandemic began, after being in lockdown for months and months, we should not forget that these laws are made to keep us safe and alive.

In a year where we have been unable to meet loved ones, attend religious and social events, such as the Friday and Eid prayers, travel to other countries, and calmly have a cup of coffee in a café without having to worry about using hand gel, the big question remains, what have we learnt and how can we remain positive?

This period has been a time of self-reflection for many. It has given us the time we never had, to look closely at ourselves and focus on what matters to us. Although financial stability is key, talking to loved ones and finding out that they are safe and sound is what matters the most to all of us. The pandemic has made us realise that we take a lot of things for granted. Even though there are different religions and races, we have all come together to fight against this virus. This shows that we can be united, we can live together happily, we have resilience, patience and kindness.

“Light at the end of the tunnel” At times, we may feel isolated at home, with no new activities to do but do we have a plan or a goal that we want to achieve tomorrow or when life goes to normal? Do we have a wish? Then remember, we must stay positive for a few more weeks, to meet all those people we have not been able to meet, to visit those places that we couldn’t, to attend events that couldn’t take place and to continue conquering our dreams. Just remember, this is a test which will soon end, but our performance will determine our final score.

Insha’Allah.

“Worry kills more people than the disease itself” For a second, let us stop feeling helpless and sorry for ourselves, because we can still do almost everything with a smart phone and Wi-Fi at hand. From searching new recipes, video calling friends and relatives in different parts of the world, to arranging Jama'at meetings and exercise classes, we can still have a happy life. This pandemic has in a way brought us closer because we are now a call away from each other.

We are privileged to have access to great healthcare. So, if at any point you feel low, call a friend, your Sadr/Jama'at member, call your GP, or contact one of the following organisations : Samaritans, Mind, iCOPE Remember, it is very important to share how we are feeling, and always remember to check on friends and family regularly.

“It’s not the work that’s hard, it’s the discipline” It is important to have a routine and remain disciplined. Staying in bed all day is not going to help. Although it may seem pointless to make your bed, and dress-up at home, it is very important for our mind to stay focused. Your subconscious brain learns what you teach it. Psychologists have said that if you wake up and say “I am happy” out loud every day for a few days, you will automatically start feeling happier.

You are in-charge of looking after your physical and mental health. So take control!

Your daily routine can include the following: Namaz and recitation of the Holy Qur’an

Exercise – walk, cycle, run, stretches at home

Work/school

Cooking/baking – as that is very therapeutic

Watch your favourite show

Remember to watch MTA

Do your chores

Contact someone new everyday

Eat healthily

Meditation – this can be done at any point in the day, there are so many apps available which can be downloaded on our phone. Examples are “Calm” and ‘’Mindfulness’’.

Yoga – this can be very effective if done regularly. If you do not know how to do it, then watch a clip on the internet and follow the instructions!

Hobbies & activities – find something new to do, like painting, drawing, learning a new language, reading a new book, joining the course you have always wanted to join or learning how to drive.

Spirituality – this is the most important element. We should not forget the reason for our existence, and we should not forget to be grateful to Allah for giving us good health. Those who have lost their loved ones should pray for their forgiveness from Allah. Whenever you feel helpless (which happens quiet often in our lives), remember that everything is in God’s hands. After you submit to Him in prayer and supplication, you will feel a great sense of satisfaction, which no word of man can give to you.

May Allah make us all enduring, tolerant, humble, kind, and pious. Ameen.

A Change in Attitude A Waqifa-e-Nau, Dr Maleeha Mansur, wrote to a number of News outlets in the UK about her views on how attitudes towards the veil seem to have changed during the global Covid pandemic.

Here is her letter in full:

Several newspapers issued parts of her letter, including: • • • •

Mail on Sunday (first week of November 2020) Metro (2nd November 2020) Scottish Daily Mail (26th October 2020) New Statesman (28th October 2020)

s t r A &

s t f a Cr

EAR SAVER MASK EXTENSTION Materials • • • • • • • • • •

Fabric, ideally cotton of medium thickness (try upcycling fabric) Thread and needle Sewing Machine (or hand stitch) Iron Ruler or measuring tape Tailor’s chalk or washable marker Scissor 2 Buttons String Face Mask

Step 1: Determine the grain of the fabric - pull your fabric along a straight line horizontally, and then vertically.

The direction in which the fabric does not stretch at all is the direction of the fabric grain. We want the length of the ear saver to be in the direction of the grain as this will prevent it to stretch out when worn.

Step 2: Iron the fabric flat, then use a washable marker or tailors chalk, to mark a 10-inch-long straight line in the direction of the fabric grain. This will be the length of the ear saver (before stitched). Then mark the width about 4 inches wide. Complete the outline by making it into a rectangle, 10 inches long and 4 inches wide. Leave quarter of an inch on the outside of the rectangle along its length, to give room for stitching.

Step 3: Divide the rectangle with a line in the center (lengthwise). This will be 2 inches from either side of the length of the rectangle, where the fabric will be folded.

your iron. Bringing the seam to the center will help to avoid any unwanted stretch in the final product.

Step 4: (optional) For your own understanding you may mark a line widthwise half an inch from the ends (where fold on both edges will be)

Step 8: Turn the stitched fabric inside out, keeping the seam in the center.

Step 5: Leaving out the quarter inch on the lengthwise edges, cut out the fabric.

Step 9: Now iron it flat again and stitch on the center (where the seam is) and on both edges along the length.

Step 6: Fold on the center line and iron it to keep it flat.

Step 7: Stitch straight along the outside line and bring the seam to the centre and press open the seam with

Step 10: Place the fabric with the seam side facing down and fold half an inch on both the sides and then iron them out.

Step 13: Fold the corners of the edge inwards so that the looped ends take the form of a triangle, and then stitch over it using a fill stitch option or simply strict across the width. We chose to do a fill stitch as that gives an embroidered and more aesthetic look to the final product.

Do this on both ends.

Step 11: Next, use a thick string to make the button loop of the ear saver. To determine how big the loop should be, fold the string into a loop shape and pass the button through it to make sure it’s neither too loose nor too tight. Then mark the determined length.

Step 14: Now fold the triangle inwards and slightly open up the loop to mark a dot through the loop on the fabric below. This dot is where the button will be stitched. Do the same on the other end as well.

Step 12: Place the loop lengthwise so that the loop is sticking out of the folded fabric and the marked part on the loop is aligned with the edge of the folded fabric.

Hold it firmly in place and then with the string loop in place, stitch straight along the width.

Step 15: Stitch the button on the marked dots.

Step 16: Insert the elastic string of your mask in between the loop and the button and close the flap using the button and the loop. Do the same on the other end as well.

Step 17: Now it’s ready to be worn over the head instead of the ears.