Al Hakam - 3 December 2021

From the Markaz

NEW SERIES

Members of AMWSA Germany meet Hazrat Khalifatul Masih

Introduction to chapters of the Holy Quran

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A

How studying medicine increased my conviction in God

Page 25

Page 14

Hazrat Musleh-eMaud’s blueprint for a successful Pakistan

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THE WEEKLY

www.alhakam.org AL HAKAM | Friday 3 December 2021 | Issue CXCIV Ahmadiyya Archive & Research Centre (ARC), 22 Deer Park Road, London, SW19 3TL. UK info@alhakam.org | ISSN 2754-7396

Ahmadi girls should be well-educated Lajna Imaillah India’s amila meets with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih The national amila of Lajna Imaillah India met with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa in a virtual mulaqat on 27 November 2021.

After conveying his salaam, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa asked, “Is this the national amila?”, to which Sadr Lajna, Bushra Pasha Sahiba responded in the affirmative. Huzooraa then led everyone in dua (silent prayer). During the mulaqat, all amila members had the opportunity to introduce themselves and give a brief report of their duties.

The first to report was Naib Sadr, Amatul Wasee Shamaila Sahiba. She said that she was also serving as the ishaat secretary. She reported that ishaat department published the Misbah magazine twice a year. Hearing this, Huzooraa said, “Only [twice]? There are so many educated women in India; at least four issues should be published a year instead of two. That is if you do not want to do it monthly.”

Huzooraa asked if any material was prepared for those women of South India who could not read Urdu; to which, the secretary replied that for those Lajna members who resided in Kerala, another magazine, An-Nur, was published in Malayalam. She added that this magazine was printed thrice a year.

Huzooraa asked if there was any Lajna website with various publications and information available online. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa then said: “If [a website] is made carefully, then you can add news of Lajna, verses of the Holy Quran and its translation, hadith, an extract from Malfuzat or from Ruhani Khazain, a Continued on next page >>

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

The best among you

ّٰ َ َ َ َ ْ ُ ْ َ ّ ٰ َّ ّ َ ّ َ ‫ا�� ُ� َﻋ ْﻨ ُہ ـ‬ ‫� َصلى الل ُه‬ � ‫ﻋن ﻋﺜﻤﺎن ـ ر ِﺿﻰ‬ ‫اﻟﻨ‬ ‫ن‬ ‫ﻋ‬ ِ ِ ِ َ َ ‫َعل َ ْي ِه َو َسل ّ َم َق‬ ‫ﺎل‬ َّ َ ْ ُ ْ َ َّ َ َ ْ َ ْ ُ ُ ْ َ ‫آن َو َﻋل َﻤ ُہ‬ ��‫خ���م من �ﻌلم اﻟ‬

Hazrat Uthmanra relates that the Holy Prophetsa said: “The best among you are those who learn the Quran and teach it.”

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Fazail al-Quran, Hadith 5027)

Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, In His Own Words

Bring about a change in yourselves The fact of the matter is that God does as He pleases. He transforms desolate wastelands into inhabitations and reduces flourishing cities to ruins.

What happened to the city of Babylon?

Human schemes longed to see a certain place thriving with people, but God turned it into a forsaken land, inhabited by owls. However, there was another place where people wanted to see nothing but wilderness, yet God turned it into a land in which throngs of people amass from all the corners of the earth.

Hence, bear well in mind that to depend on medicine and human strategies whilst putting aside God Almighty is extremely foolish. What is required is a completely new life; one full of seeking forgiveness from Allah. Those who are engaged heavily in worldly matters ought to be more fearful. Those in employment often fail to observe their obligations to God. Continued on page 2

Friday 3 December 2021 | AL HAKAM

2 << Continued from previous page

summary of the sermons or unique points from the sermon, or other matters specific to Lajna. If you make [a website and publish these] once a week or once every two weeks, it will be beneficial”.

Amatul Hakim Sahiba, serving as Naib Sadr II and Muhasiba Maal, was next to report. Whilst giving a brief outline of her duties, she stated that she audited the bills she received throughout the year from the various majalis.

Amatul Shafi Rumi Sahiba, General Secretary said that there was a total of 742 majalis in India. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa asked if all the majalis sent their reports regularly. Amatul Shafi Sahiba replied that last year, she only received 532 reports.

Tahira Qamar Sahiba, Naib General Secretary, reported that she helped the general secretary with the reports.

Ra‘naa Tabasum Sahiba, Secretary Talim, reported that this year, the splitword translation of the Holy Quran was taught. She added that from the books of the Promised Messiahas, they prescribed the book Lecture Sialkot for Lajna members to read and study.

Whilst speaking with Shahzadi Shujaat Sahiba, Secretary Tarbiyat, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa asked what plan was made for tarbiyat. The secretary replied that this year’s focus was on the five daily prayers and recitation of the Holy Quran. She added that emphasis was put on holding various seminars. She reported that 255 seminars

Continued from page 1

On certain occasions, it is permissible to combine the Zuhr and Asr prayers, and also to combine the Maghrib and Isha prayers. I know that if the authorities are requested to grant leave for the obligatory Prayers, they are accommodating.

Government officials are under instruction by their superiors to grant permission for the observance of Prayer.

To neglect the Prayer by resorting to feeble excuses is nothing but a weakness of the self. Do not fail to offer the rights owed to God’s servants and the rights owed to God. Fulfil your obligations and do not think ill of the government for even a moment. Do you not remember the state of affairs under Sikh rule? The call to Prayer was banned in the mosques.

Harsh penalties and immense cruelty was inflicted upon people for consuming even small amounts of beef. And so, Allah the Exalted brought this empire from afar so that we were able to benefit from it. We have now begun to practice our religious duties in peace.

How full of gratitude should we be for this government? Bear well in mind that one who does not thank their fellow man is ungrateful to God as well. It is an established principle that if a human being abandons the use of a limb, it

were held and that a question-and-answer quiz was also prepared based on Huzoor’saa sermons.

Speaking with Nadia Parveza Sahiba, Secretary Khidmat-e-Khalq (Service to Humanity), Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa asked what work was being carried out by the department. Nadia Sahiba stated that the department carried out service to humanity with Humanity First, visiting old people’s homes, orphanages and hospitals. Nadia Sahiba said that 26 medical camps were also set up and added that usually more camps were set up; however, due to the pandemic, only 26 camps were possible.

Whilst conversing with Amatul Shukoor Sahiba, Secretary Mal (Finance), Huzooraa discussed budget matters and asked about contribution towards various chandas.

Nahid Basharat Sahiba, Secretary Nasirat reported that there were 5,152 Nasirat members in India, according to the updated tajnid. Hearing this, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said, “Masha-Allah! You know the precise number.”

Huzooraa further asked which place had the greatest number of nasirat, to which the secretary said that Qadian was the biggest majlis with 309 nasirat residing in it. Huzooraa emphasised the importance of education and going to school. Huzooraa stated that Ahmadi girls should be welleducated.

Bushra Siddiqa Sahiba, Secretary Sanato-Dastkari (Industry and Handicraft) reported that in the recent ijtema, an exhibition was held showcasing various

things Lajna members had made. She stated that stalls were also set up and that over 18,000 rupees were made in profit.

Amatul Basit Sahiba, Secretary Tabligh was next to present her report. She stated that a plan was made to hold refresher courses, encourage members to write articles in newspapers, hold tabligh seminars and exhibitions and forge ties with libraries.

She said that this was the target for the year.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa asked what the bai‘at target was. Amatul Basit Sahiba replied that there was no set target and added that there were many dai‘at ilallah (those who invite others to Allah) who were preaching throughout the year. Hearing this, Huzooraa said, “There is no benefit unless you set a target.”

Last year, through the efforts of the members of dai‘at ilallah, 20 people entered the fold of Islam Ahmadiyyat, Amatul Basit Sahiba reported. Huzooraa responded, “Try to increase this [number]. Set a target of at least 100.”

Amatur Rafey Sahiba, Secretary Sehat-eJismani reported that various tournaments were held and sports such as volleyball, badminton, kho-kho (a traditional Indian sport) and kabaddi were also played by lajna members. Hearing “kabaddi”, Huzooraa asked, “Do women also play kabaddi?”, to which the sports secretary replied that women played kabaddi a lot and that nasirat also played kabaddi. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said that instead of kabaddi, women should be encouraged to play volleyball. Huzooraa said that when Lajna

played kabaddi, then there should only be women present.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa then asked how many Lajna members in Qadian played sports; in response, the secretary stated that previously, they had issues with the ground; however, as a ground was now available, whenever a tournament was held, a lot of Lajna members joined in.

Next, Attiyatul Mannan Sahiba, Secretary Tajnid reported that the total tajind (membership) was 24,899. She added that the tajnid for Lajna in Qadian was 1,632 and 309 nasirat.

Huzooraa laid emphasis on the education of young girls in rural areas. If their education was looked after, then if not today, two years, four years, or 10 years from now, Jamaat India would have educated women in all areas.

Speaking to Bushra Zafarullah Sahiba, Secretary Ziafat, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa asked what food was prepared for the amila members. Bushra Sahiba replied that refreshments were made. She said that samosa, chamcham and tea was prepared.

Huzooraa then asked Amatul Nasir Sahiba, Secretary Tahrik-e-Jadid and Waqfe-Jadid, about the details of Lajna members contributing towards Tahrik-e-Jadid and Waqf-e-Jadid.

Huzooraa further asked how much was contributed; to which the secretary replied that they did not have the exact figure.

Hearing this, Huzooraa said that this should be calculated and giving an example, said, “Here, in the UK, Lajna members know how

becomes useless. It is said that if an individual keeps their eye closed for 40 days, it will become blind. Therefore, I wish to advise you emphatically that the government’s favours upon us are many.

A multitude of books containing verities and divine insights arrive here from far and wide. We have benefited from the liberties granted to us. When attacks were made against our religion and difficulties arose, I reflected and contemplated, after which divine insights and verities were disclosed to me in accordance with the following promise of Allah Almighty that:

َّ َ َ َ​َ َ ‫َو اﻟَّﺬیۡ َن َﺟ‬ ‫ﺎﻫ ُﺪ ۡوا فِ ۡیﻨﺎ ﻟَﻨ ۡھ ِﺪیَﻨ ُھ ۡم ُﺳ ُﺒلﻨﺎ‬ ِ

“And as for those who strive in Our path – We will surely guide them in Our ways”.

Therefore, the government is also a catalyst for the revelation of these divine insights.

And so, in the end, I would like to reiterate that you ought to develop a true relationship with God Almighty and to not look towards the government with suspicion. On the contrary, follow the guidance of the authorities and assist them.

(Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, Malfuzat, Vol. 1, pp. 264-265)

Photo courtesy of Suhaib Ahmad

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AL HAKAM | Friday 3 December 2021

much they have contributed [collectively], Germany Jamaat also knows [how much they have contributed] [...] Likewise, Qadian should know how much [the Lajna members in] Qadian have contributed [...]

“Mothers should reiterate to their young children to partake in Waqf-e-Jadid.”

Ghazala Iram Sahiba, Secretary Tarbiyat Nau-Mubai‘aat reported that there was a total of 936 nau-mubai‘aat (new converts).

She said that for the past two years, there was a lack of contact; however, she added, that this year, a great emphasis was made to bridge this gap.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa stated that the tarbiyat should be done in accordance with the level of understanding and education of the people.

Aqeela Ghori Sahiba, Secretary Umur-eTalibat reported that there was a total of 408 Lajna members studying at university, the majority of whom were from Hyderabad, Kerala, Karnataka, Kashmir and Punjab.

Huzooraa stated that students in the ninth and tenth grades should be encouraged to become doctors.

Faiza Sahiba, Muavina Sadr reported that she was serving in Jammu Kashmir.

She reported that when Lajna members from these regions came to Qadian for Jalsa Salana, classes were held for them in which they were taught the essence of purdah, Namaz and etiquette of mosques. Hearing this, Huzooraa remarked, “Masha-Allah.”

Fauzia Anjum Sahiba, Muavina Sadr for the department of Waqf-e-Nau, reported that there was a total of 1,276 waqifaat-enau.

Huzooraa, whilst talking about collecting and gathering data, said, “You should have

the data of how many waqifaat-e-nau attend university, how many study at colleges”.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa further asked if there were any counselling sessions held for girls who were studying, to which Fauzia Anjum Sahiba replied in the affirmative.

Whilst speaking with Amatul Quddus, Sahiba, Muavina Sadr Punjab province and Rishta Nata North India, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa enquired how many matches matured under the rishta nata department.

She replied that she had just started working in this department and that efforts were being made towards this.

Amatur Rahman Khadim, Muavina Sadr Rishta Nata and Nigran (Supervisor) of Haryana province, reported that in the past six months, two matches had matured.

She added that she had started collecting the particulars of all Lajna members in India.

Amatul Manan Sahiba, Muavina Sadr of Himachal province, reported she was collecting particulars and sending them to the rishta nata department. She added that during the year, a class for 20 days was held in Kangra and Una. In this class, Lajna and Nasirat members were taught the Holy Quran, Namaz with translation and various other matters.

Mansura Sahiba, Sadr Lajna Imaillah Qadian reported that there were 1,632 Lajna members in Qadian. She added that for the past two years, training and educational classes were held online. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa asked her about the Tahrik-eJadid contribution from Lajna Imaillah.

Mansura Sahiba replied that the goal was 605,000 rupees; however, by the grace of Allah, they managed to collect a total sum

of 698,000 rupees from members of both Lajna and Nasirat. Hearing this, Huzooraa stated that just as Mansura Sahiba knew the figures, so too should the secretary of Tahrik-e-Jadid.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa further asked if Lajna members in Qadian cooperated, to which she replied in the affirmative.

Bushra Tayyaba Ghauri Sahiba, an honorary member, reported that she was tasked by Sadr Sahiba to write about the history of Lajna Imaillah.

After this, the national amila had the opportunity to ask questions to Huzooraa and seek guidance on various matters.

An amila member asked Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa if it was possible to start a hifz-e-Quran academy in Qadian.

Answering this, Huzooraa said that a plan should be made to start an hifz-e-Quran academy and should be presented to the nazir-e-ala there. They should then make a scheme and present it to the markaz.

“You will have to collect data as to how many girls wish to memorise the Holy Quran […] Now Canada has opened an Aisha Diniya Academy and the UK has also started the Aisha Diniya Academy, where they teach religious knowledge over a twoyear course. Germany has also opened a school. So, Qadian should make efforts in this regard. However, a full scheme and plan should be drafted.”

Next, an amila member said that during tabligh, people came and listened attentively; however, as soon as they found out that they were Ahmadis, they would leave. The secretary asked Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa how tabligh could be conducted in such a

situation.

Huzooraa gave guidance that a relationship should first be established with them. “Once a relationship is established, they will be ready to listen to you”.

Huzooraa added, “Those who want to leave, will leave”, and those who wanted to listen, would stay. “You cannot do tabligh to anyone forcefully, nor can anyone become an Ahmadi by force.”

Huzooraa explained that this was “a continuous effort which we must continue to do.”

Next, the amila member stated that when a person who was previously an Ahmadi took to social media and wrote false things about the Jamaat, those who were currently being preached to, became influenced and started believing that. She asked Huzooraa if they should be responded to on social media.

Answering, Huzooraa said that the markaz team, Noor-ul-Islam in Qadian should be informed about the allegations and they should answer.

“What you, Lajna members, can do is to collect the allegations and send it to them [Noor-ul-Islam team] and then they should answer. Or, if they give you permission to respond on social media, then it should be a focused and solid reply which should fully negate [the allegation]”.

Huzooraa said that this way, those who came under their influence would be made aware of the reality.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa then conveyed his salaam to everyone and the mulaqat successfully ended.

(Report prepared by Al Hakam)

Friday 3 December 2021 | AL HAKAM

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From the Markaz

Befriend and love your children Members of AMWSA Germany meet Hazrat Khalifatul Masih

On 28 November 2021, students from Lajna Imaillah Germany met Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa through a virtual mulaqat and had the opportunity to ask Huzooraa questions.

The meeting started with a recitation from the Holy Quran by Hafeeza Sadaf Sahiba who also read out the German translation of the verses. Aisha Ahmad Sahiba recited an Urdu poem written by the Promised Messiahas.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa enquired from the Lajna organisers if all the Lajna members present were part of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women Students’ Association (AMWSA). Huzooraa was informed that everyone present was a student; however, not everyone had registered for AMWSA. Addressing the president of AMWSA, Shazia Noor Malik Sahiba, Huzooraa said that it was the task of AMWSA to register all Lajna Imaillah students into the association.

To register every Lajna student AMWSA needed to start from “the grassroots level” where Lajna students from “every region, every city and every town” were registered to AMWSA, Huzooraa stressed.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa then asked Shazia Malik Sahiba for what they had planned. Shazia Sahiba thanked Huzooraa for the opportunity and requested permission for the students to ask questions.

The first question was by Maryam Malik Sahiba who was pursuing a master’s degree in Islamic studies. She quoted a hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari in which the Holy Prophetsa prohibited drawing or painting living beings. Maryam Sahiba asked whether it was permissible to draw human beings or other animals. Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said: “According to our fiqh [jurisprudence], it is not permissible because a person cannot

show those expressions and emotions etc. present in a human being through sketching by hand. Taking a picture with a camera is completely different – everything is clearly shown through it.

“For this reason, at times, some children and mothers, with great pride, come and show me and say, ‘Look, this child made a very good drawing of you’ – or of themselves – and I say, ‘This is wrong. Destroy it and remember to never draw a picture of me’. I discourage children from doing such things.

“For this reason, drawing someone by hand is completely wrong and should not be done.”

Huzooraa said drawing animals was permitted, but not humans.

With regard to photographs, Huzooraa said that if photos were taken and displayed, they should be for righteous reasons – for example preaching. Other reasons

for photos were also permissible such as someone’s love and respect for another, ID cards, visas and passports etc.

Huzooraa said the Promised Messiahas said he had his photo taken because some people were able to recognise the truth of another just by looking at a photo of them – therefore this was a means of tabligh and a positive effect on people who saw his photo.

The same was the case for the photos of the Khulafa of the Promised Messiahas, Huzooraa said. Ahmadis displayed photos of the Promised Messiahas and the Khulafa in their homes out of love and for opportunities of tabligh when external guests visited their homes and enquired about the photos.

To display a revered person’s photo because it would bring “blessings” to the house or merely for decoration was wrong, Huzooraa stressed.

Huzooraa said:

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AL HAKAM | Friday 3 December 2021 “Blessings are reaped through action – by acting on the commandments of Allah the Almighty, by worshipping Allah and by acting on the commandments of Allah’s Prophetsa […] It is then that homes are blessed”.

Huma Sarwar Sahiba asked about the tarbiyat (upbringing) of Ahmadi children.

Huma Sahiba said that at times, parents disagreed on some aspects of their children’s upbringing – for example whether to include the child in the Waqf-e-Nau scheme. She asked what to do in such situations.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said that to include the child in the Waqf-e-Nau scheme, it was essential for both parents to agree, otherwise arguments would always break out in the house and the child would not get proper tarbiyat.

“If the mother strongly desires for the child to be a waqf, or the father desires for the child to be a waqf [and the other parent disagrees], then carry out such an upbringing of that child that when they grow older, they do waqf themselves.”

It was of no benefit for a child to merely acquire the title of “waqif-e-nau” and join the scheme and go on to pay no attention towards studies, prayers, acquiring religious knowledge and instead be engrossed with immoral friends and actions.

Huzooraa said it was necessary for parents to be in mutual agreement when committing their children to the Waqf-eNau scheme as this would create the correct environment for the child’s upbringing. And if the parents did enter their children into the Waqf-e-Nau scheme then it was their own responsibility to carry out their child’s upbringing in a proper manner – believing it was the Jamaat’s responsibility to do all of the child’s upbringing was incorrect.

Huzooraa said, “It is the responsibility of the mother and father too as the child spends most of their time at home”.

Huzooraa advised that if one parent disagreed over their child entering the Waqf-e-Nau scheme, then the parent who wanted their child to be a waqf “should conduct their tarbiyat in such a manner that the child comes out to be a beautiful flower; fragrant and beneficial. They become such an asset for the Jamaat that is beneficial.”

Mona Fatima Majoka Sahiba said that sometimes, unintentionally, a Lajna member would bring up a reference about morals or deeds etc. while exhorting others and in turn, hurt another member who thought the reference was directed at them and as a result they moved away from the Jamaat. Mona Sahiba asked Huzooraa about this situation.

Huzooraa responded by highlighting that the Holy Prophetsa had taught, “Deeds are determined by intentions alone.” Huzooraa said that if someone (even an office-bearer) unintentionally addressed certain bad deeds and morals and a person who happened to be there possessed those bad deeds or morals and felt they were targeted, then the person who felt insulted should not take it personally as it was unintentional.

If the person highlighting the bad deeds or morals did so on purpose – with the aim of attacking someone – then Allah would deal with them. However the listeners should not think ill of others as this was a grave sin.

Huzooraa said the response should not be reactionary; rather, if a bad deed or

moral was present within someone and it was being addressed, then the person should introspect and aim to get rid of it.

The reaction should not be that they move away from the Jamaat, even if they had been wrongly targeted.

Belief in Islam Ahmadiyyat was not established in someone due to an officebearer or another person; faith was “a matter of the heart” and therefore what others did or said should not affect our faith and belief, Huzooraa stressed.

A person who talks about certain bad deeds or morals in public to target another – whether it is an office-bearer at a Jamaat meeting or someone else – will have to bear the consequences of this sin, even if what they say is true about the person they targeted. However, if the person being targeted becomes distant from religion, the Jamaat or its events due to what was said, then they will be at fault. In such a case, the accuser is sinful already, but the person who moves away from the Jamaat as a result will become sinful too.

Huzooraa counselled: “For this reason, one should be tolerant and able to bear what others say.”

A true believer always introspects and pursues self-improvement. Even if another points out their mistakes or bad actions, they do not take offence; rather, they seek to improve themselves for Allah the Almighty.

If an office-bearer targeted others by naming them and aimed to disgrace and disrespect them, it was completely wrong and a senior office-bearer should explain this to them, Huzooraa said. However, generally speaking on a topic and highlighting ills is fine, without targeting anyone, as through these reminders, bad deeds and morals are eradicated.

Huzooraa said: “I highlight a lot of things in my sermons – I do so knowing those negative aspects are present in some members across the Jamaat; that is why I talk about them in general. So now, should the whole Jamaat get upset and leave? They won’t leave, will they? […]”

The most important aspect to keep in mind is that “the person saying it should look at themselves first and see whether they are free from those very sins [that they are condemning] […] because Allah the Almighty has said ‘not to say that which you do not do yourself ’. In the eyes of Allah, it is a huge sin to exhort others what you don’t do yourself.”

Both sides needed to pay attention to their responsibilities, Huzooraa said. The person advising should do so with good intentions and talk while keeping their own condition in mind, and their purpose should be reformation, not to hurt someone.

The person listening should be tolerant and understanding and if they harboured those bad deeds or morals, they should seek to reform themselves.

Khansa Ahmad Shahiba who was writing her master’s thesis in educational sciences and working at a children’s home asked Huzooraa about the validity of the government’s practise of separating children who were victims of cruelty and violence at home from their parents and putting them in children’s homes. She also wanted to know if the Jamaat should set up similar children’s homes.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said: “Those children who face violence

[at home], their parents are cruel. The government has its own law or rule: If it is proven that there is cruelty [against the children], the government will take the children away. In such a situation, we cannot do anything – we don’t have governance. We are but citizens and if we reside in a country, then we have to follow the country’s law.

“Firstly, it is the parents’ fault – why do they commit such cruelty? They are sinful and answerable to Allah the Almighty as well. Allah gave them children – a blessing and bounty – they should take care of them, nourish them and raise them with love and affection. I have highlighted these things in my sermons and addresses many times.

If you listen, you will find out how to raise children […]

“Befriend your children, be friendly with them, be tolerant, answer their questions and show no kind of cruelty to them.”

Huzooraa said Ahmadi children in the West were affected by the modern trend and excessive focus on absolute liberalism and individual freedom, etc. Where some freedoms were positive and true, others were not. In such an environment, Ahmadi “parents should tread carefully” when raising their children, Huzooraa said.

Concerning parents who were cruel towards their children, Huzooraa said: “If it was in the power of the Jamaat, it would most definitely punish those parents who were cruel to their children. If it was in my power, I would discipline them too.

Personally, I rebuke parents a lot when these cases are presented to me.”

Huzooraa said parents who committed cruelty toward their children should realise the consequences of the government, police or social services separating their children and putting them in children’s homes. The social services had no concern over whether their child was an Ahmad Muslim, another Muslim, a Christian, or a Hindu. They would keep the children in their centres and educate them themselve.

“Today’s belief is that ‘there is no God, religion is useless and you are free to do whatever you want.’ This is ingrained into the minds of those children to such an extent that when the children leave the social centres – if they are there for a long time – they come out as atheists. They don’t believe in the existence of God.” For this reason, parents should ponder over the fact that “they first came to these countries so that ‘our children could be educated, we get religious freedom and by being a good citizen, we become a beneficial member of the nation’. On the other hand, the parents are showing complete carelessness in the tarbiyat [upbringing] of their children.”

Huzooraa said parents then complained about the way the social services were bringing up their children but “this is not the fault of the social services, it is the fault of the parents.” The social services would continue to act according to the laws and at the end of the day, the social services did not possess the same pain a parent did in terms of bringing their children up, Huzooraa noted. Parents generally cared more about their children than the social services did, apart from some extreme cases.

Even if a parent was being strict for tarbiyat purposes, it can have consequences where the social services get involved and take the children away. In such an

environment, parents should take great care. Huzooraa said that in today’s day and age, Muslim children were targeted and it was seen as “liberation” and “progression” if Muslim children were taken out of their religious atmosphere and imbued in modern-day ideals.

“They believe a nation will progress when it is taken away from religion,” Huzooraa noted.

“Therefore, the Jamaat’s view is that parents should reform themselves, otherwise the social services will take their children away. And the onus of the cruelty that they will do – i.e. taking their children away from religion – will be on the parents; they will be blamed and they will be sinful.”

On whether the Jamaat should open children’s homes for those who faced cruelty and violence from their parents, Huzooraa said: “Where it is possible for the Jamaat, it should certainly do so. In Germany, you have formed the An-Nusrat Association […] one of its tasks should be to open children’s homes as well where they keep such children and there is a religious atmosphere there, proper tarbiyat and with great dedication, they are educated religiously and secularly and are taken care of. And then, when the parents reform themselves, the children are returned to them.

“You can do this if these care homes are certified by the government, otherwise the government’s own institutions will take them. I am not fully versed on what the laws are in your country, but if there is a possibility of opening them [children’s homes] privately, then the Jamaat should certainly open them.”

Nida Ahmad who was pursuing her master’s degree in private school teaching said that at times, a person would not be able to get rid of a desire or want in their mind, despite profusely praying to Allah.

One example was when finding a suitable life partner for marriage – personal desires and wants sometimes were overwhelming, even whilst praying to Allah for the most suitable partner. Nida Sahiba asked how a person in such a situation could recognise what Allah wanted.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa advised: “The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, gave us a general rule of thumb by taking a particular case; the very case you are describing: finding a life partner. He instructed us that when finding a suitable partner for marriage, people look for three or four factors.” These included family status, wealth and beauty. However, “The Holy Prophetsa said these three factors are worldly desires. You are to give precedence to religion – when a man seeks a partner, he should focus on religion and faith [in the woman] and when a woman is looking for a partner, they should also focus on the religion and faith of the man.”

Huzooraa continued: “I tell this to the boys as well, that this commandment is not only for girls – that they should be righteous and religious […] but [for marriage] the boy should be righteous himself too. If the boy is not righteous, how will he find a righteous girl and also make it a priority to find a righteous girl? For this reason, the Holy Prophetsa, through this one saying corrected the ways Continued on next page >>

Friday 3 December 2021 | AL HAKAM

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of both the girl and boy; that the boy should be religious and faithful and the girl too.”

Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said that despite these instructions, if one was praying for a suitable match and worldly desires and wants overcame them, then it was not from Allah the Almighty. When the desire and focus centred on finding a religious and righteous life partner, it was from Allah. A person should pray they get a partner who was a good, religious and righteous person.

Huzooraa said this was the reason we were taught to pray that we are granted a “naik naseeb” – to have good fortune – when praying for marriage.

“Pray for a husband who is religious, who has good deeds, who is educated, is caring towards you and treats you with love and care and is trustworthy – let it not be that he is someone who deceives you, agrees with the marriage and then issues surface later that they had illicit relations elsewhere too. One should seek [Allah’s] refuge from such boys”.

Huzooraa said: “Don’t focus on getting married to a particular boy who has beauty, good looks and wealth”. Instead, one ought to pray that Allah the Almighty grants them “good fortune in marriage”, i.e. a partner who was religious and righteous.

Jasmine Khokar who was training to become a primary school teacher in Islamic studies was next to ask a question. She said that her fellow teachers believed children should be taught about Islam in a “neutral” way as they believed Islam was not the same for all Muslims. One example was Salat – children should be taught there were five Muslim prayers in a day, but how those prayers were to be offered was diverse and each manner should be accepted. Jasmine Sahiba asked what she should do in this situation, especially when Ahmadi and nonAhmadi Muslims were taught together.

Huzooraa said children at school only needed to be taught the fundamentals of Islam: the five pillars of Islam and the six articles of faith and the Holy Quran etc.

Differences were in commentaries of the Holy Quran and these further diversified between Sunnis and Shias. Then, there were four main schools of thought in Islam: those of Imam Abu Hanifarh, Imam Ahmadrh bin Hanbal, Imam Malikrh and Imam Shafi‘irh.

These schools of thought differed in their figh (jurisprudence) and there was no reason to interfere with them. Children should be taught the fundamentals of Islam, the teachings of the Holy Quran and the clear ahadith, Huzooraa said. Muslims agreed on a lot of common teachings and those aspects should be taught to children.

Huzooraa said that if there was a debate over the schools of thought, then it should be remembered that the Promised Messiahas said that Hazrat Imam Abu Hanifa’sra school of thought was the most close to what Allah desired. And if one had some disagreements within his school of thought, then the person or the scholars of the Jamaat should get together and do ijtihad – independent reasoning over a matter.

For school children, the basics of Islam were enough, without getting into the intricate debates between schools of thought, Huzoorraa said. Children could be informed that different schools of thought

existed and what they believed, but the fundamentals of Islam – for example, the Holy Quran, the unity of Allah and the finality of prophethood – should be the focus when teaching school children about Islam.

Aniqa Warraich Sahiba, a law student in her final year, asked how she could best serve the Jamaat after becoming a lawyer.

Aniqa Sahiba expressed her desire to become the first hijab-wearing judge of Germany. Hearing this, Huzooraa remarked, “You want to become a judge? You have very high aspirations, masha-Allah.”

During the conversation Huzooraa advised Aniqa Sahiba to try and go into human rights law as this was the most beneficial area for the Jamaat. Huzooraa also said that when she would become a judge, she should give decisions based on absolute justice.

Ariba Chaudhry Sahiba said that in Western countries, when a child was adopted, they would be given the same family name and a right to inheritance.

Ariba Sahiba asked Huzooraa about the Islamic ruling concerning adopted children.

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said that in Islam, the child would be attributed to their original parents and one could give them a hibah – gift or donation – of the land or wealth one left behind after death, but they would not have the right to inheritance. This hibah should be done while the person was still alive because after death, the adopted child would not be eligible for inheritance.

This rule was so that their other children and family got their due rights which Islam afforded them in inheritance.

Rakshanda Ghafar Sahiba said there was a medicine famous amongst Jamaat members that supposedly enabled a pregnant woman to conceive a boy. This medicine was claimed to be a prescription of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira or Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh. She asked Huzooraa about the validity of these claims as, scientifically, a child’s gender was determined early on in pregnancy.

With a smile, Huzooraa responded by saying, “It is a made-up story, whoever said

this”.

Huzooraa then continued to discuss medicines that were prescribed in ancient forms of tibb (Yunani medicine) for bearing male children. Huzooraa said there was certainly a particular medicine prescribed for acquiring male children in ancient forms of medicine. Prescriptions of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira – who was a renowned doctor – for conceiving male children existed. However, Huzooraa stressed that these medicines could only be effective before a woman conceived. Huzooraa agreed with the fact that the gender could not be changed after conceiving as this was unscientific. Huzooraa said a pregnant woman could not expect the baby’s gender to change by taking the medicine after conception, for example on the third or fourth week. Regarding people who claimed these medicines could change the gender of a child to male after the baby had begun to develop, Huzooraa said: “This is against science and even the law of nature. It is against the law of Allah the Almighty and it cannot happen. Whoever has claimed this, they have made up a mere story.”

Some medicines were effective for acquiring male children and were backed by science too, Huzooraa said. However, these medicines needed to be taken before conception, and not after.

The last question was by Kafia Tahir Rana Sahiba. She said there were various Muslim youth organisations in Germany that worked with NGOs. Those NGOs would hold workshops and educational programmes for the Muslim youth. Kafia Sahiba suggested that Ahmadi women could also work with the NGOs and help them arrange programmes and workshops.

In this way people would find out more about Islam Ahmadiyyat and it would be a means of tabligh. Kafia Sahiba sought Huzoor’s guidance on the suggestion of Ahmadi women working with such NGOs and organisations.

Huzooraa said: “That’s okay – there are various workshops and educational programmes held – it is a very good thing to work with them in these

endeavours. If you can, you may do so.

However, Ahmadi girls and women should keep one thing in mind: You are to preserve your sanctity. The dress code should be appropriate.” Huzooraa said Ahmadi women and girls should wear modest clothing and the hijab when attending such workshops, events and programmes with other NGOs and organisations. With the proper clothing and hijab, “There is no harm in working with them”, Huzooraa said.

Huzooraa stressed that Islamic teachings of modesty and hijab should always be upheld by Ahmadi women when attending such workshops and events and they should not participate in events that required them to discard those teachings.

Huzooraa said Ahmadi women were permitted to assist and attend the events of organisations who held workshops, seminars or programmes to promote awareness about Islam or religion, or any such social gatherings where both religious and non-religious people would convene and talk with each other etc. Huzooraa said it was better if Lajna Imaillah Germany officially partnered with such NGOs and organisations and Ahmadi women joined and assisted through this official channel.

Towards the end of the meeting, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa turned to the president of AMWSA, Shazia Malik Sahiba and asked about her studies and work. Shazia Sahiba said she was doing a PhD in geography and was writing her thesis on the experiences of Muslim women and their hijab in various spaces. She aimed to show the sentiments and feelings of Muslim women when they wore their hijab in public and other settings.

Huzooraa asked if she had done research in this regard, to which Shazia Sahiba said she had. Huzooraa said: “Write your thesis, but also write articles about this topic in newspapers.”

Shazia Sahiba said she would do so, insha-Allah.

At this, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa conveyed his salaam to all the Lajna members and the meeting came to a close.

(Report prepared by Al Hakam)

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AL HAKAM | Friday 3 December 2021

“A great blessing of Allah”: Amila members of Lajna Imaillah India feel blessed after meeting with Huzoor Wakalat-e-Tamil-o-Tanfidh for India, Nepal and Bhutan On the request of Lajna Imaillah India, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa granted the approval for a virtual meeting for the national amila members.

The meeting was held on 27 November 2021 at the Quran Exhibition Hall of Darul Balagh in Qadian, India in which 25 amila members participated.

The meeting lasted for one hour, and Huzooraa gave valuable guidance to the amila members.

Below are the impressions of the participants: Bushra Pasha Sahiba, Sadr Lajna Imaillah India said: “Alhamdulillah, today, Allah the Almighty has given us the opportunity of meeting with our beloved Huzooraa. The feelings of our hearts at this time cannot be described in words. We consider ourselves very fortunate. I am unable to describe the feelings after meeting my beloved Imamaa and experiencing his compassion. May Allah the Almighty make us sultan-e-naseer of Khilafat in the truest sense. Amin.”

Amatul Wasee Shamaila Sahiba, Naib Sadr Awal and Secretary Ishaat (Publications) commented: “By the grace of God Almighty, the national amila of Lajna Imaillah India had been privileged to have a virtual meeting with Huzooraa. Prior to the meeting, there was a fear in my heart of whether our spiritual father would be pleased [with our progress] or not, and how we would appear before our dear Imamaa with our humble endeavours. But as soon as beloved Huzooraa conveyed his salaam, the situation of fear vanished and our hearts were filled with happiness. We were fortunate to have this opportunity. It was an extraordinary spiritual experience that strengthened our faith”.

Amatul Hakeem Sahiba, Naib Sadr II and Muhasiba Mal (Auditor) said: “This was a very beautiful day in my life.

I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend a virtual meeting with Huzooraa.

Alhamdulillah, our meeting with Huzooraa was very successful. May Allah the Almighty grant us the ability to fulfil the expectations of Huzooraa and keep us connected with Khilafat for the whole of our lives. Amin.”

Amatul Shafi Rumi, General Secretary said: “We were pleased to have had the opportunity of an online meeting with our beloved Huzooraa. We are very fortunate that Huzooraa guided us regarding our respective

departments.”

Tahira Qamar Sahiba, Naib General Secretary said: “The national amila of Lajna Imaillah India had the privilege of having a virtual meeting with Huzooraa, alhamdulillah. Prior to the meeting, there was a sense of fear, but as soon as the meeting started, my heart felt great happiness and satisfaction.”

Ra‘naa Tabassum Sahiba, Secretary Talim (Education) said: “I thank Allah that He blessed us with an opportunity to directly speak with Huzooraa and to seek his guidance. In the beginning, it was obvious to be a little nervous while meeting with the Khalifa who is appointed

by God, but seeing such a compassionate personage, my heart felt peace and Huzoor’s guidance with regard to [my] department is very beneficial.”

Shahzadi Shaja‘at Sahiba, Secretary Tarbiyat (Moral Training) said: “By the grace of Allah the Almighty, I had the opportunity to have a virtual meeting with Huzooraa. I consider myself very fortunate that Allah the Almighty had mercy on a weak person like me. It is impossible for me to describe in words the state of my heart after seeing my beloved Huzooraa so closely.

“May Allah the Almighty enable us to act upon each and every instruction of Huzooraa. Huzoor’s compassion cannot be forgotten”.

Nadia Parveza Sahiba, Secretary Khidmat-e-Khalq (Service to Humanity) said: “My heart was replete with feelings of happiness when I got the news that we would have a virtual meeting with Huzooraa, but at the same time, the heart felt a sense

of fear as well as to how I would face our beloved Imamaa. Thus, I continued to pray that may Allah the Almighty cover my shortcomings […] As soon as the meeting started and I saw the bright and smiling face of my dear Imamaa, the state of fear turned into peace and tranquillity and these were the moments that were the most precious pearls of my life and became an asset of my life.”

Amatul Shukoor Lubna Sahiba, Secretary Mal (Finance) commented: “By the grace of Allah the Almighty, the meeting with Huzooraa took place in a very pleasant atmosphere. Before that, I was afraid that I didn’t know what Huzooraa would ask us or whether we would be able to answer it correctly or not. But Huzooraa spoke most compassionately that everything became easier.”

Bushra Siddiqa Sahiba, Secretary Sanato-Dastkari (Industry and Handicraft) commented: “It was a great blessing of Allah the Almighty that we had the privilege of virtually meeting with Huzooraa. Before the meeting, I was nervous. When I saw Huzooraa live and talked to him, all the panic went away. Seeing Huzooraa and talking to him, I felt as if I had reached a spiritual world.”

Amatul Basit Bushra Sahiba, Secretary Tabligh (Preaching) said: “First of all, we are thankful to Huzooraa that, through his compassion, he granted the approval for a virtual meeting with Lajna Imaillah India. The meeting was very successful, by the grace of Allah. The state of mind that was before this meeting went away after seeing the blessed face of Huzooraa. Huzooraa enquired about

everyone with great love and compassion, answered the questions as well and advised us about our respective departments in a very useful way.”

Naheed Basharat Ruhi Sahiba, Secretary Nasirat-ul-Ahmadiyya said: “It was a great blessing of Allah that He granted us these moments. One of the most beautiful moments of my life that will always be remembered is in the form of this virtual meeting with Huzooraa. I am unable to express my feelings.”

Amatur Rafay Sahiba, Secretary Sehat-eJismani (Physical Health) commented: “It was a great honour to participate in this meeting not only with my fellow peers but especially with Huzooraa. At first, I felt nervous, but being face-to-face with Huzooraa, calmness came over me. I am very proud of this occasion and feel rewarded. It was a very exciting moment for me.”

Attiya-tul-Manan Sahiba, Secretary Tajnid (Census) said: “By the grace and favour of Allah the Almighty, Huzooraa gave us the opportunity to have a virtual meeting […] Huzoor’s compassion and love gave us a lot of encouragement and a lot to learn from. All the instructions of Huzooraa are a code of conduct for our lives.”

Bushra Zafarullah Sahiba, Secretary Ziafat (Hospitality) said: “Alhamdulillah, during this virtual meeting with Huzooraa we received immense guidance in regard to improving our work for the Jamaat.”

Amatul Naseer Bushra Sahiba, Secretary Tahrik-e-Jadid and Waqf-e-Jadid, said: “Alhamdulillah, we are fortunate to have the privilege of a virtual meeting with our dear Imamaa. There was a lot to learn from and the meeting was very successful.”

Ghazala Iram Sahiba, Secretary Tarbiyat Nau-Mubai‘aat (Moral Training of New Converts) commented: “This was the happiest and most blessed day of my life. For the first time in my life, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with my beloved Huzooraa. I am feeling very blessed.”

Aqeela Ghauri Sahiba, Secretary Umure-Talibaat (Student Affairs) said: “It was a great honour for me to be a part of this blessed virtual meeting with Huzooraa. This was a historic and very blessed day for Lajna Imaillah India. Indeed, after this meeting, Lajna Imaillah India will be even more successful, insha-Allah.

“This meeting was virtual but what we felt in our hearts was magical. Speaking

Continued on next page >>

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with Huzooraa directly was a dream come true. The experience of receiving first-hand guidance from beloved Huzooraa is beyond words. Huzooraa guided each and every department in such a loving manner.”

Fayaza Naeem Sahiba, Muawina Sadr for Jammu and Kashmir Province said: “The meeting with Huzooraa was a source of great pleasure and faith-inspiring.

May Allah the Almighty grant our beloved Imamaa a long life of health and safety, and enable us all to work according to the expectations of Huzooraa, and to stay connected with Khilafat for the whole of our lives. Amin.”

Fauzia Anjum Sahiba, Muawina Sadr for Waqf-e-Nau said: “It was a great blessing of Allah the Almighty that we got the opportunity to have a virtual meeting with our beloved Huzooraa. Huzooraa asked us questions in a very compassionate way. It is difficult for me to describe in words the feelings about this meeting.”

Amatul Quddus Sahiba, Muawina Sadr for Punjab Province and Rishta Nata (Marriage Department) Northern India said: “Before this meeting, I was very nervous, but after seeing Huzooraa, I am unable to describe the feelings of my heart. Huzoor’s words have instilled a new passion and zeal in my heart.”

Amatur Rahman Khadim Sahiba, Muawina Sadr for Haryana Province and Rishta Nata commented: “It was a blessing of Allah the Almighty that we had the opportunity to virtually meet with Huzooraa for the very first time.

May Allah enable us to follow the guidance and advice which Huzooraa has granted in regard to the rishta nata department and enable us to work in the best manner. Amin.”

Amatul Manan Sahiba, Muawina Sadr for Himachal Pradesh Province and Rishta Nata department South India said: “By the grace of Allah the Almighty, this meeting with Huzooraa went very well. Before the meeting, there was a lot of panic in my heart, but as soon as Huzooraa appeared on screen, all the panic went away due to his compassion. I am unable to describe in words the joy that came from seeing Huzooraa. He has guided us regarding our responsibilities.”

Dr Mansura Allahdin Sahiba, Sadr Lajna Imaillah Qadian said: “By the grace of Almighty the Allah, we got this unique opportunity to be a part of this virtual meeting. It was a very inspiring meeting and beloved Huzoor’s words were so apt and full of wisdom. Our beloved Imam’s way of guiding was really remarkable and left a deep impression on my mind.

Insha-Allah, we will strive hard to work as Huzooraa expects us to work.”

Bushra Tayyaba Ghauri Sahiba, Honourary Member of Lajna Imaillah India, commented: “Alhamdulillah, thumma alhamdulillah, we had a meeting with Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa. It seemed as if Huzooraa was sitting amongst us in Qadian. May Allah the Almighty create such a situation that there will be peace in the world soon and may the Jalsa Salana be held again and may Huzooraa visit Qadian. May Allah the Almighty make it happen very soon. Amin.”

“I never thought I would get this chance”: Lajna Germany students reflect on a blessed mulaqat Hamda Soosn Chaudhry Sadr Lajna Imaillah Germany

In Germany, there are 945 Lajna students. By the grace of Allah the Almighty, 421 Lajna Imaillah university students from all over Germany had the opportunity of a virtual mulaqat with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa. Out of the 945 students, there are 79 students of medicine and 166 studying to become teachers.

The mulaqat took place on 28 November 2021 at Bait-us-Sabuh, Frankfurt. The main setup was in the men’s sports hall, where Sadr Lajna Imaillah Germany, Hamda Soosn Chaudhry Sahiba and Sadr AMWSA Germany, Shazia Noor Malik Sahiba were seated along with 307 students. The rest of the 114 students were seated in the men’s praying area.

Preparations began for the mulaqat a few weeks in advance. All Lajna university students received a circular from the local umur-e-talibaat secretary, which provided the students with details of the mulaqat (date, time and venue) as well as the procedure to register to attend.

On the day of the mulaqat, duty-holders were present as early as 7 am to complete the final setup. The Lajna students started to arrive between 8 and 9 am. Up until the time of the mulaqat, the students were shown their seats, provided with pens and notebooks, prepped for the mulaqat and given snacks and water to refresh themselves.

The mulaqat began shortly after 1:20 pm with a recitation of the Holy Quran.

After a short conversation with Sadr Lajna Imaillah and Sadr AMWSA, Huzooraa granted permission for the Lajna students to present their questions. One after the other, the students asked their questions, which Huzooraa answered with love and grace.

We are grateful to Allah the Almighty, that we were blessed to have this opportunity.

We would like to express our gratitude to beloved Huzooraa for giving us his precious time.

The students were able to ask their questions and increase their knowledge, alhamdulillah.

The following interviews were taken before the mulaqat took place.

Navera Zunibia Asim Sahiba from Majlis Rüsselsheim said: “I feel really good to be here, it is really exciting for me to be part of this mulaqat. I am looking forward to increase my religious knowledge.”

Sadaf Ahmad Sahiba from Friedberg commented: “I feel fortunate and blessed, and looking forward to the blessed atmosphere of the mulaqat and seeing Huzooraa. Hopefully Huzooraa will give us lots of prayers that we can take back with us.”

Qandeel Bhutt Sahiba from Bremen said: “I am excited and emotional; I look forward to having a nice experience and just being in the same place virtually as Huzooraa. I look forward to telling my jamaat members about my wonderful experience. Insha-Allah, the other students will also be blessed with such a mulaqat in the coming years.”

The impressions of the participants after the meeting, are as follows: Hamda Soosn Chaudhry Sahiba, Sadr Lajna Imaillah Germany, said: “Alhamdulillah, the students of Lajna Imaillah Germany had the opportunity to ask Huzooraa practical and theological questions. I had the feeling that Huzooraa could look into the hearts of the students and give exactly the answer that they were seeking. After the mulaqat, many students gave me feedback; all of them said that today, they got the answer they had been searching for, for a long time, alhamdulillah.”

Shazia Noor Malik Sahiba, Sadr AMWSA commented: “It was an unbelievably beautiful mulaqat with our beloved Huzooraa. Shortly before the mulaqat began, I was really nervous, but as soon as I saw Huzooraa and he lovingly addressed me, my nerves were instantly calmed. The students have also given me some of their feedback. We are all ever so grateful that Huzooraa has given us his precious time and we were given the opportunity to be part of such a spiritual event.”

Fazeelat Sultana Sahiba, Muawina Sadr said: “Alhamdulillah, I have been given the opportunity to attend this blessed event.

Now that this memorable mulaqat has come to an end, I would like to express my emotions. I feel like, in this age, there is no other supreme human being other than Huzooraa. I liked the way Lajna members were able to express their concerns and ask their questions without hesitation, and Huzooraa responded with such detail and love.

“Not just that, but Huzooraa confirmed with the Lajna members whether they were content with the answers or not. It was an emotional mulaqat for me, especially when a student Lajna asked a question regarding choosing the right spouse. After Huzooraa had answered the question with detail, he then asked the Lajna member if she was married. When she replied in the negative, Huzooraa then told her the method she should adopt to pray. Seeing that Huzooraa has affection and concern for each member of the Jamaat, my heart is filled with gratitude. May Allah enable us to fulfil our duties in accordance with Huzoor’s expectations. Amin.”

Aisha Ahmad Sahiba from Aziz Mosque commented: “The first thing I did when I found out I would be having a mulaqat with beloved Huzooraa was gratitude to Allah, then I offered sadaqah and wrote a letter to Huzooraa. I had the opportunity to recite a nazm […] I cannot describe my feelings in words. It was a wonderful opportunity; I was excited and nervous. I feel blessed that I was given this opportunity. As I was standing there to recite the nazm, I was extremely nervous, but as I looked up and saw Huzooraa, I knew it was all right. I instantly felt calm and I could feel beloved Huzoor’s blessings and love upon me. I felt extremely blessed.”

Numana Mahmood Sahiba from Majlis Obertshausen said: “I thanked God the minute I found out I would be having a mulaqat with beloved Huzooraa. It was unbelievable to be having such a blessed mulaqat during the Covid-19 pandemic. That was definitely the first thing I did, thank God. I was unable to ask a question, but I learned so much. The questions were extremely interesting. The way Huzooraa answered them was so loving and detailed. What was new for me was the question regarding sketching and portraits.

We learn how to draw in school, we are even asked to draw portraits and now I know that there is a hadith that advises us against it. I did not know this at all. The way Huzooraa explained this was so beautiful. Huzooraa even elaborated that taking pictures should also have a purpose.”

Afiefa Anwar Sahiba from Majlis GroßGerau Süd said: “I was really excited as I found out that I would be part of this virtual mulaqat. I have seen all the virtual mulaqats on MTA News and I was looking forward to be part of this historic mulaqat […] While coming for this meeting, I had to travel for about two hours, and after the mulaqat, I was feeling tired, but it was definitely worth it.”

Sara Anwar Sahiba from Majlis GroßGerau Süd commented: “This was my first mulaqat after such a long time. The mulaqat was interesting, insightful and relaxing. As I want to become a teacher, there was a specific question asked in regard to my subject and that was about how to deal with students of different Islamic groups in a class. That was something that I had been thinking about a lot, so I was really happy that someone had asked that question and I got a detailed answer to it. I feel excited and happy, but calm at the same time.”

Jasmine Khokar Sahiba from Majlis Nuur Mosque commented: “Alhamdulillah, it was such a blessed and faith-inspiring experience. By the grace of Continued on next page >>

AL HAKAM | Friday 3 December 2021 << Continued from previous page

Allah the Almighty, I had the opportunity to ask beloved Huzooraa a question regarding teaching Islamic studies in primary school.

Before the mulaqat, I was advised to try to shorten my question, as it seemed to be too long. So, I tried to shorten it and left out one part.

“Then the moment came, when I was able to present my question and Huzooraa answered it graciously and in such detail that I was relieved and thankful to have received guidance. But then, I was overwhelmed as Huzooraa asked if I was content or if I had another question in mind and that now was the chance to ask. So, alhamdulillah, I got the opportunity to also present the second part of my question which I had shortened before. I am still so amazed about Allah’s ways and the special bond with Khilafat-eAhmadiyya. Khilafat, zindabad!

“I feel guided and motivated now for the future as an Islamic studies teacher and all the uncertainty I had has been removed due to the blessed guidance of Huzooraa, alhamdulillah.”

Aneela Ahmad Sahiba from Majlis Eppertshausen said: “When I found out that I would be able to join the mulaqat, I was very excited. I feel grateful and happy. Although I did not have the courage to ask a question, I learned a lot from the questions that were asked.

They were all really interesting. Huzooraa encouraged us to be active within AMWSA”.

Amatul-Wakiel Ahmad Sahiba from Majlis Aschaffenburg said: “Seeing Huzooraa in the virtual mulaqat did refresh memories of our last family mulaqat before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Huzooraa encouraged us to write letters to newspapers. Although the Lajna Imaillah does have such schemes, it was refreshing to hear it from Huzooraa”.

Naima Malik Sahiba from Neuss said: “It was my first mulaqat with Huzooraa as a student. When I found out that I could join the mulaqat, I couldn’t contain my emotions.

Even though it was a virtual mulaqat, it was a way to get close to Huzooraa. When I saw Huzooraa, my eyes were filled with tears and I realised once again that our Jamaat is the true Jamaat. We have a big responsibility to fulfil the expectations of our Imamaa.

“If I had to describe my emotions right now, I would say that I am feeling inner peace. Especially when the nazm was recited, and seeing Huzooraa whilst listening to the words and understanding the meaning of the nazm was a moment very special to me.

“I am studying law in the third semester, so Huzoor’s emphasis on human rights was a guidance for me especially regarding my studies. Also, Huzoor’s guidance about prayers [dua] was a reminder as well.”

Noorin Farooq Sahiba from Majlis Noorudin Mosque commented: “The class was amazing for me. At first, my sister wasn’t chosen, but we found out later that my sister could make it. That was great for me. Huzooraa has provided us with a lot of information, especially the guidance on what qualities to pray for in our partners and the guidance for parents on how they should form a positive relationship with their children.”

Fatima Janjua Sahiba from Majlis Pfungstadt said: “I found the mulaqat very beautiful.

9

Normally I watch the mulaqat on This Week with Huzoor, but today I was part of it. It was not the same as watching it at home.

It was definitely a different feeling. Being at the same spot where Huzooraa is present was amazing. What I am taking back with me from this mulaqat is patience and steadfastness, which are what we all need in order to carry out our Jamaat work.”

Noreen Salam Sahiba from Majlis

Pforzheim said: “This was my first ever mulaqat with beloved Huzooraa. I was so happy when I found out I had the opportunity to be part of a student mulaqat with Huzooraa.

I never thought I would get this chance. I feel fortunate, at ease and joyful. It is so informative to be part of such events, even when you think you don’t have a question, but when you are here and hear the other

questions answered, it is amazing how much we don’t know, the insights by Huzooraa are always so enlightening.”

Romana Shahid Sahiba from Majlis Northeim, commented: “I learned so many new things, my knowledge has definitely increased. I feel overwhelmed and at ease at the same time.”

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10

Friday 3 December 2021 | AL HAKAM

Answers to Everyday Issues

Part XXIV

The role of the Mahdi, existence of God, fasting and menstruation, reversing an adoption and nearness of God Guidance regarding basic Islamic issues – which Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa has given on various occasions in his written correspondence and during MTA programmes – is being officially published below for everyone’s benefit.

Zaheer Ahmad Khan Head of Records Department, Private Secretariat, London

Fasting and menstruation Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa was asked whether a woman should break or complete her fast if her menstrual period started while the fasting. Moreover, once that period is over, could she clean herself [by performing ghusl] after suhoor or must she do so before it?

Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa, in a letter dated 30 April 2020, gave the following reply to this question: “This natural condition of women is described by the Holy Quran as a state of ًَ ‘‫[ أذى‬azaa]’ i.e. pain. Islam has exempted women from performing all kinds of acts of worship during this state. Therefore, the fast ends as soon as the menstrual period begins. Fasting can only be resumed once this period is completely over and one has completely washed and purified oneself.

Moreover, the fasts that are missed during these days (including the two days of the onset and the end) can be completed at any time after Ramadan.”

Three men shall fight for a treasure: meaning of a hadith Someone wrote a letter to Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa and quoted the following hadith in it, as narrated by Hazrat Thaubanra:

“Allah’s Messengersa said, ‘Three individuals shall fight one another for one of your treasures (and shall be killed), each one of them the son of a caliph (ruler), but none of them shall gain that treasure. Then, black flags shall appear from the east. They shall kill you in an unprecedented manner.’

Then, he mentioned something that I do not remember, and then he said, ‘When you see him (the Mahdi), pledge your allegiance to him even if you have to crawl over snow, for he is al-Mahdi, the Caliph of Allah [Khalifatullah Al-Mahdi].”

The person then interpreted a part of the

hadith and asked Huzooraa for his opinion of it. Moreover, he requested further explanation of another part of the hadith.

In a letter dated 30 May 2020, Huzooraa gave the following reply to this question: “You have quoted this hadith from AlBahr Al-Zakhkhar, whereas it has also been recorded in Kitab al-Fitan, Bab Khurooj Al-Mahdi of Sunan Ibn Majah which is one of the Authentic Six [al-Sahih al-Sittah].

The interpretation you have done of the treasure [kanz] and the sons of the caliphs, mentioned in the hadith, is merely your personal point of view.

“In my view, in this hadith, the Holy Prophetsa is informing of various events that were to occur in the Muslim ummah in the future, some of which relate to worldly and others to spiritual matters. Although many scholars have applied the word kanz to the treasure of the Ka‘bah, that treasure has fallen into the hands of many rulers.

Therefore, the treasure mentioned in the hadith cannot mean the treasure of the Ka‘bah because the Holy Prophetsa is saying in the hadith that none of them shall get that treasure.

“Therefore, it refers to the spiritual treasure, of which the Holy Prophetsa had given the glad tidings in the form of the establishment of Khilafat ala Minhaj alNubuwwah, the Khilafat on the precepts of Prophethood after him. Since the foremost condition for obtaining this treasure, according to the Holy Quran, is faith and righteous deeds, which had ceased to exist among those worldly rulers, they fought numerous wars to obtain it, but that spiritual treasure did not get into anyone’s hands.

“That is why in this hadith, the Holy Prophetsa has merely used the words ‘Ibnu khalifa’ for those who fought for a [physical] treasure. That is, they will be caliphs in the sense of heirs, but they will not be caliphs established by Allah the Exalted or subject to the caliphate based on prophethood.

However, in the same hadith, the Holy Prophetsa has used the words ‘Khalifatullah al-Mahdi’ for the person who was to receive the spiritual treasure of Khilafat ala Minhaj al-Nubuwwah – the Khilafat on the precepts of Prophethood.

“You have expressed your opinion

regarding the mention of the killing of Muslims in this hadith, that it would take place through the Mahdi, which is not correct in my view.

“If it is interpreted to mean physical killing and bloodshed, then that could not be carried out by the Mahdi at all; rather, it would refer to the bloodshed in the wars fought among Muslims during the two periods mentioned in the prophetic statement in another hadith of the Holy Prophetsa (recorded ًّ ً ْ in Mishkat al-Masabih) in the words: ‘‫[ ُمل�ﺎ َﻋﺎﺿﺎ‬tyrannical monarchy]’ ًْ ًَ and ‘‫[ ُمل�ﺎ َﺟ�ْ�ِ ّیﺔ‬monarchical despotism]’.

Moreover, it would also refer to the massacre of Muslims by the Mongols in the thirteenth century.

“One of the proofs as to why this massacre was not to be carried out by the Khalifatullah al-Mahdi is that the Holy ْ ُ َ​َ Prophetsa has mentioned ‘‫ ’�ﻀﻊ اﻟ َ� ْرب‬i.e. ‘He will put an end to wars and bloodshed’ (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitabul Anbiaa, Bab Nuzooli ’Isa) as a hallmark of the coming Mahdi. Thus, how can it be that on the one hand the Holy Prophetsa is declaring the coming Mahdi as a standard-bearer of peace and reconciliation, and on the other hand, he is informing of such bloodshed of the people of the ummah of Muhammadsa as never carried out by anyone in the past?

“Then, the narrator’s statement in this hadith that ‘After that, the Holy Prophetsa said some other things which I do not remember’ deserves special attention and it is quite possible that those matters were related to the appearance of the Dajjal, the Antichrist, because there are numerous traditions in the books of hadith in which the Holy Prophetsa described the trial of Dajjal as the greatest trial and gave the glad tiding to his ummah of the coming of the Promised Messiah to counter that [trial].

According to the narrator, after these words, the Holy Prophetsa mentioned the arrival of Hazrat Imam Mahdias and, while making it obligatory to pledge allegiance to him, he stressed that even if one had to crawl over glaciers on one’s knees, one ought to swear allegiance to him, because he is the Khalifatullah al-Mahdi.

“Therefore, the Holy Prophetsa has mentioned three distinct periods of time in this hadith: 1. The period of time when the blessed era of the Holy Prophetsa and the RightlyGuided Khilafat was to come to an end according to God’s will and after that, the Muslims were to fight among themselves and were to shed blood of their own people after having subjugated them. At that time, they were to lose their spiritual treasure.

2. The second is the period of time when

Muslims were to be subjected to bloodshed by their non-Muslim opponents due to their material weakness too.

3. Then there is the third time when, according to the prophecies of the Holy Prophetsa, the Imam Mahdi, the Muhammadan Messiah was to appear and the part of the Muhammadan ummah which was to embrace this ardent devotee and spiritual son of the Holy Prophetsa by pledging their allegiance to him, was to experience, once again, a time of prosperity which was once witnessed by the Muhammadan ummah during the blessed era of its Master and Guide, the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa, the Chosen One. The glad tiding of ‘‫[ ’��ؓ � � � � � � ی�ا‬He meets the Companionsra when he finds me] was to be fulfilled for fortunate souls at that time.

“If the murder and destruction mentioned in the hadith is taken metaphorically, then its meaning will be as follows: Just as the ْ َ َ َّ َ ْ َ َ true meaning of the phrase ‘‫ِیب َو�ﻘ ُت َﻞ‬ ‫فیﻜ ِ�ر اﻟﺼل‬ ْ َ‫[ ’اﻟ ْ ِﺨ��ِیر‬He shall break the cross and kill the swine], as mentioned in the hadith about ْ َ​َ postponing warfare [‫ ]�ﻀﻊ اﻟ َ� ْرب‬in Sahih alBukhari is not the [physical] breaking of crosses and killing of swine; rather, it is the counterblast to the objections raised against Islam by Christianity, likewise, the killing of Muslims by the Imam Mahdi refers to the eradication of false beliefs that have found their way into Muslims, and it refers to establishing the faith across the world in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Prophetsa, after having revived the faith.

“So, in my view, if this hadith is taken in this way, it becomes a more befitting interpretation and the qitaal [killing] can also be explained in this way.”

Musnad al-Rabee‘ ibn Habeeb An Arab friend wrote to Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa and asked whether Musnad al-Rabee‘ ibn Habeeb, the hadith book of the Ibadiyya sect, was considered authentic and followed by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat.

In a letter dated 30 May 2020, Huzooraa gave the following reply to this question: “The belief of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat regarding the ahadith of the Holy Prophetsa, in light of the teachings of the Promised Messiahsa, is that the third source of guidance after the Holy Quran and the sunnah is hadith, which is a servant of the Quran and the sunnah. However, a hadith that contradicts the Quran and the sunnah and contradicts another hadith that is in accordance with the Quran, or a hadith that contradicts Sahih Bukhari, will not be worthy of being accepted because, by accepting it, one has to reject the Quran and

AL HAKAM | Friday 3 December 2021 all the ahadith that are in accordance with the Holy Quran.

“The Promised Messiahas states that it is incumbent on his Jamaat to follow any hadith that does not oppose and contradict the Holy Quran and sunnah, regardless of its authenticity and give preference to it over manmade jurisprudence. [A Review of the Debate between Batalavi and Chakrhalavi (English), p. 10] “The Promised Messiahas states that [you must] follow the Noble Quran and follow the ahadith that are proven to be from God’s Messengersa. We consider it obligatory to follow even the weakest hadith, provided it does not contradict the Quran. [Malfuzat (Urdu) Vol. 4, p. 107-108] “The Promised Messiahas states that if there is a clear contradiction between a hadith, be it from Bukhari or Muslim, and clear, categorical and expressly indicative verses of the Holy Quran, I will never accept any kind of interpretation for it which is bound to lead one to contradict the Holy Quran. [Mubahitha Ludhiana (Urdu), Ruhani Khazain Vol. 4, p. 100] “Therefore, any hadith that is in

accordance with the above criteria, regardless of the book it is found in, is acceptable and a binding proof according to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat.”

Reversing an adoption A woman voluntarily gave her child [up for adoption] to the wife of her husband’s elder brother. Many years later, when a dispute arose between the two families, a letter from the mother regarding her demand for the return of the child was received by Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa. Huzooraa, in a letter dated 24 June 2020, gave the following instructions and guidance regarding this issue: “In dealings with ordinary worldly goods, when a person gives one of his belongings to someone of his own free will, then the demand for the return of that thing is frowned upon. Children are not counted among such worldly goods, but when a person gives their child to someone of their own free will and another person keeps the child as their own, then the demand for the child’s return is not morally acceptable. Hence, the Jamaat’s qaza [arbitration council], after reviewing all the circumstances, has passed the judgement that the demand of the birth mother for the return of her child is not valid.

“In my opinion, if the child is over nine years old, then the matter should be decided according to the jurisprudential principle of khiyar al-tamyeez, that is the child should be asked who they want to be with.

The child should then be allowed to stay wherever they indicate [the willingness] to go voluntarily and happily.

“May Allah the Exalted grant wisdom and understanding to both of the families.

May you consider piety and the fear of God

Almighty and end these disputes by giving up your legitimate rights for each other, only for the sake of Allah. Amin.”

Existence of God During a virtual sitting of the students of Jamia Ahmadiyya Ghana with Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, which was held on 5 December 2020, a student asked Huzooraa what the strongest proof [for the existence of God] was to make those people who did not believe in God Almighty understand.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa replied:

“The fact is that those who do not believe in God Almighty do not wish to even listen [to such proofs]. The strongest proofs for the existence of God Almighty are your personal experiences with Him. “Tell them, ‘You say that God does not exist. I say there is a God as I asked of Him and He gave me what I prayed for.’ You have had your prayers answered, right? Has Allah ever accepted a prayer of yours? Have you ever prayed for something and had that prayer accepted? (The student answered in the affirmative.) So, say to those people who do not believe in God, ‘You say that God Almighty does not exist. I sought something from Allah the Exalted and He granted it to me. I have a personal experience of Allah the Exalted. How can I say that there is no God? If you also make an effort, you can find Allah as well.’

“However, those people who do not believe in God can be very stubborn. There is also an atheist here as well whose name is Richard Dawkins. He does not believe in God Almighty and has also written a book against [the existence of] God. I sent him the Five-Volume Commentary [of the Holy Quran] as well as other books such as The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam. I told him to read these books and then speak to us and he would realise who God truly is and what the true concept of God is. He replied saying that he did not want to read any of it [as if to say] ‘You just read my book.

I won’t read any of your books.’

“Hence, these people are stubborn and by no means do stubborn people wish to believe. Indeed, you should maintain a personal relationship with those who possess a pious nature. Then, you should gradually bring them towards God Almighty due to your personal contact. Sometimes this nearness also has an effect and it becomes the means for others to reform themselves.

So, personal experience is the most effective thing.

“At times, there are people here who come to meet me. There are some members from the press who also come to meet me – and, in fact, some have expressed that they did not believe in God but if they did ever believe in God, it would be due to the Khalifa who had taught them the truth about God Almighty.

11 “Moreover, it is necessary to pray in order to soften their hearts. We should pray that Allah the Exalted may soften their hearts. For this reason, our own personal examples are very important. Present your personal example before them and tell them about your personal experiences. When it comes to the acceptance of prayer, look at your own relationship with Allah. When you tell them about your own relationship with Allah, they will be more impressed with that first-hand experience.

“There are countless other proofs other than that. There is the book, Our God, there are Ten Proofs for the Existence of God and Hasti Bari Ta‘ala by Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra. All these books are now available in Urdu and in English. So, read them and give others these books to read. Likewise, if there is someone who is well-educated and literate, you should first give him The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam, then Ten Proofs for the Existence of God, which are small books. Then, in Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth, the book of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh, there is a chapter about the existence of God Almighty which proves very convincing for some people. You should also give them Our God to read, which has been translated into English.

“Now, if they do not believe even after reading all this, then our only duty is to convey the message to them. We cannot guarantee anyone that they will be guided.

Allah the Exalted has taken it upon Himself to grant guidance. The responsibility He has given us is merely to propagate the message and to bring people to the path of Allah the Exalted.”

Nearness of God During the same virtual mulaqat [of the students of Jamia Ahmadiyya Ghana with Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, which was held on 5 December 2020], a student asked what the best way was to achieve the nearness of God Almighty.

Huzooraa gave the following reply: “Worship Allah! Allah has explained that He has created mankind so that they may worship Him:

َّ ۡ ۡ َۡ​َ ‫َو َمﺎ خلﻘ ُﺖ اﻟ ِﺠ َّن َو الۡاِﻧ َﺲ ِالا ﻟ َِی ۡﻌ ُﺒ ُﺪ ۡو ِن‬

“‘And I have not created the Jinn and the men but that they may worship Me.’ [Surah al-Dhariyat, Ch.51: V.57] “Moreover, fulfil the due rights of your existence! Secondly, after instructing us to believe in the unseen, Allah the Exalted َ َّ َ ُ ُ has taught us ‫اﻟﺼ�َاة‬ ‫�ﻘِیﻤﻮن‬, that is we have to ‘observe Prayer’ [Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.4]. It is a commandment of Allah the Exalted to observe prayer. So, the second most important aspect is worship. After believing in Allah, one must observe prayer.

Then, the Holy Prophetsa has stated that a person is closest to Allah the Exalted in the state of prostration [sajdah] during Salat.

Therefore, supplicate to Allah the Exalted in your sujood [prostrations] that He may ‫ت‬ grant you His nearness.

�� ‫� مت � ام� وہں وہ دو� ہ��ی� وت وہ‬

“‘You are the very wealth that I seek and I implore from You alone.’

“Pray to Allah and say, ‘You are the wealth which I seek; I do not need any money, nor do I need any worldly material. I only implore You of attaining Your nearness and when I will attain Your nearness, then

worldly wealth and worldly luxuries will naturally become subservient to me and my spirituality will increase.’ Thus, you should pray in your sujood that Allah the Exalted may grant you His nearness.”

Finding delight in Salat During the same virtual mulaqat [of the students of Jamia Ahmadiyya Ghana with Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa] which was held on 5 December 2020, a student asked how one could find pleasure in Salat. Huzooraa gave the following reply: “How can you attain pleasure in Salat?

The Promised Messiahas has taught us a very simple method for attaining this.

He said that one should bring about such an expression on their face as if they are crying. When a person physically displays certain facial expressions in order to reflect a particular emotion, then those intended emotions begin to develop from within the heart as well.

“Therefore, when a person displays an expression of one who is crying and, whilst reciting Surah al-Fatiha, continues to repeat َ َ َ ۡ َ َ َ and ponder over the words, ��ِ‫ِا ّیﺎك � ۡﻌ ُﺒ ُﺪ َو ِا ّیﺎك ﻧ ۡس َتﻌ‬ [Thee alone do we worship and Thee alone do we implore for help], then soon one will genuinely begin to cry. When one begins to cry and a state of heartfelt emotions and fervency begins to develop, then one will begin to attain the pleasure and delight from Salat. Then, when you go into ruku‘ and supplicate, you will again attain pleasure from that. Similarly, when you say ‘sami‘allahu …’ [Allah listens ...] and stand up from ruku‘, you will again feel pleasure in that and when you go into sajdah, your soul will become anxious and you will attain a certain pleasure in that particular state as well.

“Therefore, a person has to display the physical expressions that are required to reach the desired inner state. However, this can only be attained by undergoing a concerted effort and by striving. If one endeavours to strive in this way, they will continue to derive pleasure from Salat. And when a person experiences that pleasure and delight once, then they will always endeavour to stand before their Lord whilst weeping in order to attain the pleasure and delight from being in that state. The pleasure that one attains by weeping before Allah in sajdah is far greater than any other pleasure.

“And pray to Allah the Exalted that He may enable you to fulfil the oath with which you have come to Jamia Ahmadiyya.

May you become an excellent murabbi and muballigh, and may He enable you to preach to your own people in such a manner that they turn towards Allah the Exalted. And then may such people emerge from among them who are amongst those who experience pleasure and delight in their worship.”

(Translated by Al Hakam)

12

Friday 3 December 2021 | AL HAKAM

This Week in History 3 - 9 December in 1938, and then moved to Rabwah after the partition in 1947. (Tarikh-eAhmadiyyat, Vol. 14, p, 25)

Hazrat Maulana Syed Sarwar Shahra

Hazrat Mir Muhammad Ishaqra

3 December 1943: Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra set up the “Ifta Committee” to look into various issues of fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence). He appointed the following three members for it: • Hazrat Maulana Syed Sarwar Shahra, who served as the mufti (chief adjudicator) of the Jamaat • Hazrat Mir Muhammad Ishaq

ra

• Hazrat Maulana Abul Ata (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 8, p. 454)

3 December 1955: Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra attended a tea party arranged in honour of overseas missionaries and devout Ahmadis who had travelled from Mauritius. This was arranged by wakalat-e-tabshir (secretariat for foreign missions) and was held after Asr prayer on this date.

The following are the names of the missionaries who attended the event: Hazrat Syed Zain-ul-Abideen Wali Ullah Shahra, Sheikh Naseeruddin Ahmad Sahib and Maulvi Abdul Wahid Sahib Samatri.

After the Maghrib prayer, in honour of the above-mentioned missionaries, a dinner was also held in Jamia alMubashirin. This was presided over by Hazrat Maulana Abdur Rahim Dardra.

The address he delivered on this occasion was the last address of his life as he passed away four days later, on 7 December 1955.

Hazrat Maulana Abul Ata

served as the imam of the Fazl Mosque, London.

In 1944, at the Jalsa Musleh-e-Maud (the jalsa in which Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra announced, after receiving divine guidance, that he was the Promised Son whose glad tidings were given to Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas) held in Hoshiarpur, and in some subsequent gatherings, he was selected to recite the prophecy of the Promised Messiahas pertaining to the Promised Son, as his uncle, Hazrat Munshi Abdullah Sanaurira, was with the Promised Messiahas in Hoshiarpur during the chillah (the 40-day retreat where Hazrat Ahmadas prayed to God in seclusion and thereafter received the prophHazrat Abdur Rahim Dardra ecy of Musleh-e-Maud).

Hazrat Maulana Abdur Rahim Dardra was an ardent servant of the Jamaat and nation alike. He was a missionary of the Jamaat, a skilled writer and a political activist for the Pakistan Movement.

4 December 1951: Hazrat Master Muhammad Akbar of Dera Ghazi Khanra passed away. He was a companion of the Promised Messiahas who performed bai‘at in 1904 after studying some books of the Promised Messiahas and issues of The Review of Religions.

After completing his master’s degree, Dard Sahibra offered himself for the service of religion. In 1920-21, after Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra established nazarats (secretariats of Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya), Huzoorra appointed Dard Sahibra as a nazir. Later, from 1924 to 1928, and then from 1933 to 1938, he

After entering the Jamaat, he remained active in tabligh and other Jamaat activities till his demise. When he was residing in Multan, Hazrat Amma Janra blessed his house by visiting many times during her journeys. After receiving his pension from his job, he migrated and settled in Qadian

4 December 1960: Hazrat Baba Sadaruddin Darweshra, a companion of the Promised Messiahas, passed away. He entered the fold of Ahmadiyyat in 1894 and was amongst the first of the local population of Qadian to accept the message of the Promised Messiahas. He was a potter by profession and worked tirelessly during the spadework before the foundation of Minaratul-Masih in 1900.

Hazrat Baba Sadaruddinra was a tall man who served as a darvesh (a person who stayed behind in Qadian for its protection) after the partition of India.

He passed away on this date at the age of 91 and was buried in Bahishti Maqbarah, Qadian in the special section designated for the Companionsra of the Promised Messiahas.

5 December 1957: Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra announced the nikah of his son, Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Tahir Ahmadrh, with Hazrat Syeda Asifa Begum Sahiba.

The wedding was celebrated on 9 December, and on 11 December, the walima was held.

would not be able to participate in the work [God wanted from me], but because of her relationship with me, God Almighty would give her share in my work and she will continue to receive its reward.” (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Vol. 11, p. 234; Friday Sermon, 3 April 1992)

5 December 1957: Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfanira, Editor and Founder of Al Hakam, passed away in India.

He did bai‘at in 1889. Throughout his lifetime, he was engaged in the jihad of the pen and wrote about 60 books, alongside his responsibilities as editor of Al Hakam.

Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfani’sra father’s name was Sheikh Muhammad Ali Sahib and his grandfather’s name was Sheikh Sultan Ali Sahib. Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Alira was born on 29 November 1875 in Jadla, a village of Jalandhar, India. He started his education in his village and would come first in all his classes. He passed the primary examination with honours and received a scholarship.

In 1889, he had the privilege of meeting the Promised Messiahas for the first time in Ludhiana. Earlier, he had studied Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, although he did not have the Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza ability to fully comprehend it Tahir Ahmadrh yet.

Hazrat Syeda Asifa Begum Sahiba was born in January 1935 to Sahibzada Mirza Rashid Ahmad Sahib and Sahibzadi Amatus Salam Sahiba (daughter of Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra). Hazrat Syeda Asifa Begum Sahiba passed away on 3 April 1992, in London, after a long illness.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh, whilst mentioning Hazrat Syeda Asifa Begum Sahiba in a Friday Sermon, said: “When I was still to make a decision with regard to this marriage proposal, I performed istikhara [a prayer in which one seeks the best outcome] and in a state of vision – that is, not in a state of wakefulness, but in the state of vision – I received a revelation, the words of which were: ‫ت‬ ‫ہ یش‬ ‫ی�رے اکم ےک اسھت اس اک انم‬ ‫� زدنہ رےہ اگ‬ “‘Along with your work, her name shall live on forever.’

“At that time, I was wondering ‘What is my work?’ I could not even imagine what tasks God would assign me in the future; however, there was a sublime message in it, that in practice, she

In his first meeting with Huzooras, the Promised Messiahas was very happy to hear that he was learning Sanskrit and promised to help in any way he could.

In 1897, Hazrat Sheikh Sahibra expressed his desire to the Promised Messiahas in a letter that there should be a newspaper of the Jamaat. Hazrat Sheikh Yaqub Ali Irfanira requested permission to start a newspaper on behalf of the Jamaat. He was residing in Amritsar at the time. He was a successful journalist working for prominent newspapers and was known as an exceptional writer. The Promised Messiahas replied: “We have no experience in this field.

There is a need for a newspaper, but our Jamaat comprises of poor people and is unable to bear financial strains. If you can do this through your experience, then you may do so. May Allah bless this effort.”

Hazrat Yaqub Ali Irfanira was completely alone at that time. On the other hand, some of his friends were adamant in

AL HAKAM | Friday 3 December 2021

13 that Hazrat Ahmadas was a truthful person.

In 1898, Hazrat Seith Ismail Adamra visited Qadian for the first time, where he met the Promised Messiahas for the first time also.

A historical group photo of the Promised Messiahas along with his companions | 1899 Hazrat Yaqub Ali Irfanira can be seen standing third from left

bringing him into government service; however, Allah Almighty helped him and he succeeded in launching the Jamaat’s first-ever newspaper, Al Hakam.

6 December 1939: Mr Manko V Astro passed away at the age of 70.

He established the Jamaat in Eastern Java. This devout follower of the Promised Messiahas donated his land to the Jamaat, where a local mosque was constructed. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 8, p. 210) 6 December 1963: Hazrat Syeda Aziza Begum passed away. She was the noble wife of Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra and commonly known as Umm-eWaseem (mother of Waseem). She was the daughter of Hazrat Seith Abu Bakr Yusuf Jamalra, a devout and affluent merchant from Jeddah.

Hazrat Syeda Aziza Begum’s marriage with Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra took place on 1 February 1926. She regularly attended Lajna meetings. For a while, she was also responsible for organising darses and meetings for Lajna Imaillah.

Despite being born into a wealthy family, she led a very simple and humble life. She showed great love to the less privileged and treated them with immense compassion. She would visit them in spite of her own illness and share both their sorrows and joys.

She was ill for a long time due to diabetes and high blood pressure, and she passed away on the night between 5 and 6 December 1963 after being married to Huzoorra for 37 years.

7 December 1931: Hazrat Mullah Muhammad Meerura, a companion of the Promised Messiahas, passed away.

According to one narration, his real name was Mullah Mehrooz Khan.

At the time of his demise, he was not a musi; however, under the instruction of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, he was buried in Bahishti Maqbarah, Qadian due to the great services he rendered for Islam. He was a sincere friend of Hazrat Sahibzada Abdul Latif Shaheedra. One of the most significant services of Hazrat

Mullah Muhammad Meerura was that after the painful martyrdom of Hazrat Sahibzada Abdul Latif Shaheedra in Kabul, he provided immense help to the late martyr’s family.

Hazrat Sahibzada Abdul Latif Shaheed’sra family was exiled and deported to Turkistan (a city in Kazakhstan) and the government of Afghanistan confiscated all their property. Even mentioning the name of the family of Hazrat Sahibzada Abdul Latif Shaheedra was considered a crime. For 15 years, Hazrat Mullah Muhammad Meerura collected and gave the proceeds of Hazrat Sahibzada Sahib’sra land and property in Bannu to the late martyr’s wife and children in Turkistan.

Hazrat Mullah Muhammad Meerura had migrated to Qadian in his final years.

By then, the family of Hazrat Sahibzada Abdul Latif Shaheedra had been allowed to return to Afghanistan. (Tarikh-eAhmadiyyat, Vol. 5, p.309)

7 December 1948: Manzoor Ahmad Ojalvi Sahib was martyred in Kashmir while serving as a volunteer in the Furqan Force. (Khutbat-e-Tahir, Babat Shuhada, p.

80) 7 December 1948: Hazrat Seith Ismail Adamra of Bombay, a companion of the Promised Messiahas, passed away.

He was born in 1873 and Hazrat Seith Ismail Adamra entered the fold of Ahmadiyyat in 1896. In 1893, after reading articles written against the Promised Messiahas in Urdu newspapers of Punjab, he studied all the writings of Hazrat Ahmadas, from Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya to Ainae-Kamalat-e-Islam. After reading Huzoor’sas writings, his heart testified

8 December 1927: Upon the announcement of the proposed arrival of the Simon Commission to India (a group of seven British members of parliament under the chairmanship of Sir John Allsebrook Simon), Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra penned a book titled, Musalmanan-e-Hind ke Imtehan ka Waqt (A Trying Time for the Indian Muslims). Huzoorra, in the book, raised some serious questions about the whole political episode and the commission. Some people in India were outraged and suggested that the Simon Commission, which was to determine the future of India, did not include a single Indian member.

(For more details, see Al Hakam, 26 November 2021, issue no. 193, www. alhakam.org/simon-commission-firstround-table-conference-and-hazratmusleh-e-mauds-valuable-guidance)

8 December 1948: Hazrat Qazi Azizuddinra of Faizullah Chak passed away. He was a companion of the Promised Messiahas.

Though he was a prominent and wealthy landowner, he preferred to lead a simple life. He was very fond of preaching and was exemplary in helping the less fortunate in different ways. (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 12, p. 117)

Khanra on this date. The Jamaat’s message reached this country in 1947.

Hafiz Qudratullah Sahib was the first missionary of the Jamaat sent to the Netherlands.

According to the report of Hafiz Qudratullah Sahib, despite strong opposition from the Catholic Church, the local council approved the purchase of land for the mosque on 7 July 1950. Thus, approximately 800 square metres of land was purchased for 28,000 guilders. This news was so important that it was published by 60 newspapers, including the country’s top national and local newspapers.

When Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra appealed to Ahmadi women for donations, the way the women responded was highly appreciated by Huzoorra. Huzoorra had asked for 115,000 rupees, and the women of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat offered a total sum of 143,664 rupees.

On 12 February 1955, on the instruction of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, Hazrat Sir Chaudhry Muhammad Zafrulla Khanra inaugurated the digging of the foundations of the mosque with a prayer, and on 20 May, he laid the foundation stone. Representatives of several Muslim countries were present on the occasion.

In December 1955, Hazrat Sir Chaudhry Muhammad Zafrulla Khanra returned to inaugurate the mosque. Diplomatic representatives from Pakistan, Egypt, Syria and Indonesia, and press and radio reporters were also present on the occasion.

9 December 1944: Hazrat Muslehe-Maudra addressed young members of the Jamaat belonging to the NorthWest Frontier region of the Indian subcontinent and urged them to devote their lives to serving religion.

While this mosque was still under construction, Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra was in the Netherlands on 18 June 1955 and resided there for a week. During his stay, Huzoorra offered a long, heartfelt silent prayer at the construction site.

Huzoorra explained that a good method for preaching in this area was that the preacher should be a resident of the area who was familiar with the customs and traditions of the people. (Tarikh-eAhmadiyyat, Vol. 9, p. 194)

This mosque, with three minarets and a capacity of 500 worshippers, was designed by Frits Beck and was completed with funds collected from Lajna Imaillah members from all around the world. On 3 June 2006, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands visited the Mubarak Mosque to commemorate the building’s 50th anniversary.

9 December 1955: The Mubarak Mosque, the first purpose-built mosque in the Netherlands, was opened

by Hazrat Sir Muhammad Zafrulla

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Friday 3 December 2021 | AL HAKAM

Introduction to chapters of the Holy Quran

Surah al-Fatihah, al-Baqarah, Al-e-Imran, al-Nisa and al-Maidah The English translation of Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IV’srh introduction to chapters of the Holy Quran is being presented for the benefit of our readers. Insha-Allah, in the coming issues, we will endeavour to publish the introduction to all chapters of the Holy Quran as given by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh:

Chapter 1: Surah al-Fatihah This surah [chapter] was revealed in the early Meccan period. According to some authentic reports, it was revealed a second time in Medina. Including “Bismillah…”, it consists of seven verses.

The surah contains the essence of all the topics dealt with in the Holy Quran. For this very reason, this surah is also termed ْ ُ​ُ as ‫( ا ّم اﻟ ِﻜ َتﺎب‬Ummul-Kitab) in ahadith. Aside from this, it has many other names, such as ْ ُ َ َ َ ‫( فﺎﺗ َِحﺔاﻟ ِﻜ َتﺎب‬Fatihatul-Kitab), ‫( ا ّﻟﺼ ٰلﻮة‬As-Salaat), ُ ُ ُ ْ َ ْ ‫( اﻟ َح ْﻤ ُﺪ‬Al-Hamd), ‫( ا ّم اﻟ� ْ�آن‬Ummul-Quran), َ ْ ُ َّ َ َ ّ َ ‫ﻟس ْﺒﻊ اﻟ َﻤﺜﺎﻧِ ْﻰ‬ ‫( ا‬As-Sab’ul-Mathaani), ‫ﻟﺸفﺎء‬ ِ ‫( ا‬Ashُ ْ َ َْ Shifaa), ��‫( اﻟﻜ‬Al-Kanz) etc.

Allah the Almighty especially taught the Promised Messiahas the commentary of this surah. Therefore, he authored the commentary of especially this surah in Arabic.

Chapter 2: Surah al-Baqarah This surah was revealed in the first and second years of the Medinite period.

Including “Bismillah…”, it consists of 287 verses. Fundamental beliefs such as Allah the Almighty, divine revelation and belief in the Hereafter have been discussed in the very beginning of the surah.

In Surah al-Fatihah, three categories of people, i.e. the favoured ones, the ‫مﻐﻀﻮب‬ ‫( ﻋلیھم‬maghdhub alaihim) “who incurred ّ His displeasure”, and ��‫( ﺿﺎﻟ‬dhaallin) “those who have gone astray”, were discussed.

After discussing the favoured ones in Surah al-Baqarah, the evil creeds, evil practices, wickedness and crookedness of the people who incurred His displeasure have been mentioned in detail.

This surah is a wonderful miracle. From the beginning of creation until the time of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa, this surah gives accounts of various prophets and has also identified the challenges Islam was going to face until the Last Day. Having discussed Hazrat Adamas, the prophets of various major religions have also been mentioned, including Hazrat Abrahamas, Hazrat Mosesas, Hazrat Jesusas and the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa.

While reading this surah, one feels as if the complete Law has been revealed; and no facet of the Islamic Law seems to be left out.

Photo courtesy of Suhaib Ahmad

Though in succeeding surahs some other aspects are also found, in its own right, this surah encompasses every subject.

It is reported in a hadith that the Holy Prophetsa said that everything had its pinnacle and the Quran’s pinnacle was Surah al-Baqarah.

There is a verse in this surah that is the chief of all verses of the Quran, and that is Ayat-ul-Kursi. Thus, it is the miraculous power of the Holy Prophetsa that he was bestowed such a surah.

It also includes matters relating to Salat, fasting, Zakat and Hajj. The supplications of Hazrat Abrahamas and Hazrat Ishmaelas are specifically mentioned, which they made at the time of the reconstruction of the House of Allah.

This surah also includes the covenant which Allah had given to the Children of Israel, which they, out of their ill fortune, broke. It is this covenant that proved to be a

prelude to the advent of Hazrat Jesusas.

Towards the end of this surah, there is a verse that indicates that it encompasses the essence of all kinds of prayers, as though a never-ending treasure of prayers has been bestowed.

Chapter 3: Surah Al-e-Imran This surah was revealed in Medina in the third year of migration. Including “Bismillah…”, it consists of 201 verses.

This surah addresses particularly the third group, i.e., Dhaallin [those who have gone astray] as discussed in Surah alFatihah. In this respect, the following topics are discussed: the beginning of Christianity, the birth of Hazrat Maryamas and the miraculous birth of Hazrat Jesusas.

This surah also discusses Allah the Almighty’s exceptionally favourable treatment to Hazrat Maryamas and how Allah the Almighty would extraordinarily,

yet lovingly provide for her. It seems that the desire for pure and pious progeny generated in the heart of Hazrat Zachariahas only due to looking at the piety of Hazrat Maryamas.

The miracles of Hazrat Jesusas, in this surah, have also been discussed in such a way that the misconceptions given rise to by reading the Bible are also dispelled by the Holy Quran, as it throws light on the reality of miracles. This surah also talks about the natural death of Hazrat Jesusas.

In contrast to the covenant of the Jews, this surah presents the covenant of the Prophets [“mithaq al-Nabiyyin”], which was taken from all the Prophets, which, in a nutshell, is that if such prophets of God came after them who corroborated and followed their correct teachings, in such a case, it was incumbent upon their people to assist them. This is the covenant which is found in Surah al-Ahzab as well, and this is the very covenant which was taken from the

AL HAKAM | Friday 3 December 2021 Holy Prophet Muhammadsa as well.

Apart from other matters, the philosophy of financial sacrifice has also been addressed in this surah; that is, one’s sacrifice cannot be accepted unless one spends in the way of Allah that which one loves and that which is the best.

This surah also discusses the miraculous victory of the Holy Prophetsa on the occasion of Badr, which was followed by an era of great victories of Islam. The account of Uhud is also given as to how the Companionsra of the Holy Prophetsa, recalling the sacrifice of Hazrat Ishmaelas, laid their lives like sacrificial animals, but did not forsake the Holy Prophetsa.

Chapter 4: Surah al-Nisa This surah was revealed between the third and fifth years of migration. Including “Bismillah…”, it consists of 177 verses.

This surah starts with a verse that talks about the miraculous origin of humans from a single cell.

This surah has a deep connection with especially the concluding part of the preceding one. Besides dealing with the teaching of steadfastness, the preceding surah, towards its end, also teaches to exhort one another to be steadfast and safeguard one’s boundaries. Surah al-Nisa talks about bloody wars against enemies resulting in a large number of women being left as widows and children as orphans. In connection with the problems ensued by wars and the rights of widows and orphans, one solution to these problems has been presented in the form of polygamy, with the proviso that a momin [believer] maintains justice. In case of being unable to do justice, he will have to have one wife only.

This surah deals with the basic principles of the Islamic system of inheritance and their details.

The relationship between Judaism and Christianity and the advent of Hazrat Jesusas has been discussed, that when the Jews broke all their covenants and became hard heartened and tried to kill Jesusas on the cross, Allah the Almighty frustrated their plan of killing Jesusas on the cross. It also proved as an exoneration for Hazrat Jesusas and his chaste mother from all the allegations levelled against them by the Jews.

This surah also talks about the migration of Hazrat Jesusas and mentions the prophecy that there would not be left among the People of the Book any group who did not believe in the truthfulness and natural death of Hazrat Jesusas. This prophecy was fulfilled word for word by his emigration to Kashmir via Afghanistan.

Chapter 5: Surah al-Maidah This surah was revealed towards the end of the Medinite period. Including “Bismillah…”, it consists of 121 verses.

This surah addresses the reality of numerous miracles of Hazrat Jesusas. It has been related in commentaries of the Holy Quran that he was literally given a tray of provisions from the Heavens. Its reality also has been uncovered by saying that this was in fact a prophecy that the immeasurable amount of sustenance provided to the Christian people would be the result of the supplications and sacrifices of Hazrat Jesusas.

But if they became ungrateful after that, whose signs have unfortunately appeared, then the punishment they would receive

“

15

Don’t fall in love with the pleasures of the world, for they take you

away from God. Choose a life of austerity for the sake of God. The pain which pleases God is better than the pleasure which makes Him angry.

And the defeat which pleases God is better than the victory which invites the wrath of Allah. Renounce the love which brings you nearer to the wrath of Allah. If by purifying your hearts you come to Him, He will help you whichever path you tread and no enemy shall ever be able to harm you.

(Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, The Will, [English] p. 9)

would be so horrible that perhaps no such punishment had been inflicted on anyone before.

In view of the degradation caused in the Jews and Christians by breaking covenants, the ummah of Muhammadsa has been warned at the beginning of the surah.

Earlier, in Surah al-Baqarah, lawfulness and unlawfulness of certain foods was discussed. But in this surah, something different has been related which distinguishes Islam from every other religion, i.e. provision should not only be lawful, but it should be pure as well. Thus, if a food substance is apparently lawful, it is better to abstain from it unless it is absolutely pure and wholesome.

The teaching to administer justice in all circumstances has been discussed earlier.

In the current surah, the topic of giving evidence starts. And the teaching of absolute justice with reference to evidence has been discussed so profoundly that the protection of the rights of even the antagonist and never ever letting go of justice while settling issues with them, have been urged.

This surah discusses the covenant again as to how the Jews fell victim to mutual malice and enmity and disintegrated into 72 sects as a result of breaking the covenant. At this point, Hazrat Jesusas was sent to those who founded the 73rd redeemed sect. But it was also in a way prophesied that his people

would not benefit from it and would further continue disintegrating into factions. And as a result of jealousy, malice and meanness with each other, huge global wars would originate, which the Christian nations would wage against their own brethren Christian nations.

Where, on the one hand, this surah addresses the issue of nations’ mutual wars and bloodshed, it also talks about a group whose transgression and brutality would exceed all bounds (verse 34). As we find ruthless acts of brutality against juveniles in the Western world in the current age, the Eastern world is also rampant with it.

And such extreme acts ought to be met with َْ َ​َ severe punishment so that ‫فش ّ ِر ْد ِب ِہ ْم َم ْن خلف ِ​ِھ ْم‬ [“strike fear in those that are behind them”] may be fulfilled, and that other criminals may abstain from crime after seeing such a serious result.

This surah raises a voice against all types of transgression. In this very connection, it has been urged that someone’s conversion to another faith by force can never be allowed.

As a result of extreme coercive measures, if some people become apostate, in lieu of that, Allah the Almighty will provide such great nations who will vastly outnumber these apostates. They will greatly love the believers and will be very harsh to the disbelievers.

This surah gives such an account of the

just teachings of the Holy Quran which is not to be found in any other book of the world; that is, the followers of other religions who are true in following their religious teachings, do righteous deeds and firmly believe in the accountability of their deeds in the Hereafter, even if they do not believe in the Holy Prophetsa, Allah the Almighty will reward them the best for their good deeds. They need not entertain any fear or grief about their end result.

The topic of mutual malice and hatred under discussion in this surah addresses some other factors which cause extreme malice and hatred. One of them is alcohol and the second is gambling. Though they have some minor benefits, their harms far exceed those benefits.

The death of Hazrat Jesusas has been mentioned very clearly at the end of the surah. And he has been presented as a prophet who believed in the absolute unity of God. He never taught Trinity or idolatry to his people, nor did he teach them to deify both him and his mother besides Allah.

(Translated from the original introduction of chapters as presented in the Urdu translation of the Holy Quran by Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IVrh. Translated into English by Shahid Mahmood Ahmad, missionary in Ghana)

16

Friday 3 December 2021 | AL HAKAM

100 Years Ago...

I invite you to God: A letter to the Lagos Jamaat from Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud The Review of Religions [English], December 1921

Brethren of Lagos and its dependencies!

Peace be with you and the blessings of Allah, At this occasion, which is the first of its kind, when the Ahmadiyya community of Western Africa is going to hold its first meeting, I most sincerely and devoutly pray to Allah to vouchsafe His blessings upon the delegates and make their assemblage fruitful. Falling down before Him in humble supplication and prostrating meekly at the threshold of His infinite and unbounded mercy, I beseech His Grace to cover you whom His love has brought together as well as us who though distant in space are yet nearer in hearts. May He keep us safe from every sort of devilish doubts and temptations! May He so direct our movements, words and deeds, all together with our hearts, souls and wishes that we may live, move and have our being in Him! Brethren who have assembled today for Allah’s love and goodwill, be it known to you that Allah is something beyond human comprehension. He cannot be found out with human means and human intellect without superhuman agency. Human effort unaided and unassisted cannot take up man far, unless He reveal Himself of His own accord and declare His existence. Unless He comes down to us who are no better than the lame, the cripple and the halt, who are unable to move a single step, nay who cannot even lift up our heads on account of our human frailties, we are doomed. We are utterly lost if He do not take us up affectionately in His lap, suckle us with the milk of His love, moisten our throat with the water of His knowledge to brace us up, invigorate our spirits, light up our intellects, sharpen our sights, increase our audibility, develop our smell, and refine our tastes in-somuch that the dead be quickened, the weak strengthened, the prostrate raised up, the lame walked, the frail leaped and bounced, the dim apperceived, the dull caught the faintest distant sound, the stop-nosed nosed out the lightest smell, and the dull-witted clearly distinguished between good and bad.

Thus, sucking the milk of divine love and directed by His guidance and strengthened

by His power, can man be enabled to enjoy His company and appreciate His proximity and close relationship.

Therefore, my brethren, bear in mind that to find God we must seek through Him. The best way to approach Him is through His coming down to us Himself which in other words means His sending down of His own apostles and prophets so that we may believe in them and by treading on the path chalked out by them we may draw in His love and absorb His grace, thus providing for our never-ending happiness, peace and rest.

He who has not gained this has gained nothing, for he who rests satisfied with a temporary delight as against eternal bliss

The letter reproduced here was published in both the English and Urdu (above) editions of The Review of Religions

and whoever is contented with a limited success rather than with the unending prosperity is like the child who prefers playing to studying, or more like a patient who prefers a savoury food to his own weal.

Just as that child will repent of his folly when he grows up or again just as that patient will wring his hands and writhe with the torturing anguish of his consuming sickness, so will be the blank despair of one who instead of establishing a firm relationship with God is utterly absorbed in his worldly pursuits and the satisfaction of his lust. He will regret the day and bewail the time that lie had so wasted away in idle pursuits, nor will this repentance avail him much, for the opportunity once lest is lost forever and the dead never come back to life. Theirs then will be a lost cause, awaiting the orders of the Supreme Judge whose decrees never miscarry.

In the name of Allah and His Holy Prophet, peace be with him, I invite you to that true bliss and happiness than which there can be no greater pleasure and delight.

I invite you then to that eternal bliss which is free from every tincture of grief or sorrow.

People deem it a great honour if they can get an interview with their rulers or if they can get even a momentary glance at their kings. When the latter pass through the streets with their processions, these people for hours together, sit or stand along the streets or roads, long before the appointed hour, simply to have a look at that face.

But the central figure of this huge drama is utterly oblivious of the fact that someone is looking at him or her, and even if he or she could care to look at the lookers-on, that does not at all mean anything, for it does not do any good to the onlookers. Empty they come and empty they go. Nay, they are the poorer for their having a look at the royal face, for very often these people have to spend a good deal of money in order to have a glimpse of the great personage.

But hearken ye, my brethren, I call you to the King of kings, at whose court these temporal rulers are not even assigned the position of a door keeper or even a menial servant. I invite you then into the presence of One for whom you have to bear no expenses. Rather it is the Monarch who looks to your needs and amply bestows His

bounteous gifts upon you. And even if you have to spend something, that is out of what He has given to you. It is like the seed that is scattered on the tilth where it takes root and sprouts forth into a green and refreshing herbage when His mercy deigns to descend in the form of timely showers and at harvest time the farmer reaps a hundred or even a thousand fold.

Remember then I summon you to the presence of One who has no secretaries to be waited upon. You have not to cajole the warders or flatter and tip the usherers. His doors are ever open and His court is ever sitting. I require your attendance at the court of Him who sleeps not and tires not, whom illness never affects nor engagement preoccupies Him. Knowing your desire to see Him He will never put you off by pretending sleep, tiresomeness, illness, engagement or otherwise. His doors are ever open to you and He is always free and disengaged to see you. I would like you to see the king whose treasures never rim out and whose knowledge is unlimited, and there is nothing beyond His jurisdiction. He will never tell you that His budgetted allotments have been exceeded and that there is to be no provision for your needs for the current year. He will never confess His inability to devise means for the redress of your grievances. He will not excuse Himself by saying that your enemy is outside His jurisdiction.

I call you then to the Lord whose jurisdiction extends beyond this world and whose rule encompasses every world and every aspect of it. Not only is He your supporter here in this life but He will also support and sustain you in the life to come.

In this world of ours, His support and sustenance may be screened off by outward barriers such as human agency but in the life to come this veil is surely to be taken off and every agency spirited away. He alone will shine forth in all His splendour and even the naked eye will perceive that He is the sole Supporter, Ruler, King and Lord of the World.

Do you then hearken to my voice and respond to my call? Are you ready to advance to see Him? If so, please, bear in mind that your God is a jealous God who does not like that aught should be associated with Him. And truly so. Is it possible to bring together light and darkness? The world with its riches and honours is utter darkness if its acquirement implies estrangement from God and opposition to His wishes; yet God is light. How can they both exist together?

The world as such is filth and dirt but God is all righteousness and purity.

Is it possible that a person be in light and darkness at one and the same time?

How can a man set up a claim to purity and righteousness while at the same time he be immersed and steeped in sinfulness? If it is

AL HAKAM | Friday 3 December 2021

impossible, as everybody will readily admit that it is so, then it is high time that your love for Him should far transcend your love for other things provided that you have a mind to see Him and cultivate friendship with Him. Let your love for Him be immeasurably superior to other things; these as a matter of fact should pale into insignificance as compared with your love for Allah. I do not mean to say that you should give up loving your kith and kin but my point is that you should love them for the sake of God and through God. But if this love happens to be pitted against your love for God or if their love interferes with your love for God in any way, then you should throw it away as you would cast away dirt and filth from yourself, keeping in view the fact that the love of God should occupy the foremost place in your heart.

In the same way, I do not mean to say that you should discard all the things of this life, and having given up everything you should take to the life of an anchorite but what I intend to bring home to you is this that this life with all its appurtenances should not be the be-all and end-all of your existence.

Your connection with these worldly things should be of a temporary nature.

The world may be taken to be a temporary sojourn where one is perforce to pass the few minutes of his life just as he has to pass a few minutes of his life every day in his privy. As soon as one has done with his call of nature one loses no time in quitting that offensive and stinking closet, so should be your stay here in this life. Just as you have to attend to the call of nature and shut yourself up in the private closet, not because you are fond of the place but because you can’t help it, similar must be your attachment for this world and all that it stands for.

You should not hesitate to sacrifice all this, for is it not true that all wealth and honour is due to Him? So, in expending of

it in His way you are really returning only a very small portion of the trust money put into your care. This is not at all a sacrifice in the real sense of the word.

17 In short, dear brethren of mine, if you are minded to see Allah and gain His goodwill, you should not set up aught with him, neither the stocks and stones, nor your dear and near, wealth nor position, nor any worldly honour, nor even your carnal desires; for if you do that you should be stigimatised as rebels who can never find access to His court but in chains, and as such sure to receive punishment rather than any favour.

Dear friends of mine, the divine call has been given through the Promised Messiah[as]. You have heard this call and you have responded to it. Now that you have recognised the call it is incumbent upon you to subordinate your thoughts, words and deeds to this call, for that is the divine call, the Promised Messiah[as] being only a medium. He is the pipe but not the piper.

Do you think the pipe whistles of itself?

Nay, there is someone else on the other end of the pipe that speaks through it and what the piper whistles on the farther end, it pipes aloud at the lower end.

So was the case with the Promised Messiah[as] who did not speak of himself but only proclaimed aloud what his Master bid him. His voice may be compared to the piping of a shepherd, who finding his flock in imminent danger of being attacked at nightfall by a wolf, plays on his flute to warn his scattered sheep of the impending danger so that they may rally round him and thus escape being devoured. The Promised Messiah[as] is the same flute which God has

played upon to save His sincere devotees from the attacks of satan in these dark times.

So, his voice is really God’s voice.

It is necessary then, my brethren in faith, that you stand out in morals above other men, for one that is in close proximity with light is more luminant than others. If your morality is not pre-eminently superior to others, how can you advance your claim to your being nearer to the light than others.

Let Islam be your code of life, for it is Islam alone that can now guide the benighted humanity. Let love and union sway your mutual dealings. Let your hearts be free from malice and grudge and your bosoms beat in unison and affection. Stand you all together to proclaim the glory of God and strengthen your fraternal tie with this humble servant of God whom Allah has deemed fit to entrust with the safeguarding and propagation of Islam in these days, for the twig that falls apart from the root or breaks away, dries up for want of the life sap.

In the end, I again pray that Allah’s help may be with you and His protecting hand may cover your head. May you prosper before His eyes and may no snares or pitfalls befall you. May your heart be saturated with His love and your heads infused with his spirit. May your goal be one and only one, viz., the attainment of Allah’s nearness and His good will! Amen!

(Transcribed by Al Hakam from the original in The Review of Religions [English], December 1921)

Planning for Lajna Imaillah Sweden’s mulaqat with Huzoor Kashif Virk Missionary, Sweden

Huma Zaffar Sahiba, General Secretary, and Rabia Haseeb Sahiba, In-charge Waqifaat-eNau, report that the amila of Lajna Imaillah Sweden and members of Lajna Imaillah Sweden had the opportunity to have virtual mulaqats with Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa on 20 and 21 November 2021. The Lajna members gathered at the Nasir Mosque in Gothenburg for the meeting.

The Lajna amila had the mulaqat on 20 November 2021. After getting approval for the mulaqat, the amila members started preparations for the mulaqat. In October, the pandemic restrictions ended in Sweden and therefore physical preparations for the mulaqat could start.

All amila members were requested to prepare and go through their departments in detail and to have facts and figures ready.

The secretaries were also requested to prepare questions for guidance regarding their departments as well as any general questions that they had. The amila had several meetings both online and in-person to prepare for the occasion.

On the day of the virtual mulaqat, a rehearsal was done before the actual meeting rehearsal that we had with the MTA team.

Teams were made by Sadr Lajna Imaillah Sweden, Rakhshanda Tehseen Sahiba and

were assigned different tasks. Ahmadi Muslim Women Student’s Association members (AMWSA), waqifaat-e-nau and the rest of the mayar-e-daum Lajna were informed about the mulaqat and prepared.

All teams were supervised by Sadr Sahiba and assisted by the general secretary.

On the day of the mulaqat, each amila member prayed, offered Tahajud prayer and gave sadaqah before the meeting.

The amila gathered early in the morning.

A rehearsal was done and after a small tea break, the amila members were seated.

The MTA team from London gave some outlines of how the mulaqat worked and did a rehearsal.

It was a great honour and a memorable experience. It seemed as if the time with Huzooraa flew by and everyone wished to spend more time in this spiritually enlightened atmosphere. Belief in Allah and Islam strengthened through the mulaqat and motivation to serve the Jamaat in a better way increased in everyone’s heart.

On 21 November 2021, 45 Lajna from mayar-e-daum (aged 15 to 24) from all over Sweden were also granted the blessed opportunity of a virtual mulaqat with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa. Sadr Lajna Imaillah Sweden Rakhshanda Tehseen Sahiba, Sadr AMWSA Maria Chaudhary Sahiba and In-charge Waqifaate-Nau Sweden Rabia Haseeb Sahiba were

present at this blessed occasion.

During the last few months, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Lajna students were not able to enjoy Jamaat gatherings. The mulaqat with Huzooraa was therefore a huge blessing and for some students, they were meeting Huzooraa for the very first time. It wasn’t just joyous for the students to gather after a long time, but even more blessed was their mulaqat with beloved Huzooraa.

For this mulaqat, we began to organise under sadr Lajna’s guidance by liaising with the general secretary to send out organisational instructions to in-charge Waqifaat-e-Nau Sweden, sadr AMWSA and secretary umur-e-talibat.

MTA Lajna team members showed dedication and responsibility for covering such an important live event for the first time.

The class lasted for almost an hour and the Lajna hall lit up with happiness and the meeting ended with joy, alhamdulillah.

After the mulaqat, the students were overwhelmed and grateful to Allah the Almighty for being granted this blessed and inspiring opportunity and were empowered

by Huzoor’s loving words and gracious advice, and felt an even stronger bond with Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya.

18

Friday 3 December 2021 | AL HAKAM

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s blueprint for a successful Pakistan: Highly praised yet neglected advice Ata-ul-Haye Nasir Al Hakam Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IIra gave valuable guidance – which was highly applauded by intellectual circles – to the newly formed Pakistan and advised the public and the government to understand their responsibilities for the successful future of Pakistan.

In December 1947, Hazrat Musleh-eMaudra started a series of six lectures, titled Pakistan Aur Uska Mustaqbil (Pakistan and its future), which were delivered in Lahore.

The lectures on Pakistan’s future concluded on 17 January 1948.

The first five lectures were delivered at the Maynard Hall of the Law College Lahore, with the sixth one at the University Hall.

These talks were highly applauded by lectures and academic circles and many newspapers published news articles about these lectures, including Nawaiwaqt, Nizam, Zamindar, Safina, The Eastern Times and Taqat.

Pakistan’s defence, agriculture and industry The first lecture was delivered on 1

December 1947, and the session was presided over by Justice Muhammad Munir, former Chief Justice of Pakistan.

The hall was filled to the brim and included many intellectual personalities.

Huzoorra spoke about Pakistan’s future with respect to its defence, agriculture and industry. He stated that Pakistan needed to pay special attention towards its defence as its borderlines were very long, and the heavily populated cities of Pakistan were located adjacent to the borders. (Al Fazl, 2 December 1947, p. 1) After the lecture, Malik Abdul Qayyum, Principal of the Law College Lahore, wrote to Huzoorra, saying: “I listened with great interest to your lecture on Pakistan yesterday and profited a lot. It was full of new insight and breathed a spirit of courage and hope. I am sure my fellow listeners must have left with similar feelings. It was not merely a lecture, it was a timely warning to those who were accustomed to looking at things from an entirely different angle.” (Tarikh-eAhmadiyyat, Vol. 10, p. 408) The Eastern Times of Lahore, while reporting about Huzoor’s lecture, stated: “The greatest need, he said, was of inculcating a strong spirit of organization and discipline among all section of the

population.

“He strongly upheld the view that the agriculture of the country should be developed. There was ample scope for this in Pakistan [...]

“Pakistan was rich in mineral resources like coal, lead, petroleum, mica, etc., but all these resources were in an undeveloped form. A complete survey was the supreme need of the time [...]

“The speaker suggested the establishment of a Pakistan National Laboratory for carrying out researches in the domain of commercial industry, agriculture and defence. There was no such laboratory in the whole of Pakistan at present.

“The lecture continued for more than two hours and was the first of the series of lectures on the ‘Future of Pakistan’.” (The Eastern Times, 3 December 1947) Nawaiwaqt reported: “While giving analysis on the agricultural position of Pakistan, Mirza Bashiruddin emphasised to immediately cultivate the unused lands. He said that apart from iron, Pakistan has all those minerals from which Pakistan can fulfil its needs very well. If efforts are made, then oil can be found in Balochistan in such an amount that will beat even Ibadan [a

Punjab University, Lahore

city of Nigeria where oil had been found in abundance]. Similarly, if the quest and search for coal is continued, Pakistan could become self-sufficient for all of its needs.”

(Nawaiwaqt, 4 December 1947, p. 5) Nizam of Lahore stated: “[...] Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Sahib spoke about Pakistan’s prosperity as well. He said that coal, petrol and other metals are present [in Pakistan] in huge amounts, but they are yet to be found. Thus, full attention is required immediately. For instance, Balochistan has a great reservoir of oil, but no benefit has yet been attained. The respected speaker emphasised the need to open Pakistan’s national laboratory and to enhance Pakistan’s industrial production.” (Nizam, 4 December 1947) An Indian newspaper, Veer Bharat of Amritsar, stated: “The Khalifa of the Ahmadis, Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad has raised his voice against the loan of six billion dollars which Pakistan intends to get from America. Mirza Sahib thinks that it will make Pakistan a slave of America, economically and politically.” (Veer Bharat, 13 December 1947) Pakistan’s botanical, agricultural and zoological resources The second lecture was delivered on 7 December 1947 and the session was presided over by Sir Feroz Khan Noon, former Prime Minister of Pakistan.

In this lecture, Huzoorra spoke on Pakistan’s future with respect to its botanical, agricultural and zoological resources.

Huzoorra stated: “The presence of firewood and teakwood is immensely necessary for the protection and progress of a country. Firewood can also serve as the replacement for coal. In the past, reserve forests of firewood were planted around the big cities, from where the wood was supplied to the cities.

“And the landowners of the towns were made responsible to plant trees, and were not permitted to cut the small trees, to avoid wastage of wood. In every village, trees were planted in so many numbers that could fulfil a village’s needs for firewood and teakwood.

“There was not that much attention towards the rural economy and livelihood during British rule, as they belong to an industrial country, and thus the cities attracted the most attention. For this reason, the old system could not continue, and due to the deforestation, the villages were deprived of trees.” (Al Fazl, 9 December 1947, p. 6) Huzoorra said that it was a duty of the government of Pakistan to make such arrangements that could provide firewood to the villages and towns.

Huzoorra suggested that the government should create units of five or six villages, and establish a panchayat (administrative and arbitration council) which would be responsible for the economic and health facilities. For the villages of a unit, a specific place should be fixed to plant firewood and teakwood trees, and the panchayat should supervise this task.

Huzoorra stated that as a result, the need

AL HAKAM | Friday 3 December 2021 for firewood would be fulfilled and the dung which villagers used as a replacement of firewood, could be used as a fertiliser or compost. Thus, it would eventually benefit the agriculture of the country.

Huzoorra further advised that reserve forests of firewood should be created under the supervision of district boards in the surroundings of towns that had more than a 10,000 population.

Huzoorra added that the provincial governments should be given the responsibility of planting the reserve forests for firewood in the surroundings of the cities with more than 50,000 population.

Then Huzoorra spoke about Pakistan’s botanical resources. He said: “Herbs are a huge part of botanical resources. The best herbs are found in Kashmir, Chamba, Chitral, NWFP [now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa] and Balochistan.

Kashmir’s issue is controversial, and Chamba has definitely been affiliated to the Indian Union. Thus, in Pakistan, herbs can be taken from Chitral, NWFP and Balochistan, and it is the fortune of Pakistan that many [kinds of] herbs can be found in these three areas. Some of the herbs are so rare that they are not found in some other parts of the world. The speciality of the herbs found in Balochistan, is that in comparison to the [herbs of] other areas, they have more amount of alkaloids – which is a key element of medicines.” (Al Fazl, 9 December 1947, p. 7) Huzoorra continued: “Pakistan is an independent country now, and it has an opportunity to get the maximum benefit from its botanical resources. If a department is established to discover the alkaloids and other chemical ingredients, then scores of medicines could be invented in Pakistan, which could be sold at good prices in the global market.” (Ibid) After this lecture, Mirza Masud Baig Sahib, former G e n e r a l Secretary of the Lahore Sir Feroz Khan Noon Ahmadiyya Movement, wrote to Huzoorra on 8 December 1947: “You have delivered two lectures at the Maynard Hall, which have had a great impact on the people of Lahore. May God enable the people in authority to benefit from your invaluable suggestions and advice for eradicating the problems of this country and nation [...] It is my prayer that the Muslims may benefit from your honourable being.” (Tarikh-e-Ahmadiyyat, Vol. 10, pp. 408-409) In appreciation of this lecture, Sir Feroz Khan Noon, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, expressed: “There is an ocean of knowledge billowing in Hazrat Sahib’s mind. He has told us a lot in such a short time and shed light on the matter in a scholarly way.” (Al Fazl, 9 December 1947, p. 1) The newspaper, Zamindar reported:

“Last evening, while speaking on Pakistan and its future to a huge gathering at the Maynard Hall of Law College, Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, Imam Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya delivered an insightful and comprehensive lecture on Pakistan’s agriculture, economy and finance. Malik Feroz Khan Noon presided over this gathering.

“While mentioning the irrigation for agriculture, especially canals, Mirza Sahib said that due to the damages to the canals over the last 50 years, Pakistan’s agriculture is in big danger. There is a need for huge expenditure and money for eradicating this danger by working in accordance with scientific methods. Under the current circumstances, our government cannot afford this [expenditure]. But taking a loan from the foreign states, especially America, would prove to be a very big danger for our freedom.

“Therefore, the only remedy is to grant a conditional permit to foreign companies for investment in Pakistan. 40 percent of shares should be given to those firms, 40 percent should be held by the government and the remaining 20 percent shares should be owned by the public of Pakistan. In this regard, there should be a condition for the firms that they will also train our shareholders.” (Zamindar, 10 December 1947) Pakistan’s ma‘nawi (moral and spiritual) wealth On 13 December 1947, Huzoorra delivered the third lecture of this series. The session was presided over by Dr Malik Umar Hayat, Principal Islamia College Lahore and Vice Chancellor Punjab University. The hall was filled to its capacity and the attendees included highly qualified intellectuals and academics of Lahore.

In this lecture, Huzoorra spoke about the future of Pakistan with respect to the ma‘nawi (moral and spiritual) wealth.

At the beginning of his lecture, Huzoorra said that he had come to know that Pakistan was considering taking a loan from America. Huzoorra said: “In my view, it is necessary to ponder on various important aspects before implementing this suggestion.” (Al Fazl, 14 December 1947, p. 1) After elaborating on those crucial considerations, Huzoorra emphasised that before any further action, the government should seek the approval from the national assembly.

Huzoorra then spoke about the main topic of the lecture, and stated: “The ma‘nawi [moral and spiritual] wealth is the real power of a country.

Everything else has a secondary status. If every youngster of Pakistan can be heedful and thoughtful, and pledge that ‘I will dedicate all of my powers for the sake of country and nation’, then certainly all of our needs can be fulfilled, and we can defend the country in such a positive way that even cannons and aircraft have no status in comparison.” (Al Fazl, 14 December 1947, p. 1) Huzoorra continued by saying that moral and spiritual wealth were produced by the mutual efforts of a person’s mind and body, and for this, Pakistan had suitable resources.

19 Huzoorra elaborated that mentally, a Muslim is impressed by four things: Belief in tawhid (Oneness of God), belief in ubudiyyat (servitude of God), dua (prayer) and religion.

After describing the details of these four areas, Huzoorra said: “If the Muslims instil within themselves complete belief in these four matters, and bring a [spiritual] change accordingly, then, as a result, they can inculcate within themselves all the [necessary] attributes for progress, such as courage, bravery and interest for advancement in knowledge.”

(Al Fazl, 14 December 1947, p. 1) For benefiting the ma‘nawi [moral and spiritual] wealth, Huzoorra suggested: “1. It should be compulsory for every Pakistani Muslim to learn the translation of the Holy Quran.

“2. Education should be given in the mother tongue [of the student]. The people of Eastern Pakistan [now Bangladesh] should not be forced to get education in Urdu, otherwise they will separate from Pakistan because they have a great love for the Bangla language.

“3. Urdu language should be declared as the lingua franca [common language].”

(Ibid) While advising the youth of Pakistan, Huzoorra stated: “They should instil good morals, make a habit of deliberating, value time and make it beneficial for the country and nation as much as possible, create affinity between the rich and poor and try to excel [the country] economically.” (Al Fazl, 14 December 1947, pp. 1-2) After Huzoor’s lecture, the chairperson, Dr Malik Umar Hayat said in his speech: “Hazrat Mirza Sahib’s speech was so knowledgeable and comprehensive that we listened to it with great interest from start to end.” (Al Fazl, 14 December 1947, p. 2) Pakistan’s Armed forces On 20 December 1947, Huzoorra delivered the fourth lecture of this series, and the session was presided over by Mian Fazl Hussain.

In this lecture, Huzoorra spoke about the future of Pakistan with respect to its armed forces.

At the beginning, Huzoorra presented an overview of Pakistan’s defence power, and then pointed out some noteworthy aspects.

While speaking about the air force, Huzoorra advised to bring the public’s attention towards aerial training and to make such arrangements in universities and colleges.

Huzoorra elaborated that in the time of need, aircraft could be bought even in one day, but the pilots could not be trained in such a short time. Thus, Huzoorra stated, special attention should be paid towards this matter.

After Huzoor’s lecture, the chairperson, Mian Fazl Hussain delivered the concluding remarks and advised the attendees to act on the valuable suggestions presented by Huzoorra.

Pakistan and international relations On 10 January 1948, Huzoorra delivered the fifth lecture and the session was presided

over by Sheikh Sir Abdul Qadir, Qadir, a prominent jurist and journalist.

In this lecture, Huzoorra advised the government of Pakistan to strengthen its defence. Moreover, Huzoorra stated that the government should also make good relations with India, but in a respectable way instead of compromising the country’s dignity.

Huzoorra also emphasised the need for making good relations with Britain and America, but cautioned Pakistan to be aware of any deceit. Huzoorra stated that Pakistan needed to establish peaceful relations with Russia too.

Concerning Arab countries, Huzoorra stated that Pakistan needed to make friendly relations with these countries, and it was necessary to connect Pakistan with Iraq and Syria through a railway line.

Huzoorra added that friendly relations with Burma and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) would prove critically beneficial for Eastern Pakistan [now Bangladesh]. Moreover, friendly ties with Spain, Argentina, Japan, Australia, Abyssinia and West Africa could also prove politically beneficial for Muslims due to their specific circumstances.

After Huzoor’s lecture, the chairperson, Sheikh Sir Abdul Qadir, said in his concluding speech: “The basic purpose of these insightful and knowledgeable lectures is to call the attention of our educated people towards pondering upon these topics so that they may know that although we are facing many difficulties, if we try to get rid of these difficulties with perseverance and continue to work, we will certainly achieve our goal. Through these lectures, Hazrat Mirza Sahib has rendered a great service to the learned people. We are thankful to him from our hearts for this.” (Al Fazl, 11 January 1948, p. 8) Pakistan’s constitution On 17 January 1948, Huzoorra delivered the last lecture of this series, and the session was presided over by Sheikh Sir Abdul Qadir.

In this lecture, Huzoorra spoke about the constitution of Pakistan, and outlined some basic points that were necessary to draft a suitable constitution, in light of the teachings of the Holy Quran.

Huzoorra stated: “Islam has emphasised individual [spiritual and moral] reformation and purification of the heart because no law can ever be successful without the reformation of the heart. If the heart is not purified, then even the ‘best’ law can be used in a bad way […] Remember that if the [Muslim] individuals do not act upon the Islamic commandments which are incumbent upon them, then an Islamic constitution can never be implemented in the country. For an Islamic government, the establishment of an Islamic society is necessary and for an Islamic society, it is necessary to become an Islamic individual.”

(Al Fazl, 18 January 1948, p. 1) While elaborating on the question over how Islamic teachings were compatible in this age, Huzoorra stated: “There is no Islamic commandment which cannot fulfil the needs of this Continued on page 21

20

Friday 3 December 2021 | AL HAKAM

The Mahdi and Messiah would be opposed and rejected Proof from ahadith ‘his descending from Heaven but on his

Raziullah Noman Canada

(peace be upon him) personality. ’ Had his recognition depended

upon his physical descent accompanied by angels, he would have been instantly recognised. But, according to the hadith, the actual issue was simply the recognition of the Messiah without any reference to his miraculously descending from the Heavens.”

(Alarm of Doomsday, p. 52)

In this article, I will focus on the prophecies of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, from the ahadith, which show that the Messiah and Mahdi was going to be opposed by the Muslims and their religious scholars in particular.

The Holy Prophetsa commanded the Muslims to convey his salaam to the Messiah when he arrived. He said: َ​َ ٌ َ ٌ َ ُ ْ َ َ​َ َْ َ ‫ ألا‬، ‫ألا ِإ ّن ِعي َسى ابْ َن م ْري َ َم لي َس ب َ ْي ِني َوب َ ْي َنه ن ِب ّي َولا َر ُسول‬ ْ َ َ َّ ُ ْ ُ َّ َ َ َ َ ُ َّ َُ ‫ َويَك ِس ُر‬، ‫ ألا ِإنه يَق ُتل الد ّجال‬، ‫ِإنه خلِ ْيف ِت ْي ف ِ ْي أ ّم ِت ْي ب َ ْع ِد ْي‬ ُ ُ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ ْ َ ُ ْ َ ْ ُ َ َ َ َ ْ َّ ‫ ألا فم َ ْن أ ْد َركه ِم ْنك ْم‬،‫ارها‬ ‫ وتضع الحرب أوز‬،‫الصلِيب‬ َ ْ ْ َْ َّ َ‫السلَام‬ ْ ‫فل َيق َرأ َعلي ِه‬

“Nay, there is no Prophet and Messenger between me and the forthcoming Isa; nay, he will be my Khalifa in my ummah after me; nay, he will kill the Dajjal, and break the cross and lay aside the burdens of the war; nay, anyone from among you who sees him should give him my greeting of salaam.”

(Al-Tabarani, vol. 5, p. 146, Hadith no. 4898) Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas – who Ahmadis believe to be the Promised Messiah and Mahdi – wrote: “The greeting of peace which Prophet Muhammadsa sent for the Messiah has a hidden prophecy from Prophet Muhammadsa, rather than a simple greeting like that of the general populace. And the prophecy is this, that Prophet Muhammadsa gives me the glad tidings that ‘no matter the strength of the tribulations from the opponents and their calling you a disbeliever and the antichrist and their continuous efforts to ruin your reputation and plans to assassinate you and issue verdicts for your killing, Allah will make them fail in every instance and keep you safe. And Allah will forever safeguard your honour, and greatness and acceptance and security from every failure in the world as is the meaning of peace be upon you.’” (Tohfa-Golarhwiyah, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 17, p. 131)

A manuscript copy of ahadith in Sahih al-Bukhari, Mamluk era, 13th century, Egypt. Adilnor Collection, Sweden

Persecution of the Messiah In Sahih Muslim, Prophet Muhammadsa used the following words for the Messiah: ْ َ َ ُ ّ ٰ ُّ َ ُ َ ْ ُ َ ُ ‫يسى َوأصحَابُه‬ ‫ويحصر ن ِبي الله ِع‬ “[…] Jesus and his companions would then be besieged here.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2937a) This shows that the Messiah would face a lot of persecution along with his companions and would be “besieged” by enemies as it were. This was fulfilled with the persecution and opposition Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas and his community faced and still face today – by Muslims in particular.

“Recognise him” The same is said in another hadith with a slight difference in wording. The Holy Prophetsa said: َ َ َ ٌ َ ُ َّ ٌ َ ُ ْ َْ ُ ‫‏ لي َس ب َ ْي ِن ْي َوب َ ْي َنه ن ِب ّي ي َ ْع ِن ْي ِعي َسى َو ِإنه نا ِزل ف ِإذا َرأيْ ُت ُم ْوه‬

ُ ُ ْ َ ‫فاع ِرف ْوه‬ “There is no prophet between me and him [Isa]. And when he descends, when you see him, recognise him.” (Sunan Abi Dawud, Hadith 4324) The Holy Prophetsa commanded the Muslims “to recognise” the Messiah because many would fail to do so. This also proves that the Messiah would not physically descend from the Heavens because if such were the case, there would be no need to use the word “recognise” him – it would be as light as day! This point was also mentioned by the late Maulana Wahiduddin Khan Sahib – a prominent Muslim scholar from India – who wrote: “According to one tradition, the Prophet once observed about the appearance of Christ that he would certainly come. And when he appears, people should recognise him. This tradition of the Prophet shows that recognising him will be based not on

Condition of the ulema The Holy Prophet Muhammadsa foretold that the condition of Muslim scholars in the Latter Days would be dire. He said the Muslim “ulema” – scholars – would be the “worst of creatures” under the skies. This also proved that the ulema would oppose the one sent by Allah. Under the title “The taking away of knowledge and the spread of ignorance at the end of time”, Imam Muslim gave a beautiful hadith of the Holy Prophetsa: َّ َ ُ ُ َ ْ َ ً َ ْ َ ْ ْ ُ ْ َ َ َ ّ ٰ َّ َ​َ ‫ِإن الله لا يق ِبض ال ِعلم ان ِتزاعا ينت ِزعه ِمن‬ ‫ك ْن‬ ‫الن‬ ِ ‫اس ول‬ ِ َ َ َّ ً َ ْ ُ ْ َ ْ َ َ َّ َ َ َ ُ ْ َ ْ ْ ُ ْ ‫يَق ِبض ال ِعل َم بِق ْب‬ ‫ض العلما ِء حتى ِإذا لم يترك عال ِما اتخذ‬ ِ َ ُّ َ َ ْ ْ َ ْ َ ُ َ ً َ َّ ُ ‫الن‬ ‫اس ُر ُء ْو ًسا ُج ّهالا ف ُس ِئل ْوا فأف َت ْوا بِغي ِر عِ ل ٍم فضل ْوا‬ ُّ َ َ ‫َوأضل ْوا‬ “Verily, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the people but He takes away knowledge by taking away the scholars, so that when He leaves no learned person, people turn to the ignorant as their leaders; then they are asked to deliver religious verdicts and they deliver them without knowledge, they go astray, and lead others astray.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2673a) Talking of future Muslim scholars, the Holy Prophetsa said: ‫إنما أخاف على أمتي الأئمة المضلين‬ “What I truly fear for my ummah are the misguided scholars.” (Musnad Ahmad, Hadith 21803) In another narration, the Holy Prophetsa said: َّ َ َ َ ْ َ ْ َ ُ ْ ُ ُ ْ َّ َ ْ ْ ‫َ َ ٌ َ َ ْ َ م َن‬ ‫ام ِإلا اس ُمه‬ ِ ‫اس زمان لا يبقى ِ ال ِإسل‬ ِ ‫يو ِشك أن يأتِي على الن‬ ٌ ‫َولَا ي َ ْب َقى م َن ال ْ ُق ْرآن إلَّا َر ْس ُم ُه َم َساج ُده ُ ْم َعام َر ٌة َو َي َخ َر‬ ‫اب ِم َن‬ ِ ِ‫ِ ه‬ ِ ِ ِ

AL HAKAM | Friday 3 December 2021

َْ َّ ْ َ َ ْ َ ‫ْ ُ َ ُ َ َ ُ ُ ْ َ ُّ َم ْن‬ ‫الهدى علماؤهم شر تحت أدِي ِم‬ ‫الس َما ِء ِم ْن ِع ْن ِدهِ ْم تخ ُر ُج‬ ُ‫الْف ْت َن ُة َوف ْيه ْم ت َ ُع ْود‬ ِ ِ ِ “A time will come when nothing would be left of Islam except its name, and nothing would be left of the Quran except its words.

Their mosques would be full of worshippers but would be devoid of righteousness. Their ulema [the religious scholars] would be the worst of creatures under the canopy of the heavens. Evil plots will hatch from them and to them will they return” (Mishkat alMasabih, Vol. 1, p. 91, Hadith 676) Becoming like the Jews and Christians The next prophecy which shows Muslims would oppose the Messiah is mentioned throughout the ahadith literature. The Holy Prophetsa foretold that the Muslims would become like the Christians and the Jews. He declared: َ َّ َ َ َ َّ َ ْ ُ َ َ َ َّ َ َ َ ْ َ ْ َ ُ ْ ُ ْ َ َ َ َّ َ ‫ قال َحدث ِن ْي‬،‫ان‬ ‫ حدثنا أبو غس‬،‫حدثنا س ِعيد بن أبِي مريم‬ َ َ َ ٰ ُ‫اللّه‬ َ​َ ْ َ َ ْ َ َ ْ ُ ْ ُ َْ ‫ ع ْن أب ِ ْي َس ِع ْي ٍد َر ِض َى‬،‫ار‬ ٍ ‫ عن عطا ِء ب ِن يس‬،‫زيد بن أسل َم‬ َ َ َ َ َ َ َّ َ ٰ َّ َّ َّ َ ُ ْ َ ‫الن ِب َّي َصلى اللّ ُه َعل ْي ِه َو َسل َم قال‏‏ ل َت ّت ِب ُع ّن َسن َن َم ْن‬ ‫عنه أن‬ ُ َ َ ْ َ َّ َ َ ً َ َ ْ ً ْ ْ ُ َ ْ َ َ‫ك ْوا ُج ْحر‬ ‫ حتى لو سل‬،‫ وذِراعا بِ ِذر ٍاع‬،‫قبلكم ِشبرا ب ِ ِشب ٍر‬ َ َ َ َ َّ َ َ ْ ُ َ ْ ّ ٰ َ ُ َ َ َ ْ ُ ُ ْ ُ ُ ْ َ َ َ ّ َ ‫ اليهود والنصارى قال‬،‫ض ٍب لسلكتموه‏‏ قلنا يا رسول الل ِه‬ َ ‫‏‬.‫‏»‏ فم َ ْن‏»‏‏‬ ‘“You will follow the wrong ways of your predecessors so completely and literally that if they should go into the burrow of a lizard, you too will go there.’ We said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger! Do you mean the Jews and the Christians?’ He replied, ‘Whom else?’’ [Meaning, of course, the Jews and the Christians.] (Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3456) This further shows that the Muslims would oppose their Messiah just as the Jews, and that they would go astray like the Christians. Prophet Muhammadsa explicitly said the Muslims would follow the Jews in all of their actions. It is narrated: ْ َّ ْ َّ َ ْ َ َ ْ َ ْ ْ َ َ َ َ َ َ ْ َّ ُ َ َ َّ َ َ َ ‫الن ْع ِل‬ ِ‫ليأتِين على أم ِتي ما أتى عل َى ب ِن ُي ِإسرائِيل حذو الن ُع ِل ب‬ َ َ ْ َّ َ َ ‫ان م ْنهُ ْم َم ْن أتَى أ َّم ُه َعلاَن َي ًة ل َ َك‬ ‫ان فِي أ َّم ِتي َم ْن‬ ِ ِ ‫حتى ِإن ك‬ ً َّ َ ْ َ َ ْ َ ْ َ َ ْ َ َّ َ َ َ ْ َ ْ َ َّ َ َ َ ُ َ ْ َ ‫ين ِملة‬ ‫يصنع ذل ِك و ِإن ب ِني ِإسرائِيل تفرقت على ثِنتي ِن وسب ِع‬

ً َّ َّ َّ ُ ُّ ُ ً َّ ْ َ َ َ َ ُ ُ َ َْ ‫النا ِر ِإلا ِملة‬ ‫َوتفت ِرق أ ّم ِت ْي َعلى ثلا ٍث َو َس ْب ِعي َن ِملة كله ْم فِي‬ َ َ َ َ َ ّٰ َ َْ ُ َ ً َ َ ‫احدة قال ْوا َو َم ْن هِ َي يَا َر ُس ْول الل ِه قال َما أنا َعل ْي ِه َوأصحَاب ِ ْي‬ ِ ‫و‬ ‘“What befell the Children of Israel will befall my ummah, step by step, such that if there was one who had intercourse with his mother in the open, then there would be someone from my ummah who would do that. Indeed, the Children of Israel split into 72 sects, and my ummah will split into 73 sects. All of them are in the Fire except one sect.’ He [companion] said, ‘And which is it O Messenger of Allah?’ The Holy Prophetsa said: ‘What I am upon and my Companions.’” (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2641) Sects of the Hellfire The Holy Prophetsa put 72 sects on one side and one Jamaat on the other, to show that the Muslim sects would oppose the latterday Messiah. He stated: ً َّ َّ َّ ُ ُّ ُ ً َّ ْ َ َ َ َ ُ ُ َ َْ ‫النا ِر ِإلا ِملة‬ ‫تفت ِرق أ ّم ِت ْي َعلى ثلا ٍث َو َس ْب ِعي َن ِملة كله ْم فِي‬ ً َ َ ‫احدة‬ ِ ‫و‬ “My ummah will split into 73 sects. All of them are in the Fire except one sect.” (Ibid) In other ahadith, the Holy Prophetsa made it clear that this sect would be the Jamaat of the Imam Mahdi and that all other Muslim sects lead to the Hellfire. It is narrated: َْ َ َ َ َ َ َ ْ َ َ ْ َُْ َ ُ ْ ُ ‫قلت فمَا تأم ُرنِي ِإ ْن أ ْد َرك ِني ذل ِك قال‏‏تل َز ُم َج َماعة ال ُم ْسلِ ِمي َن‬ َ َ ٌ َ َ​َ ٌ َ َ َ ُْ َ ْ ُ َ َْ ْ َ ُ ْ ُ ُْ َ َ َ ‫ام قال‬ ‫و ِإمامهم‏ قلت ف ِإن لم يكن لهم جماعة ولا ِإم‬ َّ َ َ َ َ ْ َ َّ َ َ ْ َ ْ َ َ َ َّ ُ َ َ ْ َ ْ ْ َ ْ َ ‫ حتى‬،‫ ولو أن تعض بِأص ِل شجر ٍة‬،‫‏»‏فاعت ِزل تِلك الفِرق كلها‬ َ َ َ َ َْ ُ ْ َ َ ْ .‫ َوأنت َعلى ذل ِك‏»‏‏‬،‫يُد ِركك ال َم ْوت‬ “I [Hazrat Huzayfara bin al-Yaman] said: ‘What do you order me to do if such a state should take place in my life?”’ He said: ‘Stick to the group of Muslims and their Imam.’ I said: ‘If there is neither a group of Muslims nor an Imam?’ He said: ‘Then turn away from all those sects even if you were to bite [eat] the roots of a tree till death overtakes you while you are in that state.’” (Sahih alBukhari, Hadith 7084) In another hadith, the Prophetsa said

21

that two groups would be saved from the Hellfire; one that invades India, which refers to the pious saints of India, and one who would follow the Latter-Day Messiah. He stated: َْ ٌ َّ َ ُ ّ ٰ َ ُ َ َ ْ َ َّ ُ ْ َ​َ َ ‫ان ِمن أم ِتي أحرزهما الله ِمن‬ ‫النا ِر ِع َصابَة تغ ُزو‬ ِ ‫ِعصابت‬ ُ ٌ َ َ َ َ َ َّ َ ْ َ َ َ ْ ‫ْ َ بْن‬ َ ْ ُ ‫السل‬ ‫ام‬ ‫ال ِه ْند َو ِع َصابَة تك ْو ُن َمع ِعيسى ا ِ مريم علي ِهما‬ “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘There are two groups of my ummah whom Allah will free from the fire. The group that invades India, and the group that will be with Isa Ibn Maryam, peace be on him.’” (Sunan alNasa‘i, Hadith no. 3175) Muslims supporting Dajjal The Holy Prophetsa prophesied that the Dajjal would be followed by 70,000 Jews.

However, in this hadith, the primary meaning was Muslims, who would become like the Jews. The Prophetsa said: َ ً ْ َ َ ُ ْ َ َ َ َ ْ َ ُ َ ْ َ َّ َّ ُ َ ْ َ ‫ون ألفا َعل ْيهِ ُم‬ ‫يتبع الدجال ِمن يهو ِد أصبهان سبع‬ َّ ُ ‫الط َيال َِسة‬ “The Dajjal would be followed by 70,000 Jews of Isfahan wearing Persian shawls.”

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith no. 2944) Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas stated: “We have already proven that these Christian priests are Dajjal. And then those who agreed with the Dajjal in everything are those very same Jews about whom it is written in Sahih Muslim that around 70,000 of them would follow the Dajjal. Being with the Dajjal means agreeing with what they say, and the ahadith show that those Jews would be Muslims.” (Anwar-ul-Islam, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 9, pp. 45-46) It is for this reason that Allama Iqbal said: ‫وعض ی‬ ‫م ونہد‬ ٰ ‫اصنری وت دمتن ی ئ‬ ‫م مت وہن‬ ‫ج‬ ‫ہ‬ ‫ہ‬ ‫رشام� ی ہ‬ ‫�ی املسمں ی� ی‬ ‫� ی‬ ‫ی‬ ‫د� ےک‬ ‫�ود‬ “You are Christian in nature and Hindu in civilisation; these are Muslims who even the Jews are ashamed to see.”

In the next article, we will see the statements of the scholars who also agreed that the Messiah and Mahdi would be opposed. This includes visions of the saints.

Continued from page 19

age. Especially in this era, the excellence of Islamic commandments has been proven again. Divorce, marriage of widows, marrying with close relatives and prohibition of alcohol are matters which have been strongly objected during the last hundred years. But now, the same nations and governments, who raised objections [about these in the past] are adopting these [Islamic] teachings.” (Tarikh-eAhmadiyyat, Vol. 10, p. 429) After Huzoor’s lecture, the chairperson, Sheikh Sir Abdul Qadir thanked Huzoorra on behalf of the audience for the series of lectures and said: “I request the respected speaker that the public will be very thankful to you if these lectures could be published in book form. One thing that has impacted me a lot is that despite the fact that the learned speaker and his Jamaat have suffered greatly in the past riots, he did not even point towards those incidents. I believe there was great wisdom behind this because it is the thinking of Hazrat Mirza Sahib that whatever happened is part of the past now, and it cannot be changed, so there is no point in debating it. And now, we should only talk about what can be done in the future or what is in our hands.” (Al Fazl, 18 January 1948, p. 2) If the government and the people of Pakistan had acted on Hazrat Musleh-eMaud’s valuable and timely guidance – which was hugely praised at the time – the country would have progressed immensely, and it could have avoided many setbacks, which were faced in the following years and in present-day Pakistan.

‫اِک وتق آےئ اگ ہک ہ ی‬ ‫ک ےگ امتم ولگ‬ ‫تلم ےک اس دفایئ ہپ رتمح دخا رکے‬

“The time will come when everyone will say, ‘May God have mercy on this devotee of the nation.’”

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Friday 3 December 2021 | AL HAKAM

100 Years Ago...

Daily Diary of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II: Opposition in foreign countries, views on Baháʼu'lláh and Báb and answers to general questions Al Fazl, 14-17 & 28 November 1921

1 November 1921

Opposition in foreign lands Hazrat Khalifatul Masihra said: “Our opposition has now started in foreign countries as well. There is a periodical owned by a Lord [Alfred Bruce Douglas (1870-1945)] called The Plain English. It published an article, inciting people and urging the government against us for standing in parks and preaching against their Lord Jesus, and saying that he was not God. Further it said that if the religion of Islam spreads there, then the same ruin would come upon the world as it once did in the past. Moreover, it says that the Asians spoke with an innocent front and the ignorant people were deceived by it. The article then aims at the clergy as to why they don’t oppose them [Ahmadis] and even wrote about the government that the government was showing cowardice as it wouldn’t stop them owing to the fear of the Indians.”

Bahá’u'lláh’s claim A letter about the Bábi Faith was presented.

Huzoor[ra] was reading the letter when Maulvi Ghulam Rasul Sahib Rajeki[ra] asked, “What is our stance regarding Báb and Bahá’u'lláh?” Huzoor[ra] said: “I will give an answer once I have read this letter.”

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih then asked Maulvi Sahib about his question. He submitted, “Should we Ahmadis consider Bahá’u'lláh a muftari [a liar] or something else?”

Huzoor[ra] replied: “If, by muftari, you mean to fabricate revelations by oneself, to be certain that he was the one concocting them and to attribute it towards God, then Bahá’u'lláh was not a muftari.

“Maulvi Abdullah Sahib Kashmiri once met me in Kashmir. He said that the verse of ‘Taqawwala’ [forging a lie against God] applied to Bahá’u'lláh because he lived for more than 23 years. If this verse is not for general use and is particularly about the Holy Prophetsa, as it is stated in the Bible that it [the said punishment] would come to “this very prophet” if he lied, then the said verse does not prove the authenticity of Mirza Sahib.

“I told him that Allah the Almighty had َ َ َ​َ stated ‫[ ﻟَﻮۡ �ﻘ ّﻮَ َل َﻋل ۡیﻨﺎ‬if he had forged a lie against us]. [God] did not say ‫ ﻟﻮ ﺗﺄﻟہ رﺟﻞ‬i.e. if a person claims to be a god then this punishment will be meted out to him.

“Then there are two rules for ‘Taqawwala’ in the dictionary. The first is that the identity of the proclaimer differs

Khilafat Centenary Special Edition—Part 3: Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II

from the one he is attesting to because the word ‘Taqawwala’ carries exaggeration and honour. That is, if one claims that a certain person has said something and he knows that the said individual has never said it, then that is called ‘Taqawwala’. However, on the contrary, if the person is mistaken, then according to the Arabic language, it won’t be considered as ‘Taqawwala’.

“According to both of these conditions, this verse is not applicable to Bahá’u'lláh.

First of all, he is a claimant of godhood; it is, therefore, invalid to apply the verse of ‘Taqawwala’ on him when it is substantiated that he was a claimant of divinity. Hence, it is impossible to use ‘Taqawwala’ for oneself. This word requires some level of modesty but a claimant of godhood does

TARIQ | 187

not acknowledge any element of modesty.

The second condition is to have modesty as well as the knowledge that the person to whom he is attributing those words did not say them. This too does not apply to Bahá’u'lláh. Bahá’u'lláh attributes himself to Báb and although he adds and subtracts to the Bábi shariah [law], he does not oppose Báb in terms of beliefs. His example would be that of nasikh [abrogating a verse of the Holy Quran] and mansukh [abrogated].

Nasikh and mansukh only take place in dos and don’ts, and not in universal truths. For example, a person may increase the number of prayers from four to five, or five to 50, but it cannot be said about a person that he is not a human. Hence, in terms of the existing facts and beliefs, he was following Báb, the

contradictions only lie with regard to his [Báb] shariah.

“Let us now take a look at the claim of Báb and its foundation. There is a sect in Iran called Shaykhiya, they believe that there is a person in every age whose word is the one of the Imam. Since Imam Mahdi is absent, the Báb becomes a medium for Imam Mahdi, through which the sayings and instructions of Imam Mahdi are manifested to the world.

Regarding the sayings of Imam Mahdi, they believe that there is no difference between the Mahdi’s words and the sayings of God. The Mahdi says what God says, and Báb says what Imam Mahdi says. Consequently, they believed that the words of Báb were the sayings of God. According to this belief, many Bábs have passed among them. After the death of the last Báb, Muhammad Ali claimed to be the Báb and the people of the Shaykhiya sect joined him in large numbers.

They also believe that when a person reaches the status of Báb, his words become the words of God and he does not err in his sayings. That is why they consider the words of Báb to be the words of God. “Bahá’u'lláh being a disciple of Muhammad Ali Báb considered himself to be the one who fulfilled his prophecies. His belief in this matter should be in accordance with the belief of Báb and as Bahá’u'lláh considers himself superior to Báb, his words should be more deserving of being called the words of God because of his [Báb’s] belief.

Since this belief is prevalent in the said sect and has been passed down from generation to generation in their branch of Bahá’ism, the claim of Bahá’u'lláh cannot come under ‘Taqawwala’, nor can he be subject to the punishment mentioned in the said verse.

Therefore, we cannot call Baha’u’llah a muftari or mutaqawwil, but we can call him a liar.”

Maulvi Ghulam Rasul Sahib Rajekira submitted that he was still being followed.

Huzoorra said: “Alexander Dowie also had a following.

Emerson, a famous American, has written that there are two kinds of people: 1. Those who represent a previously established school of thought 2. Those who cause a new idea to be accepted.

Those people who present others’ ideas, their acceptance has no significance. Báb made his claim at a time when both Britain and Russia had their eyes on Iran. Báb said that a great man was about to appear and he was his forerunner. He did not express himself as highly as his enthusiastic colleagues did. They already adopted a policy of overstating their numbers. The

AL HAKAM | Friday 3 December 2021

23

Title page of the issue in which the reference given by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra appears

Russian ambassador sided with them and so these people became pro-Russian. That is why many of their books are found in Russia. Russia’s councils sided with them for political gains, so they were inclined towards them naturally and because of this association with Russia, the prevailing ideas of Europe became embedded in them.

“Hence, their views are the same as that of Europe. For example, they oppose polygamy, emphasise women’s rights according to European views, and so on.

Then it is their usual practice that they also change their teachings on a daily basis according to prevalent views of that time, just as education diminished the greatness of the Holy Quran and the importance of its miracles among the Muslims of India, so they came to know the thoughts of Syed Ahmad Khan Sahib and every learned individual became a follower of his ideas.

This was not due to any miracle of Syed Ahmad Sahib but the effect of that time and education. The same thing happened in Iran with people who were inspired by the new

age and were hesitant about religion, when they heard of the Bábi and Bahá’i teachings and observed that by staying within their religion, they could attain the freedom which could not have been attained without first leaving their own religion, they turned their attention to it and adopted it.

“It is the rule of Bábis that wherever they go, they present the prevailing ideas of that place in the form of their own views. Mufti [Muhammad Sadiq] Sahib was asked about them. He writes that in America, these people teach others to remain Christians, go to church, and simply accept Bahá’u'lláh as the great avatar of God. In India, they discuss the subject of the Mahdi and Messiah. The recognition of such people does not matter at all as they change wherever they go.

“The real success belongs to the Promised Messiahas, not taking others into account yet, even the Muslims themselves denied that God Almighty speaks and sends revelation. The Promised Messiahas convinced millions of people of otherwise.

Then people were deniers of miracles, but

the Promised Messiahas persuaded the world.

“On the other hand, the situation of the Bábis is such that since Europe is not ready to accept miracles, the great preacher of the Bábis, Khairullah, who was in America, wrote a chapter in one of his books that miracles didn’t exist and Bahá’u'lláh had refuted that illusion. However, Bahá’u'lláh himself promised to show miracles to his opponents in Baghdad. […]”

Al Fazl, 28 November 1921 4 November 1921 The last Jalsa of the time of the Promised Mahdi Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said: “Nowadays, as many people as are under the canopy in Masjid Aqsa on Jumuah prayers, half of that used to sit in the last Jalsa of the time of the Promised Messiahas.

Their number was around one thousand and at that time, it was said that a lot of people

had come on that occasion. Now, there are around 1,000 people at just Jumuah prayers.

Recruitment in the state’s army A person asked whether it was permissible to be recruited for fighting against Mustafa Kemal Pasha’s forces [or not].

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said: “We surely consider it permissible.

For us, if the government’s advantage is in fighting them, then we will be recruited.

However, in our view, if the government fights the people of [Mustafa] Kemal to destroy Islam, then we will not be recruited, and it is not compulsory to be recruited.”

Khilafat and Empire The same person asked if kingdom was necessary for the Khalifa.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said: “One of the meanings of khilafat is kingship and the other is of a successor.

Whoever will be a khalifa of someone, he will follow the same guidelines as that of his Continued on next page >>

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Friday 3 December 2021 | AL HAKAM << Continued from previous page

source [master]. The purpose of the advent of the Holy Prophetsa was also spiritual reform. In Arabic, it is also correct to refer to a khalifa as a king. Every sultan is also a khalifa. However, Muslims have specified its meanings.”

6 November 1921 Champions of Islam are Ahmadis Syed Dilawar Shah Sahib, Secretary Tabligh of Lahore, submitted, “Munshi Khadim Hussain Sahib Bhervi is currently residing in Lahore. As this time [a debate] is going on between Shiites and Sunnis, the Sunnis needed some references while responding to some of the questions of the Shiites. They met me and I introduced them to Munshi Sahib. Munshi Sahib has promised to help them by pen.”

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said: “It is by the grace of God Almighty that we have members from every field of life.

Ahmadis have members to compete with Shiites. Ahmadis have members to compete with Aryans as well. Ahmadis have members to also compete with Christians.”

Huzoor[ra] said: “Why don’t our opponents reflect that all the champions of Islam are present in the Ahmadis. Did all these Islamic champions have to take bai‘at at the hand of an antichrist? The acquaintance with Ahmadis of the people of every religion leads to two conclusions from which non-Ahmadis should learn a lesson. The first thing is that all the champions of Islam have believed in him, so he cannot be an antichrist, but in fact, he is true in his claim of the Messiah. Secondly, if this person is called an antichrist, then they also have to accept that any person among the Muslims who has information and knowledge and who has intellect, is disgusted with Islam and God forbid, becomes a follower of the antichrist.”

Modern historical research in Islam Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said: “As of now, no expert in the history of Islam has been born in our country.

Generally, one person looks at only one aspect in this world, but to some, God Almighty gives special knowledge about all aspects. For example, the points which God helped me understand about the beginning of dissensions in Islam were not understood by anyone else before, so much so that even a person like Hazrat Shah Waliullah Sahib could not prove the innocence of the Companionsra.”

Amulet The mail was presented before Hazrat Khalifatul Masih. A person wrote to Huzoor[ra] [and requested him] to suggest an amulet for him. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said, “I consider amulets to be permissible, but I do not consider them to be a great thing.”

Ahmadiyyat in Africa Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said: “A recent letter from Africa shows that the situation there is very good. 80 disbelievers or Christians have converted to Islam. This number is in addition to those who have joined the Jamaat from the Muslims. The name of one of the said Ahmadis is Isa. He

has a letter of Maulvi Muhammad Ali Sahib with him. The strange thing in the letter is that the words “Amirul Momineen” have been added along with the signature of Maulvi Sahib. Master (Abdur Rahim Sahib Nayyar) called the said person and when he came to meet and his boat ran aground, it was observed that he was an emissary and his bodyguards were dancing around him.”

Huzoor[ra] said: “Letters from the people of Lagos also show that the situation there is very good.

They had a jalsa in which chanda of 3,500 rupees was collected. The said contribution is not small. The minimum amount is 75 rupees per person and the maximum is 300 rupees. The land seems very extensive [for tabligh]. If Allah the Almighty wills, perhaps a jamaat of millions of people will be established.”

The behaviour of our missionaries Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said: “One of the things that my heart longs for and which is also being done in Africa is that our missionaries should go [to people] but not like ordinary missionaries. Their behaviour should be like the companions, peace be upon them, and the disciples. Their character should be like that of a father who goes to hug his son and they should show by their behaviour that the people are their lost sheep whom they have come to protect.

They should show by their actions that they recognise their responsibility over them and at the same time, they should understand and believe that they have brought the message of God which is the duty of people to obey.

“I have observed that Master [Abdur Rahim] Sahib has this approach. Wherever he goes, he does not distinguish himself from the people of that place but in fact, makes them feel that he is their well-wisher. He is not there to quarrel with them but to benefit them, so the people need to appreciate that. For example, he would write a letter to someone saying that he had been there for a long time but unfortunately, they had not met each other. In this way, the person comes to meet him and a bond is formed.

However, verbal expressions are not needed as much as there is a need of manifesting them through actions and gestures. The [missionaries] should not say that they are just performing a duty and there is nothing else involved in it. By doing so, their entire objective will be lost. On the contrary, they should have this in mind that they are the messengers of the Khalifa of God’s appointed one and that the people should not have any doubts and uncertainties in believing this fact now.”

Preaching to chuhras [dalit caste in India and Pakistan] Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said: “Thus far, no attention has been paid to chuhras [members of one of the lowest castes in India and Pakistan] etc. There is a need for special missionaries for them. It is also a kind of prejudice, which even remains after believing [in Islam], that such nations are hated, whether or through actions.”

Huzoor[ra] said: “If these nations are awakened, then it will be a grand work which will influence others as well. The missionaries of the chuhras should also be distinguished, just

as Christians have separate priests for the chuhras.”

9 November 1921 A divine dream about the Paighamis [those who did not take bai‘at of the Second Khalifa] Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said: “I have seen a divine dream which had a lot of subject matter but I only remember a little of it. I saw two Paighamis [those who did not take bai‘at of the second Khalifa] and the argument seems to be that they were accusing me of elevating the status of the Promised Messiahas. I told them that it was easy for them to decide that matter by either swearing on oath and announcing that (1) they did not consider the prophethood of the Promised Messiahas as an embodiment [of Prophet Jesusas] or a reflection [of the Holy Prophetsa], or (2) they should swear and proclaim that I considered the Promised Messiahas to be a superior prophet than an embodiment [of Prophet Jesusas] and a reflection [of the Holy Prophetsa].”

Huzoor[ra] said: “I found an old notebook of mine which contains my following revelation: ۡ ٰ ُ َ ُ َ َ ٰ ‫ا ِّن ِف ۡرع ۡو َن َو ھا ٰم َن َو ُج ُن ۡو َدھ َما کان ۡوا خ ِط ِئی َن‬ “[‘Verily, Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts were wrongdoers.’]

Along with this [revelation] is also recorded the divine dream on the basis of which I formed the organisation of Ansarullah.”

Each person’s commitment to their work Huzoor[ra] was presented a letter of an American from the mail who had requested that since he [Hazrat Khalifatul Masih] received letters from every country, he may send stamps of different countries from his mail.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] said: “Everyone thinks about the work they are committed to, so when he [the said American] found out [about me], he did not ask about religion, but rather wrote about the matter related to his work.”

Present the atrocities that were committed against the Promised Messiah The programme of Jalsa Salana was presented to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih. Huzoor[ra] made some changes and amended it. While doing so, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] said: “Our writers, speakers and correspondents hide the atrocities committed by opponents against the Promised Messiahas. In fact, it is something that needs to be explained. It should be presented in detail as to what the Promised Messiahas sacrificed to save the world and what kind of suffering he endured.

“The incident of the cross of Jesus of Nazareth is a painful event and Hazrat Imam Hussain’s incident of Karbala is also a very sad happening. However, the incident of Prophet Jesus’as crucifixion has attracted almost half the world, and in spite of so much evidence, it is obvious what the incident of the martyrdom [of Hazrat Imam Hussainra] has created among the Muslims.

On the other hand, it should be shown about the one [the Promised Messiahas], who said:

‫ئی ت‬ ‫س رہآمن‬ ‫رکالب� ی ر‬ ‫ی ن‬ ‫ی‬ ‫دررگ�بامن‬ ‫سح اتس‬ ‫دص‬

“[‘I am going through Karbala at all

times. Thus, my each and every moment’s sacrifice is equal to the sacrifice of Hussain’], as to how he used to sacrifice his every moment for the good of the world.

“After some time, the arguments will not produce the effect that will be created by showing the incidents and cruelties that were committed against the Promised Messiahas. Thinking that opponents will laugh at these things is a very low opinion because the mockery and glee of opponents is short-lived, but when the future generations will hear the said accounts, they will get guidance from them. At that time, the people of Sanaullah would go around hiding that newspaper of Sanaullah in which he might have mocked [us].

“Our newspapers should be full of these incidents and should never try to hide the atrocities that had been or are being committed by opponents against the Promised Messiahas or members of the Jamaat.

“Hakim Khalil Ahmad Sahib was attacked in Madras and he suffered a head injury. I instructed it to be published in the newspaper. I was told that this would bring the Jamaat into disrepute and when this incident was published, letters carrying similar views from some people were received from outside [of Qadian].

However, these [are accounts] that will be a source of guidance for generations to come.

If the sufferings, afflictions and atrocities inflicted on the Promised Messiahas and those who believe in him are concealed, then the arguments alone will not be the source of guidance for the world because the world observes as to what that person did for them and in which difficult times he strived for their betterment.”

Prophet Jesusas understood his claim of Messiahship close to the incident of cross On the mention of opponents’ objections – for example, the Promised Messiahas could not understand his claim for 11 years – Hazrat Khalifatul Masih[ra] said: “If we look at history, this is the case with almost all the prophets.” Huzoor[ra] said, “It is clear from the Gospel about Jesus that he did not understand his claim for three years; rather, he understood his claim of Messiahship at the time of his crucifixion.

“Prophet Jesusas asked all his disciples one by one as to who he was. Some said something and others said something else, but when Peter was asked, he said, ‘You are the son of God.’ Jesus said, ‘Surely, you have understood me, and my religion will be founded on you.’ That is, he would be the cornerstone of his religion.

“Being the son of God was a term that was common among the Zoroastrians and they used to address Azrael, who is the angel of torment, by the said title. As it was written in the scriptures about Jesus that the kingdom of Israel would be destroyed at his coming, so when Peter called him the son of God, it was as if he was expressing Jesus’ Messiahship in other words. From this incident, Peter was named Petra, or Stone, otherwise his name was Simon.”

(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu in the 14-17 and 28 November 1921 issue of Al Fazl)

AL HAKAM | Friday 3 December 2021

Opinion

25

How studying medicine increased my conviction in God

Image showing the layers of the retina | Department of Histology and Embryology, Palacky University Olomouc Czech Republic

Hamaad Muin Ahmad Medical Student, Czech Republic For many students, approaching the months of December or January holds grim connotations with two dreaded words: “exam season”.

During these months, in the northern hemisphere, dusk approaches much faster (which doesn’t help uplift the mood). To prevent our eyes from closing owing to sleep deprivation, this is often accompanied by the bittersweet increase of caffeine intake. The daunting approach of exams is never easy. However, for a Muslim student, occasionally, it is something to look forward to. Why? Because for Muslim students, there is a chance for us to pray to Allah for the success of our exams and becoming ever closer to Him. Approaching the halfway mark of my fifth year in medical school has made me ponder: “After deeply studying Allah’s creation, has my faith in Him increased?”

The answer, without a shadow of a doubt,

is a resounding “yes”.

The following anecdotes are humble findings I have experienced as a medical student for evidence regarding the existence of God. The human body is a collection of cells that make up tissues that subsequently form organ systems, which all work together to create us the way we are.

Its functions heavily rely on gradients (concentration gradients, pressure gradients and ionic gradients) – the movement of salts, ions, water etc., from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration. In brief, this is the crux of how our bodies function.

In 2018, a younger, 19-year-old version of me sat in a library struggling to understand the histology (the study of the cells and tissues) of the eye. After seeing a histological image of the layers of the retina (a layer inside the eye that takes incoming light and sends images to your brain), I was perplexed. The meticulous organisation of the retina left me with a wave of thankfulness to God. Generally,

humans are notoriously ungrateful towards Allah: َ َ َ َ ۡ ُّ َ َ ۡ ۡ َ َ َ ۡ ُ �ٌ �‫ﺎن ِم ۡن ﻧﻄف ٍﺔ ف ِﺎذا ُﻫﻮَ خ ِﺼ ۡی ٌم ّم ِﺒ‬ ‫خلﻖ الاِﻧس‬ “He has created man from a [mere] drop of fluid, but lo! he is an open disputer.” (Surah al-Nahl, Ch.16: V.5) Yet here is an intricate magnificent design of the eye being witnessed by my own eyes. If this 10-layered structure, measuring 0.15mm thick, was in the slightest bit out of order or missing one layer of cells, our vision would cease to exist. I pondered. With this evidence in front of me, how could the mere existence of human beings be the consequence of a coincidence?

That same year, I was studying embryology (the study of the development of embryos into foetuses). One morning, while studying chapter 23 of the Holy Quran, I came across verses 13-15: َ ۡ َ ‫َو ﻟَﻘَ ۡﺪ َخ َل ۡﻘ َﻨﺎ الۡاِﻧ ۡ َس‬ �ٍ �‫ﺎن ِم ۡن ُﺳ ٰلل ٍﺔ ِّم ۡن ِﻃ‬ “Verily, We created man from an extract of clay; ۡ َ َ ً َ ُۡ ٰۡ َ ُ �ٍ �‫ﺛ ّم َﺟ َﻌلﻨ ُہ ﻧﻄفﺔ فِ ۡﻰ � َرا ٍر ّم ِﻜ‬ “Then We placed him as a drop of sperm in a safe depository; َ َ ۡ ۡ َ ۡ َ َ َ ً َ ۡ َ َ َ ۡ َ ۡ َ َ َ ً َ َ َ َ ۡ ُّ َ ۡ َ َ َ ُ ‫ﺛ ّم خلﻘﻨﺎ اﻟﻨﻄفﺔ َﻋلﻘﺔ فﺨلﻘﻨﺎ اﻟ َﻌلﻘﺔ ُمﻀﻐﺔ فﺨلﻘﻨﺎ اﻟ ُﻤﻀﻐﺔ‬ ٰ ۡ َ َ​َ ٰ َ ّٰ َ َ َ ً ۡ َ ٰ ۡ َ ۡ َ َ ُ ‫ِﻋﻈ ًﻤﺎ فﻜ َسﻮۡﻧﺎ اﻟ ِﻌﻈ َم ﻟ َ ۡح ًﻤﺎ � ﺛ ّم اﻧﺸﺎﻧ ُہ خلﻘﺎ ٰا� َر � ف َت ٰ� َ�ك ا�� ُ� ا ۡح َس ُن‬ ۡ ٰۡ �َ �‫اﻟﺨ ِل ِﻘ‬ “Then We fashioned the sperm into a clot; then We fashioned the clot into a [shapeless] lump; then We fashioned

bones out of this [shapeless] lump; then We clothed the bones with flesh; then We developed it into another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of creators.”

I wondered, what is this safe depository which God is explaining? ‫�رار‬ is a noun derived from ‫�رر‬. ‫ �ر‬means, a state of rest, permanence or continuance.

It also means a resting place or a place or time of rest (Lane & Aqrab). I concluded that this must be the epididymis (a long, coiled tube in males storing sperm cells).

Its prime function is to store immature sperm cells here until they gain the ability to fertilise an egg. This fertilised egg eventually becomes a foetus and nine months later, a baby is born. It is widely agreed that the words of the Quran have not been changed or abrogated since the Quran was revealed.

I thought to myself, “A 1500-yearold book revealed by Allah to the Holy Prophetsa – an unlettered man – reigning from a small tribe in the severely underdeveloped deserts of Mecca had this minute detail about embryology?” I refused to deny that this Quranic fact was indeed revealed directly by Allah. There is no other possibility!

Verse 15 touches on small details about the early development of the embryo. The Quran uses the word ‫ﻋلﻘﺔ‬ which means “clotted blood”. On day six, after conception (fertilisation of the egg), the blastocyst (fertilised egg) attaches itself to the inner lining of the womb. It implants itself by projecting small blood vessels from its synctiotrophoblast (outer layer of the blastocyst) into the inner lining of the mother’s womb. ‫ ﻋلﻘﺔ‬not only means clotted blood but also signifies an attachment or connection with something else. Thus, this single word describes an entire process which takes effect within the first week of embryonic development.

Next, this verse mentions ‫ مﻀﻐﺔ‬which means a “lump of flesh”. In the third week Continued on next page >>

Image showing the implantation site at the end of the second week. The bilaminar disc (eventually developing into the trilaminar disc) is in between the amniotic cavity and yolk sac| Langmans Medical Embryology Thirteeth Edition

26

Friday 3 December 2021 | AL HAKAM << Continued from previous page

of gestational development, a structure called the trilaminar disc forms, which as the Quran clearly explains it evidently, is a “lump of flesh”.

To make the next point a bit clearer for the common reader, a germ layer is one of the three primary cell layers leading up to the development of humans. The trilaminar disc is a three-layered structure consisting of three germ layers: ectoderm (which gives rise to the future brain, spinal cord and skin), mesoderm (gives rise to the future muscles, blood vessels, cartilage and bone) and endoderm (gives rise to the future digestive system, respiratory system, liver and thyroid glands). Any modern scientific illustration depicting the trilaminar disc resembles a “lump of flesh”. Hence, the Holy Quran uses this one word from which stem all the necessary cellular provisions for human life.

Lastly, after mentioning the steps to clothe the human with flesh during development, the Holy Quran says, “Then We developed it into another creation”.

This sentence is mentioning the soul.

These blessed words signify that the soul does not descend from outside, after birth, but grows internally during development.

The future processes of gestation also accompany the development of the soul.

This point is extremely pertinent because, from the time of Aristotle and Plato to the present, there has been an ongoing scientific debate as to where the soul is in the human body. Some say the heart, others say the brain and others even say it does not exist and it is all in our imagination. Perhaps the Quran here gives us the answer.

During a typical exam season, much of the day is taken up by studying.

Consequently, a normal study day is accompanied by two or three prayer times.

Over the previous four years of medical school, I have developed my own personal schedule where I study and typically use Zuhr, Asr and Maghrib times for a short break – followed by a guilty pleasure of either a cup of coffee or chocolate.

Nevertheless, recently, I began to realise that my mind was noticeably fresher after praying than it would be after a normal break, for example after watching a short witty YouTube video.

I reflected on this notion and then thought about the various actions during prayer and the recent social trend of mindfulness – a type of meditation – or in my case, a more powerful way of “mindfulness”: praying to Allah, without any distraction from worldly pursuits or sensory overload from technology.

Taking a “brain break” – learning how to slow down and reflect on yourself – has become increasingly popular in modern and popular science. One study, recorded from 2012 to 2017, showed that regular meditation practice by adults had tripled. According to Psychology Today, meditation practices have been proven to increase focus, calmness and reduce stress.

Present-day society is constantly struck with new causes for anxiety. Therefore, one

study showed evidence over the course of eight weeks of mindfulness-based therapy that participants’ mental health scores significantly improved. Highly important conclusions were drawn from this such as relief of anxiety. (www.askthescientists. com/brain-meditation/#toggle-id-1) What if someone was to tell you that you could be young forever? British comedian, Bob Hope who lived to 100, once said, “I don’t feel old. I don’t feel anything until noon. Then it’s time for my nap.” Ageing is never pleasant. Some say that your brain begins to deteriorate in your 20s if not properly maintained.

Meditation has been shown to effectively thicken the pre-frontal cortex. Often referred to as the CEO of the brain, the pre-frontal cortex is one of the most important parts of the brain. Candidly, despite its praised importance, it is the last part of the brain to fully develop. It also happens to be the least understood part of the human brain. The pre-frontal cortex completes myelination and development up to the age of 25. Furthermore, MRI studies have shown that the brain develops in a back to front pattern, hence why the prefrontal cortex develops last.

In relation to the prefrontal cortex, Dr Sara Lazar, a neuroscientist from Harvard Medical School, found that consistently meditating was the key to maintaining a healthy brain.

Muslims pray five times a day – a practise we have performed for over 1,400 years. In any case, Dr Lazar performed a study and discovered that experienced meditators aged 40-50 years old had the same amount of grey matter (component of the brain containing neuronal cell bodies) as an average 20-30-year-old. This suggests that there is less deterioration in those who regularly practice meditation (or in our case pray). Additionally, in the older group, the health of the prefrontal cortex was also maintained. It should be noted that the act of prostration (sajdah) increases blood flow to the brain, consequently providing more oxygen and nutrients to neurons, aiding brain development and strength. (www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3004979/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC3927233/) The five daily prayers not only bring spiritual benefits – which is its main purpose – but give Muslims an extremely effective tool for brain and body benefits.

There are countless more biological benefits of praying regularly that one is left stunned. Islam is a truly magnificent religion. Thus, the greatness and marvel of God’s power and infinite knowledge is manifested through every Muslim via the five daily prayers.

Contrary to popular belief, Islam complements and agrees with science rather than colliding with it.

Over the course of more than four years of studying the human body – the creation of Allah – I can safely say that my conviction in Him has become resolute and, insha-Allah, will continue to be in the future as I practice medicine as a qualified doctor in the coming years.

Dialogue not debate: World Religions Conference in Canada – Do we need God to be good?

Syed Mukarram Nazeer Canada Correspondent

The fourth World Religions Conference was held on 15 November 2021 in Vernon, BC (province of British Columbia), Canada reported Rizwan Peerzada Sahib.

The aim of the World Religions Conference is to offer different faiths an opportunity to present their perspective on a common topic. The conference was held simultaneously as a virtual and in-person event.

Vernon is a city in the Okanagan Region of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. It is 440 km (270 miles) northeast of Vancouver. The city of Vernon, which was incorporated on 30 December 1892, has a population of 43,000 and is the largest city in the North Okanagan Regional District.

A resident of Vernon is called a “Vernonite”.

In 2006, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya British Colombia region hosted the first World Religions Conference in Kelowna, which is 40 km (24 miles) from Vernon. Eight successful World Religions Conferences were held in subsequent years. In 2018, the conference was moved to Vernon city.

Holding a World Religions Conference is a major undertaking. Presently all organisational efforts are done under the guidance of the regional coordinator of British Colombia, Rizwan Peerzada Sahib.

This year, the theme of the conference was “Do we need God to be good?” The event moderator was Chief Byron Louis of Okanagan First Nation. The president of the British Colombia region, Naeem Ahmad Lakhan Sahib made the introductory remarks. The following speakers gave presentations according to their respective faiths: • Chief Byron Louis, Moderator from Okanagan First Nation • Senior Pastor Randy Hamm, Christianity • Umran-ul-Haq Bhatti Sahib, Islam • Mr Mike Brodreau, Buddhism

• Rev Dale Juke, Living Spirituality • Mrs Mohini Singh, Hinduism • Mr Amarpreet Singh Hundal, Sikhism Heavy downpour of rain over two days resulted in many roads and highways being closed in the area. Scores of towns suffered from flooding. A team of seven Jamaat members left Abbottsford on the morning of 15 November. Their destination, Vernon, BC was some 400 km away. However, they had to cancel their travel plans due to major road closures. They returned to Abbotsford where the regional amir and the missionary joined the event virtually. Food intended for the conference attendees was donated to local First Nations through their community centres.

Some guests shared their thoughts about the conference in the following words: Susan Ghattas said: “Thank you very much for your conference, especially the faith you showed us that the event could continue despite the storm. The speakers were very good. I am on the board of the Kelowna Atheists Skeptics and Humanists Association: www. askuskelowna.ca. We are an affiliate of BC Humanists who could get you in touch with humanist representatives from all over BC.” Daniel Mallet expressed: “For future events, we would love to have a seat at the table to represent a secular atheist humanist worldview. I really love the approach you took of letting all voices speak and not focus on debate.”

Patrick Finnigan commented: “[…] Thank you for organising this very inspiring conference. I could only join you for one hour last night here in Belleville […]

An event like this – well it helps to restore my faith in Canadians and how we can come together for a greater good. I will be sharing the YouTube link with my friends, neighbours and family.”

In spite of very bad weather, 135 people attended in person, while 371 people joined the conference online.

AL HAKAM | Friday 3 December 2021

100 Years Ago...

27

A challenge to Christian and Muslim scholars of Sri Lanka and Nayyar’s request from Africa for huffaz, 1921 Al Fazl, 21 November 1921

Master Abdur Rahman Sahib BA delivered lectures in different cities of [Sri] Lanka in English. These [lectures] have been published in the Ahmadiyya newspaper, The Message. In this way, the message of the Promised Messiahas has been conveyed to around 3,000 learned people. Lord Bishop of Colombo, Rev Luck Gak MA, Rev H Highfield MA etc. and the maulvis of [Sri] Lanka have been challenged that Master Abdur Rahman Sahib is ready to hold a debate with any rival on the subject of the death of Prophet Jesusas and the truthfulness of the Promised Messiahas – the Maitreya Buddha. The challenge is as follows: “O Heaven! Bear witness that I have carried out my duty of preaching to the people of [Sri] Lanka. Through my regular lectures, I have openly conveyed [to them] that Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas Sahib of Qadian is the reformer of the world, who is the Imam Mahdi and the Promised Messiah for Muslims and Christians, the Maitreya Buddha for Buddhists and the Krishna Rudra Gopal for Hindus. He appeared and fulfilled his responsibility.

“All the signs that are mentioned in the holy books of the aforementioned religions have been fulfilled. Jari-ullah fi hulalil-Anbiya [The champion of Allah in the mantle of the Prophets] came at the right moment and in the time of need. He was the holy one who came as the hakam [judge] and adl [just arbiter] for all religions and all the prophecies made by the founders of religions about the advent of this holy reformer have been fulfilled. The said divine reformer presented that living religion of Islam which was far and hidden from the eyes of millions.

“I now challenge the honourable Rev Father Luck Gak MA, the honourable Rev H Highfield MA and the maulvis of [Sri] Lanka that if they possess the courage, they should refute with arguments whatever I have said in my series of lectures about Prophet Jesusas, Christianity and the Promised Messiahas. I have evidently proved in my

This photo was taken in 1924 during Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud'sra tour of Europe. Hazrat Maulvi Abdur Rahim Nayyarra can be seen standing on Huzoor’s right

last two lectures that Prophet Jesusas passed away and his tomb is located in Srinagar, [Kashmir].

“The one who was to come has appeared just as John the Baptist came as an embodiment of Prophet Elijahas. Prophet Ahmadas of Qadian showed such mighty and extraordinary miracles that were far greater than the miracles of Jesus of Nazareth in power and glory.

“O Western Christian missionary! Give up falsehood by taking verdict from your conscience and heart, and accept the truth.

However, if you will still use your abilities and knowledge to mislead the people of Allah, then the sin of thousands of poor

Jamaat Slough, UK donate winter thermals for the vulnerable Atiq Ahmad Bhatti President Jamaat Slough, UK

On 25 November 2021, Jamaat-eAhmadiyya Slough donated over 250 winter thermals to Slough Outreach as part of their

“Winter Community Welfare & Support Initiative” for the vulnerable. It comprised of socks, hats, scarves, gloves and blankets.

The items will be used to support vulnerable families in and around Slough, including those facing financial hardship.

souls whom you mislead will fall on your neck. O God! Bear witness that I have conveyed the truth.”

From, Abdur Rahman.

Africa Hazrat Maulvi Abdur Rahim Nayyarra (1883-1948) Hafiz, tailor, barber or doctor If any hardworking, white gentleman is a hafiz [memorised the Quran] of the Holy Quran and is a skilled tailor, barber or doctor, then they should plan, for the sake of Allah the Almighty, to come to this country [in Africa] as soon as possible.

God will provide for their livelihood. Such people will be able to earn a lot of money and will be deemed a white man. There is a great need for the huffaz [plural of hafiz] of the Holy Quran. Even if someone is not a hafiz but knows Arabic and is skilled in a particular profession, they can also come.

Such people should send their requests to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih’s nazir of talifo-ishaat and also inform me as well. [This humble one] needs your prayers.

The traveller, Nayyar.

(Translated by Al Hakam from the original Urdu in the 21 November 1921 issue of Al Fazl)

Nasirat in North Macedonia meet at newly built Baitul Ahad, Pehcevo Talha Ahmad Missionary, North Macedonia

On 12 November 2021, Jamaat-eAhmadiyya North Macedonia organised a special programme with academic and sports competitions for the members of Majlis Nasirat-ul-Ahmadiyya.

A total of 17 Nasirat from Berovo and Pehcevo Jamaats attended the programme

and participated in various competitions.

The day was spent in the newly built Bait ul Ahad Mosque in Pehcevo.

Academic competitions included tilawat, nazm, extempore speech, Chinese whispers and an observation test. A tug-ofwar competition was also held.

After the awards ceremony, Maghrib and Isha prayers were offered and food was served to all participants.

28

Friday 3 December 2021 | AL HAKAM

Friday Sermon 5 November 2021 The blessings of financial sacrifice: Tahrik-e-Jadid New Year 2021 After reciting the tashahud, ta‘awuz and Surah al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa stated:

One of the qualities of a believer that Allah the Almighty has mentioned in the Holy Quran is that they spend their pure wealth in the cause of Allah the Almighty in order to acquire His pleasure. Whenever Allah the Almighty has mentioned in the Holy Quran the spending of one’s wealth, He states that it is only the believers who spend [in the way of Allah the Almighty]. At times, Allah the Almighty has mentioned it with reference

to sadaqah [charity] and at times, with reference to Zakat.

Furthermore, Allah the Almighty has also outlined how and where to spend the wealth of those who sacrifice it and spend it in His way. It is the hallmark of divine communities that they spend their wealth in the cause of Allah the Almighty in order to purify it and to acquire the blessings and pleasure of Allah the Almighty.

The financial sacrifices rendered by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat are carried out in the same spirit. The members of the Jamaat are aware that this is a commandment of Allah the Almighty and they are also aware of how these sacrifices are spent.

The mission with which the Promised Messiahas was sent – i.e. to establish the unity of Allah the Almighty and to raise aloft the flag of Islam and the Holy Prophetsa

across the world – is not an ordinary task.

To spread this message across the world is an extremely huge task. Nevertheless, this requires financial resources and by the grace of Allah the Almighty, the members of the Jamaat understand the commandment of Allah the Almighty which is to spend their wealth in His cause and try to fulfil these expenses.

By observing the extraordinary sacrifices

AL HAKAM | Friday 3 December 2021 offered by Ahmadis across various countries of the world, a person acquires even greater certainty in the fact that the Promised Messiahas was that appointed one by Allah the Almighty, through whom the beautiful teachings of Islam were to spread across the world in the Latter Days. If the opponents were to ponder over this sign with a spirit of justice and were to remove the malice which they harbour in their hearts, then this sign alone is enough to cleanse their hearts from their unjust opposition. However, their hearts are even harder than stones, particularly those of the so-called scholars.

Nevertheless, their matter rests with God Almighty.

As I mentioned, Ahmadis spend their wealth in the cause of God Almighty with the intention of helping to fulfil the mission of the Promised Messiahas and to raise aloft the flag of the Holy Prophetsa across the world. There is no doubt that Allah the Almighty has promised the believers that whatever wealth they spend in the cause of Allah the Almighty, He will return it manifold. However, there are many such Ahmadis whose only intention is to acquire the pleasure of God Almighty and if they receive any worldly benefits, then this is the grace of Allah the Almighty. Through these sacrifices, they wish to attain the pleasure of Allah the Almighty and to be granted the provisions for a good reckoning [in the Hereafter].

The Ahmadiyya Jamaat is not a community of billionaires; rather, the majority of the members are poor or people of an average income. Despite this, they are filled with a spirit of sacrifice. They continuously endeavour to play a part in the rejuvenation of Islam. As such, even their small sacrifices find acceptance with Allah the Almighty and they bear fruits worth millions of pounds. Therefore, the true essence is for Allah the Almighty to accept these sacrifices.

Despite its limited resources, by the grace of Allah the Almighty, whatever project the Jamaat initiates is granted such blessings that those who observe the Jamaat think that perhaps the Jamaat is spending many millions of pounds on the project. However, they do not know that this money has been donated by those poor people whose wealth has been greatly blessed and as a result of which even our small projects seem huge.

I would also like to mention here that when the Jamaat grows, then people of various mindsets, as well as those who do not have much knowledge [of the nizame-Jamaat] or even those who have been Ahmadis for a long time but do not have much knowledge [of the nizam-e-Jamaat], often discuss these issues at home and also in front of their children as well which raises questions in their minds. As a result, they question the need of paying chanda [monetary donations for the progress of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat].

Firstly, it is the duty of the office-holders to remove these doubts from the minds of people through their own conduct and actions. They should help people develop a sense of trust so that people know that the chanda they give is for particular projects and that is what the chanda is spent on.

Secondly, they should explain to them the significance of financial sacrifices and the importance it holds in the sight of Allah in a loving manner. It is through the financial

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sacrifices which people offer as a result of which they attain the pleasure of Allah the Almighty. With regard to where these financial sacrifices are spent: it is spent for the propagation of Islam. We also have a TV channel and a large amount of money is spent towards this; also, towards the publication of books and the Holy Quran.

These funds are also spent towards the education of poor children and to feed the hungry. It is spent towards the training of the missionaries and the tabligh carried out through them. Mosques are being constructed. Similarly, there are various other projects of the Jamaat.

I have not said this because, God-forbid, a lot of people have started to ask these questions. The reason why I have mentioned this is that when the Jamaat grows, then due to its spread, the mischievous people and also those who seek to create evil enter the Jamaat and try to cause disorder. Such people try to create doubts in the minds of those who are less trained. By the grace of Allah the Almighty, the members of the Jamaat have a very firm belief that resources are needed for the administrative structure of the Jamaat to function and that it is the commandment of Allah the Almighty to spend in His way.

Thus, there are countless examples in the Jamaat, whereby people, despite having nothing themselves, spend through some means or another, in order to attain the pleasure of Allah the Almighty. And in return, Allah the Almighty never allows such sacrifices to go to waste. Allah the Almighty grants them according to His promise:

ُْ ُ ‫َو یَ ْرزق ُہ ِم ْن َح ْیث لَا یَ ْح َت ِس ُب‬

“And will provide for him from whence he expects not.” [Ch.65: V.4] Allah the Almighty indeed fulfils His promise and Ahmadis are not such that they only read this in the Quran, but they witness this being fulfilled even today and write about their experiences. I will present some of these examples; these are not incidents of the past; in fact, Allah the Almighty is strengthening the faith of believers even today. This not only strengthens the faith and is of benefit to those upon whom Allah the Almighty bestows His grace directly, but also strengthens the faith of those who are near to them. Owing to them, they also develop a realisation and try to excel in financial sacrifices so that they too can attain the pleasure of Allah the Almighty.

As I mentioned earlier, I will present a few examples from the letters that people write to me about the ways in which Allah the Almighty blesses them.

One example has been written by the missionary-in-charge of Guinea Conakry.

He writes that when he read out some faith-inspiring incidents from my sermon to members of the Jamaat and said that they ought to set such examples as well, subsequently Maimoona Sahiba called him and said that she did not have any money to spend on her household needs, and that her husband was out of town owing to his work.

After the Friday prayers, her father gave her 100,000 Guinean francs as a gift.

She says that she was in two minds whether she ought to pay [Tahrik-e-Jadid] chanda or spend it on household needs. She then prayed and gave half the amount, i.e.

50,000 francs, towards chanda.

She says, “24-hours had not passed

when, miraculously, I was bestowed 300,000 francs by Allah the Almighty from where I could not even imagine I would receive money. Upon this, I thanked Allah the Almighty for granting me the opportunity to make the correct decision.” She says that it also increased her faith.

A Lajna sadr from a jamaat in Canada writes that when the secretary for Tahrik-eJadid enquired about the total outstanding amount from the members who were not able to pay, it turned out to be $325 – which is a small amount considering their [Canada’s financial] situation.

She says, “I thought that I would pay it myself. But when I checked my account, I did not have any money left. In fact, the account was in minus as I had spent $3 more.”

She then says, “However, when I checked the account the following day, I was left astonished as there was more than $3,000 in my account.” She says that this was an amount that had been pending for quite some time and there was no chance of receiving this amount. However, when Allah the Almighty saw her intention to pay the remaining amount, He ensured the means so that she immediately received that amount which had been pending for a long time.

A member of the Jamaat from South Africa, Shaheen Sahib, writes: “I paid my chanda for Tahrik-e-Jadid and gave half the amount that was in my bank account.” He says that it was not a substantial amount, but he thought that since it was the last month for the Tahrik-eJadid year, therefore if he did not pay it, then he might not get another opportunity. He says that he subsequently paid the amount.

On the same day, his father came to visit him and said that he had transferred some money to him for his use and he would receive it soon. Shaheen Sahib says that the amount he received from his father was 20 times the amount he had paid for the chanda of Tahrik-e-Jadid. He says that he paid chanda on the amount he received from his father as well for Allah the Almighty had bestowed him a greater amount from where he did not expect it.

On the same day, as he paid this second amount, he received a phone call from his boss, informing him that they were willing to offer him a job in Dubai if he wished to go. Nonetheless, he agreed to go and in this way, he was granted a very good job abroad.

He says, “These two incidents were not coincidences; rather, I am convinced that this was the grace of Allah the Almighty because of giving chanda and offering this sacrifice.”

A missionary from Australia writes: “A member of the Jamaat said that he pledged to give chanda, but his financial situation was not stable. He said that when he paid the amount, he was convinced that Allah the Almighty would grant him a hundred-fold in return as this was Allah’s promise.” Some people also have this thinking.

“He had bought a plot and hardly expected it to increase in value. However, after paying the chanda, he says that miraculously the profit on the plot increased a hundred-fold. He says that after this, he was fully convinced that Allah the Almighty accepted his sacrifice and bestowed His grace upon him.”

The missionary in Kazakhstan writes that a devoted Ahmadi local, Ali Bek Sahib gave 10,000 tenge (which is the local currency there) towards the chanda of Tahrik-e-Jadid and after giving his chanda, he left for work. He says, “A few days later, a senior executive of the company called me and said that since the company had made an extraordinary profit, the company had decided to give three employees a bonus of 100,000 [tenge] for their hard work.” He then says, “Allah the Almighty gave me 10 times the amount I gave towards chanda and I never expected to receive it.”

A member [of Jamaat] from Birmingham, UK says, “I performed bai‘at in 2016 along with my family. At the time, I was facing severe financial difficulties and was in a lot of debt. After entering the Jamaat, I began paying my chanda according to my means; in fact, on occasion, I gave more than what I could afford in certain initiatives.

“In the early days that I had pledged allegiance, my wife had to set up a tabligh stall in a school. I took a day off work to look after the children. Owing to this leave from work, I suffered a loss of £100. At the time, my financial situation was very challenging and this was a very substantial amount.”

Nonetheless, he says, “I thought to myself that it is Allah’s work and one should make a sacrifice for this, and so I took a day off work. However, Allah had other plans. As soon as my wife finished and came home, my boss called me asking if I could come to work within the hour as there was urgent work that had just come up.” He further says, “I left immediately and on that day, I only worked for one hour, but received the full day’s wages of £100. When I came and told my wife”, both of whom had recently accepted Ahmadiyyat, “we remained elated for many days owing to Allah the Almighty’s grace upon us and we expressed our gratitude to Him.” The Wakil-ul-Mal [finance director] in Tahrik-e-Jadid Qadian says: “There is a member of the Jamaat in the state of Kerala, India who is very wealthy. He is a well-off businessman and is extremely passionate about giving towards the Tahrik-e-Jadid chanda etc. Each year, he gives a large sum towards it.” He further says, “Owing to the coronavirus pandemic, his situation was such that he did not have the means to give a large amount. He paid his Hissa Amad etc. and other contributions, but did not have enough for Tahrik-eJadid. He said, ‘Allah the Almighty has always granted me the opportunity to give chanda [Tahrik-e-Jadid], but at present, my situation is such that there is no means for me to pay.’” Nonetheless, he had full trust in Allah the Almighty that He would provide him with the means to pay it.

He further says, “Just two days before the end [of the Tahrik-e-Jadid year], he gave a substantial amount of one million [Indian] rupees towards Tahrik-e-Jadid.”

He says that during the Friday sermon, the missionary reminded people about paying the chanda of Tahrik-e-Jadid and also narrated some incidents taken from my sermons. This gentleman was so affected by them that instead of presenting one million rupees, he gave 1.8 million rupees for the chanda of Tahrik-e-Jadid. Owing to this, he was convinced that he would secure the governmental project and said that if he secured the project, he would give an even

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greater amount for Tahrik-e-Jadid.

Nonetheless, by the grace of Allah the Almighty, even amongst the affluent Ahmadis, there are those who have a passion to offer sacrifices. And instead of storing away their wealth, they strive to spend it in the way of Allah.

Habib Sahib, a missionary from Burkina Faso writes: “Sore Seydou Sahib is one of our members. He still had to pay 1,700 CFA [for Tahrik-e-Jadid] and there was only one week remaining before the end of the year. In any case, he made the effort and paid 2,000 CFA which was a little more than what he had to pay. He says that not even an hour had passed since he paid his chanda that one of his acquaintances sent him 10,000 CFA and then an hour later, he sent another 10,000 CFA. His friend then phoned him and said that he sent him 20,000 CFA as a gift.

Seydou Sahib stated that this friend of his had never sent him any money before that and that it was the first time. He said that he paid 2,000 CFA and Allah the Almighty increased it manifold and granted him 20,000 CFA within two hours.”

Thus, through this, people’s faith is strengthened.

The muallim of the Lungi region in Sierra Leone, Abdullah Sahib, writes: “Pa JM Kaine Sahib is an elderly member of the Jamaat. Last year, his promise for Tahrik-e-Jadid was 25,000 leone. This year, he promised to pay 50,000 leones but was also facing some financial difficulties. When an announcement was made regarding the collection of the Tahrik-e-Jadid, he enquired what his promise was from the missionary.

When he was informed that it was 50,000 leones, he was astonished as to how 50,000 leones had been written because it was not possible for him to pay that much. He was

Friday 3 December 2021 | AL HAKAM

told that in fact, he himself had written the promise. Upon this he became silent.

“A week later, he attended an Ansar meeting and informed them that he had a total of 60,000 leones and he had left 20,000 leones at home and brought the remaining 40,000 leones to contribute towards the chanda of Tahrik-e-Jadid and that he did not even have any money now for his return journey. In any case, I told him that since he had offered a sacrifice in the way of Allah the Almighty, He would provide the means for it.

“He began to walk home and on the way, he happened to meet an old friend of his.

He had not met him for a long time and so they began talking. When the friend was about to leave, he took out 30,000 leones and gave it to this elderly gentleman as a gift. He then stated that he knew a lady and went to visit her to enquire about her health.

When he was about to leave from there, she gave him 10,000 leones in order to cover the fare for his journey home. He states that in this way, Allah the Almighty granted him the money which he had paid towards the chanda of Tahrik-e-Jadid. He then paid the remaining amount of the 50,000 leones he had promised.

“He then states that he was granted another blessing as well. One of his relatives, who lived abroad phoned him and said that he had not spoken to him for a while and that he was gifting him 400,000 leones as a gift. Thus, he was not only granted the same amount in return, but in fact Allah the Almighty granted him 10 times the amount.

He said that he was not only able to offer a sacrifice, but it also proved to be a means to strengthen his faith.”

The missionary of the Boke region in Guinea Conakry writes: “We held a ‘Tahrik-e-Jadid Week’ for

the collection of Tahrik-e-Jadid chanda. We drew the attention of local Ahmadis during the Friday Sermon and also visited the houses of members. We visited the house of a very devout member, Jibraeel Sahib, who is a carpenter by profession and reminded him to pay the [Tahrik-e-Jadid] chanda. Jibraeel Sahib stated that at the time, he only had 20,000 francs which he had kept to cover his expenses; however, he contributed it all towards his chanda. He said that he did not have anything else besides that but prayed that Allah the Almighty might accept his sacrifice. Jibraeel Sahib states that he had prepared a wooden bed frame three months ago in order to sell it but no one was buying it. He says that very soon, after paying his chanda, someone came and purchased the bed for 1.5 million francs. Upon this, Jibraeel Sahib immediately phoned one of our missionaries and told him that not only did Allah the Almighty accept his sacrifice, but granted him manifold in return. He also narrated this incident to his friends as well in order to strengthen their faith.”

Munir Hussain Sahib, who is a missionary in Freetown, Sierra Leone, writes: “There is a khadim [member of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya], Sufi Songo Sahib, who is a student and currently residing in the mosque for the purpose of studies.” He had heard my sermon, or perhaps a recording of last year’s sermon on Tahrik-e-Jadid, wherein I mentioned those people who had offered financial sacrifices.

“He says that he heard the sermon very intently and was filled with great passion and a zeal to also have the opportunity to offer financial sacrifice. However, the difficulty was that since he was a student, he could not do any other work and he was barely able to cover the expenses for his

studies. Nevertheless, despite his difficulties, he was extremely anxious to take part. He wrote a promise of 500,000 leones to the Secretary Tahrik-e-Jadid, which was very difficult for him to pay. He was worried as to how he would pay it and began praying day and night for it so that Allah the Almighty would grant him some means whereby he could fulfil his promise.

“A few days later, one of his relatives brought his son with him and told him that he wanted to enrol his son into an Ahmadiyya school. And so, Sufi Sahib spoke to the principal and he offered him a place in the school. Upon this, the boy’s father gave him 100,000 leones and said that this would come in use to cover his expenses for food etc. He says that in fact that day he had nothing to eat but despite that, he gave that entire amount towards Tahrik-e-Jadid so that he could at least fulfil a part of his promise. He then states that a few days later, he received a call from an unknown person who told him about some work and that they would pay him a good amount in return if he was willing to take it on. He immediately agreed to it and by the grace of Allah the Almighty he received a million leones as wages for his work and he immediately fulfilled his promise for Tahrik-e-Jadid.”

The missionary-in-charge of Gabon writes: “There is a new convert, Issa Dindane Sahib; prior to his bai‘at and paying chanda, his circumstances were such that at times, two or three weeks would pass by and he would not find any work. However, since he started to pay his chanda regularly, he finds work on almost a daily basis. He travels from very far in order to pay his chanda and he would almost pay the same amount for the taxi fare as his chanda. Hence, we made an arrangement for him so that he could send his chanda from home instead of spending twice the amount.”

A lady from Jordan, Fajr Attaya Sahiba, states: “It has been 22 years since I accepted Ahmadiyyat. I have noticed that ever since I have become an Ahmadi, whenever I make the intention of paying chanda, Allah the Almighty provides the means from somewhere. At times, I receive the exact amount which I had intended to pay for chanda. These are the blessings of the Jamaat.”

She further states: “I have studied engineering. If I find work which I can do from home, I take it.

It is my habit that I do not take any money from my husband in order to pay the chanda because often, he does not have enough money. Hence, I pay the chanda from my own earnings. This year, I had forgotten and thought that I had already paid my Tahrik-e-Jadid chanda; however, when I was reminded, I did not even have one dinar at the time. I was concerned as to how I would pay the chanda when a female student came to me and asked if I could give her tuition.

By the grace of Allah the Almighty, now, through the tuition fees, I will be able to pay the chanda and will also save some money from it as well.”

The president of the Bokubadala Jamaat in Burkina Faso writes: “A few non-Ahmadi friends came to me and said, ‘We are astonished upon looking at the condition of your crops. We noticed that you all would spend a lot of time helping in

AL HAKAM | Friday 3 December 2021 the construction of the Jamaat school and there was no one behind to look after your crops. However, despite that, our crops are not as good as yours. In contrast, we gave all our time to our crops, but our crops are not as good as yours.’”

Upon this, the president [of the Jamaat] stated, “We all did this work for the sake of Allah the Almighty and the Jamaat.

Whatever time we sacrificed for the construction of the school, we prayed that ‘O Allah! Protect our crops for we have placed our trust in You.’ Thus, Allah the Almighty accepted our prayers and our crops turned out to be in good condition. Now, we pay our chanda in accordance to the yield of our crops.”

Children also have an understanding of the spirit of sacrifice. They are children living in developing countries, but their awareness is of such a level that in some instances, children in developed countries and children who are well-educated do not possess the same level of awareness. There is an incident that demonstrates this, related

by Hussain Yusuf Sahib, the missionary in Zanzibar, who says: “Some children were playing outside of the mosque when an elder passed by and was happy to see them. He gave them 1,400 shillings so that they could buy themselves some sweets. The children took this money and went to an Ahmadi shopkeeper and had him divide the money into change. The children took this change to the mosque and instead of buying sweets, they divided their money and each gave 100 shillings as chanda and they joyfully kept their receipts.

When the Ahmadi shopkeeper learned that the children had got the change in order to give chanda, he was left utterly astonished.”

Insha-Allah, it is these children who will become the firm foundations of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat in the future.

Then, there is another astounding instance of children presenting sacrifices.

The following incident is also from Tanzania; the muallim from Samuye writes: “There are three children in our Jamaat who are studying in the fourth grade and they regularly attend the talim and tarbiyat classes in the mosque. All three belong to financially poor households and they do not have any regular source of income. Since last month, all three were competing with regard to offering contributions for Tahrik-e-Jadid.

Each one of them would individually bring their contributions and would try to present whatever amount they had. Whether it was 500, 400, or 700 hundred shillings, they would give whatever they had.”

He continues, “Once, I asked them where they were getting this money from, which they would bring for Tahrik-e-Jadid.

One of them said that he would go to the forest with his mother and help her to chop wood and he would set aside whatever pocket money he received to give in Tahrike-Jadid. He said that ever since he started offering financial contributions, he would always find customers for their wood immediately and they never suffered any loss. The second child said that he would also take out an amount from his pocket money to present as chanda. The third child said that there were some fruit trees near his home. Sometimes, he would sell any extra fruit and would offer the amount he earned for chanda. These three children also spoke about the blessings of financial

contributions, and how they experienced peace in their lives by presenting financial sacrifices.”

May Allah the Almighty increase the faith and sincerity of these children. These are the rewards of faith which even our children reap.

The missionary-in-charge of Belize – this is another example of a child, who is living in a completely different part of the world; one child is living in one part of the world and the other in a completely different part and yet their thinking is the same – writes: “A 14-year-old child in Belize donated all his savings towards the construction of the mosque. He also showed an excellent example of sacrifice towards Tahrik-e-Jadid.

This child belongs to a very poor household and his father covers the expenses of the household with great difficulty. When the missionary informed them about the importance of Tahrik-e-Jadid, this young boy presented one dollar and said that this donation was on behalf of his family. The missionary was pleased with this because he knew that based on their financial circumstances, this was a great sacrifice on their part. However, this child, whose name is Danyal, stated not to write down his name.

He said that this was on behalf of his family, but he would pay his own contribution later.

The next day, this child presented another 10 dollars and said, ‘I was convinced that Allah the Almighty would certainly bestow His blessings upon my family.’ And with that, he presented his own contribution.”

In relation to how Allah the Almighty instils the passion for sacrifice in the hearts of those who have newly joined the Jamaat and how he treats them, Nooruddeen Sahib from Morocco states that after doing the bai‘at in 2017, he started taking part in financial sacrifices. At the time, he had a very meagre salary, but one day, he heard one of my sermons on the Jamaat’s website in which I was mentioning the sacrifices offered by the companions of the Promised Messiahas and other Ahmadi members. He states that after a few days, his heart was filled with passion and he went to the national sadr of the Morocco Jamaat and told him he wished to enter the nizam-e-Wasiyyat. The national sadr explained to him the various conditions and regulations, which in turn further fuelled his desire and he did his Wasiyyat. After a few months, his personal circumstances improved and he found employment in a very good company with a good salary. Currently, he is working as a manager of that company in another city. He said that in just a matter of three years, his salary had tripled. And the company has so much trust in him that when he was about to leave the capital city of Morocco, his manager asked him whether he knew of any other Ahmadi like him who would want to work with them. He says that upon hearing this, he became rather emotional and tears began to flow from his eyes. He then spoke to one of his Ahmadi friends in the city and he got the job. That Ahmadi friend has also been made a manager now. Nooruddeen Sahib says that he is pressured by his family members with regard to him paying the chanda and he is also mocked by some of his other relatives as well. However, he is grateful to Allah the Almighty that owing to his chanda, he has never had to experience any financial difficulties.

A missionary from Perth, Australia

31 writes: “When a khadim was reminded about paying the chanda of Tahrik-e-Jadid, as he had not yet done so, he said that due to Covid-19, he did not have any work and was facing financial difficulties. A few days later, he came and informed me that in order to fulfil his promise, he sold a few things in his house. He said that a few days after he had paid the amount, he got four different contracts for work and also a new all-expense-paid job; his income increased more than before as well. The khadim said, ‘All of this was only due to the blessings of Allah the Almighty and the chanda I paid by selling things from the house which Allah the Almighty returned it back to me immediately.’”

Then, a secretary for Tahrik-e-Jadid from another city in South Australia writes: “A devoted member had yet to pay his promise for Tahrik-e-Jadid. When he was reminded about it, he said, ‘I have put my house on for sale. As soon as it is sold, I will pay it.’ Two days later, he phoned me and said that owing to the grace of Allah, his house sold for an unexpectedly high profit and he was convinced that it was due to his promise of paying chanda. He paid six times more than his promise for Tahrik-e-Jadid.”

Allah the Almighty blesses people through worldly gains as well. But despite this, the thinking of an Ahmadi is that these blessings are not due to any excellence on their part; rather, it is due to offering sacrifices, and only an Ahmadi can think in this way and not anyone else.

The missionary of Argentina writes that he wrote an article on the topic of financial sacrifice to raise awareness and included words from a sermon of mine in which I said that new converts should be told that offering financial sacrifices is essential and that they should be told that the message of Ahmadiyyat that has reached them is owing to those who sacrificed their wealth under the scheme of Tahrik-e-Jadid. Hence, they should also participate so that they could bring reform to their lives and further propagate this message. This is the excerpt he cited from my sermon and published.

He further writes: “When this article was sent to the members of the Jamaat, Anas Ezequiel, a youth, contacted me and said that he would like to come to the mission house and present his contributions to Tahrik-eJadid. Despite the severe heat, he boarded a public bus right after school and travelled for over an hour to reach the mission house and contributed 1,000 Argentinian pesos for Tahrik-e-Jadid.”

He further writes, “I was very surprised.

His financial situation was not such that he could afford this; also, he was still a student in school and did not have a particular source of income. The financial situation of his family was not good either.”

He further says, “Even on that day, he did not eat lunch due to a shortage of money. Upon asking him about the matter, he said that the shared excerpt of the Khalifa of the time had an extraordinary impact on his heart, in which it was stated that new converts should also contribute to the scheme of Tahrik-e-Jadid because the message of Ahmadiyyat reached them by means of Tahrik-e-Jadid. He said that on the one hand, he read this excerpt, and on the other, he came across a verse of the Holy

Quran in which Allah the Almighty stated that martyrs and their sacrifices should not be considered deceased; rather, they live on for eternity. I also desired to offer such a sacrifice whose benefits and impact would live on even after my demise.’ He said that his family members, who are all non-Muslims, gifted some money to him on his birthday. He was contributing all the money he had remaining from that amount to Tahrik-e-Jadid so that it could be used to further convey the message of Ahmadiyyat to others just as it was conveyed to him.”

This is the revolutionary change that develops within those who accept Ahmadiyyat.

Whether they are new Ahmadis or Ahmadis of old, all of them are greatly impacted when they hear how the Ahmadiyya Jamaat spends its funds. If there is a lack of awareness in this regard in some members of the Jamaat, then awareness should be raised and the purposes and importance [of financial sacrifice] should be explained to them, which could also result in an increase in contributions.

Nonetheless, there is also an incident from Liberia. Murtaza Sahib, a local muallim and whose local Jamaat consists mainly of new converts who converted from Christianity, writes: “In regard to the scheme of Tahrik-eJadid, I went to visit a local jamaat. I arrived there in the afternoon and most people were out working in their fields. I said to those who were present that I would stay the night there and would not leave until a hundred percent of the members contributed to this blessed scheme. In the evening, when all the people returned to the village, I presented the background and importance of the grand scheme of Tahrik-e-Jadid before them and encouraged all of them to participate.

By the grace of Allah, every male and female member contributed enthusiastically.

“The next morning, when I was taking my leave, I was told that there was a fellow Ahmadi by the name of Alfanso Sahib who had been living out on his farm for the past two months and had not yet contributed to Tahrik-e-Jadid. However, due to the distance and because the rains had obstructed the pathway, it was difficult for him to reach us.

Upon this, I replied that I would certainly reach him, so that all of the members of their local jamaat would be part of this blessed scheme. Some members of the community tried to stop me, but I insisted. Nonetheless, some members accompanied me.

“After a two-and-a-half-hour journey on foot, when we reached Alfanso Sahib, he was shocked, but overjoyed. Immediately, he contributed to Tahrik-e-Jadid. Alfanso Sahib’s wife and children were also living with him. His wife had not accepted Ahmadiyyat. Upon seeing what had happened, she said that she was greatly impacted by the spirit with which Ahmadis served their faith. Therefore, from that day forward, she too would enter the fold of Ahmadiyyat and her children would also become part of the Jamaat.”

As such, due to its blessings, a whole family was enabled to enter the fold of Ahmadiyyat.

How do those who take bai‘at truly understand how important it is to offer financial sacrifices? In this regard, a missionary from Mali writes: “There is a member in one of our

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Friday 3 December 2021 | AL HAKAM

regions by the name of Sedu Sahib. One day, he came to the mission house in Kita and offered his contribution to Tahrik-e-Jadid saying, ‘The year for Tahrik-e-Jadid was coming to a close and I had been worried for days for God Almighty to enable me to pay the amount I had pledged. Today, God Almighty has enabled me to do so, and so I have come.’

“One of his legs was impaired. When he was told that he did not have to trouble himself and that we would have come to him instead, he became impassioned and said, ‘I have accepted the Imam Mahdi and despite my apparent physical disability, I consider myself in much better condition than some of those who are healthy. By the grace of God Almighty, I hold great pain for the cause of my faith. Perhaps my coming here in this condition for the betterment of the religion of God Almighty will be accepted in His court and will become a means of my forgiveness.’”

A missionary from Benin writes: “There is a local muallim, Moutowama.

He said that he went to visit a new local jamaat in his zone. The president of the local jamaat, Ismail Sahib explained, ‘We had always been Muslims and would annually either offer some financial sacrifice or offer some amount to our imam for the sake of Allah.

This is the first year that we are Ahmadis, and for the first time, we have offered our financial sacrifices to the Ahmadiyya Jamaat. Previously, whatever we gave to our imams was spent by them. However, we asked the Ahmadiyya missionary about how the financial sacrifices were spent and upon being informed, we realised that we were completely unaware of the extraordinary purposes for the expenditures. The Jamaat does not waste even this meagre offering but uses it in every minor and major work for the advancement and the propagation of Islam all around the world. Even a person who contributes only a few [CFA] francs will receive an exceptional reward for it.

Therefore, in understanding this philosophy of sacrifice, we have contributed to Tahrike-Jadid and have felt that our homes were not afflicted with financial problems this year, nor have we incurred any expenses for our health and our children’s health this

year. Our attendance in our daily prayers has also increased more than before. Allah the Almighty has protected us and, by the grace of Allah Almighty, this time, we have felt comfort and satisfaction in our hearts that our financial sacrifices have not gone in vain.’”

Some people allege that the people of Africa living in remote areas are unlearned or lack understanding. This example, however, is such a profound outlook and such a lofty vision, the likes of which does not occur to even those who are very well-educated. The manner in which they explained everything and how the importance of financial sacrifice dawned upon them, it is the result of the revolution that takes place within people after they pledge allegiance.

May Allah the Almighty enable every single one of us to offer sacrifices for the propagation of Islam, and may we be those who contribute from our pure earnings.

May these sacrifices find acceptance in the sight of Allah the Almighty and may He be pleased with us.

Now I shall announce the commencement of the new year of Tahrike-Jadid and present some details. By the grace of Allah, the 87th year came to an end on 31 October and the 88th year has now begun. By the grace of Allah, the Ahmadiyya Jamaat contributed £15.3 million, which is an increase of £842,000 from the previous year.

Out of all the jamaats around the world, this year, Germany stood first by some distance. The economic situation in Pakistan remains dire, yet the members continue to increase in their sacrifices. Pray for them also. Aside from this, they are victims to many other difficulties nowadays. Every day, there seems to be a lawsuit against someone, court cases are filed against them and the government is making every effort it can to subdue and harass them. May Allah the Almighty remove all their worries and enable them to hold all their activities freely; whereby they can hold their ijtemas and annual gatherings and be able to present their sacrifices openly. They will, of course, not express their sacrifices themselves, but we can mention them; however, due to certain restraints, it is not possible to even

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mention some of their sacrifices.

Nevertheless, as for the others who made sacrifices, I have already mentioned that Germany stood first, followed by the United Kingdom, then the USA in third position, Canada in fourth, a Middle-Eastern country in fifth, India in sixth, Australia in seventh, Indonesia in eighth, Ghana in ninth and another Middle-Eastern country in tenth position.

In terms of the overall contribution from the African countries, Ghana stood in first position, followed by Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Tanzania and then Sierra Leone. I have mentioned in the past that Sierra Leone can improve, and despite the fact that there is indeed much room for improvement, they are not giving it the attention that is required. If the people are told in a proper manner, they will find them to truly be those that make sacrifices, as I have presented in the incidents. The remaining positions are Gambia, Benin, Uganda, Kenya and then Liberia.

In terms of the increase in contributors, Nigeria holds the first position, then the Gambia, Senegal, Ghana, Tanzania, Guinea Conakry, Malawi, Uganda, Guinea Bissau, Congo Kinshasa, Burkina Faso and then Congo Brazzaville.

As for the increase in participants in the larger jamaats outside of Africa, Germany stands first, then the United Kingdom, Holland, Bangladesh then Mauritius.

By the grace of Allah the Almighty, the contributions from the members of Daftar Awal are still being paid.

The first 10 jamaats of Germany are as follows: Rödermark was first, followed by Neuss, Mahdi-Abad, Köln, Rodgau, Nieda, Flörsheim, Pinneberg, Frankenthal and Osnabrück.

The local amarats in Germany are as follows: Hamburg, Frankfurt, Gross-Gerau, Dietzenbach, Wiesbaden, Mörfelden, Riedstadt, Mannheim, Darmstadt, Rüsselsheim.

In terms of contributions towards Tahrik-e-Jadid from Pakistan, Lahore is first, followed by Rabwah, then Karachi. In terms of the districts, Islamabad is first, then Gujranwala, Sialkot, Umerkot, Multan, Toba Tek Singh, Mirpur Khas, Attock, Mirpur,

Azad Kashmir and Dera Ghazi Khan.

The position of the local jamaats in regard to the highest contribution is as follows: Amarat Defence Lahore, Amarat Gulshan Iqbal Karachi, Amarat Azizabad Karachi, Amarat Township Lahore, Amarat Model Town Lahore, Amarat Mughalpura Lahore, Amarat Delhi Gate Lahore, Amarat Clifton Karachi, Bahawalnagar and Hafizabad.

The positions of the top five regions in the UK are as follows: Baitul Futuh is first, Fazl Mosque is second, followed by Islamabad, Midlands and Baitul Ehsan.

The top 10 positions of the larger jamaats of the UK, in terms of the total collection, is as follows: Farnham, Islamabad, South Cheam, Fazl Mosque, Worcester Park, Birmingham, South Walsall, Aldershot, Gillingham and Guildford.

The positions of the jamaats in the USA in terms of contributions, are as follows: Maryland, Los Angeles, Detroit, Silicon Valley, Chicago, Seattle, Central Virginia, Oshkosh, Atlanta, Georgia, South Virginia, Houston, York and then Boston.

In terms of the total contribution, the positions of the local amarats in Canada are as follows: Vaughan, Peace Village and Calgary are level, then Vancouver, Toronto West and then Toronto.

The top 10 jamaats in India for their total contribution are: Qadian is first, Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Karulai, Pathapiriyam, Kolkata, Bangalore, Kerang, Calicut and Melapalayam.

The top 10 provinces in terms of sacrifices made, are as follows: Kerala is first, followed by Tamil Nadu, Jammu Kashmir, Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha, Punjab, Bengal, Delhi, Lakshadweep.

The top 10 jamaats of Australia are as follows: Melbourne Long Warren, Castle Hill, Marsden Park, Melbourne Berwick, Adelaide South, Penrith, ACT Canberra, Parramatta and Adelaide West. These were the jamaats in Australia.

May Allah the Almighty greatly bless the wealth and progeny of all those who offered sacrifices.

(Original Urdu transcript published in Al Fazl International, 26 November 2021, pp. 5-10.

Translated by The Review of Religions.)

It is a very difficult sight indeed, to see that our youngsters are knowledgeable

in the lives of the rulers, generals and intellectuals of other nations and religions,

and read their biographies, but are overwhelmingly uneducated in the life of their

Master and Leader, the Holy Prophetsa. There are many reasons for this, but a key reason is that until this time, no such biography of the Holy Prophetsa has been authored [...] as may draw in the minds of this era.

(Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmadra, in The Life and Character of the Seal of the Prophets)

Editor: Qaasid Muin Ahmad | Design & Layout: Jalees Ahmad | Sub-Editorial: Ataul Fatir Tahir, Aqeel Ahmed Kang | News: Ata-ul-Haye Nasir | © Al Hakam 2021