The Auxiliary Organisations

The efforts of Hadhrat Musleh Mau’ood [ra] to strengthen the administrative machinery of the Community was an ongoing concern. His comprehensive advice and supervision kept everyone alert and keen on doing his best. His main objective was to maintain the Community at the highest level of activity, both in terms of selfimprovement and in respect of striving to spread the message of Islam. In this respect, the creation of the auxiliary organisations was a huge boost in fulfilling his objective.

THE KHUddAMUL AHMAdIyyA

Advising men between the ages of fifteen and forty years of age he stated: “I am reminding Khuddamul Ahmadiyya that they should set such a high example that the spirit of Islam is kept alive generation after generation. Islam in itself is a complete faith. However, even the most flavoursome juice needs a glass. Similarly, the soul of Islam requires a glass in order to spread to it others. Our Khuddamul Ahmadiyya are those glasses in which the spirit of Islam will be kept intact and through them it will be passed onto others.” (Al-Fazl, 15 Dec. 1955). Reminding them about hard work, perseverance and sacrifice he stated: “Today I am reminding the young men of the Community that they ought to develop the habit of hard work and sacrifice. And they must impress it upon their minds that a nation will never progress until its elite as well as its common people are in the habit of hard work and sacrifice. In the world, difficulties and trials appear in many different shapes and forms. But the response to all of them can only be the same. And that is to overcome these difficulties with perseverance and courage. However, this spirit is only created when the youth

respond accordingly after understanding their responsibilities. i.e. the greater the responsibilities the harder they should work. (Al-Fazl, 16 May 1961).

In October 1949, Hadhrat Musleh Mau’ood [ra] took over the responsibilities of the head of the Khuddamul Ahmadiyya organisation. Commenting upon this change he stated:

“I have taken this step to lure the youngsters more and more towards our faith.

As far as organisation and security of the headquarters is concerned Khuddamul

Ahmadiyya has done a good job. But the reason for its formation — to create genuine religious devotion in the hearts of the youth — has not been fulfilled.

The truth is that the sole interest of godly Communities is spirituality. If there is any deficiency in this then the true purpose is completely lost. For this reason

I have taken over the leadership myself so that I can supervise them directly.” (Al-Fazl, 10 Jan. 1950).

Regarding Education he advised the youth:

“I advise our youth that they should not seek education for the purpose of gaining employment. Employment is not the means by which the nation is nourished rather the employees live off the wealth of the State. If you become tradesmen, work in industry or become inventors then you provide for the State. And it is true that the hand that gives is better than the hand that receives. No doubt the service industry is important but we should not all turn our attention towards it. As far as possible we ought to try and take up a trade or a profession so that the country can develop and progress.” (Al-Fazl, 14 Dec. 1952).

THE ATFAL SECTIOn

In July 1940, Hadhrat Musleh Mau’ood [ra] instructed the Khuddamul Ahmadiyya organisation to create the “Atfalul Ahmadiyya” which should consist of boys

between the ages of eight to fifteen years. He states that these boys are the nursery of the Khuddamul Ahmadiyya organisation. In the future, these very children will shoulder the responsibilities of the Organisation. Therefore, right from the start they should be trained so that when the time comes they may deem themselves capable of taking on the important responsibilities that will devolve upon them as members of the Khuddamul Ahmadiyya organisation. In childhood the child’s mind is like a clean slate and hence can be easily moulded.

THE IMPORTAnCE OF AUxILIARy ORGAnISATIOnS wITHIn

THE COMMUnITy

In the presence of the Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya, the Majlise Mashawarat and the Anjuman Ahmadiyya Tehrike Jadeed why did Hadhrat Musleh Mau’ood [ra] create auxiliary organisations and what was their purpose?

Hadhrat Musleh Mau’ood [ra] himself explained the reasons behind this on different occasions. He stated:

“If the Atfalul Ahmadiyya organisation becomes established everywhere, if the Khuddamul Ahmadiyya organisation becomes established everywhere, if the Ansarullah Organisation becomes established everywhere then the whole Community becomes entwined…In such an Organisation every individual becomes visible to the Community. One can discover his competencies and his level of interest in religious matters. In a way we also obtain a census of the Auxiliary Organisation. No doubt members attended the various gatherings of the Community before this. However, there were no limitations incumbent upon the members. And neither was there any strictness about observing who was absent and the reasons behind their absence.

However, as similar age groups have all been gathered together because of this

scheme, they can watch over each other and they can also get work experience. Then the biggest advantage will be that in this way, from a tender age, the training of the children will be along the lines of Islamic teachings, which will come in handy when they are older. Apart from this, as everyone who is a part of these organisations has to take on some responsibility, they will show their potential in some form or other. Hence, this is such an important task that if no attention is given to it, the Community will never prosper as a group and we will never be successful in the field of training.” (Report Majlis Mashawarat, 1941, pg.121–22). “If on the one hand the departments that manage the Organisation keep the people vigilant and on the other hand the Khuddamul Ahmadiyya, Ansarullah and Lajna Imaillah that manage the members, can keep the Organisation alert, there is no reason that the Community should completely decline at any time or stop advancing. Whenever one becomes negligent the other will be ready to activate it. Whenever one becomes lazy the other will come forward to make it productive because they are both representatives of the same part. One represents the Organisation and the other represents the members.” (Al-Fazl, 17 Nov. 1943). “…Remember it is the law of God which can never be changed that one part sleeps while the other is awake, one department becomes slothful while the other becomes industrious. God Almighty has decreed this to be a part of His law by making the world round so that one half should sleep while the other is awake…This is the working relationship between the Organisation and its members observed in the world, which in fact is the relationship between free will and determinism. Sometimes the members are asleep and the Organisation is active and vice versa. Sometimes it also happens that both the Organisation and the members are active and that is always a period of great victories and

success…That is a time of great progress for the nation. It roars like a lion and advances like an overwhelming flood. Every impediment hindering its path is subdued. Every structure that comes in its way is knocked down. Anything that hinders its progress is dispersed. It expands in all four directions before one’s very eyes and spreads out across the world to the point where no nation can compete with it. But a time comes when the Organisation falls asleep and the members are awake or vice versa and in the end the time comes when the

Organisation and the members both fall asleep. Then the angel of God descends and claims the soul of the nation. This law also applies to us, will continue to apply and can never be changed. Hence, bearing this law in mind our best endeavour should be to keep the Organisation alert and also keep the members alert. In fact, this is the need of the time. The Messiah of God Almighty has very recently appeared in the world. Therefore, in keeping with the time, our Organisation and our members should both be alert. But because depression and the weakening of faculties is a part of human nature, the members should try to keep the Organisation active and the Organisation should try to keep the members active…Hence, both should try to serve their purpose so that if both are not awake then at least one should be active and in this way the day of our decline and decay (when the decree of God issues the order of death) is kept as far away as possible.” (Al-Fazl, 17 Nov. 1943). “If there is a flower in the house, the whole household will appreciate its existence and everyone at once acknowledges that there is a rose or a jasmine plant in the house whenever its fragrance reaches the senses. Hence, the evidence of life is important. Without the signs of life no one can claim to be alive even though he may appear to be alive. Whenever one comes into the world he should give some evidence of his existence. He should leave an impression from which the

world can appreciate his life and be able to say this person came into the world and did such and such. Hence, an industrious Community is not one that issues a few reports. A Community can only classify itself industrious when a stranger enters Qadian and without anyone telling him that the Organisations of Khuddamul Ahmadiyya and Ansarullah reside here, he independently acknowledges that there is an industrious Community living here…This is the thing I want to create in the Ansarullah.” (Al-Fazl, 17 Nov. 1943).