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Safeguarding Progeny from Ills
they have about religion or other aspects of life.
In his Khilafat, Hazuraba has brought up an entire generation of individuals of all ages and in particular the younger generation. From the outset of his Khilafat, Hazuraba continued the classes that were held with the youth by his predecessor, and also commenced Waqf-e-Nau classes. Since the very beginning, Hazuraba has paid so much attention to the children and young adults in these classes that many of them are now succeeding in life in their respective fields, all the while serving the cause of the Promised Messiahas .
In 2003, Hazuraba was handed over a generation of young children by his predecessor, Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmadrh, in the form of Waqifeen and Waqifaat-e-Nau. Since the first day of his Khilafat, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaba has held the hand of each and every Waqf-e-nau and brought them up in a most excellent fashion. Many of those Waqifeen-e-nau who were young children at the time are now serving the Jama’at as missionaries, doctors, engineers or in various offices of the Jama’at. Those very children who Hazuraba taught basic Islamic lessons in the early Waqf-e-Nau classes now teach their own children those very lessons and pass on the great wisdom that was imparted to them by Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaba .
Due to the pandemic, these classes are now being held virtually and in a recent mulaqat, Hazuraba said to one of the members:
“You have all grown up and now have beautiful beards, maybe that is why I cannot recognise you all. And it has been a long time too, right? Since a [waqf-e-nau] class … I was not able to meet you either [due to the widespread pandemic]. I am looking at your faces and you have grown, maybe some have even married. Anyhow, you all look good, Masha’Allah, but I cannot recognise your faces – maybe if I look at some childhood pictures of you all, I will recognise you.” (Al-hakam, 05 March 2021)
The love and affection Hazuraba has for Waqifeen-e-nau becomes manifest from this remark. Since their childhood, Hazuraba has been graciously giving them advice at every step of their upbringing and education. Indeed, this remark by Hazuraba is in need of no further comment, but prayers only.
Another aspect that this love can be confused with by an outsider is a form of dictatorship. The Khalifa is a leader who advises his followers in many aspects of religion and everyday life, but those who look upon this relationship from the outside and in the current modern age may not be able to initially fathom the idea that this religious leadership is far from a dictatorship.
To this allegation Hazuraba said:
“What dictator has a connection with his subjects? The Khalifa, on the other hand, has a personal relation with every Ahmadi of every nation and every ethnicity. They write to me in person and state their personal issues. If one sees the volume of such letters that I receive daily, they would find it incredible. It is only Khilafat that is concerned for the problems of every Ahmadi living in all parts of the world; the Khalifa personally prays for them.
“What worldly leader is there who prays for the ill? What worldly leader remains restless for matrimonial matches of his youth? What worldly leader remains concerned for the education of the children of his nation? Governments do provide schools and health facilities, but the concern for the education and health of people spread
across the globe is only in the heart of the Khalifa-e-Waqt. There is no problem that afflicts Ahmadis – of personal nature or to do with the Jama’at – that does not leave the Khalifa-eWaqt concerned; he not only takes practical measures to alleviate these problems but also prays for them.
The Khulafa before me and I too have always done so. There is no country in the world where my imagination does not take me, praying for the Ahmadis living there, while awake or even when asleep. I am not mentioning this as a favour. It is my duty and I pray that Allah enables me to fulfilthis duty even better than ever before […]” (Friday Sermon delivered by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaba, 6 June 2014)
One can try to explain to the world what the love that the Khalifa has for his people is and how pure and true it is, but the truth is that it is something that we feel in our hearts because of all the effort and interest that our Hazuraba gives us. We see his love in the amount of attention and guidance we receive from him, and we are able to feel that love radiate towards us in our mulaqats and letters from our beloved Imam. The conviction in wanting us to progress in our faith and relationship with Allah, is what also convinces us of his love and his reassurance and prayers during our desperate times of need.
Where someone may feel that this is all theoretical or not reality, I can say that on a personal level, I have been blessed with this love since the age of 10 from our beloved Imam. He has constantly been guiding me in my waqf, my interest of singing nazms, religious knowledge, my education, career choices, how to be a good daughter and person, my marriage and now, children. A huge blessing is that this does not end here. The guidance, love and attention from Hazuraba continues, and just like my continuing story with Khilafat, this is the case for millions of Ahmadis around the world.
Being recipients of the Khalifa’s love, it is our responsibility to also portray our love to our beloved Imam, not by merely saying “I love you”, but to tirelessly work on ourselves and become better Muslims, better human beings, spreading the message of Ahmadiyyat and being good, noble examples of an Ahmadi Muslim, so that we may create ease for Hazuraba in his work and responsibilities. May Allah enable us to achieve this way of life. Ameen.
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