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Waqf in the Field: Stem Cell

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Taken from the concluding address by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V(May Allah be his Helper) at the National Waqifaat-e-Nau Ijtema UK on the 24th February 2018.

THE HIGH STATUS OF WOMEN IN ISLAM AND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF WAQIFAAT-E-NAU

“In the establishment and development of any nation or community, the women play a fundamental and vital role, as the responsibility for the training of the future generations lies in the hands of mothers. They are the nation builders.Amongstyou therearemanyWaqifaat-e-Nau who are now yourselves mothers, orare at an age where youwill soon bemarried, Insha’Allah.Even theyounger ones present will in a few years reach a similar age, Insha’Allah and so they too will one day take up the mantle of training the coming generations. Thus, you must all understand your

responsibilities.”

→ Take pride in the fact that your primary duty is to raise the standards of the future

generations, by setting the very highest standards for them to learn from and follow.

→ It is your task to guide your children in a way that they understand their faith and

come to live their lives according to the true teachings of Islam. This is a great responsibility and challenge for all of you because you are the ones who can facilitate and unlock the doors to a spiritual revolution in society.

→ Undoubtedly, it is essential for all Ahmadi Muslims to set a pious example for their

children, however it is particularly important for you, members of the Waqf-e-Nau scheme or Waqifaat-e-Nau, to set the highest standards, because your parents pledged your lives for the sake of your faith and upon reaching maturity, you have voluntarily renewed that pledge.

→ Therefore, it is essential that you live your lives according to the commands of Allah

and follow the teachings of the Holy Prophetsaw at all times. Seek to replicate those levels of faith and morals that were displayed by the early Muslim women in the time of the Holy Prophetsaw .

→ Throughout his life, the Promised Messiahas shined an incandescent light upon

our faith, illuminating the path towards Allah the Almighty. Hence, it should not be that whilst growing up in the Western world, you start to adopt those habits or beliefs that are contrary to the teachings of Islam.

→ By all means, adopt those things that are good in society, but never forget that our

true guiding light is, and always will be, the Holy Qur’an and that our true role model is the Holy Prophetsaw of Islam.

→ Rather than following the superficial glamour of the world, or being influenced by

modern trends that come and go, we must follow and heed the everlasting and timeless teachings of the Holy Qur’an.

→ Muslim women have no need to campaign or advocate for their rights, rather all

they need is to understand their faith so that they fully comprehend the rights that

Islam has granted them. Only then will they be in a position to utilise those rights for their benefit and progress.

→ Allah the Almighty has Himself established the rights of women and so it is

essential that you read the Holy Qur’an and its commentaries and you study the

Hadith and the books of the Promised Messiahas. By doing so, you will gain knowledge of your faith and it will remove any lingering traces of an inferiority complex, or a belief that Muslim women have been deprived in any way.

→ It is not just enough to understand your rights, but at this time, in this era, it is up

to Ahmadi Muslims to educate and inform other people and other communities about what Islam has given them. You should let the world know that you do not aspire to follow the ways of today’s so-called developed and progressive people and nor do you have any need to demand your rights. You are already the recipients of all that you need and desire. Rather than following the world, you, as members of Waqf-e-Nau, are the people who have voluntarily presented yourselves for a lifetime of service to your faith so that you can guide the world.

→ It is incumbent upon you to manifest and proclaim the beautiful teachings of Islam

at every opportunity.

WAQF IN THE FIELD:

STEM CELL RESEARCH

Mahedah Rehman

My name is Mahedah Rehman Raja, and by the Grace of Allah, I am Waqfe Nau. This has been in the forefront of my mind during my whole life, especially throughout the times when I even contemplated on giving up on whatever course of action I was doing. This is because, whatever work, education, or opportunities I have sought, are not for my own personal benefit, but are so that I can be a good Waqf and servant of Allah. Without a reason of doubt the most important and vital tool in my arsenal has been and always will be the prayers and guidance of Beloved Hazur-e-Aqdasaba, as he has been the driving force and inspiration for my education, career and service.

How I ended up in my current field?

I am currently a PhD student, studying stem cells. However, if I was to go back to my 13 years old self, and tell her this, she would not believe it. The reason being, that I remember, standing outside one of my science lessons and vowing that once the compulsory sciences were over at GCSEs, I would never walk into a science lab again. Such was my disdain for the sciences. However, Hazuraba must have seen something in me. Possibly because, during a few Waqfe Nau classes with Hazuraba, I had presented various sciencerelated topics, including a research article on grumpiness and a review of one part of the exhibit on the Golden Ages in Islam at the Science Museum.

Thus, when we went to a family Mulaqat with Hazuraba, to request prayers for my GSCEs, Hazuraba immediately said to me, “Mahedah, you are good at science, you will do Medicine!” At that moment, I was left speechless. Here was our beloved Khalifatul Masihaba, who believed in me, more so than I did myself, and as stunned as I was, I was compelled to agree with Hazuraba and began focussing on my studies, in particular the sciences.

Now that I had an aim, I was adamant to stay focussed, so that I could make Hazuraba and my parents proud. I worked hard to gain exceptional GCSE results for which I also obtained an award from Hazuraba at Jalsa Salana UK. However, when I did my A-levels, my grades dipped. Furthermore, having done work experience at a hospital, I was very disheartened and felt like I did not fit in as a medic. This worried me, as it meant that I had somewhat already failed as a Waqfe Nau.

During this time, I wrote to Hazuraba on multiple occasions, and Hazuraba would always benevolently reply with prayers for academic success, and advice to stay punctual in my daily prayers. With this in mind, I decided to do a degree in Biomedical Sciences at St George’s University. Being at St George’s, also allowed me to regularly go to Masjid Fazl and Baitul Futuh. In the second year of my studies, I was also given an opportunity by a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Scientist Association in the United States, to do an internship at the Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital Research centre. Here, it became apparent to me that Medicine does not require me to become a medic, but that this is a vast field and that I may be better off in a different career.

INTERNSHIP

After this experience, I again wrote to Hazuraba. I detailed to him my experience, and how after the end of my degree I wanted advice and guidance on what the best course of action would be. It was at this time, that Hazuraba encouraged me to “pursue a PhD”. Thus, numerous applications later, and with the help of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Research Association,I was notonly able to secure a PhD position at King’s College London but was also awarded a studentship for four years.

For me, this was nothing short of a miracle. I was an average student at best and had heard how people with years of work experience and expertise struggled to find projects, supervisors, and funding, so much so, that many people eventually give up. Hence, I was overwhelmed. Not only was I amongst the youngest in my cohort but outside of the knowledge of my degree, I had very little expertise amongst my peers. I spent the first year at King’s College doing another Masters, in which I tried my hand at many different projects. When it came to choosing my final project for the next three years, I went back to Hazuraba .

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