Published on Feb 09 2009 

 After reciting Surah al-Fatiha, Huzur  recited the following verse (Ch 29:46)

“Today, since Germany‟s Ijtema is also reaching its conclusion, I also address Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Germany in this speech.

The report that Sadr Sahib just read out, by the grace of Allah, was indeed very heartwarming. May Allah increase their efforts, and grant them 100% success in their Salaat campaign.

 

 

After the passing of Hadhrat Khalifatul IV , many Jama'ats and their auxiliary organisations passed resolutions, in which they restated their intentions to complete his works and make every sacrifice to fulfil his wishes. Such promises have come in from many Jama‟ats, such as Khuddamul Ahmadiyya UK, Germany, and Pakistan. In relation to this I wish to mention one such desire of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV , which Alhamdulillah, Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya UK is already working towards, that is to make people steadfast in Salaat.

Being steadfast in Salaat means to offer prayers on time and in congregation. The example set by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV  regarding Salaat is testimony to us all. Apart from the recent severe illness, he did not let other illnesses stop him from leading Salat in congregation in the mosque, despite there being permission in Islam to offer prayer at home during illness.

Why did he take on such hardship upon himself? He did this only so the Jama'at could understand the importance of Salaat in congregation.

In these times when the world has become materialistic, Allah's command of offering Salaat at its appointed time is extremely important and very necessary. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV recognised that the Jama'at was not at the required standard in offering Salaat. In fact he saw that the standard of Salaat was at a low level and to raise its level required a great effort. In this matter, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV once said:

“As far as the Jama'at's general spiritual condition during these times of hardship is concerned, there is no doubt that by the grace of Allah the Jama'at's spiritual condition has greatly improved. In the matter of righteous deeds, a new spirit of obedience is seen. In large numbers, their hearts are anxious to announce acceptance of the message and whenever the Jama'at is called towards good deeds, they accept the message with devotion and purity of heart."

 

 

This fills my heart with praise for Allah, but such devotion by the Jama'at is not enough, unless they have a permanent relationship with Allah, in which Salaat and the worship of Allah has permanent importance. If this is not the case, then such devotion and obedience is like the changing of the seasons.

Worshiping Allah is not like the changing of the seasons. The worship of Allah throughout one's life must be like a permanent bond with Allah, indeed worship is as essential and can be compared to the air we breathe. There are many factors in sustaining life, however the importance of breathing air in sustaining life is the central, most important and essential, and it is required at every moment.

Worship has the same relationship with man's spiritual life. Worship can be sustained at any time with 'Zikr-e-Ilaahi” (Remembrance of Allah), but as per the teachings of Holy Qur'an and detail we learn from the Hadith, Salaat is the minimum Zikr-e-Ilaahi - ‟without which a person cannot stay alive. This is why I feel it is of special importance that I draw your attention once again towards the importance of Salaat.”

This was the message and the expectation of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV . You can all assess yourselves as to how much attention you are paying to the words of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV , and to all his instructions and wishes.

As I have already said, in Islam, Salaat is a key principle. Allah has said that we should offer Salaat five times a day and do so congregation. Today, in some places of work, many have a problem of how to offer Salaat in congregation especially if they are the only Ahmadi there. In such circumstances, they can offer Salaat on their own, but they must not combine Zuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Ishaa. During work, there are breaks where you can offer Zuhr Salaat and Asr Salaat separately and where possible you can offer Salat in congregation. You should not feel embarrassed about this, in fact this practice will impress those around you and will attract them towards you, as they want to see people who worship Allah at work in these times.

In the verse which I recited (Ch 29:46 of the Holy Qur'an), Allah says:

“Recite that which has been revealed to thee of the Book, and observe Prayer. Surely, Prayer restrains one from indecency and manifest evil; and remembrance of Allah, indeed, is the greatest virtue. And Allah knows what you do.”

Whose heart does not want to refrain from shameless things? Even those who are drowned in bad deeds eventually realise that they should leave these (bad deeds) behind. Some write to me requesting prayer that may Allah save them from their bad habits and save them from the evil of the world in which they live. However, before requesting prayer, they should pray for themselves, and they should try to say their Salaat regularly, and instil this habit (of saying prayer) in themselves.

 

 

Hadhrat Musleh Maud  has said:

“I am of the belief that even if someone is at the limits of shamelessness and sin, if he is one who offers prayers, then at some time Allah will remove him from that evil.”

But offering prayers should not just be a quick act, you must grant Salaat its right and offer it properly. In relation to this the Promised Messiah  has said:

“Salat is an instrument of saving yourself from sin. Salaat has the quality of saving you from sin and from bad deeds. Salaat is the blessing of life. You should be in search of such Salaat. Allah‟s blessings are sought from Salaat in this way, so you should offer Salat with due diligence, so that you can be a recipient of Allah‟s blessings.”

Alongside the need for external cleanliness before performing prayer, Salaat instils within a person the need for internal purity. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih I , also mentioned that for prayer to be effective, there was a need to recognise the attributes of Allah, together with one's own responsibilities and the fact that through true acceptance of prayer, one recognises that man is but a servant of Allah, and must seek His forgiveness and mercy through prayer.

The members of Khuddamul Ahmadiyya, aged between 15-40, are fathers, brothers and sons. Those of you who are fathers, you have the responsibility to instil absolute faith in Allah in your children through the example of your actions. Your future, your progress and your success is dependent on Allah. The best way to establish a relationship with Allah is by offering Salaat on time, and in congregation.

A brother's responsibility is to be a righteous example to his younger brothers and sisters. However, it is important to note that parents should ensure that the eldest child gets such moral training and education, that the younger children follow his/her example, thus you will need to make less effort in their moral training and education. If the oldest child offers Salaat, then the younger child in the same environment will also start to offer their Salaat.

Khuddamul Ahmadiyya is a youth organisation and because of the broad age range, it contains both those who teach and those who will learn, those who can impress and those who can be impressed, those who can show good and bad behaviour, and those who can who can learn from that behaviour. If all of you can be pious, shun bad deeds and be regular in Salaat, then you will be successful.

A nation whose youth are servants of Allah, who worship Him and are His true servants, cannot be harmed by any worldly power. So turn your life in this direction, and offer moral guidance and education to those who are younger than you.

 

 

Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV once said in an address:

“I know that most of the people who are sitting here today, by the grace of Allah, are regular in prayer. However, I am not just referring to those who are here right now, I am talking about the future of those who offer Salaat today. Until their children and future generations become regular in prayer, until that time, no guarantee can be offered about the future of Ahmadiyyat or the future hope and wishes of Ahmadiyyat. It is therefore my instruction to all men and women that you must look at the condition of the Salaat that your children offer. Assess them on a daily basis about how many prayers they have offered. Do they know the meaning of their Salat? And if they do know the meaning, then do they concentrate on the meaning, or do they rush quickly through Salat so that they can go about the worldly business? If you assess them with proper care and fairly, then I fear the results of your assessment will cause you to feel uneasy.”

This was the pain and concern that the head of our community, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV had about the state of Salaat in the Jama'at. And we who declare in our resolutions and pledges that we will complete your works should first adhere to Huzur's  message of offering prayer in congregation, as this is the most important pledge.

So let us today pledge before we leave, that we are not those who make empty declarations about our love for Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV , but we will certainly fulfil his wish, and ensure that Salaat is read in every house, and insha'Allah, according to his desires every house will be filled with those who offer Salaat.

And indeed the resolutions and pledges continue by declaring their love for the new head of the community, and offer their reassurances in this regard. But the biggest pledge would be if you say that we will declare the Oneness of Allah in the world. We will be of those who worship Allah, and will ensure our coming generations do the same – insha'Allah. May Allah grant us the ability to do this.

Ameen.