Published on Mar 27 2011 

Address delivered by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V(aba) at the Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Muqami Regional Ijtima on 27th March 2011 held at the Ashcroft Technology Academy, London

English Translation

 

After reciting Tashhahud, Ta’awwudh and Surah Al-Fatihah, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V(aba) said:

“Local Ijtimas are held by Khuddamul Ahmadiyya and majalis of other auxiliary organisations. Traditionally, I do not participate in these; however, I recall that once I attended the Regional Ijtima North East, in Hartlepool. However, putting traditions or the norm aside, one purpose of attending this was to observe the interests of Khuddamul Ahmadiyya and Atfalul Ahmadiyya regionally. Secondly, the Halqa that I reside in is within the Muqami region. Another reason for attending is that other regional Ijtimas are currently taking place, and it was Sadr Sahib’s desire for me to attend. So, I am addressing all of the other Ijtimas through this Ijtima.

Why do these Ijtimas take place? This is something we should understand. Ijtimas are held on national and regional levels for the purpose of our Tarbiyyat (training). It is human nature that consideration is given to something that is repeated continuously, and an Ahmadi should always keep in mind his principle objective. Therefore, these Ijtimas are held for the purpose of prompting and reminding everyone. We observe in the world that refresher courses are held which are organised for people of various professions. Some are held for the purpose of training and others for updating knowledge. And seminars are held to create interest in respective fields. This is exactly what our Ijtimas and meetings are for. This aim should always be kept in mind by every khadim and every sensible tifl.

The Holy Qur’an and the Islamic Shariah claim that its teachings are in accordance with human nature. God Almighty draws our attention to this aspect of human nature that it needs to be constantly reminded so that it always keeps in mind the purpose for our existence in this world; by stating in the Holy Qur’an:

And keep on exhorting; for verily, exhortation benefits those who would believe.(Ch.51:V.56).
Or remind them! Because reminding and continuous prompting has advantages and benefits.

What are the obligations that an Ahmadi child youth, elder, man and women should strive for? We need to keep the foremost obligation in view, which is the purpose of our creation. God Almighty states:

And I have not created the Jinn and the men but that they may worship Me. (Ch.51:V.57).

God states that this is your purpose, so always remember and keep this in mind. This, from many obligations, is a great obligation of a believer and from many purposes, an immense purpose, that without worship, a believer is lifeless. That is why God Almighty has drawn attention towards this matter. When we benefit from an ordinary man’s work, we are thankful and extend our gratitude to him. So God Almighty is the Lord of all the worlds, Who has created and established a great universe for us before our birth. Not only did He create the earth for us, but also the planets, stars, air and environment. Thus, it is our duty to be thankful to Him, in the manner He has taught us to be grateful to Him.

As I have stated earlier, God Almighty has drawn our attention towards worship saying, worship Me, as this is the reason for your creation, and in this is your hidden gratitude. In this your gratefulness is concealed. God Almighty has told the Jinn and the men that regardless of whether one is wealthy or poor, ordinary or extraordinary, it has been made obligatory upon everyone that if they have faith in God Almighty then they should concentrate towards God, and pay special attention towards their prayers. It should not be the case that if a man has accumulated wealth quickly, he assumes that by giving alms or by doing any other charitable work he is discharged of his obligation to worship, believing there is no need for it. On the contrary, amongst the injunctions of God Almighty, after Faith in the Unseen, the injunction of prayers has been ordained, followed after by financial sacrifice. Financial sacrifice and to help or care for someone through compassion come at a later stage. Your first obligation is to worship God and to pay heed to your prayers. Whenever the time comes to fulfil this obligation, then it is the duty of every elder and youth, wealthy and poor person to be present at the mosque for the safeguarding and observing of their prayers.

A verse from a couplet of a poet states, ‘Both Mahmood and Ayyaz stood in one row’, meaning that when it is time for prayers then a true believer, whether he is wealthy or poor, great or ordinary, all hasten towards the mosque. They try to their level best saying that: may we observe prayer, and prayer in congregation. This is a fundamental point that we should remember. It is the duty of members of Atfalul Ahmadiyya who are 13, 14 or 15 years old to act on this. It is narrated in a Hadith that a child’s attention should be drawn towards prayers from the age of 7 to 10.1 Those children who are 10 to 12 should be admonished sternly so that they may pray habitually. That is why we should always remember this fundamental point that without prayers, a believer cannot be referred to as a believer and he has no right to call himself a member of a Divine community. We may claim thousands of times that we are associated with the Ahmadiyya Jama’at, but if we are not fulfilling the obligation that God Almighty has assigned to us, and which is the purpose of life, then we cannot say that by believing in the Promised Messiah(as) or accepting Islam we have achieved something great. Islam, and Ahmadiyyat—the true Islam, is the name of sacrifice, and worship can only be done through sacrifice. People may say thousands of times that “I have such and such work, such and such engagement, such and such worldly endeavour,” but God Almighty says no matter how many objectives you may have, your fundamental objective is your worship. Therefore, always safeguard your prayers and never let them go to waste.

The majority of those present here are from abroad, including from Pakistan. God Almighty has bestowed a great favour upon you as you are free to do what you please here. You can pray, give the Adhan (call to prayer) and preach, whereas all of this is banned in Pakistan. So gratification, benevolence and the return of God’s favour demands that we pay great attention towards the worship of God Almighty. We can never return God’s favours, but we should at least make an effort to do so.

As I have said, that due to the conditions that are enforced upon Pakistani Ahmadis, many people from Pakistan fled here and sought asylum. There are many learned and well-educated people who have migrated here, as well as those in business; they have all come for this reason that the conditions in Pakistan do not allow an Ahmadi to live a proper life, to conduct business, to undertake their jobs or to attain expertise in their professions. So when you come here and seek asylum, it is a bounty from God Almighty that God has bestowed upon you that He gave you a chance to come here. You have only come here because you are an Ahmadi, and an Ahmadi should always remember this purpose. An Ahmadi should have to exhibit a distinctive difference compared to others, and the principle difference should be in his worship.

Also, economic conditions have improved by coming here. The majority of those who have migrated here are also socially better off. If an individual is good, grateful and his conscious is alive, whenever he looks at his present condition compared to what it was in Pakistan, then he is drawn towards gratitude. All these things make a true believer bow down before his God.

And this is true humanity. During ordinary conversations, we say that “such and such person does not have an ounce of humanity in him as he did not even express thanks or gratitude.” If we have such an expectation from a person that he shows gratitude to us, so then why can we not be thankful to God by at least abiding the injunctions of God Almighty, Who has bestowed great favours upon us which we can never return, and pay due attention towards prayers. If the youth start to pay attention towards this, then young children will also. Even parents, up to a point complain and say that children up to the ages of 10, 11 and 12 are interested and attentive towards faith, but after this, they gradually become accustomed to society. But if you keep an eye on your home’s environment, and both children and elders exhibit a good example, then such predicaments will never arise.

I referred to Mahmood and Ayyaz; that an affluent and a poor person stood in the same row. This is the story of Mahmood and Ayyaz. There was a King whose courtier and servant was named Ayyaz. For every matter, Ayyaz would always look to the monarch, Mahmood, and would follow all his commands. Whatever Mahmood said, Ayyaz would fulfil, for which reason all other courtiers were extremely jealous. They would constantly try and find a reason to complain about him. On one occasion they found out that he Ayyaz would sneak out at night. They followed him and saw that he would leave his home and go to a distant area, where he would open a door of a mud cottage, lock the door and sit inside. They complained to the King saying that “the person you believe to be your sympathiser is looting your treasure and every evening, when darkness falls, he goes and buries your looted treasure in a certain place. He has made a room there and puts a lock on it.” The King was influenced by what they said, so one day he went there and found out that Ayyaz came there and after opening the door, took out old clothes from a sack or a bag, then looked at the old clothes and then returned back. Mahmood asked him that “what is it that you do?” Ayyaz replied that “I was a poor man; you gave me such honour and this high status. And as a result of this gratification for what you bestowed upon me and also the gratification of the Grace that God Almighty granted me, I go and look at those old clothes of mine so that my heart does not fill with arrogance and pride, and so that my sentiments of gratitude continuously increase.” So this is the gratification that a true person should have who upholds human values and is also deserving of it. Therefore, a believer should be so thankful due to the countless bounties bestowed by God Almighty and be aware of the various injunctions that He has ordered us to follow and perform. So therefore always remember that never forget this fundamental injunction of God Almighty to observe prayer on time, and always remember Him.

Further, how great a reward is received for this gratification. God Almighty does not leave these acts of worship without reward. If one observes prayer in congregation, it is 27 times more rewarded than praying individually at home. Firstly, you are thankful to God Almighty for the rewards that are bestowed and after this gratification to Him; God Almighty increases this reward manifold in return. You cannot find such a bargain anywhere in the world. God Almighty states that a true believer is one who loves God Almighty the most (Ch.2:V.166):

This love for God Almighty is not just lip service. If one claims to love God Almighty then to follow His injunctions is vital. The first of the injunctions is to worship. In another place He states that a believer is one who does Jihad in the way of God. Here in this age it does not mean Jihad with the sword. In this era the Promised Messiah(as) has set an end to this type of Jihad, that for faith there is no Jihad of this kind. So which Jihad is allowed in the faith? It is propagating Islam (Tabligh). Do Tabligh through the resources that God Almighty has made available. Whether through the internet or newspapers or any other media outlet, every person should see what role they can play. If one cannot do anything then he should at least actively take part in the community’s leafleting scheme.

In America some of our Khuddam have certain temperaments. They presumed that as the current of America is always against Islam, if they went to people’s homes and told them that they were Muslims and what their teachings of Islam were, perhaps they would be ignored, and moreover, that they may have to face harassment and foul language. This is why Muslims fall prey to this complex. But when I told them to start the leafleting campaign and some courageously started this, which resulted in positive response, the rest then also joined them. When those who had fallen into a complex saw that the reality was totally different to what they had assumed, then their involvement increased greatly. Seeing them, many major writers of newspapers, columnists and some journalists also participated in this endeavour, and they wrote regarding this in such newspapers that are circulated in millions that this is the way that the Ahmadiyya Community is spreading the message of peace and love, and this is how new avenues of Tabligh opened.

Hence, there is no need to fall into any complex. This work is such that you are showing the world the way to guidance and simultaneously becoming the recipient of God Almighty’s rewards. That is why I have said that when using these resources such as the Internet etc. instead of surfing and viewing useless sites night upon night, view our websites instead. Read the allegations of our opposition and then reply to these allegations. By learning to answer the allegations it will lead to avenues through which you will be able to increase your religious knowledge.

Then there is Jihad against the vein practices and meaningless pastimes of the society, and inappropriate fashion. Jihad against this is the task of every Khadim and sensible Tifl. Every type of fashion is not to be adopted. If someone desires to keep a beard then it should not be kept for fashion, but for the sake of keeping a beard. I have said this many times before that some keep beards as if they have drawn lines. It is certain that they do not use stencils to shave such beards! However, the amount of time and effort spent in drawing these lines can be utilised elsewhere. If you desire to keep a beard, then keep a proper beard and keep this is mind that it is a Sunnah (Tradition of the Holy Prophet(saw)) to keep a beard.2

There are many freedoms here—there are groups of youth, and gangs who taunt and fight each other, and other groups—you should do Jihad against this. An Ahmadi should always keep away from all these sorts of wrong-actions. Especially children aged around 13 or 14, when they are entering adolescence, they assume that “we are now gaining freedom, we are now growing up; we are now maturing.” If you are maturing, then the way you think should be mature. Being mature does not entail being involved in wrong acts, being in groups of boys and girls, and then fighting and arguing with other groups, teasing one another or being drawn into other bad habits. You should try and stay away from these things and it is also the duty of the parents to ensure that they supervise their children with regards to this.

God Almighty also states that believers migrate for their faith. Hijrat (migration) does not just refer to going from one place to another, but migration also means to leave an evil and taking upon virtues. It is the name of coming into the refuge of God. So try and come into the refuge of God Almighty and try and safeguard yourself against every sort of evil, whether they may be social evils or evils in your society or surrounding environment. On the reports of Sadr Sahib Khuddam Ahmadiyya, there is often this phrase written on the letter pad, ‘A Nation cannot be reformed without reforming its youth’.3 This is a phrase that has been given to us by Hadhrat Musleh Mau’ud(ra) (Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II). It is a slogan that every Khadim should remember; that he is a youth and he not only needs to reform himself, but along with his self-reformation, he needs to reform the whole nation and then reform the whole world. If you keep this objective in mind at all times and try your level best to fulfil this then you will be fulfilling the purpose of your life.

You are from amongst the servants of Messiah(as) of Muhammad(saw). What was the work of the Messiah(as) of Muhammad(saw)? It was to bring the faith back from the Pleiades. This means to engrain faith within the hearts of those who believed in him, in such a way that there is a most prominent difference between them and others. Other Muslims call themselves believers and those who believe. However, belief is that which always guides the heart of man towards following the injunctions of God Almighty. This true belief should always remain in the heart of every Muslim, every Ahmadi and every youth. Therefore, try and increase in your faith and achieve this level.

We find an example in the Holy Qur’an of the youth who were the followers of Jesus(as) and accepted him. God Almighty states:

‘They were young men who believed in their Lord’ (18:14). That is, they were a few youth who believed in their Lord and We (God) increased them in their guidance, and then they were those who believed and safeguarded their belief for a few centuries.

In a few centuries, a youth cannot remain a youth. This means that they maintained their faith in their future progenies and then they treaded the path of guidance. It is mentioned about the Ashab-e-Kahf (the people of the caves) that they remained hidden within caves and safeguarded their own faith and continued to infuse it within their progenies. These were not those Christians who believed in the trinity and who made Jesus(as) their Lord. They believed in the Unity of God. They were those Christians who believed God to be One, and they preserved this faith of theirs for a few centuries. Then, as God did not have any promises with them in this regard, such a time came that Christianity became interpolated, and as the Christian faith started to spread across the world, their faith also began to decline. But God Almighty has promised an Ahmadi, one who has accepted the Promised Messiah(as), who believes in the Messiah(as) of Muhammad(saw), that their Community would remain established until the day of resurrection, and due to this, the servants of the Messiah(as) of Muhammad (saw) would always progress and continue to increase in guidance. That is why we should continuously analyse our own selves and see to what level are we steadfast in our faith. If we continue to advance in our faith, then as a reward God Almighty will increase us in our guidance. So always pay attention towards this as well. Display a clear difference to world in your speech, your actions and your character. Only then will you become the recipient of God Almighty’s rewards.

As I said that it is God Almighty’s promise that this Community will advance, and believers will continue to come into it, and by God Almighty’s grace, they are coming. The majority sitting before me are those whose parents or forefathers brought faith (on the Promised Messiah(as)). If you do not respect the faith and the wishes of your forefathers, then these rewards can be snatched away from you and given to others. So always bear this in mind that it is better to join the newcomers and increase in faith and guidance, and become the recipients of God Almighty’s bounties by calling the world towards this guidance.

God Almighty’s promises are being fulfilled. As I have mentioned that with the Grace of Almighty Allah, the Community is continuously growing, as was the promise that the community would continue increasing until the day of judgement. This was a promise to the Holy Prophet(saw). It is a promise made also to the Promised Messiah(as), who received many revelations from God Almighty with regards to this. From amongst the rewards promised, a reward is that of Khilafat. God Almighty has promised this in Surah Al-Nur. However, a few verses before the promise of Khilafat, God Almighty states that do not claim that you will do this and that, and start to swear oath upon it. To fulfil promises, to work, to tread the paths of guidance, to increase in faith and to be loyal to Khilafat do not require big promises, but God Almighty states that:

That “Obey in what is right” (Ch.24:V.54), the words which you have repeated in your pledge. So this is what every Khadim and such mature and sensible Tifl should keep in view. Maruf Ita’at is such that whatever command is given from Khilafat—which will always be in accordance with Shariah, because if it is not according to Shariah then the Khilafat is not true Khilafat— it is the obligation of every Ahmadi, every Khadim and every person who repeats the pledge and every individual who has vowed their allegiance to the Promised Messiah(as), to obey this.

I would like to draw attention towards another matter—reading and reciting the Holy Qur’an. Make it a habit to recite the Holy Qur’an. We give examples of the past that such things use to happen in Qadian, and such other things use to happen in Rabwah; that our past elders use to recite the Holy Qur’an in such and such manner. However, we should make a habit of reciting the Holy Qur’an ourselves. Children come to me eagerly to do ameen. After doing ameen they should recite at least a ruku’, or even half a ruku’, but in any case, you should definitely recite the Holy Qur’an. Those who are elder should recite at least two rukus, alongside the translation. There is no doubt that Atfal, children, youth, those who are entering adolescence and a very large majority of Khuddam in Khuddamul Ahmadiyya display great zeal and passion. At the time of doing duties and when temporary sacrifice is required, they do so with great fervour and enthusiasm. They have an extremely devoted and loyal relation with Khilafat and the Community. In particular the Muqami region carries out their duties with great passion. And continuously for the last 27 or 28 years they have been doing so. But along with this, to infuse further blessings in this passion and to truly absorb the bounties of God Almighty, it is our duty to strive to form a relationship with Him. The way to do this, as I mentioned at the beginning, is through prayers and worship. You must do so with further concentration.

Thus, let me repeat this once again: Pay attention towards your worship, your prayers, your recitation of the Holy Qur’an, and your reading of the books of the Promised Messiah(as)! This is the obligation of an Ahmadi; especially the youth should pay particular heed to this. When you establish your good example, when you will attain the knowledge through both the Holy Qur’an and by reading the books of the Promised Messiah, Tabligh will become easy for you. And by setting a good example you will be able to draw the attention of others to you.

Those Christian youth who lived in caves, they were also youngsters; they were Khuddam. Keep their examples before you, who were firm in establishing faith. Until their resolve remained, their unity and relation with God Almighty remained established. The majority of those who believed in the Holy Prophet(saw) were also young, who risked their lives and in every moment of danger. For guarding the Holy Prophet(saw) they fought behind him, in front of him, to the left of him and to the right. So our youth should also have this zeal within them of how they can spread Ahmadiyyat and the true Islam in the world in this age, and how, by setting their own examples, they can increase their levels of sacrifice; how they can take part in the true Jihad and how they can attain the purpose which God Almighty created us for. May God Almighty enable all of you to attain this and may God Almighty make you increase in virtues. Please join me in silent prayers.”

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1 Sunan Abi Dawood, Kitab As Salat , Bab Mati Yaumarul Ghulamu BisSalaat, Hadith No. 495
2 Sunan Tirmidhi, Kitab Al-‘Adab, Bab Maaja Fil Akhzay Minul Lahyatay, Hadith No.2762
3 Mashal-e-Rah, Vol.1, p.14, published by Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Pakistan