On 07 April 2019, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad addressed the concluding session of the UK National Waqf-e-Nau Ijtema(gathering), an event held for male members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the UK who have pledged their lives for the peaceful service of Islam.
The event took place at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in London and was attended by more than 1,700 people, including just under 1,400 members of the Waqf-e-Nau scheme.
During the address, His Holiness reminded members of the Waqf-e-Nau scheme that they must fulfil their sacred pledge to serve Islam in every aspect of their lives. He advised Ahmadi Muslim youth to bring about pious changes in their lives that would enable them to fulfil the rights of Allah the Almighty and His Creation.
His Holiness began his address by explaining that every member of the Waqf-e-Nau scheme should understand that his Waqf (pledge of lifelong service to Islam) is only of real value if he has established a sincere connection with Allah the Almighty through the worship of Allah and the five daily prayers (Salat).
His Holiness expressed his disappointment with those Waqf-e-Nau who claim to have given their lives for the sake of Islam, but are unable to even offer the five daily prayers regularly.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Never mind offering the five daily prayers in congregation, there are some who, upon being asked, admit that they do not even offer the five daily prayers regularly. What is the purpose and benefit of such a Waqf? On the one hand, they have pledged their lives for the sake of Allah the Almighty. Yet, on the other hand, they remain neglectful of that part of their religion, the worship of Allah, which, after the declaration of faith, is the most fundamental obligation upon any Muslim.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad proceeded to emphasize that it is critical for all members of Waqf-e-Nau to strive to act upon all the commands of Allah the Almighty and to fulfil the rights of one another. He stated that it is not merely enough for Waqf-e-Nau to know their faith, but they must practice it at a much higher standard than others.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“You should never sit back in contentment merely because your name is included in the list of the Waqf-e-Nau. Rather, you must understand the scale of your responsibilities and your everlasting obligation to your faith. At all times, it is your duty to better your moral standards and to increase your religious knowledge.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad turned the attention of the Waqf-e-Nau to the desires and expectations that the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) held of those Ahmadi Muslims who pledged their lives for the sake of Islam.
His Holiness detailed how the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) taught that those who associated themselves with him should devote their lives to their faith in the same way he did.
The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) taught that Waqf requires one to strive and struggle to reach that point where they can sincerely claim that their life, their death, their sacrifices and their prayers are all for the sake of Allah the Almighty.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“You should understand that even though you are living in a Western society, you must live your lives in an Islamic way seeking to attain the pleasure of Allah the Almighty. You must resolutely keep hold of your religious values and traditions. You must bring about those pious changes in your life that will enable you to fulfil the rights of Allah the Almighty and His Creation. You must always seek to improve and better yourself and to raise your spiritual and moral standards and increase your knowledge.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad directed the Waqf-e-Nau to keep the great personal example of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) firmly within sight at all times.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“During his life, the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) devoted his every day and every night for the sake of Islam. Till his final breath, every moment of the Promised Messiah’s (peace be upon him) life was spent in fulfilling his divine mission to revive and spread the true teachings of Islam throughout the world.”
Stating that it was the task of Waqf-e-Nau to follow in the blessed footsteps of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“I have no doubt that if the members of Waqf-e-Nau are able to collectively follow his example even to a very small degree they will be able to bring about a spiritual and moral revolution in the world.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad highlighted Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) as a role model for the Waqf-e-Nau to emulate.
Referring to chapter 53, verse 38 of the Holy Quran, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“This verse means that the Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) fulfilled the pledge he made to God Almighty with complete obedience and loyalty and, as a result, was the recipient of the love of His Creator. Now it is up to all of you to fulfil the sacred covenant you have made with Allah the Almighty. To do so is not an easy or simple thing. The pledge of a life devotee and of a Waqf-e-Nau is a vast and everlasting undertaking. It is to give away your life for the sake of your faith.”
Explaining how Waqf-e-Nau families should endeavour to achieve and act by the true spirit of Waqf, rather than being proud over mere titles, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“As I have said many times, just holding the title of Waqf-e-Nau is meaningless. It becomes meaningful when a member of Waqf-e-Nau understands the demands of their pledge and faithfully strives to fulfil it to the best of their abilities.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad continued:
“Therefore, if someone informs me that he, his wife and children are all Waqf-e-Nau they should realise that this alone means nothing until and unless they solemnly strive to reach the high standards of obedience required by the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him).”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad listed many attributes that should be displayed in the character of a Waqf-e-Nauincluding the display of good manners, remaining humble and the showing of care and love to near ones.
Placing particular importance on maintaining a high standard of worship, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“You must be diligent in offering Salat in congregation and you should recite the Holy Quran every day. Only then can you call yourself a true Waqf-e-Nau. Alongside the obligatory prayers, the older Waqf-e-Nau boys should offer Nafl (voluntary) prayers regularly. Only then can you call yourself a true Waqf-e-Nau.”
Concluding his address, His Holiness prayed:
“May Allah the Almighty enable all of you to understand your duties and responsibilities and to fulfil the demands of Waqf in the very best way. May Allah the Almighty enable you to continue to increase your knowledge and understanding of your faith.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad prayed:
“May He grant you the capability to elevate your moral and spiritual standards and may He enable you to continually increase your service to the Jamaat and to fulfil your pledge with true sincerity. Ameen.”
On 06 April 2019, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad addressed the concluding session of the UK National Waqfat-e-Nau Ijtema(gathering), an event held for female members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the UK who have pledged their lives for the peaceful service of Islam.
The event took place at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in London and was attended by more than 1100 women and girls.
In his address, His Holiness explained that in today’s society, attacks against Islam, through false allegations and criticisms, were extremely prevalent. In light of this, His Holiness reminded Ahmadi Muslim women in attendance that they must never feel any embarrassment or inferiority complex regarding their faith. He urged them to stand up with certainty and conviction to respond to those who seek to defame Islam.
His Holiness also directed Ahmadi Muslim women to set the highest standards in practicing the teachings of Islam, so that its values remain firmly instilled in future generations. He warned those Ahmadis who do not remain attached to their faith that their own lives will be squandered and their future generations will be lost to the materialistic world.
His Holiness began his address by reminding those in attendance that, although they have grown up in Western society, they are distinct from their counterparts because their parents, prior to their birth, dedicated their future lives for the sake of their faith. As such, they must constantly strive to learn and act upon the teachings of Islam.
Speaking about the importance of the five daily prayers, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“You must offer Salat sincerely and in a state of complete submission to Allah the Almighty and not in a hurried way just so you can claim to have fulfilled your obligation… Certainly, the foremost aspiration of any member of Waqf-e-Nau, indeed of any true Muslim, and of any person who has pledged their life to the service of Islam, should be to attain the nearness of Allah the Almighty.”
His Holiness proceeded to explain that the Holy Qur’an contains universal, comprehensive, and relevant teachings which provide the answer to every charge or accusation made against Islam. As such, Ahmadi Muslim women must read and understand the perfect teachings that Allah the Almighty has bestowed upon us in the blessed shape of the Holy Quran.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Just as the Holy Quran was relevant and worthy of practice 1400 years ago, it remains the same today. Therefore, all Waqfat-e-Nau must entirely eliminate from their minds the belief that Islam is an ‘old-fashioned’ religion or somehow backward. Instead of being a religion of the past, it is a religion of today and tomorrow and will remain until the end of time, Insha’Allah.”
His Holiness directed members of the Waqf-e-Nau scheme to read the books of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) in order to understand the Holy Qur’an’s meanings and to defend Islam.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“In this era, it is only by reading the books of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) and his Khulafa (successors) that we can truly comprehend our faith and respond to those who level false allegations against Islam… You must make it a habit to set aside time every day to read the books or writings of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) as they will furnish you with the necessary means to defend your religion.”
His Holiness said that Ahmadi Muslim girls should remain proud of their faith and never fall prey to the belief that Islam was not relevant or in touch with modern society.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Never entertain the thought that your religion is somehow backward or out of touch with the modern world. Conversely, the more you take pride in your religion and the more you live your lives according to the teachings of Islam, the more others will respect you and this is how your honour and dignity will be established in the world.”
His Holiness advised Ahmadi Muslim women to take pride in their faith and never hold “any form of inferiority complex” about their faith.
Encouraging the young Ahmadi Muslim women to stand firm and confident in their faith, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“There is no Islamic teaching that should cause any complex or apprehension to emerge in your minds. Never worry for a second that others might taunt you or consider you to be a laughing stock because of your religious beliefs. If they mock, let them!”
His Holiness noted that some young Ahmadi Muslims, particularly teenagers
“feel humiliated and rejected”
due to the ridicule they witness of their religious beliefs in the wider society.
Guiding the youth to keep their
“head held high”
in such circumstances, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“If you are ever mocked for acting upon your religion you should never take it as a personal humiliation, rather you should consider it to be a badge of honour and feel pride in the knowledge that you have stayed strong in your faith in the face of adversity. Showing patience and keeping your head held high in such circumstances is the true means of establishing your honour and self-respect in the world.”
Analysing the state of Western society, His Holiness highlighted that most people have lost their true religious identity and of those who still identify as Christians, many are not following its teachings.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“In the name of so-called ‘freedom’, today’s society considers itself to be extremely advanced and progressive and believe they have reached the height of civilisation. Yet, in reality, as society has moved away from religion, moral standards have declined in parallel. In terms of morality and virtue, instead of advancing, modern societies are suffering from deep decay. By separating from God Almighty, humanity is rapidly moving away from basic standards of common decency.”
As an example of the moral decay associated with a separation from God, His Holiness pointed towards the breakdown of the family system.
His Holiness said it has become normalised for children to disrespect their parents, all in the name of ‘freedom’ and ‘independence’, thus threatening the family unit.
Increasingly, His Holiness said, children are being taken into care homes or local authorities and police are being called to resolve domestic issues.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Is it a measure of success if more children are being taken into social care or if the authorities are being required to act? Is this progress? Is this development? Is this the great achievement of our time? Now, belatedly, society is starting to understand the harmful consequences of absolute freedom.”
Speaking about the importance of maintaining a peaceful family unit, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Always remember that the peace of society is directly connected to the peace within families within that society. Peace in the home is based on good morals and mutual respect between a husband and his wife and between the parents and their children.”
His Holiness reminded the members of Waqf-e Nau that they must manifest high morals at all times and fulfil the rights of their parents and other family members and seek to make their home a
“mirror reflection of Islam’s teachings.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad also reminded the parents of Waqf-e-Nau children about their responsibilities and said:
“I also wish to remind the parents of Waqf-e-Nau children that they must continually reflect upon the fact that they have pledged their children for the sake of Islam and so if they do not set a pious example for their children they will have failed to discharge their duties.”
His Holiness also said that many women who are members of the Waqf-e-Nau scheme are now mothers themselves and so they must set a personal example of piety for their children to follow and learn from.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“The high status of women in Islam is such that it is only through their noble efforts that the coming generations will remain attached to their faith. Only if mothers play their crucial roles can the great values of our religion remain firmly instilled in our future generations. Otherwise, we could suffer the same fate as other religious communities, who have lost their traditions and values over time.”
His Holiness said that if mothers do not play their vital role, then Mosques too will
“become empty and hollow shells”
just as the places of worship of other faiths. However, His Holiness said that this will not be the case with the Mosques of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community because it is the Promise of Allah the Almighty that Islam will remain a living religion and it is for this purpose that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was established by the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), to revive the true peaceful message of Islam.
His Holiness emphasised the need for members of Waqf-e-Nau to hold true to Islamic principles in the best manner and said:
“Always remember that, for both believing men and believing women, it is necessary to keep righteousness at the forefront of your mind, which means to strive towards attaining every form of goodness and virtue. Thus, endeavour to be the most truthful, the most hard-working and most faithful servants of Islam. Consider it your lifelong duty to spread the true message of Islam.”
Concluding his address, His Holiness prayed and said:
“May you nurture the generation that lies in your laps in a way that ensures that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s spiritual, moral and intellectual standards continue to rise and that no Ahmadi Muslim child moves away from the teachings of Islam and wastes their life.”
The event concluded with a silent prayer led by His Holiness.
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International Website: www.alislam.org
