Towards the end of last week’s Friday Sermon on 12 April, Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa indicated to the global Jamaat that he would soon move to what would become the new Markaz of the Jamaat – Islamabad, Surrey.
Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa made this move, a historic moment in the history of Islam, in the evening of Monday, 15 April from London to the new Jamaat Markaz (headquarters) in Tilford, Surrey, to the land that is fittingly named Islamabad.
Immediately after leading the Asr prayer at Fazl Mosque, London, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa departed London and took the A3 southbound, headed towards Islamabad.
A large number of Londoners were present to see off their beloved Imamaa, whom they had become accustomed to seeing in the Fazl Mosque five times a day at every prayer for almost 16 years. Including the tenure of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh, the Fazl Mosque served as the residence for Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya for almost 35 years.
The crowds of people who had gathered at the Fazl Mosque sang choral poems to see off their beloved Imamaa.
Huzoor’saa entourage arrived at Islamabad, Surrey at approximately 6:55pm where a large number of residents of Islamabad, those belonging to neighbouring Jamaats and many more joyfully welcomed Huzooraa.
After arriving at Islamabad, Huzooraa waved and said Salaam to the rejoicing crowds. The atmosphere echoed with the prayer:
رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ السَّمِيْعُ الْعَلِيْم
(Our Lord, accept this from us, for Thou art surely the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing) and choral poems (taranas) that children sang in praise of Allah to add colour to the very historic moment in the history of the Jamaat and Islam.
This day was reminiscent of the great hijrats (migrations) that have taken place in the history of Islam. When progress and prosperity is manifested through the expansion of Allah’s Jamaat and migration is destined to happen, then Allah provides facilities to contain and uphold the divine bounties bestowed by Allah on His Jamaat.
We are fortunate to be living in the time of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, through whom we have witnessed another milestone, among many, in the growth of Islam Ahmadiyyat.
We know from history that every hijrat has opened up avenues for the propagation of Islam and we know with full conviction that his hijrat will lead the Jamaat towards success that is otherwise unattainable by mere human power – Insha-Allah.
Central offices – including Huzoor’saa private secretariat, Wakalat-e-Tabshir, Wakalat-e-Mal, Wakalat-e-Tamil-o-Tanfidh (India, Nepal and Bhutan) – have also moved to Islamabad as part of the Markaz’s shift.
As Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa mentioned in his latest Friday Sermon, the residential colony is being inhabited by Waqifeen-e-Zindagi, most of whom will be working in the local offices.
In a period of just around two years, we have seen a great transformation of what was once a make-shift residential facility into state-of-the-art offices and residential complex.
Earlier in the week, in his Friday Sermon, Huzooraa mentioned the revelation vouchsafed to the Promised Messiahas by Allah the Almighty:
وَسِّعْ مَكَانَكَ
“Enlarge your abode.” Huzooraa said that Allah intended that the Promised Messiahas extend his facilities so as to house the growing needs of the Jamaat that he had founded under Divine instruction.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said that with the passage of time, we have witnessed how Allah has blessed the Jamaat with immense expansion and growth. The revelation actually pointed to the glory and prosperity that was destined to come to Islam through the Promised Messiahas and extension in all facilities would be required. We witness this promise of Allah being manifested globally.
Huzooraa stated that ever since the migration of Khilafat to England in 1984, the expansion of the Jamaat had resulted in extension of buildings and facilities.
When Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh migrated to London, Allah showed His support by granting the Jamaat, alongside many other blessings, the land of Islamabad in Tilford, Surrey. This soon turned into a colony of houses, offices and a residential facility for the Khalifatul Masih.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa recalled how Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh had mentioned to him that Islamabad was a great blessing of Allah and that he had expressed his desire to establish the headquarters of the Jamaat in Islamabad.
Huzooraa stated that by the grace of Allah, the Jamaat had now been able to develop offices, a residential colony for Waqifeen and a residence for Khalifatul Masih.
After the migration of Khilafat to London, Markaz offices had been housed in residential properties around the Fazl Mosque. This frequently called for the local residents and council complaining about the residential properties being used for official purposes.
Now, with the new complex in Islamabad, Huzooraa said that some Markazi offices on Gressenhall Road would move to the new facility. The Markaz also purchased an office complex in Farnham a few years earlier and then Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya UK secured a building nearby.
Hadiqatul Mahdi, the UK Jalsa Gah, has been near Alton since 2006 – also a short distance from Islamabad. Jamia Ahmadiyya UK that was initially based in London was moved to Haslemere, Surrey to a much vast and better building in 2012. All these facilities to be in close proximity of Islamabad was not intentionally planned. Huzooraa said that it seems to be Allah’s plan that all these facilities were being established in a couple of miles radius of Islamabad – the new Markaz.
Huzooraa instructed the Jamaat to pray that Allah blessed the new setup.
Huzooraa stated that since Khalifatul Masih’s office and residence too have been established in Islamabad, Huzooraa would soon be moving from London to Islamabad.
Huzooraa urged the Jamaat to pray that Islamabad, in line with its name, becomes a centre of resonating the message of Islam to the world.
Huzooraa said that although he would lead the Jumuah prayers in Baitul Futuh, London, there would be facility for the Jamaats within a 20-mile radius of Tilford to attend the Jumuah in the newly built mosque at Islamabad.
Huzooraa instructed that those travelling to Islamabad should bear in mind that local residents and authorities should be given no reason to complain about traffic and any other related issues.
We pray to Allah that He makes this new Markaz a beacon of light for all mankind and that this new headquarters facilitates the Jamaat further in propagating the message of Muhammad Rasulullahsa to all corners of the earth.
