Waqifeen-e-nau and waqifaat-e-nau in Finland were blessed with the opportunity to meet Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, in a virtual mulaqat on 18 December 2021.
The formal proceedings of the meeting started with a recitation from the Holy Quran by Muhammad Shahzad Anwar Sahib; the Urdu translation was presented by Jaree Ullah Janbah Sahib.
Usharib Hamdoon Sahib read out a hadith. Once he had finished, Huzooraa asked where he originally came from in Pakistan, to which he said he was from Lahore. Huzooraa asked how long he had been in Finland and what he did. Usharib Sahib said he came about 10 years ago and was studying in year seven.
An extract from the writings of the Promised Messiahas was then read out by Faiza Munir Sahiba. A nazm, written by the Promised Messiahas, was read by Duriya Munawira Sahiba.
A video was shown to Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa by the Waqf-e-Nau department in Finland that highlighted past ijtemas and activities of Waqf-e-Nau Finland. After watching the video, Huzooraa remarked, “Masha-Allah”.
Secretary Waqf-e-Nau Finland then sought Huzoor’s permission for the waqifeen-e-nau to ask questions.
Safir Ahmad Qureshi, a young waqif-e-nau, asked how we could know Allah was pleased with us. Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa replied:
“If you follow what Allah has instructed, then Allah will remain pleased. […] And if you don’t listen to what Allah says; rather, you follow what Satan says, then Allah will be displeased.”
Huzooraa told the young Safir that good works included things like offering Salat, reading the Holy Quran, respecting elders, showing good morals, not fighting, working hard in studies, acquiring religious knowledge etc. – if one carried out such deeds, then Allah would be pleased. If someone did not do such good deeds, then it meant they were following what Satan was saying, and in return, Allah would be displeased with them.
Hearing Huzoor’s answer, with a smile, Safir said “Jazakallah Huzoor”, to which Huzooraa lovingly smiled back and told him to take a seat.
Another young waqif-e-nau, Syed Muneeb Ahmad asked a question in which he quoted the Holy Quran, where Allah said He was “the Lord of all the worlds [alameen]”. Muneeb asked Huzooraa what other “alameen” existed.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said different “alameen” existed on earth too – for example, Finland and the United Kingdom were two countries – or “alameen” – on earth.
“There are lots of countries like this in this world. Then, there are different planets in this universe – there is the Sun, the Moon, stars, Mars, Jupiter – celestial bodies are created by Allah and by His command, they are orbiting the universe.
“In the same way, there are scores of universes, many millions more universes which we have not even been able to reach and we don’t know about them – but we do know there are other [universes]. The Lord of them all is Allah.
“But even if we look at our world – the Earth and the Moon, stars, etc. – we can understand how big it is. We believe Earth is huge; however, if you look at the map of the universe, then it’s just a spec, like the point of a needle and one cannot see where our Earth is […]
“Therefore the creation of Allah is vast, there are lots of worlds, planets, stars etc. and their Creator is Allah the Almighty and He sustains them properly. If there was even the slightest disturbance in how they functioned; for example, if there is the slightest change in the speed of the Sun, Moon or Earth’s rotations, they would crash into each other and that would be the destruction of humanity where everything would end. Therefore, Allah sustains all of this and this is what is meant by ‘I am the Lord’; ‘I have created everything and I am its Sustainer’.”
Abdul Shafe, a young waqif-e-nau asked whether it was permissible to give sweets to other children who went around knocking on doors and asking for them during Halloween. Huzooraa said:
“Yes, you can give them sweets; however, don’t ruin your own faces and create scary-looking appearances and go out asking for sweets yourselves. If someone comes to your house asking [for sweets], give it to them. Someone who comes asking [to be given something] should not be turned away empty-handed.
“Give them [sweets]; otherwise, they will use abusive language towards you. That is why it is better to keep some sweets and chocolates at home and when they arrive, put them in their bags and boxes. There is no harm in this.”
Arifeen Ahmad Sahib, a young waqif-e-nau said to Huzooraa that at times, during Jamaat events, when the youngsters addressed the elders as “aunty” or “uncle”, some elders took offence. Arifeen asked Huzooraa how the youngsters could address the elders without them taking offence.
Hearing the question, Huzooraa said:
“Say to them, ‘We called you “aunty” or “uncle” out of respect. If you don’t like respect, then we are to show respect in any case, tell us yourself how we are to address you respectfully. Should we say “baji”, “apa” – what should we say? Or should we say “sahiba”, “Ghulam Muhammad Sahib”, “Firdaus Sahib”, “Imtiaz Sahib”, or “Munawira Sahiba”, “Faiza Sahiba”, “Munira Sahiba”? How should we address you?’”
Huzooraacontinued:
“So ask them, only they can tell you, what can I say? If you call them ‘aunty’ or ‘uncle’ as they are elders, then you say it in respect don’t you, it’s good what you say, right? If they are offended, then ask them what can be said to make it better.”
Ayaz Ahmad asked what advice Huzooraa would give to those waqifeen-e-nau who left their studies and got busy at work or did not tell the Jamaat about their situation and continued to live their lives.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said that in principle, parents who included their children in the Waqf-e-Nau scheme should tell them from a young age that when they reach the age of 15, they are to inform the Jamaat themselves to renew their bond and tell the Jamaat about their studies and plans etc. Then, once they complete their education in university at the age of 21-23, they are to inform the Jamaat about the completion of their studies and its details and ask the Jamaat what they should do next.
“In principle, this is a promise which is a bond that the parents made with the Jamaat regarding their child. It is an oath and needs to be honoured […] after that, the children are to fulfil it. And if the children do not wish to work – they don’t want to serve the Jamaat through waqf – they should clearly write that ‘our parents put us in waqf; however, our situation is such that we do not wish this.”
Huzooraa said that in principle and keeping in mind honesty, a waqif-e-nau, after completing their studies, should inform the markaz about their situation and ask if the markaz would permit them to pursue work or required other services within the Jamaat. Huzooraa said, “To most people, the markaz permits them to continue working.”
In reference to the waqifeen-e-nau who left their studies, Huzooraa said:
“And those who leave studies, they are uneducated. They should leave waqf themselves and inform [the markaz] that ‘we have not studied anything, tell us what to do’. We need educated people in Waqf-e-Nau, not uneducated ones.”
Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa emphasised that members of Waqf-e-Nau should be told that honesty was in renewing their bond when they reached the age of 15 and to renew it once again at the age of 21, and then to then stand by it.
Waleed Ahmad asked Huzooraa if he thought a cure to cancer would ever be found as a lot of research was being carried out to find a cure.
Huzooraa said nothing was cured one hundred percent of the time; for example, malaria, fevers and typhoid had not always been cured. Allah the Almighty gave humans intellect and understanding and He instructed humanity to use treatments for ailments as it was through Allah that we were given the understanding and intellect to find cures, medicine and treatments through research. As such, today, there were “promising results” for cures to some cancers that were working, Huzooraa said, while there was ongoing research on other treatments for cancers.
“Allah continues to give humans knowledge and understanding and they continue doing research. And the door to research is open and will never close. Some different illnesses and cancers surface – now Covid is a new illness that has emerged; who knew four years ago that this virus would emerge. Even two, three years ago, they did not know. There was research conducted against this [virus] and after a year, treatment began emerging. First, the vaccine came out and now they say they have made some tablets too from which they can treat it. Thus, this research will continue.”
Huzooraa said research continued as long as Allah allowed it.
At this point, Huzooraa commented, “Are the boys going to continue asking questions, or will the girls ask questions too?”
Farhan Ahmad spoke next. He said that in today’s day and age, some people had taken up bodybuilding and exercise – while also taking supplements – to look good physically rather than to improve their health. Farhan asked Huzooraa if this was permissible.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said:
“If someone wants to look good, then how can I stop them? If they do this, there’s a double benefit; health improves and the body gets fitness too – both things are achieved. As long as the intention is pure, that ‘we are going to improve our health, and we will improve our health so we can fulfil our dues owed to Allah the Almighty.’”
Huzooraa said Ahmadis should improve their health with the intention of serving the Jamaat, fulfilling the rights of worship and the rights of other people.
“Along with improving health, through exercise, the body will look good automatically. Therefore, the intention should be pure – Islam says that your intention should be pure.”
Giving an example of having the right intention, Huzooraa said the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be on him, once asked someone why they had a window in their room. The person replied that it was there for light to enter. To this, the Holy Prophetsa said that if the person’s intention for the window was to hear the azan, then he would have been rewarded for that intention and received daylight anyway.
Regarding those who wished to get fit and healthy, Huzooraa said:
“The intention should be pure. Apart from this, we cannot stop someone [and say] ‘Why do you wish to make your body smart?’ Let them do it. What difference does it make to you? If you want to do it, then do it with the intention that ‘my health improves, and with health, I can fulfil the rights of Allah and the rights of His creation. And, as a result, my body will look good anyway.”
Farhan Ahmad Tahir Sahib said some waqifeen-e-nau who came to Western countries and had temporary visas or work visas had to work. Farhan Sahib asked Huzooraa how such waqifeen could serve the Jamaat as they were required to work due to their visa status. Huzooraa said:
“Those who work, don’t work for 24 hours. They have some time spare, right? They get the weekend – in these countries, there are two days off.”
Huzooraa said that if such waqifeen-e-nau worked overtime on weekends just to earn money, there was no benefit – they should give “at least one day to the Jamaat”.
Huzooraa highlighted that the Ahmadis who came to Western countries – whether for studies or on asylum – had done so because “there was no freedom of religion” in Pakistan. Therefore, Huzooraa said:
“So the faith in whose name you came here, fulfil its rights too. Out of the seven days in a week, at least give one day to it. This is the requirement of honesty and good morals.”
Sabiullah Janbah Sahib said that some people said they would “always say things how they are”, whether others liked it or not. Such people would also say extremely hurtful things to the faces of others in the name of saying things how they are. Sabiullah Sahib asked Huzooraa if this was the correct manner to act.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said that “to say things how they are” was no great quality. Giving the example of an ignorant man who would object to the clothes of Hazrat Umarra, Huzooraa said that such a person wasn’t remembered as a “great companion”; rather, the person who did this was remembered as ignorant and imprudent. It was Hazrat Umar’s great forbearance that he tolerated such actions.
Huzooraa also gave the example of the person who strangled the Holy Prophetsa by wrapping a cloth around his neck – his actions were not intelligent in the slightest. However, the Holy Prophetsa showed forbearance “because it was an act of ignorance and one should tolerate what ignorant people say and do”, Huzooraa said.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said that as far as such ignorant people were concerned:
“They don’t even have the intellect to speak in a dignified manner – to speak to a respectable person with due regard, responding to them with respect and trying to understand what they are saying.”
Huzooraa said if someone was trying to advise and guide another, they should do so with pure intentions and when it would actually have a positive effect, as opposed to causing a reaction in the other person.
Huzooraa said some elders scolded, criticised and told youngsters off in public which had negative effects on those youth. At times, if such an attitude was shown by an office-bearer then the person being singled out would sometimes even cease coming to the mosque. Huzooraa said an attitude where someone publicly and openly criticised and told others off etc. was “ignorance”.
Generally, people explained matters to their children in private – apart from some who told their children off in public too – however, when it came to other children, they publicly told them off. Huzooraa said one should explain matters to others like they would to their children.
Huzooraa said elders should show respect to youngsters when trying to advise them, and when youngsters wanted to address elders they should show the due respect that elder deserves, “not that they, like the ignorant, utter mere nonsense and whatever comes to mind, and do not even listen to the other.”
“This is why I say, the Holy Prophetsa said that good morals are extremely necessary. […] One should meet others with respect and should speak with good manners, not to utter – like the ignorant – whatever comes to one’s mind.”
The Lajna waqifaat-e-nau then asked questions.
A young waqifa-e-nau, Manha Ahmad asked what storybooks Huzooraa would read as a child. Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said he read various magazines, including Bachon ki Dunya – a magazine with good short stories in Urdu – and other Jamaat magazines like Tasheez-ul-Azhan and Atfal magazines. Huzooraa said when he was young, there were a lot of stories about kings and princes in literature, which he also read.
Nida-ur-Rahman introduced herself and said she was the granddaughter of Sheikh Muhammad Yunus Sahib. Hearing this, Huzooraa said, “Is that so? You have grown!”
Nida-ur-Rahman said that as Muslim girls, the culture of their friends at school in Finland was vastly different. She asked Huzooraa as to what extent Ahmadi Muslim girls could befriend girls at their schools.
Huzooraa said:
“In school, you are all in one uniform – so with regard to clothing, everyone is almost the same.
“Apart from this, they have no interest in religion. So you should tell them, ‘I am an Ahmadi Muslim’ [and tell them] what Ahmadi Muslims are. Meet everyone with good manners, befriend them, have good morals and, as a result, they will ask more about you. And if they desire to meet you at your home, they can do so. You are not to go to other people’s houses, or stay overnight there. There should be no overnight stay in someone’s house, neither for boys nor girls. However, if they invite you after, then go for one or two hours, but be careful there, that you have to show good morals, you have to always show the morals of an Ahmadi.
“If, while you are there, Namaz time arrives, then say, ‘my Namaz time has arrived, tell me the place where I can offer my prayer’. This will have a good effect on them.”
Huzooraa said children should talk about positive and good things like education with their friends.
“Everyone has their own culture; however, in this manner, we will increase our relations, draw them closer and will show them our good morals. As a result, they will get closer and ponder over Ahmadiyyat, speak about it and in this way, avenues for tabligh will open up.”
Huzooraa said some Ahmadi children began doing tabligh in this way from a young age to their friends. And at times, boys or girls at the age of 15-16 would become Ahmadi Muslims due to listening to their Ahmadi friends.
A waqifa-e-nau said that while preaching Islam to others, people in Finland would, at times, say, “Go and tell these things to Muslim countries. We live in peace here”. To this, Huzooraa said:
“What they say is true. Say to them, ‘What you say is completely true and this is what we should do. However, the difficulty is that when we speak about peace, [say] we are Ahmadis and have accepted that person who was to come and spread peace, according to the prophecies of the Holy Prophetsa, and these people [Muslim countries] oppose us too, that is why as far as our efforts are concerned, we tell this to them [Muslim countries] too. However, we are only speaking to you so that if you have any doubts about Islam in your mind – that Islam is not a peaceful religion – they are removed. We are not saying this to convince you to accept Islam. To accept Islam – to change one’s religion – is a matter related to each person’s own heart.’”
Huzooraa said:
“If you have good morals, they will automatically come closer to you.”
Huzooraa said such people should be told that they were informed about true Islamic teachings so that any misconceptions about Islam being a religion of violence etc. were removed. They were not being preached to so that they certainly convert to Islam. Such an idea of conversion to Islam should never be forced on others.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said that through discussions, friendship and observing the good examples of Ahmadis, those people who Allah wanted would get closer to Islam Ahmadiyyat themselves. Nothing should be forced. And if someone said that “Islam is a peaceful religion, therefore, accept it”, the other non-Muslims would reply by saying, “Go and take care of yourselves first, why are you preaching to me”.
Ayesha Mehmood Sahiba asked what physical activities young waqifaat-e-nau should participate in that would not hinder their religious development and their passion to serve Islam.
Huzooraa said children should not be lectured on complex things about religion. They should be attracted to something and according to their interests, such activities should be held for them in which, through play, children are taught aspects like the importance of telling the truth. Another way was that if they were told stories, the stories should portray the importance of truth and that the truthful gain success and Allah’s love, etc.
Huzooraa said small children’s books should be published as children enjoyed reading stories. MTA programmes for children should also be shown to them. In this way, the children would stay close to the Jamaat and when they got older, they would begin to focus on religious matters more so.
Sidra Shaukat Sahiba asked whether it was enough for a waqifa-e-nau to serve as an office-bearer or were they to formally serve the Jamaat as a waqf.
Huzooraa said if a Lajna member presented themselves in the capacity of a waqf and served the Jamaat as a formal employee, then such Lajna members should also serve in Lajna Imaillah in their free time. On the other hand, if a Lajna member was not employed by the Jamaat formally, they should, as a Lajna member, give as much time as they could to Lajna Imaillah.
“This is their waqf, this is their service”, Huzooraa said
Durdana Tooba Sahiba said that whenever she spoke about the existence and need for God with her friends at college, they would say they were comfortable in their lives, lived in a peaceful country and had everything they needed and so asked what they would gain from accepting and following God.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said:
“Say to them, ‘This world will finish, humans will leave this place. The concept of Islam is that there is another life after this. If we accept Allah and fulfil His rights, He will be pleased and we will be rewarded after death as well.
“This world is temporary. There’s an everlasting world after this. Therefore if you believe in Allah, then Allah grants reward in the everlasting world that is to come after death.’”
Huzooraa said such people should be told that Allah the Almighty, in this very world, also showed special favours to those who believed in Him, fulfilled His rights and worshipped Him. The Hereafter needed to be emphasised in such discussions.
Talking about modern-day comforts and immorality, Huzooraa said that people did have material comforts in the West; however, many ills and immorality had developed within society too. Even atheists have accepted that the moral progress of civilisation and basic morals are rooted in religion and brought about by prophets. These prophets said they came from Allah, therefore if they told the truth about one thing and created a moral revolution in the world, it meant the rest of what they said was true too. So, for this reason, we should accept Allah and worship Him as well, Huzooraa noted.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said this was the purpose of the Promised Messiahas – to take humanity back to God, establish good morals that had been lost, uphold each other’s rights and create love and harmony in the world. Following such teachings would bring reward in this world and the hereafter.
“This is why we believe in God”, Huzooraa said.
The final question was by Sara Sadaf Umair Sahiba who said her father attended university with Huzooraa. Sara Sahiba asked Huzooraa if he could narrate any incident from his university days. Huzooraa said she had probably heard incidents from her father and they should suffice. Huzooraa continued:
“When the 1974 [anti-Ahmadiyya] riots took place, they burnt our belongings. They threw out the belongings from our room and burnt them outside. When we went, they did not allow us to come to university and they grabbed hold of one or two of our [Ahmadi] students and beat them. As a result, one term of our university was wasted due to this. These cruelties would take place.
“Apart from that, we lived together – Ahmadis boys – and it was a very good atmosphere. We would offer Namaz together and we lived together as friends.
“You can listen to the rest of the incidents from your father, he will narrate them to you.”
(Report prepared by Al Hakam)
