Islamabad, UK, 20 October 2024: On 20 October 2024, the national amila members of Majlis Ansarullah Belgium, along with the zu‘ama of various majalis and regional nazimeen, had the blessed opportunity to meet with Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, at Islamabad, UK.
As Huzooraa arrived, he addressed Sadr Sahib and enquired, “Is this the amila? What brings you here?”
Sadr Sahib replied, “This is the amila of Ansarullah Belgium along with the zu‘ama of various majalis as well as regional nazimeen, and we have come to seek guidance regarding our duties.”
Adherence to the Constitution and organisational guidelines
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa emphasised the importance of adhering strictly to the organisational guidelines and the Constitution (Dastur-e-Asasi). He said, “The members of the amila should work according to what is written in the Constitution. Implement the plans you formulate, cultivate humility, work with cooperation and righteousness. Collaborate with the Jamaat’s system, and show love and affection among yourselves. This is what should be present in an Ahmadi, and this is also why Majlis Ansarullah was established.”
Responsibilities of Ansarullah and self-reflection
Huzooraa reminded them of his recent address at the Ansarullah UK ijtema, stating, “You raise the slogan of ‘نَحْنُ أَنْصَارُ اللَّهِ’ (We are the helpers of Allah), so then demonstrate being helpers. This is what is required of the ansar.” He urged them to reflect on their roles, noting, “You have reached such a [mature] age; you are not children whom we have to hold by the finger and lead.”
Huzooraa further illustrated his point with a saying: “There is a saying, isn’t there, that you can awaken someone who is asleep, but who can awaken someone who is already awake—meaning someone whose eyes are already open but is being obstinate—you cannot awaken him. So, do not be obstinate.” He encouraged self-reflection, adding, “If you are truly asleep, then you can be stirred. For that, there are guidelines: in the latest Ansarullah UK’s ijtema, I gave a speech—you have listened to it—so that is your plan of action. What more is there to say? I explain to children, but what can I explain to the elders? Their beards have turned grey; they should think for themselves.”
Studying Jamaat literature and the roles of Tarbiyat and Ta‘lim departments
Following this, Qaid Sahib Ta‘lim asked how to cultivate interest among the ansar in studying Jamaat literature.
Huzooraa advised, “If they are not interested, first create interest among them. The Tarbiyat Department should first instil in them the spirit that although they have come to Belgium, or other Western countries, to earn a living, earning worldly wealth should not be their sole objective.”
He elaborated on the importance of prioritising faith over worldly pursuits: “You have pledged to give precedence to faith over worldly matters, and faith can only be given precedence when you know what faith is. And to know faith, what must you do? Alongside worshipping Allah and offering prayers—seeking His help by praying that He teaches us faith—all this is necessary. Acquiring knowledge of faith is also essential. The Holy Quran is the fundamental source for this. Therefore, reading the Holy Quran and its translation is necessary. Then there are the books of the Promised Messiahas, which are explanations of it.”
Huzooraa suggested a collaborative approach between the departments: “So, the Tarbiyat Department should inform people, and you [the Ta‘lim Department], when you observe them, should tell the ansar to read and give preference to this because this is what should be given precedence; we pledge this, and we should fulfil our pledges.”
He reiterated the earlier metaphor, stating, “I have already said that you can awaken those who are asleep, but who can awaken those who are already awake? At an old age, they are already awake; many, due to illness, sleep less, or if they sleep, they sleep a lot. So, awaken those who are asleep; tell them what faith is, with love, setting your own examples.”
Leading by example
Emphasising the importance of leading by example, Huzooraa said, “The first thing is that your amila members—your national amila members, the local majalis’ amila members—and all those who are involved, if they collectively reform themselves and pay attention to learning faith […] then change will occur. Fifty per cent of your people will be covered in this way.”
He urged self-assessment before guiding others: “Those who are members of your amila, in any capacity—deputies or serving in any way—if they develop this attention, then instead of looking at others, set your own examples.” He added that national and local amilas, presidents, and zu‘ama should all set exemplary standards, ensuring, “In this way, everything will be fine.”
Huzooraa cautioned against focusing on others without self-improvement: “Do not just chase after people who have nothing. First, look at your own reformation: how many members within your amila are practising? They may think they have become exempt, that they have a lot of knowledge of faith.” However, many do not fulfil their basic obligations, Huzooraa said. Quoting the Holy Quran, he reminded them:
لِمَ تَقُوۡلُوۡنَ مَا لَا تَفۡعَلُوۡنَ
“‘Why do you say what you do not do?’ (Surah as-Saff, Ch.61:V.3). So, first, reform those [amila members] who are sitting here; the rest will be reformed.”
Highlighting the importance of mutual support, Huzooraa cited another Quranic verse:
تَعَاوَنُوۡا عَلَی الۡبِرِّ وَالتَّقۡوٰی
“‘And help one another in righteousness and piety’ (Surah al-Ma’idah, Ch.5:V.3). Strive to advance in righteousness and piety. Instil this spirit in the Jamaat that we have to cooperate. If this develops, then everything else will follow automatically.”
He assured them that with this spirit, all departments would become active and effective: “The Tarbiyat Department will become active, then the Ta‘lim Department will also become active, the Maal Department will also become active, the Umur-e-Ammah Department will not face difficulties, and in the field of preaching, you will find ease because people will have enthusiasm themselves. Until someone has enthusiasm, you cannot force anyone to work. So, it is necessary to create that enthusiasm. If you create that enthusiasm, then everything is fine.”
Creating a friendly environment and handling differences
Addressing the need for personalised approaches, Huzooraa noted, “Now, each person’s temperament is different; you will have to consider each according to their temperament. It’s not that you make one programme and handle all the ansar with the same stick; that will not work.”
He explained the rationale behind creating the saff-e-dawm category for ansar aged between 40 and 55 years: “Make separate programmes for them; tell them—their minds are still fresh; their memory is somewhat better. Some go over 60 years; their memories become weak, so you have to make different programmes for them, remind them accordingly.”
He emphasised the importance of kindness and a friendly environment: “You have to treat everyone differently; speak to each with kindness and love, not harshness. Create a friendly environment; live together in such a way as a society does.”
Huzooraa cautioned against authoritarian attitudes and highlighted the value of healthy differences of opinion, stating, “Recently, even in a sermon, I mentioned […] that regarding difference of opinion, the Holy Prophetsa said that it is a good thing; it is a sign of progress. [Tadrib ar-Rawi fi Sharh Taqrib an-Nawawi, Vol. 2, 1996, Dar Al Kotob Al Ilmiyah, Beirut, p. 103)] There should be a difference of opinion. But one should not make difference of opinion a matter of personal ego.”
He advised office-bearers to handle disagreements constructively: “If the other person understands, try to reform them. Those with whom there is a difference—the office-bearers, Sadr Sahib, others, qaideen, nazimeen, zu‘ama—should explain to people. Explain with love. If there is a difference of opinion, try to convince them, and if the other’s argument is good, accept it without any ego.”
Huzooraa stressed the importance of open dialogue: “These things develop by sitting together and talking, by trying to solve them.”
He reminded them of their shared commitment to the Jamaat’s mission: “If someone has taken bai‘at, they may say, ‘I have not pledged allegiance to you; I have accepted the Promised Messiahas; I have pledged allegiance to the Khalifa; so who are you?’ You will have to tell them that we are part of that very system. We are your brothers. We are your well-wishers, and we have been given this responsibility from the system of Khilafat, which we want to abide by.”
Inculcating humility to achieve success
He concluded by emphasising humility and reliance on Allah’s grace: “[Inform such people,] we are not saying anything from ourselves, nor do we have any personal motive. And if we have a motive, it is only that which is the Jamaat’s plan, which is the Khalifa of the Time’s plan, his guidance, what the Promised Messiahas wants from us, what the Holy Prophetsa has taught us, what Allah the Almighty has sent us through the Holy Quran—that we become those who act upon it.”
Reiterating the need for humility among office-bearers, Huzooraa said, “If you instil this spirit among the ansar, then everything will be fine. Where you act like officers, everything will be ruined. The Sadr Sahib should also show humility, the qaideen should also show humility, the zu‘ama should also show humility. This is the solution.”
He referred to a divine revelation to the Promised Messiahas, stating, “This is the matter about which Allah the Almighty revealed to the Promised Messiahas—and I always say repeatedly everywhere—that:
تیری عاجزانہ راہیں اس کو پسند آئیں
“‘He is pleased with your humble ways.’ (Tadhkirah, Qadian, 2019, p. 961) You should also adopt those humble ways, and you will achieve success; otherwise, no matter how much you exert yourselves, [nothing will come of it].”
Huzooraa reminded them of their limitations without divine support: “You neither have that much power, nor that much knowledge, nor that much authority that you can achieve anything with your own strength. Whatever is to happen will happen with the grace of Allah.”
He urged them to pray for their members: “Therefore, to attain the grace of Allah, you should pray daily for these people. At least do one prostration daily, praying that Allah the Almighty grants us such ansar who are cooperative and are truly Ansarullah—who raise the slogan ‘Nahnu Ansarullah’.”
Concluding his advice, he remarked, “So, in answering your question, I have also spoken to the Tarbiyat Department, the Maal Department, and everyone else.”
Practical steps to encouraging ansar
Continuing the discourse, Sadr Majlis Ansarullah asked Huzooraa how to draw the attention of the ansar towards worship and prayers.
In response, Huzooraa emphasised the importance of leading by example. He advised, “Set your own examples, pray, offer nawafil, perform two prostrations especially to pray for them. Tell them the importance of salat.” He suggested practical steps, saying, “Extract verses from the Holy Quran about this, and each week circulate one verse by sending a message—everyone has WhatsApp these days—so send it through that. There are ahadith about the importance of prayer; extract them and send one each week. Send out excerpts from the Promised Messiahas, and statements of the Khulafa; find some quotes and send them.”
Huzooraa highlighted the cumulative effect of consistent reminders: “If you continue sending one like this each week, something new keeps coming, then in the 52 weeks of the year, 52 messages will go out—from the Quran, ahadith, the Promised Messiahas, and the Khulafa. When they go out, they will have an effect on someone or other.”
He quoted the Holy Quran to emphasise their role:
فَذَکِّرۡ ۟ؕ اِنَّمَاۤ اَنۡتَ مُذَکِّرٌلَسۡتَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ بِمُصَۜیۡطِرٍ
“‘Admonish, therefore, for thou art but an admonisher; Thou hast no authority to [compel] them.’ (Surah al-Ghashiyah, Ch.88:V.22-23). You are an admonisher, so keep on admonishing. You are not appointed as a guardian over them.” He encouraged them to approach others with love and compassion, stating, “Explain with love and affection. Set your own examples, pray for them, and it will be fine.”
Attaining ‘irfan-e-ilahi
Following this, Naib Sadr Sahib enquired about how divine insight, and the recognition of God i.e., ‘irfan-e-ilahi can be attained and how one can know if they have achieved it.
Huzooraa shared an instructive incident narrated by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra. He recounted, “A man came to him who considered himself a great spiritual leader (pir) and believed that he had reached the highest standard of ‘irfan-e-ilahi. He had even stopped offering prayers and other acts of worship because he thought, ‘I have become close to Allah; what need do I have to do anything further?’”
Hazrat Musleh Maudra advised the man, “‘No, continue in the worship of Allah and supplication to attain ‘irfan-e-ilahi, because His knowledge, His powers, and [the scope of] His recognition are limitless. When He is limitless, how can you say that by reaching this point you have attained everything?’”
He illustrated this with an example: “If a person is travelling on a boat and ahead appears dry land, an island, or a place where he is supposed to disembark, and he does not alight on that island, you would not call him foolish because he has reached the place he was meant to reach [but did not disembark].” However, Hazrat Musleh Maudra cautioned, “If what you perceive as land is an optical illusion, and you disembark from the boat there, and as soon as your foot touches down, water comes, and you drown, then wisdom dictates that you should keep moving until you clearly see that expansive dry land has appeared.”
Huzooraa emphasised, “Allah the Almighty’s power and [the scope of His] recognition are limitless, so stopping at a point and saying that you have attained Him does not suffice.” He advised continuous striving: “To attain ‘irfan-e-ilahi, you must keep striving continuously, keep praying, and develop a relationship with Allah the Almighty. When a relationship with Allah is established, He grants peace to the heart. A person attains contentment.”
He explained that ‘irfan-e-ilahi can be attained through various means: “Through the verses of the Holy Quran, you attain ‘irfan-e-ilahi. It is not necessary that you receive revelation to attain ‘irfan-e-ilahi. You may be reading a book of the Promised Messiahas, and you come across a point where you think, ‘Yes, I have received the answer to this.’” He continued, “Allah the Almighty creates various means. Not everyone receives revelations declaring that they have become a friend of Allah… Allah has different means, according to each person.”
Concluding this topic, Huzooraa warned against complacency: “To say, ‘I have attained ‘irfan-e-ilahi, and now I have become a great saint and have reached the pinnacle’—whoever ‘attained’ in this way should understand that he is finished; like that pir, he drowned in the water.”
Approach to tabligh among Europeans
Subsequently, a nasir mentioned that when preaching to European people, they often show little interest, listening once or twice but then disengaging. He asked what should be done in this regard.
Huzooraa reminded them of their fundamental duty to convey the message of Islam, stating, “Our duty is to convey the message. In the Holy Quran, Allah the Almighty has instructed the Holy Prophetsa to preach. (Surah al-Ma’idah, Ch.5, V.68) Providing guidance is the work of Allah the Almighty. Therefore, we should continue our efforts […].”
He quoted the Promised Messiahas:
ہر طرف آواز دینا ہے ہمارا کام آج
جس کی فِطرت نیک ہے وہ آئے گا انجام کار
“To call out in every direction is our mission today; those of righteous nature will ultimately join us.” (Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya Part 5 [English], UK, 2018, p. 184)
Huzooraa explained that only those with a pure nature come forward and that not everyone will accept the message. He recounted Satan’s challenge in the Holy Quran to Allah the Almighty: “Satan challenged that the majority of people would follow him and would not follow Adam or righteous things. Allah the Almighty did not say that they would not do so. Allah said, ‘Fine. If they do, then I will fill Hell with you and your followers.’” (Surah al-Hijr, Ch. 15, V. 29-44)
Huzooraa emphasised that such people will always exist, but that should not deter their efforts: “Our duty is to continue preaching. If someone takes interest in our preaching, then alhamdulillah. And if you have a very close friend, explain to him […] You can tell him this. If he accepts, alhamdulillah; if not, move on to someone else.”
Huzooraa advised against wasting time on those who are unresponsive: “Some people are like slippery vessels; you keep wasting time on them, thinking, ‘I must make him accept.’ You cannot make them accept.” He reiterated, “Your duty and our duty is to preach, [as the Holy Prophetsa was also told]:
بَلِّغْ مَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْكَ
“‘Convey what has been revealed to you.’ (Surah al-Ma’idah, Ch. 5, V. 68) Preaching is your duty; giving guidance is the work of Allah the Almighty.”
Importance of Huzoor’saa current Friday sermons
Another nasir requested Huzooraa to offer advice to the ansar regarding the importance of his sermons.
Huzooraa candidly asked, “Do you gain any lessons from them? Have you ever derived anything? […] Have you ever felt that you are benefiting from them? That is the importance. What more can I tell you?”
He highlighted the educational value of his sermons: “Through the sermons… you learn about the history of Islam. You become aware of current events, learn about past occurrences, understand the sacrifices made by the Companions, and learn about the life and advice of the Holy Prophetsa.” He noted that admonitions and expectations are often included, helping listeners understand their responsibilities.
Huzooraa emphasised the sacrifices of earlier generations: “Everyone knows how much our elders sacrificed, how they safeguarded, nurtured, and spread Islam through their sacrifices. Now, in this era, after Allah the Almighty has granted us so many facilities, our responsibility is immense.”
He urged them to reflect on strengthening their faith and that of future generations, stating, “We should safeguard and nurture it, strengthen our own faith, fortify the faith of our future generations, and, taking lessons from this, continue to propagate Islam and its message.”
Huzooraa added:
“Firstly, in the initial 16 or 17 years, I have given countless sermons on tarbiyat. If you look at those sermons, you will learn about matters related to moral training. Then I began giving sermons on history so that you know that tarbiyat is not just about words; history shows us that the Companions acted upon these teachings. These were not matters where Allah the Almighty merely gave commands and that was it; rather, these people brought about changes within themselves. That is why the Promised Messiahas said that the Holy Prophetsa came and trained those who were ignorant and uncivilised, who were completely unlettered. The Holy Prophetsa trained these people, made them human beings, then from human beings made them educated human beings, and then from educated human beings made them God-fearing individuals who inclined towards Allah the Almighty. So, if they could become such through all these stages, and I have told you about these matters of tarbiyat, then […] why can we not become God-fearing individuals?”
He reminded them that the lessons are there for those willing to take them: “So, these are the lessons found in the sermons, if you wish to take them. If you do not wish to take them, then you will say, ‘Fine, we heard the sermon; it was very enjoyable,’ and that will be the end of it.”
Conclusion
At the conclusion of the meeting, all attendees had the honour of a group photograph with Huzooraa. After this, Huzooraa bade them farewell, and the meeting came to an end.
(Report prepared by Al Hakam)