Members of Majlis Ansarullah Norway were blessed with the opportunity of meeting Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, in a virtual mulaqat held on 29 January 2023.
The members assembled at the Baitul Nasr complex, the headquarters of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Norway.
After conveying salaam, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa led everyone in silent prayer. Observing the ansar seated in the hall, Huzooraa asked Ahmad Rizwan Sadiq Sahib, Sadr Majlis Ansarullah whether only amila members – or all of the ansar – were present. Sadr sahib responded that all the ansar were present, to which Huzooraa said that in that case the silent prayer should have come in the end.
Huzooraa called Rana Mubashar Sahib to recite a portion of the Holy Quran, followed by its Urdu translation.
Sadr sahib then presented a brief background of Norway Jamaat and Majlis Ansarullah Norway. He said that there are 329 ansar in Norway, with a total of 12 majalis. He added that since 2010, a magazine titled Ansarullah Norway is being published annually.
Thereafter, members of Majlis Ansarullah Norway had the opportunity to ask Huzooraa questions on an array of matters.
Mats Hamza Sahib, who converted to Ahmadiyyat three months ago, said he had been a Sunni Muslim for 18 years before converting to Islam Ahmadiyyat. He said he and his wife did bai‘at three months ago. Hearing this, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said, “There are quite a number of common things between us and Sunnis.” Huzooraa then told him to proceed to ask his question.
Mats Hamza Sahib asked Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa about how the institution of Khilafat was necessary for the reform of Muslims and the propagation of Islam following the advent of the Promised Messiahas. He also sought guidance on how to aid and assist in the spread of Islam and cultivate a positive relationship with the Khalifa.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said:
“The first thing is that your own action has proved there is a need for the Khilafat, and that Khilafat is necessary for the spread of Islam; this is why you have joined Ahmadiyyat from the Sunni sect.
“It was a prophecy of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that after a dark age of 1,000 years within Muslims, the Promised Messiah will appear, and he will claim [to be] the Promised Messiah and the Mahdi – the Guided One. […] The Promised Messiah, upon whom be peace, is the Khalifah of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. And after that, it was also the prophecy of the Holy Prophet of Islam, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that the system of Khilafat will continue to spread the message of Islam because that will be the right time when all the facilities will be available for the spread of Islam and Ahmadiyyat.
“Now, you can see the media and other sources are available; and the Khilafat will work in the footsteps of the Promised Messiah, upon whom be peace, and will further spread the message of Islam and Ahmadiyyat to all corners of the world and this will be an organised system. In other sects, you won’t see this system. Here, under the banner of Khilafat, Ahmadiyyat is spreading the message of Islam to all corners of the world. So, this is why it is necessary, in short.
“Otherwise, if you don’t have one leadership, you are just like a herd without a person who is looking after them. So, now that under the system of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya, our system is streamlined and you are guided by one person, whom according to our belief, Allah the Almighty’s favour is always given and he is guided by Allah the Almighty. This is what we believe. And whenever he sees or deems it necessary that a certain thing should happen, he asks the Jamaat to do accordingly. This is why there is a system of Khilafat. This is why the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said that ‘after my demise, there will be a proper Khilafat, a truly guided Khilafat – Khilafat-e-Rashida – and then there will be a period of some mulukiyyat [monarchy] and then the dark age, and after that, as I have already said, ‘the person will appear as the Promised Messiah and the Mahdi’. He [Holy Prophetsa] said that that Khilafat will continue till the end of the days, that is what we believe – that Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya shall continue till the Last Day and Allah the Almighty will guide the Khilafat and help the Khilafat. And through the guidance of the Khilafat, the community will progress and flourish and that is what we have also been seeing nowadays. Every year, thousands and thousands of people are joining Ahmadiyyat. That one man who claimed to be the Promised Messiah, upon whom be peace, in a small town or small village, is now known almost all across the world, so this is the system through which Allah the Almighty is helping us to spread the message of Islam.”
In light of the second part of his question, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said:
“I think part of the answer has already been given by me in my previous reply that if you attach yourself to the Khilafat, and if you believe that the Promised Messiah, upon whom be peace, was sent by Allah to spread the message of Islam, and if you believe that after his demise his true Khilafat is continuing, then you should also help the Khalifah and the system of the Jamaat by learning more about Islam and spreading the message of Islam. This is the duty of each and every Ahmadi to spread the message of Islam because he has done a bai‘at and in his bai‘at or her bai‘at they have declared that they will help the Promised Messiah, upon whom be peace, in spreading the message of Islam. For that, you should learn more about Islam; you should learn how to read the Holy Quran, the meaning of the Holy Quran, the commentary of the Holy Quran, and the ahadith – of course, those authentic ahadith – and, of course, it is definitely also necessary to learn more about the literature given to us by the Promised Messiah, upon whom be peace, by reading his books. There are quite a number of books that have now been translated into English. If not Norwegian, at least you can read those books that have been translated into English, and this is how you can refresh and even better your knowledge about Islam and Ahmadiyyat, and then spread that message. And this is how you will be the helper for the Khalifah and for the Jamaat and for the Promised Messiah, upon whom be peace, and ultimately, for the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and of course, we shall be rightly guided people who Allah the Almighty desired from His creation, from the best of the creation, that is human beings.”
Huzooraa smiled and said:
“When you are doing all these things, you will have a good relationship with Khilafat.”
Khwaja Abdul Momin Sahib stated that Ahmadis have recently been martyred by terrorists in Burkina Faso, following similar opposition to Islam Ahmadiyyat in Pakistan, India and Algeria. He asked Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa if this opposition may escalate in other countries given the progress of Islam Ahmadiyyat and what measures should be taken to safeguard the Jamaat from these dangers.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said that as the Jamaat spreads, so does the envy against it. To protect ourselves from malicious and deceitful individuals, Allah has already taught us the prayers mentioned in the last three chapters of the Holy Quran. Huzooraa said:
“These people are aware that it is Ahmadis who properly worship the One God. Though, in the aforementioned countries, such people kill Ahmadis or act cruelly against us in the name of Allah or the name of His Messenger, but, in reality, it is [due to] envy. They are acting against the commandments of Allah”.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa explained that this is how followers of Prophets have always been treated. As the community of a prophet grows, so does the number of envious people and evil whisperers. They act cruelly whenever given the opportunity. This is how they also behave toward Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya. When Pakistan and India were one, the Ahrar caused a commotion, and even some British officers opposed the Jamaat, as is evident from the Jamaat’s history. Lawsuits were filed against the Promised Messiahas, and many attempts to cause disorder were made.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa stated that opposition towards Ahmadis has been rampant in Pakistan since its inception and persists today. Huzooraa added that those filled with envy will continue to behave this way, as has been the case with divine communities in the past. Hence, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa advised, we should be prepared for this.
Huzooraa further explained that in recent times, some clerics in India have attempted to cause unrest against the Jamaat, under the pretence of Khatm-e-Nabuwwat, in smaller towns. Similarly, in Africa, as the Jamaat expands, envious individuals are trying to create chaos and disturbance. Huzooraa said that these individuals believe they will succeed, but a steadfast Ahmadi’s faith is not swayed by such actions. This was exemplified by the recent martyrs in Burkina Faso, who upheld their faith in Islam Ahmadiyyat even unto death.
Alluding to Europe, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa stated that atheism was on the rise and a campaign against religion was underway. Huzooraa added that we must also confront atheism. He warned that in some countries of Europe, opposition to Ahmadiyyat might emerge as it gains traction.
“Opponents of religion in general, including atheists or opponents of Islam, be they anti-Islam Christians or others, will band together to form a united front against Ahmadiyyat. This opposition may emerge even in some European countries as Ahmadiyyat continues to spread and gain ground,” Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said.
To overcome these challenges, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa advised we should pray, give charity, and seek refuge in Allah. Huzooraa emphasised that all mosques should have some arrangement for security, as he had been saying for some time. Additionally, he suggested that remaining vigilant and watching our surroundings could be a powerful deterrent against any efforts by the enemy to create chaos.
“It is possible that you will have to face opposition here [in Europe] too,” Huzooraa said.
Safdar Masood Malik Sahib noted that global warming and climate change are among the challenges facing humanity and calls to reduce environmental pollution are being made on various platforms. He asked Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa how individuals and the Jamaat could assist in this issue.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said: “As the world’s population grows, more land is needed [for habitation and food production],” which often results in cutting down forests. Huzooraa noted that forests are being cleared in Africa and poorer countries such as Pakistan, contributing to changes in weather patterns. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa pointed out that Pakistan used to have a lot of greenery, but now contractors have removed much of it without replanting trees or implementing a system to conserve water.
Huzooraa suggested that rich countries can aid in developing vast arable areas in Africa to help provide food for the world if they support the necessary development. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa emphasised the importance of educating people on the need to use existing arable land, instead of cutting down forests. If they must cut trees down, they should replace them by replanting more. Huzooraa said that participating in tree planting can help reduce pollution, and we should also raise awareness about the negative impacts of deforestation.
Rana Naeem Ahmad Khan asked about the difference between du‘a (supplication) and shifa‘at )intercession), and if the Holy Prophetsa ever interceded for anyone during his lifetime.
Huzooraa said:
“Dua and intercession are different […] Everyone can make du‘a, but Allah has not bestowed the power of intercession on everyone.” Huzooraa referred to an incident in the life of the Holy Prophetsa, where the Prophetsa prayed for a sick companion, suggesting that the prayer may have been an intercession.
Rana Mubashar Mahmud Sahib stated that after marriage, one is often encouraged to move out of their parents’ house and become accustomed to living independently. However, when parents reach old age and need care, some may find it challenging if their home is small. He asked Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa for advice on how to care for elderly parents in such a situation.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said that in Western cultures, it is common for people to place their elderly parents in nursing homes and only visit them occasionally. This contrasts with our religious teachings, which emphasise the importance of caring for one’s parents. The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, stressed the obligation to look after one’s parents as a central requirement. Huzooraa, reinforced this message, declaring that taking care of one’s parents is a duty that is grounded in the principles of ethics and faith. Huzooraa added that parents should also raise their children in such a way that when they are older, the children will take care of them in their old age, while praying that they may never require such care.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa also said that one should attend to the needs of elders as a means of seeking divine favour and God’s grace.
Abdur Rahman Mahmud Qureshi Sahib stated that whenever a Majlis Ansarullah event is planned, all members are informed well in advance. He said that the events are designed to be interesting, yet attendance remains low. Additionally, when individual reporting forms are sent out, only a few members fill them out, and some even argue that Majlis Ansarullah has no right to inquire about worship as it is a private matter between an individual and God. He asked for Huzoor’saa guidance on this matter.
Huzooraa said that if the attendance was really that low, then it was a matter of concern and that the tarbiyat department should be more active. To improve the events, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa recommended that the organisers ask for suggestions and feedback from members on what should be included in the event. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said that through this approach, attendance can be increased.
Speaking about filling out forms, Huzooraa suggested that instead of asking how many times someone offered prayer, the individual report form could simply include a statement encouraging regular prayer, such as “Prayer is obligatory, we hope you will be regular in it” or “Are you regular in your prayers?” Huzooraa emphasised it is the duty of the jamaat to provide this encouragement and that Allah has repeatedly drawn attention to the importance of prayer. Huzooraa quoted the Holy Prophetsa, who once said he wanted to burn the houses of those who do not attend the Isha prayer and sleep instead. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa advised Abdur Rahman Mahmud Qureshi Sahib to regularly send ahadith of such teachings to serve as a reminder. Huzooraa stressed the need for increased focus on tarbiyat, as it would resolve many other issues.
Wasim Ahmad Chaudhry Sahib stated that some ansar members reach an age where they are fixed in their habits and face difficulty in undergoing tarbiyat. He sought guidance from Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa on how to address this issue.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa stated that the ansar must also be aware, upon reaching old age, that the afterlife is close at hand. “It is necessary,” Huzooraa said, “to act according to the commandments of Allah.” Make them realise that they are “entering the stage of life where each day brings them closer to death,” and the day of accountability before Allah draws near. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa emphasised that this matter should be lovingly explained to them.
Saif-ur-Rahman Sahib said he noted many mosques built by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat are named “Bait” [house] instead of “Masjid” [mosque]. He asked Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa for the reasoning behind this.
Huzooraa corrected the statement, saying it is incorrect to say many mosques are named that way. Huzooraa gave the example of the Bait-ul-Futuh Mosque in London, which is correctly referred to as “Masjid Bait-ul-Futuh.”
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa explained that due to laws against Ahmadis in Pakistan, mosques cannot be named “Masjid”, so, in this case, “Bait” is used instead. He added that, usually, when a mosque is named after an Attribute of Allah, “Bait” is added to its name.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa added, “Even the Holy Kaaba is referred to as Baitullah [the House of Allah].”
Rafi Minhas Sahib said that in Europe, particularly in the Scandinavian countries, the government collects a 50% tax from income, savings, and production. This tax, like zakat in Islam, he said, is used to meet the needs of the less fortunate and provide various services to the community. He noted that the tax rate is higher than the zakat rate and asked Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa if such a tax could be considered a substitute for zakat.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa inquired if the government taxes the gold someone has in their possession; the questioner responded that they do not. Huzooraa explained that even if the government may not tax it, it is still necessary to pay zakat on it. He also mentioned that there is a fixed amount of zakat on livestock, but the government taxes income received from it, not the livestock itself. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa emphasised that there is a set amount for zakat and that if a certain amount remains with someone for a year without being spent, zakat must still be paid, but tax usually does not require this either.
Nevertheless, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa stated that each such case must be evaluated individually, taking all the circumstances into account.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa conveyed his salaam after which the meeting came to a close.
(Report prepared by Al Hakam)