Guidance regarding basic Islamic issues that Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa has given at various occasions in his written correspondence and during various MTA programmes is being officially published below for everyone’s benefit
Zaheer Ahmad Khan, Records Department, Private Secretariat, London
Iron rings and boys wearing bracelets
Huzooraa was presented some ahadith that mention the wearing of iron rings by men as being impermissible and requested for guidance on this issue.
In this regard, he was informed about young boys wearing bracelets or bangles etc. as a fashion statement. Huzooraa, in a letter dated 14 December 2016, said:
“I have had research conducted on this issue. The ahadith that you sent are from Sunan Abi Daud. On the other hand, we find some ahadith in Sahih Bukhari which mention the Holy Prophetsa telling a companion to give an iron ring as haq mahr [dowry] in order to marry a woman. Likewise, there are also some ahadith in Sunan Abi Daud which mention that the ring of the Holy Prophetsa itself was made of iron and then coated with silver.
“While interpreting the abovementioned narrations, the scholars of hadith have also written that the saying which mentions a dislike for iron rings is weak [za‘eef] and that if wearing iron rings had been forbidden [haram] for men, then the Holy Prophetsa would have clearly forbidden it as he did in the case of gold.
“Anyway, the wearing of bracelets and bangles by young boys is an undesirable action. Hence, your advising the boys in this regard is very commendable.”
Nawafil before Eid
A missionary wrote to Huzooraa that at both Eids, some people came to the mosque and offered nawafil [voluntary prayers] either before the congregational Eid prayer or after it and requested for guidance on this issue. The reply that Huzooraa gave to the missionary and the guidance he issued to the administration in his letter dated 14 October 2017 is as follows:
“The offering of nawafil before the Eid prayer is forbidden as it is proven by ahadith. However, there is no harm in offering nawafil afterwards at home, so long as the time wherein Salat is forbidden has not started.
“I have also instructed the general secretary that he should arrange for announcements to be made at mosques before Eid prayers in order to make those people who come to the mosque before Eid prayer and start offering nawafil aware that it is forbidden.”
Whether Eid prayers are obligatory and if the imam forgets the takbirat
Someone requested Huzooraa for guidance on whether observing both the Eid prayers was obligatory and on offering sujood al-sahw [prostrations made after committing a mistake in Salat] to compensate for forgetting to pronounce takbirat at the beginning of a rak‘ah. Huzooraa, in his letter dated 21 November 2017, gave the following reply:
“Eid prayers are sunnah-e-mu‘akkadah [an action that the Holy Prophetsa emphasised and rarely abandoned]. The Holy Prophetsa even made it binding upon menstruating women who do not usually attend the mosque for prayers to come to the place of Eid and join in the supplications of the Muslims.
“As far as the issue of an imam forgetting the takbirat is concerned, the people praying behind him should remind him in such a case. However, if the imam fails to pronounce some of the takbirat despite their reminder, then those behind him should observe the Eid prayer according to the imam. There is no need for the imam to perform sujood al-sahw if he forgets the takbirat.”
Savings accounts and profit
The nazim of Dar-ul-Ifta [department for Islamic verdicts] requested Huzooraa for guidance on depositing money in state-owned banks and using the profit earned on that money on personal needs. Huzooraa, in his letter dated 21 November 2017, gave the following reply:
“My point of view on this issue corresponds with the decision that was made during the Khilafat of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh.”
The decision that was made during the Khilafat of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh is as follows:
“The following recommendations on this issue were submitted to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh by Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya Pakistan:
‘Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya is not earning interest of any kind on the money deposited in banks, nor is the provident fund money being deposited in such banks whose business model or means of earning is based on interest. The funds are rather invested in a public body under the government’s national savings scheme.
‘This body invests its profits in national welfare programmes (and not in any interest-based businesses). As a result, the economy is growing and more employment opportunities are being created, which again increases in the revenue collected by the state. In this way, the government shares the profits with the depositors and terms it as profit. Whenever a depositor needs his money, he takes it out at will.
‘Due to this difference between banks and national savings schemes, the provident fund money was invested in this public body with the permission of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh. Likewise, with the permission of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh, the funds collected through Bilal Fund and Tazkiyah Amwal Fund have also been invested in the savings schemes.
‘It is also the view of the mufti of the Jamaat ([then] Hazrat Malik Saifur Rahman) that one can participate in the savings schemes launched by the government.
‘He writes, “If someone wishes, they can participate in the savings schemes that have been launched by the government and can utilise the profit that is generated from them for his personal needs.”
‘Moreover, there is no alternative system or secure institutions where one can invest their money and which could keep their capital safe, profitable or at least unharmed by inflation. (Hence, instead of investing money in banks, where there is money trade, which is clearly based on interest, the funds have been invested in such schemes which have been declared free from interest by the government because the profit is being invested in national welfare and other constructive causes or at least such public bodies are not clearly and definitely involved in interest-based businesses.)
‘A possible solution could also be that the Jamaat initiates such businesses using its capital that are definitely free from the filth of interest. However, the current environment of the country through which the Jamaat is going is not conducive for such an investment.
‘Hence, investment in the national savings schemes is a kind of compulsion while on the other hand, there is no alternative system of investment available in the country.’”
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh accepted these recommendations by Sadr Anjuman Ahmadiyya Pakistan on 13 August 1987 and wrote,
“It is fine.”
Music and female prisoners of war
Huzooraa was presented the view of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra on female prisoners of war as stated in Tafsir-e-Kabir and requested to shed more light on the issue. A complaint was also made about the background music lasting one or two minutes in a documentary film played at the Lajna Imaillah Ilmi (Educational) Rally of a country.
Huzooraa, in his letter dated 21 February 2018, gave the following guidance:
“What you have presented regarding nikah with female prisoners of war is correct according to the interpretation of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra as mentioned in Tafsir-e-Kabir. This was also the view of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira that it is necessary to perform nikah with female prisoners of war.
“In light of the Holy Quran and the sayings of the Promised Messiahas, this is also my view. In the early stages of Islam, the enemies of Islam would make Muslims a target of various kinds of atrocities. If they got hold of the wife of a poor and oppressed Muslim, they would include her among their wives as a slave.
“Hence, in accordance with the Islamic injunction of جَزٰٓؤُا سَیِّئَۃٍ سَیِّئَۃٌ مِّثۡلُہَا [the recompense of an injury is an injury the like thereof], such women who came along with the assailing army against Islam in order to support them would be taken captives as prisoners of war in accordance with the custom of that era. Then, if such women did not earn their freedom by paying the ransom or through the method of mukatabat, it became permissible to have intimate relations with such women after performing nikah.
“However, there was no consent required from that prisoner of war for such a nikah. Moreover, a nikah to such a woman did not affect the permission to marry four [free] women. In other words, a man could perform nikah with such a woman despite being married to four [free] women. However, if the female prisoner of war bore a child, she would become free as a result of being the mother of that child.
“The second point of view is also not wrong, which states that it was not necessary to perform a formal nikah before having an intimate relationship with such women who came along with the assailing army against Islam in order to support them. Hence, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, while replying to the issue of female prisoners of war, at some other occasions has also expressed this second point of view.
“Likewise, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh, while explaining the issue of female prisoners of war during some of his question and answer sessions and during dars-ul-Quran has also stated this second point of view that no formal nikah was needed in order to establish intimate relationships with female prisoners of war.
“Here, I also deem it essential to mention that it is not in any way objectionable for the Khulafa to have different opinions about the interpretation of such Quranic matters that relate to the past eras; rather, these views are based on the Quranic understanding of every Khalifa. Such disagreement among Khulafa is possible.
“As I stated earlier, my view on this issue is that it was mandatory to perform nikah with such women of the enemies before having conjugal relations with them. And this shall be considered the view of the Jamaat in my era of Khilafat. However, the next Khalifa may disagree with my opinion. If that happens, then that view of the next Khalifa would be considered the view of the Jamaat at that time.
“Moreover, one should also remember that no such war is taking place in this era which is being fought to annihilate Islam and wherein the women of the Muslims are being captured and turned into slaves. Thus, it is also forbidden and haram for Muslims to do the same in this era.
“The other complaint that you made in your letter is that music was played for 1-2 minutes in the opening sequence of a documentary film which was shown at a Lajna Imaillah Ilmi Rally.
“As you have written, it was a documentary film. Since it was a documentary film which was not produced by us and the music was added by the producers, how could we edit it out of that film? Thus, there is nothing objectionable in that. In fact, it is that smoke of the Dajjal mentioned in a hadith by the Holy Prophetsa, from which one is unable to protect oneself.
“As far as programmes are concerned that are produced by us and as far as MTA is concerned, both are completely free of music by the grace of Allah and they do not contain any such unlawful things. This is the example which should be presented as the true faith. By the grace of Allah, this is the Islamic example, which is shown through MTA programmes everywhere.”
How to reply to people’s mockery of holy personages
During the virtual mulaqat of students of Jamia Ahmadiyya Indonesia with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, on 31 October 2020, a student said, “Nowadays, there are many people who mock the Promised Messiahas. How should we respond to them?”
Upon this, Huzooraa said:
“Firstly, Allah the Exalted Himself said to the Promised Messiahas:
اِنِّیْ مُھِیْنٌ مَّنْ اَرَادَ اِھَانَتَکَ
‘I shall humiliate him who seeks to humiliate you.’
“Thus, Allah the Exalted Himself shall deal with those who intentionally act in this manner however He desires, whether it is by humiliating them in this world, in the Hereafter or by humiliating their progenies.
“However, our response in this regard is simply that which has been explained to us by the Promised Messiahas, namely that you must demonstrate patience and you must not respond to the aggressor in an aggressive manner. You must not respond with violence. Even if you have unbounded love for the Promised Messiahas, you still must not respond with violence.
“The most beloved person to us is the Holy Prophetsa. He is dearer to us than even the Promised Messiahas. Recently, caricatures of the Holy Prophetsa were made in France and some other European countries in order to ridicule him. However, what has our response been to this? We respond by invoking durood upon the Holy Prophetsa as much as possible. When we invoke durood upon the Holy Prophetsa, we also invoke durood upon the aal [progeny] of the Holy Prophetsa. They are also included in that prayer. And the greatest aal of the Holy Prophetsa is the Promised Messiahas. He is the foremost to be counted among the aal of the Holy Prophetsa.
“Therefore, whenever anyone ridicules the Holy Prophetsa or his most ardent servant, the Promised Messiahas, our first duty is to recite durood. Secondly, your conduct should be so exemplary that it silences those who ridicule and mock. They will observe that they ridicule and mock us, yet we continue to convey to them the true teachings of Islam. And we are those who spread love and affection. They will notice that despite them showing hatred towards us, we speak to them with love and affection.
“The Holy Quran also states:
کَاَنَّہٗ وَلِیٌّ حَمِیۡمٌ
“In other words, if one exhibits good morals and conduct, then those who bear enmity against you will become your warm friends.
“Therefore, our response is to simply improve our own conduct and conditions, excel in our spirituality and prostrate before Allah the Exalted. We should pray to Allah the Exalted to improve their conditions and pray that if Allah the Exalted deems that they will not change their attitude, then may He grant us respite from them and silence them so that they do not mock or ridicule our loved ones, whether it is the Promised Messiahas or above him, the Holy Prophetsa.
“May we see happiness and joy. It is a source of great joy for us when the Holy Prophetsa is honoured in this world. Similarly, it is a source of great happiness for us when the Promised Messiahas, who was the most ardent devotee of the Holy Prophetsa, is honoured.
“Therefore, we should pray that we may witness their honour and respect being established in this world so that it brings us happiness and joy. We are to seek everything from Allah. We are not to take up sticks, rifles, tanks or knives. We are not going to do any such thing. We are simply going to prostrate before Allah, improve our own conditions and recite durood as much as possible.”
Duties of a missionary
During the above-mentioned mulaqat of 31 October 2020, another student said, “We [the Jamia graduates] will, insha-Allah, be going into the practical field. Upon arrival, what should be the first task of a missionary?”
In reply to this question, Huzooraa said:
“The first thing you should do when you reach there is to pray that Allah the Exalted may enable you to work properly with dedication, sincerity, honesty and loyalty at the place where you have been posted. So, you should pray and first of all improve your relation with Allah the Exalted. Always bear in mind that our efforts materialise through prayer.
“Therefore, each and every murabbi and muballigh [missionary] who enters the practical field should pledge that he shall not miss the Tahajud prayer from this day forward and shall offer it regularly. I often give a brief account of the lives of many of your missionaries who pass away and I mention that they were those who regularly offered Tahajud prayer. So, every missionary should offer Tahajud prayers for at least one hour daily, during which you should pray that Allah the Exalted may bless your efforts. Then, you must lead the five daily prayers in congregation at your centre or mosque if you are present there.
“Furthermore, try to create a personal bond with every Ahmadi in that area. If Ahmadis have mutual disagreements and grievances, then you must try to resolve them. Explain to them that we are believers and believers are brothers. Draw the attention of each and every Ahmadi towards living with each other peacefully and try to resolve any kind of disputes that they may have. You should have a personal relationship with everyone and the people there should also have a bond with you. They should love you and you should love them. Hence, they will heed your advice whenever you advise them to do something.
“Similarly, always stay in touch with the Khalifa-e-Waqt [Khalifa of the time]. Aside from your monthly report that you send to me, you should also write one personal letter to me as well so that we can assess how well the missionary is working. Also, create awareness among the people that they must establish a relationship with the Khalifa-e-Waqt.
“I receive a very high volume of letters since the Indonesian Desk has been established here. I receive these letters after they have been translated. Therefore, remind people to maintain that relationship with Khilafat and regularly listen to the Friday sermon every week and act upon the guidance and advice mentioned in those sermons. The missionaries ought to act upon that first and then the members should do so too.”
(Translated by Aqeel Ahmad Kang, London)