Kingsley, Hampshire, 19 September 2021: Today, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah strengthen his hand, presided over the final session of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya UK’s Ijtema of 2021 and delivered the concluding address.
Huzooraa arrived at the Ijtema site in Kingsley, Hampshire at around 4:15 pm (BST). Upon arrival, Huzooraa entered the main Ijtema arena and led Zuhr and Asr prayers.
At around 4:32 pm, Huzooraa took to the stage where the concluding session formally commenced.
Huzooraa invited Uthman Adeleye Sahib to recite a portion from the Holy Quran. Uthman Sahib recited verses 29-30 of Surah al-Fath (chapter 48). The translation of the recited verses was presented by Athar Ahmad Mirza Sahib.
Huzooraa then instructed everyone to stand for the Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya pledge, which was read out by Huzooraa and repeated by all those present and watching live on MTA.
Thereafter, Tahir Khalid Sahib was invited to recite an Urdu poem, written by Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IVrh on the blessed character of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Syed Hassan Ahmad Sahib presented the English translation of the Urdu poem.
Sadr Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya UK, Abdul Quddus Arif Sahib was then invited to present a report of the Ijtema.
Sadr Sahib said that the theme given by Huzooraa for the Ijtema was “The Power of Durood Sharif”, which was adhered to. He said that it was a great blessing of Allah that the Ijtema was held this year. Measures to ensure Covid-safety as outlined by the government were followed, and Huzoor’s guidance in this regard was also very helpful.
Various beneficial events took place during the Ijtema that catered for the participants. There were panel discussions on the importance of pledging allegiance to Khilafat and on the life of Syed Taalay Ahmed Shaheed; various exhibitions and engaging activities for khuddam and atfal were also made available. Sadr Sahib then thanked various members of the Jamaat’s organisational structure and most of all, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa, for accepting Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya UK’s invitation to grace the Ijtema.
Thereafter, Sadr Sahib sought permission to play a short video presentation covering the activities of this year’s Ijtema, which Huzooraa gave.
Huzooraa then took to the dais to deliver the concluding address.
Huzoor’s address
After reciting the tashahud, ta‘awuz and Surah al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said that it was with the grace of Allah that Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya UK was holding their Ijtema following an interval of one year.
Prior to this, Huzooraa said, many Ahmadis had expressed their heartfelt desire and desperation for Jalsa Salana to take place this year so that they could once again experience the blessed atmosphere of Jalsa Salana. Huzooraa said that many of the khuddam in front of him would have had the same desire for the Ijtema.
Huzooraa said that although he was sure the khuddam would have enjoyed the Ijtema, it was not the foremost priority for khuddam and atfal to enjoy each other’s company; rather, the overriding purpose of the Ijtema was to enhance one’s spiritual and religious development and to take a step away from the material world.
Huzooraa said that it was a grace of Allah that Jalsa Salana was held and that various speeches were delivered to enhance the participants’ religious and moral development. Huzooraa was certain that men, women and children would have benefitted from the speeches at Jalsa Salana, something which was corroborated by the various letters he received after Jalsa. Huzooraa said that the passion felt after listening to impactful speeches should not be short-lived.
Huzooraa said that the auxiliary organisation of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat held Ijtemas to enhance such spiritual fervour. It was Huzoor’s hope and prayer that all khuddam and atfal would have benefitted from the programmes held at the Ijtema.
Although only a certain age group from among the atfal were able to attend due to the ongoing Covid spread, Huzooraa said that it was his prayer that all atfal would come to realise their responsibilities towards serving the Jamaat.
It is a great role of the youth of a nation to serve their nation for its progress. Indeed, it was to ensure the continued progress of the Jamaat that Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra established the various auxiliary bodies – Ansar, Lajna and Khuddam. Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra said that if all the auxiliary organisations fulfilled their roles, then the progress of the Jamaat would never falter and it would continue.
These were not just theoretical words, but this has been seen in practice.
Sometimes, Huzooraa said, elderly servants of the Jamaat can become rigid or cautious in their ways. Of course, Huzooraa said, caution is necessary and should be properly thought through. However, caution should never be used to disguise a person’s laziness or tendency to procrastinate. If, Huzooraa said, laziness ever creeps in, then it is the duty of the rest of the Jamaat to ensure that it does not hinder the growth and progress of the Jamaat. If men fail to fulfil their duties, then Lajna should step up to fulfil this shortcoming and likewise.
If, God forbid, all three auxiliary organisations ever become lazy or weak, then the central administration under the amir can continue to work. However, if the central admin shows sloth, then the auxiliary bodies should step up. Thus, all organisations should be working at an optimal level to ensure the moral and spiritual progress of Jamaat members.
If the central organisations work in this way, then, “insha-Allah, there is nothing that can stop the progress of the Jamaat and the fulfilment of the objective of the Promised Messiahas.”
Huzooraa said that he had observed that where the organisations were all active, the jamaats there were developing at a fast pace. However, where there was sloth, Huzooraa said that there was a slow rate of progress.
Every one of us has pledged our allegiance to the Promised Messiahas; therefore it is imperative for us to comprehend what this pledge entails. As members of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya, khuddam are at the prime of their life in terms of health and physical and mental capabilities; hence, it is essential for Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya to fulfil its role in the best possible way.
If members of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya display the highest morals and maximise their religious and secular knowledge and are those who act upon the commands of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophetsa and are obedient to Khalifatul Masih, then the rate of the progress of the Jamaat will increase manifold.
Furthermore, Huzooraa added, the wellbeing of the future generations is also linked with Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya. Many khuddam have children of their own and are directly responsible for the future of the Jamaat.
The true role of a father is described by the Holy Prophetsa, in that they should impart the best morals and virtues. If khuddam wished to bequeath the best gift to their children, then they must reflect on whether they are true role models to them. The older khuddam between 25-40 must realise that they are at an age where they are directly influencing the next generation.
Huzooraa was asked in a recent virtual mulaqat about what a khadim should do if older khuddam were not fulfilling their roles. Huzooraa said he mentioned this at the Ansar Ijtema the previous week also. He said that khuddam must realise that their behaviour has a direct impact on the younger generation; thus they should not let them down.
Huzooraa said that if they did not pay due attention to fulfilling their responsibilities to Allah and each other, and excelling spiritually themselves, then they would effectively be setting a harmful example to the next generation and they would be held accountable for this.
The Holy Prophetsa said that the father was the guardian of his home, but if he did not fulfil his role, then he would be held answerable. If one fulfils both the rights of man and God, then such a one will be a guide and true role model for the next generation, who the khuddam should consider as their younger brothers.
Huzooraa said to keep in mind that the life and success of a community is not dependant on any single generation; rather, those nations who try to prosper and have the ability to change the world for the better are those in which, generation after generation, they are willing to ensure that the growth of their community never slows.
We are that community that claims to believe in the Messiah of the age and that we will spread the message of the Holy Prophetsa to the corners of the world. This requires that each Ahmadi strives to improve their own moral standards and follow the teachings of Islam.
We cannot relax or rest until and unless each and every member of the Jamaat leaves no stone unturned in coming closer to Allah the Almighty.
Huzooraa then said:
“Just as the sun rises without fail each morning, our each and every day should give rise to glad tidings of the spiritual progress and advancement of the members of the Jamaat. Until that is our state, we cannot be content.
“On your banners, you proudly display the slogan bestowed to Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya by Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra that nations cannot be reformed without the reformation of the youth; however, these are not just words or a motto to take pride in, but should be a wake-up call for the members of Khuddam and should motivate and inspire you.
“This slogan is displayed prominently at your Khuddam events so that these profound words become deeply ingrained in the hearts and minds of every khadim. Indeed, each khadim, whether they are an office-bearer or not, should view these words as a personal challenge to live up to, wherein they must play their role in the reformation of their nation by reforming themselves. Hence, you must strive to attain the highest moral and spiritual standards and to be a true asset for your nation and community. Otherwise, just to repeat these words without any action is utterly meaningless.
“I also wish to remind the administration of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya that if all the office-bearers at each level strive to personally improve and focus upon their personal development, it will have a prodigious effect on the majlis. Even without holding any special programmes or events, you will become a means of guidance and instruction through your personal example. Other khuddam will see that you are sincere and will seek to emulate you, insha-Allah.
“I also wish to say to the younger khuddam that they should not think that because they are young, they do not need to be concerned about their religion or spiritual state and that theirs is an age merely of leisure and fun. Certainly, at your age, you should be involved in positive forms of recreation and other good activities, but at the same time, you should recognise that you are now reaching the age of full maturity. In fact, in the olden days, people would often get married in their teenage years and they would take on the associated responsibilities.
“Furthermore, in early Islam, very young men, aged 18 or 19, not only took part in the major battles of that time, but were given the rank of commanders. They acted with outstanding courage and manifested the highest levels of faith. So do not underestimate your abilities or think that you can focus upon your faith and religion at a later time in your life; rather, even as teenagers and young adults, you should understand your value and importance.
“In addition, all khuddam should focus upon the pledge you have made to be ready for every possible sacrifice for the sake of your faith, country and nation. It should not be that you proclaim these words aloud but that your actions remain silent.
“If you truly wish to fulfil your pledge, then first and foremost, the most important thing is Namaz – the practical solution of your being a good khadim. You must be regular in offering the five daily prayers and do not speedily offer them without due attention; rather, your prayers should be offered carefully with proper concentration and with the true love of Allah embedded within your heart. Use that time of prayer to build your relationship with Allah and do not just pray for yourself or your family, but also pray for your faith and for the Jamaat and nation.
“Additionally, all khuddam and atfal should do tilawat daily, even if it is just a few rukus. You should try to understand the meaning of the Quran so that you can learn the best morals and know what Allah desires from you.”
Huzooraa said that one method to achieve this could be to select a command of the Quran and to make it a firm resolve to abide by it. Huzooraa said that come what may, one should resolve to achieve it. If one could make a resolution to shun one bad thing and adopt virtues in their stead, then this could also be a great way of moral and spiritual change.
“Specifically, there is one noble quality which I would like to particularly emphasise and that is the virtue of speaking truthfully.
“As you leave the Ijtema today, you should do so with a firm and sincere intention to always speak the truth and to act with honesty at all times and in all circumstances.”
Huzooraa said that in all places and at all times, khuddam and atfal should always be truthful. The tarbiyat department, alongside ensuring punctuality in Namaz and a study of the books of the Promised Messiahas, should ensure that khuddam spoke the truth. This was the means of attaining the nearness of Allah and shunning shirk.
In this regard, the Promised Messiahas said that one must shun all forms of idol-worship; in fact, falsehood is also a sort of idol-worship. When one utters falsehood, they associate partners with God. The Promised Messiahas said that this should be avoided at all costs.
Those who lied or deceived were no different to idol-worshippers, and made falsehood their god.
Another quality, Huzooraa said, that khuddam and atfal should adopt is to be loving towards one another and to foster an atmosphere of love and brotherhood.
Regrettably, very minor things cause serious issues and quarrels among those who should be like brothers. If such elements enter our Jamaat, then it renders our motto of “Love for all, hatred for none” as hollow.
Huzooraa said the truly brave one was he who subdued his anger and suppressed it.
The reformation of the youth is intrinsically related to the reformation to the entire world, thus khuddam should not think it is a small task.
Huzooraa said that ambitions should not be limited to worldly pursuits, but also to fulfil the rights of Allah and His creation.
Huzooraa then advised the students of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya UK by saying that they should ensure that alongside their religious obligations, they should endeavour to reach the apex of their profession, whether at a government level or otherwise. Khuddam should not leave education after GCSEs in the hope of easy money.
Huzooraa then assigned a challenge to Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya by saying:
“In recent times, it has generally been observed in our Jamaat that our girls are excelling boys in education. In light of this, I lay down the challenge to the members of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya to strive to redress this imbalance and to endeavour to achieve the very best results in your academic career.”
In this way, Huzooraa said, a perpetual cycle of academic excellence would commence.
In regard to the community of the Promised Messiahas, Allah said that his members would excel in attaining knowledge and understanding. So all khuddam and atfal must bear this in mind and endeavour to live up to this.
Huzooraa then prayed that all khuddam and atfal were able to fulfil their role in serving humanity and serving the Jamaat of the Promised Messiahas.
Towards the end, after silent prayer, Huzooraa said, “There is an announcement here, that now I will launch a website – the Salat Hub website.” Huzooraa then described the purpose of the website and various details of the site.
Huzooraa listened to some taraney (choral poems), after which Huzooraa conveyed his salaam. Before departing the Ijtema site, Huzooraa launched the salathub.co.uk website, an initiative of Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya UK. Details of which are given below:
Salat Hub website
Salathub.co.uk, the website launched by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa earlier today, is the first website of its kind and can be used by people of all levels and ages.
Umair Bashir Sahib, Naib Mohtamim Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya UK, told Al Hakam that the website is divided into two key sections; the first being the Salat Hub Quiz which is a collection of interactive quizzes. The quizzes have been divided into 13 key sections, each functioning on a fundamental part of Salat. Users can click on a unique section to complete the quiz on that part which allows the user to test themselves.
Before beginning the quiz, visitors to the website can revise parts of Salat in a text, audio and visual format. The quiz has two modes: easy and hard modes. The easy mode has the same questions as the hard mode, but hard mode allows you to race against time with a 15-second timer to answer each question.
Each section has four levels of the quiz, the first being the simple Arabic of the Salat. After each word, you are asked what the next word is, such as, “What comes after ‘Al-Rahman’ in Surah Al-Fatihah?”
The second section will ask users the Arabic translation of phrases into English. The third level will ask Arabic to English split-word translation, and the final level will ask the English-to-Arabic translation. Each level is locked until you pass the previous level by getting more than 75% of the marks.
The second key section of the Salat Hub is a collection of learning resources where users can learn Salat through various materials produced by different Jamaat platforms, like the Salat workbook, the Salat poster, Videos by MKA about how to carry out Salat and a complete split-word translation.
It is hoped that, in time, the platform will grow and become the go-to place with quizzes and games to learn Salat in an engaging way.
(Report prepared by Al Hakam)