A group of waqifeen-e-nau in Mauritius had the good fortune of meeting with Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa on 13 December 2020 in a virtual class.
It is narrated that during the time of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra, Majlis-e-Irfan used to take place after Maghrib prayer at Masjid Mubarak in Qadian. On one occasion, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra had the following poem read out for three days [in Majlis-e-Irfan]:
میں اپنے پیاروں کی نسبت ہرگز نہ کروں گا پسند کبھی
وہ چھوٹے درجہ پہ راضی ہوں اور ان کی نگاہ رہے نیچی
“I shall never expect from my loved ones that they are satisfied on a lower status and they set small goals [for themselves].”
With regard to this poem, Huzoorra said, “I have written this poem for waqifeen-e-zindagi [life devotees].”
The class of waqifeen of Mauritius commenced with the recitation of a portion from the Holy Quran, which highlighted Mary’s mother who vowed to dedicate her child’s life for the cause of God. Following this, the above mentioned nazm, composed by Hazrat Musleh-eأMaudra, was presented.
After the nazm was presented, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said, “You have done well, masha-Allah” and further asked how many waqifeen knew the meaning of this nazm.
Huzooraa then added, “It should be translated and given to each and every waqf-e-nau so that they know Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II’sra expectations of them.”
Following this, a brief report was presented by the national secretary waqf-e-nau. In the report, he stated that there were a total of 280 waqifeen-e-nau in Mauritius. Of the 280, 166 were boys and 114 were girls.
He further said that there were 18 waqifeen serving as life devotees, six serving as missionaries, five studying in Jamia International Ghana, one studying in Jamia Ahmadiyya Canada, three serving in MTA studio Mauritius, one serving in the Jamaat’s printing press in Burkina Faso, one serving under the Nusrat Jahan scheme and one serving in Dar-us-Salam office in Mauritius.
In addition, the secretary stated that between 2019-2020, one national Ijtema was held, one general meeting was held and a career guidance forum was conducted.
After delivering the brief report, the secretary expressed that some waqifeen-e-nau were not active in any Jamaat related activities, nor in offering Namaz in congregation and further asked what could be done to improve this.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said:
“You are in the field working there; you know better what tactics and what strategy you should include in bringing them closer to the Jamaat. If they are well trained from the very childhood, then they will know their responsibility as Atfal and if their parents are also active in the Jamaat, then definitely they will also be very active members of the Waqf-e-Nau scheme. If parents are lazy and inactive – they are not taking part in the Jamaat activities, not observing their responsibilities, like offering the five daily prayers – then their children will also follow them. So you should ask the tarbiyat department to do the tarbiyat of parents so that they set a good example for their children.”
Following this, a student of Jamia Ahmadiyya Canada said that since Jamia was being held online due to the pandemic, what Huzoor’saa advice was for students who are pursuing their studies online. Huzooraa replied, “You have to be honest whilst you are studying online. Your teachers do not know where you are or what you are doing.”
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa further said:
“I know that some students – university students, school students and those who are studying online – are not actually involved in online studies and pretend and pose as though they are online, whereas they are not, yet their teachers think they are. So you have to be honest.
“Secondly, now that you have more time since you are sitting in your house, you should give some more time for extra studies, like reading the books of the Promised Messiahas and studying the commentary of the Holy Quran and other religious books that will help you increase your religious knowledge.”
A waqif-e-nau, whilst asking a question, expressed that some of the best schools and colleges in Mauritius were co-educational schools. He further asked if they should attend those schools or give precedence to gender-isolated educational schools which are reserved for boys only and girls only.
Answering the question, Huzooraa explained:
“If the best schools are co-educational schools where they are mixed with boys and girls and you are confident that you will not involve or indulge yourselves in bad activities and making friendships with girls and that you will only concentrate in your studies, then you can go to mixed schools. If you are not confident and you think you can go astray by mixing with girls, then it is better to go a boys’ school.”
Following this, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa was asked how a waqif-e-nau, who is working in the private sector, can make the best use of his time to serve the Jamaat and attain the pleasure of Allah.
Answering this, Huzooraa said: “Waqf means that you have dedicated your life. Since you have dedicated your life for the cause of the Jamaat and Islam, then you should always consider that any time which is being spent by you should totally be spent for the betterment of the Jamaat.”
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa added:
“Whenever you get spare time, you should offer it to the Jamaat and say, ‘Now, I am ready. I can give this much time regularly for Jamaat work’. At the same time, you should set your own example before your colleagues so they know that this person is honest in his work, is pious, discharges his duties towards his religion and offers his daily prayers.”
Huzooraa added, “In this way, you would have opened new avenues for tabligh.”
A waqif-e-nau expressed that among the youth, many are addicted to mobile phones and spend less time playing sports. He asked Huzooraa what could be done in relation to this.
Responding to the young waqif-e-nau, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said, “This is a matter of realisation of your duties. If you realise that your main objective and duty is to set good examples and not waste time, then instead of being involved in and getting addicted to mobile phones and other Internet games, you will not indulge in such matters. So, it is a matter of understanding.
“Every Ahmadi should understand that their main obligation is to offer the five daily prayers and not just merely offer them for the sake of offering prayers, but it should be done with the intention of achieving Allah’s love.”
Huzooraa added:
“A child of 10 years of age should not spend more than one hour on mobile games … I do not say that you should not play mobile games. There are quite a number of games which can help you increase your knowledge and there are some games which are just a wastage of money.”
Following this, Huzooraa was asked about his reaction when he heard the revelation:
انی معك يا مسرور
“Surely, I am with you, O Masroor”
Responding, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said:
”انی معك يا مسرور was revealed to the Promised Messiahas. Allah the Almighty has given the name Masroor to the Promised Messiahas. So, when I was elected as the Khalifa of the time, then I came to know that this is not only a coincidence, but God wishes to help me at the same time. Because of this name, Allah the Almighty will also give me the glad tidings and, insha-Allah, fulfil so many of the promises which He promised to the Promised Messiahas.”
Huzooraa added:
“So, although it is not about myself, but it was a coincidence or God’s plan that a Khalifa of the time was elected whose name was also Masroor. And I can see that Allah has been helping me in this regard and I pray that all those benefits which are attached to this revelation are fulfilled during my time.”
Following this, a young waqif-e-nau asked Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa if it was advisable to study homeopathy as a profession as there were very few homeopathy doctors in Mauritius.
Huzooraa said, “You will have to go outside, either to Germany or France to study homeopathy” and further said, “When you complete your education in France, or Germany or even in the UK – but France is also advance and it is easy for you to go to France – then, open a homeopathy clinic in Mauritius. That will be good for you. It is a good idea.”
Upon being asked what the greatest problems an island like Mauritius could face in an eventual world war, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa explained:
“Whether Mauritius is involved in the war or not, it does not matter because nowadays, the world is like a global village as all countries are interdependent. So, if there is a world war and you have food items which are being imported, then you will suffer to get those food items. If your trading with another country has been badly affected by the world war and their economy has crippled, then Mauritius will also be affected. So the people of different nations will suffer whether they are directly involved in the world war or not because nowadays, as I have said, we are dependent on each other. So, this interdependence will make every country suffer because economically, the whole world will see the crisis.”
Following this, a waqif-e-nau asked how we know our previous sins have been forgiven. Responding to this, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said:
“If you know that all your sins have been forgiven, you might start committing more sins. So the best way is to not know. Only Allah knows. If you have committed any sin and you do istighfar [repent] and seek Allah’s refuge and come under Allah’s shelter, then you will feel that you are not committing that sin again. When you feel that you are not committing that sin again, or any other sins, and you are now inclined towards the commandments of Allah and following the true teachings of Islam, then this is one way of knowing your past sins have been forgiven.”
A waqif-e-nau asked Huzooraa whether one oppose a government that one comes to learn is corrupt. Responding to this, Huzooraa said, “You should use your right to vote and bring those people into the government who are not corrupt – those who are honest and sincere to the country.”
A waqif-e-nau expressed that a large number of youth found it difficult to get married or were simply not interested in marriage. He asked what could be done to solve this issue. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa explained:
“There is a rishta nata department in your country and an international rishta nata department also. You can write to the international department, which is being run by wakalat-e-tabshir here in London, or ask your rishta nata department there.”
Whilst offering guidance for those who do not wish to marry, Huzooraa said, “The Holy Prophetsa said, ‘Those who do not follow my sunnah are not from me.’”
Upon being asked if it was possible for a dead person to see what was happening to their close relatives on earth, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said:
“If God wishes, He can let the person know what is happening in the world, but it is up to Allah the Almighty. If a person was very pious and prayed for their children to be pious, faithful, sincere and honest … and if they are living according to the desire of the deceased person, then Allah the Almighty may show them what is happening in this world, but it is up to Allah.”
Following this, a question was asked about the election of the new president in America and whether it would have an impact on the timing of a world war.
Answering this, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said, “Nobody knows. If it is Allah’s plan which is destined to happen, then it will happen and it won’t matter if the American president has changed.”
Huzooraa added:
“As the world is forgetting their responsibilities – they are not following the teachings given by Allah the Almighty; they are not discharging their duties owed to Allah and [fellow] human beings – then Allah’s wrath and punishment will come and it can come in the shape of a world war, no matter whether there is an American president or any other president.”
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa further added:
“We should pray that Allah the Almighty has mercy on us and that it should not happen in our lifetime and [we should pray that] Allah the Almighty changes the mind-sets of people and they accept the teachings of Islam and what Allah says. Then, yes, we can hope that it can be stopped. Otherwise, under the present circumstances, no matter who the president is, it seems that it is going to happen. When? Allah knows best.”
A waqif-e-nau asked Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa about the Jamaat’s view on extraterrestrial life. Huzooraa stated:
“Yes, we believe that there is life on other planets as well … The Promised Messiahas has said that there are quite a number of universes and it is quite possible that there is life in other universes and on other planets.”
Upon being asked how one could safeguard oneself from the vices of society, Huzooraa said:
“Allah the Almighty has said that Salat is the way of saving oneself from the bad effects of the evils of society. So, your first and foremost duty is that you follow the commandments of Allah and be a good Muslim.”
A waqif-e-nau expressed that in college, they had classes based on inter-religious talks and asked what the best way to present Islam Ahmadiyyat was.
Responding to the young waqif-e-nau, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said:
“If you read The Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam or take help from a missionary or an elder who can provide a summary of the book, then it can help you present the true teachings of Islam; or, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV’srh book, Islam’s Response to Contemporary Issues – this is how you can present Islam. There are quite a number of my addresses during peace symposia which reflect the true teachings of Islam, how a Muslim should live, how to improve your standard of living and how to gain closeness to Allah the Almighty. So there are quite a number of books in our literature that can help you to present Islam before your [fellow] students.”
Upon being asked why most people were greedy and what one could do to refrain from this habit, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said:
“Allah the Almighty has stated that one must learn to be content. The Holy Prophetsa has said that when you see somebody who is pious, God fearing and observing all of the commandments of Allah the Almighty, then try to follow him and pray to Allah the Almighty that He may also give you that status. But if you see a worldly person who is wealthy and is not discharging his duties towards his fellow human beings, but rather accumulating money and usurping the rights of others, then pray to Allah Almighty that He may save you from this. Greed is something which affects you due to your environment.”
At the end, Huzooraa concluded the class with a silent prayer.