On 26 February 2022, the national amila of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Burkina Faso met Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa in a virtual mulaqat.
As the live stream started, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa asked the amila, “Will you [prefer to] speak in French, English, or Urdu?” Daquda Kone Sahib, Sadr Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Burkina Faso, responded that, with Huzoor’saa permission, half of the amila would like to speak in English and the other half in French.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa started the meeting by leading everyone in silent prayer. Huzooraa then spoke to every participant and asked them about their duties in Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Burkina Faso while also giving them valuable guidance on how to work better and improve.
Huzooraa asked Sadr Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya about his profession. He replied that he had graduated from Jamiatul Mubashireen, Ghana, and was serving as a missionary. Hearing this, Huzooraa said:
“I see, masha-Allah, then you can also speak Urdu?”
Sadr Sahib replied, “تھورى تھورى” [Only a little].
Naib Sadr I, upon being asked if he was assigned any special duty by Sadr Sahib, reported that he had two main duties which were to collect reports from the amila and present them to Sadr Sahib. Secondly, he was to support the financeteam to find solutions for increasing chanda contribution. Hearing this, Huzooraa asked if he added his comments to the reports too, to which he replied in the affirmative and said that sometimes he handed the important matters to Sadr Sahib.
Muhammad Izhar Ahmad Sahib, serving in the department of Rishta Nata, was next to report. Upon seeing him, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa asked if he was a missionary. Muhammad Izhar Ahmad Sahib replied in the affirmative and said that he was serving as a teacher in Jamiatul Mubashireen, Burkina Faso.
Hassane Jengani Sahib said he would like to present his report in Urdu. Upon hearing him speak in Urdu, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa asked, “Did you study at Jamia International?” He replied in the affirmative. He began introducing himself and as soon as he mentioned his name Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said, “I see, so you are the person who writes to me in Urdu […]”
Hassane Jengani Sahib reported that he was serving as Mohtamim Tarbiyat. He stated that the plan was to hold daily, weekly, monthly and annual tarbiyat programmes so that Khuddam and Atfal could benefit as much as possible. Huzooraa further asked what they were focused on most, “What is the tarbiyat plan? How will you do tarbiyat? [Are you] focusing on prayers? [Are you] focusing on the recitation of the Holy Quran? Is the focus on teaching religious knowledge? Is attention being paid towards improving morals? And if so, how? What is the plan for offering prayers? What percentage of Khuddam pray in congregation? There, [in Burkina Faso,] you have no restrictions. Prayers should be offered there in congregation.”
Hassane Jengani Sahib replied that effort was made regarding these matters. He said that qaideen were appointed in areas who reminded Khuddam about salat. Huzooraa asked him about the tajnid of Khuddam, to which Hassane Jengani Sahib replied that there were, according to the present records, around 6,000. Hearing this, Huzooraa said that the number should be greater. Hassane Jengani Sahib further reported that 60% of Khuddam offered prayers in congregation. Huzooraa replied, “Masha-Allah!” and enquired if the rest offered salat in their homes. Hassane Jengani Sahib replied in the affirmative and stated that the qaideen in different areas continuously reminded Khuddam about prayer.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said:
“Salat is the most important matter. Khuddam should focus on offering salat. If one becomes accustomed to offering salat, then insha-Allah attention is also drawn towards the rest [of the matters]. Moreover, they should pay more attention to reciting the Holy Quran. Draw their attention towards this […]”
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa added that the Tarbiyat department should circulate some ahadith and extracts from the writings of the Promised Messiahas for Khuddam to read so that “they can reform themselves”. Huzooraa further added that Khuddam should also listen to the Friday Sermons broadcast on MTA.
Souleymane Sahib, Naib Sadr II, reported he was assigned to look after all the qaideen ilaqah jaat and to make sure activities were taking place as planned. Next, Zela Issouf Sahib reported that he was serving as the Mohtamim Tabligh. Hearing this, Huzooraa said, “Masha-Allah! It is also one of the very important assignments.” Huzooraa asked what the tabligh plan was, “How soon do you intend to convert the whole of Burkina Faso to Islam Ahmadiyyat?” Souleymane Sahib replied that, with Huzoor’saa prayers, “we are hoping very soon.” Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa asked, “Will it take 10 years, 20 years, 30 years or 5 years?” Souleymane Sahib responded, “It will depend on your prayers for us,” upon which Huzooraa said, “My prayers will work when you are working hard and also praying at the same time […] You will have to help me with your prayers as well.”
Huzooraa asked about the tabligh plan and what the bai‘at target was for the year. Souleymane Sahib said that they had a public programme for preaching and the target set was 1,000 bai‘ats. Huzooraa said, “Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya are quite young people, more energetic people, you should have a greater target than this […] you should try to double this target.”
Speaking with Mohtamim Isha‘at, Huzooraa asked if any newsletter was printed. He replied there was a magazine which was printed twice a year. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa asked if members of Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya wrote articles for the magazine. Huzooraa said, “Encourage Khuddam also, those who are educated, living in the cities, that they should also try to write some articles. Some of them can just write an article on how they accepted Ahmadiyyat, how their parents accepted Ahmadiyyat, what is Ahmadiyyat, why we should believe in Ahmadiyyat, what are the prophecies of the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, with regards to the coming of the Promised Messiahas. So, like this, they will increase their knowledge, their faith, and at least you will also encourage them to write more for the Jamaat and, after seeing their articles, some Khuddam will also become active […]”
Danial Ahmad, Mohtamim Tajnid, reported that they were trying to improve and update the tajnid in Burkina Faso.
Speaking with Mohtamim Tarbiyat Nau Mubai‘een, Rashid Sahib, Huzooraa enquired if he was an Ahmadi by birth. Rashid Sahib replied that he was not a born Ahmadi and that he did bai‘at when he was 14 years old along with his parents. Huzooraa asked about the plan he had devised for the training of nau-mubai‘een. Rashid Sahib reported that whenever a person did bai‘at, they were trained to write letters to Huzooraa to seek prayers so that Allah Almighty strengthened their faith. And secondly, all new converts were involved in all Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya activities. He added that home visits were also made. Rashid Sahib further reported that people of different backgrounds were accepting Islam Ahmadiyyat.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa provided guidance and said, “For different groups [of people], for [people of] different religious backgrounds, they should have different plans and programmes. So, those who are Muslims, it is quite possible that there are a number of Khuddam who join Ahmadiyyat and know the words of prayer, Sura al-Fatihah, they can read the Holy Quran, then for them, you will have to make a plan that you tell them more about Ahmadiyyat and try to increase their Islamic religious knowledge, [knowledge of] the history of Islam and the history of Ahmadiyyat. And those who come from a Christian background should have a different training programme. They should learn the words of Surah al-Fatihah, prayers and salat. Tell them how to offer salat, what is the meaning of salat, or why we should offer the five daily prayers. So, different groups should have different plans and programmes, not the same plan for each and every group.”
Haroona Sahib, Mohtamim Talim reported that this year, three books of the Promised Messiahas were given to Khuddam to read and study. He added that a syllabus was being prepared for those Khuddam who did not have the means to gain an education. Next, speaking withShamsuddin Sahib, Mohtamim Sehat-e-Jismani, Huzooraa asked if he was active and played any sports, to which he replied that he taught physical education at a school. He added that according to the tajnid, 50-60% of Khuddam were active in sports.
Next, Idrassa Sahib, serving in the Khidmat-e-Khalq department, reported that the main plan was to collect funds and help people and added that blood donation sessions were usually organised. Saud Ahmad Sahib, Mohtamim Umur-e-Tulaba, reported that around 2300 members were studying. Huzooraa enquired how many attended universities and added, “Those who are going to universities, they should also be active and form an AMSA – Ahmadiyya Muslim Student Association – there in their universities […]”
Huzooraa further said that he should have the breakdown of all students and what they were studying.
Mohtamim Atfal next reported that there were 1876 Atfal in Burkina Faso according to the tajnid data. Hearing this, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said that they should try to update and complete the tajnid, “there should be more [Atfal] than this.”
Mohtamim Waqar-e-Amalreported that two kinds of waqar-e-amal was done: The first was in Jamaat areas such as the mosque, mission houses, and wherever the Jamaat needed. The second was for the benefit of the general public such as the highway, roads and hospitals. He added that this was leaving a good impression on the general public. After this, Huzooraa discussed various budgetary matters with Karim Sahib, the Mohtamim Maal.
Speaking with Mohtamim Sanat-o-Tijarat, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa asked how much income was generated through the department. In response, Mohtamim Sanat-o-Tijarat replied that for the time being, the department had no source of income but efforts were being made.
Next, Huzooraa asked Mohtamim Tahrik-e-Jadid how much Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya contributed towards Tahrik-e-Jadid. He replied as he was recently assigned this duty he was not sure about the exact figure but, he was working hard on the duty he was assigned.
Speaking with Moctar Sanfo Sahib, Muhasib, Huzooraa asked him if he audited the Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya accounts and receipts, to which he replied in the affirmative.
Next Qaid Ilaqa of the Kadiogo region presented his report. Huzooraa enquired how many Khuddam there were in the Kadiogo region, to which he said that there were 292 Khuddam. Further, Qaid Ilaqa of Bobo-Dioulasso reported that there were 460 Khuddam in his region. Conversing with Qaid Ilaqa of the Boromo region, Huzooraa asked if the area was peaceful; to which he replied in the affirmative. Youssouf Sahib, Qaid Ilaqa of the Ouagadougou region stated that there were 188 Khuddam in his region.
Conversing with Mohtamim Umumi, Huzooraa said, “It is the duty of Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya to protect the properties of Jamaat Ahmadiyya. So, you should discharge your duties in this regard.”
Then, whilst speaking with Qaid Ilaqa of Dori, Huzooraa asked about the law and order condition. The Qaid Ilaqa of the Dori region replied that the condition was not very good and requested prayers. Huzooraa said, “Allah Almighty keep all of you safe. Allah Almighty bless you all.”
In the end, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, whilst addressing the amila, said, “Allah Hafiz! Allah Almighty keep you safe and enable you to work hard for the cause of the Jamaat and give you the strength to spread the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat all across the country.”
Thereafter, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa extended salaam to everyone and the meeting came to an end.
(Report prepared by Al Hakam)
