On 13 March 2022, 126 Khuddam aged 15-25 from MKA USA had the opportunity to meet Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa through a virtual mulaqat. The Khuddam were situated in Dallas, Texas, while Huzooraa was in Islamabad, UK.
After conveying his salaam, Huzooraa called Jalees Ahmad Sahib to recite a portion of the Holy Quran – Surah al-Mu’minun, Ch.23, V. 1-12 – and Samar Ahmad Sahib read the English translation. Shifa Ilahi Sahib was called up to read an Urdu poem of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra – its translation was given by Abdur Rahim Oresanya Sahib.
Addressing Madeel Abdullah Sahib, Sadr Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya USA, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said: “Sadr Sahib, today you selected almost the same verses that were recited yesterday. If your Atfal and Khuddam act upon all these things written in these verses, then Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya USA will be one of the most pious and righteous Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya and Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya in the world. This is the commandment, this is the guideline, this is the directive of Allah the Almighty which, if practised, can make us role models for others.”
Madeel Abdullah Sahib reported that the Khuddam present in the meeting were aged 15-25. Hearing this, Huzooraa asked if all those Khuddam above this age group “were very well reformed” and that they didn’t need a meeting? To this sadr sahib said the spaces were limited and he felt the Khuddam above this age group out as they could travel to meet Huzooraa in person. To this Huzooraa remarked:
“They should. Encourage them to visit.”
The Khuddam then had a chance to ask questions to Huzooraa.
The first question was by Omer Amir Sahib from Houston. Seeing him, Huzooraa asked, “Where did I see you last? Your face looks quite familiar to me.” Omer Sahib said he had been blessed to meet Huzooraa during the AMSA MKA Canada trip to the UK in 2020.
Omer Sahib referenced a meeting of Kababir Ahmadis with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa on 5 June 2021, in which Huzooraa said the next few decades were crucial for the success of the Jamaat. Omer Sahib asked how Ahmadis today could fulfil their roles for this success.
Huzooraa said:
“They are crucial. Allah the Almighty has promised to the Promised Messiahas that his Jamaat will spread all across the world. And we, the Khuddam and even every person who claims himself to be an Ahmadi and the follower of the Promised Messiahas should work hard that when the time comes, if we are alive at that time […] then Allah the Almighty give us the opportunity to guide those people who come to us for any guidance.
“And for that, we have to learn more about religion. We should know; what is the Islamic shariah; what was the purpose of the coming of the Holy Prophetsa; what has been revealed to him in the Holy Quran; what are the commandments and injunctions given in the Holy Quran which make a person a true Muslim.
“If we ourselves are not practising those things, and we, ourselves don’t know what has been written in the Holy Quran, and what was the sunnah of the Holy Prophetsa and what Allah the Almighty wants from us, then how can we guide them?
“Because we can see the world is changing; even nowadays you can see. Some years ago, even your politicians, thinktanks and analysts used to say that ‘Oh, there’s no chance of any world war’ and I would always say that ‘No, there’s a fear of world war and you have to be very much careful’. And they were all refusing, refuting [and] denying it.
“But now you can see the clouds of war are just hanging over us.
“Even if this world war erupts or not, now people have started realising that this world is not a safe place; anything can happen at any moment. And I think, ultimately, people will start thinking on this matter as well that ‘Why is this happening?”
“If we are discharging our duty for the spreading of the message of Islam and Ahmadiyyat to the people, then a time will come when people will realise that ‘Yes, we should follow the commandments and injunctions which have been given to us by Allah the Almighty’ – not necessarily to the Muslims in the Holy Quran, but all the scriptures, all the prophets have asked their people to bow before Allah the Almighty, to bow before God and be morally good […]
“But at that time, you may say that ‘your religions were for during that time when their prophets claimed themselves to be prophets. But now the final of the prophets is the Holy Prophetsa of Islam and Quranic teachings are the universal teachings. And now if you want to save yourself, if you want the nearness of Allah the Almighty, then accept Islam and follow the teachings of Islam.
“And because the situation will be such that people will be realising it, I hope – and it is the promise of Allah the Almighty also – that they will pay heed to your words. And when they start listening to you, then that will be your duty to guide them on the right path.
“They will ask you, ‘How can we pray to Allah the Almighty? How can we practise the true teachings of the Quran and Islam?’ Then we should have the translation of the Holy Quran in their language. This is what we have been doing now.
“We have to spread this message and we have to reform ourselves before that time. If we do it, then that means we are preparing ourselves for that time.”
Muneeb Ahmad Sahib from Fort Worth asked if any doubts had ever arisen in Huzoor’s mind regarding the truth of Ahmadiyyat and if so, how did he reconcile those doubts.
Huzooraa said:
“Fortunately, I was brought up in such an atmosphere which was a religious atmosphere. And we used to have our Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya classes in the mosque from the very childhood. There we knew what are the Islamic teachings and we were taught that it was the prophecy of the Holy Prophetsa that in the Latter Days a reformer will come to revive the teachings of Islam when the time would come when the people would have forgotten the teaching of Islam. That was what we were taught in the early childhood.
“It never occurred to me in my life that I ever think that Ahmadiyyat is not true. If I believe that Allah is One and Omnipotent if I believe that the Holy Prophetsa is His prophet and Islam is the true religion then I have to believe that all the prophecies of the Holy Prophetsa were true and will come true in the future as well.
“This is why, as far as I am concerned, it never occurred to me or I never had any doubt about Ahmadiyyat; the truth of Ahmadiyyat.
“If you read to increase your knowledge, you read the Quran, you read Surah al-Jumuah, Chapter 62 of the Holy Quran and you read the first five to six verses of that surah and then you read the translation and interpretation and commentary of that, then certainly it will come into your mind – you start pondering over it – that who are those people whose coming was foretold by the Holy Prophetsa. And even it was revealed to the Holy Prophetsa by Allah the Almighty. Then you will know.
“And if you read the literature of the Promised Messiahas – his claim – and you see the condition of the Muslim ummah then it will never come to your mind that Ahmadiyyat is wrong. If you believe that Islam is right, if you believe that all the prophecies of the Holy Prophetsa are true and will be true in future as well, then it will never happen that you feel any doubt in your mind.”
Further advising on how to strengthen faith in Ahmadiyyat, Huzooraa said:
“For this, you will read the Holy Quran, you pray to Allah the Almighty in your five daily prayers – that if there’s any doubt, Allah removes it – and you read the literature, especially the books of the Promised Messiahas. And for that Haqiqatul Wahi is a good book […] You can read Introduction to the Study of the Holy Quran written by the second Khalifa – that will also give you the idea to understand about Islam and Ahmadiyyat, the truth of it, especially the last 5-10 pages if you read that there’s a mention of the coming of the Promised Messiahas and truth about Ahmadiyyat.
“And even Invitation to Ahmadiyyat is also a good book […] that will also give you the true concept about the truth of Ahmadiyyat.”
Nauman Farid Sahib from Minnesota, a waqif-e-nau, was next to ask a question. Huzooraa asked Nauman Sahib what he did to which he said he was still studying in high school but wanted to be a cardiothoracic surgeon in the future. Huzooraa said “Masha-Allah’” and asked:
“So, you want to be a cardiothoracic surgeon? Are you sure that you will do the waqf after completing your education?”
Nauman Sahib said:
“Yes, I’m really interested in the human body and I want to offer my services to the Jamaat.”
To this, Huzooraa said:
“Okay, if by that time we have more cardiac centres or hospitals in the world you can be sent there. Otherwise, at present, we have a hospital in Rabwah. So, after having completed your education then go to Rabwah to serve there for some time. Insha-Allah.”
Huzooraa then asked Nauman Sahib to ask his question. Nauman Sahib expressed that he offered his five daily prayers regularly and at times tahajud prayers too. However, sometimes he felt as if his heart was not present in the prayer and wanted to take a break. He asked Huzooraa what to do in such a situation.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said:
“A true believer should always be consistent in his worship. If you believe that it is Allah the Almighty Who is the Lord of the world – Heaven and the earth – then it will come into your mind immediately that I should bow before Him, I should pray to Him.
“If you think that Allah is the One Who is providing you everything – He is the Provider and Sustainer – then you will bow before Him. So always try to remember the attributes of Allah the Almighty.
“Since you are a grown-up boy now – I think you are 15 or 16 – so when you’re praying, you [should] also pray to Allah the Almighty that He gives you the strength to be steadfast in your prayers, in remembering Allah.
“If you want Allah the Almighty you have to ask Allah that it should never happen that you lose Him. And if you pray to him fervently in this manner, then I don’t think you will ever have any desire to have a break to offer any of your prayer.”
“If you need Allah the Almighty you have to say to Allah that you need Him. Then He will help you.
“And because at that time, you might be busy in either your studies, or any book which you like more, or any TV programme, or any programme on your tablet or iPad or somewhere, which you think should be given more preference than the prayer. If that be the case, then you will lose. Even during the prayer time, you leave everything and pray to Allah the Almighty that Allah always keeps you to steadfast in your prayers.”
Iqaan Ahmad from Oshkosh asked a question next. Huzooraa asked if he was ‘Mirza’ Iqan Ahmad to which he said yes. Iqan Sahib asked Huzooraa what his most memorable experience was with any of the previous Khulafa.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said:
“There are quite a number of memories. A very light moment I can tell you. In 1993 I was here, I had a chance to go to the North [of the UK] with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V. There we did some hiking or mountaineering […] So, I enjoyed that trip. And there were so many light moments at that time and he was very much free with me at that time. There are some moments like this which I enjoyed. So I can tell you only this much – if I go into the detail of it then the secrets of some other people will come out and I don’t want to disclose it.”
Danial Ahmad from Atlanta said that being a college student in America, it was inevitable to have friends who drank, used drugs and practised wrongful relationships. He asked how Ahmadis could balance religious values while also maintaining close and healthy relationships with society.
Huzooraa said:
“You see, I cannot believe this, that one hundred per cent of the students are involved in all the bad things […] There are quite a number of non-Muslim students even who are of good nature. So, you should see that your fellow students, if they are good in their studies – concentrate more on their studies – then you can make some friendship with them because you can discuss your subjects with them with regards to your studies. But if they say ‘let’s go to the club’ or ‘have a little drink’, then you say ‘no, being a Muslim, I don’t want it’. If they ask you to [be] involved with some bad things, making bad relationships with the opposite sex, or anything evil, then you say ‘no, being a Muslim I try to save myself from these things’.
“But as far as your studies are concerned you can make them friends, you can be in their company; in their lecture rooms, in your library, in your common room, in common discussion, in your playground, yes.
“You should be so powerful with regards to your character that they should not influence you. Rather, it should be the other way around – you should influence them. So that by seeing you, they leave their bad habits, they stop drinking. You can tell them these are the drawbacks of drinking […] – this is why our religion says we should not drink – and there are some other moral evils. […]
“This is your duty now that being a true Muslim – Ahmadi Muslim student – you should tell them that we should try to refrain from all these things. Instead of you getting under the influence of those people, you should rather influence them and bring them under your influence so that they change themselves.
“You have been created to reform the world, not to indulge yourself in worldly things. So, it needs some determination plus you pray to Allah the Almighty that Allah helps you so that you are saved from all these evils of the society.”
Huzooraa added:
“But never try to fight with any student. There are some moments when they behave well, then you also should behave well. This is why in the Holy Quran, Allah the Almighty says that in your company you will see different types of people of different nature and different habits. When they are doing something wrong just say ‘salaam’ and leave their company. When they discuss something else, they are doing good things, then come and join them.
This is the directive given in the Holy Quran that say “‘Peace’ – now you are involved in something wrong so ‘salaam’ – peace be on you – I still pray that Allah the Almighty saves you from this and I am going. When you will come to a normal condition then I will come back.’”
“Always remember this commandment of Allah the Almighty.”
Raghib Shahid Sahib was next to ask a question. He said he was the son of Dr Abdul Quddus Shahid Sahib. To this Huzooraa said, “I see, you are Dr Abdul Quddus’ son, the anaesthetist?” Raghib Sahib confirmed this.
His question was how one could overcome bad habits that were affecting spirituality.
Huzooraa said:
“For that Allah the Almighty says you should do more istighfar. And istighfar, where it saves you, and you get the forgiveness of Allah from your previous sins, it also saves you from all those sins which may occur in your life. You should do istighfar:
اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ رَبِّىْ مِنْ كلّ ذَنبٍ وَّاَتُوْبُ اِلَيْهِ
[I seek forgiveness of Allah, my Lord, for all my sins, and turn towards Him.]
“And you should know the meaning of it. And if you’re doing it fervently and you are remembering Allah the Almighty, and even during your five daily prayers you pray to Allah that Allah saves you from all these things, then Allah will save you.
“And never ever try to see the programmes on your internet, on your media, on your television which can lead you to go astray. There are good websites also. Never ever open any bad website, any link, which can lead you to the bad things.
“And try to read the Holy Quran daily and know the meaning of it also. Now you are grown up Masha-Allah with a beautiful beard.”
Huzooraa then asked Raghib Sahib if he was in university to which Raghib Sahib said he was and that he was 19 years old. Huzooraa continued:
“At this age, you should also try to give some time to increase your religious knowledge. And make it a point that you will never lose your five daily prayer; you will never miss any prayer during the day and you will offer your five daily prayers regularly. And pray to Allah the Almighty in your prayers as well, when you are in sajdah position, that Allah saves you from all the bad things of the society.
“It is only Allah Who can help us. Otherwise, the society we are living in is such that if we are relaxed, even a little relaxation can just ruin us – ruin our religion, our life. […] We have to be very much careful and vigilant.
“To save yourself from Satan is very much difficult and without Allah’s help, without prayer, without involving yourself in learning more about the Quranic commandments or other religious literature, you cannot save yourself.
“You should try to find some time, spare some time you give to your religious studies and that will also increase you in your faith.
“Always say:
أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
“And:
اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ رَبِّىْ مِنْ كلّ ذَنبٍ وَّاَتُوْبُ اِلَيْهِ
Frasat Ahmad Basharat from Detroit spoke next to Huzooraa. Frasat Sahib said he was part of the Waqf-e-Nau scheme and on Huzoor’s questioning said he planned to go to Jamia Ahmadiyya.
Frasat Sahib asked how Huzooraa felt when he received the letters of Ahmadis.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa smiled and said:
“You see, if I receive your letter once in a year even then I pray for you, I say ‘O Allah the Almighty bless this person who has written me the letter’. And some people who have been writing to me regularly, at least once a month, and I have some personal contact with those people as well, obviously it is human nature – and I am also a human being – […] that creates some different sentiments for that person.
“Anyway, no matter whether you are writing once in a year or every month, I pray for everybody who writes to me, even for those even who do not write.
“But those whom I know very well, you see, then you have some personal contacts with them and personal sentiments and emotions for them. So, I feel the same way as you feel when you receive the letter of your friend, or your brother or your loved one.”
Jasim Ijaz Sahib from Houston said that in the Western world it was difficult to lower one’s gaze as society was overwhelmed with unavoidable forms of media in every direction. He asked Huzooraa how one could ensure modesty and lower one’s gaze in such an atmosphere.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa noted that lowering one’s gaze was no more limited to settings outside the house like shopping malls or streets, rather:
“Even at home also when you’re watching your television it becomes very much difficult because suddenly such types of scenes come on the screen which a pious-natured person would loathe seeing. This is why you should try to avoid seeing these programmes on the television or Internet, or any of this media.
“Secondly, when you are walking on the streets then don’t open your eyes once you see somebody. It is true that if you close your eyes you will collide with somebody […] so ‘lower your gaze’ means you can open your eyes – not wide-opened eyes – see that you are just seeing the way, not the person. You have to avoid it.
“At the same time, you should also do istighfar that Allah the Almighty saves you from any bad scene which you may come across on the way.”
Huzooraa noted that one could not lower their gaze completely while walking outside as this would lead to accidents and more harm. Huzooraa said ‘lower your gaze’ meant seeing the way clearly but with a blurred vision too and with half-opened eyes so that the complete feature of a person could not be seen.
Huzooraa said to always engage in istighfar while outside and to recite:
لا حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا باللّٰهِ
“There is no power nor strength except by Allah”
Huzooraa continued:
“This is the only way to save yourself, otherwise Satan will always incite you to see these things. Here, in this world, only istighfar and prayer to Allah the Almighty can save you from these things.
“Otherwise, yes, you are right, that no person can be saved.”
Umar Chaudhry Sahib from Detroit said there were Khuddam who felt there was no good marital matches for them within the Jamaat, therefore they sought other girls outside the Jamaat. He asked for Huzoor’s advice to such Khuddam.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said:
“How do you know that this rishta [match] is good for you and that is not good for you?”
Huzooraa said the Holy Prophetsa said a person married for four reasons and out of those the Prophetsa selected the criteria which a true Muslim should focus on when finding a marriage match. A person married a woman for either beauty, wealth or because of her family. The Holy Prophetsa however said “A true Muslim, a true believer should prefer to marry a girl who is pious and more inclined towards religious things. And she’s a true believer.”
Huzooraa said that if boys started searching for girls who were true believers, it would mean the boys would also have to reform themselves. They should also try to be pious, good-natured and practising Muslims, like the girls they were seeking. Huzooraa said:
“This is the only solution which can solve this problem. But the problem here is that boys themselves are deviating from the true teaching of Islam and Ahmadiyyat. They are more inclined towards worldly things than religion. And the same is with the girls to some extent – if not one hundred per cent like boys. Both of you will have to change your mindset that you should give preference to your religion over all other things.
“If you bring your mind to such a position and your mindset is such that you are not going to prefer anything else but the religion, then this problem can be solved. Otherwise, if you marry a girl who is not from the Jamaat, you are going to affect your progeny. Your children may go astray. They may leave the Jamaat. They will not follow the religion which you are following.
“For that instead of only following our emotions and sentiments and worldly things, we should prefer religion more than anything else. And that is the only solution, otherwise no, after some generations you would see that your progeny has left the religion, has left the Jamaat. Even have forgotten to bow before Allah the Almighty and practise the teachings of Islam.
“Every big thing needs some sacrifice. If you are determined to do sacrifice for the safety of your next generation, then you should marry those girls who are Ahmadis – and among Ahmadis even those girls who are religious minded and of pious nature.
“And in this way, both of you – boys and girls – will start reforming themselves. They will be inclined more towards religion than anything else. And this is how we can save our next generation, this is how we can save ourselves, this is how we can save our religion.
“Otherwise, there is no other way.”
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa then turned to sadr MKA USA and said the time was over. Sadr Sahib thanked Huzooraa for his time and prayed for Huzooraa to visit them in the USA. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said:
“Let us hope for the best.”
Huzooraa then conveyed his salaam and the meeting came to an end.
(Report prepared by Al Hakam)
Excellent advice to young boys. May Allah the Almighty give them the strength and resolve to listen and practice what the Khalifa of the time advices. Learnt a lot especially about Istighfar.