On 29 November 2020, members of Germany mayar-e-kabir Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya were blessed to have a virtual class in the company of Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah strengthen his hand.
The class commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by a nazm. Thereafter, the Atfal were granted the opportunity to ask Huzooraa various questions and seek guidance on an array of matters relating to Islam, faith and contemporary issues.
During the class, a tifl asked Huzooraa if he had ever seen the Holy Prophetsa in a dream. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said, “We must not indulge in this matter of who has seen the Holy Prophetsa in a dream or in what manner one sees him. However, we must see if we observe and follow the perfect example the Holy Prophetsa exhibited.”
Huzooraa explained that this matter has been explained and elaborated by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh.
Huzooraa further added, “The actual thing from which you will be able to derive benefit is acting upon the noble example of the Holy Prophetsa; this is the real essence of love.”
“Nowadays”, Huzooraa explained, “I am delivering sermons on the Companionsra of the Holy Prophetsa, in which many ahadith are mentioned along with many other incidents relating to the Companions’ love for the Holy Prophetsa or guidance relating to Namaz and other matters. Thus, it is our duty to act in accordance with the teachings.”
Following this, Huzooraa was asked about praying during sajdah (prostration) and the language one must pray in. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa explained, “During sajdah, you may pray in the language you are comfortable in. It is a fact that during sajdah, the one who prays in their own language is able to pray in a better manner as the words will be uttered directly from the heart.”
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa was then asked how he was able to accomplish a great deal of work amidst a hectic schedule. Answering the question, Huzooraa said, “Firstly, you must make it a habit of working in a daily routine. Secondly, there are some works that can be achieved alongside performing other tasks … in this manner, the time consumed in performing that task, which otherwise would have been done later, is then reduced. Then, one must firmly commit to completing their work. By doing this, one is able to work with greater attention and focus. If you inculcate a habit of working hard then you can also work in this manner and complete your tasks.”
Following this, a tifl expressed that when a Muslim dies, we say:
اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَ اِنَّاۤ اِلَیۡہِ رٰجِعُوۡنَ
“Surely, to Allah we belong and to Him we shall return.”
He went on to ask whether it is permitted to say this when a non-Muslim dies.
Huzooraa answered in the affirmative and said, “We are all one day going to return to Allah … We recite this upon facing any type of grievance and in doing so, we express that we belong to Allah and to Him do we turn to at the face of every loss.”
A question was asked with regard to taqdir (divine decree). The tifl who posed the question asked that if God has written our taqdir, then why do we pray for certain things? Responding to this, Huzooraa said that there are certain decrees that are unalterable, while there are other destinies that can be changed.
“For example”, Huzooraa said, “we are all going to face death. No man can remain alive for eternity. This is a matter decreed by God. However, if person who falls ill and reaches a stage where doctors have given up, at such a stage, if we pray and God accepts the prayer and brings the person back from the brink of death, then this is God’s taqdir which has been averted … Thus, there are two types of taqdir. One that can be averted and the other which cannot.”
A young tifl expressed that he was currently pursuing memorising the Holy Quran and sought guidance from Huzooraa in this regard. He added that he wished to join Jamia Ahmadiyya. Upon this, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa stated, “Complete your hifz [memorisation of the Quran] and after Abitur [examinations taken at the end of secondary school in Germany], you may join Jamia as this will prove to be more beneficial.”
Huzooraa was asked about what can be done in response to those people around the world who are unaware of the true teachings of Islam and fear Muslims.
Huzooraa replied, “This is why we have been holding peace symposia and why I have been telling others to also hold such events and to distribute pamphlets explaining the true peaceful teachings of Islam. You should preach the true message of Islam to the public and explain to them that Islam is a religion of peace.”
Following this, a tifl, alluding to the Covid-19 vaccine under preparation, asked if one should take the injection. Huzooraa responded by saying, “It needs to be established that it is a proper preventative. If the authorities say to take it, then you may. Let us first see how the trials go.”
A tifl, whilst asking his question, said that God created man so that he may worship Him; “Then what was the need to create dinosaurs?”
Answering this, Huzooraa said, “Everything God has created has a use and proves to be beneficial for mankind. For example, the scorpion’s venom can be and is being used in medicines.”
Thus, Huzooraa explained that all creation has a benefit and use for mankind. With regard to God’s knowledge, a tifl asked what the purpose of our life was if God already knows who will ultimately go to heaven or hell. Answering this, Huzooraa said that there are two aspects to this. One is God’s knowledge and the other is our deeds. God knows if so and so will go to heaven. However, it is our duty to pray to God to grant us death as believers and grant us His pleasure. With regard to the prayer oft-recited by Muslims:
رَبَّنَاۤ اتِنَا فِی الدُّنۡیَا حَسَنَۃً وَّ فِی الۡاٰخِرَۃِ حَسَنَۃً وَّ قِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
“Our Lord, grant us good in this world as well as good in the world to come, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.” (Surah al-Baqarah Ch.2: V.202)
Huzooraa was asked how one may achieve success in this world and in the Hereafter. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa explained, “We pray to Allah to grant us good in this world as well as good in the world to come. This means that we should do good deeds in this world and attain God’s pleasure. In this way, we also ask for God’s forgiveness in the Hereafter.”
A tifl expressed that he would soon be entering Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya and asked how he could ensure that he became a good khadim. Huzooraa said, “You should make a solemn promise that ‘even as a khadim, I will continue to speak decently and truthfully. I will continue to offer Namaz five times a day and offer voluntary prayers with every namaz, in which I will fervently pray to God to make me a good khadim.’”
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa was then asked how he prepared for his Friday Sermons. Huzooraa explained, “For the topics which require research, such as the sermons I am delivering on the history of the Companionsra, I have a team who helps with references. However, there are some sermons – on topics such as Tahrik-e-Jadid, Waqf-e-Jadid or tarbiyat – for which I take a verse of the Holy Quran and explain its commentary and prepare it myself. At times, the research team helps with references and at other occasions, I find the references myself. Sometimes, I ask the team to provide a reference and then I prepare the sermon myself.”
Alluding to the current pandemic, a tifl asked if the world would ever go back to living its normal life and condition. Huzooraa replied by saying, “As far as coming back to normal is concerned, only Allah knows. However, after the coronavirus, the effects of the impact it has had on the global economy will remain for some time.”
Huzooraa further explained, “Judging by the current condition of the world, it seems that a war may break out after this pandemic and the effects will remain for many years. Thus, we should pray for the world and world leaders that they act wisely and unite to work together so that the world can live in peace and harmony. If they do not endeavour in this cause, then it will take many years for the normal conditions to return.
“However, to achieve this, it is necessary for the world to turn to God. If the world does not turn to Him, then we will see more pandemics and other distressing occurrences in the future. Thus we, as Ahmadis, should strive and do tabligh and tell people that for the world to return to its normal conditions, we must bow before God and fulfil His rights and the rights of His creation.”
With this, the virtual class came to a close.