Hadeeqatul Mahdi, 26 July 2025: Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, arrived at the Lajna marquee for his address just after noon.
To begin the session, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa invited Amina El-Aissaoui Sahiba to recite verses of the Holy Quran from Surah al-Ahzab, Ch.33: V.36-37. Saiha Maaz Sahiba then presented its translation. Saloni Rasheed Sahiba then presented an Urdu poem written by the Promised Messiahas.
Huzooraa then invited Lajna Imaillah UK’s Secretary Umur-e-Talibaat to announce the names of Lajna students who have achieved academic excellence over the past year.
Following this, Huzooraa took to the podium to deliver his address. After tashahhud, ta‘awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, Huzooraa stated that many girls ask how they can help the Jamaat alongside their worldly education. Huzooraa stated that they could be of value to the Jamaat in any field they were in, or even if they were raising their children and taking care of the home.
Huzooraa said that they should remember that they are the ones who must reform society. For this, they have to follow the commandments of Allah, reform themselves, improve their spiritual and moral state, and bring about a revolution.
Allah the Almighty has given women a high station. The Promised Messiahas spoke about the rights and responsibilities of women on many instances. This is because in our society, women are not always given their due respect, and their rights are not always protected.
The Promised Messiahas said that the Holy Prophetsa emphasised kind treatment to one’s wife. Thus, the relationship between a man and his wife must be one of love and understanding. Without this, he cannot be truly good.
However, if a woman does something which goes against the teachings of Islam, the man should make it clear that such things would not be tolerated. But he is still not supposed to be so harsh that he cannot cover her faults.
People complain that men often appear very virtuous to the world, but at home, they do not uphold those values. However, Allah states that women should be dealt with in the best manner. The Promised Messiahas also stated that if you are not good to your wives, then what good can you do in the world?
If a woman does something out of turn, the man should seek her reformation. But although this responsibility is the man’s, he must first be reformed himself. For if man is not firm in his faith, how can he instil that faith in his wife?
Most men seem to think that Islam allows them to chastise women freely. But this is false because Islam has created steps for men to follow in the case of seeking reformation. The Promised Messiahas even received a revelation regarding one of his companions who had mistreated his wife that such actions are not appropriate.
The fundamental principle in Islam is that men and women must live in harmony and treat each other in the best manner. Nikah is a pledge, so they should try their best to fulfil this pledge. Men must pray for their wives, and neither should hasten towards divorce.
Huzooraa said that the Promised Messiahas had spoken extensively about the rights due to women. Despite what many people allege, Islam gives women all the rights due to them.
Some men complain that they treat their wives well, but women refuse to confer the same treatment and sometimes create unrest in the home. Women should also keep in mind that they are supposed to remain patient, tolerant and prayerful, look after their children and remain firm on their faith.
Sometimes, those women who do not have enough knowledge of Islam Ahmadiyyat get impressed by the propaganda against Islam, which tries to allege that Islam does not give women their rights.
The Promised Messiahas remarks that the way Islam protects the rights of women is unmatched in any other religion. The Holy Quran states:
وَلَهُنَّ مِثْلُ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِنَّ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ
“And they [the women] have rights similar to those [of men] over them in equity.” (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.229)
Many men abuse their wives greatly, but they should remember that the standard of Islam is for a couple to live as true friends; it is only then that they will be able to fulfil the rights they owe to each other. Huzooras stated that wives are the first witnesses to the righteousness of their husbands. And if there is unrest in their relationship, they would not find Allah’s pleasure.
Huzooraa stated that women should remember that if men exceed their bounds, they are going against the teachings of Islam. So instead of being convinced by the opponents of Islam who allege that Islam abuses women, they should take the steps that Islam has placed for them and let the matter be dealt with accordingly.
Western countries usually take advantage of such incidents of abuse, and say that Islam traps women in their homes, while men are allowed to go out and about, and that men are allowed to marry more than once.
But such allegations lack context. The Promised Messiahas even stated on one occasion that the rights of women, which are obligatory on men, are so many that if he understood this, they would probably not wish to marry even once.
Huzooraa stated that the allowance to marry more than once is not without its conditions. The Promised Messiahas states that men should make sacrifices for the sentiments of their wives, so much so that if he sees that marrying another wife (even with valid reasons) would upset the wife, then he should forego that right to protect her emotions.
The principle is that man should not seek to marry more than once merely as a desire; rather, it should only be done because of valid reasons. Huzooras even stated that women have the right to demand at the time of her nikah that her husband will not marry again during their marriage; otherwise, they have no right to protest a second marriage.
It is also said that man has been given more rank than woman. But the word “qawwam” [Surah an-Nisa, Ch.4: V.35] means that man has been tasked with reforming themselves and reforming the society around them and cleansing it of evil.
This also means that men must seek to reform women by presenting their pious examples, which would lead women to follow them to create a pure society. The word “qawwam” does not mean that man can do whatever he wishes.
Men have been given some powers that women do not have. Even in sports competitions, men and women play separately because there is a fundamental difference between the strengths of men and women. Thus, one meaning of “qawwam” is that man has been given greater nerves, so they should try their best to create peace in the home.
Such women were born in Islam that established such high standards that if they had complaints, it was regarding their spiritual rights; they wanted to know if men have a greater opportunity to do good and earn reward from Allah. Concerning this, a hadith states that a Muslim woman came to the Holy Prophetsa and said that because of their work assigned to them in the house, they are not able to take part in the work that earns men greater rewards.
So she asked the Holy Prophetsa whether men and women were not equal in receiving rewards from Allah for their good works and worship? After all, men can serve their faith by going out for jihad, and they also find it easier to fulfil the rights of Allah’s creation. Her question centred not around a superiority in rank, but rather a superiority of doing good, and thus earning a greater reward from Allah.
The Holy Prophetsa praised the woman’s question and replied that for a woman to be a good wife, raise her children well, and live harmoniously with her husband, will earn her the same reward as the man who goes out and serves his faith. He said that she should not think that if she stays at home, she will earn fewer rewards than men. This is the status that Islam bestows on women.
Some say that women have been commanded to do purdah, and this has constricted their movements. But the Promised Messiahas said that people have misunderstood the wisdom of purdah; they have not been caged in their homes.
Men and women alike have been commanded to be modest and keep their eyes downcast, instead of letting their eyes wander about. Women have especially been commanded to dress in a manner that would prevent people from looking at them indecently. Allah states that to save oneself from indecent situations, it is better to stay away from the agencies that could create the situations in the first place.
The Promised Messiahas states that purdah is a kind of barrier that prevents men and women from mixing freely. In such cases, they could easily falter and fall into sin. While many forward-thinking societies consider free-mixing to be a positive thing, Islam prevents the creation of such circumstances where men can abuse women or where they both can fall into sin.
False allegations can also be raised against others, and such doubts can create unrest in society. Sometimes, historic allegations are raised against men many years later; women allege that they were mistreated or abused, whereas they are also at fault.
The Promised Messiahas also said that in purdah, extremism is not permitted. Giving an example, he said that if a male doctor needs to deliver a child, he is allowed to do so. He who creates unnecessary hardship in the sharia creates a new sharia, i.e., he deviates from the teachings of Islam.
It is necessary for women to understand their responsibilities as members of society and create a generation of righteous people who will grow up to become a valuable part of a God-fearing society. It is such people who see paradise in this world and the next.
We should be grateful to Allah for granting women such rights. Thus, women need to pay attention to their reformation and fulfil the rights of Allah. Women need to understand that they must sacrifice their unlawful desires to create a future generation of righteous fathers, mothers, sons and daughters, who will lead the revolution to create an Islamic society and forever fulfil their pledge of giving precedence to their faith over the world.
What great reformation did the male and female companions of the Holy Prophetsa bring about? They gave precedence to their faith over the world and cultivated great moral qualities. During the time of the Holy Prophetsa, the women presented great examples of religion.
Huzooraa also noted that women should not think that they are the only ones who are being addressed, but these matters are also addressed to the men. They must reform themselves and present their best examples; otherwise, they would be guilty.
Huzooraa stated that the Holy Quran states:
اعْلَمُوا أَنَّمَا الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا لَعِبٌ وَلَهْوٌ وَزِينَةٌ وَتَفَاخُرٌ بَيْنَكُمْ وَتَكَاثُرٌ فِي الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَوْلَادِ
“Know that the life of this world is only a sport and a pastime, and an adornment, and [a source of] boasting among yourselves, and [of] rivalry in multiplying riches and children.” (Surah al-Hadid, Ch.57: V.21)
Huzooraa emphasised that our purpose on this earth is not to be engulfed in the pleasures of this world, which lead us away from our great purpose. When we realise this, we will be able to inspire a revolution in the world, and the world will then be forced to accept the superior teachings of Islam.
Remember, women also have to do tabligh, and they can only do this if they leave all kinds of inferiority complexes and fully believe that Islam is a religion that grants them their rights.
If your characters are exemplary, you will also help your husbands create a change for the better. Thus, do not only focus on whether your husbands have fulfilled all your rights or not, but remember that it is your responsibility to become valuable members of society due to the rights that Islam has bestowed upon you.
Huzooraa then ended the session with a silent prayer.
(Report prepared by Al Hakam)