Faran Rabbani, USA Correspondent
9 October 2022 was the day for Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V’saa departure from Dallas, Texas. The day began with the Fajr prayer, afterwards, Huzooraa went to his residence and then came out at around 11 am. The local Jamaat amila had the honour to have a group photo with Huzooraa. Various departmental nazimeen also had their group photo with Huzooraa, followed by the Ziafat department volunteers.
After the group photos, Huzooraa went around the complex to see and greet everyone before leading everyone present in silent prayer. After the dua, Huzoor’s qafila left Bait-ul-Ikram Mosque complex for the airport where a chartered plane was awaiting Huzooraa and the accompanying entourage. This brought the second leg of the tour to a successful end. During Huzoor’s stay in Dallas, Huzooraa met 716 members of the Jamaat, alhamdulillah.
There were around 70 members in Huzoor’s entourage that traveled in the “Khilafat Flight” KF2022 from Dallas to Baltimore. The “Khilafat Flight” departed Dallas at around 12:30 pm for Baltimore, Maryland.
It was a short 2.5 hours flight to Baltimore. After landing at around 4 pm, one of the naib amir of USA Jamaat Falahuddin Shams Sahib, along with general secretary Mukhtar Malhi Sahib and Sadr MKA Dr Madeel Abdullah Sahib received Huzooraa and the members of the entourage at the airport. After exiting the airport, the entourage was quickly escorted by the Police and was on the way to the national headquarters of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya USA at Baitur Rahman Mosque in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Around 3,000 members had gathered to welcome Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa. Once again, the members had come from different places to see and welcome their beloved Khalifa. The members had gathered here from at least 10 countries: USA, Canada, the UK, Mexico, Bangladesh, Sweden, Bolivia, Brazil, Pakistan, and Belize.
After arriving at the Baitur Rahman Mosque, Huzooraa got off his car and then walked towards his residence while he was welcomed and greeted by the members that had gathered here and were waiting for several hours for beloved Huzooraa. Young Nasirat and Atfal were reciting taranas while the elders were raising various slogans to express their love for Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya, alhamdulillah.
Around 5:30 pm, Huzooraa came to the mosque and led everyone in Zuhr and Asr prayers.
At Baitur Rahman complex, there are several marquees that have been setup for the over flow of worshippers. The Lajna are being accommodated in their respective hall on the upper floor of the mosque as well as their own overflow marquees outside. There is a separate Langar arrangement for men and women.
As the evening drew near, the mosque started to get filled with worshippers lining up hours ahead of the Maghrib prayer in order to get a spot inside the main prayer hall of Baitur Rahman Mosque. After the mosque got filled, the members were directed to fill the overflow marquees. At about 8:30 pm, Huzooraa came to the masjid and led everyone in Maghrib and Isha prayers and then retired to his residence for the night.
10 October 2022
The next day, Huzooraa inaugurated the national headquarters of the Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya USA, Sira-e-Khidmat, that had been acquired in January 2020. Motamid MKA USA, Zafir Ahmed Sahib reports that Huzooraa arrived at the property at 1:20 pm, unveiled the plaque and then led everyone present in silent prayer.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, attendance at the inauguration event was limited to about 75 people which included national amila of USA Jamaat and MKA USA amila. The property is spread over 0.55 acres, and located half a mile away from Baitur Rahman Mosque in Silver Spring, MD.
After this Huzooraa returned to Baitur Rahman Mosque and led the Zuhr and Asr prayers. In the evening the family mulaqats began.
11 October 2022
The Ghanian ambassador to the US, HE Hajia Alima Mahama came to meet Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa. Afterward, Huzooraa met 32 Ahmadi families comprising of 151 members. And then later in the evening, Huzooraa met around 500 Ahmadis in group mulaqats.
Huzooraa also gave time to 46 new converts and current tabligh contacts. One of the tabligh contacts, Mr Christopher Meyer the 2nd from Orlando, requested Huzooraa that he would like to convert and give his bai’at at the hands of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa. Huzooraa graciously approved his request for the next day after Zuhr and Asr prayers.
12 October 2022
The ambassador of Sierra Leone to the US, HE Sidique Abou-Bakarr Wai had the honour of meeting Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa in the morning. Afterward, Mr Shobana Shankar, professor at Stony Brook University had an audience with Huzooraa. Next to have an audience with Huzooraa was the first secretary of the Gambian Embassy, Mr Saikou Ceesay.
After meeting with the dignitaries, the mulaqats with Ahmadis resumed and Huzooraa met 36 Ahmadi families comprising of 162 individuals.
After Zuhr and Asr prayers, Huzooraa held a bai’at ceremony at the masjid. Mr Christopher Meyer the 2nd had the honour to give his oath of allegiance to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa by giving his hand in Huzoor’s hand. Everyone present made the human chain by placing their hand on the shoulder of the person in front. The entire mosque was full of worshippers and the overflow marquees also had significant number of rows filled. Everyone was able to take part in this extraordinary experience of bai’at, alhamdulillah.
Around 6pm, Huzooraa visited the MTA earth station at the Baitur Rahman complex. Huzooraa received a tour and a brief report from Chaudhry Munir Sahib, director MTA International Masroor Teleport North and South America.
A few minutes later, Huzooraa came to the main prayer hall where 200 Waqifaat-e-Nau were awaiting Huzooraa for their Gulshan-e-Waqf-e-Nau class. This class went on for about an hour, followed by a class with the Waqifeen-e-Nau. This class also went on for about an hour and was attended by 209 boys. A separate report of these classes will be shared later, insha-Allah.
13 October 2022
Huzooraa met 49 Ahmadi families comprising of 206 individuals from 24 different Jamaat across the USA. The weather was cold and rainy, hence for the evening prayers, Huzooraa used the inside entrance to the main prayer hall. On his way back to his residence, there were several hundred Ahmadi Muslims eagerly waiting to catch a glimpse of their beloved Imam, despite heavy rain. This show of immense love between a master and his servants cannot be found anywhere on earth.
14 October 2022
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa led the Jumuah prayer from the Baitur Rahman Mosque in Silver Spring Maryland.