Asif M Basit, London
Khilafat Day came and went this year like every other year. The sun of 27 May rose and set like any other normal day. The Jamaat’s newspapers and magazines published special issues for the day and MTA arranged a variety of programmes to commemorate this very special day of our history – the day when the true Islamic caliphate was re-established.
Chapters of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat held meetings – on local and national levels – dedicated to the special occasion.
But all this – despite being inherently very important – was a series of events that take place every year and nothing is very unusual about it.
The true spirit of Khilafat – and the majesty of Allah the Almighty which it stands for – was celebrated a day after, on Friday, 28 May, when Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa tapped on the subject himself. Huzoor’s sermon brought the history of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya – now spanning 113 years – playing before our eyes in a fast-forward mode. And how faith-inspiring it was!
Huzooraa started the sermon by briefly mentioning the great achievements of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira, then moving on to the magnificent services of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra, before mentioning how the Jamaat had continued to progress in the blessed eras of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh.
But when the natural flow of this awe-inspiring story brought itself to the time of his own Khilafat, Huzooraa said something that pierced through my heart, as, I believe, it would have pierced through every Ahmadi’s heart.
As the whole story was based on solid, tangible facts, Huzooraa continued mentioning – albeit by just touching upon the periphery – the bounties and blessings of Allah during the period of his own Khilafat, with great humility. And then came the few words that struck my heart and left me restless.
Huzooraa said, “I am but a very weak person […]”.
These few words got stuck in my heart and soul and I carried them around for two whole days.
The person who is, for me and for millions of others, the mightiest, is weak? The one who carries in his heart the gigantic weight of humanitarian pain, is weak? The one who has relentlessly been treading on and calling to the path of God for almost two decades – despite the tempest of materialism – is weak? The only audible, acceptable and practicable voice of Islam in this day and age, is weak?
These thoughts, and their strands, tangled themselves in my mind for two whole days.
On the morning of Sunday, 30 May, I got the opportunity to see Huzooraa in person. I couldn’t carry the weight any more and so, after having sought guidance in various matters, I finally off-loaded it at the first available chance:
“Huzoor, you have witnessed Allah’s favour and grace for over 18 years now; do you still think that you really are ‘weak’?”
I hardly finished my question when Huzooraa said:
“Yes. I do very much feel so; even more now than ever before. It is Allah’s favour that proves that no human effort or excellence is behind all this. Allah may choose whosoever, but He alone protects the Jamaat and keeps it on the road of progress.”
I said, “Huzoor, it’s almost been two decades. You must have had an idea about why Allah chose you for Khilafat?”
Huzooraa replied:
“Yes. I have understood. I understood it the very first day, but with time, this understanding has only strengthened.
“I feel that Allah chose me to make it known to the world that this is Allah’s Jamaat and He alone secures it; also, to make it known that the Ahmadiyya Khilafat has been established by Allah alone and that no form of human knowledge, experience, efficiency or quality stand behind it. And this is a great sign of the truthfulness of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya.”
There came a pause and I thought that this great moment was over. But after a few seconds, I heard Huzoor’s voice again:
“I always feel that this couplet truly depicts my state:
جے میں ویکھاں عملاں ولے، کچھ نئیں میرے پلے
جے ویکھاں تیری رحمت وَلّے، بَلّے بَلّے بَلّے
[A glance at my deeds brings me back nothing; but I look at Your mercy, and all I see is favours and blessings.]
“I have never had any air about myself. Allah alone has rendered everything.”
With these humble words of my humble master, I conclude this short piece. And as we leave it here, let us pray for the person who is the source of energy for all of us; for the one whose bravado and courage is taller than mighty mountains; for the one who stands firm before the colossal winds of time.
Let us pray for him who is determined to erect mosques in every nook and corner of the world; the one who is on an unwavering mission of spreading the word of the Quran to every human being on the planet. Let us pray for him who blows the spirit of Allah’s word, and that of his Messenger’ssa, in the heartlands of disbelief and infidelity; the one whose magnetism attracts lost souls that had strayed away from faith.
And let us pray for this person who brings honour and prestige to Islam; the one who is the brightest streak of the sun of Islam in this age.
Long live Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V!
اَللّٰھُمَّ اَیِّدْ اِمَامَنَا بِرُوْحِ الْقُدُس