Islamabad, UK, 10 June 2023: At 8:05pm, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, arrived at the Masroor Hall, Islamabad, UK, for the concluding session of the International Association of Ahmadi Architects & Engineers’ (IAAAE) European Symposium 2023.
Apart from those present in Islamabad, UK, other IAAAE members from countries such as the USA, India and Nigeria etc. joined the concluding session virtually.
After his arrival, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa conveyed salaam to all the attendees and then invited Abdul Razaq Sahib to recite a portion of the Holy Quran. The Quranic verses were from Surah Dahr, verses 9-12.
A report on the symposium was presented by Akram Ahmedi Sahib, Chairman of IAAAE, who said that the title of the symposium was “Engineering for Peace”.
The chairman said their work accelerated after the pandemic, providing water to over 3800 locations, serving 3-5 million people and providing a source of renewable electricity and lighting to over 520 rural locations. He said they completed 26 villages in 10 countries last year and are now advancing to model towns, commencing in the Gambia. He said that they undertook 135 handpump rehabilitations, maintained 55 handpumps, installed 33 mini solar well systems, dug nine boreholes, and the work IAAAE carried out benefitted over 250,000 people in 2022-23 across seven countries. These countries are Niger, Benin, Ghana, Liberia, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania. He also said that they electrified over 520 villages in 2022-23. Consequently, six countries and 46,800 people were served with electricity and light in Africa.
The chairman said that based on Huzoor’saa guidance, IAAAE is preparing to address issues and shocks resulting from global challenges and risks. They have worked on building affordable housing, food security and agriculture. He added they have started work on MITC, the Masroor International Technical College, elevating IAAAE impact to the next level, empowering those that they serve to stand on their own two feet. He said that they had started low-cost housing and mud houses as well. They are planning on building “Peace City” as well, where there will be two- and three-story houses at a low cost.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa then came to the podium to deliver the concluding address.
After reciting tashahud and ta‘awuz, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said:
“With the grace of Allah, today, the members of IAAAE have gathered together for their annual symposium to review the various projects and activities they have conducted over the past year and to plan for the future.” Huzooraa said this event would enable all of the IAAAE members to reflect on the blessings of Allah and to offer gratitude to Him for granting them the opportunity and ability to serve humanity.
Huzooraa said, “[…] The core objective underpinning the establishment of the IAAAE is to serve the needs of the most vulnerable and weakest members of the society.”
Huzooraa added he initially instructed IAAAE to focus on providing clean water to people living in deprived and underprivileged parts of the world. Huzooraa acknowledged the efforts of IAAAE in fulfilling his directives by installing water wells and pumps in many remote villages across Africa under the “Water for Life” scheme. Huzooraa said IAAAE has built homes and shelters through its “Model Village” scheme. Huzooraa expressed that IAAAE has worked tirelessly to fulfil the various needs of the Jamaat by offering their time, expertise and skills on many projects in different countries.
Huzooraa said, with the grace of Allah, the scale of IAAAE’s ambitions and projects continues to increase. Huzooraa mentioned that IAAAE has undertaken to build and administer a technical training institute in Nigeria in order to train young people in various skills so that they may stand on their feet and contribute positively to society. Huzooraa said, “I pray that Allah the Almighty enables you to complete this project soon and that it fulfils its underlying objective of playing a major role in the progress and development of the nation and the African continent at large.”
Owing to the fragile state of the world, Huzooraa had instructed that IAAAE should consider how it could play its role in rebuilding society in case of a possible world war. “According to my instructions, IAAAE has formulated a plan detailing how shelter and accommodation could be rapidly constructed,” Huzooraa said. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa stated that IAAAE has also planned large-scale agricultural and food security projects.
Huzooraa emphasised that the core objective is to serve humanity as Islam instructs us to serve those in need and show compassion to all mankind. The Promised Messiahas was sent for this very purpose of serving humanity.
The Promised Messiahas said:
“Each day, every person should analyse himself and see to what extent he is concerned for the wellbeing of others and to what extent he shows love and compassion to his brothers.”
Huzooraa said that the Promised Messiahas further mentioned a hadith and said that “On the Day of Judgement, Allah will say, ‘I was hungry and you did not feed Me, I was thirsty and you did not give Me water, I was sick but you did not comfort Me.’ Upon this, those being addressed would ask, ‘When were You hungry and we did not feed You, when were You thirsty and we did not give You water, and when were You sick and we did not comfort You.’ In reply, God Almighty will say, ‘A person dear to Me was suffering and you did not show any compassion and kindness to him. To show love to him would actually have been to show love to Me.’”
Huzooraa said that the Promised Messiahas thus laid great emphasis on the fact that serving humanity is a fundamental component of our faith and something that God Almighty loves very much. Hence, whatever projects our Ahmadi architects and engineers are working on, be they installing water wells, building affordable homes, constructing model villages or providing energy and other essential services, their efforts should always be motivated purely out of love for humanity and the desire to attain the pleasure and nearness of Allah the Almighty.
Huzooraa said, “As members of IAAAE, you must always keep this point at the forefront of your minds and strive to emulate the example of the Promised Messiahas.”
Huzooraa said he was pleased to see that the number of volunteers offering their services to the IAAAE has steadily increased and new people are coming forward. Huzooraa said, “May Allah reward them for their good intentions and efforts. […] I pray that many more people are inspired to serve the IAAAE in the years ahead.”
Huzooraa further said, “I pray that the IAAAE continues to go from strength to strength and plays an outstanding role in fulfilling the objective for which the Promised Messiahas was sent in this era of serving humanity throughout the world irrespective of caste, colour and creed.”
Huzooraa said, “May Allah reward all of you for your sincere efforts and enable you for an immense source of relief and comfort for those whose lives are mired by perpetual struggle, hardship and destitution. Amin.”
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa then led everyone in silent prayer.
(Report prepared by Al Hakam)