Hazrat Khalifatul Masih offers guidance to Atfal in Australia
In his Friday Sermon of 1 April 1938, with regard to the moral training and upbringing of youth, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih IIra, said, “A nation cannot be reformed without first reforming its youth.” (Al Fazl, 10 April 1938)
In July 1940, during his Friday Sermon, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIra, addressing Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya, introduced a new auxiliary body, which he named Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya, to cater for the young boys of the Jamaat.
Since its inception, Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya along with Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya has played an important and pivotal role in looking after the moral training, education and upbringing of the youth of the Jamaat and will, insha-Allah, continue to do so.
On 10 October 2020, a total of 62 members of Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya Australia, between the ages of 12 and 15 were blessed with a virtual class with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih, may Allah be his Helper.
The class commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by a nazm. Thereafter, a brief report was presented by the mohtamim Atfal, in which he highlighted the activities of Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya Australia.
Following this, the Atfal had the opportunity to ask Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa an array of questions and seek guidance on various matters relating to studies, life and religion.
One tifl expressed his difficulty in reading and understanding the books of the Promised Messiahas. He asked Huzooraa for advice and about the manner in which one should approach studying the books of the Promised Messiahas.
Answering the young boy, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said:
“Although the books of the Promised Messiahas are generally difficult [to understand at your age]; however, there are some books which are easy to understand.”
Huzooraa added, “There are some books which have been translated into English and even Malfuzat, volume one and two, have also been translated.”
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa further said, “You may think you are young, but in the olden days, a boy of your age would be married. There were quite a number of young boys who would come to sit in the company of the Promised Messiahas and listen to him and then they practiced what he taught them. So, you should first study the books that have been translated into English, such as Noah’s Ark, Malfuzat, and try to read some of the passages or excerpts that have been translated into English in the form of The Essence of Islam.”
The next question was asked with regard to prophets and how God chooses His prophets. Answering the question, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa explained:
“Allah knows best. There are some people who are born pious and Allah knows they will become prophets. So, Allah trains them from childhood, teaches them and makes their character in such a way that they never do anything wrong.”
Following this, a tifl expressed that as one prepares to commit a good deed or begins thinking about doing a good deed, Satan tries to distract and lure man away. The tifl asked what one should do to save oneself from coming under the grip of Satan’s evil whisper. Answering this, Huzooraa explained:
“First, you must pray to Allah, that ‘O Allah, save us from Satan, the Accursed.’ For this, one should read:
أَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيْمِ
That is, “I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan.”
Further, alluding to the age of the young tifl, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said, “Secondly, this age is very dangerous because this is the age when Satan tries his utmost to distract you from the right path. So, you should recite:
أَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيْمِ
and also recite
أَسْتَغْفِرُاللّٰهَ رَبِّیْ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ وَأَتُوْبُ اِلَيْهِ
“[I beg pardon from Allah for all my sins and turn to Him.] Learn this and also learn its meaning. Then, when you profusely recite this, Satan will not be able to overcome you.
“Thirdly, you should have full determination that you are going to save yourself from Satan. If you are determined to save yourself, then you will be saved and Allah will help you, insha-Allah.”
One tifl aksed Huzooraa how long it took to build the Holy Ka‘bah. Responding to the question, Huzooraa said, “The Holy Ka‘bah – according to the history of Islam and what the Holy Quran has told us – is the oldest building on the earth.”
Huzooraa went on and said, “It was then reconstructed again by Hazrat Abrahamas on the same foundations on which it was built the very first time.”
Thereafter, a tifl asked how a person can recognise Islam as the true religion after a person realises the existence of God, since there are so many religions to choose from. Explaining this, Huzooraa stated:
“Allah the Almighty states that all prophets were sent by Him. All prophets came from God and all prophets conveyed the teachings of God, which is to love Allah, obey His commandments, bow before Him, worship Him and discharge the rights of our fellow human beings.”
Alluding to the fact that all prophets were sent to specific nations, Huzooraa said that at times, two prophets would appear at the same time and in one nation. God sent the Holy Prophetsa at a time when the world was ready and intellectually mature to comprehend the message and teachings of Islam.
Thus, Huzooraa explained, the Holy Prophetsa was revealed the Shariah in the form of the Holy Quran, which encompasses all God’s commandments that were sent to previous prophets along with more commandments that were, and still remain, essential for all times.
Huzooraa added that no scripture is safe from interpolation or intact in its original form, apart from the Holy Quran, which remains intact in its original form. This is the claim of the Holy Quran as God states:
اِنَّا نَحۡنُ نَزَّلۡنَا الذِّکۡرَ وَ اِنَّا لَہٗ لَحٰفِظُوۡنَ
“Verily, We Ourselves have sent down this Exhortation, and most surely, We will be its Guardian.”
Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa further explained that no other religious scripture makes such a claim and similarly, no other prophet has stated that they have come for the entire world. It was only the Holy Prophetsa, the final law-bearing prophet, who stated this. Huzooraa, after explaining the answer to the young tifl, expressed:
“This is why we say Islam is a universal religion, no other religion is universal … Islam is the right religion containing all the commandments needed for the present-day world.”
Following this, alluding to the complete, perfect and excellent example and character of the Holy Prophetsa, a tifl asked Huzooraa what his favourite quality and attribute of the blessed model of the Holy Prophetsa was.
Upon this, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa answered:
“Allah states that the Holy Prophetsa is a perfect role model and example for mankind. When you love somebody, then you love each and every aspect and feature of that person. Since the Holy Prophetsa is the complete and perfect role model, then you should love each and every aspect of him and try to follow his noble character.”
A person who is able to do this, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa explained, “will certainly become a good Muslim.”
With regard to Covid-19, a tifl asked whether praying Salat in congregation at home offered the same reward as offering Salat at the mosque. Huzooraa answered by saying:
“Allah knows all our deeds, actions and intentions. If we are not going to the mosque intentionally and avoiding offering our prayers in congregation in the mosque, then it is a sin in Allah’s eyes. But when there are some restrictions and you don’t have any other choice and to satisfy yourself and to obey the commandments of Allah, you are offering prayers in congregation with your siblings and family members, then Allah gives the reward of every person according to their intention. This is why the Holy Prophetsa said:
إِنَّمَا الْأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ
“‘Deeds are judged according to the intention behind them.’ If you are doing something with a good intention, then Allah will reward you as He is very Merciful.”
A young boy asked Huzooraa regarding the character and qualities one should search for in a friend. Answering the young boy, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa advised:
“A friend should be faithful, sincere, believe in God, regardless of their religion, exhibit a good character and have sympathy for others. As you are a student and currently studying, you should make friends with those who value their studies. If these qualities are present in your friend, then they can be considered good friends.”
With this, the class came to a close.