Syed Shamshad Nasir, Missionary, USA
Muhammad Ahmad Sahib of Detroit reports that Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Detroit held its Khilafat Day on 31 May 2020. This year’s Khilafat Day was held online due to the ongoing pandemic restrictions on gatherings. Members from Detroit, Dayton and Columbus jointly celebrated Khilafat Day for Mid-West region.
Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya USA, Sahibzada Mirza Maghfoor Ahmad Sahib presided the programme. The formal programme started with the recitation and translation of the Holy Quran by Qummer Mahmood Sahib of Detroit Jamaat. Following the recitation, Masood Khan Sahib of Detroit Jamaat recited a poem and presented its translation.
Regional Missionary, Shamshad Nasir Sahib welcomed and thanked Amir Jamaat USA for taking the time to attend and preside over the programme. He also welcomed members from the three Jamaats – Dayton, Detroit and Columbus – in his welcome remarks and thanked them all for being present to attend the programme.
Shamshad Nasir Sahib provided the background of the Khilafat Day and its beginning in the Jamaat.
“Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya started on 27 May 1908, when Hazrat Hakim Maulvi Nuruddinra was elected as the First Khalifa of the Promised Messiahas. This is why we commemorate Khilafat Day every year on 27 May. For members of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, this is a special day that comes in the month of May”, said Shamshad Nasir Sahib.
He briefly outlined its history by mentioning that the very first time that Khilafat Day was celebrated by the worldwide Ahmadiyya Jamaat, was on 27 May 1957. This was in accordance with the instruction of Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud, Khalifatul Masih IIra that he had given on the Ijtema of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya in Rabwah in October 1956.
The venue of this august convention in Rabwah was Masjid Mubarak and was presided over by Hazrat Maulana Abul Ata Sahib, then principal of Jamia Ahmadiyya Rabwah. The proceedings, that started at 7am and lasted till 11am, consisted of addresses delivered by scholars of the Jamaat on a variety of aspects of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya. Speeches covered the Quranic aspect of the institution of Khilafat, how it is to be understood from the ahadith, how the Promised Messiahas gave a clear indication about it in Al-Wasiyyat (The Will) and how Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Ira not only had firm belief in Khilafat but also made his belief known on many occasions when he saw a group of people drifting away from it.
Shamshad Nasir Sahib narrated quotations of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, where Huzooraa advised that the task and mission of Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya is to protect and defend Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya and they can do it only when they listen to the Khalifa and spread his message to others.
Following Shamshad Sahib’s remarks, Amir Jamaat USA invited Dr Ahmad Munir Sahib of Detroit Jamaat to deliver his presentation on “Allah’s help and assistance with Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya”. Ahmad Munir Sahib spoke at length regarding specific incidents from the Jamaat’s history when enemies of the Jamaat thought that the Jamaat’s days were numbered. However, by the sheer help, mercy and support of Allah, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya continued to progress, strengthen and increase in not only size but also in faith, despite increased opposition from enemies.
Following this, Kamil Salam Sahib of the Columbus Jamaat spoke on the blessings of Khilafat with reference to USA Jamaat’s 100 years. He provided multiple examples of USA Jamaat’s progress during the last 100 years. He quoted examples including the number of mosques built under the guidance of Khulafa-e-Ahmadiyyat, even though Jamaat members numbered only a few with extremely limited resources. By the grace of Allah, all these projects were completed successfully under the guidance of the Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya.
Frasat Ahmad Sahib of Detroit Jamaat later recited a poem and provided translation. Following the poem, President Detroit Jamaat, Maqbool Tahir Sahib thanked Amir Jamaat USA for his time to join the Detroit Jamaat members for Khilafat Day and preside over the Khilafat Day programme, despite his busy schedule.
He then invited Dr Abdul Qudus Shahid Sahib and Rafi Malik Sahib, Presidents of Dayton and Columbus Jamaats respectively, to make announcements related to their respective Jamaats.
At the conclusion, Amir Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya USA addressed members. Amir Sahib drew everyone’s attention towards examining and reviewing their conditions and reminding everyone that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih’saa instructions must be listened to and heeded. He also spoke about offering Salat five times a day and offering all kind of sacrifices.
Amir Sahib led members in silent prayer and thanked all for attending the programme.
May Allah reward all the organisers who worked hard to put together the programme and the presenters for preparing and delivering presentations to make it a success. Amin