Develop leadership qualities and benefit from your God-gifted abilities: Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud’s advice to the Ahmadi youth

Ata-ul-Haye Nasir, Al Hakam

On 24 August 1953, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih II^ra delivered a speech at an event held by Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Karachi, Pakistan at the Ahmadiyya Hall. 

In the beginning, Huzoor^ra said that in addition to establishing majalis in different areas, the members of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya were required to fulfil the aims and objectives behind the establishment of this auxiliary. If such a realisation was instilled within khuddam, it would bring about a huge revolution within the Jamaat.  

Huzoor^ra continued by saying that the progress of a nation depended on its youth. Therefore, the Ahmadi youth needed to inculcate leadership qualities within themselves and be prepared to fulfil any kind of responsibility. While elaborating on this point, Huzoor^ra presented an example:

“For instance, if every soldier of an army instils within themselves a mindset that they might become the commander-in-chief in the future, they will strive to mould their actions and character in a manner that will make them eligible for that post, and thus, a time will come when all soldiers of that army will have the capability to hold the position of commander-in-chief. 

“On the contrary, if every soldier in that army has a mindset that ‘I can never become the commander-in-chief’, then that army will gradually weaken and a time will come when there will be not a single person who could hold the responsibilities of that post. 

“Therefore, it is necessary for the progress of a community that each member instils within themselves a passion that they can fulfil the responsibilities of any nature. Until everyone strives to leap forward with such a mindset, a nation cannot have the required capability for its protection, survival and progress. Thus, every one of you is required to strive in such a manner that enables you to fulfil the responsibility of any nature upon need.

“To succeed in such efforts and endeavours, the two crucial factors are immense knowledge and perfect implementation. The attainment of vast knowledge requires a person to deeply learn about their respective community, religion or political group. Similarly, the perfect implementation requires one to abide by the discipline, rules and regulations of [their respective] community. Moreover, one also needs to instil within themselves a habit of contemplation and thinking out of the box, since one cannot leap forward and progress until one inculcates within themselves these traits.

“From a national perspective, one cannot deem a certain level of progress to be the highest possible level. There has been no nation in this world which could have claimed that ‘we have progressed to such a level, beyond which no one can progress’.

“The Holy Quran has stated the glory of Allah the Almighty by saying:

كُلَّ‭ ‬يَوۡمٍ‭ ‬هُوَ‭ ‬فِيۡ‭ ‬شَاۡنٍ

“Meaning that ‘Everyday He [revealsHimself] in a different state.’ (Surah ar-Rahman, Ch.55: V.30)

“The word شَاۡنٍ implies an unexpected and unprecedented thing, therefore كُلَّ‭ ‬يَوۡمٍ‭ ‬هُوَ‭ ‬فِيۡ‭ ‬شَاۡنٍ means that the attributes of God Almighty have such glory that every day He transforms the circumstances in this world. […] 

“Therefore, human beings – who have been created [by God] as a means to fulfil His Will in this world – are required to make continuous efforts [to bring about a revolution]. […] To ensure one’s efforts produce the best results, they are required to think innovatively and out of the box, however, once a person leaves aside these traits, their efforts prove to be unfruitful.” (Daily al-Musleh of Karachi, 25 August 1953, pp.1-2)

While advising Ahmadi youth to make full efforts in preaching the message of Islam, Huzoor^ra said:

“You need to ponder as to how you can make your tabligh efforts fruitful. In this regard, you cannot satisfy your heart by saying ‘our duty is to make efforts, however, the result is in the hands of God, and if we did not get any satisfactory result, we are not to be blamed’. There is no doubt that it is only in Allah’s hands to produce results, however, God is not an oppressor that He would let someone’s efforts go to waste. 

“The point is, why did God not let the efforts of Abraham^as, Noah^as, Moses^as, Buddha^as, and Ramchandar^as go to waste? The only reason was that they fulfilled their responsibilities in their true essence. 

“Therefore, you are required to increase your efforts, instead of sitting idle. It is completely wrong to say that ‘we failed because the result was in the hands of God’. […] God grants a result for a reason. Our God has His laws. He is not like a dictator. 

“There is wisdom behind each of His acts. […] He says that if one becomes deserving, He will surely reward them. […] The result is undoubtedly in the hands of God, however, He has set some laws to turn the results in one’s favour.” (Ibid, p. 2)

Huzoor^ra continued:

“If you ever wonder as to why the world opposes us [Ahmadis], you should ponder over the reason behind this opposition. The reason is that truthful communities have always been opposed. It is true, however, you also need to ponder whether such opposition will continue forever. Didn’t the people of the past find a way to tackle such opposition? Did Adam^as, Noah^as, Abraham^as, Moses^as and Jesus^as surrender to such opposition? If they did not surrender, then why should we surrender and why shouldn’t we find such a way through which the opposition automatically wipes off? […] 

“The Holy Prophet^sa had created within his companions^ra a habit of contemplation and thoughtfulness, which gave them a great passion to make practical efforts. For this reason, there was never a vacuum after the demise of a certain individual; rather, in every instance, a certain leader would come forward and the Muslims continued to move towards success and progress. […]

“Therefore, one should always act with wisdom and contemplation. If you act like this, then every one of you will become eligible to be a leader. The characteristic which protects a nation from various kinds of danger is that each of its members instils within themselves leadership qualities. […] 

“There is no doubt that afflictions may befall any nation; they can be murdered and thrown out of their homes, however, if they have the habit of contemplation, they can surely find ways to escape those troubles.” (Ibid)

During his Friday Sermon on 17 September 1954, Huzoor^ra said:

“There are two kinds of ‘wealth’ in this world; one which is earned by a person and second which has been granted to mankind by God Almighty [i.e. the intellectual abilities].” (Al Fazl, 6 October 1954, p. 1)

Huzoor^ra said that intellectual abilities are granted to mankind equally by Allah the Almighty, which includes wisdom, memory, sagacity and the capability to contemplate. Huzoor^ra added that it was unfortunate for one to not value this “wealth”. Those who valued their intellectual capabilities and properly utilised them were destined to be successful in their respective fields and objectives.

After narrating some incidents which exhibited the wisdom of Ayaz (a servant of Sultan Mahmud Ghazanvi) and Christopher Columbus, Huzoor^ra said:

“God-gifted abilities are thousands of times more precious than material wealth. I have time and time again called the attention of the Jamaat members towards benefitting from their God-gifted abilities.” (Ibid, p. 4)

While advising the Jamaat, Huzoor^ra said:

“Therefore, I advise you to make a habit of acting with wisdom and sagacity, and if you do so, no community can ever compete with you. Although the Europeans are acting with wisdom and sagacity, they do not have the nur [divine light] of faith. It is as if they have eyes but without light and they have hands but without any movement. […] 

“You have been granted with nur [divine light] of the Holy Quran. If you act with sagacity and wisdom, you will have a shining eye and an active hand. As a result, even the European nations will be unable to compete with you.” (Ibid, pp. 4-5)

Huzoor^ra said it was the duty of parents and teachers to enlighten the minds of the new generation. 

In the end, Huzoor^ra said:

“Certainly, if you benefit from the God-gifted wealth [intellectual abilities], you will attain so many achievements that you will begin to feel ashamed for asking God Almighty for any more.” (Ibid, p. 5)