After the Isha prayer, upon his arrival at Aiwan-e-Masroor, Islamabad, Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih Vaa graced the International Waqf-e-Nau Refresher Course for national secretaries across the world.
The event started on Friday, 6 December and will run into Sunday, 8 December.
After his arrival, Huzooraa invited Nuruddin Sahib for the recitation of the Holy Quran, who recited verses from Surah Al-e-Imran followed by its translation. The verses spoke of how Hazrat Maryam’sas mother pledged to give her child to serve Allah, prior to Hazrat Maryam’sas birth.
Thereafter, Tahir Khalid Sahib was invited to the stage to recite a poem.
Luqman Kishwar Sahib, who is currently in-charge of the Waqf-e-Nau department, was then invited to deliver the report of the refresher course.
Aside from representatives from Pakistan, where the number of Waqifeen is large, 35 other countries were also represented, five of which were not available to attend due to visa problems.
Accommodation arrangements were made at Hadeeqatul Mahdi for the participants so that everyone was easily able to offer prayers behind Huzooraa in Islamabad.
After Maghrib, Luqman Sahib inaugurated the event by reading aloud the guidelines by Huzooraa for the department.
Thereafter questions were asked and answered considering Huzoor’saa guidelines. Lectures and presentations followed which were related to career planning and guidance for Waqifeen. Presentations were given by editors of Ismael and Maryam magazines, the central organs of the Waqf-e-Nau department.
Luqman Sahib thanked Huzooraa for blessing the congregation with his presence and requested prayers for the department.
Huzooraa then took to the stage and addressed the gathering.
After reciting Tashahud and Ta‘awuz, Huzooraa said that it was a result of Allah’s grace that the event was taking place. Huzooraa expressed that he was confident that the participants would each have benefited from the event, wherein guidance was given in accordance with Huzoor’saa instructions.
Huzooraa said that he wished to take the opportunity to highlight the manner in which participants should serve the Jamaat in their respective countries and of the importance of the Waqf-e-Nau scheme.
The scheme was founded by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV, may Allah have mercy on his soul, for the sake of safeguarding the future prosperity of the Jamaat. The purpose, Huzooraa said, was to prepare as many Waqifeen as possible to serve around the world. It is Allah’s grace that many are now serving the Jamaat.
As national secretaries of Waqf-e-Nau in their respective countries, a heavy burden falls on the secretaries to care for the spiritual and educational well-being of Waqifeen, Huzooraa said.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa instructed participants that those responsible for the well-being of the Waqifeen must always give them guidance.
Since its launch, Jamias have been opened in several countries and so, in this way, many missionaries are being prepared to serve the Jamaat in its spiritual and moral training.
Huzooraa said that despite the many Jamias and Waqifeen serving as missionaries, there is a dire need for doctors and teachers. Huzooraa instructed that all workers and secretaries of Waqf-e-Nau, before anything else, should introspect and ensure that they are fulfilling their own personal duties towards Allah. They must ensure that they are regular in offering their prayers and are offering nawafil (voluntary prayers). Without prayer, Huzooraa said, nothing is possible. It is important to combine prayer and hard work.
Huzooraa said that if the secretaries desire for Waqifeen to excel, then it is necessary for them to develop a close and intimate relationship with God and show the highest conduct.
All secretaries of Waqf-e-Nau should remember that they have been given a great trust, that is to train and guide those people whose parents have pledged to offer their children for the service of Islam.
Only if secretaries are practicing true Islamic values can they truly offer their responsibilities. They should never take this responsibility lightly. To guide the Waqf-e-Nau, in terms of religious upbringing and secular education, is the responsibility of secretaries of Waqf-e-Nau around the world. Waqifeen must be trained about what their waqf requires and that Waqf-e-Nau is not a title, rather it is a duty and responsibility; a pledge; a lifelong commitment wherein no worldly obligation, in comparison, holds any value.
Only if these values are instilled from childhood can secretaries of Waqf-e-Nau be successful. Waqifeen will then realise that in reality, they are Waqf-e-Zindagi (lifelong devotees of Islam).
Huzooraa reiterated that it is of utmost importance for secretaries to set a personal example and practice what they preach.
Alongside professional and personal lives, secretaries must take time out for their religious obligations and never allow worldly pursuits to distract them. Tahajud prayer, beseeching Allah’s nearness and seeking His forgiveness is of utmost importance. They should pray for Waqifeen regularly. Only when this is done can the secretaries say that they have fulfilled their duties.
The Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, said that even when in worldly pursuits, true believers’ faith should always remain their priority.
Multitudes of Waqifeen will march forward with huge determination to serve the grand mission of the Promised Messiahas if this is achieved. They will themselves offer their lives for the service of Islam. To ensure this, secretaries must instill in Waqifeen the reality of their Waqf – their dedication to the Jamaat.
It is of utmost importance that Waqifeen are exposed to the highest levels of piety and devotion, both at home and in their Jamaat circle.
Parents, therefore, must also be guided and they should be reminded to stay sincere to Allah the Almighty.
If secretaries are successful in this, then we will see an army, not to fight wars, but to advance for the cause of peace, harmony and goodwill. Huzooraa reminded secretaries to listen to the Friday Sermon he delivered in Canada in October 2016, titled “Lessons for a Waqf-e-Nau”. This should be studied carefully as therein lie the characteristics that set apart Waqifeen from others and make them special.
A legion of missionaries is, by the grace of Allah, being established through Jamias. However, it is not just missionaries that we require. There are many fields that Waqifeen must enter for the service of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat.
There is a hospital project in Indonesia and Waqifeen are required there. It would be preferable for the doctors to be from Indonesia. Doctors from USA, Canada and Latin America can assist in our hospitals, as well as those living in Europe and Asia.
It is necessary for the secretaries to ensure that Waqifeen are active in larger Jamaats. Secretaries must ensure that all Waqifeen comprehend the true significance of their pledge and that they fulfil it with complete fear of Allah.
There are some Waqifeen who are interested in fields not necessarily related to the service of the Jamaat. Those who are not called to the immediate service should realise that their faith should remain their priority. They should not focus on their careers and neglect their religious obligations.
With the grace of Allah, Professor Abdus Salam Sahib reached the pinnacle of his professional career without compromising his religious obligations. He was regular in offering prayers and well versed in the writings of the Promised Messiahas.
Huzooraa reminded the participants of an instruction that he gave recently that Waqifeen who have completed their education should also join the civil service. Allah has blessed us so much that in some countries, alongside fulfilling the needs of the Jamaat, there are those who can serve their country also. Through this, a great positive change can be brought within the world; a great spiritual and moral revolution – such a revolution that brings the world to realise, through propagation, the true teachings of Islam; a revolution that can ensure the peace and security of the world and a revolution that can bring together people of all races and beliefs.
Huzooraa fervently prayed that Allah may enable all secretaries to offer their duties in the best fashion so that Waqifeen can serve the Jamaat in the manner that is expected of them.
The event concluded with silent prayer, after which participants were offered dinner.