Waqifeen-e-nau and waqifaat-e-nau from Texas, USA were blessed to have in-person meetings with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, at the Bait-ul-Ikram Mosque on 5 October 2022. During the two separate meetings, they asked various questions and sought guidance from Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa. For the benefit of our readers, Al Hakam has compiled their questions and the guidance Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa graciously gave.
Rida Eman Ahmad Sahiba said the first country Huzooraa had chosen to visit after Covid-19 was America. She asked Huzooraa why he chose America.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said:
“I didn’t have any choice. I was only invited by Jamaat Ahmadiyya United States. They said they were going to open their Zion mosque and Dallas mosque, so, I should visit them. Then I said, ‘okay’. This is the reason I have come here. Had there been some other jamaats who had invited me, I would have gone there before even coming to the USA. So, there is nothing special. Only your invitation is special. This is why you are special.”
Nauman Ahmad Fareed Sahib said that in response to many letters to him, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa often wrote that the key to success lay in being punctual in salat and reciting the Holy Quran. Nauman Sahib asked why then people like Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, and Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, were extremely successful and wealthy in their worldly lives despite not offering salat or remembering Allah.
In reply, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa asked Nauman Sahib what the purpose of life was – to which he said “to worship Allah”. Huzooraa then questioned what the life purpose of worldly people was. Continuing, Huzooraa said:
“When Allah the Almighty created Adam, at that time Satan refused to bow before Allah or submit before Adam. What was the reason? Arrogance – the worldly desires.
“And he [Satan] said that most of the people will follow me – he challenged Allah the Almighty, saying ‘most of the people will follow me and I will lead them to go astray from the right path.’ And Allah did not say that ‘you cannot do it’. Allah said, ‘yes, there will be a few people who will be righteous; who will follow my commandments, who will submit to my injunctions and commandments, and who will accept my prophets. Although they will be small in number, they will ultimately succeed’.
“Because your purpose is not to fulfil worldly desires, but to gain Allah’s love. […] And a righteous person always tries to gain Allah’s love because for the life after death, because a righteous person will be rewarded in the Hereafter and these worldly people have been rewarded in this world. This is why the Holy Prophetsa said that their right eye is blind. The eye of their religious knowledge and religion is blind and the left eye is working, which means they will increase in worldly matters. So, if your desire is only to gain worldly benefits, then, of course, you can leave namaz and leave Islam and do whatever you like. But if you believe that there is a life after death and that it is an eternal life, then you will gain the love of Allah here in this world and in the Hereafter.”
Huzooraa pointed out to Nauman Sahib that Allah had given him worldly sustenance and helped him with his studies etc. Along with that, Nauman Sahib also enjoyed the spiritual life by praying to Allah and would get a reward in the Hereafter too if he was a righteous Muslim. Huzooraa continued:
“So, it is in your hand now, you have to choose. Do you want both of the benefits or only one, in this world? […]
“We are better off than these people. They are gaining worldly benefits only, and we have been promised by Allah the Almighty that we shall get benefits in this world and in the Hereafter.
“Our purpose is not of this world, a good believer’s purpose is to win the love of Allah and to win the love of Allah you will have to work hard for the enhancement of your spiritual level and also service of humanity.”
Syeda Waseema Sadaf Sahiba asked if it was permissible for waqifaat-e-nau to peruse psychology and counselling, to which Huzooraa said:
“Every subject which is beneficial for human beings is permissible for waqifaat-e-nau, and psychology is also one of them. So, you can do it, no problem. You need counselling and psychology because in this present day there are quite a number of problems which girls face; and when they face these problems, they need some psychiatrist or psychologist to treat them, to listen to them, to handle their cases. So, this is why it is good to choose psychology or counselling.”
Fatima Sahiba asked if nursing was a good field to serve as a waqifa-e-nau.
Huzooraa said:
“Any field that is good for humanity is good. In this field, you can serve humanity. If you are a doctor, a nurse, a teacher, or any other service which you are discharging for the benefit of human beings, is good for waqifaat-e-nau.
“But, your main aim and objective should be that you must reform yourself. There should be a big change in yourself and you should have a close relationship with Allah the Almighty. And you should spiritually and morally be an example for others.”
Danial Janjuah Sahib asked what profession Waqf-e-Nau boys should prioritise; what the Jamaat needed or their personal interests. Huzooraa asked Danial Sahib what he wanted to do in the future. Danial Sahib desired to become a real estate agent. To this, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said:
“If you choose this profession to help the Jamaat get some good places and plots for the construction of mosques and mission houses, then it’s good for you.
“You are a waqif-e-nau, right? Waqf means you will have to work for the cause of Allah the Almighty. Being a waqif-e-nau, your first preference should be to choose a career which is more beneficial for the Jamaat.
“And if you think that you cannot do that duty, you cannot fulfil your waqf requirement, then you do whatever you like. But for that, you will have to seek permission from the centre – write to me – and then I will let you know.
“But even if you choose to be an estate agent […] then at least you [should] increase your religious knowledge and learn more about religion; offer your five daily prayers, read the Holy Quran, know the meaning of the Holy Quran and then do tabligh of Islam.
“As a real-estate business person, you can also be good for preaching as quite a number of people will come to you.
“Always remember that whether you work directly under the Jamaat or indirectly, your main objective should be to preach the message of Allah the Almighty, of Islam. That is the main purpose. And for that, you will have to try to forge a good relationship with Allah the Almighty by obeying all His commandments and offering your five daily prayers and learning more about the religion.”
Muneefa Eman Tariq Sahiba asked if Allah mentioned how angels communicated with each other. Huzooraa replied:
“I do not know in which way they communicate, but among angels also, there are some angels who are of a higher status such as Jibrail, Azreal, Israfil, Mikail, whom we know; and there are quite a number of subordinate angels who are working under them.
“‘How do they communicate?’ God knows better, but there is a system there. They ask their subordinates to just convey this message to [this or that place or person]. So, just in a flash of a second, if they want to convey their message anywhere across the world — whether there is day or there is night — the angels will immediately go and discharge their duties. How they do it, Allah knows or they know it. Anyway, I don’t know it till today. If I come to know, then I will let you know.”
Ramis Mirza Sahib said he tried his best to offer his five daily prayers and other religious worship, but, in reality, he felt that for the most part, he did these things as if they were an obligation. He asked Huzooraa how he could worship with his heart and feel pleasure in it.
Huzooraa asked Ramis Sahib if he ever wept while praying and as a result, felt pleasure and satisfaction. Ramis Sahib replied in the affirmative. Huzooraa continued:
“It is not necessary that you offer prayers of the same quality all the time – ups and downs are human nature. But if you have once tasted the joy of offering prayer, then I don’t think you should raise such type of questions; [especially since] you say, you have offered prayers, you have enjoyed so many of your prostrations while crying and praying to Allah and you have felt satisfaction. […]
“You spend at the most 40 or 45 minutes on all your five daily prayers, whereas for your studies, after school, even for doing your homework or getting some other knowledge, you will read for two, three, or four hours. So, you cannot say you are doing justice with your prayers. And it is a process as well, so it will take time.
“If you continue doing it [praying], while in prostration you ask Allah that ‘O, Allah, increase my spiritual level, give me some satisfaction in my heart and always keep me close to You.’
“If you get closer to Allah in this way by asking Him, requesting Him, praying to Him, then one day you will also feel more satisfaction than you are feeling now.
“It’s a process. Even prophets get the status of prophethood at the age of 40 years, not at the age of 10, 20, or 25 years. So, it is a process. You keep on doing it. One day you will feel that you have a good relationship with Allah and you can not live without praying to Allah the Almighty.”
Naba Ahmad Sahiba said that Allah created man with free will to do as he pleased. She asked if Allah also created animals with free will.
“You have a choice. Allah has given you the choice and given you free will. He has clearly, categorically told you that ‘these are the bad things, these are the good things. So, these are the good things. If you do good deeds, you will be rewarded. These are the bad things. If you do those things, it means you are following Satan and you will be punished for that.’ Or if Allah wishes, He can even forgive. […]
“[As for animals,] it is in their instinct that they have to do whatever Allah created them for. It means they are always free [from religious obligations]. A goat cannot do anything else, or a lion cannot do anything. It is in the nature of the lion to attack others, to fill his belly and goats can only graze grass. Then, Allah has created them for the food of human beings; as for the cows, you get milk and meat from them […] so every animal has been created by Allah the Almighty for the best of human beings. They can be utilised and used by human beings. So, there is no free will in them. This is why they will not be rewarded or punished in the Hereafter.”
Abdul Muqeet Khan Sahib asked Huzooraa what one could do to prepare for Jamia Ahmadiyya and what prayers one could do so that they stay true to their desire of going to Jamia. Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said:
“You see, one thing is, are you regular in offering your five daily prayers? Do you know the meaning of your prayers? Do you seek Allah’s help while in prostration, to help you, to make you a good murabbi or an Ahmadi? That is the first thing. Secondly, do you know how to read the Holy Quran? Do you do tilawat daily? You should do at least one or two rukus daily and try to learn the meaning of it as well. Do you have good morals? Try to read a passage from the books of the Promised Messiahas from The Essence of Islam – not any particular book – but from The Essence of Islam and then try to absorb and understand that subject. Then, you will know what religion is.
“This is the only training. You should know the meaning of Surah al-Fatihah and read the Holy Quran, which is the basic requirement for Jamia students or general knowledge about Ahmadiyyat; you should also try to learn more about Ahmadiyyat. When did the Promised Messiahas claim to be the Promised Messiah? When did he take the first bai‘at? When was the Promised Messiahas born? […]
“Then also recite the prayer:
رَبِّ اِنِّيۡ لِمَاۤ اَنۡزَلۡتَ اِلَيَّ مِنۡ خَيۡرٍ فَقِيۡرٌ
[“‘My Lord, I am in need of whatever good Thou mayest send down to me.’” Surah al-Qasas, Ch.28: V.25)]
“This is a prayer of Mosesas. I like this one. You should also recite it.”
Maheen Warraich Sahiba asked how one could inculcate Allah’s attributes in one’s daily life. Huzooraa advised:
“If you keep on reciting the names of Allah and know the meaning of it, then it will become a habit of yours. You will become habitual in reciting the names of Allah and whenever you need Allah’s help or you want Allah to accept your prayer in some particular matter or case, then you will recite that particular attribute which is related to that matter.
“So, if you know the meaning and you know the names of Allah the Almighty, and you are reciting them daily or regularly or at least at the end of the day, before going to bed, you just read the book – at least 99 names have been given in The Prayer Book. […]Whenever you are praying, you should take one of the attributes that you need at that particular moment and this is how you can make it a habit in your daily life if you remember Allah.
“It all depends on the remembrance of Allah the Almighty. So, if you remember Allah daily, if you are offering your five daily prayers, if you are praying fervently in your prayers and you are praying to Allah in your sajdahs [prostrations] that Allah helps you to remove all your difficulties and problems and give you the rewards of the good deeds and also use the attribute which, you think, is related to your problem, then this is how you would know and you would become habitual of reciting the names or the attributes very often.”
Salman Rehman Sahib asked what young people could do in preparation for a possible world war. In reply, Huzooraa said that his answer would include older people as well. He said:
“The first thing is that you pray that it should not happen. […] Secondly, you prepare yourself for the preaching and spreading of the message of Islam. So be determined and promise Allah the Almighty that when you grow up, you will spread the message of Islam. […]”
Huzooraa said by preaching the message of Islam and making people understand the purpose of their lives, the war could be delayed. Continuing, Huzooraa said:
“Secondly, as I have already said, every family should also reserve some food for a few months in their houses and the young are also amongst them – they should also help their family members. And also pray to Allah the Almighty – this is the only thing.
“If you mean to ask, ‘how we can save the world from the war,’ then, pray to Allah the Almighty. […] If the world is determined to destroy itself and the leaders are not trying to come to their senses, then we can’t do anything.”
Saba Ijaz Sahiba Sahib said that Sufi theology claimed to promote nearness to Allah through their spiritual practices. She asked if there were any benefits to such practices and customs that promoted gaining nearness to Allah. Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said:
“There was no Sufism during the time of the Holy Prophetsa. Was there any Sufi at that time? No. There was no Sufi during the time of the four rightly-guided Khulafa-e-Rashideen. After centuries, this thing started and when it started it was because at that time the Khilafat was not the spiritual Khilafat. It was a worldly Khilafat. And the Khulafa of those times were after worldly gains. And the Khalifa was not the chosen Khalifa by the community, but they inherited it. This is why, at that time, there was a group of people who stood up and said ‘We are the spiritual people and we tell the people what is the actual spirit of your religion, what is the spirit of prayers, and how you should pray, how you should bow before Allah, how you should practise the commandments given in the Holy Quran’, and this is how they started and how they started explaining different ways of teachings of the Holy Quran and this is how it all developed.
“But, now, after the coming of the Promised Messiahas who came to revive the religion of Islam, according to the prophecy of the Holy Prophetsa of Islam there is no need for any Sufi, nor to follow any Sufi.
“Even, I remember once I explained in my khutbah [sermon] the following verse:
اَللّٰهُ نُوۡرُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِ
[Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. (Surah an-Nur, Ch.24: V.36)]
One of the Arab persons, who had newly converted to Ahmadiyyat, said, ‘I was a follower of Sufism. And now after having listened to your khutbah, I can see there is no bigger Sufi than the Promised Messiahas, and how he has explained the Holy Quran. [Considering] how he has explained the teachings of the Holy Quran, we don’t need any Sufi now.’
“And now the Khilafat is also rightly guided, as long as it will remain as it is, there is no need of Sufism. So, it was the requirement of the past, not the present.”
Ibrahim Syed Ahmad Sahib asked Huzooraa how Ahmadi youth could uphold their identity and promote their beliefs in the face of prejudice from other Muslim students. Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said:
“You should have self-confidence. How do you see yourself, are we right or wrong? If we are right, then don’t bother about their jest.” Huzooraa said, Ahmadi youth should be proud they were on the right path, whereas other Muslims were not. Ahmadis should have complete self-confidence and should not bother about other people at all.
Rohan Zafar Sahib from Portland asked what supplications Ahmadis should offer when praying for the Khalifa-e-Waqt. Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said:
“You should pray that Allah the Almighty helps the Khalifa of the time to discharge his duties – that the burden of the duties Allah has put on the shoulder of the Khalifa-e-Waqt is properly discharged. So, Allah gives him strength and health so that he works properly for the cause of Islam and Ahmadiyyat.
“And whatever the plans are in the mind of the Khalifa of the time, they are completed with Allah’s help in the shortest possible time and in the best way. And Allah the Almighty may also give him the helpers – that is Sultan-e-Naseer – so that a team of helpers can also help the Khalifa-e-Waqt. And Allah may also make us the helpers of the Khalifa of the time, so that, as waqifeen-e-nau, we also discharge our duties to help the Khalifa-e-Waqt in completing his assignments, tasks, wishes and plans.”
Sajeela Ahmad Sahiba asked whether, as a mother of a waqif-e-nau baby boy, there were any unique practices to focus on during her child’s early years to strengthen his pledge to serve the Jamaat. Huzooraa asked how old the child was, to which she replied that he was nearly 15 months old. Huzooraa said:
“The first thing is that you pray for him in your five daily prayers and offer two rakats of nafl for him, praying that Allah Almighty make him a true waqif-e-nau. And then, as he grows up, you teach him about morals and teachings of the Holy Quran and of Islam.
“And show your own example. Both, husband and wife should set their own example before their children so that they will know that our parents are always offering five daily prayers, they read the Holy Quran, they try to understand the meaning of the Holy Quran, they are the thorough example of the teachings of the Holy Quran and Islam and they are true followers of Islam Ahmadiyyat. Then they will grow up in that atmosphere, environment, and then they will become a good waqifeen-e-nau.”
Amatul Nur Rida Sahiba asked what limitations an Ahmadi girl should be aware of when going out with friends. Huzooraa said:
“[…] You have some obligations, being an Ahmadi girl. The first thing is, whenever you are going out [in the morning before you leave home], you offer the Fajr prayer, recite a portion of the Holy Quran – do tilawat – and then go out. When it is the Zuhr salat’s time, prayer time, then offer your prayer. If the Maghrib or Isha time comes, then offer your prayer.
“Always talk in a dignified manner, not loosely; there should not be any loose talk from an Ahmadi girl, or even an Ahmadi boy – [for] every Ahmadi [in fact], not only particularly for girls. And if you set your own example, then your girls would know that ‘if you have to learn spirituality, religion, morals, then you learn from Amatul Nur.’ This is the thing you have to keep in mind.”
Mashood Ahmad Sahib said that the Promised Messiahas had stipulated that whoever joined the wassiyat scheme, should give 1/10th of his wealth to the Jamaat. Mashood Sahib asked if he was allowed to join the system of wassiyat as a student. Huzooraa said that students were allowed to do so as they could give 1/10th of their pocket money and when they were eventually employed, they could pay their wassiyat contributionbased on their income.
Ramiya Chaudhry Sahiba said that the Promised Messiahas had said, “I see my Jamaat [Community] in the area of Russia like the grains of sand in numbers.” [Tadkirah, p. 1115] She asked how and what a waqifa-e-nau ought to do to fulfil this vision. Huzooraa answered:
“Again, as I have already said, you are a waqifa-e-nau and you must always keep in mind what your duties are. I gave a very lengthy, detailed sermon almost 5-6 years ago in Canada about the duties of waqifeen-e-nau and waqifaat-e-nau. If you practise that one then […] The first thing is, set your own example, be spiritually and morally good, and always remember Allah the Almighty whenever you are doing anything.
“And then, your job is to also preach. If you get the chance to go to Russia – if only we are saved after the war which is hovering over us – then after that, I think, Russians will also try to find some system that is good for them. And at that time, we should try to preach to them. So, the first thing is reforming ourselves, the second is preaching.”
Taufiq Ahmad Khalid Sahib asked whether Huzooraa would advise Ahmadis to continue paying chanda in the event of financial hardships. Huzooraa advised one could make cuts to eating out and in turn save money to give to chanda instead.
“This is up to you; how important do you consider chanda. What is chanda? Chanda is sacrifice and what does sacrifice mean? […] To do something by forc[ing yourself] and by leaving something which you desire. This is sacrifice. Chanda is a sacrifice, so you will have to leave your desires and force yourself to do that. If you realise the importance of it and the reward, then you will know the importance of chanda. […]
“If you know the meaning and the importance of sacrifice, then you cannot raise this question [of] financial hardships.”
Huzooraa said if one had not reduced any of their consumptions etc. They were not sacrificing to pay chanda.
Amatul Halim Zain Wahab Karim Sahiba said it was commonly observed that people who committed to intercultural and interracial marriages faced many issues. She asked about the Jamaat’s view on interracial and intercultural marriages. Huzooraa responded:
“If there are interracial and intercultural marriages, that’s good, but both sides should be very tolerant. The thing is that the Holy Prophetsa says that before you choose any match, you should try to choose somebody who is spiritually good, who has good religious knowledge and who is a firm and staunch Muslim. If you consider all these things – both parties, boy and girl – then no matter whether it is interracial or intercultural or within your own culture or race, you will enjoy your life. Always keep in mind that nobody’s perfect, everyone has some shortcomings in them. […]
“If different cultures are joined together in Ahmadiyyat, then that will be a very good Ahmadi environment, and that is what we should try to create. That is what I believe, and that is what Islam says. But people have some shortcomings in them, sometimes they do not behave in this manner.
“Whenever we are choosing someone for marriage, we normally see that ‘if the person is well qualified, the girl is well qualified, the boy is well qualified, they are earning substantial money, they have a lucrative job’. Instead of seeing all these things, we should try to see that a person has a good religious background and is a practising Muslim.”
Further, she said that her mother was from Ghana and asked if the shape of Masjid Mubarak in Islamabad reminded Huzooraa of a hut in Tamale. Huzooraa smiled and said: “No, the Masjid Mubarak’s architecture is much, much, much better than that hut.”
Minar Ahmad Sahib asked Huzooraa if he thought psychokinesis was possible. Huzooraa said:
“Yes, it is possible. The Promised Messiahas has written on this issue in his book Izala-e-Auham […] but he says that it does not mean that the person has the power which God has. […] He has even mentioned that there are some people who can, even with their concentration, move this table, not only could they move the table, but there were even some people sitting on it who also moved. But that was a temporary process, whenever they lose their concentration, it will stop there. So, they cannot say that they are now on par with Allah the Almighty.
“But it still needs some research and the Promised Messiahas said Allah the Almighty has told him that, ‘Yes, some people have the power of it but that does not mean that it is the same as the power given to the prophets by Allah or His pious people.’”
Huzooraa encouraged Minar Sahib to read Izala-e-Auham to find out more.
Sameera Sohail Sahiba asked how Ahmadi Muslims should mourn the demise of political figures and gave the example of the recent demise of Queen Elizabeth II.
Huzooraa replied:
“Any human being who dies, we normally condole. I also sent a message of condolence to King Charles on the demise of Queen Elizabeth, and it has even been published in their paper. We can say, ‘We are sad. Allah have mercy on them’. We can seek Allah’s mercy for those deceased people, no matter, whether they are Muslim or not.
Huzooraa said, it was only certain infidels [mushrikun] about whom Allah had expressly stated that He would not forgive them, that we should not pray for.
“Otherwise, for other people, Allah did not stop us from praying for them when they die. Although, we don’t offer their janazah prayer, but at least we can express our sympathy and sentiments for the deceased person and for those people who have lost their loved one. You can pray for them, no problem. Otherwise, how can you say, ‘Love for all, hatred for none’? Love is that we love human kind, we love human beings. And this is one of the ways to express your love.”
Labeeb Ahmad Sahib asked Huzooraa what steps he could take to see the existence of Allah. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said: “You cannot physically see Allah the Almighty. You cannot. Allah the Almighty is Noor [Light].” Huzooraa then asked Labeeb Sahib if he had ever experienced the acceptance of his prayers, to which Labeeb Sahib said he had. Huzooraa said this was experiencing the existence of Allah as He answered the prayer. Another sign of Allah’s existence was when one prayed and felt satisfaction or knew He would answer the prayer. Huzooraa asked Labeeb Sahib if he had experienced these things – Labeeb Sahib said he had. That was how Allah showed Himself, Huzooraa said. “Ahmadis always have their experiences with Allah the Almighty”, Huzooraa said.
Labeeb Sahib then asked why some prayers didn’t come true, as this hindered belief in God’s existence. Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said:
“It is not necessary that Allah accepts all of your prayers, He is Malik. He says, He will accept some of your prayers and sometimes some of your prayers are not good for you. If you are praying fervently, then Allah will not let it go to waste. That will be in your credit account, so whenever you need something, Allah will give it to you – the credit benefit.”
Jazib Bhatti Sahib asked how one could find a good spouse. Huzooraa said:
“The Holy Prophetsa has said that whenever you are trying to choose your match, there are 3-4 things; that either you like a beautiful girl, or a wealthy girl, or a girl from a good family – these are worldly things. But a pious, good believer should always try to choose the match of that girl who is good in her religion, who is pious and righteous; a good believer.
“So if the boys consider this thing, then the boys themselves have to be good believers and pious people. Not that you search for a good girl and you are even not offering the five daily prayers. If both of you are good, spiritually good and religiously good — then there will be peace and harmony in the house. And your progeny and generation will also be brought up in good hands.”
Hibatul Saboor Sahiba asked for Huzoor’saa advice on making and being a good friend. Huzooraa said:
“You are an Ahmadi girl […] you know the good and bad. You know your duties. You know what Allah has commanded. You know the two main objectives of a human being for which the Promised Messiahas came, that is […] to bring human beings closer to their Creator and, secondly, to discharge their duties towards their fellow beings. If you are doing all these things, you are a good girl, a good Ahmadi Muslim woman. And if you have these qualities, then always, when you are choosing your friend, you will try to choose those girls who are of this nature or who are of good nature. You will never ever try to make friends with bad girls. And the same thing will apply when you have all these qualities, then people will also consider you a good friend.”
Fatiha Atiatul Haye Sahiba stated that when a person passed away, we Muslims said اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَاِنَّاۤ اِلَيۡهِ رٰجِعُوۡنَ. She asked why we also recited this whenever we lost a material belonging. Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said:
“‘We are for Allah, and to whom we have to return’. The Quran [teaches] that it is not only when someone dies that we say this, but, whenever you lose something or you are in difficulty, you are in a problem, then you say [this] and that will remind you of the power of Allah Almighty that Allah will always remain in this world and every other thing has to either die or get lost. This is why, you see, we say:اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَاِنَّاۤ اِلَيۡهِ رٰجِعُوۡنَ.
“It also has a very deep meaning as well. When, sometimes, you lose something and you have forgotten and you have kept it somewhere, if you say اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَاِنَّاۤ اِلَيۡهِ رٰجِعُوۡنَ it so happens – and it has happened on so many occasions with me and also with many other people as well – that when we say اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَاِنَّاۤ اِلَيۡهِ رٰجِعُوۡنَ then, immediately, either we find that thing or it comes into our mind that, ‘Yes, I kept that thing in there’. So, it also works to find things, to save you from your loss.
“This is the prayer that if a person dies, [one may think] ‘I was relying on him, I am very sad about his demise or her demise, but Allah is always there, He will protect me, He will save me.’
“The same thing happened when the father of the Promised Messiahas died and he was very much worried because he was not working anywhere and his source of income was his father. When he was worried, he prayed, ‘Oh God, what will I do.’ After sayingاِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَاِنَّاۤ اِلَيۡهِ رٰجِعُوۡنَ then immediately it was revealed to him by Allah the Almighty أليس اللّٰه بكاف عبدَه, ‘Is Allah not sufficient for His servant’. You are Allah’s servant, so Allah is sufficient for you. So, this is how Allah Almighty comforted him. This is why we say this. It is a prayer which gives you comfort.”
