The national amila of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Finland met with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa in a virtual mulaqat, on 13 November 2021.
After conveying his salaam, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa led everyone in silent prayer. During the mulaqat, members of the amila had the opportunity to introduce themselves and give Huzooraa a brief report of their departmental work and activities.
Waqar Javed Sahib had the opportunity to speak with Huzooraa first.
Conversing with Huzooraa, Waqar Javed Sahib, who is now serving as rukn-e-khususi, said that he had the opportunity to serve as sadr of Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya for the last five years. Hearing this, Huzooraa said, “Masha-Allah!”
Muhammad Shahzad Anwar Sahib, Naib Sadr and Mohtamim Talim (Education) was next to present his report. He stated that he had planned to select a book of the Promised Messiahas and have it distributed to all khuddam to read. He added that online classes would also be held.
Muhammad Shahzad Anwar Sahib reported that last year, 100% of khuddam received the selected book. He further said that he had not yet chosen a book for this year. He requested Huzooraa to graciously guide them in this matter. Huzooraa enquired, “Which book [did the khuddam read] last year?” Mohtamim talim replied by saying Jesus in India. Huzooraa asked, “Have you [selected] the book Noah’s Ark before?” He replied that they had not; to which Huzooraa said, “Then, read Noah’s Ark.”
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa then said, “Before Noah’s Ark, read Al Wasiyyat. That is shorter and will be easy to finish quickly”.
Huzooraa then asked how many had joined the blessed scheme of Wasiyyat, to which Muhammad Shahzad Sahib replied that 61 out of 97 khuddam had done Wasiyyat. Hearing this, Huzooraa said, “Mashal-Allah! You have done well.”
Huzoor added, “If you read Al Wasiyyat well and comprehend it, a lot of matters will become clear.”
Musawer Ahmed Shahkar Sahib, Mohtamim Tarbiyat (Moral Training) reported that there had been a focus on the attendance at prayers.
Whilst giving guidance to encourage khuddam to come for Salat, Huzooraa said, “If you appoint a supervisor in each area, then the number [of worshippers] will increase.”
Huzooraa added that it was important to greet people with salaam. Whilst establishing a personal relationship with the youth, if the murabbi established a good rapport with the people and greeted everyone he met by saying “Assalamu alaikum”, then they would be more inclined to come to Salat.
Whilst speaking with Shayan Ahmad Khan Sahib, Mo‘tamid (Seneral Secretary), Huzooraa asked how many majalis there were and if they were regular in sending their reports. Shayan Ahmad Khan Sahib replied that there were seven majalis and the majalis were recently established. He expressed his hope that all majalis would be regular in sending reports. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said, “Tell the qaideen every month to prepare and send their reports, regardless if they have done any work or not”.
Rizwanullah Sahib, Mohtamim Tabligh (Preaching), was next to report. Speaking with him, Huzooraa asked about the target they had set for bai‘ats. Rizwanullah Sahib said that they had set a target of five bai‘ats. Huzooraa asked how many amila members there were. Mohtamim tabligh replied that there were 18 amila members. Huzooraa then said that each amila member should at least convert one person. “Then we will know what the amila members are capable of,” Huzooraa said.
Rizwanullah Sahib reported that various methods were utilised for tabligh, for example setting up stalls in public, the ‘Ask a Muslim’ campaign, Quran exhibitions, distributing pamphlets and spreading Islam through social media etc.
Hearing this, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said that one should explore other means of tabligh that cater to the interests of the people they are preaching to and that one should also see what methods of tabligh could be most effective.
“We must see how we can bring the teachings of Islam to the people […] Avenues of tabligh will open once people generate interest in religion. First, generate the interest in religion within people. Tell them about the reality of Islam and tell them about Islam’s point of view on contemporary issues”.
Shaheeq Ahmad Sahib, Mohtamim Waqar-e-Amal (Dignity of Labour) reported that they did waqar-e-amal in the mosque, an office in the mosque, the jamaat’s kitchen, and whenever any programme was held.
Musa Essuman Sahib, Mohtamim Khidmat-e-Khalq (Service to Mankind) was next to present his report. Speaking with him, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa asked if he was from Ghana and what he did as a profession. He replied that he was indeed from Ghana and worked in the construction field. Musa Sahib, upon presenting his report, said that he oversaw social services. Hearing this and realising it was difficult for him to pronounce the title khidmat-e-khalq, Huzooraa said, “Mohtamim khidmat-e-khalq,” and asked Musa Essuman Sahib to repeat after him. Huzooraa then said, “Now, you should know the terminology, and you should be able to pronounce the terminology that we use. Your title is mohtamim khidmat-e-khalq. This is your title. This is your portfolio. And you should remember it.”
Mohtamim khidmat-e-khalq reported that usually, a visit to old people’s homes was made. Hearing this, Huzooraa said, “Yes, you should visit old people’s homes. They are, in these [Western] countries, deprived people. And when you go to visit them, they become happy because their own relatives do not come to meet them”.
Speaking with Bilal Ahmad Tahir Sahib, Mohtamim Mal (Finance), Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa discussed some budget matters. Seeing Bilal Sahib, Huzooraa asked when he would become a nasir (member of Ansarullah). Bilal Ahmad Tahir Sahib responded that he still had six to seven years remaining.
Zoraiz Sarm Sahib, Mohtamim Sehat-e-Jismani (Physical Wellbeing) was next to present his report. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa enquired about his profession and where he came from in Pakistan. Zoraiz Sahib replied that he was currently studying and had a part-time job at a car dealer. He further said that he was from Lahore.
Huzooraa then asked him what sport he played, to which he replied that he used to play football and now he went to the gym occasionally. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa smiled and said that he should be regular. Being mohtamim sehat-e-jismani, Huzooraa said that he should be regular in sports. Huzooraa said, “Set your example first.”
Shoaib Tahir Sahib, Mohtamim Ishaat (Publications), reported that a monthly newsletter was published and said that soon, they would also add content in the Finnish language. He added that this was an electronic newsletter and it would soon be available in print too. Hearing this, Huzooraa said, “Masha-Allah!”
Jerry-Ullah Janbah Sahib, Mohtamim Sanat-o-Tijarat (Trade and Industry), stated that he was recently given the opportunity to work in this department. Whilst outlining his aims, he said that he planned to hold regular stalls at Salat centres and added that all income generated from the stalls would go to other plans of the Jamaat where financial help was needed. He said that a programme was to be made to teach khuddam basic skills, for example driving.
Hannan Ahmad Sahib, Mohtamim Tahrik-e-Jadid, was next to report. Huzooraa asked how much was collected for Tahrik-e-Jadid, to which he replied that last year’s target was €7,015, out of which only €6,077 was collected.
Arsalan Muzaffar Sahib, Mohtamim Aftal, was next to speak. Huzooraa asked him how many atfal there were and if they were active. Arsalan Sahib said there were 13 atfal and all were active. He reported that every month, two atfal classes were held in which they were taught Salat and its translation and given religious education. They were also given the opportunity to ask questions and receive guidance.
Huzooraa said, “There should be enough training for the atfal that, even after they become khuddam, they remain attached to the Jamaat and the Majlis.”
Next, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa asked Kaleem Ahmad Sahib, Mohtamim Tajnid (Census) if the tajnid was accurate, to which he replied in the affirmative.
Speaking with Rizwan Nasir Sahib, Muhasib (Auditor), Huzooraa enquired about his work and asked if he checked all the receipts. Rizwan Nasir Sahib replied in the affirmative.
Farid Ahmad Sahib, Mohtamim Umur-e-Tulaba (Student Affairs) reported that there were 19 students studying in universities and six in secondary schools. Huzooraa asked if any programme was made for them. Farid Ahmad Sahib stated that various seminars were held to help with online courses and CVs.
Speaking with Shoaib Ahmad Warraich Sahib, Additional Mohtamim Tarbiyat Rishta Nata (Moral Training and Marriages) Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa asked how many khuddam there were above the age of 25. Shoaib Ahmad Warraich Sahib replied that there were nine above the age of 25. Hearing this, Huzooraa said, “Get those who are above the age of 25 married first.”
Nafees Ahmad Sahib, Mu‘awin Sadr Sami-o-Basri (Audio and Video) was next to speak. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa asked if he was a technical person, to which he replied that by profession, he was a chemical engineer and that he was learning about sami-o-basri.
After this, Zeerak Ijaz Sahib, Sadr MKA Finland, requested that some amila members had a few questions they wished to ask Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa. Huzooraa graciously accepted this request.
The first to ask a question was Mohtamim Talim, Muhammad Shehzad Anwar Sahib. He stated that some khuddam gave preference to their jobs than Jumu‘ah, the Friday prayer. He asked what one should do to make them give preference to Jumuah.
Huzooraa stated that the khuddam should be told about the importance of Jumuah from time to time. “One should explain the true meaning of giving preference to religion over worldly matters as is stated during the [khuddam] pledge,” Huzooraa emphasised.
Shayan Ahmad Sahib, Motamid, asked what could be done when facing difficulties getting in touch with khuddam.
Huzooraa said, “In total, there are only 97 khuddam [in Finland]. It is a small country.” Huzooraa then gave the example of Australia which is a big and spread-out country and said that Finland was a much smaller country and thus, contact should be much easier. “Keep trying. Contacts should be established [with khuddam].”
Huzooraa, alluding to the conversation he had with the missionary, Musawer Ahmed Shahkar Sahib, said, “Greet others with ‘assalum alaikum’. Relations are made in this way, even if you say nothing else. You people contact [khuddam] only when you need to collect chanda, when a report is needed or when there is waqar-e-amal […] Has the thought ever occurred to you to just ask your brothers how they are doing?”
Rizwanullah Sahib, Mohtamim Tabligh, stated that when they distributed leaflets for tabligh, which had the name of the Holy Prophetsa and photos of the Promised Messiahas and the Khulafa, at times, it was seen that some non-Muslims threw them away. He asked what should be done.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa answered, “Where extremely necessary, you may publish a photo. Where it is not necessary, there is no need to publish a picture.”
Huzooraa also said that leaflets should only be given to those who seem genuinely interested.
Jariullah Janbah Sahib, Mohtamim Sanat-o-Tijarat, stated that some people did not work as they felt that the benefits they received from the government were equal to the income they would receive if they worked themselves. He asked Huzooraa how one could guide such people into working.
Huzooraa said, “Ask them, ‘Do you like giving sadqa or receiving sadaqa? The Holy Prophetsa said that the upper hand was better than the lower hand’”.
Huzoor explained that a person who was capable of working should not take sadaqa [charity].
Arsalan Muzaffar Sahib, Mohtamim Atfal, asked how one could explain the need for and importance of Salat to the atfal. Answering this, Huzooraa said, “First, you yourself should understand. Tell them that Allah the Almighty created us, and to thank Him, it was necessary that we worshipped Him. And God has Himself stated, ‘I have not created the jinn and the men but that they may worship Me.’ God did not say this because He benefits [from our worship]. We benefit from it”.
In the end, whilst providing guidance to all amila members, Huzooraa said:
“Act upon the things I have told you. Work according to the plan. Begin your work with a new passion and zeal, and try to achieve 100% of the target you have set.”
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa then conveyed his salaam to all amila members and the mulaqat came to a successful end.
(Report prepared by Al Hakam)