On 19 March 2023, Members of Lajna Imaillah Norway were blessed with the opportunity to meet Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, in a virtual mulaqat.
At the opening of the meeting, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa conveyed his salaam and invited Maryam Rizwan Sahiba to recite a portion from the Holy Quran and Ramla Harun Sahiba to read out the Urdu translation. Madiha Urooj Sahiba presented a hadith of the Holy Prophetsa. Maliha Nasir Sahiba was invited to read out an excerpt from the writings of the Promised Messiahas in Urdu. After hearing her read the excerpt, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa asked her if she was in Nasirat-ul-Ahmadiyya, to which she replied in the affirmative. Huzooraa said, “Masha-Allah! You are more confident than the Lajna.” Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa then invited Sofia Khalil to recite a poem.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa asked Balqees Akhtar Sahiba, Sadr Lajna Imaillah Norway how many were seated in the hall, to which she replied that 160 members were present; 57 nasirat and 103 Lajna members. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa asked if this was the full tajnid (number) of Lajna, to which Sadr Sahiba replied that the total tajnid of Lajna members in Norway is 640.
Thereafter, the participants had the opportunity to ask Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa questions on an array of matters.
Farah Dania Fawzi asked Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa where one goes after one dies.
In response, Huzooraa said that when one passes away, the soul leaves the body. “The body remains behind and is buried here on earth”, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa added. “Allah rewards those who have spent their lives doing good deeds, with Heaven” while those who have spent their lives committing bad deeds are punished.
Sofia Raja Sahiba asked Huzooraa if it is permissible to listen to the recitation of the Holy Quran by non-Ahmadi qaris (reciters).
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said, “The Holy Quran is the Word of Allah the Almighty; it does not matter who is reciting it; it is permissible to listen. Why not?” Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa further added that it is beneficial to listen to the recitation of the Holy Quran to improve one’s pronunciation and recitation. “There are some exceptional qaris among non-Ahmadis; one can listen to their recitation”.
Alisha Zohra Ahmad asked why Christians believe Prophet Jesusas to be the son of God. She also asked how one could explain to them, without hurting their sentiments, that Jesusas was a prophet of Allah and not God.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said, “Prophet Jesusas did not claim to be the son of God. The Bible addresses every noble man as ‘son of God’”. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said that it was when Christianity swayed away from its true and original teachings that such beliefs crept in. Huzooraa added that this doctrine was first conceived by Paul. Prophet Jesusas never claimed, nor is it written in the Bible, that Jesusas is God’s literal son. Huzooraa said that she should ask the murabbi in her area to help her find references in this regard.
Elisha Farrukh asked if she was permitted to celebrate her birthday at home with her parents and siblings in a simple manner. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa smiled and said she was permitted to do so, “however,” Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa said, “remember to pray for yourself on your birthday.” Huzooraa said that she should also offer two nawafil (voluntary prayers), pray for herself and give charity. Huzooraa said that she could then celebrate her birthday at home and cut a cake if she so desired.
Abeerah Hayat asked, if Allah bestowed mankind with free will, why are humans punished if they do something wrong?
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa explained that Allah the Almighty has bestowed humans with free will and then established His laws. He stated that Allah has given humans the ability to choose between good and bad, and has informed them that they will be rewarded for doing good and punished for committing bad deeds and cheating others. “Allah has also bestowed humans with intellect”, Huzooraa added. He emphasised that if Allah has given humans intellect, it is their responsibility to make full use of it.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa explained that Allah the Almighty has made the distinction between good and bad clear, and stated that God sent down His Messengers to call humanity towards the path of goodness.
Nida Basit Basrah Sahiba alluded to the verse “and [show] kindness to parents” (Ch.17: V.24) and asked Huzooraa how a girl who is married and lives away from her parents can fulfil this commandment.
Huzooraa said that the commandment does not imply that one can only be kind to their parents when they are physically present with them. One should always be kind to their parents whenever they have contact with them; when they live away from their parents, one can bring gifts for them whenever they visit them, meet them in a respectful and loving manner, and offer service to them. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa also advised praying for parents and stated that, “except for shirk,” one should try to obey their parents in all matters.
Romaan Nur Qadir Sahiba noted that while much is known about the Promised Messiah’sas father and brother, not much is known about his mother, Hazrat Chiragh Bibi Sahiba, apart from her name. She asked Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa why this was so.
Huzooraa replied that whatever information was found in history was recorded. He added that there are some narrations about Hazrat Chiragh Bibi Sahiba that can be found in history as well. Huzooraa further said that she could ask him in writing and he would send her those narrations. “Then you can also share them with the nasirat and Lajna members,” Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa added.
Manha Safdar Malik Sahiba acknowledged Huzoor’saa deep understanding of agriculture and asked if he could share some information about organic food and its benefits for both health and the environment.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa explained that while organic food is good, “the world’s population has grown so much that it is no longer possible to rely solely on organic food to feed everyone.” Therefore, synthetic or chemical fertilisers are used to grow enough food. However, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa emphasised that these fertilisers must be used in a way that is not harmful. To counteract any potential long-term harm, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa suggested eating organic spinach, lettuce, salad, etc., as well as taking vitamin E.
Henrietta Nur Sahiba asked, as converts, how they could help their families understand or accept Islam Ahmadiyyat.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa asked her how she accepted Ahmadiyyat, to which she replied that she read a lot on Alislam.org and a lot of Jamaat literature. Huzooraa said, “You can apply the same method for the conversion of your relatives and family members […]. Are they interested in religion? If they are just indifferent about religion, then how can you force them [and say,] ‘You must read about religion’? But if they are interested in religion on their own, and ask you some questions, then you can show them the content and the [website] links of Alislam and the books – Jamaat’s literature and the books – which you read and that influenced you. So, you can use the same method as you used for yourself.”
Nabila Anwar Sahiba said, lately, the trend of having, what people call, “family friends” is increasing among some Ahmadi households, according to which people visit each other freely, attend mixed gatherings, sit together, and chat without any concern for purdah, often not even bothering to cover up with a dupatta. When questioned about this behaviour, they argue that our children have grown up together and we are all like siblings or close family members. She requested guidance from Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa on how to address this issue.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa replied that this practice is wrong and said, “Allah has commanded in the Holy Quran to observe purdah, and in the categories outlined, it is explicitly stated that these are the [mahram] individuals before whom you do not require to observe purdah, and these are the ones who are non-mahram, meaning you are required to observe purdah before them. It is imperative that we follow the teachings of the Holy Quran.”
For this reason, Huzooraa said, these practices could, “over time, lead to detrimental consequences.” He added:
“These days, suspicions arise even among relatives, leading to unfounded accusations being made against each other that ‘he said this and she did that’. So, false allegations are made even against close relatives. When these same allegations are made about family friends, instead of creating an atmosphere of love and affection, rifts begin to appear. If you have family friends over, then men should sit with men, women with women, girls with girls, and boys with boys.” Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa explained that it is appropriate for young children to gather together to eat, play, and interact until a certain age, say five or seven – after that, it is best to maintain purdah between genders. The Holy Prophetsa even said that the beds of siblings, that is, sisters and brothers, should be separated after a certain age.
Hence, Huzooraa said, we ought not to be influenced by the practices of the people around us, since we are to reform other people. Huzooraa instructed the departments of tarbiyat of all the auxiliary organisations, the Jamaat’s tarbiyat department, as well as missionaries, to teach people that there is always great wisdom behind the teachings of Islam.
Nudrat Anwar Sahiba quoted the Quranic verse, “And those who say, ‘Our Lord, grant us of our wives and children the delight of [our] eyes, and make us a model for the righteous.” (Ch.25: V.75) and asked Huzooraa what prayers one can supplicate and which deeds one can do, to become the recipient of this prayer.
Huzooraa said that when parents pray fervently for their children to be “the delight of [our] eyes, and make us a model for the righteous”, (Ch.25: V.75) both the mother and father should be role models for those whose training is entrusted to them. Secondly, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said, children should pray for their parents in their prayers, asking Allah to bless their health and make them the delight of their eyes. Children should also pray that they do not commit any acts that may bring infamy to their parents. “Salat is the best and most beautiful means of supplication and achieving the acceptance of prayers. Therefore, more attention should be paid to prayers”, Huzooraa said.
Laiba Mahmud Sahiba said that there is a tradition of slaughtering a goat for charity. She asked if it was found in the practice of the Holy Prophetsa to slaughter a goat and distribute it among charity when someone fell ill or if someone desired to avoid calamity.
Huzooraa said that this was not a mere tradition, but it was proven to be a practice of the Holy Prophetsa to give charity to avoid any such calamity. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa added that, in those times, the prevalent custom was to slaughter goats and distribute their meat. Alternatively, some would give money.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa added that charity can be given according to the circumstances and the needs of the poor and deserving. However, some people feel more satisfied only if they slaughter a goat and distribute its meat, which they then do. Huzooraa mentioned that the Jamaat sends sadqah to various places. Once, due to inflation, there was a place in Africa where they had not been able to afford meat for a couple of years. When the people of the village ate the meat, which was made possible due to the Jamaat’s sadqah, they prayed for the Jamaat and said that they had eaten meat after two years.
Huzooraa said that aid should be provided, considering the needs of the recipients. Sadqah can be distributed by way of slaughtering an animal, giving money, or other means. Huzooraa added that slaughtering a goat in Norway may not be of much benefit. However, one can give some money or clothes to charity organisations there.
Khafia Shahid Sahiba asked how they can integrate new converts into Lajna Imaillah.
“This depends on how active you are.” Firstly, one should pray for them that Allah – Who created the means of their accepting Islam Ahmadiyyat – strengthens their faith. Secondly, one should pray to Allah to enable them to help the new converts in their tarbiyat and to increase them in knowledge and spirituality.
Huzooraa added that they should speak to new converts in the language they are comfortable with and interact with them accordingly. Huzooraa further suggested that when conducting meetings, it should be evaluated as to which language is suitable for the attendees. In order to look after the tarbiyat of new converts, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa proposed that if a meeting lasts, for instance, 30 minutes, then 20 minutes should be conducted in Norwegian and 10 minutes in Urdu.Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa then conveyed his salaam to all members, and the mulaqat came to an end.
(Report prepared by Al Hakam)