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Virtual Khilafat Day Jalsa in Canada

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Virtual Khilafat Day Jalsa in Canada

Syed Mukarram Nazeer, Canada Correspondent

To celebrate the 112 years of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Canada held its Khilafat Day Jalsa across Canada. This year, the Jalsa was held at local Jamaat levels and were virtual in nature. Various online conferencing platforms were used to accomplish this.

Thanks to Covid-19 precautions, online conferencing usage has increased manifold within Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Canada. All amila meetings, from the local level to the national level, are being held online.

Recently, virtual jalsas were organised by Canada’s markaz on a national level, with Jamaat members joining from their homes. For Khilafat Day Jalsa, it was encouraged to have it at local level. In Jamaat Brampton Castlemore, such a Jalsa was arranged on 27 May 2020 from 7pm to 8pm. The conference’s time slot was booked for the time. The conference invitation link was created and made part of an email and WhatsApp message sent to inform members about the Jalsa. Once the invitation link was clicked, a screen would open and connect the user to the conference.

Many households were already familiar with using such conferencing platforms. Those who requested help were provided with help over the phone.

Once the presenters of the meeting – reciter of the Holy Quran, reciter of poem, speakers etc. – were finalised, they were invited to do a practice run. This allowed the presenters to become familiar with the conference feature. They were guided on how to share their slides, turn on their cameras, manage their audios, lighting, background etc. The conference was opened to participants about 20 minutes before the start time. Some members had difficulty joining and were given last minute individual help.

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The Jalsa was presided by the local President of Jamaat Castlemore, Arshad Ahmad Sahib. The session started with the recitation of the Holy Quran and Urdu translation by Syed Mukarram Nazeer. The English translation was presented by a tifl, Ibrahim Chaudhary Sahib. Waqar Hashmi Sahib presented the poem and English translation.

Mahmood Yasar Sahib did a presentation on Blessings of Khilafat. He presented glad tidings of the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, regarding the Second Manifestation (Khilafat). He went on to introduce each of the five Khulafa-e-Ahmadiyyat and how, under divine guidance, they have led the Jamaat through different challenges.

Missionary of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Brampton Castlemore, Aneeq Ahmad Sahib then spoke in detail on how God appoints a Khalifa. He highlighted how Allah helped each Khalifa in his responsibilities.

Closing remarks were given by president of Jamaat Castlemore and he also led the silent prayer.

An attendance of 35 connections was reached just before the start of Jalsa, which stayed relatively constant till the end. With an estimated average attendance of four members per connection, the estimated total viewership of the event was 130.

May Allah protect the institution of Khilafat and enable us to fulfil our responsibilities towards Khilafat. Amin

Detroit Jamaat’s Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations during lockdown

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Detroit Jamaat’s Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations during lockdown

Syed Shamshad Nasir, Missionary, USA

Muhammad Ahmad Sahib of Detroit reports that Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Detroit continued the tradition of participating in daily dars-ul-Quran and dars-ul-Hadith via Zoom meetings during the entire month of Ramadan.

The daily dars would start at 6:45pm and continue until 8:15pm. Missionary Syed Shamshad Nasir Sahib continued to prepare and deliver the dars. At the end of the daily dars, members asked questions on varied topics that Shamshad Sahib would answer.

This year, due to the virtual arrangements for the daily dars, in addition to Detroit Jamaat, members from Dayton, Columbus, Virginia, Chicago and Harrisburg were able to join and listen to the dars. The overall participation was particularly good, with more than 550 members from across various Jamaats benefiting the daily dars.

On 23 May 2020, the daily dars sessions concluded with silent prayer led by Shamshad Nasir Sahib. After the silent prayer, President Jamaat Detroit, Maqbool Tahir Sahib thanked Shamshad Nasir Sahib for his daily dars.

Eid-ul-Fitr was celebrated on 24 May 2020. Due to state restrictions on large gatherings, Jamaat members were advised to offer Eid prayers at home. A few members were able to offer the Eid prayer at Masjid Mahmood, where Shamshad Nasir Sahib led the prayers and delivered the Eid Sermon.

“Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of fasting. Muslims must strive to maintain the same level of piety observed during the month of Ramadan. They must continue to partake in acts of charity and supplication while staying away from negative thinking, despair and materialistic desires” said Shamshad Nasir Sahib.

He also said, “You put your Satan in chains during the holy month of Ramadan, therefore let it remain in chains; don’t free him again.”

This year’s Ramadan and Eid-ul-Fitr was unusual and historic. Members did not go to the mosque to prostrate side by side in prayer with their fellow Ahmadi Muslims. It was a humbling and empowering experience for many members who led the Eid prayer in their homes with their families.

Messages from Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, along with a message from Amir Jamaat USA, Sahibzada Mirza Maghfoor Ahmad Sahib were shared and read after the Eid Sermon.

“If Ahmadi Muslims wish to celebrate Eid in the true sense, then where they seek to attain the blessings of the true Eid by bringing about a moral reformation, they should also make every effort to free the world from injustices and should engage fervently in prayer” advised Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa in his Eid-ul-Fitr Sermon of 2015.

Although members were not able to gather and enjoy the traditional meal and sweets in Masjid Mahmood that are normally part of the Eid festivities, the Jamaat did arrange gift packs of sweets that were delivered to homes of Detroit Jamaat members thus sharing the happiness and joy of this special occasion.

May Allah help all the volunteers who not only prepared the gift packs but also delivered to homes. Amin

Humanity First serving food in the USA

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Humanity First serving food in the USA

Syed Shamshad Nasir, Missionary, USA

Humanity First volunteers across the USA are engaged in offering economic and medical services. Rations and cooked meals are distributed for several hours every day. Doctors and other medical staff are also providing information through the helpline.

While the coronavirus has killed nearly 400,000 people worldwide, the USA tops the list with more than 100,000 deaths.

These volunteers of Humanity First are seen standing shoulder to shoulder with the American people, to help at every opportunity.

Ration distribution centers have been set up at Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya mosques in various parts of the country and at various places in collaboration with other government and charitable organisations; with 333,582 rations or cooked meals distributed from 1 to 8 May 2020.

For this, 280 people volunteered and worked for over 38,150 man hours.

Most significantly, at the Hadi Mosque in Central Jersey, rations and cooked meals were distributed to 5,471 beneficiaries, 20,743 across Chicago, 32,610 in New York, 6,189 in Philadelphia, 3,210 at the Bait-ul-Ehsan in Seattle, 95,360 at the Masroor mosque in Virginia, and 2,288 needy people were served at the Bait-ur-Rehman mosque in Silver Spring.

Humanity First volunteers are providing food as well as masks and gloves to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Beneficiaries include deserving people visiting local hospitals and clinics, and at the centers set up by the police and Humanity First.

An American woman sent a letter to Humanity First in which she praised their work, saying that while driving her car past Masroor mosque in Virginia, she saw a long line of vehicles in front of the mosque, which were waiting to enter the mosque to collect rations.

She appreciated the service and also posted this positive opinion on her Facebook. The woman also donated on the Humanity First’s website.

A family in Florida, after receiving cooked food from Humanity First student volunteers, said it was the best food in a week during the pandemic.

Another person told us that he works in a hospital and his job is about to end in two weeks. He also said that he sends money to his family in Mexico and does not want to tell them that his job is about to end. The money he can save from the weekly rations received from Humanity First can help him and his family in these difficult times.

We humbly pray to Allah the Almighty to reward these humble efforts of the volunteers of Humanity First in these days and to keep the world safe from this deadly disease. Amin

Helping the “angels” of a care home

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Helping the “angels” of a care home

Aamir Shahzad, President Jamaat Huddersfield South, UK

Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Huddersfield South visited Meadow court residential care home in Slaithwaite on 10 May 2020. We heard that the staff at this residential home have been described as “angels” after agreeing to live on site in caravans to help residents from coronavirus.

The local Qaid, Shakeel Yousaf Sahib, Aqib Iqbal Sahib and myself were touched by this response from the staff and we felt that we should off er our support to them, as Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa instructed that due to the coronavirus, this is a crucial time to serve humanity and offer people our help, support and love.

When we contacted them to offer our help, they said that they were well equipped. But then we mentioned we would like to share our Iftar meal with them by providing a four-course meal – as we were passing through the blessed month of Ramadan, a month that teaches us sacrifice and patience. They said that they were happy to accept this gesture of thanks.

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In total, the staff included 16 members and four directors living on site in caravans. We offered to cater for all of them. It shows that in time of need you can witness so many fantastic people come together. It is amazing to see the caravans on site there, the commitment from the staff is amazing.

This is a massive ask on the staff; to leave their families and loved ones for three weeks, to care for others.

As a thank-you gesture, we provided a four-course curry meal to all staff at Meadow court residential care home in Slaithwaite. Director, Mr Steven and his staff welcomed us on site, and we shared the Iftar meals with the whole team.

Seeking justice, the right way

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Seeking justice, the right way

Frasat Ahmad, Missionary USA

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No innocent human being should have to die the way George Floyd did. It was cold-blooded murder. 

But is George’s death an isolated incident, one in which an officer of the law went rogue and violated the code of ethics he swore to uphold? Or is George the latest casualty in a long line of brutal killings?

“You promised you wouldn’t kill me!” Natasha McKenna (February 2015)

“I can’t breathe!” – Freddy Gray (April 2015)

“I don’t wanna die young!” – Christian Taylor (August 2015)

“I can’t breathe!” – Eric Garner (July 2014)

“I don’t have a gun. Stop shooting!” – Michael Brown (August 2014)

“Please don’t let me die!” – Kimani Gray (Match 2013)

“Why did you shoot me?!” – Kendrec McDade (March 2012)

“What are you following me for?” – Trayvon Martin (February 2012)

“Officers, why do you have your guns out?!” – Kenneth Chamberlain (November 2011)

“You shot me! You shot me!” – Oscar Grant (January 2009)

These human beings, in all likelihood, would still be alive today if the colour of their skin was fairer, if they had not committed the “crime” of being black in a country that spurns them.

And some Americans have had enough. Citizens are spilling into the streets to protest an establishment inherently plagued by systemic racism, one that tears apart the fabric of our society by murdering innocent lives in the name of justice.

Yet, we are stuck in a vicious cycle, one where systemic discrimination causes protests. These protests are then hijacked by petty criminals and escalate into riots and looting, which further perpetuates systemic discrimination against black Americans. We must break this cycle, regardless of the inherent desire to voice our anger in the streets, regardless of the vengeance we so desperately desire. Our Khalifa has instructed us to do so.

On protesting, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, has taught:

“[Often], protesters vandalise or damage possessions and properties belonging either to the state or to private citizens … Even where protests or strikes are conducted peacefully, without recourse to criminal damage or violence, it still can have a very negative effect.

“This is because even peaceful protests often result in a loss of millions to the economy of the nation. Under no circumstances can such behaviour be considered to be an example of loyalty to the nation.” (Address at the Military Headquarters in Koblenz, Germany, 20 May 2012)
 

We cannot burn down our own homes in protest to make them hear our voices. We will only be left with char and ash. Our Khalifa has instructed us to outlet our anger and seek retribution in an entirely different manner altogether. We must let our voices be heard, not in the streets through protest, but at the ballot box. We must exercise our right to vote and cast out those elected officials who espouse policies that inflame hatred. Our right to vote is what will see an establishment that supports systemic racism burn to the ground.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be His Helper, validates this, stating:

“If a person or group wishes to change the government, then they should do so by following the proper democratic process.”

“They should make themselves heard by voting at the ballot box … This is the true Islam.” (Ibid)

The activist, Michael Render addressed protesters and advised:

“Now is the time to plot, plan, strategise, organise and mobilise. It is time to beat up prosecutors you don’t like at the voting booth. It is time to hold mayoral offices accountable, chiefs and deputy chiefs.” (CNN, Killer Mike urges Atlanta protesters ‘not to burn your own house down’ in emotional plea)

3 November is just around the corner. In mere months, the 2020 United States elections will be held. All 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives, 35 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate and the office of president of the United States will be contested.

No amount of protest, looting or street violence will bring George Floyd back. But exercising our right to vote and changing the faces of power can ensure that another innocent life will not be robbed from us.

Don’t let George Floyd die in vain. Vote!

Let us also remember these words of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa:

“It is the duty of members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to pray for both sides to desist from excesses and cruelties. Those who can help to create a peaceful environment within their spheres of influence should make efforts towards doing so. May Allah the Almighty save the world from a state of anarchy and may disorder and strife rapidly transform into a state of peace.” (Friday Sermon, 9 January 2015)

Birth during a global pandemic 

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Birth during a global pandemic 

Aneela Nasir, USA

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Like any expectant mother, I had my worries and anxieties during the months leading up to the birth of my second son. How would I distribute my attention now that I would have two children? Would my firstborn be okay spending the night without me for the first time when I go to the hospital? Would I be enough for both my sons or would one feel neglected?

Little did I know that as the time came closer to welcome our son, we would be living in a completely different world and the worries I prayed about for months would become an afterthought as I grappled with a much greater fear; the coronavirus pandemic. 

As my due date drew closer, coronavirus was only spreading faster and government restrictions tightening. Rules were changing with each visit to the doctor’s office. Our state was in complete lockdown. By the time I went to one of my final checkups, all workers and patients were wearing masks. The waiting room was rearranged to have fewer seats placed at a safe distance from one another. A separate waiting area was setup in the hallway to accommodate more patients. There were workers walking around sanitising doorknobs and elevator buttons. 

When my husband and I reached the door to the waiting room, a sign informed us that no one was to accompany patients during their visit. I was a little taken aback by that, but my husband assured me it would be all right and left to wait in the car. 

As I spoke to my doctor, I started to realise what would likely happen when it came time for my son to be born. She told me that I was lucky because my hospital was still allowing spouses to accompany women in the hospital; that at many hospitals not far from here, women were required to enter and leave the maternity ward completely alone in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus. 

I asked my doctor my nagging question already knowing the answer: “Will my one-year-old be able to visit me in the hospital?” She shook her head: “No”, with a sorry look on her face. I could not help but start crying in front of her. “I wish I could hug you,” said my doctor. I cried even harder. 

It might seem silly to get so distraught over this, but my son had never spent the night away from me. How could I leave him to be with my new baby, especially without knowing how many days I would be gone for? Maybe I needed my son more than he needed me. 

That day, I felt a need to tell Huzoor, may Allah be his Helper, about my situation. He had recommended medications to me during both my pregnancies. I knew that while I don’t write to Huzooraa as much as I should, his prayers would improve my situation, as they always have.

I shared all my fears and anxieties with him. I told him how scared I felt about leaving my son and staying in the hospital while coronavirus is spreading. I knew that I would not hear back soon as responses from Huzooraa were delayed due to coronavirus. But as soon as I sent my letter, a feeling of peace and satisfaction came over me that Huzoor’saa prayers would be with me.

Days before I gave birth, I read about an incident just a few hours away in New York, about a man who had lied about being healthy, so that he could visit his wife in the maternity ward. The man finally admitted to feeling ill when his wife started showing Covid-19 symptoms shortly after giving birth. 

It was also during this time that we decided, as a family, that it was best that my mother did not visit for the moment. It would have been a huge help if my mother was with me during my newly postpartum days, but my parents live far away from me and we had to think of everyone’s safety over anything else. Instead of worrying excessively about these things, I was able to pray about them instead and stay calm.

I felt serenity in knowing that I had asked for Huzoor’saa prayers and felt an extra responsibility to pray hard for myself too since I had asked him to do so as well. 

You know, it is true what they say: Allah works in mysterious ways. Because of the lockdown, I was lucky to have my husband with me all the time. Originally, he was supposed to be very busy on the days around my due date. Instead, I was able to have his constant support and physical presence at a time I needed it most.

On 13 April , by the grace of God and with the prayers of my beloved khalifa, our son Mutahir was born. His name, given to him by Huzooraa, means “the one who purifies”. Mutahir came into the world during the peak of coronavirus in my state. By the grace of Allah, he is healthy and safe and I am happy to say that through prayer and maintaining a connection with Khilafat, I was able to stay positive and strong through this exceptional situation, solidifying again, “Surely there is ease after hardship.” (Surah al-Inshirah, Ch.94: V.6)

At the brink of civil war

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At the brink of civil war

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V had warned of the possibility well in advance

Ataul Fatir Tahir, Al Hakam

Black Lives Matter Protest

For millions, the American “dream” was always a nightmare – ancient seeds of division, discrimination and discord continue to grow a frustrated and polarised society. “RIP America, you had a good run (1776-2020)”, a recent tweet read.  

#JusticeForGeorge protests and riots – across US cities – aim to echo the extant injustices America breeds. Yes, rights of freedom are ingrained in the First Amendment, but true justice is yet to be established. People are fed up and the repercussions aren’t pretty. Contentious politics, racism and the loss of civil rights are pushing America to an edge fraught with danger. “Fury and Frustration in Cities Across U.S”, as The New York Times reported, is the reaction of society.

In recent atrocities, the murders of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd have scorned the American civil rights movements of the 1950s and ’60s. Racial discrimination, disenfranchisement and racial segregation are far from over in “the land of liberty”.

The summer of 2013 had sparked the internationally recognised social media movement #BlackLivesMatter, after George Zimmerman’s acquittal for killing Taryvon Martin; a black American. Ever since, America’s eternal story of blatant discrimination – at times, supported by the very “institutions of freedom” – has been heart-wrenching to say the least. The #BlackLivesMatter plea is now crossing the borders of America and reverberating across the world.

And the polarisation doesn’t stop there. Armed white supremacists – whose threat is equal to ISIS according to the FBI – and forceful far-left groups continue to spread hatred and divide US society. Undertones of constant support and a patting-on-the-back attitude extreme groups receive, by the current leadership of America, ignite further fires of division. The same leadership also dishes out alienating laws, comments and ideas; spreading divergence on a larger scale. The Bill of Rights, which was meant to guarantee civil rights and liberties to every individual, is constantly dishonoured, ignored and attacked.

Frustrations continue to heap. The economic blow of Covid-19 on America, which has resulted in recession according to Oxford Economics chief US economist, Gregory Daco (and others) and record-hitting unemployment of 41 million people, leaves America extremely vulnerable to civil unrest. The Washington Post recently titled a story: “Gripped by disease, unemployment and outrage at the police, America plunges into crisis.”

As a result, society’s picture turns extremely grim. “Riot … the voice of the unheard” as Martin Luther King Jr said, is how American society has responded to unending and crippling injustice. Civil unrest is chipping away at the peace of the country.

Four years ago, prior to the election of President Donald Trump, Peter Mansbridge was taken slightly aback during a CBC News interview when Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa, the Fifth Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community warned of “a big civil war” in America. He said that if Trump was elected and his (divisive) policies implemented, the threat of an American civil war would be imminent:

“…if he tries to implement whatever he is saying, then I fear that there’s going to be a big civil war.”

At this point, Mansbridge, with slight surprise, reconfirmed by asking, “civil war?”

In response, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa confirmed:

“Yes, of course. They will rise against the government, because if the government takes harsh measures just to try to deny all their rights in any way, then there are so many hundreds of people. You see, to create any disturbance or nonsense, a single man can even single-handedly do it … So they have to use sense.”

Earlier in the interview, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa warned of “chaos in the country” if divisive policies saw implementation.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa concluded by saying:

“I don’t think a president of America, if ever elected president of America, will take any measure which is senseless.”

Peter Mansbridge responded, “You hope?”.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa, with a warming smile, confirmed, “I hope”. 

Since that interview, America has “plunged into crisis” as The Washington Post noted, and civil unrest continues to be rife. Though many of the policies were “senseless” enough, never to be implemented, the spirit and soul of such estranging policies, however, are spreading throughout America. Now, the idea of a civil war that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa emphatically warned of does not seem so far-fetched.

Solutions for civil unrest and the plaguing worry for international peace have been clearly described by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa. Whether in parliaments, meetings with politicians, speeches before think-tanks and academics, letters to world leaders, peace symposia or hundreds of addresses to the public, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa echoes the teachings of the Holy Quran: absolute justice, by both the government and populace.  

In 2012, talking about establishing world peace, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa noted:

“The key requirement to fulfilling this primary goal is absolute justice and fairness in all matters. The Holy Quran, in chapter 4, verse 136, has given us a golden principle and lesson, guiding us about this. It states that as a means to fulfil the requirements of justice, even if you have to bear witness and testify against yourself, your parents or your closest relatives and friends, then you must do so. This is true justice where personal interests are set aside for the common good.”

He further said:

“… the representatives and ambassadors of each nation should come forward with sincerity and with a desire to support the principles of fairness and equality. We must eliminate all forms of bias and discrimination, as this is the only means to bring about peace.” (World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace, pp. 48-49)

His Holiness has said that both the government and the public should act with justice and peace. Revolting on the streets and creating violent uprisings will not bring about lasting peace, rights or liberty, nor will oppression of civilians bring about peace.

A struggle against any inner evils, selfish desires, prejudices and wants must be waged. A revolution in our outlook on life based on the principles of absolute justice, equality and fairness will bring the change we are thirsty for.

Until the world, not just America, realises and acts on these principles, the hope for lasting peace and civil liberty will be a stretch of the imagination.

Menu of modern media

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Menu of modern media

The curiosity in humankind’s nature has been the main drive behind its pursuit of information. Before the invention of the printing press, sailors and wanderers would bring back information from distant lands, which was then passed on by word of mouth, from one person to another, one community to another.

The printing press brought with it the facility of having such information recorded and, subsequently, be challenged if someone had a different version of the same story. Thanks once again to humankind’s curiosity, this storytelling developed into the business of reporting, which became popular at an unprecedented scale, so much so that publications had to be dedicated for this purpose. This is the shortest story of the birth of newspapers and its twin called journalism.

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When versions of the same story began to differ in core facts was when civilised society started to think about responsible journalism and thus came up the question of credibility, fact-finding and checks of various kinds. State censorships emerged at around the same stage, out of similar reasons. This potentially meant that all newspapers reported the same stories, which, commercially speaking, left no charm in the business.

At this juncture, the predicament faced by the newspaper industry was how to be different and how to generate more revenue from circulation and advertisement. It was at this point that gossip was first introduced as a lifesaver for the budding (and already struggling) industry of journalism. The public was already intrigued to know what celebrities did behind closed doors.

This genre, later to be termed as tabloid journalism, gained mass popularity as newspapers continued to reveal the everyday lives of celebrities. This led to scandals becoming the main lifeline of journalism.

The definition of celebrities, which was initially restricted to actors and actresses, expanded to take into its fold politicians and leaders. As the world of journalism evolved into mass media, politicians emerged as the most scandalous class and, naturally, one that generated more sales and profits.

As we write these lines, actors and actresses jealously feel overshadowed by politicians in the world of scandals as the latter hog headlines much more and for a longer period of time. Also, as we write these lines, the global media has gone into a frenzy of scandal reporting.

At a time when thousands of members of the global population continue to die of the deadly coronavirus, it is distressing to see the media shamelessly take off its robes of decency and wrap itself in the scales of tabloid and yellow journalism. A short headline on the hundreds who lost their lives to the coronavirus and then a long story of a president who considers injecting disinfectants into the veins of the general public; a stupid idea that can easily be brushed away is given huge chunks of airtime, where virologists, epidemiologists and experts of public health are taken on Skype to condemn an idea that requires no more than a common man (with a bit of common sense) to reject.

The discussion goes on and on with diagrams and charts showing how injecting toilet bleach could travel into the bloodstream and work as a killer and not a cure of viral infection. A more sensible debate might have been to question those who elected such a leader. A democratically leader, they say, represents the nation. So why not ask the nation what made them stoop this low.

A president from Latin America has refused to wear a mask and has made it to international headlines. He hogs the headlines for several days, and, as soon as other stories start to take over, he decides to wear a mask. There he is! Back at the top.

A political advisor of a prime minister travels to a different part of the country, where he and his family can self-isolate. He ends up at his destination and also at the top headlines. Fair enough, he should not have breached the lockdown that kept everyone strictly indoors, especially when he himself was instrumental in drafting the law around it. But unlimited time for questioning an advisor? Why not just bring the story to light and leave the public to decide if a government that relies on such advisors is trustworthy or not.

The media claims to be a public servant, so why not leave it to the public to decide? Over the last couple of weeks, hours upon hours have been invested in covering the story. Reporters and politicians are shown demanding the advisor to resign. He is made to sit before the media and read out to them what was more of an alibi than a statement. The one who asks him the most gruelling question is seen as the best reporter.

All this goes on in the theatre of mass media at a time when humanity is going through its worst crisis in many decades; at a time when every person of the world is swamped in the uncertainty of how to get back to normal life; at a time when the underprivileged population of the world is trying to decide whether the epidemic of poverty is the worst killer or the coronavirus.

At such a time of uncertainty and crisis, humanity looks at the menu card of modern media. There is very little or nothing on it that the majority of the world’s population can afford. Scandal, for most of the human population, is still a luxury.

Those who abandon Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya cause no harm – Part II

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Those who abandon Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya cause no harm – Part II

Generally, people accept the true Islam when they comprehend the reasonable and rational explanations of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat about the signs of Judgement day, death of Jesusas, freedom of religion and naskh [abrogation] in the Holy Quran etc.

However, those few who abandon the Jamaat, mostly overlook and knowingly close their eyes to the inspirations which persuaded them to join the Ahmadiyya Jamaat in the first place. Rather than proving that they were wrong in believing those sound interpretations of the Holy Quran and ahadith, they persist on levelling allegations against the personage of the Messiah and Mahdi, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas.

Their silence on the primary stimulations of their conversion to Islam Ahmadiyyat give rise to an array of questions. Above all, it indicates that they believe those explanations to be true and deliberately ignore them.

Secondly, if the signs of the Messiah of the latter days present in the Holy Quran and ahadith have come to pass and the apostates believe that the Founderas of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat was not the Promised Messiah, then they should either specify which sect of the Muslim Ummah believes in the true Messiah or fall in the category mentioned in the following saying of the Holy Prophetsa:

خَیْرُھذِهِ الْاُمَّةِ أوَّلُهَا وَآخِرُهَا، أوَّلُهَا فِيْهِمْ رَسُوْلُ اللہِ وَآخِرُهَا فِيْهِمْ عِیْسَی ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ وَبَيْنَ ذٰلِكَ ثَبَجٌ أعْوَجُ لَيْسَ مِنْکَ وَلَسْتَ مِنْھُم

“The golden period of this Ummah is the first and the last age. In the first era, the Prophet [Muhammadsa] of Allah is present in it, and in the last age, Isa ibn Maryam [the Promised Messiahas] will be among them. And the middle age will be that of the crooked group, who are not from among you [i.e. the true Ummah of the Holy Prophetsa] and you are not from among them.” (Hilyatul Auliya, Imam Abu Nuaym Ahmad bin Abdullah Al-Shafi)

Now that the age of the Holy Prophetsa has passed and according to the deserters of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, it is not the age of the Promised Messiah, then in their view, it is certainly the time of crooked groups. This means that abandoning the true Islam would leave them no choice but to enter a group which is crooked according to the Holy Prophetsa and regarding whom the Prophetsa of God said that they are not from the Ummah of Islam.

Then there is a hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari in which Hazrat Huzayfara asked, “O Messenger of Allah, will the time of evil ever come upon our Ummah again?” The Holy Prophetsa said, “Yes!” He was very upset when he heard the news of discord and asked, “O Messenger of Allah, what should we do when the time of evil comes on our Ummah?” The Holy Prophetsa advised them:

تَلْزَمُ جَمَاعَةَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَإِمَامَهُمْ

“Adhere to the Jamaat of Muslims and their Imam when the time of evil comes.”

He asked again:

فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُمْ جَمَاعَةٌ وَلاَ إِمَامٌ

“But if there is neither a Jamaat, nor an Imam [what shall we do]?”

The Prophetsa of Allah replied that if there was evil in his Ummah but there was no Jamaat or Imam, then:

فَاعْتَزِلْ تِلْكَ الْفِرَقَ كُلَّهَا، وَلَوْ أَنْ تَعَضَّ بِأَصْلِ شَجَرَةٍ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَكَ الْمَوْتُ

“Stay away from all other sects, even if you have to bite [i.e. eat] the root of a tree, till you embrace death.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Fitan)

In this hadith, the imam does not mean the imam of Salat or any maulvi because in reply, the Holy Prophetsa said that if the Imam [of the latter days] is not present, then “stay away from all other sects” and these sects already possess imams for Salat and maulvis. So here, imam means an Imam who is appointed by God Almighty.

Today, there is no person in any country of the world save the Founderas of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, who says, “O people, God has appointed me as your Imam in this time of evil, so join me in accordance with this prophetic advice.”

Moreover, no sect or group on the face of the earth says, “O people, in this time of evil, God Almighty has appointed such and such person as an Imam among us in such and such city, so be associated with him.”

Subsequently, there are only two options: either accept the Ahmadiyya Jamaat, which has an Imam appointed by God and become associated with it, or if someone’s heart is not satisfied, then live by eating the roots of trees.

On the other hand, if anyone joins any other sect, they will be considered disobedient to the command of the Holy Prophetsa.

On another occasion, the Holy Prophetsa said:

“My Ummah will go through the same stages as did the Bani [children of] Israel. The similarities will be very striking, like one shoe of a pair has to the other, so much so that if a person from among the Bani Israel committed an offence against his mother, a similar unfortunate one would also be found in my Ummah. Bani Israel split into 72 sects; my people will split into 73 sects; with the exception of one sect, all others will be bound for Hell.’ It was asked, ‘O prophet of Allah, who will be these righteous people?’ [The Holy Prophetsa] replied, ‘They will be the people who truly follow me and my Companions.’” (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Iman)

Now pondering over the sunnah of the Prophetsa and his Companionsra, we find that in the life of the Holy Prophetsa, the head of the Companionsra was the Prophetsa of God and they lived their lives under the leadership of that Prophet. After the demise of the Holy Prophetsa, the leader of those Companionsra was the Khalifa of the Prophet of God and they lived their lives under his command.

Another hadith of the Holy Prophetsa says:

وھی الجماعۃ

“[The rightful sect of the latter days] will be a jamaat.” (Sunan Abu Dawood, Kitab-us-Sunnah)

The existence of a jamaat is impossible without an imam. For instance, a jamaat of worshippers even in the smallest of mosques cannot perform congregational prayers without an imam.

Currently, no sect, except for Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya, proclaims that they are subordinate to an imam and their leader is a khalifa for the Muslims. The Promised Messiahas claimed that God informed him through revelation that the Messiah, who was to appear in the latter days was him.

Now, only two cases are possible; either God informed him through revelation or God did not inform him and he made false claims in the name of God. We look at the Holy Quran and see what it says about those whom God informs through divine revelation and how God deals with them, and on other hand, how does God deal with those who falsely claim to be recipient of divine revelation.

For example, the Holy Prophetsa claimed that God spoke to him and He granted him the status of prophethood, so people should accept him; Allah the Almighty commanded him to announce that claim. He climbed the hill of Safa and called everyone there and asked whether they would believe him if he said that there was an army hidden behind the hill. They replied that they would believe him. Then the Holy Prophetsa said that he had been commissioned as the prophet of God. Every step of the Holy Prophetsa was taken in light of the Holy Quran and God Almighty commanded him to present the first proof of the truth of his claim that as he had never lied to anyone in the past and so, how could he forge a lie against Allah now.

Hence, this argument is stated in the Holy Quran as follows:

فَقَدۡ لَبِثۡتُ فِیۡکُمۡ عُمُرًا مِّنۡ قَبۡلِہٖ ؕ اَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُوۡنَ

“I have indeed lived among you a whole lifetime before this. Will you not then understand?” (Surah Yunus, Ch.10: V.17)

After the Holy Prophetsa claimed to be the Messenger of God, the same people who used to call the Holy Prophetsa sadiq [truthful] and amin [trustworthy] started abusing him.

The Holy Quran refers to them as:

وَ قَالَ الۡکٰفِرُوۡنَ ہٰذَا سٰحِرٌ کَذَّابٌ

“The disbelievers say, ‘This is a magician, a great liar.’” (Surah Saad, Ch.38: V.5)

The Promised Messiahas also presented this argument and said:

“People regard and have faith in the exhortations of men according to the measure of their piety and righteousness. Now ponder over how God has furnished thousands of signs in support of my claim so that you may determine and judge the truth and the calibre of he who is inviting you to this Jamaat and that you may weigh his spiritual worth and weigh his arguments.

“You cannot point out any moral slips and weakness in my life, nor have I ever indulged in fraud or deceit so that you may have cause to suspect my integrity. Is there anyone among you who can point out shortcomings and weaknesses in my life? It was the blessing of God that made me tread the path of righteousness from the very beginning. This is a sign for those who contemplate.” (Tadhkira-tul-Shahadatain, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 20, p. 64)

After Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’sas claim of being the Promised Messiah, those people who considered him the helper of Islam started issuing fatwas of kufr [disbelief] against him. For instance, prior to the Promised Messiah’sas claim, Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi wrote a review on his book, Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya and stated:

“In our view, this book [Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya], at this time and considering the present circumstances, is such that so far, the like of it cannot be found in [the history of] Islam. Nothing can be said of the future:

لَعَلَّ اللّٰہَ یُحۡدِثُ بَعۡدَ ذٰلِکَ اَمۡرًا

“[‘It may be that thereafter, Allah will bring something new to pass.’ (Surah al-Talaq, Ch.65: V.2)]

“The author has also been so persistent in the service of Islam, with his money, life, writings, speeches and personal actions, that very few parallels can be drawn among Muslims.” (Ishaat-us-Sunnah, Vol. 7, pp. 169-170)

However, soon after the claim of the Promised Messiahas, Maulvi Muhammad Hussain Batalvi was the first to issue a fatwa of disbelief against him. The second argument that was frequently presented by the Promised Messiahas to prove his truthfulness is mentioned in the following verses of the Holy Quran:

وَ لَوۡ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَیۡنَا بَعۡضَ الۡاَقَاوِیۡلِ

لَاَخَذۡنَا مِنۡہُ بِالۡیَمِیۡنِ 

ثُمَّ لَقَطَعۡنَا مِنۡہُ الۡوَتِیۡنَ 

“And if he had falsely [attributed] even a trivial statement to Us, We would surely have seized him by the right hand, and then surely We would have severed his jugular vein.” (Surah al-Haqqah, Ch.69: V.45-47)

God Almighty commanded the Holy Prophetsa to present the above argument to the people of Mecca. These verses show that the proof of the Holy Prophet’ssa revelations being from God was the fact that had they not been from God and had he fabricated them, God would not have given such ample time for him to spread his message far and wide. Regarding the revelation of the aforementioned verses, Hazrat Umarra said:

“These verses had been revealed before my accepting Islam. Once, the thought crossed my mind that the Holy Prophetsa would go to the Ka‘bah at night to worship, so I should go and kill him. Thus, I went there and hid in the dark. After some time had elapsed, the Prophetsa arrived and began offering Tahajud prayers. At first I intended to immediately attack him, but then I thought to listen to what he was saying. Upon hearing this, I found that he was reciting these very verses of Surah al-Haqqah. These verses had such an impact on me that it kept me from attacking him.” (Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Umar bin alKhattabra)

Hazrat Umarra accepted the Holy Prophetsa in the sixth year of prophethood. In other words, these verses were revealed six years after being commissioned as a prophet, and the five-to six-year period that had elapsed was proof of the truthfulness of his prophethood and his claim of being a recipient of divine revelation. The Holy Prophetsa claimed to be the Prophet of God at the age of 40 and passed away at 63. Hence, Allah blessed him with 23 years of life to propagate his claim and message. The Promised Messiahas presented this argument in support of his claim saying that if God had bestowed upon him so much time to propagate his mission as He had done to the Holy Prophetsa, then how could his claim be false?

The Promised Messiahas stated:

“The Holy Quran repeatedly proclaims that God Almighty does not spare one who fabricates a lie against Allah. He punishes such a one in this very life and destroys him; Allah the Exalted refers to it in the verse:

وَ قَدۡ خَابَ مَنِ افۡتَرٰی 

“That is, ‘He who fabricates a lie shall perish.’ [Surah Ta Ha, Ch.20: V.62]

“At another place it is said:

وَ مَنۡ اَظۡلَمُ مِمَّنِ افۡتَرٰی عَلَی اللّٰہِ کَذِبًا اَوۡ کَذَّبَ بِاٰیٰتِہٖ

‘Who is guilty of greater wrong than one who fabricates a lie against God or gives the lie to His signs?’ [Surah al-Anaam, Ch.6: V.22]

“It is thus clear that those who gave the lie to the word of God on the occasion of the advent of God’s Prophets were not spared by God and were destroyed by diverse types of torments. Observe the end of the people of Noah and of ‘Ad and Thamud and the people of Lot and of Pharaoh and the Meccan enemies of the Holy Prophetsa.

“Thus when those who rejected the truth were chastised in this world, how can such a one escape, who fabricates a lie against Allah and who is mentioned in the first place in the verse just cited. Would God treat the righteous and the false alike and is there no punishment in this life from God Almighty for impostors?

مَا لَکُمۡ ٝ کَیۡفَ تَحۡکُمُوۡنَ

[‘What is the matter with you? How judge ye!’ (Surah al-Qalam, Ch.68: V.37)]

“At another place, God Almighty has said:

 وَ اِنۡ یَّکُ کَاذِبًا فَعَلَیۡہِ کَذِبُہٗ ۚ وَ اِنۡ یَّکُ صَادِقًا یُّصِبۡکُمۡ بَعۡضُ الَّذِیۡ یَعِدُکُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یَہۡدِیۡ مَنۡ ہُوَ مُسۡرِفٌ کَذَّابٌ

“‘If this Prophet is an impostor, he will perish because of his imposture, but if he is truthful, then it is a must that you too will taste some punishment, because the transgressors, whether they are guilty of imposture or rejection, shall receive no help from Allah.’ [Surah al-Mu’min, Ch.40: V.29]

“What could be more explicit than the fact that in the Holy Quran God Almighty warns again and again that an impostor is bound to perish in this very world.” (Essence of Islam, Vol. 2, pp. 375-376; Arba‘in, No. 4, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 17, pp. 433-434])

Clarifying that the same argument can be used for anyone who claims to be a Prophet of God or the recipient of divine revelation, the Promised Messiahas said:

“Although this verse has been revealed regarding the Holy Prophetsa, it is of general application, quite like the idiom of the entire Holy Quran, where most of the commands and prohibitions are apparently addressed to the Holy Prophetsa, but others are also addressed in these commandments, or such commandments are exclusively meant for others …

“After this short digression, let me turn to the main subject. God says about the Holy Prophetsa that had he lied against Him, He would have destroyed him. This does not mean that God has expressed His jealousy only with reference to the Holy Prophetsa in that were he an impostor, God would have destroyed him, but His jealousy is not roused in the case of others, no matter how much they lie against God or concoct false revelations and ascribe them to God. Such a concept is as irrational as it is against all of God’s scriptures. “The Torah still contains the sentence that whoever lied against God and makes a false claim to prophethood would be destroyed. Besides, Muslim scholars have long been quoting the verse

وَ لَوۡ تَقَوَّلَ عَلَیۡنَا

‘[and if he had falsely attributed to us …]’ before the Christians and the Jews as evidence of the veracity of the Holy Prophetsa. It is obvious that an argument is of no use unless it has a general application.

“How can this be an argument that had the Holy Prophetsa fabricated [against God], he would have been destroyed and the whole undertaking would have come to naught, but God is not offended if someone else fabricates [against Him]; rather, He loves such a person and grants him respite more than He did to the Holy Prophetsa and even helps and supports him! This should not be called an argument, rather it is a claim which itself stands in need of an argument.

“Alas! In opposing me, they have stooped so low as to attack even the Signs of the veracity of the Holy Prophetsa. Since these people know that more than 25 years have elapsed since my claim of being a recipient of divine revelation and inspiration, which exceeds even the tenure of ministry of the Holy Prophetsa as that was 23 years; while, in my case, it is close to 30 years and I do not know how long the extent of my period of call is in the knowledge of God.

“This is why these people, despite being hailed as maulvis, assert that one who lies against God and is a false claimant of revelation can even survive for as long as 30 years from the beginning of his fabrication and that God can help and support him, and yet they do not produce any precedent for it.” (The Philosophy of Divine Revelation, pp. 259-261 [Translation of Haqiqatul Wahi])

Hence, the handful of individuals who abandon Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya can cause no harm to the mission of the Promised Messiahas of Muhammadsa, which was established by God Almighty Himself!

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community continues to soar in spreading the message of Islam to the corners of earth under the blessed guidance of Khilafat. No worldly power has the strength to stop the works of the Omnipotent God!

Click here for Part I

100 Years Ago… – Ahmadiyyat in America and sincere Ahmadis in the UK

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100 Years Ago… – Ahmadiyyat in America and sincere Ahmadis in the UK

Al Fazl, 27 May 1920

Hazrat Maulvi Abdur Rahim Nayyarra

This news has reached respected members of the Jamaat that Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib has finally been allowed to enter America after encountering certain obstructions by the American authorities.

This occasion is not insignificant, but a very important event in the history of Islam and it is a great victory, which the true Islam, i.e. Ahmadiyyat, has achieved in the New World.

It is a seed that has been sown by the grace of God Almighty. It is a foundation, whose stone has been laid with the prayers of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II[ra]. Insha-Allah, indeed in this country, as I saw in a divine vision after biding farewell to Mufti Sahib when he departed from Liverpool, “The tree of Islam will thrive, prosper and spread to the corners of the world.”

As the UK Jamaat has a significant role in the case of Mufti Sahib entering America, therefore, I believe it is pertinent to inform my friends about it. The esteemed friend, Mr M Rosanthal, who signed the bail papers and travelled from New York to Philadelphia with two respectable ladies, is the brother-in-law of the Faith brothers and the ladies are their sisters.

Moreover, other respected associates, especially Mr J Scott, the officer in-charge of the passport department, deserve thanks for the compassionate assistance. Having said that, Allah the Almighty provided the means and the Ahmadiyya Mission has been established in America, for which the Ahmadiyya Community is worthy of congratulation.

Letter of an English Ahmadi

Reverend brother Jacques Abdullah Bottomley is one of the noble gentlemen whose hearts have been enlightened by the light of Ahmadiyyat. The last time brother Abdullah came to meet me, he said, “Governmental documents require the registration of religion. What should I register in place of Christianity? I did not find any better expression than the comprehensive word of ‘Ahmadi’. Thus, I suggested it.” So, respected Abdullah Sahib registered the word Ahmadi in official documents.

Furthermore, as his wife has converted to Islam by the grace of God Almighty, expressing happiness, brother Abdullah wrote to me:

“Assalamo alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu.

“I hope Mrs Bottomley would have presented the excuse for my absence. I am sorry that I did not come and I humbly apologise for it.

“I have recorded the word ‘Ahmadi’ in the official papers and everything is fine now. I am very grateful for the wonderful kindness you have been showing to Mrs Bottomley and little Bashir. Consequently, you have been rewarded for this because my wife, Omela has written to me that she has sent a request for Bai‘at and by the grace of Allah, she is sincerely praying so that her Bai‘at may be accepted.

“God has filled my goblet of happiness and now we (husband and wife) will live with more unity and love in the future because we both believe that Allah is the true God and Muhammadsa is the Prophet of God.

“I am keenly engaged in acquiring knowledge and striving to be a good servant of Allah.

“Your sincere associate, Abdullah Jacques Bottomley”

Lectures

A lecture of Maulvi Fateh Muhammad Sayal on the subject of agriculture was held at the Society of Philology. Before addressing this topic, the eminent speaker stated that Muslims have taken beneficial steps for God’s creation in every country they entered.

In India, attention was paid to [the construction of] canals etc. and the means of developing agriculture were considered. That was the effect of the teachings of Islam. Thereafter, the speaker read out a very interesting paper on the subject of agriculture in Punjab. There is a place in the suburbs of London called Bench, where there is a women’s society by name of Cooperative Guild.

A lecture on “The era of Muslims in India” was organised in this society through the secretary of British and India Society.

On 22 April, Maulvi Fateh Muhammad Sahib delivered a speech on the said subject for about an hour with great efficiency. Highlighting the reform movements among the Muslims, he mentioned the coming of the Promised Messiah and his message of harmony.

During the interesting exchange of questions and answers, a very remarkable speech on the status of “Women in Islam” was also delivered.

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