Tears in News – Reviewing the Week

Editorial

Al Hakam

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7th December 2018

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Last week saw a great deal of tears being shed on news channels; some of pain, some of sorrow and some through force.

The death of former US president George HW Bush made news headline across the globe. Then we saw his son, again former US president George Bush paying an emotional tribute in the eulogy he read at the funeral of his father in Washington. He was seen breaking down in tears as he reached the end of the eulogy. His tears must have reminded most people of the tears that were seen during the Gulf War led by the late president; tears of thousands of innocent civilians of the war-struck region who had been orphaned, widowed or left homeless.

According to statistics, the civilian losses during the war was in thousands; 1,000 Kuwaiti, 3,664 Iraqi and 300 other civilians lost their lives in this war that was a preamble of the unrest and conflict that was never to depart from the region.

Then BBC reported on the plight of a Bangladeshi lady, Ms Rubie Marie, who expressed her sorrow on a marriage that was forced upon her by her parents, and that too to a man double her age. Tears rolled down her face as she told her tragic story.

Stories of forced marriages are now frequenting news bulletins and columns, but in a way that it posed, by media outlets, as a problem stemming from Islamic beliefs. We must point out here that Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V^aa, while talking to the press on various occasions in various parts of the world, has clarified that not only does Islam discourage forced marriages, but it requires for the girl to be clearly asked if she agrees to her marriage with a certain person or not. The issue of forced marriage is cultural and not Islamic as branded by some anti-Islam enthusiasts.

Footage of the Gilet Jaunes – or the Yellow Vests – protests brought to the minds of many, flashbacks of history lessons at school where the French Revolution was mentioned with much glory. The roaring flames of fires on the streets and the thick clouds of black smoke with the Arc de Triomphe on the backdrop of these scenes are reminiscent of what must have happened during the days of the revolution; albeit with a hint of modernity with torched motors and the barricades ablaze.

It is said that the government had to bow to the demands and has decided to set aside any plans of oil-price rise. We know from news reports that the issue only started with the oil-price issue, but the scale of the demonstrations clearly depicted a wave of frustration. Is this frustration only brewing in the people of France or is it a universal phenomenon only waiting for the lid to be kicked opened?

We don’t want to answer this question here. We refer you to the addresses of the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad^aa, who, on more than one occasion, has highlighted the fact that a stark rise in the frustration of youth in the West is leading to a range of social problems – radicalisation being one and vandalising public property in protests being another of so many. However, tear gas had to be used by the French police to control the protestors and this episode, too, ended in tears.

Suyuti Aziz Ahmad Sahib of Indonesia

Asia

Al Hakam

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7th December 2018

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On 19 November 2018, at the age of 74, Suyuti Aziz Ahmad Sahib passed away. He was suffering from a severe heart illness and was sent to Rabwah for treatment where he underwent a major surgery. However, a few days after the surgery, he passed away.

اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَ اِنَّا اِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُوْنَ

“Surely, to Allah we belong, and to Him shall we return.”

Suyuti Aziz Sahib was born on 17 August 1944 in Bone, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. He studied in Jamia Ahmadiyya Rabwah between 1966 and 1971, and in April 1972, he was appointed as the central missionary of Indonesia.

After studying in Jamia, between 1972 and 1979, he served the Jamaat as a missionary in South Sumatra, Lampung, Jambi and Bengkulu. Then, from 1979 to 1981, he served as a teacher for the muallimeen. In 1981 he was appointed as a missionary in Purwokerto, a town in Java, Indonesia. Between 1982 and 1992, he served as the Principal of Jamia Ahmadiyya Indonesia. From 1992 to 2016, he served as head of tabligh, and thereafter, from 2016 until his demise, he served again as Principal of Jamia Ahmadiyya Indonesia.

Regarding how his family accepted Ahmadiyyat, he once gave an interview to MTA in which he stated: “The main reason my family and I accepted Ahmadiyyat and did Bai‘at was due to my grandfather who instructed us to follow the Imam Mahdi who was to appear in the latter days. In 1959, my family and I moved to Lampung.

“In 1963, a missionary named Maulana Zaini Dehlan Sahib came to preach in Lampung, who told us that the Imam Mahdi had appeared. Upon this I asked him what proof he had of his advent to which he gave us a book to read proving the truthfulness of the Messiah of the latter days.

“When I read the book, it was made apparent to me that the Imam Mahdi had indeed come. Thus, on 13 February 1963, at the age of 19, I, along with 40 other members of my family, did Bai‘at through Maulana Zaini Dehlan Sahib.”

Once, in 1963, Maulana Abu Bakr Ayub Sahib, who was serving as a missionary of Southern Sumatra, visited the new converts in Lampung. After his visit, he reported to the Raees-ut-Tabligh that he had met with a few new converts in Lampung who could be sent to Rabwah for studies. Thus, the names were recommended for admission in Jamia Ahmadiyya, Rabwah. Among the three was Suyuti Aziz Sahib’s name.

During his stay in Jamia, Suyuti Aziz Sahib was fortunate enough to meet with many of the Companions^ra of the Promised Messiah^as and would always seek opportunities to meet with them.

The first time Suyuti Aziz Sahib met with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III^rh was when he was elected as the Khalifa. Suyuti Sahib met him and embraced him, upon which Huzoor^rh showed him great love and affection and stated that those who had come from distant countries were all his children.

When Suyuti Sahib was returning to Indonesia, he met with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III^rh. Huzoor^rh embraced Suyuti Sahib and said to him, “Never be unfaithful to your Creator. This is my advice to you.”

His daughter, Mardiya Sahiba, said: “My father had fully devoted his life. He spent his life serving the Jamaat to the extent that we travelled very little for sightseeing or entertainment. We always considered this to be the lifestyle of a life devotee.”

His son, Saadat Ahmad Sahib, said: “He emphasised a lot about offering prayers. During our childhood, he would instruct us to offer prayers in congregation at the mosque.”

His daughter, Atiyyatul-Aleem states: “My father would never miss Tahajud prayer and would offer his obligatory prayer in congregation at the mosque. Apart from when he was ill, I never saw him offering his obligatory prayers at home.”

Hashim Sahib, who is a missionary, states: “I had the honour of being taught the subject of Ilm-ul-Kalam in Jamia from Suyuti Aziz Sahib. It was his habit that during the lecture, he would ask students questions. Once, he asked us ‘What is the greatest proof for the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah^as?’ We all quoted various verses from the Holy Quran and presented references of Ahadith. Listening to our answers, he told us that he himself was the biggest proof for its truthfulness, meaning that every Ahmadi should consider themselves the greatest proof for the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah^as. He then said, ‘Everyone should raise themselves to a standard whereby everyone is a sign of the Promised Messiah’s^as truthfulness.’”

This was the style of teachings and in essence the noble character he possessed. May Allah grant him a lofty place in paradise.

In his Friday Sermon, on 30 November 2018, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V^aasaid:

“May Allah elevate his spiritual status. May He grant him a high rank in Jannatul-Firdaus (the highest rank of Paradise). May all his loved ones be granted peace and comfort. May His progeny follow his pious footsteps.” Amin.

The Minerals

Health

Al Hakam

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7th December 2018

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Dr Noureen Ahmad

General Practitioner, Belgium

In terms of nutrition, minerals are chemical elements that are part of essential nutrients for the body. There are various minerals, but the most important and common mineral deficiencies will be discussed in this article. These include calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and iodine. Other mineral deficiencies such as copper, chromium, selenium, manganese and fluoride are quite uncommon.

In resource-rich countries, most foods are fortified with these minerals, so deficiencies of these occur in undeveloped countries like Asia and Africa.

The first mineral to be discussed is calcium, which is an essential nutrient that is mostly (98%) present in the bones of our body. Calcium uptake is regulated and coordinated by vitamin D and plays a big role in muscle contraction, nerve conduction and skeleton rigidity. Good sources of calcium are to be found in dairy products (milk, cheese, yoghurt) and vegetables (okra, spinach, soybeans).

There are two medical conditions known for calcium: hypocalcemia (low calcium level in the blood) and hypercalcemia (high calcium level in the blood). Hypocalcemia occurs in people with chronic kidney diseases, vitamin D deficiency and magnesium deficiency. The low calcium in the body can result in muscles cramps, irritability, anxiousness, skin lesions, impaired orientation and confusion. In cases of severe low levels, it can lead to seizures and heart problems. Treatment includes giving calcium supplementation depending on the calcium level, which is determined from blood samples.

Hypercalcaemia occurs mostly in people who suffer from a malignancy (bone related cancers), thus individuals with high levels should be checked thoroughly for this. Hypercalcemia can result in abdominal pain with vomiting, hard stools, weight loss, tiredness, confusion, high blood pressure and kidney stones. Treatment for this condition would include hydration and treating the underlying cause.

The second mineral is magnesium, of which 65% is distributed in the bones and 35% in the cells. Good sources of magnesium are present in many different foods like whole wheat, spinach, quinoa, nuts, black beans, avocado and yoghurt. Due to the good distribution of magnesium in many foods, deficiency of this mineral is uncommon. In specific situations, such as severe diarrhoea and alcohol abuse, magnesium deficiency can occur and can lead to seizures and heart rhythm problems. Treatment for this deficiency would be to take magnesium supplements.

Iron deficiency is really common and affects many people around the world. Most of the iron (75%) is incorporated as haemoglobin (Hb), a protein that is important for the transport of oxygen to cells. The other part of iron is available in myoglobin form, a protein that stores oxygen in the muscles. The remaining part of the iron in the body is stored as ferritin in the liver.

Good sources of iron are found in two forms: haem form (meat, fish and poultry) and non-haem form (many vegetables and fruits). However, the haem form of iron is better absorbed. In some countries, iron is fortified in bread and cereals to prevent this medical problem. Iron deficiency can lead to microcytic anaemia, meaning a lack of adequate red blood cells. This is known as the most common form of anaemia in the UK. Causes of this can be due to blood loss in the gastro-intestinal system or from the gynaecological system or malabsorption.

The symptoms of this deficiency include fatigue, irritability, concentrating problems, weakness, dry skin and multiple lesions in the mouth. In severe anaemia, it can even lead to chest pain and shortness of breath. The iron status in the body can be derived from the blood tests such as serum ferritin and TIBC (total iron binding capacity) as well as other blood tests.

Treatment exists in first treating the underlying cause of iron deficiency and when this is known, iron supplementation can be started as therapy. The guidelines recommend starting with 100-200 milligrams of iron (ferrous sulphate or fumarate). However, these tablets can cause abdominal discomfort, nausea, hard and black stools, so it is recommended to start with a low dose. Taking iron with vitamin C (orange juice) increases the iron absorption and is sometimes medically advised. If iron tablets are impossible to endure due to side effects, supplementation can be given by intravenous (through veins) or intramuscular (through injections in muscles). While giving iron supplementation, it is important to check the Hb concentration regularly in the blood. The iron supplementation should be continued till Hb is normal for at least 3 months to replenish stores.

The next mineral is zinc. Deficiency of zinc is uncommon and occurs in individuals with tube feeding or from a poor diet. Low zinc in the body can result in hair loss, multiple skin lesions near the nose and mouth, night blindness, diarrhoea and can be a cause of complaints of the male reproductive system. Blood levels of zinc are unreliable as it can be influenced by many factors, so it is recommended to start with a trial of zinc supplementation and evaluate the clinical presentation afterwards.

The last mineral to discuss is iodine. This mineral plays an essential role in the synthesis of the thyroid hormones. Low iodine can result in less production of these thyroid hormones, which are required for regulation of basal metabolic rate and can eventually lead to a goiter (thyroid enlargement) and hypothyroidism (less working thyroid). However, iodine is present in many foods like fish, seafood and vegetables but also in drinking water. In most countries, salt is fortified with iodine, so deficiency of this mineral is uncommon.

(Always discuss with your doctor what supplements you want to take or are taking so your health and wellbeing can be properly looked after.)

30 November – 6 December

This Week in History

Al Hakam

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30th November 2018

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30 November 1898: The Promised Messiah’s^as Urdu book Raz-e-Haqiqat was published on this day at Zia-ul-Islam Press, Qadian. Alongside dealing with other subjects in this book, he wrote his research about the escape journey of Prophet Jesus^as towards Kashmir after being put on the cross and leading to his death in Srinagar along with a detailed map of the tomb of Jesus in Mohalla Khanyar on page 68 of the book.

30 November 1901: An Amin ceremony (a gathering to mark the first complete recitation of the Holy Quran by a child) was held in Qadian on this day. The following three children of the Promised Messiah^as completed the recitation of the Holy Quran for the first time: Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad^ra, Hazrat Mirza Sharif Ahmad^ra and Hazrat Nawab Amatul Hafeez Begum^ra.

1December 1888: The Promised Messiah’s^as book Sabz Ishtihar (The Green Announcement) was published on this day at Riaz-e-Hind Press, Amritsar. Its full title was Haqqani-Taqrir bar Waqi‘ah Wafat-e-Bashir and it was printed on green pages. It contained the news of the sad demise of his son Bashir Awal (the first). This announcement also provides us with another clear sign of Hazrat Ahmad’s^as truth; he announced that he was commanded by God Almighty to accept the Bai‘at.

1 December 1902: The Promised Messiah^as went to the rooftop of Masjid Mubarak in Qadian to see the new moon of Ramadan before offering his Maghrib prayers.

2 December 1907: A religious conference was held by the Arya Samaj Movement in Wachowali Bazar, Lahore, which continued for the next three days. The Promised Messiah’s^as article was read on 3 December 1907, and despite the pleadings of Maulvis that people should not go to listen to this address, there was a throng of listeners. The Promised Messiah^as started writing the lecture on 8 November 1907, and completed a 69-page long dissertation on the subject on this day. Hazrat Maulvi Hakim Nuruddin^ra was selected to read the speech as Hazrat Maulavi Abdul Karim Sialkoti^ra – who would usually read out speeches and lectures of the Promised Messiah^as – had passed away by that time. The Promised Messiah^as also sent a delegation of Ahmadis to take part in the conference.

3 December 1905: Hazrat Maulvi Burhanuddin Jehlmi^ra passed away on this day. He was buried in Jhelum, India (now Pakistan). He was a learned man of his time. His sudden death concerned the Promised Messiah^as about the future of his community with regard to the standard of knowledge of his followers. Then the idea of Jamia took shape.

Hazrat Maulvi Burhanuddin Jehlmi’s first meeting with the Promised Messiah^as is an interesting account. He arrived at Qadian to meet the Promised Messiah^as but learnt that he had gone to Gurdaspur, so he travelled there. The residence where the Promised Messiah^as was staying in Gurdaspur had an adjacent garden. Hamid Ali Sahib was at the door and did not allow Burhanuddin Sahib^ra to enter, but he surreptitiously managed to get to the door. As he slowly opened the door, he saw the Promised Messiah^as taking a brisk walk. Burhanuddin Sahib^ra stepped back. He realised there and then that the Promised Messiah^as was a truthful person who had to reach a far-off destination, and this was the reason for his brisk walk. Indeed, Hazrat Burhanuddin Sahib^ra considered the Promised Messiah’s brisk walk a sign of his truthfulness.

3 December 1903: Less than a year old, the Promised Messiah’s^as daughter Amatul Naseer passed away on this day. She was born on 28 January 1903.

100 Years Ago… – Celebrating the Victory of WWI in Qadian

British India and Ahmadiyyat

Al Hakam

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30th November 2018

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***Al Fazl*, 3 December 1918**

On 27 November, under the organisation of Anjuman Ahmadiyya baray Imdad Jang [the Ahmadiyya committee for war aid] and according to the directives of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II [may Allah be pleased with him], in celebration of the extraordinary victory of Great Britain, a memorable festive event was held.

Maulvi Sher Ali Sahib BA managed the entire event while Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Bashir Ahmad MA acted as president. On 26 November, the programme was distributed and placed on walls in the streets regarding the celebration.

On 27 November, the programme commenced at 8am on the wide and beautiful field in Darul Ulum, Qadian. Aside from the students of Madrasa-e-Ahmadiyya and students from the high school, other respected people also took part, such as Sahibzada Mirza Bashir Ahmad MA, Sahibzada Mirza Sharif Ahmad, Abdullah Khan Sahib, Dr Khalifa Rashiduddin Sahib, Master Nawabuddin Sahib BA BT, Maulvi Abdul Ghani Sahib, Sheikh Abdur Rahman Sahib Misri, Shiekh Abdur Rahim Sahib, Chaudhry Ghulam Muhammad Sahib BA, Khuda-Dad Khan Sahib and Dr Hashmatullah Sahib of Patiala. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II also graced the occasion with his presence.

The first part of the programme – from 8am to 1pm – consisted of activities such as hockey, tennis, ping-pong, football and cricket. Thereafter, everyone proceeded for lunch and Zuhr prayer. Then, the second part of the programme, which carried onto 6pm, consisted of activities such as running, long jump, high jump, shotput, racing on camels, tent pegging and tug-of-war. Apart form the Ahmadi public, there were also people from nearby towns and villages who took part and enjoyed the event.

The last activity of the day was tug-of-war between students of Madrasa-e-Ahmadiyya and the high school, which was very much enjoyed by everyone. The match was won by the high school students, after which both schools’ teachers and the gentlemen in attendance competed against each other in tug-of-war, in which the attendees took the victory. Then, the high school students competed against the gentlemen attending the event, which lasted for quite some time. The men in attendance were very close to winning as they kept pulling and tugging, but eventually the students won the match. Watching the students and attendees struggle and wrestle was a rejoiceful moment for everyone. This then concluded the day’s programme.

After the Maghrib prayer, lights were lit up in Darul Ulum and the central qasba [town], which set a very beautiful and pleasant scene. On both sides of the bazaar in the central qasba,the buildings of Madrasa-e-Ahmadiyya and the boarding house of Madrasa-e-Ahmadiyya were lit up with many lights and candles. Minaratul Masih was lit up with halogen lighting and displayed a beautiful sight. The houses of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II and members of the Promised Messiah’s family were lit up with candles, as well as all Ahmadis who also lit up their homes. All this displayed great glow and freshness. The boarding house at Darul Ulum and the magnificent structure of the high school were elegantly beatified with candles. The other buildings were also shrouded with beautiful lighting.

Hazrat Nawab Muhammad Ali Khan of Malirkotla lit up his beautiful and magnificent home with lights and candles. Suffice it to say that there was no house belonging to Ahmadis that was not shimmering with light. The sight was very beautiful and reflected the support for the British government. Many such people who were afflicted as a result of the drought and experienced a very tough time also took part in the celebrations by lighting up their homes. This candle-lighting went into the night.

That very night, sweets were distributed at Madrasa-e-Ahmadiayya and high school students, and food was distributed to almost five hundred poor people. All this, collectively, made this a very joyous and memorable day. Every person was overjoyed with the victory of the British government. That very day, Sheikh Yaqub Ali Sahib, editor of Al Hakam [Urdu], published a special article on celebrating the victory of the British government, in which he expressed his happiness and delight that this victory is a sign from among the signs of the Promised Messiah^as. The paper is good and worthy of praise.

On 27 November, due to not being able to complete the programme, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II appointed 28 November for the remainder of the programme. The day started at 9am with a hockey match between the students of Madrasa-e-Ahmadiyya and the high school. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II again blessed the occasion with his presence.

After hockey, there was a cricket match which was then followed by lunch and Zuhr prayer. Then, long jump, high jump and an obstacle course took place, in which they had to go through artificial quicksand, getting a thread through a sewing needle, sharpening a pencil, crawling under charpoys and then finally answering a maths equation. The students of Madrasa-e-Ahmadiyya and the high school competed in this. Then, after the Maghrib prayer was a target shooting competition with a revolver and pistol followed by a camel race.

Despite the fact that the programme carried on to the next day, the proposed programme was not able to be completed, and thus, a third day had to be added for this. It was a Friday, and so [because of Jumu‘a prayers] it was not possible to start in the morning. Thus, in the afternoon, a one-mile run took place in the presence of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II. Banners were hung and a sitting area was arranged in Masjid Nur for the prize distribution, where prizes where distributed to those students who organised the event and others [who participated]. The event concluded with silent prayer.

The President of Anjuman Ahmadiyya baray Imdad Jang [the Ahmadiyya committee for war aid], Sahibzada Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib, and secretary, Maulvi Abdul Mughni Sahib, both served this event with great diligence. The organisation of the event was a means of comfort and worthy of praise. The workers also worked very hard for the success of the event. Thus, the celebrations were a means of great joy and pleasure for us all, however, the presence of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II [Allah be pleased with him] – despite poor health – was a means of immense delight and bliss. The delight and joy increased manifold as Huzoor also attended and this enabled us to see Huzoor with our own eyes.

Thus, these three days passed by with such joy and happiness that will be remembered for a long period. The total expenditure incurred on this event by Anjuman Ahmadiyya baray Imdad Jang [the Ahmadiyya committee for war aid] was no less than 500-600 rupees.

(Translated by Al Hakam)

11th Jalsa Salana Albania

Albania

Al Hakam

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30th November 2018

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Samad Ahmad Ghori

Missionary and President Jamaat Albania

On Sunday, 21 October 2018, Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Albania held its 11^th Jalsa Salana in the Bait-ul-Awal mosque and the surrounding area.

Albania is a developing country in the south-east of Europe. The total population is just under 3 million. Bait-ul-Awal is situated in the south-east of the country and the Jamaat owns the surrounding land as well as the 3-storey mission house.

The Jalsa saw 192 men and 140 women attend, with a total attendance of 332 guests. Among the participants were guests that had travelled from all over Albania, guests from neighbouring Kosovo, guests from Macedonia, Bosnia and Montenegro. Representatives also attended from the UK and Germany.

The speeches delivered at the Jalsa were well-prepared and subjects were explained in an apt manner. These speeches included: The Generosity of the Holy Prophet^sa by Ilirian Ibrahimi Sahib of Kosovo, The Teachings of World Religions on Gambling and New Studies by Sali Beja Sahib of Albania, Belief in a Living God by myself, Jihad Through the Quran by Bujar Ramaj Sahib – Vice President Jamaat Albania and The Means of Acquiring Wealth Lawfully by Valdon Mustafa Sahib of Kosovo. Similarly, Feroz Alam Sahib of the UK delivered the inaugural speech.

This year, Besnik Bare, Member of Parliament attended the event while the Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, sent a message for the Jalsa for the first time.

Prior to the Jalsa, as a result of the cooperation between Humanity First and the administration of Tirana, food packets were distributed in impoverished areas. Representing Humanity First, Zubair Khalil Khan Sahib also attended the event. A total of 125 families were fed and a combined weight of 5.8 tonnes of food and drink was distributed.

During the Jalsa, the member of parliament thanked Humanity First and expressed his views of the Jalsa. The mayor, lauding the relief efforts of the Jamaat, said: “Your motto, ‘Love for All, Hatred for None’, is an inspiration for us all.” Zubair Khalil Khan Sahib, on behalf of Humanity First Germany, thanked the guests and Jamaat Albania.

Towards the end of the event, I thanked the guests, after which Waseem Ahmad Saroa, missionary and President of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Macedonia delivered a speech and concluded the event with silent prayer.

Brexit, Blasphemy and Yellow Vests – Living in a Troubled World

Editorial

Al Hakam

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30th November 2018

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Brexit, Blasphemy and Yellow Vests – Living in a Troubled World

The term “news” was initially introduced as an acronym of North, East, West and South. Today, it seems that NEWS still is an acronym but now standing for “Nothing Ever Will Settle”.

Tuning in to a news channel these days is inviting an attack of anxiety and distress to invade the rest of your day. Even more distressing is the fact that we have moved even further from the stage where these attacks were conditional with tuning in to television news channels; our mobile phones and tablets are pushing through notifications from news sources, punctuating our day (and night) with such attacks. Unrest, in all matters of life, is not only prevalent but also on a constant rise.

Despite the hugely alarming and disturbing characteristic that news has developed in modern times, it has, however, successfully managed to uphold its initial acronymic value: it now brings disturbing and upsetting stories from north, east, west and south. But what else can these news bulletins and channels do? Their job is to report on facts, and the biggest fact of this age is that we live in a world full of turmoil, conflict, war, calamities and “new-found” diseases. They report what they see, and what they see, unfortunately, is reality, and it is this grim, gross and gruesome reality that they deliver to our living rooms and our hand-held electronic gadgets.

The current state of the world has left news outlets struggling to decide what to present as the main headline of their newspaper or bulletin. As they have only just decided to make the unplanned facet of Brexit their headline, they find out about a bomb blast in a European city-centre. The former replaced by the latter, they are told of a celebrity committing suicide, or an outbreak of an epidemic imported to some Western country from Africa, or of a casual tweet by a foolish head of state that can potentially bring world peace to shambles.

Starting from the north, we have glaciers melting and giving way to raised water levels in oceans and seas, which means more flooding and tsunamis on their way. Go eastwards and find the richest collection of disturbing stories: earthquakes, tsunamis and aeroplanes missing at the far end; a few coordinates down and find missiles warmed up to shoot off astray; population explosion in China and India leaving them impotent to challenge the economic monopoly of the US; Pakistanis, amidst the global turmoil, trying still to determine what accounts for blasphemy and what does not; and then we have the Middle-East where the fate of the world is supposedly being decided over oil, albeit in the name of “peace-making” and “war-on-terror”.

The past week, or actually past few weeks, have seen uncertainty around the Brexit deal clinging on to the headline slot. While Brexit is seen only as a political phenomenon by many, who would have thought that Brexit could be affecting the deepest recesses of European society? One is left wondering how animal-rights activists could find their way into the Brexit discussion by raising a concern that should Britain decide to leave the EU, it could mean Halal meat being supplied to most schools in the UK. Hitherto, British regulation in terms of animal slaughter has been aligned with the European law which asks for animals to be stunned before they are slaughtered. Activists are worried that this could potentially mean their children eating meat from animals slaughtered in the “Muslim” way.

Similarly, who could have thought that a rise of a few cents in oil prices in France would potentially lead to what has now developed into a nationwide uprising against the French President, Macron. Protestors in yellow-jackets (gilets jaunes) have made it to international news headlines with images of the Arc de “Triomphe” shying away behind the thick smoke of burning barricades. Gilets Jaunes is proof of the rising power of social media as it was through this medium that a protest gained the potential of turning into a movement that threatens a democratically elected government of a well-established nation.

The past week also saw a radical cleric of Pakistan arrested over charges of inciting unrest in the name of the love of the Holy Prophet^sa. That the Pakistani government could finally muster up courage to do so sounds promising, but what is still in store is still a puzzle. Having Asia Bibi acquitted from charges of blasphemy and having booked a prominent extremist cleric are two brave steps that the newly formed government of Pakistan has taken in its days of infancy. We like to hope for the best.

Divinity of Jesus a.s. – Part VIII

Christianity

Al Hakam

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30th November 2018

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Prophets – A Manifestation of Divine Attributes

Farhan Iqbal, Missionary, Canada

In part seven of this article series, it was stated that there is nothing unique in the fact that special phrases and special titles are used for Jesus Christ^as. In fact, such usage is common in Biblical idiom for the prophets of God in general. What is more is that such metaphors are common in the books of God, and they should not be understood in the literal sense for the deification of any human being.

It should be understood that such metaphors are common in the books of God and they have never ever been understood in the literal sense for the deification of any human being. In the last part, the example of Moses^as was given that he was called “god” in Exodus 7:1. In a similar way, the acts of Prophet Muhammad^sa are called acts of God in a metaphorical sense. Consider the following examples:

وَمَا رَمَيۡتَ اِذۡ رَمَيۡتَ وَ لٰـكِنَّ اللّٰهَ رَمٰى‌ ۚ

“And thou [O Muhammad^sa] threwest not when thou didst throw, but it was Allah Who threw.” (Surah al-Anfal, Ch.8: V.18)

اِنَّ الَّذِيۡنَ يُبَايِعُوۡنَكَ اِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُوۡنَ اللّٰهَ ؕ يَدُ اللّٰهِ فَوۡقَ اَيۡدِيۡهِمۡ‌ ۚ فَمَنۡ نَّكَثَ فَاِنَّمَا يَنۡكُثُ عَلٰى نَفۡسِهٖ‌ _ۚوَمَنۡ اَوۡفٰى بِمَا عٰهَدَ عَلَيۡهُ اللّٰهَ فَسَيُؤۡتِيۡهِ اَجۡرًا عَظِيۡمًا

“Verily, those who swear allegiance to thee [O Muhammad^sa] indeed swear allegiance to Allah. The hand of Allah is over their hands. So whoever breaks his oath, breaks it to his own loss; and whoever fulfils the covenant that he has made with Allah, He will surely give him a great reward.” (Surah al-Fath, Ch.48: V.11)

وَمَا يَنۡطِقُ عَنِ الۡهَوٰى ‏

اِنۡ هُوَ اِلَّا وَحۡىٌ يُّوۡحٰى

“Nor does he [Prophet Muhammad^sa] speak out of his own desire. It is nothing but pure revelation that has been revealed by God.” (Surah al-Najm, Ch.53: V.4-5)

These examples show that the actions of the Holy Prophet^sa were so much in accordance with the will of Allah that they are called the actions of Allah Himself in a very clear and understandable metaphor. To understand these verses in a literal sense would amount to Shirk (association of partners with God) which is strongly condemned in the Holy Quran, as follows:

اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَغۡفِرُ اَنۡ يُّشۡرَكَ بِهٖ وَيَغۡفِرُ مَا دُوۡنَ ذٰ لِكَ لِمَنۡ يَّشَآءُ‌ ۚ وَمَنۡ يُّشۡرِكۡ بِاللّٰهِ فَقَدِ افۡتَـرٰۤى اِثۡمًا عَظِيۡمًا‏

Surely, Allah will not forgive that any partner be associated with Him; but He will forgive whatever is short of that to whomsoever He pleases. And whoso associates partners with Allah has indeed devised a very great sin.” (Surah al-Nisa, Ch.4: V.49)

In other words, in light of this clear teaching on Shirk, it is impossible to assume that the above verses where Prophet Muhammad’sactions are called the actions of God are literal instead of metaphorical. The same is the case with Jesus^as. His actions and words were simply in accordance with the will of Allah. The Promised Messiah^as illustrates this further in the following quotation:

“If Christians had confined themselves to describing Jesus, son of Mary, as the son of God just as Abraham^as, Isaac^as, Ishmael^as, Jacob^as, Joseph^as, Moses^as, David^as, Solomon^as and others were metaphorically called sons of God in the Scripture, there would have been no objection to it. Just as these Prophets were called sons of God, so is the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) metaphorically called God in some prophecies. The truth is that all these descriptions are metaphorical; none of those Prophets were sons of God, nor was the Holy Prophet^sa God. Such expressions abound in scriptures as indications of God’s love.” (Haqiqatul Wahi, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 22, p. 66)

The Promised Messiah^as illustrates this point by quoting the following verse of the Quran:

قُلۡ يٰعِبَادِىَ الَّذِيۡنَ اَسۡرَفُوۡا عَلىٰٓ اَنۡفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُوۡا مِنۡ رَّحۡمَةِ اللّٰهِ‌ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَغۡفِرُ الذُّنُوۡبَ جَمِيۡعًا‌

“Tell them, ‘O my servants! Despair not of the mercy of Allah; surely Allah will forgive all sins.’” (Surah al-Zumar, Ch.39: V.54)

In this verse, “O my servants” has been stated in the place of “O servants of Allah”, when the reality of course is that all of mankind is Allah’s servant. In this quotation then, the Promised Messiah^as gives yet another example from the Quran where Prophet Muhammad^sa is equated with God in the metaphorical sense, and this is nothing but a result of his extra-ordinary loving relationship with God.

This same loving relationship was experienced by the Promised Messiah^as as well. In several of his writings, he has explained how a seeker of God can reach high levels of spiritual exaltation and communion with God. When a person totally becomes one with God and starts doing everything in accordance with the will of Allah, and only seeks the pleasure of Allah in all his actions, he reaches a stage called fanaa, which can literally be translated as extinction of the self or self-annihilation.

Explaining this concept with reference to JesusChrist^as, and giving his own example, the Promised Messiah^as writes in the following comprehensive quotation:

“[Jesus^as] said clearly that he was a man. Regardless, it is true that his case is similar to the chosen ones of God who are granted titles from God, the Exalted, for respect, and nearness, and love, and similar to those people who use words expressing their love and communion [with God] as they are completely extinct in the love of God. Is there any doubt that when a person loves another person or God, and that love reaches its climax, then the lover feels as if his soul has become one with the soul of the beloved? And, at the stage of fanaa nazri [apparent extinction of the self], he sees himself one with the Beloved at many occasions.” (Kitabul Bariyya, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 13, p. 100)

The Promised Messiah^as then quotes a number of revelations where Allah has expressed the same kind of love for him and has granted him special titles. These can be seen in full in Tadhkirah, pages 397 to 403.

This exalted position given to the Promised Messiah^as by God prompted him to challenge his Christian opponents in the following words:

“There is nothing in the Gospel that establishes the godhood of Jesus… If his godhood can be established by the words of the Gospel, then the revelations vouchsafed to me connote my godhood to a greater degree than do the revelations of Jesus in his case. If the Christian ministers are not capable of determining this matter by themselves, then let them submit the revelations and words of Jesus set out in the Gospel, which are supposed to establish his godhood, to three umpires who may be mutually agreed upon from among non-Muslims and non-Christians, and if they decide and state on oath that the godhood of Jesus is established more clearly from his reported words, I would hand over one thousand rupees to the Christian ministers as a penalty. The umpires should state on oath, in the name of God Almighty, that they have made the truthful decision, and also state that if it be otherwise, may God Almighty afflict them, within one year, with such torment as should involve their ruin and disgrace. But I am convinced that the Christian ministers will not agree to this method of settlement.” (Kitabul Bariyyah, Ruhani Khazain, Vol. 13, p. 106 [as translated in The Essence of Islam, Vol. 3, pp. 415-416])

Given the evidence, it is not surprising that the Christian ministers of the time of the Promised Messiah^as did not rise up to this challenge, as there is nothing in the Gospels that clearly and unambiguously establishes the Divinity of Jesus^as.

Burhanuddin: A Proof of Faith

Companions of the Promised Messiah (as)

Al Hakam

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30th November 2018

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Hazrat Maulvi Burhanuddin^ra of Jhelum (c. 1830-1905) was a very close companion of the Promised Messiah, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as. He exemplified the love that one should have with their holy master.

He had remained in the pupillage of Maulvi Syed Nazeer Husain Dehlvi (the same scholar who announced the nikah of the Promised Messiah^as and Hazrat Syeda Nusrat Jehan Begum Sahiba^ra) for some time and was hence a practicing and staunch activist of the Ahl-i-Hadith movement before his allegiance to the Promised Messiah^as.

Hazrat Maulvi Burhanuddin Jehlmi^ra established many local chapters of the Ahl-i-Hadith in India. Dissatisfied with the Ahl-i-Hadith ideology, he travelled far and wide in pursuit of a spiritual master that could lead him to right path – the path that led to spiritual peace.

He met the Promised Messiah^as in 1886 in Hoshiarpur and requested him to accept his Bai‘at. The Promised Messiah^as informed him that Allah the Almighty had not yet instructed him to take allegiance. In 1891, when Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad^as declared to be the Messiah promised for the latter days, Hazrat Burhanuddin Jehlmi^ra studied the books of Hazrat Ahmad^as, accepted his claim and travelled to Qadian to pledge allegiance.

He was a great scholar and the Promised Messiah^as held his knowledge in high esteem. He would visit Qadian every year and it is reported that the Promised Messiah^as once said to him: “Your visit brings me peace.”

Burhanuddin Sahib^ra had his own, mystical way of expressing his love and affection for his holy master. When the Promised Messiah^as would return home from his morning walk, Hazrat Maulvi Sahib^ra would wipe Hazrat Ahmad’s shoes with his scarf.

Maulvi Sahib^ra was a great scholar of tafsir, hadith, fiqh and Arabic language and grammar. Despite his high stature as a scholar, he would listen with great care and attention to every word of the Promised Messiah^as and remark: “How ignorant of me!”

The Promised Messiah^as, out of the love he had for Hazrat Maulvi Sahib^ra, asked him to move from Jhelum and settle in Qadian but he would always respond by saying, “Huzoor, I am unworthy of living in Qadian.” This shows how, despite being an extremely educated, knowledgeable and pious person, he held the Promised Messiah^as and everything associated to him in the highest regard.

His death (on 3 December 1905), along with the death of Hazrat Maulvi Abdul Karim Sialkoti^ra at around the same time (10 October), became a major factor for the Promised Messiah^as to establish the Madrasa-e-Ahmadiyya; the loss of these two high-ranking scholars had to be filled with not two, but many scholars.

Grave of Hazrat Maulvi Burhanuddin Jhelmi^ra

The Promised Messiah^as said on 6 December 1905:

“Those of the highest standards in our Jamaat are passing away. Maulvi Abdul Karim Sahib, a sincere individual, and similarly now, Maulvi Burhanuddin Sahib of Jhelum have passed away. Many other scholars of our Jamaat have passed away. It is unfortunate that we are not able to substitute the deceased.” (Maktubat-e-Ahmadiyya [old edition], Vol. 5, no. 3, p. 62)

Allah the Almighty blessed the Jamaat of the Promised Messiah^as with many scholars in the years to follow.

Financial Sacrifice: Tahrik-e-Jadid 2018

Friday Sermon

Al Hakam

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30th November 2018

0

Financial Sacrifice: Tahrik-e-Jadid 2018

Friday Sermon

9 November 2018

Financial Sacrifice: Tahrik-e-Jadid 2018

After reciting the Tashahhud, Ta’awwuz, and Surah Al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V^aa recited several verses of Surah al-Baqarah:

مَثَلُ الَّذِيْنَ يُنْفِقُوْنَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِيْ سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ كَمَثَلِ حَبَّةٍ أَنْبَتَتْ سَبْعَ سَنَابِلَ فِيْ كُلِّ سُنْبُلَةٍ مِّئَةُ حَبَّةٍ وَاللّٰهُ يُضَاعِفُ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُ وَاللّٰهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيْمٌ۔

الَّذِيْنَ يُنْفِقُوْنَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ فِيْ سَبِيْلِ اللّٰهِ ثُمَّ لَا يُتْبِعُوْنَ مَا أَنْفَقُوْا مَنًّا وَلَا أَذًى لَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُوْنَ۔

وَمَثَلُ الَّذِيْنَ يُنْفِقُونَ أَمْوَالَهُمُ ابْتِغَاءَ مَرْضَاةِ اللّٰهِ وَتَثْبِيْتًا مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ كَمَثَلِ جَنَّةٍ بِرَبْوَةٍ أَصَابَهَا وَابِلٌ فَآَتَتْ أُكُلَهَا ضِعْفَيْنِ فَإِنْ لَّمْ يُصِبْهَا وَابِلٌ فَطَلٌّ وَاللّٰهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ بَصِيْرٌ

الشَّيْطَانُ يَعِدُكُمُ الْفَقْرَ وَيَأْمُرُكُمْ بِالْفَحْشَاءِ وَاللّٰهُ يَعِدُكُمْ مَغْفِرَةً مِنْهُ وَفَضْلًا وَاللّٰهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيْمٌ۔

لَيْسَ عَلَيْكَ هُدَاهُمْ وَلَكِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَهْدِيْ مَنْ يَّشَاءُ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوْا مِنْ خَيْرٍ فَلِأَنْفُسِكُمْ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوْنَ إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ اللّٰهِ وَمَا تُنْفِقُوْا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يُّوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُوْنَ۔

الَّذِيْنَ يُنْفِقُوْنَ أَمْوَالَهُمْ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ سِرًّا وَّعَلَانِيَةً فَلَهُمْ أَجْرُهُمْ عِنْدَ رَبِّهِمْ وَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُوْنَ۔

The verses that I have just recited are verses of Surah al-Baqarah in which the subject of financial sacrifice has been mentioned. God Almighty has almost continuously mentioned the subject of financial sacrifice in these verses. The translation of these verses are as follows:

“The similitude of those who spend their wealth for the cause of Allah is like the similitude of a grain of corn which grows seven ears, in each ear a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies it further for whomsoever He pleases; and Allah is Bountiful, All-Knowing.” (Surah al-Baqarah: V.62)

In the next verse, God Almighty states:

“Those who spend their wealth for the cause of Allah, then follow not up what they have spent with taunt or injury, for them is their reward with their Lord, and they shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (Surah al-Baqarah: V.263)

God Almighty then states:

“And the case of those who spend their wealth to seek the pleasure of Allah and to strengthen their souls is like the case of a garden on elevated ground. Heavy rain falls on it so that it brings forth its fruit twofold. And if heavy rain does not fall on it, then light rain suffices. And Allah sees what you do.” (Surah al-Baqarah: 266)

In the next verse, He says:

“Satan threatens you with poverty and enjoins upon you what is foul, whereas Allah promises you forgiveness from Himself and bounty. And Allah is Bountiful, All- Knowing.” (Surah al-Baqarah: V.269)

Then, God Almighty states:

“It is not thy responsibility to make them follow the right path; but Allah guides whomsoever He pleases. And whatever of wealth you spend, it is for yourselves, while you spend not but to seek the favour of Allah. And whatever of wealth you spend, it shall be paid back to you in full and you shall not be wronged.” (Surah al-Baqarah: V.273)

God Almighty then states:

“Those who spend their wealth by night and day, secretly and openly, have their reward with their Lord; on them shall come no fear, nor shall they grieve.” (Surah al-Baqarah: V.275)

The Promised Messiah^as, on the subject of financial sacrifice, said on one occasion:

“It is by the injunction of God Almighty that I repeatedly emphasise spending in the way of God Almighty. Islam is falling prey to other opposing religions and they desire to completely eliminate all trace of Islam. When this is the current state of Islam, then should we not make an effort for its progress? It is for this reason that God Almighty has established this Community. Thus, to strive for its progress is in accordance with the injunction and the desire of God Almighty.”

Then the Promised Messiah^as says:

“These promises are from God Almighty, that if one spends in the way of God Almighty then in return He shall grant one manifold in blessings. God Almighty will reward such a person abundantly in this very world and after their demise they will also experience the reward in the Hereafter in terms of an abundance of comforts.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 8, pp. 393-394, UK, 1985)

God Almighty has granted the Promised Messiah^as a Community of sincere people, who heard his call and obeyed it and also offered their sacrifices. Hence, regarding these sacrifices, the Promised Messiah^as states:

“A large section of our Community consists of poor people. However, although this is a Community of the poor, thanks to God Almighty, I see that they have sincerity and sympathy. They understand the needs of Islam and do not shy away from spending for its cause according to their means.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 8, p. 25, UK, 1985)

God Almighty did not only enable the members of the Jamaat during the time of the Promised Messiah^as to excel in terms of their sacrifices, sincerity and loyalty, rather, according to His promise, God Almighty has continuously granted, and is granting even today to this Jamaat, which was established approximately one hundred and thirty years ago, such sincere individuals, who have always and continue to render sacrifices for the sake of their religion according to their capacities, and at times even beyond that. Furthermore, they are also fulfilling the standards and are partaking of the promises, which God Almighty has outlined in the Holy Quran. By the grace of God Almighty, these standards can only be observed among this Jamaat of God Almighty, which was established through the Promised Messiah^as and I shall narrate some examples of this current era. These incidents are related to people spread across various countries of the world, who are ever ready to sacrifice their wealth, thus, fulfilling their pledge of giving precedence to their faith over the world.

Hence, the first account is from Cameroon. The muallim [local Imam] there writes, “We went to one of the Jamaats in Marta, in the West Region, for the purpose of Tahrik-e-Jadid. The chief of the area, Saham Usman Sahib, gathered the people of the village together and said that the muallim of the Jamaat had come for the collection of Tahrik-e-Jadid. And so, everyone should participate in this financial sacrifice. The chief then said that the reason for this was that two years ago, he would either pray alone in the mosque or at times, with another two or three individuals. However, since the Ahmadiyya Jamaat had been established in the village and ever since they had accepted Ahmadiyyat, their mosque had started to fill with worshippers, so much so that at times, due to the insufficient space in the mosque, people had to pray outside. He said that these prominent transformations were merely a result of the Ahmadiyya Jamaat being established there. Therefore, they should contribute in every appeal of the Jamaat.”

This transformation which is being brought about within them through Ahmadiyyat, in terms of excelling in worship and financial sacrifices, is an astonishing transformation. Furthermore, this should also draw the attention of those who are born Ahmadis, or Ahmadiyyat has been in their families for generations, and they pay little attention towards worship and financial sacrifices, despite enjoying a good standard of living.

Then, a muallim in Cameroon, Abu Bakr, relates that he went to the Jamaat in Madibu, situated in the extreme northern region of Cameroon, for the collection of Chanda [donations] for Tahrik-e-Jadid. He went door to door in order to encourage new converts to contribute towards this financial sacrifice. Upon this, an Ahmadi by the name of Usman Sahib said that the previous time he came to draw attention towards this financial sacrifice, he had made the intention to contribute ten thousand CFA francs as well as some corn. A few days later, his son told him that he wished to go for an interview for a job in the customs department. However, he was in need of a great sum of money for this. (Similar to some other third-world countries, they also have to give something to the officials in order to receive employment.) Hence, he said to his son that he was a poor man and could not arrange for such a huge amount. He said he had ten thousand CFA francs but he promised to contribute that towards Tahrik-e–Jadid. Therefore, he should go and give the interview for the job and God Almighty will help him. Usman Sahib relates that he contributed this amount towards the Chanda instead. A few days later, his son called him from the city saying that he was successful in the interview and that he would very soon be employed. God Almighty inspired the hearts of the officials in such a manner that those, who gave huge amounts, were not employed, However, God Almighty made arrangements for his son to be employed as a result of his prayers, pure intentions and sacrifice.

Then, Amir Sahib of The Gambia writes that a programme was organised in relation to Tahrik-e-Jadid in a village of the Niani district, during the course of which they were told that the Khalifa of the time had said that all new converts should participate in this scheme. Hence, everyone present contributed Chanda towards this. A lady by the name Kowajawae Sahiba said that during the meeting, she contributed twenty dalasi towards Chanda. At that time, she only had twenty dalasi, which she had in fact saved for times of difficulty. She relates that when she reached home, a guest of hers gifted her five hundred dalasi. Hence, the following morning, she returned to the mosque and contributed another fifty dalasi towards her Chanda and said that she received the amount solely due to the blessings of Chanda. God Almighty’s promise of repaying one who makes sacrifices also becomes a means of increasing their faith and conviction. Although she did not offer this sacrifice with the intention of immediately receiving something in return from God Almighty, but God Almighty rewarded her immediately.

Next, the missionary in the region of Bohico in Benin writes that the finance secretary of the city earned his living through a three-wheeled motorcycle, or perhaps it was a rickshaw. One day, his motorcycle was stolen, and once something is stolen in Africa, it is usually impossible to find it again. When his friends used to visit him and express their sympathy for the loss, he would say (one should observe his level of trust in God), “I have complete faith in God Almighty. The reason for this is that I am a poor man and I feed my children and pay my Chanda on time by earning through this motorcycle. Perhaps someone else is in greater need than I am. Therefore, God Almighty has temporarily made arrangements for him so that he may fulfil his needs and then return it to me.” Upon hearing this, people assumed he was so traumatised by this theft, that it had affected him mentally. Nevertheless, in order to comply with the law of the land, he filed a report with the police as well and went home as normal. He says that two weeks had passed when his neighbour, who also rode a motorcycle taxi or rickshaw, called Baniu Sahib and said that he had spotted his motorcycle rickshaw. However, its colour had been modified. Upon this, the police were informed. The police then told both owners to come to the police station with the original documents of the motorcycle. Following an investigation, the documents of the other individual turned out to be counterfeit. Upon this, the police told the other individual to repair the motorcycle within two days, to return to its original colour and give it back to the owner within two days. And so, the motorcycle was returned to him. He took the motorcycle, immediately went to the mission house and narrated the entire incident. He also said that he still had to complete his contribution towards Tahrik-e-Jadid and therefore, he would now leave in search for work. He said that he would contribute the entire profit of the week towards his Chanda, as the motorcycle was returned to him as a result of the blessings of Chanda. Hence, he earned twelve thousand CFA francs during the week and contributed it towards Tahrik-e-Jadid.

This is also an astonishing example of the trust and faith in God Almighty.

Shahab Sahib, the secretary for Tahrik-e-Jadid collection in India writes that a lady named Sophia Begum from Chinta Gunta sent a message to us through her brother stating, “When I was very young, I attended gatherings and listened to different speeches delivered by scholars. Many women presented their jewelry when Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud^ra established the foundations for Tahrik-e-Jadid and urged the members to offer financial sacrifice. Whenever I would listen to this faith inspiring incident, I felt the strong desire that if only I had some jewelry, I would offer it in the same manner towards Tahrik-e-Jadid, but this was not possible as I was poor. However, after my mother’s demise I have inherited around 24 grams of gold and I present this to you because I am uncertain if this jewelry will remain in my possession.” He says he and the locals both tried to convince her that since she was going to get married soon, therefore this jewelry would be needed for that. However, she remained adamant and paid the full amount of 24 grams of gold towards Tahrik-e-Jadid.

I mentioned this during last week’s Friday Sermon delivered in the USA and I often remind everyone about this that the poor are offering financial sacrifices, however those who are affluent and well-off should also examine their condition and see if their level of sacrifice is in accordance with the standards set by God Almighty; such standards to which He then grants His acceptance.

The secretary inspector for Tahrik-e-Jadid collection in Karnataka, India, writes: “One of the members had a promise of 2,500 rupees towards Tahrik-e-Jadid. When this person was requested to make the payment as there was just a few days remaining until the end of the fiscal year for Tahrik-e-Jadid, he said, ‘My work has completely stopped for the past three months due to rain and there is no hope for any income at this point.’ I said to him that he should make the intention for it and pray to God Almighty. After saying this I left for another place. In the evening when I returned after my other visits, the same person came to the mission house and offered his full Chanda payment. I enquired as to how this happened so quickly and he stated, ‘This is the blessing of having the intention for offering Chanda and also having the Grace of Allah Almighty, moreover I also prayed. A person owed me some money from some time ago and I had been reminding him for several months but he was not paying up. However, today he visited my home and returned all my money.’”

Musa Sahib, a muallim from Tanzania writes: “There is a very sincere Ahmadi friend in Darusalam Jamaat and he is currently serving in the Jamaat office there as well. Every year, his goal is to make the payment of his promise and his family’s for Tahrik-e-Jadid and Waqf-e-Jadid before Ramadan, but this year he was not able to do so because of personal circumstances. He was very concerned because of this. In any case, he prayed that God Almighty may Himself create some means for him. He decided that he could use the money that he would receive as an Eid gift from the Jamaat on the occasion of Eid. (This is granted to all employees of the Jamaat). So he decided that he would use this amount to make his Chanda payment instead of fulfilling his needs for Eid, but upon further calculations he realised that even if he made his Chanda payment from the usual Eid gift, there would still remain some outstanding amount from his promise. So he prayed again to God Almighty and beseeched Him to provide the means for him to pay the entire amount that he had pledged. Hence, he says that the amount received this time as an Eid gift was more than what was usually granted and he fulfilled all his pledges and made the payment.”

Rizwi Sahib, a missionary in Moscow, writes: “Vadam Sahib, a new convert, belongs to a very remote and rural town of Buryatiya. He had the opportunity to accept Ahmadiyyat in 2017. This year he visited Moscow for a week in order to meet with the Ahmadi brothers here and to gain educational benefit and moral training. He is from a poor household and sometimes he endures severe conditions due to financial constraints. One evening during his stay in Moscow, after offering Isha prayer, he was informed in great detail about the Jamaat’s financial system and the blessings of taking part in it and he was encouraged to offer Chanda [donation]. Considering his limited resources and poverty, it was expected that even if he made a contribution of 50 Ruble, that would be great sacrifice on his part. The next day in the morning after offering Fajr prayer, he made a payment of 2,000 Ruble towards Tahrik-e-Jadid and Waqf-e-Jadid. He asked them to accept this Chanda from him and then continued to express remorse for not offering a contribution before as he had accepted Ahmadiyyat more than a year ago.” The missionary writes: “Considering his situation, this was a great sacrifice.”

Such are the standards of sacrifice and these are the people about whom the Promised Messiah^as has stated: “It is astonishing to see their sincerity and loyalty.” (Malfuzat, Vol. 10, p. 334, UK, 1985)

Another missionary from Moscow writes: “There is a member of Moscow Jamaat who has been working in various forms of employment in the city. Speaking about his current employment, he said: ‘During my interview, the owners informed me that there are no pay rises here and even in the future will remain on this amount. Therefore, if I was happy with this offer, then I should accept it, otherwise I should decline.’ He said, ‘I accepted the offer and after some time had elapsed, an appeal was made to members of the Jamaat to offer contributions towards Tahrik-e-Jadid and Waqf-e-Jadid and I began to participate in it regularly. After some time had passed, the administration of this department called me in and without any apparent reason, they increased my salary by 5,000 Ruble. Then after some time had passed, they called me in again and increased my salary by a further 2,000 Ruble.’ He went on and said: ‘At that time, I was convinced that this had to be the result of offering financial sacrifice in the way of God Almighty and there was no other worldly reason for this to happen. When one tries to explain this to a non-Ahmadi, they do not understand this fully, but the one who has accepted the Imam Mahdi^as can truly comprehend how by the grace of Allah the Almighty, He, without any worldly means, blesses those people who offer financial sacrifices.’”

The missionary of the Alada region in Benin writes, “In the Fanji community, within the region, whereby the grace of God Almighty a mosque has been built, the local president, a blacksmith, was urged to participate wholeheartedly in contributing towards Tahrik-e-Jadid. Thus, he made a promise to increase his contribution, but said that due to not having any work at the time, he was short of money. Thereafter, the Jamaat local president phoned saying he wished to donate 10,000 CFA Francs and to give him a receipt. Having made that promise, God Almighty blessed him immensely. He said, ‘After having made my promise, God Almighty blessed me and I found a job, and so now I have come to give 10,000 CFA Francs in Chanda [donation].’ After making that contribution, he phoned again after 15 days saying God Almighty had blessed him immensely, so much so that he didn’t know if he would even be able to complete the amount of work he had received. He received a very good order for a job and this was merely as a result of giving in the way of God Almighty.”

Here, God Almighty granted manifold more, as is His promise, and did so immediately.

A missionary of the Segou region in Mali writes that one day a blind woman sent her Chanda [donation] and along with it was a message that in future, she would send her Chanda to the mission house on a monthly basis. When enquired as to the reason for this (at times, God Almighty Himself draws the attention of some people to make sacrifices, so that He may grant them further blessings), she replied, “Two days ago I saw a dream in which I was sleeping and the Promised Messiah^as woke me up to urge me to contribute Chanda. Therefore, in the dream I got up and went to the mission house, where I made a contribution of 5,000 CFA Francs and after that, I woke up.”

Mubarak Munir Sahib, a missionary in Burkina Faso writes that Al-Haj Ibrahim, a sincere Ahmadi, who belongs to the Jamaat in Pegou, has two children who had been sick for quite some time and had had them treated. However, there was no improvement in their health. One day, a muallim of ours appealed to him to make a financial sacrifice and he made a contribution according to his means. He also prayed, “O Allah, accept my sacrifices and grant my children a swift recovery.” He says that a few days later, by the grace of God Almighty his children’s health improved significantly. One child recovered completely whilst the other saw a considerable improvement in his health. Thus, he was convinced that God Almighty blessed them, having accepted his sacrifice.

The Wasiyyat secretary of the city of Bobo, in Burkina Faso says that he contributed towards the Wasiyyat scheme every month but at times there would be delays in his payments towards the Tahrik-e-Jadid and Waqf-e-Jadid. Once, when he had listened to my sermon, he thought to himself, “Why don’t I make a full payment of my donations before the end of the year?” Therefore, having made the contribution, he saw a dream one night that a man dressed in white was handing him a key. He did not understand the dream at the time, but a few days later he received a message from his brother that he should make preparations to go and perform the Hajj and that he would cover all the costs. In this way, as a result of his financial sacrifice, God Almighty granted him the opportunity to perform the Hajj.

The Tahrik-e-Jadid secretary in Germany writes that a member from the Borken Jamaat increased his contribution to the Tahrik-e-Jadid scheme by 900 Euros. This member says, “The day after I made the promise, I went to my workplace and the owner said that he had increased my income by 100 Euros. When I calculated between February and October, it added up in total to approximately 900 Euros. He says that I was certain that God Almighty would take care of me, but I did think that God Almighty would provide for me in less than 24 hours.”

The same Tahrik-e-Jadid Secretary from Germany states that the asylum case of one of the members had embroiled him in difficulties. He was advised to make a financial sacrifice and to contribute to the Tahrik-e-Jadid scheme. “A few days later, I met him and he told me, ‘You drew my attention to contributing to the Tahrik-e-Jadid scheme and I promised to pay 100 Euros, but at that moment in time I only had 20 Euros. So I gave the 20 Euros there and then and went home. When I reached home I received a phone call from the place I used to work in, saying that I was owed some money, so I should go and collect that. I was under the impression that it would be three or four hundred euros, hence I went and collected the money and without counting it, placed it in my pocket. The first thing I did was pay the remaining 80 euros towards Tahrik-e-Jadid and took out some money for some other necessary things. Thereafter, some money was left over. When I later counted it, I realised that I had received 1000 Euros. I had promised 100 Euros and God Almighty in return bestowed me with ten times more. I used to only hear about such incidents thinking does God Almighty really treat His servants in this way, but now I have experienced it for myself.’”

A missionary in Ivory Coast writes that he went to a place to collect Tahrik-e-Jadid, where there was a community of new converts. Only a year ago they took the Bai‘at and became a part of the Nizam (Jamaat system). He delivered a speech to these people with regard to the importance of Tahrik-e-Jadid and its purpose. He further explained that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said that all members should participate and partake of this blessing. The following day, after the morning-prayer, some members of the community began giving Chanda [donations] according to their own capacity and the Imam of the mosque participated in this noble endeavour, also paying on behalf of his family towards Tahrik-e-Jadid. Later on, his 6 year-old son brought 100 CFA francs from his father saying that that was his contribution.” He further says, “We were delighted by the extent of this young child’s desire to make financial sacrifices.”

May Allah the Almighty accept the sacrifices of these new converts and bestow upon them the good of this world and the next.

The Promised Messiah^as mentioned in one place that once, a Maulvi made an appeal in a mosque to make financial sacrifices, and his wife was also sat there. She was very much moved having heard this and when she reached home she took out her jewellery with the intention of donating it towards the mosque. The MaulvI said that this was only for the people, not for her, therefore she didn’t need to make a sacrifice. (Malfuzat, Vol. 6, pp. 264-265, UK, 1985)

On the other hand, where the community of the Promised Messiah^as is being established, we find the Imam of the mosque himself, and even his children, enthusiastically participating.

There is another account from Indonesia. A woman there named Sofia Sahiba writes, “I converted from Christianity and joined the community having taken the Bai‘at in 2014. After doing so, I was met with opposition from my family, verbal abuse was hurled at me and I was disgraced. My family members did not deem me a part of the family, yet I received a lot of love and attention from the community. I also married an Ahmadi. Sometime later my husband had a car accident and broke his bones in his right arm and leg.” She says, “At the time, I was also four months pregnant and the new financial year for Tahrik-e-Jadid was about to begin. I asked my husband what our promise was. He replied with great conviction, ‘Write down 500,000 Indonesian rupees (the value of the Indonesian Rupee is very low. Nevertheless, for those living there this was very valuable) because next year I will most surely find a job.’” She says, “I was very surprised because at the time he was walking with crutches, so how could he find a job? Nonetheless, I had our promise written down according to what he said. Time flew by quickly and before we knew it, the year was coming to an end. I was very worried as my husband was still jobless, and was concerned about how we would fulfil our promise? In this state of distress, I prayed and God Almighty manifested His power where my husband was given a very good job in a private company and we paid the whole amount that we had promised.”

Staying in Indonesia, Wardi Sahiba writes: “Last Ramadan, our family went through a difficult time. My father-in-law fell ill and spent one month receiving treatment in hospital. His health deteriorated to the extent that he was transferred to the ICU unit and chances for his survival were very low.” She then recalled a sermon of mine and said, “At that moment we remembered a sermon regarding the blessings of giving towards Tahrik-e-Jadid. All my family members made a decision to pay the entire Tahrik-e-Jadid amount that we had promised in that same month of Ramadan.” They then paid the entire amount in that same month and also wrote to me for prayers. She then writes: “Through the grace of God Almighty, the result of the prayers and [financial] sacrifice was that my father-in-law’s health began to improve, to the extent that after a few days the doctors discharged him and granted him permission to go home. When we arrived home and the neighbours saw that he was restored to full health, they were astonished and enquired as to how a person who was in such critical condition – to the extent that death seemed imminent – managed to survive?”

Here in the UK, the president of Birmingham Central Jamaat writes: “With hours to go before the closing deadline for Tahrik-e-Jadid, we were still £1,500 short of reaching our target. I approached various members of the Jamaat. One member, who had already given £2,400 said he would pay the remaining £1,500. Since he was out of the country, he paid the amount online.” He further writes: “The day after he had paid the £1,500, he received £6,000 from the tax department.” God Almighty instantly returned to him four times the amount he had paid.

With regard to the kinds of sacrifices offered by those who are impoverished and the astonishing manner in which God Almighty treats them, a muallim from Burundi writes: “Last year we visited a newly established Jamaat in Gahanga. We informed a new convert, Masudi Sahib, about the importance of giving Chanda [donations] and encouraged him to contribute. Masudi Sahib said that he did not have anything to give at the time, however, at home he had a fruit tree and the money that he would receive from the fruit, he would give that as his Chanda.” Even today, one can find examples of the kinds of sacrifices offered by people of the past. He further writes: “Within a day or two, he sold all the fruit of his tree for 1000 Burundi Francs and gave the entire amount as Chanda.” He later said that having sold his fruit, the money he gave as Chanda brought many blessings in that the next time the tree gave fruit, the harvest was many times the amount of the previous time and the fruit sold for approximately 40,000 to 45,000 Brundi francs.

A muallim from Congo Brazzaville writes: “A member of the community, Muaveel Sahib’s son, was ill for a certain period of time. During his illness, we went to Muaveel Sahib for Chanda. He paid the promise and also requested prayers for his son to be cured of the ailment through the blessings of Chanda. The same gentlemen said that a few days later, his son was restored to full health and it amazed him how God Almighty accepts prayers as well as their humble sacrifices.”

The Lajna Tahrik-e-Jadid Secretary of Canada writes: “A female member [of the Jamaat] mentioned that her husband had promised to give $1,000 [Canadian] dollars in Tahrik-e-Jadid, however, he had been unemployed for a while and as a result of this was unable to pay the amount. When there was a week left for the [Tahrik-e-Jadid] year to end, the secretary Mal [Jamaat local finance secretary] visited their home to collect the money. The husband said to her that he did not have anything to give, so what could they do now? The lady replied by saying that they could not let the secretary return emptyhanded. She had some savings, and from this they gave the $1,000 dollars as promised.” She then said: “Due to the blessings of Chanda, her husband found a job in that same week with a pay of $7,000 per month.”

A missionary in the Ivory Coast writes: “There was a tifl [a child] in the city San-Pedro who was 14 years old. The boy’s father says that he asked him to perform an errand for the house on a Sunday, to which his son replied that he was secretary Mal [finance secretary] in the Atfal Amila and he collected Chanda [donations] from people, however he had been unable to pay his own Chanda. Since he had to attend school on the other days, on that day he intended to go and work on a farm, and through this labour he would be able to earn some money and pay his Chanda. His father said that he would pay the money on his behalf, however the son replied that the missionary had said that children should pay the Chanda from their pocket money. Since he was unable to give any Chanda from his pocket money, he was adamant that he would earn some money through work to pay the Chanda. He completed his work and gave the money he earnt as part of Chanda.”

Thus is the thinking of children, living in distant places and of those who have recently joined the community – this is something only God Almighty can instil in a person.

The Tahrik-e-Jadid secretary of Germany writes: “A lady from Kiel Jamaat narrated: ‘My mother was from Kalsian Bhattian in Pakistan. She was a school teacher and would always regularly offer financial sacrifices. During Eid celebrations when most of the children would be given new clothes, often my mother would aim to give all of her Tahrik-e-Jadid promise within the month of Ramadan, so that she could be included in the list for prayers. Often she would take a loan to pay her promise, then would work towards paying that off. When the scheme for the construction of Basharat Mosque in Spain was launched, she sacrificed her earrings – which was the only gold she owned – and was scolded by her in-laws for doing so.” The lady further says: “At that time, I was immature and I thought that by putting yourself through hardship and then offering financial sacrifice was not correct. This idea and perception of mine was imbedded in my mind. Last year when the Tahrik-e-Jadid scheme was announced, I thought to myself that I would not act like my mother and present everything she owned. Therefore, I only promised to give 30 or 35 euros and in my estimation thought that this was a wise decision.” She further writes: “It was God’s design that soon after this, I developed two tumours in my neck. Owing to this I became petrified and the doctors also suggested to have an operation. At that time, I did not like [new] clothes nor any forms of jewellery.” During one of the days she heard a sermon of mine in which I addressed women and advised them about offering financial sacrifices. She says: “Hearing the words of the Khalifa, I gave all my jewellery for Tahrik-e-Jadid. I had an estimation of the price of the jewellery and gave that amount. After this I visited the Doctors again and they informed me that the tumour were benign.” She then writes: “God Almighty cured my ailment and removed my fears. I understood the fact that God Almighty had punished me due to my arrogant behaviour. Hence, now I do not harbour any such ill thoughts. There were certain restrictions imposed in paying Chanda on my husband for working in a restaurant. I prayed to God Almighty that if he granted my husband a better job, I would give 500 euros in Tahrik-e-Jadid. Thus, God Almighty miraculously granted my husband a better job.” Now both husband and wife offer their Chandas.

The Lajna Secretary for Tahrik-e-Jadid in Lahore writes,

“A lady from Wapda Town was suffering a serious breathing problem for the last year and a half. During the tour of the representatives from the headquarters, she increased her promise for Tahrik-e-Jadid by 50,000 rupees. God Almighty blessed her health immensely and her previous condition in which the ailment would continuously reappear despite seeking cure for it now completely changed and since the end of the Tahrik-e-Jadid year, she has completely recovered.”

Amir Sahib of The Gambia writes,

“A member from the Gira village regularly paid Chanda [donations] towards Tahrik-e-Jadid. Recently, there was an outbreak of a disease among the cattle of his village and the animals began dying. Nearly everyone’s animals had died. However, not a single animal from the cattle of Samya Sahib died. The fellow villagers all enquired from him as to why not a single animal died from among his cattle. He told them that every year he sells one of his animals from among his cattle and pays that amount towards his Chanda for Tahrik-e-Jadid and due to its blessings, God Almighty has protected his animals from the epidemic. Upon this, seven other villagers who were Ahmadi also paid their Tahrik-e-Jadid Chanda and the health of their animals began to improve, even though the veterinary doctor had said that no animal would survive the epidemic. After a few days, when the veterinary doctor came again and examined the animals, he asked what method of cure they used to improve the health of their animals. An elderly lady of the village brought a receipt of her Chanda donation and said that this was their method for the cure. Hearing this, the doctor was quite surprised and said that he would now research into Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya and so he was given quite a lot of literature of the Jamaat.”

One can witness how the faith and sincerity of the people living in far-off lands is progressing. It is this very sincerity and their complete trust in God Almighty and His promises that in turn leaves others with no other choice but to ponder over the truthfulness of Islam. May God Almighty continue to strengthen their faith and belief and always grant them His love and affection.

After relating the accounts of the blessings of God Almighty, as it is customary to announce the new year of the Tahrik-e-Jadid in November, and with this I will also present some figures from the previous year.

This year, the 85^th year of Tahrik-e-Jadid is starting, or rather has started from 1 November. The report of the blessings in the income from the 84^th year is as follows:

According to the income reports, God Almighty has enabled the sincere members of the Jamaat to contribute over £12.79 million. By the grace of God Almighty, there is an increase of £212,000 from the previous year – and God Almighty has enabled this despite the difficult circumstance being experienced around the world and the fact that the currency of many countries in the world has devalued.

In terms of the total contributing, Pakistan is always at the top, but after them it is:

1. Germany

2. UK

3. USA

4. Canada

5. India

6. Australia

7. A Jamaat from the Middle East

8. Indonesia

9. Ghana

10. A Jamaat from Middle East

In terms of the contribution per person, the positions are as follows:

1. Switzerland

2. USA

3. UK

4. Australia

5. Singapore

6. Sweden

7. Belgium

8. Germany

9. Canada

10. Finland

The outstanding Jamaats from among Africa for their total contribution are:

1. Ghana

2. Nigeria

3. The Gambia

4. Tanzania

Much attention is being drawn towards increasing the number of people participating in Tahrik-e-Jadid, and by the grace of God Almighty, this year 1,717,000 members participated, an increase of 117,000. The majority of the increase in members from the African countries who have made a notable effort are as follows:

1. Niger

2. The Gambia

3. Benin

4. Burkina Faso

5. Ghana

6. Nigeria

7. Cameroon

8. Congo-Kinshasa

9. Liberia

10. Mauritius

11. Ivory Coast

Among the large Jamaats, in terms of increasing their total contributors, the positions are as follows:

1. Indonesia

2. Germany

3. India

4. Pakistan

5. Canada

6. USA

7. Norway

8. Malaysia

By the grace of God Almighty, all of the accounts of those belonging to Daftar Awwal are still in operation which total to 5,927.

According to the reports of the districts in Pakistan, the financial sacrifices from the three large districts of Pakistan, the positions are as follows:

1. Lahore

2. Rabwah

3. Karachi

Although Rabwah is not a district but a city, however it is counted among the districts. The total contribution from among the districts of Pakistan is:

1. Sialkot

2. Sargodha

3. Gujrat

4. Gujranwala

5. Umerkot

6. Hyderabad

7. Narowal

8. Mirpur Khas

9. Toba Tek Singh

10. Mirpur Azad Kashmir

The outstanding Jamaat in terms of their total contribution are:

1. Islamabad Amarat

2. Defence Lahore Amarat

3. Township Lahore Amarat

4. Azizabad Karachi

5. Peshawar Amarat

6. Gulshan Iqabal Karachi Amarat

7. Karim Nagar Faisalabad

8. Quetta

9. Nawabshah

10. Bahawlpur

11. Okarra

The first ten Jamaats in Germany are:

1. Neuss

2. Rödermark

3. Pinneberg

4. Mehdi-Abad

5. Kiel

6. Flörsheim

7. Koblenz

8. Weingarten

9. Koeln

10. Limburg

In terms of the regions of Germany, the first ten are as follows:

1. Hamburg

2. Frankfurt

3. Moerfelden

4. Gross-Gerau

5. Dietzenbach

6. Wiesbaden

7. Mannheim

8. Riedstadt

9. Offenbach

10. Darmstadt

The first five regions of Great Britain, in terms of total contribution, are:

1. London B

2. London A

3. Midlands

4. North East

5. South

The first ten large Jamaats of Great Britain, in terms of total contribution, are:

1. Fazl Mosque

2. Worcester Park

3. Birmingham South

4. New Malden

5. Bradford North

6. Islamabad

7. Birmingham West

8. Glasgow

9. Gillingham

10. Scunthorpe

In terms of contribution from the smaller Jamaats in Great Britain, it is the following five Jamaats:

1. Spen Valley

2. Swansea

3. North Wales

4. Southfields

5. Edinburgh

The first five regions in terms of contribution are:

1. South West

2. Midlands

3. Islamabad

4. North East

5. Scotland

In terms of total contribution among the USA Jamaats is as follows:

1. Oshkosh

2. Silicon Valley

3. Seattle

4. Detroit

5. Silver Spring

6. York

7. Central Virginia

8. Georgia/Atlanta

9. Los Angeles East

10. Central Jersey

11. Laurel

In terms of total contribution from among the regions in Canada:

1. Brampton

2. Vaughan

3. Peace Village

4. Calgary

5. Vancouver

6. Western

7. Mississauga

The five most notable Jamaats in Canada for their total contribution are:

1. Edmonton West

2. Durham

3. Hamilton South

4. Bradford

5. Saskatoon North

The ten large Jama’at in India for their total contribution are:

1. Qadian, Punjab

2. Hyderabad, Telangana

3. Pathapiriyam, Kerala

4. Chennai, Tamil Nadu

5. Calicut, Kerala

6. Bangalore, Carnatic

7. Calcutta, Bengal

8. Pengari, Kerala

9. Noor Town, Kerala

10. Yad Gir, Carnatic

In terms of the provinces of India, it is as follows:

1. Kerala

2. Carnatic

3. Tamil Nadu

4. Telangana

5. Jammu Kashmir

6. Odissa

7. Punjab

8. Bengal

9. Dehli

10. Maharashtra

The first ten Jama’ats in Australia for total contribution are as follows:

1. Castle Hill

2. Melbourne, Berwick

3. Canberra

4. Penrith

5. Melbourne Long Warren

6. Marsden Park

7. Adelaide South

8. Brisbane, Logan

9. Brisbane

10. Plumpton

The following is the position of Jama’ats in terms of contribution per person:

1. Tasmania

2. Canberra

3. Castle Hill,

4. Darwin,

5. Marsden Park,

6. Melbourne, Berwick

7. Sydney City,

8. Perth,

9. Cambelltown

10. Parramatta

May God Almighty immensely bless all those who have offered financial sacrifices and also their wealth.

Also, generally people assume that I share the accounts from my tours, however, Insha-Allah, I will mention that in the next sermon.

(Translated by the Review of Religions)

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