Islamabad, Tilford, 19 October 2025: A delegation of 147 Lajna members from Canada, which included 107 students from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women Students’ Association (AMWSA) and members of the national Lajna amila, had the blessed opportunity of a mulaqat with Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa.
The meeting commenced as Huzooraa graced the hall with his presence and extended his salaam to all attendees. The Sadr Lajna Imaillah Canada introduced the delegation, after which Huzooraa graciously granted the students permission to ask questions for their guidance on a wide array of subjects pertaining to their academic, personal and spiritual lives.
Engaging AMWSA students
The General Secretary for AMWSA Canada, a fifth-year neuroscience student, asked for guidance on how to encourage greater participation from Lajna students in AMWSA events, where attendance was often low.
Huzooraa began by identifying the likely root of the issue, explaining that low attendance often means the programmes themselves are not sufficiently attractive or relevant to the students. He guided that the first step must be to involve the students directly in the planning process. The AMWSA executive should send out a questionnaire to all Ahmadi women students, explaining their objectives and asking for their suggestions on topics and formats that would create a more engaging and participatory platform. Once these suggestions are gathered, they should be discussed collaboratively to determine which ideas are practical and how they can be best implemented.
Furthermore, Huzooraa advised a more tailored approach, recognising the varying spiritual levels among the students. He guided them to assess and categorise the students – some are inherently religiously-minded, some are indifferent and some possess very little religious knowledge, perhaps only praying due to parental encouragement without understanding its true significance. For each of these categories, separate discussion groups should be formed with topics suited to their specific level of understanding and interest. This stratified approach, similar to the “side meetings” held at professional seminars, would make the students feel more comfortable and allow for more meaningful engagement.
Huzooraa also addressed the underlying issue of the inferiority complex that some students feel about their faith, which can cause them to hesitate in participating. The solution, he guided, is to organise events that showcase the intellectual depth and beauty of Islam. When students see that the teachings of their faith can be presented in a manner that others appreciate, their own confidence will grow. To illustrate this point, Huzooraa narrated an incident of an Ahmadi who, due to such a complex, suggested that the Khalifa’s speeches should be written by professional speechwriters, as is the custom for world leaders. However, after a non-Muslim professor of that Ahmadi attended a function and highly praised a speech delivered by Huzooraa for its comprehensive and eloquent structure, that Ahmadi felt deeply ashamed of his lack of confidence. Huzooraa stressed that there is no need whatsoever to feel embarrassed about the teachings of Islam. If we ourselves understand, act upon and learn to elaborate upon the wisdom of the Quran, the sunnah and the writings of the Promised Messiahas, we can explain them to others with confidence, thereby removing this complex from ourselves and others.
How to see God
A biomedical engineering and health sciences student asked how one can attain the highest level of focus in salat by envisioning God, given that God is not a physical being.
Huzooraa provided an analogy to explain the concept of belief in an unseen reality. He asked the student if she could see the air or the oxygen she was breathing. She could not, yet she has faith in its existence and knows she cannot live without it. In the same way, many profound realities exist that are beyond our physical sight. Huzooraa explained that Allah the Almighty has stated in the Holy Quran that we cannot reach Him through our own efforts; rather, it is He Who reaches His servants. (Surah al-An‘am, Ch.6: V.104)
This divine connection, however, is contingent upon our own struggle. Allah has commanded us to undertake a spiritual jihad to find His paths. (Surah al-‘Ankabut, Ch.29: V.70) Huzooraa questioned whether this struggle was truly being undertaken, pointing to the common laxity in prayers – where people miss Fajr, combine prayers without a valid reason, or feel an inferiority complex about praying in public at their university or a service station when required. When such is the case, one cannot expect to “see” or feel the presence of God.
The first step, Huzooraa guided, is to strengthen one’s belief in the Unseen [Ghayb]. (Surah al-Baqarah, Ch.2: V.4) This is achieved by pondering over the magnificent and perfectly ordered system of the universe. When one reflects on our own minuscule and insignificant place within the vastness of the galaxies, a profound sense of awe for the Creator develops.
Huzooraa said, “If one adopts this way of thinking, one realises, ‘Yes, before Allah the Almighty I am so minute and insignificant – indeed, a being with no standing whatsoever. Yet despite this, Allah has bestowed upon us so many blessings and when one reflects on this, one’s mind turns to Allah as well.’”
When this awe is combined with sincere and consistent prayer – not just turning to God in times of need like exams or during Ramadan – then Allah manifests Himself through His help and the acceptance of prayers. To illustrate this, Huzooraa shared a personal experience from his university days when, after performing very poorly on a difficult exam, he cried before Allah in prayer. Subsequently, in an unexpected turn of events, the university decided to award grace marks to all students due to the paper’s difficulty, which allowed him to pass. It is through such tangible experiences of His grace, Huzooraa explained, that God shows us that He exists. He advised the student to channel the emotion she was showing in the meeting into crying before Allah in her prayers.
On dealing with stressful times
A health sciences and psychology student asked Huzooraa for his personal method of dealing with stressful times, particularly during his own student years.
Huzooraa referred to his previous answer, reiterating that when something goes wrong or causes stress, the primary solution is to turn to Allah and pray with sincere humility. The prerequisite, he stressed, is that one should be regular in their five daily prayers. When a person turns to God in a state of desperation, feeling they have no other hope, Allah accepts their prayers out of His immense grace. Huzooraa reminded the student of her own experiences of accepted prayers as proof of this principle.
He also added an observation that people today seem to become emotional and stressed more easily than in past generations and that developing greater spiritual and emotional resilience is also important.
The importance and philosophy of Khilafat
A student explained that while they are taught from a young age that Khilafat is important, the reasons why are not always clearly explained. She asked how they could make their belief in its importance firm and deeply understood.
Huzooraa observed that if children are told merely that “Khilafat is important” without being taught why, then parents have fallen short in their duty. He then offered a simple, universal analogy: every successful organisation requires leadership. Even a university group assignment designates a lead who coordinates discussion, synthesises the outcome and presents the final report. Without such leadership, coordinated success becomes improbable. In precisely this way, Allah the Almighty has established the system of Khilafat.
After a Prophet, there must be a successor to carry the mission forward. (Al-Jami‘ as-Saghir by Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti, al-Juz’ II, Egypt: 1306 AH, p. 126) Otherwise, people splinter and each sets up a separate faction. (Sunan Ibn Majah, Kitab al-fitan, Hadith 3993) This is what has occurred in the wider Muslim world, where the Ummah has fractured into more than seventy sects and many further sub-groups, each following its own school of thought and jurisprudence. The Holy Prophetsa instructed Muslims to remain with the Jamaat (Sunan at-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-fitan, Hadith 2165) and to choose a leader and he also prophesied the advent of the Promised Messiahas in the fourteenth century, after whom the system of Khilafat would be re-established by Allah to preserve and advance the Prophet’ssa mission. (Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, Vol. 6, Musnad Nu‘man ibn Bashir, Hadith 18596, Beirut: ‘Alam Al Kotob, 1998, p. 285) Through the Holy Prophetsa, this mantle reached the Promised Messiahas, who elaborated it and propagated it; Khilafat then continues that very mission.
Huzooraa explained that Khilafat is not a mere symbol; it is a living, guiding leadership that provides a unifying system – team, structure and direction – for the entire Jamaat. This is clearly visible in the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat today: it is spread across more than 200 countries yet remains united under one banner and one Khilafat. Under this leadership, guidance is offered in light of global circumstances and members across continents are nurtured accordingly. Huzooraa noted that when he provides guidance and addresses an issue arising, say, in Canada and outlines principled solutions, he often receives letters from the UK, Türkiye, Russia – even South America – saying that the same guidance resolved their difficulties. This is the practical manifestation of unity under Khilafat.
He stressed that this unity is not a theoretical ideal but the very purpose of Khilafat – to hold the Jamaat together so it can advance a single mission with coherence and strength. By contrast, when there is no single leadership, fragmentation and impotence follow. Huzooraa pointed to the tragic plight of the Palestinians as a sobering example: although the Muslim world comprises some two billion people and 54 nation-states with immense resources, they failed to act collectively, each country pursuing its own vested interests in the absence of a unifying guide and protector. Had there been unity under one banner – the banner of Khilafat – such paralysis would not have occurred.
Guidance on the Rishta Nata process and photos
A psychology student asked for guidance regarding the practice where a boy’s family, after receiving a photo of a potential bride in a hijab, requests another photo without it.
Huzooraa began by posing a direct question: is a marriage to be based on a person’s face, hair and body, or on their character, education and righteousness?
He affirmed that it is permissible and indeed encouraged to see a potential spouse, citing the Hadith where the Holy Prophetsa instructed a Companion to look at the woman he intended to marry. (Sunan an-Nasa’i, Kitab an-nikah, Hadith 3235) Huzooraa then narrated an incident of a Companion whose proposal was initially refused by the girl’s father. However, the righteous girl, upon hearing that the request to see her came as a directive from the Holy Prophetsa, revealed her face, saying his command must be obeyed. The Companion was so deeply impressed by her piety and obedience that he immediately lowered his gaze, deciding that he no longer even needed to see her face.
The paramount principle established by the Holy Prophetsa, Huzooraa stressed, is to prioritise righteousness [deen] above all other considerations like looks, wealth, or family. He cautioned, however, that boys who make unnecessary or unseemly demands about seeing photos often end up finding other faults later on anyway, rendering the exercise futile.
Huzooraa added, “Yes, if, after seeing her face, they feel genuinely inclined towards proceeding with the proposal – if they sincerely intend to marry, then they should pray.” Then, Huzooraa said, the families should meet in person. In such a gathering, they can interact, share a meal and observe each other’s character, behaviour and etiquette.
He also pointed out that often the materialistic demands come from both sides – girls’ families asking about the boy’s job and house and boys’ families asking about dowry. If both sides were to follow the Prophet’ssa guidance and pray sincerely, marriages would be far more successful than the so-called “love marriages” common in the West, which have a much higher rate of divorce.
Huzooraa concluded by sharing the timeless advice of Hazrat Amma Janra, who counselled girls to start praying for a righteous spouse and a blessed destiny from a young age.
Study tips from university years
A first-year psychology student asked Huzooraa to share some study tips from his own time at university.
Huzooraa, with great humility, described himself as having been a below-average student in his youth. However, based on life experience, he imparted a profound and effective piece of advice: the key to academic success is to revise the day’s lectures on the very same day. By going through the material regularly and consistently, one builds a strong and solid foundation that makes preparing for exams much easier and less stressful.
He also advised them to regulate their lives with a disciplined routine. This includes waking up early for Fajr, reading the Quran and doing some light exercise in the fresh air to refresh the brain for the day’s studies. Those who are regular and disciplined in their studies, he noted, become excellent students. Prayer, he stressed, is absolutely essential in every matter, as it is ultimately Allah who grants success.
On purdah and dealing with judgemental looks
A student asked what a girl should do when some people give her judgemental looks or make negative comments about her purdah or her body.
Huzooraa stated that those who engage in such behaviour are committing a vulgar and inappropriate act. He explained that the Holy Quran, in the verses pertaining to modesty, first commands men to lower their gaze: they must not cast lustful looks towards women, nor regard them with a critical, belittling eye that, in any respect, deems them inferior. He said that a woman must not be undermined in any situation, under any circumstances. Therefore, Huzooraa said, the first lesson is for men themselves: they must reform their own conduct. (Surah an-Nur, Ch.24: V.31-32)
He guided the young women that if their own purdah is correct, they should not feel any complex or concern over the wrongful actions of others. Huzooraa explained that one of the historical wisdoms behind the commandment of purdah was to establish a distinct and respected identity for Muslim women and to protect them from harassment.
The purdah itself should be simple and modest, not ostentatious with elaborate embroidery or designs that attract undue attention. A loose-fitting coat and a headscarf that properly covers the body, head, cheeks and bosom, etc., fulfils the Islamic injunction. He concluded by stating that it is the duty of the women of Lajna to reform the men in their own homes; if every woman takes up this responsibility, then all people, including men and women, will be reformed.
Guidance on attending music concerts
An economics and finance student asked for guidance on attending music concerts.
Huzooraa questioned whether a serious and dedicated student has so much free time that they can afford to spend it at music concerts. He described such events as environments of ear-splitting noise that are not constructive or beneficial. A student of finance, he noted, should have a creative and industrious mind, focused on their assignments and on how they can contribute to improving the economy, leaving no time for such futilities [fuzuliyat].
Furthermore, such events can often lead to other moral ills, such as dancing and intermingling. Huzooraa advised that it is always better and wiser to avoid environments where there is a clear potential for immorality to spread, for the sake of one’s own future.
Concluding advice: Become Khilafat’s ambassadors
At the very end of the mulaqat, Huzooraa imparted concluding advice to the students. He stated that worship is their true and ultimate purpose. By holding fast to this fundamental task and holding fast to Allah the Almighty, they will begin to find genuine delight and pleasure in both their prayers and their worldly studies.
He urged them to establish their own unique and distinct identity as educated, practising Ahmadi Muslim women. Through their excellent character and noble example, they can convey the message of Islam Ahmadiyyat within their academic and social circles. The world, Huzooraa said, should be attracted to this remarkable aspect of theirs: that despite being highly accomplished in various fields – be it chartered accountancy, medicine, law, or engineering – every single Ahmadi girl possesses a special and dignified status rooted in her faith.
“Make the world recognise your special status; establish your identity,” Huzooraa counselled. “This is the real task. If you do this, you will become an ambassador.” Huzooraa explained that people often ask how they can recognise the Khalifa of the Time. “You are the ones,” he told the students, “who are to introduce the Khalifa of the Time.” He instructed them to first understand these profound matters themselves and then to go forth and become true ambassadors for the Khalifa of the Time, spreading the beautiful message of the Jamaat to the world.
Before taking his leave, Huzooraa kindly enquired about the delegation’s lodging and food arrangements and gifted them pens.
(Summary prepared by Al Hakam)