Aqeel Ahmed, Missionary UK
Hartlepool is a town situated on the North East coast of England. It has a population of more than 90,000. Hartlepool has one of the oldest Jamaats in the UK, established on the special instruction of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV, may Allah have mercy on his soul, by Dr Hameed Khan Sahib and his respected wife.
Upon seeing a large number of pure-hearted English converts to Islam Ahmadiyyat in Hartlepool, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh once suggested that the town may be called “A pool of hearts”.
The Hartlepool Jamaathas indeed had the honour of hosting many pious souls since its inception. They include Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa, may peace be upon him, as well as Hazrat Chaudhry Zafrulla Khan Sahibra.
At one occasion, in August 1997, when Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh visited Hartlepool Jamaat, he was accompanied by Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Masroor Ahmad (who was then Nazir Talim), Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Mansoor Ahmad and Hazrat Sahibzada Mirza Muzaffar Ahmad.
Allah the Exalted has also blessed Hartlepool Jamaatwith a beautiful purpose-built mosque. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, laid the foundation stone of Nasir Mosque, Hartlepool in 2004 and inaugurated the mosque on 11November 2005. The mosque has been visited by 1,700 visitors so far.
During a meeting in 2016, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa instructed Ataul Mujeeb Rashed Sahib, UK Missionary-in-Charge, that “missionaries’ meetings should be held every month and should be held in every region, rather than taking place in London every time.”
Following this instruction and guidance, all the UK field missionaries regularly meet at least once a month in a different Jamaatacross the UK. September’s meeting took place in Hartlepool on Monday, 23 September. Various matters related to talim, tarbiyat and tabligh were discussed. Instructions and guidance given by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa were conveyed and explained in full.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Imam Ataul Mujeeb Rashed Sahib also participated in a successful tabligh function prior to the meeting, which was attended by more than 75 English guests.
May Allah enable every missionary to strive to meet the expectations of our beloved Huzooraa.