Fazal Masood Malik, Canada
Fatima Jaloo lives in a small village, west of Senegal. Despite the poverty levels that gnaw at every door, her faith speaks volumes.
On one particular occasion, when reminded of Waqf-e-Jadid chanda, she immediately complied. Having no money, she fetched a chicken that was gifted to her and presented it as her offering.
With the offering, her request was to pray for the well-being of her uncle, Lameen Jaloo. Mr Jaloo was arrested and sentenced to seven years in prison for causing some disturbance of peace, an offence not pardonable by local law.
A few days had passed since she contributed towards Waqf-e-Jadid when she heard the fantastic news. Her uncle had been pardoned and was now on his way home.
Upon arrival, he learned of the sacrifice done by his niece and, witnessing the results of this blessed scheme, entered the fold of Islam Ahmadiyyat. (Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa, Friday Sermon, 5 January 2018)
Fatima and Lameen are not the only ones who have experienced the miraculous blessings of Waqf-e-Jadid. Consider the case of a Norwegian lady who converted to Islam Ahmadiyyat. She learned about Waqf-e-Jadid and immediately offered 200 kroner.
The next day, upon arriving at work, she found out that her employer had decided to increase her wages by 200 kroner per month. Humbled and dumbfounded, she gasped in pleasure, exclaiming that she had donated only 200 kroner once and now she is receiving the same amount monthly. (Friday Sermon, 8 January 2016)
These and countless other men, women, and children worldwide can tell you their faith-inspiring stories, some of which are narrated by our beloved Imamaa every so often. It is through their acts of selfless generosity that they have become members of a group of believers about whom Allah says:
وَ مَثَلُ الَّذِیۡنَ یُنۡفِقُوۡنَ اَمۡوَالَہُمُ ابۡتِغَآءَ مَرۡضَاتِ اللّٰہِ وَ تَثۡبِیۡتًا مِّنۡ اَنۡفُسِہِمۡ کَمَثَلِ جَنَّۃٍۭ بِرَبۡوَۃٍ اَصَابَہَا وَابِلٌ فَاٰتَتۡ اُکُلَہَا ضِعۡفَیۡنِ ۚ فَاِنۡ لَّمۡ یُصِبۡہَا وَابِلٌ فَطَلٌّ ؕ وَ اللّٰہُ بِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ بَصِیۡرٌ
“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, Ch.2: V.266)
What is Waqf-e-Jadid?
After the creation of Pakistan, the Ahmadiyya Jamaat spread across the country, settling in cities as well as smaller villages. While in India, many had lived in Qadian learning from the blessed being of the Promised Messiahas, his Companionsra and then the First and Second Khulafa.
However, such was not the case after the partition of the Indian subcontinent. Members living in large cities were able to benefit from the nizam-e-Jamaat and establish auxiliary organisations.
However, those living in villages did not have enough resources to resurrect the infrastructure of education and moral well-being required to bring about the spiritual transformative changes the Promised Messiahas taught.
From divine guidance, as a solution to this problem, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra initiated the blessed scheme of Waqf-e-Jadid (The New Dedication). This scheme was initiated on 27 December 1957 (it was first mentioned by Huzoorra on 9 July 1957), on the blessed occasion of Eid-ul-Adha.
It serves as a reminder that the monumental sacrifices offered by Hazrat Abrahamas, Hazrat Hajirahas and Hazrat Ishmaelas must be honoured in ways other than words. In a sermon, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra said:
“These lands were reserved for us. It is our duty to work in these lands and follow the footsteps of Hazrat Ishmaelas … these lands are densely populated, but not with spirituality … I desire that the youth of the Jamaat should dedicate their lives for this noble task.” (Friday Sermon, 3 January 1958)
Expounding upon the need for this scheme, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra continued:
“… the time when a murabi [missionary] could visit a region, spend a few hours and then go to the next region has passed. Now, our murabi would have to reach every house and every hut … We need people to live among the people from Karachi to Peshawar; they will do beneficial work for the people and will educate them on moral and spiritual value.” (Ibid)
By Allah’s grace, Ahmadi Muslims responded with enthusiasm and great sacrifice and many muallimeen (educators) were trained and appointed to various parts of the country. Some of these muallimeen provided essential health services, some education. Still, they all had one thing in common – the desire to please Allah. Their generosity and self-sacrifice knew no bounds. They were the ones about whom the Holy Prophetsa has given us the glad tidings of:
“A generous person is close to Allah, close to Paradise, close to the people and far from the Fire.” (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Chapter: “What has been related about generosity”)
The number of people who make every effort to excel in the financial contribution to the cause of faith is astounding. Every new year, while the world is busy reeling from the expenses incurred at frivolous activities of the last year, our beloved Khalifa, Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa, is guiding us towards the path of righteousness, fueling our faith with extraordinary blessings experienced by Ahmadi Muslims worldwide.
Enormous blessings came to those people who sold their family jewellery, farmers who gave their sole possessions such as seeds for the harvest and even meagre buckets of maize, simply to gain the pleasure of God Almighty. Those who made such sacrifices saw that their harvest was doubling miraculously and their businesses were yielding unbelievable profits.
When Allah revealed this blessed scheme to Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, he spoke from his heart, saying:
“This is the work of Allah, and He will certainly fulfil it! And because God has placed this scheme in my heart, even if I must sell my home, even if I must sell my clothes, I shall do so to fulfil my responsibility …” He concluded by urging the faithful “… towards financial sacrifice, as well as towards waqf [dedication]”. (Al Fazl, 7 January 1958)
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa has always stressed that Allah accepts even small amounts given with sincerity in such a manner that He returns it manifold. Sincerity becomes the medium to gain Allah’s nearness and strengthen a person’s faith in God. These miraculous ways of receiving income from unexpected sources are not mere coincidences; according to a tradition of the Holy Prophetsa, the people who sacrifice in the way of God Almighty are those who are deemed worthy of envy.
In 2018, a missionary from Mali Jamaat wrote to Huzooraa about a phenomenal incident that took place. He wrote:
“Last year’s sermon by Huzooraa on Waqf-e-Jadid was playing on Radio Ahmadiyya Keeta. While the sermon was played, the chief of a village situated 45 kilometres from Mali called and invited us to preach in his village. When we arrived, the chief, recounting the event, said that ‘the Khalifa was narrating the faith-inspiring incidents from all over the world. Listening to those incidents had an extraordinary impact on the people of our village.’
“He continued in an emotional tone, ‘The people of our village were regretful that they had not taken part in this blessed scheme. Therefore we called you.’
“Upon invitation, the delegation held a tabligh programme the same day. By the grace of Allah, 50 people accepted Ahmadiyyat. The village people immediately gave one bag of maize and 1,000 francs towards the blessed scheme of Waqf-e-Jadid.” (Friday Sermon, 4 January 2019).
The office of Waqf-e-Jadid is instrumental in fulfilling one of the most basic requirements of Bait-ul-Mal – to safeguard people from taking loans with punitive interest.
When this sacred institution was established by Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, it had two overarching requirements: to establish Islam among the Hindu population of Pakistan and to save our future jamaats in the rural areas from moral degeneration.
While rescuing people in rural areas from a moral decline produced remarkable results quickly, the acceptance of Islam among Hindus of Pakistan took time and perseverance. Eventually, when Islam spread among these residents of Sindh, they became so devoted in such a short period that they offered their services, devoting their time to advancing Islam Ahmadiyyat.
One incident that speaks volumes regarding Waqf-e-Jadid is that before establishing this institution in Sindh, the Hindu farmers were drowning in interest. Their lands were pawned by Hindu moneylenders, who would sell them seeds for plantation at a much higher cost than the market. The “treasurer” would then obtain a monthly charge of 5 or 10 rupees as interest and hold their land as a pawn. This was a cycle that the poor farmers could not break from.
When Waqf-e-Jadid started its work among the Hindu farmers of Sindh, they were given interest-free loans and seeds were sold at the market value with no profit margin. Soon, these farmers became independent owners of their lands and prospered.
Every Khilafat has coloured Waqf-e-Jadid with its unique and beautiful tone. The challenges faced by the world appear to increase astronomically, but under the wings of our Khalifa, this Jamaat gains new heights in every era and Waqf-e-Jadid elevates further every year.
Today, by the grace of Allah, millions have entered the fold of Islam Ahmadiyyat. We are witnessing the blessings of Allah being showered upon this Jamaat. We cannot offer enough hamd for the blessings that are being showered upon the Jamaat of the Promised Messiahas.
However, with these blessings come immense responsibilities. We must be diligent in the field of tabligh and spiritual and moral training. This is the reason why Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra started the blessed scheme of Waqf-e-Jadid.
Today, it is the duty of every Ahmadi to partake in this heavenly scheme and spend their wealth and time in the way of Allah. The Holy Quran stands testament to the fact:
اِنَّ اللّٰہَ اشۡتَرٰی مِنَ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ وَ اَمۡوَالَہُمۡ بِاَنَّ لَہُمُ الۡجَنَّۃَ
“Surely, Allah has purchased of the believers their persons and their property in return for the Garden they shall have.” (Surah al-Taubah, Ch.9: V.111)
Under Waqf-e-Jadid, many educators (muallimeen) are needed. It is every person’s duty, working in any field, to offer their services for this auspiciously monumental task. Students should do waqf-e-zindagi; teachers, doctors, engineers and any person in any area should offer their time for Waqfe-arzi.
Hence, as Ahmadi Muslims, we should not wait any longer to partake in this blessed scheme, but must get up now and do whatever we can to further this scheme and earn our place in Heaven.
In 1957, this scheme began as a humble effort pertaining to a limited geographic area. In 1985, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IVrh broadened the scope of Waqf-e-Jadid to encompass all the countries of the world. The need for guidance has not decreased, nor has the need for missionaries and muallimeen.
As the Community of the faithful grows, so too does the need for teachers. If we heed these calls, we will lift our faith to a higher purpose; we will remain ready and willing to offer purposeful sacrifice, as and when needed.
