On Sunday evening, 26 May, Hazrat Amirul Momineen, Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, presided over the UK’s Waqifeen-e-Nau Ijtema 2024. The event took place at Baitul Futuh in London, with Huzooraa gracing the occasion via livestream from Islamabad, UK.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa conveyed “Assalamu alaikum,” and invited Raheel Ahmad Sahib to recite a portion of the Holy Quran (Surah Aal-e-Imran, verses 103-105). Muzaffar Ahmad Sahib and Rohaam Khan Sahib provided the Urdu and English translations of these Quranic verses, respectively. Subsequently, Jazib Cheema Sahib presented an Urdu poem authored by Hazrat Musleh-e-Maudra, followed by its English translation by Adeel Tahir Sahib.
Huzooraa then invited Anas Rana Sahib, secretary waqf-e-nau UK to give the ijtema report. He mentioned that the waqifeen were divided into groups of 25, and assigned a group leader. The group leaders guided them throughout the ijtema and observed all members. He then highlighted various activities that took place during the ijtema, i.e., workshops, lectures, questions and answers sessions, etc. According to the record, there are a total of 3899 boys in the tajneed, out of which 3144 are over 7 years old. The total attendance of this year’s Waqf-e-Nau Ijtema was 1641, i.e., 51 percent of the total tajneed, that shows an increase of 10 per cent this year as compared to the previous one.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa then took to the podium and delivered his address. After reciting tashahhud and ta‘awwuz, Huzooraa said:
“Today, with the grace of Allah, you have had the opportunity to participate in the national Waqf-e-Nau Ijtema. I hope and pray that whatever positive and beneficial things you have learned come to form a permanent feature of your life.”
Huzooraa said that for the progress and well-being of any nation or community, it is of the outmost importance that its youth are of high moral standing and educated.
The followers of the Holy Porphetsa must live according to the teachings of Islam, only then can they be considered true Muslims. The Promised Messiahas emphasised this point to members of the Jamaat. On one occasion, he said:
“Allah the Almighty desires to make his community for all others.” This means that Allah desires the followers of the Promised Messiahas to uphold Islamic teachings in all aspects of their life.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa stated that every member of Waqf-e-Nau must carefully read and study the Holy Quran as it is the ultimate source of guidance. Likewise, many precepts of Allah have reached us by the hadith and sunnah of the Holy Prophetsa. In addition to them, Ahmadis must read the books of the Promised Messiahas.
It is particularly important for Waqf-e-Nau members to strive and increase their religious knowledge.
Obedience
Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said:
“One key point I wish to bring to your attention is the importance of obedience.” It is the chief means of strengthening the bonds of unity in community. The Promised Messiahas said that no nation can thrive until its members possess the quality of devotion, sincerity and loyalty to their Imam.
Huzooraa said young people sometimes ask why should we do this and why shouldn’t we do that. One should ponder over the Holy Quran, study the literature of the Jamaat to find the answers, approach a missionary, or write to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih. Huzooraa said:
“Specially, as Waqf-e-Nau, you should never fall prey to such thoughts as you are people who have pledged to live your lives in the service of Islam and according to the directions of the Jamaat.”
The standard of obedience of Waqifeen-e-Nau should be far higher than others. History attests that those nations who lacked obedience became weak and divided. The Promised Messiahas stated that lack of obedience caused the downfall of all the communities before the Holy Prophetsa. Likewise, after the blessed era of Prophet Muhammadsa and his Khulafa, the level of obedience and unity among Muslim Ummah decreased over the course of time. This led to spiritual darkness and decay within Islam. As a result, they were deprived of the blessings and pleasure of Allah. It was then the Promised Messiahas was sent by God to revive Islam’s true teachings.
Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said:
“Never forget that all of you have pledged to be at the forefront of serving his Divine Mission. Hence, I reiterate, that obedience to your faith and Jamaat is a prerequisite.”
Excel in virtue and beneficence
Another injunction of the Promised Messiahas is that a true Muslim should excel in virtue and beneficence. A single act of kindness and goodness invariable leads to another. Huzooraa said:
“If you exhibit grace, integrity and piety, you will gain the nearness of Allah the Almighty and become the recipients of His blessings and rewards.”
“Thus, as a Waqf-e-Nau, always seek to excel in goodness and ensure your act is well intentioned, kind and virtuous.”
Explaining the conduct and acts considered good by Islam, Huzooraa said “You must carefully study the Holy Quran as Allah the Almighty have stipulated what is right and what is wrong.” There are more than 700 commands in the Holy Quran as stated by the Promised Messiahas.
Salat
Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said:
“As a Muslim, we must offer every namaz with deep concentration in a pure state of humility and with the utmost respect and etiquette.”
Huzooraa said if we pray in this way, our spiritual bond with Allah grows, and in addition, as it grows, we will be inclined towards other acts of goodness and virtue.
Rights of God’s creation
Along with the rights of His worship, we are commanded to fulfill the rights of His creation. Huzooraa said, “We are taught to be kind, compassionate and sympathetic towards others.”
“Most of you sitting before of me have reached an age of understanding and relative maturity. Indeed, many of you are now Khuddam and have families of your own.” Hence, you have no longer the excuse of ignorance nor any time to waste.
“Now is the time to stand up and discharge the sacred vow, initially made before your birth, and which you have since independently renewed. Now is the time for you to priorities serving your faith above and beyond everything else.”
Huzooraa stated that it is pivotal to cultivate a sincere and pure bond with Allah the Almighty. The Promised Messiahas said the greatest cause of fear for any Ahmadi should be that they possess taqwa, i.e., true righteousness, or not. Huzooraa added that this burden rests on the shoulder of Waqifeen-e-Nau ever more. If you strive to be close to Allah, His choicest blessings will rain down upon you and He will protect you. “Ensure that all faculties, abilities and talent that Allah have blessed you with are utilised for noble purposes that in essence what taqwa is,” Huzooraa emphasised.
Elucidating taqwa, Huzoor said it is to use one’s eyes for viewing goodness and never to see immoral things, to use one’s hands to aid others and never to cause harm, to use one’s feet and steps in the direction of God Almighty and away from sin and transgression. Huzooraa stated, “Taqwa is that one’s mind should remain pure and free from impure or evil thoughts.”
Huzooraa explained that we observe lives being destroyed due to the harmful effects of internet and obscene matter. We should only view educational or constructive material and stay away from all that may have adverse impact on our personality. One should excel in studies and prefer those professions that bring you closer to Allah and open the doors for tabligh of Islam.
At the end, Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa said:
“I pray that Allah the Almighty enables all of you to forever uphold, defend and act upon the true teachings of Islam. May you recognise the true status and value of the teachings of the Holy Quran and live your lives in an exemplary fashion. May you always be a source of pride for your Jamaat and of outstanding benefit to your society and nation. May you protect yourselves from the dark shadows of materialism, vice and godlessness that have taken root in the world. And may you take refuge under the eternal shade of the teachings of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophetsa. May Allah the Almighty grant you the ability to do so.”
Huzooraa then led all attendees in dua, and thereafter conveyed his salaam to all participants and bid them farewell.