text: Home From The Markaz Fellow khuddam must know that 'you are their true sympathisers, friends and...
  Fellow khuddam must know that 'you are their true sympathisers, friends and brothers': Khuddam in Melbourne, Australia meet with Hazrat Amirul Momineen
  On 12 June 2022, members of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Melbourne, Australia had the opportunity to meet with Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa through a virtual mulaqat.
  As the live stream started, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa conveyed his salaam. Huzooraa enquired how many khuddam there were, to which Waqas Ahmad Sahib, Sadr Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Australia, replied that there were 300 in the state.
  Huzooraa called Hafiz Waqas Naeem Sahib to recite a portion from the Holy Quran. After the recitation, Soban Tanoli Sahib presented the English translation and Muhammad Usman Arshad Sahib the Urdu translation.
  Shehroz Labeeb Khan Sahib was invited to recite an Urdu poem. Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa asked him if he was Punjabi "Khan" or Pathani "Khan". Shehroz Labeeb Khan Sahib said that he was both; to which Huzooraa smiled and said, "Then the poem will be recited in both dialects; half in Urdu and half in Pashto."
  Raheem Ahmed Sahib presented the English translation of the poem.
  An Urdu extract from the writings of the Promised Messiahas was presented by Ansar Sharif Sahib and Syed Wajahat Ahmed Sahib presented the English translation.
  Junior Osooso Sahib said that his name was Junior, but he had adopted the Muslim name Junaid. He said that some converts to Islam came from very different backgrounds and cultures that existed for thousands of years. In his case, he said, his background was Samoan. He asked what one should do regarding the traditions, customs and celebrations of their forefathers and ancestors. Should one acknowledge one's past and history or should one try to distance themselves from the way of life of those before?
  "What we believe is that Allah Almighty sent Prophets in every people and nation, [from] among them. So, they brought the same teaching, that is to bow before their Creator, perform their duties towards their Creator, and also, they taught us good morals, which are very common in every religion. This is why, in the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says to the People of the Book that 'O people of the book,' – He [Allah] asked the Holy Prophetsa to ask them that – 'Come to common points between us' and the most important of that is to worship the One and Omnipotent God.
  "So, what we believe is that although there are different tribes and nations, they were all trained by their prophets. The original teaching of each and every religion was to lead their people and tell them the message of Allah, and that message is to bow before Allah Almighty, the Creator, and show good morals, respect each other – that is the common thing. And apart from that, there are certain traditions. Allah Almighty says, in the Holy Quran, all the good [teachings] of the previous Prophets have been gathered; so […] apart from the new teaching [brought by Holy Prophetsa], they are all the old teachings which were taught and brought by the prophets of different peoples and nations.
  "So now your question is, 'Should we follow our traditions?' One basic principle which you must remember is that any tradition which denies the oneness and omnipotence of Allah Almighty should be rejected; apart from that, there are some traditions, your cultural traditions, which have nothing to do with religion, which do not prohibit you to offer your five daily prayers, to observe your salat, to fast, to read the Holy Quran, to show good morals. If they do not prohibit you from doing these things, then you can practice those traditions, but other than that if there is any tradition which clashes with the teaching of Islam, then you have to refrain from that."
  Syed Imaan Sahib said that Australia Day was celebrated nationally on 26 January for which they organised events at the mosque. He said that the Aboriginal Australians regarded this a day of invasion, loss and mourning. He asked for Huzoor'saa advice for Ahmadis celebrating this day which seemed to divide the first nation people and other Australians.
  "With regards to their sentiments, you have to respect them". This situation, Huzooraa added, was to be carefully considered. "Since they […] had confined themselves in the interior of the country – inland – most of them are not living in the big towns and the cities.
  "The Aborigines or the people living in the big cities and towns are members of the Parliament even. There are some [Aboriginal] people who work in government departments – they also celebrate. So, they themselves are celebrating as well […] So you can ask such people, 'What is the solution to this situation in your eyes.'"
  Huzooraa emphasised, "We should respect the sentiments and emotions of every people."
  Wajahat Ahmad Tahir Sahib said that most of the time, in one's daily life, one observed signs of God's power, blessings of Khilafat and acceptance of prayers, which rejuvenated one's faith and spirituality, and a passion was brought about; however, due to worldly attractions, this passion eventually subsided. He asked how one could remain steadfast and always inclined towards spirituality with the same fervour.
  Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa explained that this was human nature. Man tended to go through various stages of spirituality. Huzooraa said that it was necessary to keep on praying to Allah Almighty. One must pray, Huzooraa emphasised, to Allah and recite istighfar – sincerely repent from one's sins.
  Hashmat Ullah Sadat Sahib said that he was from Afghanistan and asked Huzooraa what the future of Ahmadiyyat in Afghanistan looked like.
  Huzooraa said that for every nation, where there was progress, there was also a point of decline. When it reached a certain stage of decline, then Allah Almighty could change its condition. It was possible, Huzooraa said, that when Afghanistan reached a further point of decline and fell close to destruction, then perhaps there might be someone among them who takes over again and establishes religious freedom, enables Ahmadiyyat to be well established and with a prosperous future. Until then, there was no viable future.
  Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa told Hashmat Ullah Sadat Sahib to keep praying as he was a native of that country and possessed true sympathy for his homeland.
  Huzooraa asked him if he recently came to Australia, to which he replied in the affirmative and said he came 9-10 months ago.
  Abid Munawer Sahib said that there were some events in the history of Islam after which Islam spread rapidly in the world such as the Holy Prophet'ssa migration and the conquest of Mecca. He asked Huzooraa if any such events would take place for the spread of Ahmadiyyat also.
  "In every religion, there is an [occurrence of an] event after which it spreads [rapidly]." Huzooraa gave the example of the religion of Christianity and said that it spread when the Roman emperor converted to Christianity – although the essence of the teaching had changed.
  "The promise of God Almighty to the Promised Messiah, on whom be peace, will be fulfilled. Therefore, the Promised Messiahas said […] that three hundred years would not have passed when you would see Ahmadiyyat in the majority in the world."
  Huzooraa said surely, such incidents would occur after which, insha-Allah, Ahmadiyyat would spread and flourish. Though Allah knew best when it would happen.
  Recalling what he had said in a previous mulaqat of 2021, Huzooraa said, "The next 20-25 years are very crucial years for [the success of the] Ahmadiyya Jamaat."
  Ali Kalim Sahib said that while serving the Jamaat and auxiliary events, sometimes members would get upset with volunteers which could be disappointing and stressful. He asked what should be done to keep morale high and avoid any feelings of distress.
  Huzooraa answered that the volunteers should understand that "they're volunteering here for the sake of Allah, to please Allah Almighty. So, when this is clear in their minds that they have come to serve Jamaat – to please Allah Almighty, not to please any person – then they will realise their duties and they will work with pure humility, humbleness and without showing any arrogance or annoyance.
  "So, this is the duty of Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya to do permanent training and tarbiyat of their members, of the volunteers."
  Mohammad Abdul Salam Sahib asked Huzooraa when that one moment came when one's love and appreciation for Allah was solidified.
  Huzooraa smiled and said, "You, yourself, should feel it. Have you ever experienced, when you are praying fervently, that you are crying in your sajda?"
  To this, Mohammad Abdul Salam Sahib replied in the affirmative.
  Huzooraa then said, "At that time, what are your feelings?" Mohammad Abdul Salam Sahib replied that he felt overcome with gratitude.
  Huzooraa said, "You feel that 'now I am very much close to Allah the Almighty' and you feel sometimes that Allah Almighty is hearing all your prayers, that is the moment which should strengthen your faith."
  Waseem Sohail Sahib asked Huzooraa that when dealing with atfal who have grown up in Western culture, especially those who were about to become khuddam, how one could keep them connected to the Jamaat.
  "It is not the matter of Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya only. From the very childhood, the parents should tell their children what are they, what is Ahmadiyyat, why we are Ahmadis, how we should behave, why we should pray to Allah Almighty, who is Allah Almighty, what is the Jamaat, what is the claim of the Promised Messiahas, why the Holy Prophetsa came to this world. And this is the basic teaching which has to be given by parents to their children.
  "Then, later on, after the age of seven, when they join Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya, there should be some syllabus for Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya to let them understand and to make them strengthen their faith in their religion and their duties towards the religion, towards the Jamaat.
  "And when they grow, when they reach the age of 12, the concept of religion and the concept of Allah Almighty and the Jamaat should be made clear to them in more detail. And then if they are trained [like so] up to the age of 15 in this environment, then when they enter the age of Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya, they will know what Islam is, Who Allah Almighty is, and what their duties are.
  "So, this is how they will keep themselves connected to the Jamaat, with Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya and auxiliary organisation".
  Huzooraa added that there should be a close relationship between the organisation and its members. "You will have to save them by attaching them with you, and that can only be done if you make them realise that you are their true sympathisers and friends and brothers."
  Yasser Ahmed Sahib asked Huzooraa what the best way was to inform his non-Ahmadi Muslim friends that he was an Ahmadi Muslim and for addressing those people who held negative sentiments about the Jamaat.
  Huzooraa explained to him that he should try to understand why he was an Ahmadi and accepted Ahmadiyyat. When one understood this, then one would be able to explain the teachings to their friends.
  "You should know that we Ahmadis believe that according to the prophecy of the Holy Prophetsa and according to the promise of Allah Almighty, a promised reformer would come in the latter days to revive the true teaching of Islam […] We believe that that person came in the person of Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian".
  "When your fellow students and friends see that there is some significant change in you – you are different from the other Muslims, you offer five daily prayers, you read the Holy Quran, you know the meaning of the Holy Quran, you are morally good, you are not involved in any bad practises, bad things – then they will know that 'these are the people who are different from us' and then they will try to listen to you".
  Hazrat Amirul Momineenaa said that one should offer their salat and pray to Allah to guide them.
  Faheem Ahmad Sahib said that nowadays, on the occasion of finding a suitable partner for marriage, there was a lot of demand put forward by both parties which were contrary to Islamic teachings and went against the sanctity of finding a suitable partner. He said, for example, sometimes if a rishta (match in marriage) was arranged outside the country, the girl or the boy was forced that they must live according to the culture where they would eventually live. He asked Huzooraa how one could avoid this.
  Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa explained that any culture adopted by a person must not clash with the teachings of Islam. It must be said from the beginning, when finding a suitable rishta, that as Muslims we desire to live our lives according to Islamic teachings. The Holy Prophetsa also explained that in looking for a suitable match, one must consider religion and faith. If man was inclined towards religion, he would naturally look for a pious wife.
  Huzooraa added that parents should also fittingly raise their children.
  Wajahat Ahmed Bajwa Sahib said that one of the conditions of offering salat was to face the qiblah; however, when one is on a journey, this matter is not considered. He asked Huzooraa if this method was correct.
  Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaa asked that if one is seated in a plane or a car, then how would they search for the direction of the qiblah. Huzooraa explained that Islam was a religion of ease, it provided a solution for every situation. If one was travelling and unable to stop for prayer, then they were allowed, in such a situation, to pray whilst travelling and it was not necessary to face the qiblah.
  In the time of the Holy Prophetsa, while on journeys, if it was not possible to stop to pray during the journey, they would offer prayers whilst on the journey. "Allah has created ease in those matters that are not in your power".
  One should be pleased that Allah Almighty had created ease. There was no need to be rigid in this matter. The truth of the matter was that one's "heart should be inclined towards Allah Almighty."
  Hazrat Khalifatul Masihaa then conveyed his salaam to everyone and the mulaqat came to an end.
  Abid Munawar 16th June 2022 At 8:36 pm
  It was a unique lifetime experience being a part of this gathering and was blessed to ask a question too.