Official Transcript of Address by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V(aba) at the Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya (Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association) UK National Ijtema 2023
After reciting Tashahhud, Ta`awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V(aba) said:
‘With the grace of Allah, the National Ijtema of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya UK has taken place this weekend and is now reaching its conclusion.
At this time, I would like to present extracts or take benefit from the address to Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya by its founder, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih II(ra), in which he laid out his expectations and vision for Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya which remain the same today.
Hazrat Musleh Maud(ra) began by stating it was a natural course of life that people come and go from this world. Every human is born, lives their life, and leaves this world. At the same time, Hazrat Musleh Maud(ra) explained that communities and nations have the potential to live on and thrive in perpetuity. Some communities exist for decades, or even centuries. In terms of Ahmadiyyat, he said that Ahmadi youth must sincerely vow to fulfil their obligations to ensure our Jama’at’s preservation and everlasting success. This requires generation upon generation of Ahmadis to act upon the true teachings of Ahmadiyyat and to strive to convey the message to all parts of the world.
Hazrat Musleh Maud(ra) gave the example of the Prophet Jesus(as), who was Messiah of Moses(as). He said that if the followers of Jesus(as) have spread worldwide, there is no reason why the community of the Messiah of Muhammad(sa), whose status and rank is far greater than the Messiah of Moses(as), cannot reach all parts of the world.
Certainly, for the sake of propagation of his Jama’at, the Promised Messiah(as) prayed fervently. In a couplet, he wrote (I give the translation of it):
“O Allah, direct the reign of the world towards me.”
In this beautiful couplet, the Promised Messiah(as) beseeches Allah to place in his hands the reins controlling the direction of mankind so that the people flock towards Ahmadiyyat in vast numbers. It expressed the Promised Messiah’s(as) deep anguish and heartfelt desperation for people to turn towards Allah the Almighty and free themselves from the shackles of immorality and materialism.
Unquestionably, in this era, every sincere Khadim must endeavour to fulfil the grand mission of bringing mankind towards belief in the Promised Messiah(as). Indeed, until the end of time, generation after generation of Ahmadis should consider this their foremost objective.
In this regard, Hazrat Musleh Maud(ra) said that we should not think that striving till the end of time is a mere expression and not to be taken literally. Rather, Allah the Almighty has given us, as Ahmadi Muslims, the duty to keep the flag of Islam Ahmadiyyat aloft until there remains life on earth. He has bestowed upon us the solemn duty and challenge to save mankind and to relentlessly strive towards that day when Islam’s message of love and peace penetrates the hearts of all mankind. Our mission is to stand defiantly against the rising tide of atheism and work tirelessly until that day when all traces of godlessness are eliminated from the world and Islam Ahmadiyyat prevails.
Hazrat Musleh Maud(ra) mentioned that on one occasion, the Promised Messiah(as) saw in a vision that a long line of monarchs were mounted upon their horses; some were Indian, some Syrian, some from other Arab countries. Amongst the monarchs were also Persians, Romans and others. In the vision, the Promised Messiah(as) was informed that all of them had accepted him and testified to his truth. In this vision lay a remarkable prophecy whereby Allah the Almighty gave the glad tidings to the Promised Messiah(as) that a day was destined to come when heads of state, be they monarchs, presidents, or otherwise, in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Russia and Germany would come to accept the truth of Ahmadiyyat. Indeed, according to the promises of Allah, a time will come when Ahmadiyyat will be accepted in such vast numbers that all other religions will be rendered insignificant in comparison.
In this age, when people are moving away from religion, the possibility of world leaders accepting Ahmadiyyat may seem remote. However, a day will surely come, Insha’Allah [God willing], when this prophecy will be fulfilled, so long as we fulfil our duties. We must be prepared to make enormous sacrifices for the sake of our faith and our determination and efforts to spread the message of Islam must never waver. Moreover, Ahmadis must never fall prey to complacency in the belief that because these are prophecies of God, they will come true regardless of our efforts. Instead, every Ahmadi must ask themselves if they are playing their role to fulfil the prophecies of the Promised Messiah(as). You should ask yourself if you are sincerely trying to build a connection with Allah through His worship, and to what extent do you pray that Allah the Almighty shows us the fulfilment of the prophecies associated with the Promised Messiah(as) within our lifetimes? To what extent are we striving to live our lives according to the teachings of Islam. Or, are we being wrongly influenced by society? We must assess all of this with honesty.
Continuing, Hazrat Musleh Maud(ra) mentioned that Allah the Almighty has referred to the Promised Messiah(as) as Noah – Hazrat Nuh(as). In this regard, the Holy Qur’an mentions that Prophet Noah(as) attained an age of around 950, meaning that his teachings and community lasted for this period. Hazrat Musleh Maud(ra) states that in this era, the Promised Messiah(as) was sent by Allah as a pure reflection and devotee of the Prophet Muhammad(sa) whose rank was far greater than any other prophet of God. Thus, if the Prophet Noah’s community lasted almost a thousand years, then the era of the Messiah of the Holy Prophet(sa), whose teachings and status far exceed that of the Prophet Noah, should, and Insha’Allah will, far exceed that period and last for thousands of years.
In fact, the Promised Messiah(as) has said that Allah the Almighty has promised him that his community and the religion of Islam will last until the end of times. And, in order to play our role in serving the mission of the Promised Messiah(as), we must be highly motivated and determined to do tabligh. In this regard, whilst addressing the Khuddam, Hazrat Musleh Maud(ra) instructed the office of Tabshir to ensure that the various reports it received from Jama’ats around the world informing of their tabligh [propagation] activities and successes should be published in our Jama’at newspapers regularly. By reading such reports, Ahmadis would learn how Allah the Almighty has blessed the Jama’at with immense success. Furthermore, such reports would inspire young Ahmadis and instil in them a burning desire and passion to serve the cause of Islam and direct them towards the true purpose of their life.
Today, in this era, Allah the Almighty has blessed us with MTA and various other platforms which should be used to present such reports regularly, so that our members understand how Allah the Almighty is fulfilling his promises to the Promised Messiah(as) and so they are personally motivated to increase their efforts to convey the message of Islam. It is for these reasons that apart from the UK Jalsa Salana, I also mention these reports in my Friday Sermons or other addresses from time to time.
Regarding how to ensure the success and progress of the Jama’at, Hazrat Musleh Maud(ra) gives the example of a tree, that it cannot flourish or produce beautiful fruits if its roots are weak. The deeper the roots, the taller the tree. Hazrat Musleh Maud(ra) mentioned chapter 14, verse 25 of the Holy Qur’an where Allah the Almighty has likened the words of God to the most magnificent and pure tree whose trunk is outstanding and whose roots are deeply embedded in the ground. The Qur’an describes the branches of such a tree as,
فَرۡعُھَا فِی السَّمَآءِ
“Whose branches reach into heaven.” [1]
In terms of a spiritual community, it means that when the followers of a divine religion act upon its teachings, its roots become strong. As a result, they increase in number and spread their faith to others. They are those fortunate souls who scale the highest summits of spiritual eminence and gain the nearness of Allah the Almighty and receive His rewards. As Allah has no physical body, the meaning of being near to Him is that Allah will listen to, and accept the prayers of those close to Him.
Similarly, it has also been narrated in a Hadith [saying of the Holy Prophet(sa)] that when a believer wakes during the middle of the night and offers Tahajjud, Allah comes down from the heavens to accept their prayers. So, it is essential that all Jama’at members, especially our youth, cultivate a sincere bond with Allah, so that His love envelops them and He accepts their prayers. When all members of the Jama’at, men, women and children, develop such standards, the special blessings of Allah will most surely rain down upon us. As a result, the roots of the divine tree of Ahmadiyyat will become ever-deeper and there will be no circumstances where its progress or growth will ever be stunted, Insha’Allah. There will be no part of the world where the roots of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at are not deeply ingrained and there will be no place left on earth where the prayers of Ahmadis are not accepted.
Alongside tabligh, we must always pray that Allah the Almighty grants extraordinary success and prosperity to our Jama’at. As mentioned earlier, if the followers of the Prophet Jesus(as) have spread worldwide, there is no reason why the community of the Promised Messiah(as), whose status is far greater due to his complete submission and obedience to the Holy Prophet of Islam (sa), should not achieve far greater heights.
In another couplet which demonstrates his objectives, the Promised Messiah(as) wrote,
اِک شجر ہوں جس کو داؤدی صفت کے پھل لگے
میں ہوا داؤد اور جالوت ہے میرا شکار
“I am a tree bearing fruits of the qualities of David. I became David, and Jalut is my prey.” [2]
The name Jalut has been used to represent a person who creates disorder and destroys the peace of society. Thus, this couplet means that through the Promised Messiah(as), Allah the Almighty will confront all forms of evil, injustice and corruption and establish peace and harmony in the world. So, all of you must remain engaged in conveying the teachings of Islam and fulfilling your duties and followers of the Promised Messiah(as).
I should also mention here that in Al-Wasiyyat – the English translation is The Will – the Promised Messiah(as) writes,
“I came from God as a Manifestation of Divine Providence, and I am the personification of His Power. And, after I am gone there will be some other persons who will be the manifestation of the second Power of God.” [3]
Here, the Promised Messiah(as) clearly states that upon his demise, the institution of Khilafat would be established once again in the world and remain until the end of time. Consequently, every Khadim must sincerely attach themselves, with sincerity, to Khilafat, and Ahmadi parents should pledge that where they shall seek to instil a desire in their children and future generation to spread Islam, they also instil within them the fundamental importance of staying faithfully attached to the institution of Khilafat.
Whilst reiterating that the status of the Promised Messiah(as) is far higher than the Prophet Jesus(as), Hazrat Musleh Maud(ra) said that the Pope continues to be revered amongst Christians and considered a spiritual leader with supreme religious authority for Roman Catholics around the world. Furthermore, Western governments and leaders treat the Pope with great respect and some even fear the scale of his power and authority. Upon this, Hazrat Musleh Maud(ra) said that if Christians have been able to maintain a lifeless type of spiritual leadership through the course of many centuries, it should invoke a great passion and zeal amongst Ahmadi youth to protect forever that living Khilafat which is true and from God.
To ensure this, every young Ahmadi must be instilled with a spirit to be ready for every sacrifice and to live up to their pledge. Certainly, the prosperity and spiritual victory of Ahmadiyyat is destined because it has been established according to the prophecies of God and because the community of the Holy Prophet(sa) has been designated as the best of mankind. In a couplet, the Promised Messiah(as) has said that the reason we are the best of mankind is solely because we have firmly attached ourselves to the best and the most noble of the prophets, the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa). And, Insha’Allah, until that day when Allah the Almighty brings an end to this world, Ahmadi Muslims will continue to walk upon a righteous path and receive His blessings.
However, we should never forget that such blessings and rewards are contingent upon our constant prayers and following Islam’s teachings. May it never be that our Jama’at becomes emptied of the righteous, or that only a few such pious souls remain. As Ahmadi youth, you must continue to reflect and analyse your state and try to better your moral and spiritual standards so that your relationship with Allah develops to the extent that you are included amongst the truthful and righteous.
Hazrat Musleh Maud(ra) also took a pledge from the members of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya on that occasion. All Khuddam stood and repeated the words of the pledge with a firm and resolute desire to fulfil it. And so today, I wish to take the same pledge from all of you. First, we will offer it in English and then in Urdu. Please stand up and repeat this pledge after me.
اَشْھَدُ اَنْ لَّا اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ وَحْدَہٗ لَاشَرِیْکَ لَہٗ وَاَشْھَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُہٗ وَرَسُوْلُہٗ
“I bear witness, that there is none worthy of worship except Allah. He is One, and has no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad(sa) is His servant and Messenger.
I swear by Allah and proclaim that I will always endeavour to convey and propagate the teachings of Islam Ahmadiyyat and the blessed name of the Holy Prophet(sa) to the corners of earth until my dying breath. And for the sake of fulfilling this most sacred obligation, I shall forever keep my life devoted to the service of Allah the Almighty and His Messenger (sa). I shall give every possible sacrifice, no matter how heavy its burden, in order for the blessed flag of Islam to be raised aloft in every nation until the end of time. I also solemnly pledge to strive with unyielding conviction to protect and strengthen the institution of Khilafat until my last breath. And I shall always urge my progeny to remain firmly attached to Khilafat and to seek its blessings so that Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya may remain protected until the end of time and so that through the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the propagation of Islam may continue until the last day and so that the flag of the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa) may be raised far higher than any other flag in this world. O God, enable us to fulfil this pledge. Allahumma Ameen. Allahumma Ameen. Allahumma Ameen.”
Now, I shall repeat the same pledge in Urdu for the benefit of those who are not fluent in English.
اَشْھَدُ اَنْ لَّا اِلٰہَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ وَحْدَہٗ لَاشَرِیْکَ لَہٗ وَاَشْھَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُہٗ وَرَسُوْلُہٗ
ہم اللہ تعالیٰ کی قسم کھا کر اس بات کا اقرار کرتے ہیں کہ ہم اسلام اور احمدیت کی اشاعت اور محمد رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کا نام دنیا کے کناروں تک پہنچانے کے لیے اپنی زندگیوں کے آخری لمحات تک کوشش کرتے چلے جائیں گے۔ اور اس مقدس فریضہ کی تکمیل کے لیے ہمیشہ اپنی زندگیاں خدا اور اس کے رسول صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کے لیے وقف رکھیں گے۔ اور ہر بڑی سے بڑی قربانی پیش کرکے قیامت تک اسلام کے جھنڈے کودنیا کے ہر ملک میں اونچا رکھیں گے۔ ہم اس بات کا بھی اقرار کرتے ہیں کہ ہم نظامِ خلافت کی حفاظت اور اس کے استحکام کے لیے آخر دم تک جد و جہد کرتے رہیں گے۔ اور اپنی اولاد در اولاد کو ہمیشہ خلافت سے وابستہ رہنے اور اس کی برکات سے مستفیض ہونے کی تلقین کرتے رہیں گے تاکہ قیامت تک خلافتِ احمدیہ محفوظ چلی جائے اور قیامت تک سلسلۂ احمدیہ کے ذریعہ اسلام کی اشاعت ہوتی رہے اور محمد رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم کا جھنڈا دنیا کے تمام جھنڈوں سے اونچا لہرانے لگے۔ اے خدا! تو ہمیں اس عہد کو پورا کرنے کی توفیق عطا فرما۔ اللّٰھم آمین۔ اللّٰھم آمین۔ اللّٰھم آمین۔”
After taking this pledge from the Khuddamul Ahmadiyya, Hazrat Musleh Maud(ra) said it should be repeated regularly. Though this has not been the case, the pledge of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya which you repeat regularly is somewhat similar. However, this pledge taken today just now has some additional words and is more elaborated. Now, having made this pledge, you must strive to live up to it. You should regularly read its words so you are always aware of your responsibilities. Reflect seriously upon it and pay heed to your obligations, to your faith, knowing that you cannot rest easy until that day when the true and peaceful teachings of Islam have reached each village, town, city and nation of the world and its truth is accepted by the vast majority of people worldwide.
Regarding the spread of Ahmadiyyat, Hazrat Musleh Maud(ra) mentioned that once in a dream, he saw the light of Allah in the shape of pure white water. The pure water spread further and further afield, to the extent that it ultimately reached every part and corner of the world. At that point, Hazrat Musleh Maud(ra) proclaimed upon the hearts of Ahmadis there will be such blessings of Allah that there will be a time that one will not be able to ask, “O my Lord, why did You not quench my thirst?” Instead, the state of the Jama’at and all sincere Ahmadis will be such that they will be moved to say, “O my Lord, You have immersed me in the spiritual water of Your mercy and blessings to such an extent that it has overflowed from the extremities of my heart. In light of this, he advised the Khuddam to have complete faith and trust in Allah the Almighty and to be ever ready to make sacrifices for the sake of their religion.
Furthermore, he warned that biggest obstacle blocking the path to victory of any nation or community is if its members gain a lust for money and wealth. Such material cravings can easily corrupt people and weaken their resolve to offer sacrifices for their faith and to fulfil their religious objectives. So, all of you living here in the Western countries should never only be consumed by desire to earn money or become affluent. Instead, always place your trust in Allah that He will provide for you. Insha’Allah, He will support you and fulfil your needs in ways beyond your comprehension and He will remove all of your difficulties if you are sincere with Him. So, do not enter the race to earn money or unnecessary luxuries. Instead, your race should be the one that leads to God Almighty.
You must strive to fulfil your pledge of prioritising your faith over all worldly matters by regularly sacrificing your time to serve your religion and conveying Islam’s teachings to others. You must increase your religious knowledge and, at all times, practically and faithfully strive to live up to Islam’s teachings. With absolute sincerity and a passionate desire to serve your religion and staying free from all forms of greed and lust for material things, you must strive to raise aloft the spiritual flag of the Holy Prophet Muhammad(sa) all around the world.
Always remember, it is the promise of Allah the Almighty to the Promised Messiah(as) that our Jama’at will progress and prosper and that, Insha’Allah, one day, the Holy Prophet’s (sa) banner will be raised worldwide and the Oneness of God will be established with great majesty. The question is whether we will be amongst the fortunate souls who fulfilled their duties to this divine cause. If yes, we are among the fortunate ones.
Always pay heed to the fact that this period through which we are passing is an era in which Allah the Almighty has laid the immense responsibility and undertaking of serving Islam upon the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. In chapter 33, verse 73 of the Holy Qur’an, Allah the Almighty states,
اِنَّا عَرَضۡنَا الۡاَمَانَۃَ عَلَی السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضِ وَالۡجِبَالِ فَاَبَیۡنَ اَنۡ یَّحۡمِلۡنَھَاوَاَشۡفَقۡنَ مِنۡھَا وَحَمَلَھَا الۡاِنۡسَانُ ؕ اِنَّہٗ کَانَ ظَلُوۡمًا جَھُوۡلًا
“Verily, we offered the trust to the heavens, earth and mountains, but they refused to bear it and were afraid of it. But man bore it. Indeed he is capable of being unjust to, and neglectful of himself.”
Here, Allah the Almighty states that the heavens, the earth and the mountains expressed immense trepidation and fear at the colossal weight of establishing the Oneness of God in the world. Thus, Allah the Almighty decreed that the great weight of responsibility was passed on to mankind and placed directly upon the blessed shoulders of the Holy Prophet(sa). Now, in this era, it has passed on to his most devoted servant, the Promised Messiah(as), and through him to us as members of his Jama’at. Therefore, we must understand our responsibilities.
Every Khadim and every Ahmadi must focus all their prayers and energies on bringing about a revolutionary spiritual awakening in humanity in which the banner testifying to the Oneness of God and the truth of the Holy Prophet(sa) stands higher than any other in the world.
At the end, I pray that the members of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya never lose sight of their great objectives and mission. Furthermore, I pray that each and every one of you comes to fulfil the pledge that you have taken before me today and prove to be sincere servants of the Promised Messiah(as) and the Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya. Ameen. JazakAllah.’
ENDNOTES
- The Holy Qur’an, 14:25
- Barahin-e-Ahmadiyya, Part 5 (English), p. 171
- The Will, p. 8