For Missionaries

Herein lies a great lesson for the missionaries. Even if the members of the Jama’ats are situated at long distances and no one comes for prayer, even then the [congregational] prayers must be offered, even if it be by gathering one’s family to form the congregation. (April 14, 2017).
I would like to remind the missionaries that they must always obey those who are placed in authority over them and they must demonstrate a high standard of obedience by remaining silent. At the same time, I would like to address the presidents and amirs and remind them that it is their responsibility to show respect and ensure other people show respect to the missionaries. They should work together as one in matters of righteousness and piety. (March 10, 2017).
Huzoor said he will once again reiterate that it is the obligation of all amirs, presidents and officeholders to show respect themselves and instill respect in the Jama’at for all missionaries and life devotees (Waqifeen-e-Zindagis). This will also inspire the youth to wish to dedicate their own lives to the services of the faith. (March 10, 2017).
If an officeholder does not treat them [the missionaries] right, then instead of expressing this to other people, a missionary should submit his problems to God in prayers. The missionary should not worry about people, but rather should simply pray to God alone. Indeed, a life devotee will serve in the Jama’at for life whereas officeholders are elected for a short term. When an officeholder is not carrying out his duties properly and only creates problems, the missionaries response should be to pray that the officeholder treads on the right path or that God the Almighty removes such officeholders. (March 10, 2017).
Huzoor addressed missionaries and officeholders and said that if they expected the members in their homes to refrain from speaking ill about office-bearers, then missionaries and officeholders would have to first ensure backbiting of officials is not occurring within their own houses. (March 10, 2017).
Huzoor said that, similarly, I will convey this to missionaries and their wives that they should be cautious about their dress and their eyes. The Jama’at also observes their example. The wife of a missionary is also like a missionary; she should also show her best example in all aspects of life. (January 13, 2017).
Missionaries should exercise, or at least walk, very regularly in order to take care of [their] health and to inculcate hard work in them. If they are unable to go out for walk due to time constraints or any other reason, they should especially take out time for at least some exercise … The important and most responsible jobs entrusted to our missionaries require very active beings, for which exercise is essential and must be given attention. (July 22, 2016).
Firstly, it is essential for the life devotees and missionaries to undertake exercise. Secondly, in these Western countries junk food is also very common, which must be avoided. These factors must be considered and taken care of! If they are single and live by themselves, they can at least find some time for exercise while living in the mission house and should know techniques of cooking healthy food … We need healthy and active missionaries and murabbiyaan. Therefore, they should take care of their health and should not be ignoring this important aspect of healthy living in order to perform their duties in the best possible manner. (July 22, 2016).
Missionaries should practice speaking in a loud, clear manner, which is required when they go out [in the] field for tabligh and the sound systems are not available – mostly in impoverished countries. (July 22, 2016).
I also want to say something concerning missionaries and murabbis. In some places, a regular monthly meeting of missionaries and trainers is not held. Missionary-in-charge is responsible that these meetings are held regularly. Outreach and training work should be reviewed, notable accomplishments should be discussed, and the rest should try to take advantage of the methods used in the notable work. Reports should be given about the directives of secretaries to chapters from themselves or from Markaz. Murabbis should also look at how much work has been done in each chapter in this respect. Where the secretaries are not active, especially in outreach, training and financial matters, the missionaries and murabbis should bring these matters to attention. (July 15, 2016).
Huzoor reminded members of all chapters of the Jama’at that they should look after their missionaries and life devotees with much more respect. With that, Huzoor says that I would say that it is the responsibility of the missionaries and life devotees that they should strive for higher spiritual status by gaining knowledge so that nobody should be able to say anything against them. Sometimes, administrative people talk against the missionaries; when a missionary wants to correct the people, they start complaining against him. (July 8, 2016).
By the grace of Allah Almighty, now the name of the Jama’at is spreading through many means and channels. But the workforce, the life devotees, missionaries and others who are part of spreading the message should individually increase their efforts to spread the message. In spreading the message, one may get beaten, may see opposition and hardship. Despite this, we have to spread the message with wisdom and patience, Insha’Allah. (July 8, 2016).
Missionaries should improve their connection with new converts. And to know the local people, [they need to] do better planning. Because, as I mentioned in my dars or sermon, the opponents reach the new converts immediately to create hatred for the Jama’at. (July 8, 2016).
[Quoting Hazrat Musleh Mau’ud (may Allah be pleased with him)] Those who are lecturers, their lectures should be prepared nicely and to the point … Hence, this guiding principle is for missionaries and the preachers, and for those who also attend intellectual meetings. It can impress the learned professors, so-called religious scholars, and those who raise objections on religion, if lectures are prepared in this way. (July 8, 2016).
Nowadays, our missionaries are questioned about the state of the world. All missionaries should keep themselves abreast of the knowledge of history, geography, medicine, manners related to speech, and gatherings – at least to the degree necessary to be able to join gatherings of respected people. This is not at all difficult to achieve. All that is required is a little effort. So elementary books of these fields of knowledge should be read. Apart from this, sometimes when our missionaries are asked about current affairs they are not able to respond adequately as they are not keeping up with the knowledge of what is going on in the world or have not delved into these matters in any depth. (February 26, 2016).
Ahmadi missionaries should have a demeanor of a true believer. Khuddam should ensure that their outward appearance is in line with Islam. Indeed, Islam enjoins wearing of clean clothes, but too much formality in clothes is not allowed … One should wear whatever one has with confidence. This advice is particularly important for Ahmadi missionaries, and is also in general for all Ahmadis. Everything should be done in moderation. (March 13, 2015).
These missionaries [who are trained from Jamias around the world] should look into the tarbiyat of the Jama’at [rather than only] doing tabligh and debating others. They should be continuously involved in this task and morally train our own. (January 30, 2015).
Some experienced missionaries say they accomplish whatever task they are given quickly … The majority of the missionaries have a realization of how their time is spent. Those who are experienced should pay attention to make correct use of their enhanced capacities and the commitments they have been given. They should employ their capacities like good teachers (January 30, 2015).
It is more important that missionaries develop spiritually to such an extent that each one of them becomes a sign. They should develop spiritually in such a way that people come into Ahmadiyyat by seeing their example … Mu’allimeen and missionaries should note what efforts they have made to instill faith in hearts … We should illustrate the existence of God to the world through the living signs of God that we have, and convince people through the practical testimony of God that is with the Promised Messiah (on whom be pace). (January 31, 2014).
It is especially the task of the missionaries to make them [the members of the Jama’at] understand that all blessings are in the nizam and when God wishes to curse a body of people, He removes nizam from among them. When these facts will be known to all, those who stumble will be saved. (January 31, 2014).
Our spiritual purity, our reformation of practice, Insha Allah will bring about a greater revolutionary change than our tabligh efforts. Hazrat Musleh Mau’ud’s (may Allah be pleased with him) pronouncement is certainly most significant where he says: ‘If they [the scholars and missionaries] reform their hearts and instill knowledge and love of Allah the Exalted in people’s hearts, then tens of millions of people will begin to come in the fold of Ahmadiyyat. (January 31, 2014).
The missionaries also need to remember that usually they shift their place of work every three or four years and, if necessary, even in a shorter period. I have heard from some countries that there is some reluctance shown sometimes. They should accept this happily. (August 16, 2013).
[F]oremost are the missionaries of the Jama’at because the Khalifa of the time has made them his representative in matters of tarbiyat and tabligh. They are preachers who counsel people. If missionaries do not establish high standards themselves, how could they counsel others? Both tarbiyat of the Jama’at and tabligh are their tasks, and these require high resolve. It is also necessary to set high standards of patience, high standards of being obedient and receiving obedience, high standards of congruity between word and practice. They are representatives of the Khalifa of the time for the religious and spiritual advancement of the Jama’at and need to honor this responsibility. (April 5, 2013).
During the course of their mission, they [missionaries] face hard times. Owing to human nature, there will be times when their patience is tested to the limit, but they should promptly turn to prayer at such times and be mindful of the fact that they have dedicated their life for God and they are to bring the world under the banner of the Holy Prophet ^(sa). Thus, nothing anyone says will waver them from attaining their objective. Their pledge will be before them and God’s greatness alone, not their own, will be before them. Tolerance of incorrect attitudes of officeholders will make them recipients of the pleasure of God because they will be acting upon ‘invite to goodness’ in every situation. Not only do they have to protect themselves from discord, they also have to save the world from it. (April 5, 2013).
It should be remembered that humility is a missionary’s distinction; however, it is also important to maintain dignity. (October 22, 2010).
Hardship should be borne without letting go of dignity. Experienced missionaries should not be influenced by worldliness. Each missionary is a representative of the Khalifa of the time. (October 22, 2010).
The dignity of a missionary and a life-devotee lies in never mentioning his troubles to anyone. Only supplicate and ask God. (October 22, 2010).
Every missionary and life devotee should remember the words of the Promised Messiah ^(as) that he said at the time of inauguration of Madrassa Ahmadiyya. He said: ‘This madrassa should become a source of propagation of Islam. It should produce such scholars and boys who dedicate their lives and abandon worldly employments and objectives to adopt service of faith’. (October 22, 2010).
Murrabis and missionaries of today should exercise self-examination and read about the early missionaries. These elders made diligent efforts. (October 17, 2008).
The missionaries around the world [should] raise the standard in terms of their connection with Allah, inculcate this in their families as well, and display more sincerity – especially those who are in Africa. The earlier missionaries made tremendous sacrifices and set great examples. Everyone should try and attain the high standards they set. (May 9, 2008).
[Huzoor urged] the missionaries of the Community to present a high standard of concordance between words and deeds and to morally develop the Community the way the Promised Messiah ^(as) wished. (June 9, 2006).
[The missionaries] should obey the amirs and if they notice something, they should have a word with the Amir or any other officeholder concerned in privacy. If this does not help, they should inform the Khalifa. (June 9, 2006).
It is the task of the officeholders throughout the world to personally hold the missionaries and those who have dedicated their lives in respect and deference, as well as promote this outlook among the Community in general. The officeholders need to have great regard for life devotees and ensure that all their needs are met. (December 31, 2004).
It is immaterial whether the world appreciates the covenant that they [life devotees and missionaries] have made in the way of Allah; they are representatives of the Khalifa for the education and training within the administrative system of the Community and to take the message of Islam to the world, and the Khalifa is depending on them. Therefore, they ought to completely forsake the worldly element from their hearts, bearing everything with courage and fortitude. Allah shall facilitate arrangements for them. (December 31, 2004).

Al Islam

For Missionaries

I Solemnly Pledge

by

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad

Al Islam

For Missionaries

I Solemnly Pledge

byHazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad

by

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad