The basic and significant advice that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) gave to those who took his Bai’at was to bring about a pure change in self, to inculcate a relationship with God and to try and attain high morals. He states at one place:

‘The purpose of their joining the Movement and establishing with me a relationship like that of a disciple is that they should achieve a high degree of piety and righteousness. No wrongdoing or mischief should ever come near them. They should offer the five daily Prayers regularly and with congregation, and should not lie nor hurt anyone by their tongues. They should not be guilty of any kind of vice and should not let even a thought of mischief, wrongdoing or transgression pass through their minds. They should shun every type of sin, offence, undesirable speech and action, as well as all egoistic passions and unruly behaviour. They should become pure-hearted, harmless and meek servants of God Almighty, and no poisonous germ should flourish in their beings.’ [Essence of Islam, Vol. IV, pp. 349 – 250]

Hudhur said followers of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) try for these matters. A revolutionary change comes about after taking Bai’at among those who understand the significance of it and today Hudhur presented some incidents illustrating this. These incidents are about people from different racial backgrounds who shun egotistic wishes, progress in following the commandments and try to enhance spiritual development. Love and fear of God is dominant over love and fear of the world in their hearts. Hudhur said these incidents are taken from the report that Hudhur customarily gives in his second day speech of Jalsa Salana. Due to lack of time this year, these incidents were left out. They come under an important heading: ‘Extraordinary changes in new converts after accepting Ahmadiyyat’. Hudhur said the significance of this subject is that it helps long-term Ahmadis to enhance their belief. It is also a source of their reformation, whereas the new comers further progress through it.

Ameer sahib of Delhi Jama’at writes about an important change in an Usman sahib who took his Bai’at at the Jalsa of 2010. Prior to Bai’at he used to say his Salat randomly. Not only is he now regular in his five daily Prayers, but he also offers Tahajjud. Hudhur prayed that may God make him continue this with resolve and may those long-term Ahmadis who show indolence in these matters realise that after coming into Bai’at one has to discharge one’s responsibilities. Without this, Bai’at is only in name and one should reflect over the efforts the newcomers are making in bringing about changes.

Missionary Tariq Mahmood sahib from Ghana writes that recently a conference of new Ahmadis was held in the north of the country. Hudhur explained that northern Ghana mostly comprises of Muslims. In early days Ahmadiyyat spread in the south of the country which is mainly inhabited by Christians, whereas there was a lot of opposition in the Muslim areas. However, now Ahmadiyyat is spreading fast in the north as well. Hudhur related that in the conference for new Ahmadis a new Ahmadi Imam said that although he and others were always Muslims but they were quite unaware of the real teachings of Islam and Ahmadiyyat had introduced them to the correct teachings of Islam. He said he used to dispense amulets and charms beforehand but now knows they are un-Islamic. Hudhur said indeed the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) helped remove these harmful innovations in religion and taught to only forge a direct connection with God.

President of Rakosa region writes about a new Ahmadi who recounts that he used to flare up in temper very easily and would verbally and physically abuse his family. Since taking Bai’at, his attention is drawn towards Salat and God has given him patience and steadfastness. Hudhur said he has mentioned before about a German new Ahmadi young man who met Hudhur in Germany and had told Hudhur how fierce a temper he used to have and how Ahmadiyyat had generated patient and forbearance in him. This was because he had inculcated a connection with God which enabled him to control his emotions.

Another new Ahmadi says that he was used to alcohol and cigarettes etc. but has left it all since accepting Ahmadiyyat. He says that if one is regular in Salat one is drawn away from these matters. Hudhur added that it is sincere Salat that takes one away from ills, indeed such should be one’s Salat. Even today we find numerous incidents in the world of Ahmadiyyat where when man sincerely turns to and connects to God and becomes a living and shining example of the Quranic statement that Salat restrains one from ‘…indecency and manifest evil…’ (29:46). Hudhur said that the fact is every claim and every prophecy of the Holy Qur’an is being fulfilled in this era through those who follow the teachings of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

Ameer sahib Ghana writes about a new convert that once they had gone for Tabligh purposes to the Upper East area where a school teacher took his Bai’at. Later, he came to a national Ijtima of Khuddam with twenty other school teachers whom he had already converted to Ahmadiyyat.

It is reported from Burkina Faso that the father of an Ahmadi Khadim and his three Ahmadi brothers is extremely antagonist. He verbally abuses them and turns them out of the family home. An Ahmadiyya radio station operates in Burkina Faso, in addition other radio stations also give slots to Jama’at programmes. One day the father was listening to a dars on the state radio station and was very impressed by it. He told his sons that they had joined the ‘disbelievers’ and should listen to the programme because it contained the words of real people of God; words which penetrated the heart. He had no idea it was a Jama’at programme. When, at the end of the programme a poem depicting the words ‘Ahmadiyyat Zinabad (long live)’ was played as the signature tune of the programme, the father promptly switched the radio off. The sons said indeed, these are the people of God. They report that they are now affiliated to the Jama’at more than before.

Our missionary from Kyrgyzstan, Arshad Mahmood sahib writes that a local young woman accepted Ahmadiyyat. She worked at an American base in Kyrgyzstan where, seeing her upright and decent character, a Christian young man asked her to marry him. She told him that she was an Ahmadi and would let him know after taking advice. She was advised that Muslim women cannot marry non-Muslim men. The good-natured young woman thus declined the proposal. The Christian young man was attracted to her asked her would she marry him if he accepted Islam? She replied that if he wished to accept Islam he should do so considering it as the true faith and not simply for the sake of getting married. Hudhur said the girl stood her ground in spite of the fact that due to the economic situation of the country, Kyrgyz girls prefer to marry foreigners. The Christian young men researched and studied Islam for six months and in July 2011 he accepted Ahmadiyyat, the true Islam. During his research he came across anti-Ahmadiyya web sites, however his heart was satisfied on Ahmadiyyat, true Islam and he brought the pure change in his life.

Hudhur said this is the kind of pure change and steadfastness for which prayer is made; indeed this is the prayer that should be made. The young Kyrgyz woman who was a new Ahmadi indeed declined an outwardly good proposal for the sake of faith. Therein is cause for concern for those young women who wish to marry outside the Jama’at and people who wish to do Bai’at only for the sake of marriage. The rule to generally let a year pass before marriage is permitted between girls with men outside the Jama’at is there to ensure that men do not take Bai’at merely for the sake of marriage. Hudhur said some websites create suspicions in the hearts of those who have lack of knowledge and the youngsters. The odd one is influenced but this Christian American young man also came across the web sites of our detractors, he also looked at our web sites and compared them. He then prayed and realised the truth and accepted Ahmadiyyat, the true Islam. Our youngsters, especially the teenagers who are provoked through such web sites should pray and should not be embroiled in any complex. Our teaching is full of reasoning and proofs. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) proved everything with proofs. What is needed is to acquire religious knowledge.

Anser Abbas sahib, our missionary in Benin writes that a maulwi came to a Jalsa that they had organised for new converts. He started to mislead people there saying that if they accepted Ahmadiyyat or had accepted it already, they would be put in Fire, so they should promptly repent. He said all the other Imams considered the Ahmadis hell-bound, so why were people trying to listen to them. He also said that the Muslims of Pakistan do not like Ahmadis at all. Our Ahmadi mu’allim (teacher) present there asked him if what the maulwi was saying was corroborated by the Qur’an? If it did, then everyone would accept what he was saying. The maulwi replied what was the need to go to the Qur’an when all the Imams in Benin considered Ahmadis to be wrong. Listening to this, the new Ahmadis were impassioned and they said if he did not need to refer to the Qur’an then he was not needed there and they tried to turn him out. Our missionary asked them to desist but they turned him out. Hudhur said the history of Ahmadiyyat is full of instances where Ahmadis tried to prove their point in light of the verses of the Holy Qur’an and our detractors referred to other matters and some Ahadith with their own interpretations.

Anser Abbas sahib also writes that in a Tabligh event on 12 July 2011people were informed about the advancement of Islam through the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). People expressed the wish to join in this advancement and as a result 166 Bai’its were taken. It was decided that Jummah (Friday Prayer) would be offered after a day. The village people said they had been Muslims for the past fifteen years but they did not know what Jummah was. Anyhow, Friday Prayer took place and a refresher course regarding worship and Quranic teaching was organised for the newcomers. The Ahmadis of a neighbouring village were asked to offer Friday Prayer with them. They said they had differences dating backs years and there was no social interchange between the two villages. Both the villages were advised that by accepting Ahmadiyyat, they were now as one, that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) had in fact come to unit people for the advancement of Islam. This had a positive effect and the two villages met through Friday Prayers and thus the subject of ‘…Prayer on Friday…’ (62:10) was realised in a new form. After fifteen years, Friday Prayers were held there. Through the blessings of Jummah their mutual differences were removed. In such circumstances, not only are old differences removed, rather the subject of ‘…tender among themselves…’ (48:30) begins and feelings of sense of sacrifice for each other start.

Ameer sahib of Delhi writes that Muhammad Mursaleen sahib came into the Jama’at in 2008. Three days after his Bai’at he had a detailed dream in which he saw the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) who asked him to go to Punjab. Mursaleen sahib went to Qadian, where he discovered the room which he had seen in his dream. This strengthened his belief and gave him peace of mind.

Hudhur said God also grants acceptance of prayers to the new comers which develops their belief further. Hudhur illustrated a few examples.

Ameer sahib of Burkina Faso writes that a member of the Jama’at fell extremely ill and doctors said that further treatment was not going to help and sent him home. He was then taken to the governmental hospital in the capital city of Ouagadougou but they refused to treat him. The Ameer sahib counselled them that doctors only view the apparent condition and advised them to write to Hudhur for prayers. The letter was sent on the same day and the family started praying fervently. Such was the grace of God that he started regaining his health and was cured. Conversely, another local man who was extremely opposed to us and was in very good health, while listening to an Ahmadi radio programme furiously said, ‘do not listen to disbelievers.’ He was told if he did not agree with us that was fine, but he did not have to be verbally abusive. However, he was adamant. He went to bed that night but did not wake up.

A mu’allim from Benin, Zakaria sahib writes that an Ahmadi’s child went missing He searched all over the place and had it announced on the radio that his child had gone missing. With no results, he lost hope. The mu’allim told him that it was a sin to lose hope and asked him to pray, saying he too would pray. The father fell down in prostration before God and prayed to God pleading that he was the only one in the area who had accepted the Imam of the age. He pleaded to God, ‘Your Imam is certainly true, for the sake of his truth, return my child to me.’ After finishing a prolonged prayer, as he returned home from the route where he had lost the child, he saw his child alive in the jungle. He says that this was a living miracle of the truth of Hadhrat Imam Mahdi (on whom be peace) for him.

Ameer sahib of Niger writes that a person used to offer his Salat in the Ahmadiyya mosque. One day he took his Bai’at. The officials at his bank started bothering him that he had accepted Ahmadiyyat because he was offered money. He became very concerned and prayed at night for guidance from God, supplicating that he could only see what was evident. That night he had a dream in which he saw a gathering (Ijtima) in which everyone is dressed in white. He saw Hudhur Aqdas on a stage and Hudhur is also dressed in white and is proclaiming out aloud La illaha illal la (there is none worthy of worship except Allah) and everyone is repeating it after Hudhur. The atmosphere is that of rapture. Upon waking he was satisfied that his decision to join Ahmadiyyat was indeed correct and this further strengthened his faith.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) wrote that in the past century none other than the Ahmadiyya Community experienced has a time which was on the precepts of Prophethood where people attained spiritual light as the Companions of the Prophet attained. Where people endured derision, abuse and grief of prohibition as the Companions did. Yet they judiciously continue to attain pure life, they beseech God in their Salat, weeping and many have true dreams and some receive revelations. They are gentle of heart and abide by true Taqwa. This is the party of God of whom God Himself is taking care. He draws them closer through heavenly signs as He drew the Companions. These people have all the indications of the latter-ones.

Hudhur prayed that may God increase each Ahmadi in faith and belief and may our sincere connection with our Creator continue to grow. Hudhur announced that he would lead funeral Prayer after Friday Prayer of Khurshid Begum sahiba who passed away on 27 August. She was the niece of Babu Qasim Din sahib, a companion of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). May God elevate her station and grant steadfastness to the bereaved family.