Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih said that not only every Ahmadi, but also our opponents can see the fulfilment of the promises God made to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) explained in his book Baraheen e Ahmadiyya that in the verse ‘…and will place those who follow thee above those who disbelieve until the Day of Resurrection…’ (3:56) is a Divine promise with his Jama’at. He wrote in October 1902 that God’s promises are true and likened his own time to sowing of seed. He also said that if there had been no opponents, the Jama’at would not have seen miraculous progress because miracles are burnished with opposition. He wrote that God was increasing the Jama’at in size in an astonishing manner. Could it be something he or his Jama’at had managed? Certainly not; it was God’s work.

We witness corroboration of this on a daily basis, pious-natured people are entering the Jama’at and the Jama’at is being blessed in its resources and its people. The opponents are consumed with jealousy and every day some news or the other comes from Pakistan to this effect. Recently a wretched shop put an image of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) on a door mat so that it may be trampled on. A decent officer from the authorities took notice of this and had the door mat removed. These people should remember that God’s sense of honour will definitely avenge such treatment of those who are dear to Him. These people and their ringleaders will become a cautionary sign and a time will come that not only their images, they too will be trampled. We are patient and no matter what they do we will never take the law in our hands. We should intensify our prayers; these alone are our weapons, we have no other weapons. Some people put forward suggestions to take other measures. They should first take their prayers to the highest point.

God’s help and corroboration is with the Jama’at as pious-natured people are drawn to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and enter the Jama’at. People who do not even believe in the existence of God are compelled to opine that this Community is progressing by the day and its teaching is going to be triumphant. As the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said this is God’s work and through it wondrous signs emerge. People of the Community as much as touch a task and God brings about thousand-fold results. This gives rise to jealousy among the opponents. Addressing the enviers, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih said their contention is with God; surely none can contend with God. Therefore they should fear God, for those who contend with Him are reduced to smithereens. Indeed, we witness showers of God’s blessings by the day and in spite of being called Muslims, these people do not stop and think that any effort that the Ahmadiyya Jama’at makes is resulting in the outsiders being impressed.

Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih said whenever he goes on a trip abroad, he notices a renewed glory of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) unfolded to the outsiders. In his recent trips to Holland and Germany, he met people of the Community as well as outsiders. As it is observed, the outsiders who come to the Jalsa take a positive influence. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih graced Holland Jalsa after a long period. The Holland Jama’at suggested arranging an event with outside guests which Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih initially did not agree with as he felt the Jama’at did not have sufficient networks with the educated fraternity there. Later, he thought that our Jama’at centre is located is the area of the infamous Dutch politician who is ever vociferous against Islam and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him), so it would be favourable to hold an event. As the Jama’at is small, it was envisaged that about twenty people could be invited, but with God’s grace 125 people attended the event, including dignitaries. Amazingly, national media, along with local media, covered the event.

Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih presented the beautiful teachings of Islam and the blessed model of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) in his address at the event. The local mayor and MP also addressed the event and spoke of religious tolerance. Later, the MP said that he was impressed with the beautiful teaching of Islam. The MP verified that the Dutch Jama’at does not have sufficient networks when he said that the Jama’at should develop links with the educated fraternity and the politicians so that misconceptions regarding Islam held by the Dutch are removed. Without naming names, he said that hatred spread by some would also be removed. God works in mysterious ways. Here was a Christian suggesting ways to take the teaching of Islam to his countrymen. This very decent politician had said to Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih that he would post his views on his website as well as a photograph he had had taken with Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih and he fulfilled his words.

The press too portrayed the event in a positive manner. One of the two national newspapers present also took a brief interview of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih at the end of which Hudhur put a question to the journalist. He said that the region was known as the Bible belt of Holland and its inhabitants were religious people who awaited the Second Coming of Jesus (on whom be peace) and they realised that the time for his Coming is here, in fact it has passed. While Jesus (on whom be peace) has not come, they should reflect on the one who has come. The journalist momentarily appeared sore, but then smiled and said nothing. It was thought that he may not print the news or may not report correctly. However, next day surprisingly not only was the news printed, a photograph of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih was given the front page and all the reporting was accurate. The newspaper has a large circulation.

The other national newspaper also printed news of the event. The media gave very good and positive coverage of the event and what Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih mentioned in his address, including our views on the Second Coming. This is indeed God’s work. On one hand is Geert Wilders, spreading his book against Islam and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and on the other hand not only in his country, rather in his region, misconceptions about Islam were removed through the Ahmadiyya Community. The Holland Jama’at did not expect so much media coverage. Now, they need to build on the links and networks and further remove misconceptions against Islam and uncover the lies and malice of Wilders to his countrymen. The guests who attended the event responded very well. May God bring about good results in future as well and may these people gather under the banner of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). The members of Holland Jama’at will have to make great endeavours in this regard.

The Jalsa in Germany went very well. Each year at Jalsa time in Germany inaugurations of mosques also takes place. This year three mosques were inaugurated and foundation stone was laid for one mosque. The German Jama’at has taken on to invite dignitaries and educated fraternity at the inaugurations and foundation-laying. This is very significant for the introduction of Jama’at and indeed to spread the teaching of Islam. Our real objective is to present the teaching of Islam. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih always reminds the Jama’at that with the introduction of the Jama’at and with Tabligh activities, the responsibility of the members increases. They have to demonstrate exemplary models of Islam.

In Germany, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih had the opportunity to give a lecture at a military organisation. Civil authorities are also affiliated with this organisation. They invite experts from various fields to deliver lectures and hold seminars. Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih gave a lecture on Islam’s teachings on loyalty to one’s country which was followed by a brief Q & A session. The event was attended by dignitaries including Christian and Jew religious leaders as well as high ranking military officers. It was very well received. Among the responses recorded, one guest said that he was astonished that a person could explain the solutions to the problems the world faces today in such easy terms. Thus is the teaching of Islam! It is the task of the followers of the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) to take the true and real teaching of Islam to the world. Many attendees of the event requested a copy of the address given by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih. It is currently being translated in German for this purpose.

A regular feature of German Jalsa is an event where German guests outside the Jama’at are invited. It is usually attended by 500 to 600 people. This year Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih addressed the occasion on the teachings of Islam, the objective of the advent of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace), current affairs and caution about the way, having forgotten God, the world is heading towards destruction. It was very well received.

German Jalsa is always attended by Ahmadi and non-Ahmadi delegations from various countries. The largest delegation this year came from Bulgaria. They were quite impressed by the Jalsa proceedings. Each year new people come and are impressed by the Jalsa while it proves to open up the hearts of some. A young man from Bulgaria asked Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih what proof was there that Ahmadis did what they did for the sake of God. He was told that leaving everything else aside, we are serving in far-flung regions of Africa regardless of race or religion. We have nothing to gain from this. Of course, it is our effort that people worship the One True God. There has been restriction on the Jama’at in Bulgaria for the past few years. The government is under the influence of the Mullah although outwardly it is said that in order to prevent chaos among Muslims only one sermon should be given etc. Bulgaria receives aid from some Arab countries who cannot tolerate that Ahmadis are given any opportunity. Meetings were also held with Ahmadi and non-Ahmadi guests from Malta, Spain, Turkey and Bosnia and they went very well.

This year the Bai’at of new converts was held in a large hall so that others could also join. One person, who has been in touch with the Jama’at for a long time and attended all the events, was also present at the Bai’at. He said he had no intention of taking Bai’at but when the ceremony started, he felt as if a power extended his hand for Bai’at. He says he is now a staunch Ahmadi. The German Jalsa went very well. May it garner blessings and having garnered them, may it go on to disseminate them. This year the asylum seekers from Pakistan worked with great enthusiasm at the Jalsa. May their fervour remain once their asylum cases have gone through. Right now, they would have been influenced by a sense of deprivation due to the situation in Pakistan. Once their asylum cases have gone through, true sense of thankfulness would be not to disregard the Jama’at for worldly reasons.

The organisation of the German Jalsa was generally good, however, as it happens in organising events on large scale complaints were also received. Complaints about a few departments were rather large in number. As regards Ziafat, there was shortage of food or people had to wait very long. This was particularly the situation in the women’s side. Some had to make their own food arrangements. When this happened in one instant, it was the task of the Officer Jalsa to immediately find out the reasons behind it. It is possible this was done but did not result well. The management should always remember that each Jalsa evening the Officer Jalsa has a meeting with all his deputies where each department is reviewed and any shortcoming is addressed for the next day. It is the task of the hospitality department to bring it to the knowledge of the Officer Jalsa how many people were fed and how many could not be fed. There should be a proper record of this. If the meeting had taken place, prompt action would have taken place for the next day. There is also a department of inspection at Jalsa, in addition the Officer Jalsa has his own team that goes around the Jalsa and inspects if everything is running smoothly. In cases where urgent action is required, matters are promptly dealt with.

Shortage of washrooms was also noticed at Jalsa. Due to some reason they were not made available. The venue has plentiful facilities. The duty-holders should not follow rules so severely. If the management had not sought permission to use the facilities earlier on, they should have done so promptly when the need arose. Saving money is very good but it should not be done at the cost of lack in hospitality. Some guests who had come from abroad complained that there was no one to look after new converts. It was the task of the murrabi sahib or in-charge of their respective country to organise this. Departments of hospitality and accommodation should have also taken this up. It is said that there was no transport arrangement for the new converts.

Even if a few were inconvenienced, the matter needs looking into. We cite the incident of the time of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) when some guests arrived by the Langer and the workers in the Langer did not help them unload the carriage or something else transpired. The guests felt rebuffed and left. When the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) was informed of this he quickly went after them and walked a good distance trying to catch up with them. He brought them back and started taking their luggage off by himself. Such are the models of hospitality before us. Every Ahmadi should keep them in view. There is need to improve our level of hospitality. Attention was drawn to these matters in the Friday sermon in Germany. If it was heeded this situation would not have arisen. Such matters negate other good efforts by the management. Managements of all countries need to make in-depth analysis of this and it should not be treated as something that happened in one country. Although there was silence in the main ladies hall, women in the mother and child hall contributed to the noise there. Future care should be taken regarding this. In spite of these matters, the Jalsa was very good in general terms, may God make its blessings permanent. Jalsa attendees should thank the workers, may God reward them. The workers should thank God that they were enabled to serve the guests of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). May God keep everyone infused in sentiments of sympathy for each other.