By Nasim Rehmatullah, Ahmadiyya Gazette USA – 1999

The verse of the Holy Quran, which so comprehensively covers this concept of service to humanity, reads

O people of Islam, “You are the best people ever raised for the good of mankind because you have been raised to serve others; you enjoin what is good and forbid evil and believe in Allah.”
(3:111)

You will remain the best as long as you are service-minded, promote good and promote the welfare of society. If you fail to do this, you no longer have a right to boast of the superiority of Islam and the Muslim Ummah. A society which is insensitive to the suffering of other human beings and is not always inclined to serve the cause of humanity cannot be described as an Islamic society, no matter how much it adhered to other aspects of Islamic teachings.

The fundamental qualities that we must all acquire to serve mankind or to develop a passion to serve mankind are: love for humanity, kindness in our hearts for others, a charitable disposition, humility, honesty, a thirst for knowledge, a desire to share knowledge with others and a constant desire to strive in the cause of Allah by doing good. We must be a people from whom goodness flows towards others. Most Ahmadi Muslims possess these characteristics.

The teachings of the Holy Quran and the example of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) direct us on how best to serve mankind. The Holy Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) practiced the teachings of the Holy Quran to the fullest extent and is the best example of the true representation of service to mankind and to Allah. That is why Allah says in the Holy Quran:

“And do not forget to do good to one another.” (2:238)

And about the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) the Holy Quran says:

“and we have sent thee not but as a blessing (mercy) for the entire universe (for all peoples)” (21:108)

“Verily you have in the prophet of Allah an excellent model.” (33:22)

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) emphasized love, sympathy, and kindness towards all. He also emphasized that we must show each other great appreciation. He said, “One who is not grateful to mankind is not grateful to Allah.” (Tirmidhi)

The Promised Messiah (peace be on him) had a great compassion for mankind. He said, “Sympathy for all mankind is a moral obligation and a duty (Arbaeen)…that religion is no religion which does no inculcate sympathy, nor does that man deserve to be called a man who does no have sympathy in him (message of peace).”

The Promised Messiah (peace be on him) said, “The teachings of the Holy Quran can be divided into two major categories. The first being unity of God, love and obedience to Him. The second is to treat kindly your brothers and fellow beings… be kind and merciful to humanity…always work for the good of mankind.”

Inviting People to the Path of Allah

The most basic way of serving mankind is inviting people to the path of Allah and praying for them. While it is the duty of all Muslims to invite people to Allah, as Ahmadi Muslims, it is our prime responsibility and the Jamaat utilizes considerable resources and manpower through its various schemes to do this. We are established in over 170 countries with the prime objective of inviting people to the path of Allah.

Inviting people to the path of Allah, the Holy Quran reminds us, must be done in the best manner possible.

“Call unto the way of thy Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation and argue with them in a way that is best. (16:126)

Inviting people to the path of Allah and to live a righteous life provides:

1) Contentment of heart as Allah says

“Aye! It is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts can find comfort.” (13:29)

2) And we may all become beneficiaries of Allah’s bounties. As the Holy Quran says, we regards to people who lead a
righteous life.

“He will send down rain for you in abundance and He will strengthen you with wealth and with children and He will give you gardens and He will give you rivers.” (71:12&13)

Prayers:

The importance of prayers in the service of humanity and in inviting people to the path of Allah cannot be over emphasized. The Promised Messiah (a.s.) Always emphasized the importance of prayers in achieving success in our endeavors.

He said “A strange phenomenon took place in the deserts of Arabia, when hundreds and thousands of the dead became alive within a few days, and those who had been corrupt through generations took on divine color. The blind began to see and the tongue of the dumb began to flow with divine wisdom. A phenomenal Revolution occurred that was unprecedented in history. What was it? Do you know? It was prayers and prayers.

Prayers of one who had effaced his own self for the sake of God. Prayers he had said often and in the dead of the night. The world saw an uproar and wonders at the hand of an unlettered and helpless person.. Oh Allah, send down blessings and peace on him and his followers in proportion to his concern and suffering for the people and shower upon him the light of Thy mercy forever.” (Roohani Khazain Vol. 6: Barakatud Dua pg. 10-11)

A prayers of the Promised Messiah for the European nations reads: “God, guide them and help them with the Holy Spirit and give them a large portion out of the blessings of Thy faith and surround them with Thy protection and Thy power so that they believe in Thy book and Thy Prophet and enter the Faith of God in troops. Ameen.” (Blessings of Prayer: 85:48)

Taking the cue from the Promised Messiah (a.s.) you would note Ahmadi Muslims excel all others (Muslims and non-Muslims) in their commitment to prayers and in praying for the needy and the suffering.

Besides the spiritual aspect of service to mankind or humanity, there are many diverse ways that service to mankind can be accomplished.

1) Providing help in ameliorating the sufferings of a distressed people

2) Educating and Training

3) Social Services

4) Material Services

5) Intangibles like providing company for a lonely person, a kind word, providing guidance and serving as a role model

Indian Subcontinent:

Starting with the Indian subcontinent, where Jamaat Ahmadiyya originated, members of Jamaat played an active role under the direction of Hazrat Khalifatul Massih II in providing help to the needy.

1. KashmirFund: A Kashmir fund was created some seventy years ago to provide for the oppressed Muslims of Kashmir who were denied basic human rights. Hazrat Khalifatul Massih II, in his capacity as president of the Kashmir Committee, was able to do a lot to ameliorate the condition of the people of Kashmir. A Furqan Force was created to help the oppressed people in Kashmir obtain their rights.

2. Natural Calamities: Jamaat Ahmadiyya has always been in the forefront in providing help for the victims of floods and cyclones in the Indian subcontinent. The auxiliaries of the Jamaat play a very active role.

3. Hospitals: In the early years of Hazrat Khalifatul Massih II, a hospital by the name of NoorHospital was opened to provide for the medical needs of people free of cost. At the partition of India, the hospital was re-opened as Fazl-e-Omar Hospital in Rabwah, Pakistan, which is a full-fledged hospital providing for medical needs of the people of Rabwah and surrounding areas. Physicians and surgeons from overseas provide consultative services while visiting there as well.

Ahmadi Muslims have been serving Africa for many decades. It was through Ahmadiyyat that these nations which had been held back, received the message of love with a true desire to help and serve.

Today, there are about 27 Ahmadiyya Hospitals and medical clinics in West Africa, 35 secondary schools and more than 100 primary schools (496 schools all over the world +347 hospitals and clinics).

Nusrat Jehan Scheme: A project launched by Hazrat Khalifatul Massih III in 1970 which called for schools to educate the illiterate and for medical clinics and hospitals to heal the sick. Members of the Jamaat enthusiastically participated in this scheme and made it a big success.

New Nusrat Jehan Scheme: This project was launched by Hazrat Khalifatul Massih IV in1987 to further help the African nations. Under this scheme, Ahmadis will help African nations help themselves. Ahmadis in all fields of life: doctors, engineers, business men, and industrialists have been asked to share their knowledge with the developing countries

Care of orphans and widows: This has been a great concern of Hazrat Khalifatul Massih IV. It is the duty of every Jamaat to keep a close eye on them and provide for their needs. Jamaat members have been encouraged where possible to adopt orphans from various countries including Bosnia, El Salvador and Sierra Leone, etc.

Providing Aid to Bosnia, Albania, etc. Under the guidance of Hazrat Khalifatul Massih IV, help to the Bosnians and Albanians has been provided on a regular basis (Humanity First). Members of the Jamaat participate in this
by contributing funds towards this endeavor.

Care for the Hungry: Hazrat Khalifatul Massih III emphasized that all Ahmadis should be ever vigilant and ensure that no one in their immediate neighborhood goes to bed hungry. When famine stuck Ethiopia, Jamaat Ahmadiyya actively participated in providing relief under the guidance of Hazrat Khalifatul Massih IV.

GulfCrisis: When Iraq invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990, Hazrat Khalifatul Massih IV embarked on a series of seventeen sermons on this issue. He elaborated on the solution to this crisis in the light of the teaching of the Holy Quran. Furthermore, he provided guidance to nations and leaders of these nations on how to avoid such conflicts in the future.

Service to Humanity by Some Distinguished Ahmadis

The Promised Messiah (a.s.) prophesized, ‘the members of my Jamaat will excel others in the fields of knowledge and wisdom’. While this prophecy has been fulfilled through many members of the Jamaat, Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan and Dr. Abdus Salam stand out very prominently. They played a significant role in serving mankind, utilizing the position of authority that Allah had bestowed on them.

Muhammad Zafrullah Khan

Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan, born February 6, 1893, served the cause of Muslims of the Indian subcontinent when he was chosen by Mohammad Ali Jinnah to plead the case of Pakistan before the Boundary Commission. He pleaded the case in the best manner and received glowing tributes for his service.

Later, at the United Nations, where he served as a foreign minister of Pakistan, a permanent representative of Pakistan and the President of the United Nations General Assembly. He pleaded with sound reasoning for the rights of people in Kashmir and in Palestine. His public service record is mind-boggling and surpassed by few,

On the academic side, he translated the Holy Qurán into English and translated and wrote numerous books, particularly in the field of religion to remove misconceptions held about Islam in the West. He lived a simple, frugal life and utilized the savings in granting stipends to needy students, orphans and widows. Giants like Zafrullah Khan are not born every day. They provide a model for us to follow. Zafrullah Khan passed away on September 1, 1985.

Dr. Abdus Salam (Jan. 29 1926-Nov. 21 1996)

Dr. Abdus Salam, who received a Nobel Prize for physics in 1979, is generally thought to be a scholar of all the sciences of nature. He brought glory to the Muslim world by becoming the first and, so far, the only Muslim ever to have won a Nobel Prize in Dr. Salam used his talent, time, and power to raise the level of scientific development in Pakistan. As the scientific adviser to the president of Pakistan, Dr. Salam was responsible for laying the groundwork for the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, initiating research on problems of water logging and salinity and agricultural research. He was a role model for many that opted for careers in the sciences.

Dr. Salam was cofounder of the International Center for Theoretical Physics (Trieste), convinced the politicians and diplomats that good science was what the poor countries badly needed as a prerequisite for their emancipation.

Dr. Salam’s personal generosity was extraordinary. He supported poor students in various cities of Pakistan and bought scientific equipment for schools and colleges with his personal funds. He laid aside part of his Nobel Prize money for a yearly prize to be awarded to the best researcher in a scientific field.

In spite of achieving such a status in the field of science and technology, he had a true recognition of the existence and Unity of Allah the Almighty.

Dr. Salam left behind a vast wealth of wisdom, research work, thoughts and institutions that he founded primarily to give science back to Muslims and the third world countries.

M.M. Ahmad

Mr. M.M. Ahmad was appointed as the Amir/President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Commumty USA in 1989 by the worldwide Head of the Ahmadiya Community.

Prior to that he had a distinguished career as a world renowned Economist. He served as Additional Chief Secretary, West Pakistan, Deputy Chairman Advisor to the President of Pakistan, Financial Advisor to the President of Pakistan. Subsequently, he became Executive Director of the World Bank and IMF and Deputy Executive Secretary of the Joint Ministerial Committee of the Board of Governors World Bank and IMF.

He was always admired by his colleagues, friends, seniors and subordinates for his intellect, his high standards of professionalism, hard work, integrity, friendliness and honesty. He was an excellent administrator. He will always be remembered for his outstanding contributions to Pakistan, the Third World and the Ahmadiyya Community USA.

From 1989, till the time of his demise in 2002, he led the Jamaat to new heights. M.M. Ahmad was a great human being. He served God and mankind to the best of his ability. He was larger than life. His humility was unsurpassed. Taking into account the limited manpower he have in the USA Jamaat, it is all the more astonishing that we have, the Grace of God, achieved so much. M.M. Ahmad’s legacy continues.

Institution of Khilafat

All good that members of the Jamaat acquire and all the good that the Jamaat does is because of its adherence to the Institution of Khilafat.

The Holy Qurán is emphatic in its promise to all Muslims of spiritual leadership in the form of Khilafat, which will continuously guarantee for mankind all the prerequisites of social, moral and spiritual growth. (24:56)

The fact that the spiritual institution of Khilafat is to be met with only among the Ahmadi Muslims is, in itself, testimony enough that it is Ahmadiyyat which is destined to bring about the New World Order that will usher the world in an era of peace and prosperity.

Hazrat Khalifatul Massih II said: "So long as people do not realize in accordance with Islamic teachings that all mankind are one people…it will be impossible to establish peace…a nation that treats another nation with contempt, initiates an unending circle of tyranny and oppression.” (Ahmadiyyat or the True Islam p. 360)

Hazrat Khalifatul Massih III compressed all this in a motto he gave to the world of Ahmadiyyat: "Love for all, hatred for none."

The institution of Khilafat teaches us unity, discipline, submission and leads us to peace and prosperity and guides us all in Divine ways to serve Allah and mankind. Institution of Khilafat is a blessing for all mankind.

MTA and Alislam.org

With the launching of Muslim Television Ahmadiyya International in 1994 and Alislam.org in 2000 service to humanity has taken on a new dimension. Education and training, spiritual and secular knowledge can all be accessed at a click of a button, 24 hours a day. The message of peace and unity is spread throughout the world using these media and has brought us one step closer towards the unification of mankind.

Homeopathy

Hazrat Khalifatul Massih IV (through his lectures on homeopathy on MTA, now compiled in a book) has provided us with a strong incentive to study homeopathy and benefit from it and use it in the service of mankind. Of all the branches of medicine, homeopathy is most closely related to the laws of nature and human nature. Ahmadi Muslims all over the world use this form of medicine for their own needs and for service to mankind.

Revelations, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth

Jamaat Ahmadiyya has published scores of books and translated the Holy Qurán in many languages to invite people to see the path of Allah. A recent English publication called "Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth" is a masterpiece of astronomical proportions.

Written by Hazrat Khalifatul Massih IV, the book bridges the gap between science and religion and discusses all major issues that intrigue the mind. It is, perhaps the greatest literary work of the century. It will serve mankind for years to come.

These are some of the ways that Jamaat Ahmadiyya has served and is serving mankind. There are many untold ways that members of the Jamaat participate in their own small ways to serve their fellow beings in their communities. The auxiliaries of the Jamaat are particularly active and perform these duties in an organized manner.

The Holy Qurán says:

"Be competitive in doing good" (2: 149)

This spirit of competitiveness is best seen in Ahmadi Muslims.

The Promised Messiah (a.s.) said: "Being the followers of such a great Prophet^(sa)…practice the good to an extent where it reaches its highest perfection. Be firm of faith and set an example that even the angels in Heaven should wonder at your strength and steadfastness and should pray for blessings on you. I pray that this teaching of mine should be fruitful for you, working a change in your hearts which should make you like stars on Earth, filling the globe with light and life you get from the Lord-Ameen " (Our Teachings)

Let us all rededicate ourselves to the service of the true Islam and humanity: united, determined and with prayers in our hearts. We should mold our lives and work hard and tirelessly for the attainment of the Divine mission for the renaissance of the true Islam and serve and save a suffering humanity from its maladies and ailments.