This Week – Dec 2022

december 2022 LISTINGS

Please click on link below in brackets for full video start to finish or for segments within the contents, please click on any timed link for precise placement.
Links from Dec 2nd to 30 December 2022 (Qadian Jalsa)

Where the YouTube link is in English, Urdu subtitles are often included and vice-versa.

December 2nd 2022: (Link to full MTA UK YouTube programme)

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) presides over a virtual Mulaqat with Nasirat members from Ghana. In the Friday Sermon Huzoor (aba) spoke on Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra).

0:00 – Intro
0:39 - Introduction of Mulaqat with Nasirat from Ghana.
2:28 – Nasirat Ghana present several poems during the Mulaqat.
4:09 – What is Huzoor’s favourite Ghanian dish?
4:49 – How can we have a good relationship with our parents?
6:39 – Who is Huzoor supporting in the World Cup?
7:17 – What does Islam say about make-up and other beauty products for women?
9:09 – What is the best way to build a strong relationship with Allah?
10:14 – What is the interpretation of a dream in which I saw the Promised Messiah (as)?
11:27 – When Huzoor visits Ghana, would Huzoor visit us in Volta region?
12:03 – Why was there a division in Islam after the demise of the Holy Prophet (sa)?
14:56 – Conversation with Sadr Lajna Ghana and concluding remarks.
15:35 – Friday Sermon Clip 2 December 2022.

Questions asked during the above virtual mulaqat but not covered in the Youtube video appear in the Al-Hakam report and produced below. Readers are still encouraged to read the report on the Al-Hakam website as they publish more details than what we have presented here. (Direct link to the article is in the date header).

Al-Hakam – (held on 2nd December – Nasirat, Ghana)

QUESTION: Question was asked what the best purdah was for a nasirat in Ghana?

in response, Huzoor(aba) said: “You should wear modest dress and the way you are covering your face now, your head with your headscarf, and your chin and the covering of your cheeks and the loose dress – this is the best way of purdah for you.

“This is how you will show your example to others; other Ahmadi Ghanaians and non-Ahmadi Ghanaians as well. They will ask you, ‘Who are you? You are very modestly dressed, your dress is very good, you look very pious and morally good. […] and when they come to you, you can preach to them. This is how you will become a good Ghanaian girl and woman.”

QUESTION: Adeela Ahmad said there were many names used in reference to Surah al-Fatihah – for example, Umm-ul-Kitab and ash-Shifa. She asked what the reason was?

Huzoor (aba) explained: “Because this is the surah which contains the gist and the summary of the whole of the Holy Qur'an. This is why it has different names and this is the basic surah that asks you to praise Allah the Almighty and to seek His refuge. It also has so many other attributes of Allah the Almighty which it contains. Ash-Shifa – The Healer: […] It gives shifa (healing) to your spiritual diseases. […] It is the surah which contains all the subject matters which are given in detail in the other part of the Holy Qur'an.”

QUESTION: Would Allah forgive a person who intended to seek forgiveness and mend their ways but suddenly died?

“Yes. If your intention is good and you have decided that you will seek Allah’s forgiveness […] If you are seeking Allah’s mercy, asking for His forgiveness, then even if you die, Allah is All-Merciful, He forgives.”

Huzoor(aba) referred to a hadith that described a man who had murdered a lot of people and desired Allah’s forgiveness. When the man was on his journey to visit a person in a far-off land who would tell him how to seek forgiveness, he died. The angels of hell and heaven began arguing over who would take the man’s soul. Ultimately, it was shown that the man was closer to the land he was trying to reach than to where he came from and therefore he was admitted to heaven.

Huzoor(aba) concluded by saying: “If at the end you are asking for forgiveness after committing sins or doing something wrong, Allah the Almighty forgives you. Allah is All-Merciful, Ever-Gracious.”

December 9th 2022: (Link to full MTA International programme on YouTube)

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) presides over a virtual Mulaqat with Atfal and Khuddam from Italy. In the Friday Sermon Huzoor (aba) spoke on Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra).

0:00 – Intro
0:51 – Introduction of Mulaqat with Atfal & Khuddam from Italy.
1:23 – Why had Allah made this world and why do we worship Him?
4:16 – How can we encourage Ahmadis to stay in Italy after receiving nationality or completing their studies?
6:06 – How can we pray for the Promised Messiah (as) and his Khulafa?
7:40 – In paradise, would we be united with partners of this world or different types of partners?
9:52 – Why has Allah said that He created the earth in six days, while it had been created over million of years?
11:38 – How should Ahmadis react under the current conditions of the world?
14:44 – What supplication does Huzoor offer most before Allah the Almighty?
16:16 -– Why do we pray five times a day?
18:15 – How can we attain Huzoor’s love?
19:06 – Friday Sermon Clip 9 December 2022.

QUESTION: Question asked by tifl Sameer Ahmad, was when Huzoor (aba) was going to visit Italy?

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V(aba) smiled and said, “Let’s see. Whenever Allah the Exalted takes me there!”

QUESTION: Timsil Ahmad asked if one could physically see angels?

Hazrat Amirul Momineen (aba) replied, “Angels do not possess physical bodies. Whenever Allah the Exalted puts any good thoughts and intentions in your mind, he does so through angels. Whenever you perform a good deed, you are prompted to do so by angels. Thus, angels cannot be observed [physically] like that. Of course, angels appear to prophets with revelation, as Hazrat Jibrail(as) descended upon the Holy Prophet(sa) as has been mentioned in the Holy Qur'an and upon other prophets. He would bring revelation and it is a different phenomenon that occurs with prophets.

QUESTION: Basit Ahmad was keen to know whether we would be able to hear Allah’s voice in the Hereafter like we hear people in this world?

Huzoor (aba) responded, “Yes, I hope so. If we are doing good deeds, then we can hear Allah’s voice.” While explaining the nature of that communication, Huzoor (aba) further added, “It is all a metaphor. It is not necessary that you must hear Allah’s voice like you are hearing [people’s voices] here, but there is a different type of atmosphere there. Allah knows better, how He will convey His message to us, and how He will talk to us in the Hereafter. Allah knows best. We don’t know.”

QUESTION: Shehroz Ahmad asked whether children who could not be enrolled in the Waqf-e-Nau scheme before their birth, could join the scheme at a later stage in their lives?

Huzoor (aba) said, “They can dedicate their lives later on. Who has stopped them from doing waqf? Even when the Waqf-e-Nau scheme did not exist, people used to dedicate their lives. When I was born, I was not part of the Waqf-e-Nau scheme. I dedicated my life later on. Some parents, whose children were not part of the Waqf-e-Nau scheme, offer their children as part of Waqf-e-Awlad, stating that they were dedicating the lives of their children now. The parents should do their tarbiyat, in such a way that those children themselves dedicate their lives later, when they grow older. “If you wish to dedicate your lives, then you should have good conduct, perform pious deeds, forge a relationship with Allah the Exalted, do well in your studies, and once you achieve something after your studies, then you can do waqf. Or after completing secondary school, if you wish to study at Jamia Ahmadiyya, then you should apply to Jamia. Those, who are not waqifeen-e-nau can also get admission into Jamia.”

QUESTION: Athar Ahmad, who asked what one should do if one had a bad teacher at school or if other students bullied one. How could one save oneself from their evil?

Huzoor (aba) said, “Why should you get a bad teacher? Some could be racist; they would taunt you about your Asian heritage and say, ‘You are coloured. Why have you come to us, white people?’ If a teacher says something like this once or twice, you may ignore it. However, if he persists in doing this, then you should inform your head teacher at the school. You may ignore it once or twice, but if the other students do this persistently, and there is a danger of escalation, then you should inform your head teacher.”

QUESTION: Haseeb-ur-Rehman Sahib asked whether he could send letters to Huzoor (aba) requesting prayers via email?

Huzoor (aba) replied, “You should either post your letters or fax them. Nowadays, people do not use fax machines, except for Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya. They put more emphasis on email. Don’t make it too easy for yourself. If you want to write a letter to request prayers, then put some effort into it.”

QUESTION: Jalees Ahmad asked how we could become like Syed Talay Ahmad Shaheed?

Huzoor (aba) said, “Do good, pious deeds, serve the Jama'at, follow the commandments of Allah the Exalted and offer the salat on time.” Huzoor (aba)a then asked Jalees, how old he was, to which the tifl replied, “10”.

Upon this, Huzoor (aba) said, “Now, prayers have become obligatory upon you. You should offer prayers on time, do good deeds, recite the Holy Qur'an, try to learn its translation, listen to and obey your parents, talk about good things, behave well toward your friends, be good in your studies, have a relationship with Khilafat and with the Community. As a result, you would become good.”

QUESTION: Hazeem Ahmad asked if the children, who were part of the Waqf-e-Nau scheme, only became murabbis or if they could help the Jama'at in some other way?

Huzoor (aba) asked how old he was and whether he listened to Huzoor’s sermons. Huzoor (aba) added, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV(ra) and now Huzoor (aba) had been delivering sermons for many years, about what careers waqifeen-e-nau should pursue.

Huzoor (aba) then said, “You can become a murabbi, a doctor, a teacher or a lawyer. You should pursue whatever career you wish, then the Jama'at will use your services whenever it so desires. However, it would be good if those who know Italian, became murabbis, so that we may send more people to Italy to do tabligh.”

Huzoor (aba) then asked the tifl, what he himself wanted to become, to which he said, “a murabbi”. Huzoor (aba) said, “Well, then, there is no need to ask a question, you will pursue whatever you desire.”

QUESTION: Hareem Ahmad, a tifl, wanted to know whether “the young children, who went to Jamia, memorised the entire Holy Quran or just certain portions of it.”

Huzoor (aba) said, “Do small children go to Jamia? Small children do not go to Jamia. They come to Jamia after having completed their secondary school education. They go when they are older. At that age, they should know some Surahs.

“Those children who memorise the Holy Qur'an, do so between the ages of 10-12."

Huzoor(aba) then explained that Madrasat-ul-Hifz of the Jama'at was established in various countries of the world, including the UK, where children came at a young age and memorised the Holy Qur'an within a few years.

December 16th 2022: (Link to full MTA International programme on YouTube)

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) presides over a virtual Mulaqat with Nasirat and student member of Lajna Imaillah from Belgium. Huzoor (aba) also graciously granted an audience to Honourable Gordon Wyant, the Minister of Advanced Education in Canada.

0:00 – Intro
1:04 – Introduction of Mulaqat with members of Lajna from Belgium.
1:36 – Would the Salat of a person be accepted, who was immoral, did not make any efforts to reform themselves?
3:31 – Why aren’t the Qur'anic portions read aloud during Zuhr and Asr prayers?
4:20 – How did Huzoor(aba) show great patience and contentment while in jail?
4:59 – How can we encourage another Muslim to reconnect with Allah?
6:22 – Should we observe Purdah in front of our cousins?
7:48 – Would Ahmadis survive the world war 3?
9:52 – Are we permitted to go and study abroad and gain experience?
11:12 – What does the Hadith ‘dependence can lead to disbelief’ mean?
12:15 – Why do we look to the left and right when saying salaam at the end of salat?
13:02 – Why do children starve to death in Africa and other nations?
15:57 – How can I create the best balance between my student and married life?
18:04 – Some people believed in magic and took the miracles of prophets and the dajjal literally, what is our view on this matter?
22:20 – Question about persecution of Jama’at in Pakistan and using that as a means to preach someone.
23:56 – Meeting with Honourable Gordon Wyant, the Minister of Advanced Education in Canada.
26:07 – Friday Sermon Clip 16 December 2022.

QUESTION: Sara Ahmad Sahiba asked if Ahmadi girls could work in the fields of physics and space?

Huzoor (aba) said: “Yes, they can. If you are bright enough and capable in physics […] then go ahead. There was an Ahmadi PhD lady who worked in the space centre in Switzerland where they are doing experiments on the Big Bang, etc.” Huzoor (aba) said if Ahmadi girls did not gain a good education, then how could they teach other Ahmadi girls, or know about things like physics, etc.?

Huzoor (aba) added, “However, the roles that women have are essential to fulfil as well. Women have the role of taking care of the household, bringing up their children; this is important too.” Huzoor (aba) said these tasks had primary importance, and other work and studies came after. “Try to use your education for the betterment of your children, not just for earning money,”

QUESTION: Ayesha Touqeer Sahiba, head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Student Association Belgium, asked how they could encourage Ahmadi girls to write to newspapers?

Huzoor (aba) said that those who knew how to write and had a passion should be spoken to and encouraged. Then they should be told to write on the topics that interested them.

QUESTION: Kashmeen Shehzad said her non-Ahmadi Muslim friend had created a YouTube channel on which she had uploaded videos of herself dancing. Kashmeen asked Huzoor(aba) how she could persuade her friend that this was not Islamic?

Huzoor (aba) said: “If she is a Muslim, tell her it does not behove a Muslim to do such a thing. Allah, in the Holy Qur'an, instructs mature girls and women to cover themselves in hijab, they should have modesty. The Holy Prophet(sa) said: الحياء‭ ‬من‭ ‬الايمان

“‘Modesty is part of faith.’ So, if they have true faith as Muslims, they should keep in mind that modesty is part of faith. And modesty means one should not spread inappropriate pictures amongst society because this leads to the spread of immorality. Therefore, exhort her in light of the Holy Qur'an and Hadith, and she should rectify herself.” However, if she did not correct herself, then they should no longer be friends.

QUESTION: Alia Malik Sahiba asked why there were so many sects in Islam?

Huzoor(aba) said that when travel was not so easy, people would remain in their areas and follow a particular Muslim scholar. In turn, various sects were created in Islam. However, the Holy Prophet(sa) prophesied that when the world would become a global village these sects would unite through the Promised Messiah(as) – his sect would be the 73rd in Islam. The Promised Messiah(as) was to gather the whole Ummah as a united one and this began when the Promised Messiah(as) came. Huzoor)aba) said:

“It is our duty to preach to all these sects and slowly bring them closer [to Islam Ahmadiyyat] and by Allah’s grace, Muslims from these sects are entering Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya from across the world. That is why such a large following [of Ahmadiyyat] has spread in the world.” Huzoor(aba) said most converts to Islam Ahmadiyyat were from amongst the Muslims, not Christians or Jews, etc.

QUESTION: Nazima Waheed Sahiba asked how Ahmadi women could preach?

Huzoor(aba) said they could first preach to their fellow students and tell them about Ahmadiyyat. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Student Association of the country could also hold seminars – which could include secular topics as well as religious ones. This would open the door to further preaching. Ahmadi women could also form groups and distribute leaflets in safe areas.

December 23rd 2022: (Link to full MTA UK YouTube programme)

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) presides over a virtual Mulaqat with Nasirat and Lajna from Italy. In the Friday Sermon Huzoor spoke about the advent of the Promised Messiah (as).

0:00 – Intro
0:50 – Introduction of Mulaqat with Nasirat & Lajna from Italy.
1:23 – What is Huzoor’s guidance regarding using social media?
3:45 – What can we do when one expresses hatred towards the Holy Prophet (sa)?
5:23 – What is the difference between Sunni, Shia and Ahmadis?
9:22 – How can we stop people from using foul language?
10:27 – How can we instil love for Salat & Quran in our hearts?
11:30 – How can we convince others regarding the existence of Allah?
20:14 – Friday Sermon Clip 23 December 2022.

QUESTION: Can one see God?

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba)a replied that one was not able to see God physically, however, Allah has His own ways of guiding like instilling in the heart a Qur'anic verse for example. Huzoora(aba) added, “In that form, I have experienced that it is from Allah Almighty; some verses of the Holy Qur'an […] that shows that it is from Allah Almighty. And, after that, they come true as well. So, it is definite that it is from Allah the Almighty.”

QUESTION: How can an individual be consistent in achieving their goals, whether religious or wordly?

Huzoor(aba) said: “For that, the first thing is that you will have to increase your willpower. If you are determined that you have to achieve this goal, then you will be consistent; and then, also pray to Allah Almighty that ‘These are my goals, and I think they are very much beneficial for me, and I like them, it is my desire, so Allah help me in this.’ If they are good for you, then Allah Almighty will also help you and give you the power, determination, and consistency to do that thing.

“It all depends on you. If you become relaxed or if you are always depressed, [thinking] ‘Oh, I cannot achieve this goal and that goal,’ then you cannot. Your willpower should be very strong. If that is strong, then you can achieve everything.

“Always keep in mind that, ‘you are the person who can do everything’ and for that, you will have to work hard. And alongside working hard, you also pray to Allah Almighty to help you.”

QUESTION: A young Nasirah, aged 8, said to Huzoor(aba) that her teacher asked her why it was that Muslim girls wore the hijab, whilst boys did not.

Huzoor(aba) said that, firstly, no one was asking her to wear a hijab at such a young age anyway. Huzoor (aba) added: “Yes, when girls reach the age of maturity, they are told to observe the hijab, because boys have a habit of staring at girls. […] However, girls do not have this bad habit. […]”

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V(aba) explained that women were admonished to wear the hijab so that they may be safeguarded from the evil looks and intentions of the men. Huzoor(aba) then referred to the statement of the Promised Messiah(as), wherein he said that if people could guarantee that from now on all men would remain chaste and not stare at women, then we might allow relaxation with regard to the hijab. Otherwise, Allah had stated in the Holy Qur'an that both men and women should lower their gaze. In addition to that, women had been told to observe the hijab as they could not blindly trust men. Huzoor(aba) then gave the example of a woman from the UK who wrote an article in which she had stated that men only supported women to abandon modest clothing because they wanted to look at them in revealing clothing.

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V(aba) said that the hijab was a sign of piety. He gave the example of Italy being a Catholic country and how Catholic nuns observed modest clothing and adopted a sense of modesty. Huzoor(aba) said that she should tell her teacher, “‘You people follow Mary, who also used to wear modest clothing and cover her head. She wore loose-fitting dresses. We have also adopted Mary’s way of clothing; hence, we wear the hijab.’”

QUESTION: Why, when someone was about to pass away, Muslims recited Surah Ya Sin and what is the wisdom was behind doing this.

Huzoor(aba) explained that it was done, “...for the satisfaction of their soul.” Huzoor(aba) said that the subject matter of this Surah was such that even at other times, one could recite it for the satisfaction of one’s heart. “If you recite it, know the meaning of it and then ponder over the subject matter in it, then you will feel satisfaction in your heart,”

QUESTION: Why do Muslims slaughter animals on Eid-ul-Adha?

Huzoor(aba) explained: “It is just a sacrifice in remembrance of the sacrifice made by Hazrat Ibrahim, peace be upon him, who was ready to sacrifice his son, Ismael(as); so, [it is done] just to remember that he was [told to] sacrifice his son, his only son – for the sake of Allah Almighty. And this is a symbolic action. We sacrifice the goat to express our sentiments that we are ready to sacrifice everything in the cause of Allah Almighty.”

QUESTION: One student asked Huzoor(aba) what one was supposed to do when one lost faith?

Huzoor(aba) said: “You should try to find out the reason. If it is because of some fellow beings, some people, some officials, or some of your friends, then you should always think that you have not accepted Islam or Ahmadiyyat because of these people. You understood the religion and accepted Islam and Ahmadiyyat. You understood the claim of the Promised Messiah(as) and felt that he was the right person who claimed to be the Promised Messiah. And you understand that Islam is the true religion and the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is the last of the Prophets and the Qur'an is the last sharia. So, if you are determined to learn more about your religion, then instead of losing faith, you should try to read the Holy Qur'an and pray to Allah Almighty that He strengthens you in your faith."

“But normally, people lose their faith because of some worldly things, or some of the bad attitudes of some of their fellow beings; or, even in the Jama'at, sometimes with their fellow friends or office-bearers. So, always keep in mind that you have not accepted Islam and Ahmadiyyat because of anyone, but just to save yourself and bring yourself closer to Allah Almighty. If you are keeping this point of view in mind and you have this type of understanding, then you will never lose your faith.”

Huzoor(aba) then said that apart from the causes he had explained, was there any in the questioner’s mind for which she thought people lost faith? She said that sometimes she did not feel motivated to pray or recite the Holy Qur'an. Upon this, he said: “Then, for that, you should also pray to Allah Almighty that He gives you the strength to be strong in your faith. And you should also read the Holy Qur'an. Whenever you have any questions in mind you should ask your missionary or you can even write to me."

“But the conditions do not remain the same all the time; sometimes you are relaxed in religious activities, and other times you are very much firm and wish to bow before Allah Almighty, pray to Allah Almighty and cry before Allah Almighty for all the requirements and needs and forgiveness of your sins. So, it all depends; you cannot say that you can always be very much strong in your faith, but if you are praying to Allah Almighty, He will keep you strong all the time.

“Moreover, whenever you pass through this episode or this condition, then you should do more istighfar [and recite] ‎اَسْتَغْفِرُ‭ ‬اللّٰهَ‭ ‬رَبِّىْ‭ ‬مِنْ‭ ‬كل‭ ‬ذَنبٍ‭ ‬وَّاَتُوْبُ‭ ‬اِلَيْهِ. Seek Allah’s forgiveness and ask Him that He may strengthen you in your faith. So, do more istighfar and Allah Almighty will save you from it.”

QUESTION: The next questioner said that in the life of Prophet Moses(as), many things happened that were recorded in the Bible, Torah, and the Holy Qur'an. A lot of these things, she said, had not been explained by scientists. For example, she said, when the sea parted through his staff and his staff turned into a snake. She asked Huzoor(aba) how one could explain these things.

Huzoor(aba) asked her if she was studying in secondary school; to which she replied, she was studying at the “linguistic high school”. Huzoor(aba) said: “Then, you can read the commentary of the Holy Quran; there, you can also find out the explanation of it. The thing is that it is not the stick. Allah Almighty only wanted to show the miracle to the followers of Moses, to the Jews, the Israelites.”

Huzoor(aba) explained, “It was actually the place where the Nile was falling into the sea, and there are times when the water recedes. […] So, it was that time when the water receded and they passed the river through that gap. But when the army of Pharaoh was coming, at that time it was – because of the natural process [of tides] – the water started coming again into the sea and both sides joined together and they [Pharaoh’s army] all drowned in it. So, although it was a miracle, it happens and it still happens.”

As for Prophet Moses’ staff becoming a snake, Huzoor (aba) said that the staff “looked like a snake. It was not a real snake. That is why, when Allah Almighty first showed this miracle to Moses(as), he himself got afraid of this change of the stick and he ran away from the place. Allah Almighty said, ‘No, don’t worry. It is still a stick. It is [just] looking like a snake.’ So, it also happened that those magicians threw their ropes and they became like snakes because they mesmerised the whole of the viewers standing there. But, when Allah Almighty asked Moses to throw a stick, he threw the stick and the process of mesmerism was finished and was shaken off. And the people realised that it was all a magic [trick].” Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V(aba) said that prophets, however, did not mesmerise or perform magic. Rather, it was Allah who made something appear to the viewers as something else.

Huzoor(aba) added that even in our times, a similar phenomenon existed in the medical world, where some patients believed to see objects that only existed in their minds and psychiatrists affirmed this.

QUESTION: Huzoor (aba) was asked why Allah created satan?

Huzoor(aba) said that God did this so that the good people could be differentiated from the bad ones. Huzoor(aba) explained that those who did good would be rewarded with eternal bliss — heaven. And those who did evil deeds would be punished in hell. Huzoor (aba) said that Satan was not a physical entity; and added that every evil thought was Satan’s whisper.

Huzoor(aba) added, “If you shun evil thoughts from your mind, you would distance yourself from Satan. If you follow through on your good thoughts and intentions, you would be counted among those who obey Allah Almighty and you would come close to God.”

December 25th 2022:
(Link to full video address of the Qadian Jalsa 2022 )

We have presented below only part of the address and readers are encouraged to enlighten their spiritual knowledge by either listening to the full sermon or reading the more comprehensive report in Al-Hakam.

Please note that the text is based on the Al-Hakam report and all images below of the Jalsa Qadian are copyright of MTA International.