The HOPE Bulletin: October 2006 Bulletin —
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful .......... The HOPE Bulletin ……….. Health, Ongoing Projects, Education October 2006 AAIIL Worldwide Edition Editor: Akbar Abdullah CALIFORNIA JAMA‘AT PROJECT: APPROVED BY THE CENTRAL ANJUMAN, LAHORE Introductory Notes Central Anjuman’s Approval On our application to the Central Anjuman seeking approval to publish The HOPE Bulletin as a coordinated project of the California Jama‘at, Professor (retd.) Aziz Ahmad Sahib, General Secretary, Ahmadiyya Anjuman, Lahore, wrote. “In accordance to Majlis-e-Muntazima’s Resolution No. 1006 dated 8th October 2006, the newsletter, The HOPE Bulletin, which is published by Mr. Akbar Abdullah with the coordination of the California Jama‘at USA is hereby recognized as requested.” Jazak Allah Khaira! Seeking Central Anjuman’s Mandate For some years we have been engaged in circulating requests for dua-e-shifa for our ailing brothers and sisters in the global Jama‘at, and this, in time, became a regular feature. In cases of death we would announce obituary news. As a follow-up we would circulate a personal history of the ailing brothers and sisters and of those who were deceased. From time to time we have expanded this initiative to include international Jama‘at news and other events of interest within the Jama‘at. We made it possible for members in Europe to know what is going on in the Pacific Region and vice versa. In support of this effort we would get mail from all over the world in support of this venture. It did not take long for the global Jama‘ats to welcome this initiative and everyone encouraged us to carry on. With the worldwide Jama‘at’s encouragement we decided to publish The HOPE Bulletin to include Health news of our global members, information on Ongoing Projects, and Education news. In order to instil an interest amongst all global Jama‘ats to fully participate in our programme, it was necessary for us to apply to the General Secretary, Central Anjuman, Lahore, to grant us an official mandate to publish the Bulletin as a part of the California Jama’at’s ongoing projects. Alhamdollillah! This approval is now www.aaiil.org granted to us, and we most heartily thank the members of the Majlis-e-Muntazima, Lahore for granting us this mandate. New Features What Our Readers Say In this issue, we are introducing a new, regular feature, “What Our Readers Say”. Comments, suggestions, words of appreciation etc. from readers will be placed in this section. All About Us This section will be expanded to include biographies of past and present stalwarts of our Jama‘at. In this issue we will publish part one of a life sketch of Maulana Muhammad Ali Sahib Marhoom (of blessed memory) and this will be followed by the second part in the next issue. Eid-ul-Fitr Greetings We most heartily reciprocate the warm greetings received on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr from Hazrat Ameer, Brigadier Mohammad Saeed, Dr. Abdul Waheed, Ejaz Sayal (Pakistan), Ashraf and Nafiesa Ali, and Nadara Khan [AMLT] (Trinidad & Tobago), Dr. Zahid Aziz, Dr. Mujahid Saeed, Shahid Aziz, and Ross Mahmood (UK), Mary and Khaliel Ghafoerkhan, and Riaz Ahmadali (Suriname), Shagufta Tareen (India), Mohammad Mahawat Khan, and Maks Imami [Faaiin] (Netherlands), Ebrahim Mohamed (South Africa), Ameen Sahu Khan and Sadr-ud Dean Sahu Khan (Australia), Shaukat A. Ali (Thailand), Abid Raza (New Zealand), Jalal UD Dean (Fiji Islands), and Mohammad Mustapha, Captain Abdus Salam Khan, Ch. Akthar Masud and Zafar Abdullah (USA). We reproduce below the Eid message received from Br. Sadr-ud Dean Sahu Khan, President of AAIIL, Sydney, Australia: Eid Message from Australia Dear Hazrat Ameer Saheb, the Central Anjuman and members of the movement worldwide. Assalaam aleikum wa Rahmatull’ah wa Barakata’hu. On behalf of the Sydney Australia Jama‘at I wish to extend Eid Mubarak to you all. May Allah Almighty in His mercy accept all our fasting and prayers. After the spiritual exercise of this holy month I am sure we are all prepared to and will forgive one another for whatever faults we may have had. In this context I thought it relevant to remind ourselves when Lady Ayesha (rta) once asked the Holy Prophet (pbuh) what du‘a (supplication) she should make if she ever experienced that extraordinary Night of Grandeur, and this is the prayer he gave to her: "O Allah! Thou art the Forgiving and thou lovest forgiveness, so please forgive me." To be able to be forgiven by Allah Almighty, we should first of all be prepared, from the bottom of our hearts, to forgive one another. If we are not prepared to forgive another human being, how can we in all sincerity ask for forgiveness from Allah? Further if we have any animosity or ill feeling or spite against one another (I am not saying we as Ahmadees have) we should get rid of the same. Allah Almighty in chapter 59 verse, 10 says: 2 “And those who come after them say: Our Lord, forgive us and our brethren who had precedence of us in faith, and leave no spite in our hearts towards those who believe. Our Lord, surely Thou art Kind, Merciful.” May Allah Almighty accept all our du‘a and give us the courage, health, wealth and the wisdom to carry on with the propagation of Islam, the very purpose for which our Jama‘at was formed. Once again Eid Mubarak to you all. Wassalaam. Sadarud Dean Sahu Khan, President AAII, Sydney Australia. News from the Centre Hazrat Ameer’s Eid Message, October 2006 “In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Read in the name of thy Lord Who creates, creates man from a clot, read and thy Lord is Most Generous, Who taught by the pen, taught man what he knew not” (Al ‘Alaq, 96:1 to 5). Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Jama‘at, Assalaam-o-Alaikum Wa Rakhmatullahi Wa Barakaato Hoo. As you celebrate the festive day of Eid-ul-Fitr, I am sending you this message to ponder over along with my best wishes. The verses of the Holy Qur’an quoted above are the first five verses revealed to the Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. These verses were revealed as the Prophet was fasting and praying in Ghar-i-Hira in Ramadan. With the revelation of these verses, the Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was granted the eminent position of the last Prophet to be sent to humankind by Allah Almighty. It was the beginning of his prophethood and the process of revelation of the Qur’an; but it was also the beginning of many hardships that he was to endure. As we celebrate Eid we all know that this day marks the happiness of having completed a sacred duty and the nearness to Allah we have attained through it. However, many of us may not realise another cause of celebration of this day; this also marks the granting of prophethood to the Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and the start of a long period of trials and tribulations that was unleashed upon him by his opponents. So today, along with celebrations, we should resolve to continue with the good virtues we have practiced in Ramadan and also thank Allah for sending us His last Prophet and the Holy Qur’an, a book of guidance for us. We should resolve to show steadfastness in the trials that we face for the sake of our religion and follow the example of endurance set for us by the Prophet, may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and his companions. We should resolve to read the Qur’an along with its translation and live our lives according to the guidelines it gives. I wish you all a very happy Eid. I pray that you and all the members of your families and the Jama‘at will be successful in your Eid day resolve. Aamen. Please convey this message to all members of the Jama‘at. 3 Professor Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed, Ameer-i-Jama‘at, Worldwide Lahore Ahmadiyya Movement 21 October 2006 Snippets from Hazrat Ameer Appreciation of Begum Razia Madad Ali’s Tribute Booklet “The tribute to Razia Madad Ali Marhooma has been a commendable effort on the part of all those who have contributed to it. My wife Sabiha wishes me to thank you and all those who contributed to it. I convey through your esteemed paper thanks to all the writers, namely, Akbar Abdullah (USA), Brigadier Mohammad Saeed from Central Anjuman, Nur Jahan Alam (Australia), Yaseen Sahu Khan (Canada), Jalal UD Dean (Fiji), Mansoor Baksh (Guyana), Muhammad Ali (Germany), A.S. Abdul Santoe (Holland), Hikmat Mahawat Khan (Holland), Prof. F. Ahmadi (Indonesia), Abid Raza (New Zealand), Ejaz Sayal (Pakistan), Mary & Khaliel Ghafoerkhan (Suriname), Riaz Ahmadali (Suriname), Shaukat A. Ali (Thailand), Ashraf Ali (Trinidad & Tobago), Mujahid Ahmad Saeed (UK), Zahid Aziz (UK), Ross Mahmood (UK), Syed Nasir Ahmad (UK), Captain Abdus Salam Khan (USA), Choudry Akthar Masud (USA) and Fairuz Maida Abdullah (USA). I had received dozens of messages from friends, family and members of the Jama‘at all over the world. I take this opportunity to thank all of them for the sentiments they have shown for Razia Apa.” Comments on The HOPE Bulletin “I am grateful to you for having sent the first copy of the HOPE to me and at that time I prayed for the success of the project. I am glad the HOPE has come a long way since the idea was floated.