A Publication of Lajna Ima’illah & Lajna Matters Nasiratul Ahmadiyya USA Safar 1437 Issue 4 - 2015 November 2015 Holy Qur’an Special Features The Glorious Qur’an And of men there is he who would Message from Sadr Lajna sell himself to seek the pleasure of Correspondence Allah; and Allah is Compassionate to Jalsa Salana USA report His servants (2:208). Lajna Day on the Hill report Khidmat-e-Khalq Matters Tarbiyat Matters Verily, those who swear allegiance Tabligh Matters to thee indeed swear allegiance to Publication Matters Allah. The hand of Allah is over Nasirat Matters their hands. So whoever breaks his Regional Matters oath, breaks it to his own loss; and Local Matters whoever fulfills the covenant that Urdu Section he has made with Allah, He will surely give him a great reward (48:11). All members are asked to make use of the resources provided by Jama’at and Lajna in order And remember the time when Allah to improve their took a covenant from the people reading and their through the Prophets, saying: comprehension of ‘Whatever I give you of the Book the Holy Qur’an. and Wisdom and then there comes All Majalis are re- to you a Messenger, fulfilling that quested to spend 10 which is with you, you shall -15 minutes during believe in him and help him.’ And their General He said: ‘Do you agree, and do Meetings to you accept the responsibility which improve their I lay upon you in this matter?’ They Tarteel. said, ‘We agree;’ He said, ‘Then bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses’ (3:82). And barter not the covenant of Allah for a paltry price. Surely, that which is with Allah is better for you if you only knew (16:96). Lajna Matters 4th Quarter Issue, 2015 2 of 60 Ahadith It is reported that when the Holy Prophetsaw, with a handful of his ill-equipped Companions, intended to go forth to meet the vastly superior and much better equipped Meccan force at Badr, he consulted them about it. Thereupon one of the Companions stood up and addressed the Holy Prophetsaw in the following memorable words: We would not say to thee, O Prophet of God! As said the companions of Moses, ‘go thou and thy Lord and fight and here we sit’. On the contrary, O Prophet of the Lord, we are ever with thee and we will go with thee whither thou goest. We will fight the enemy on thy right and on thy left and in thy front and behind thy back; and we trust God that thou wilt see from us what will comfort thine eyes. When the Holy Prophetsaw heard these words, his face beamed with delight (Bukhari & Hisham). Writings of the Promised Messiahas The true meaning of Bai’at is actually to sell yourself. The blessings and fruits associated with it are contingent only upon this stipulation. For instance, a farmer sows a seed in the earth without knowing its destiny. If the composition of this seed is of high quality and it carries in it the potential to develop and nourish, then it grows with the blessings of God and the efforts of the farmer. One such seed yields thousands of others. Similar is the case of one who performs Bai’at. First and foremost, he must act with absolute humility and modesty and he must abandon selfishness. Subsequently, he attains a status where spiritual growth may be possible. But the one who adopts the way of the selfish after performing Bai’at will never gain the favors and blessings promised by Allah (Malfoozat, Vol. VI, p. 173). Bai’at actually means surrendering your life to the Will of Allah i.e. selling your own will to Allah Almighty. It is absolutely inconceivable and wrong to think that a person will suffer as a consequence of following the path of Allah. A truthful person will never suffer; only the dishonest will. The one, who breaks his pact made with Allah for worldly gains and peer pressure, must remember that no worldly ruler or king shall come to his rescue on the Day of Reckoning. He shall return to the Master of all Creation, Who shall ask him why he did not fulfill his promise. Therefore, it is incumbent upon every Believer to have complete faith in Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, and should sincerely repent his sins (Malfoozat, Vol. VII, pp. 29-30). Be it known to all sincere ones who have entered into the covenant of Bai’at that the purpose of the covenant is that the love of the world should grow cold and love of God and the Holy Prophetsaw should fill the heart, and the soul should be weaned away from the world, so that the journey to the hereafter should not appear disagreeable. But for the achievement of this purpose it is necessary to spend some time in my company, so that, if God should will, by the witnessing of some sure signs all weaknesses and indifference may be removed (Malfoozat, Vol. 1, pp. 174 – 180). 3 of 60 Lajna Matters 4th Quarter Issue, 2015 National Correspondence Message from National Sadr Lajna Ima’illah, Saliha Malik My Dear Sisters, The journey to increase in Faith through the practice of Religion is a very personal one and totally dependent on each and everyone’s decision to engage in it, to practice it and in striving to understand it. The Promised Messiahas tells everyone to come and live with him: “…it is necessary to spend some time in my company,” he says, “so that … by witnessing some sure signs all weaknesses and indifference may be removed.” Indeed keeping company with the Messiahas during his lifetime must have had a powerful and dramatic effect on a person and we can only glimpse at that through the various accounts our beloved Huzooratba shares with us in his Khutbaat of the companions of the Promised Messiahas, the Muzzaki (the Purifier). However, we are assured that in keeping our Bai’at – the pledge we have made at the hands of the Promised Messiahas, we may also keep his illuminating and transforming company. As we focus on the Ten Conditions of Bai’at in our Lajna program this year, we can encourage each other to live whole-heartedly in the house of the Messiah. In his Khutba of October 9th 2015 from Nunspeet, Holland, our beloved Huzooratba exhorted us again to forge a sincere bond with the Promised Messiahas, as he has required all his followers to do so: That he/she shall enter into a bond of brotherhood with this humble servant of God, pledging obedience to me in everything good for the sake of God, and remain faithful to it until the day of his/her death. That he/she shall exert such a high devotion in the observance of this bond as is not to be found in any other worldly relationship and connection that demands devoted dutifulness (Tenth Condition of Bai’at). Such a bond reminds us of the memorable words the Companions of the Holy Prophetsaw said to our beloved Mastersaw, “O Prophet of the Lord, we are ever with thee and we will go with thee whither thou goest…. and we trust God that thou wilt see from us what will comfort thine eyes.” Lajna Matters 4th Quarter Issue, 2015 4 of 60 National Correspondence Letters from the office of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Khamisatba August 4, 2015 Dear Sadr Lajna Ima’illah USA, Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu, I am acknowledging the receipt of your activity report for the month of April 2015, as well as your quarterly magazine Lajna Matters, dated May 2015, Jazakamullah. This report demonstrates that members are working well in all shobas and that steps are being taken to inculcate a spirit of self- reformation for all. It is pleasing to read that Regional camps were arranged for young Lajna members aged 15-25, whereby activities were organized to activate and generate a feeling of spiritual progress, Ameen. Your, Lajna Matters, magazine highlights the important events and activities that have taken place during this month, including many Tabligh and Khidmate Khalq duties. May Allah enable Lajna Ima’illah USA to make further spiritual progress, Ameen. Please convey my loving Salam to all Nasirat and Lajna members in USA. Wassalaam September 3, 2015 Dear Sadr Lajna Ima’illah USA, Assalamo Alaikum wa Rehmatullah Wa Barakatahu, I have received your activity report dated May 2015, Jazaka’Mullah. This report reflects the sheer hard work that is undertaken by Lajna Ima’illah, USA over the course of this period. There were many notable events in May, such as the Regional Ijtemas, which carried the theme of Self-Reformation. This theme allowed members to have a clear understanding of their rights and also their responsibilities as Ahmadis. The attendance and participation at these events was very good and members were able to listen and contribute fully, Mash’Allah. May Allah enable Lajna Ima’illah, USA to reach greater spiritual heights, Ameen. Please convey my loving Salam to all Nasirat and Lajna members in USA. Wassalaam 5 of 60 Lajna Matters 4th Quarter Issue, 2015 September 9, 2015 Dear Sadr Lajna Ima’illah USA Assalamo Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatahu I have received your annual report 2013/14, a copy of ‘Jalsa Bulletin 2015’, the 2014 spring edition of the magazine ‘The Ayesha’ and a book entitled ‘Purdah: the path to success for every Muslim woman’, Jazaka’Mullah. Your annual report shows the achievements of an active Lajna’at, who have worked diligently throughout the year giving each Shoba due importance.