Lajna Matters Nasiratul Ahmadiyya USA
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A Publication of Lajna Ima’illah & Lajna Matters Nasiratul Ahmadiyya USA 22 Sha’ban 1434—26 Dhul Qa’dah 1434 Issue 3 - 2013 July - September 2013 Holy Qur’an Special Features The Glorious Qur’an The month of Ramadhan is that in which the Message from Sadr Lajna Qur’an was sent down as a guidance for Correspondence mankind with clear proofs of guidance and Reports discrimination. Therefore, whosoever of Khidmat-e-Khalq Matters you is present at home in this month let him Tarbiyat Matters fast therein. But whoso is temporarily sick Tabligh Matters or is on a journey, shall fast the same num- Publication Matters ber of other days. Allah desires ease for you, Nasirat Matters he does not desire hardship for you, and He Regional Matters desires that you may complete the number, Local Matters that you may exalt Allah for His having Urdu Section guided you and that you may be grateful. (2:186) And remember when Luqman said to his son while exhorting him, ‘O my dear son! associate not partners with Allah. Surely, associating partners with God is a grievous wrong.’(31:14) And lower to them (parents) the wing of humility out of ten- derness. And say, ‘My Lord, have mercy on them even as they nourished me in my childhood.’ (17:25) O my dear son! Even though it be the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and even though it be in a rock, or in the heavens, or in the earth, Allah will surely bring it out; ver- ily Allah is the Knower of all subtleties, All-Aware. ‘O my dear son! Observe Prayer, and enjoin good, and forbid evil, and endure patiently whatever may befall thee. Surely this is of those matters, which require firm resolve. ‘And turn not thy cheek away from men in pride nor walk in the earth haughtily; Surely, Allah loves not any arrogant boaster. (31: 17 -19) Lajna Matters 3rd Quarter Issue, 2013 2 of 44 Ahadith Abu Hurairah relates that the Holy Prophet (saw) said: Allah the Lord of honor and glory says: All other deeds of man are for himself, but his fasting is purely for Me and I shall reward him for it. The fast is a shield. When any of you is fasting he should eschew loose talk and noisy exchanges. Should anyone revile him or seek to pick a quarrel with him, he should respond with ‘I am observing a fast.’ (Bukhari and Muslim) Narrated by Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (ra), said the Prophet of Allah (saw): “Shall I apprise you of three great sins?” We said ‘Aye, O Prophet of Allah.’ He said: “Hearken, the biggest sin is setting up equals to Allah, and then disobedience to parents and neglect of duty to them.” And leaving the cushion he was leaning against, and sitting up in an aroused manner, he said with great force, “Hearken, and lying!” And he repeated it so many times that we wished he had left it off at that and not strained himself so much. (Bukhari) Narrated by Hazrat Anas bin Malik (ra), said the Prophet of Allah: Respect your children and cultivate in them the best of manners. (Ibn Majah) Writings of the Promised Messiah (as) The verse: The month of Ramadhan is the month in which the Qur’an began to be revealed (2:186), indicates the greatness of the month of Ramadhan. The Sufis have recorded that this is a good month for the illumination of the heart. One who observes the fast has frequent experience of visions in this month. The Salat purifies the spirit and the fast illumines the heart. The purification of the spirit means that one may be delivered from the passions of the self that incites to evil; and the illumination of the heart means that the gates of vision may be opened so that one may be able to behold God. (Malfoozat, Vol IV. p. 256) The third pillar of Islam is fasting. People are also unaware of the reality of fasting. The truth is one cannot talk about a place that one does not go to and is not aware about. Fasting is not merely staying hungry and thirsty; rather its reality and its impact can only be gained through experience. It is human nature that the less he eats the more his self and spirit is purified and his capacity for [spiritual] visions increases. The will of God is to decrease one kind of sustenance and to increase the other. A person who is fasting should always be mindful that he is not just required to stay hungry. On the contrary he should remain engaged in remembrance of God so that he can cut asunder ties of worldly desires and amusements and is wholly devoted to God. Hence, the significance of fasting is this alone, that man gives up one kind of sustenance which only nourishes the body, and attains the other kind of sustenance which is a source of comfort and gratification of the soul. (Translated from Malfoozat, Vol. 9, pp. 122 – 123) Message from Sadr Lajna, Saliha Malik Assalaamo Alaikum My Dear Sisters, Many of us are genuinely surprised as we discover new and added benefits of fasting in the blessed month of Ramadhan. This year in the Friday Khutbaat of Ramadhan, Huzoor (atba) emphasized the need for us to use our experience of fasting to deeply reflect on our current spiritual status and to strive in the way of Taqwa by keeping the commandments of God in our hearts and in the practice of our daily lives. The powerful combination of fasting and worship opens a person to the process of inner change, which creates profound gratitude in the believer. Indeed this is the meaning of the verse “that you may be grateful” (2:186). Through the beautiful teachings of the Holy Qur’an and by following the excellent example of the Holy Prophet (saw), we may develop the capacity to refrain from every kind of ugliness of sin – great or small, especially as our perception of these things within us increases with the fasts. The real goal of fasting, however, is that this deep inner change should last in us and be constant. Now, while our experience of gratitude from Ramadhan is still fresh in our minds, let us all make a clear resolve to continue our striving for inner change throughout the year. It is my earnest desire that the blessings of Ramadhan continue for each of us and serve as a constant source of progress. May God grant us all the ability to do so, Ameen. 3 of 44 Lajna Matters 3rd Quarter Issue, 2013 National Correspondence Letters from the office of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Khamis (atba) July 2, 2013 month of April 2013, Jazaka’Mullah, Dear Sadr Lajna Ima’illah USA, These reports highlight the activities carried out by the Lajna Ima’illah USA during this period. It is pleasing to Assalamo Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatahu, read that there were many different events; as well as I acknowledged receipt of your of the March 2013 to regular classes were held. On the 24th of April, an Hazoor Anwar (atba), as he is abroad at present. Interfaith Dialogue conference was held at Washington State where members of May Allah the Almighty various faiths were able to bless Lajna Ima’illah, United express their views on ‘The States for all their sincere Moral Empowerment of efforts and may He enable Women’. Jazak ‘Allah you all to continue to serve the Jama’at and spread the Lajna Ima’illah, USA have beautiful message of Islam in made a special effort in the most effective and best implementing the Shura manner possible. Ameen. proposal on prayer by organizing a campaign called Please convey Lajna Section “Come to prayer, Come to UK, team’s love and Salaam prosperity”, which is the to all the sisters. theme for the regional and national Ijtema’s, Mash ‘Allah. May Allah bless you in your August 14, 2013 sincere efforts and enable you to fulfill your duties with zeal. Ameen. Dear Sadr Lajna Ima’illah Please convey my salaam to all the Nasirat and Lajna in Assalamo Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatahu, USA. I have received your Lajna and Nasirat reports for the National Majlis-e-Shura Lajna Ima'illah 2013 When: October 25-27, 2013 Where: Masjid AL Nasar Mosque, Bridge Street, Willingboro, NJ 08046 phone#: (609) 877-2833. The meeting will begin on Friday after Salat-ul-Juma and conclude on Sunday afternoon after Salat-ul-Zuhr. Lajna Matters 3rd Quarter Issue, 2013 4 of 44 Selection of Huzoor’s (atba) Sermons Follow the Commandments of The Holy Qur’an July 26, 2013 Say, ‘Come, I will rehearse to you what your Lord has made inviolable for you: that you may not associate anything with Him as a partner and that you must treat parents with exceeding kindness, and that you kill not your children for fear of poverty – it is We Who provide for you and for them – and that you approach not foul deeds, whether open or secret; and that you kill not the life which Allah has made sacred, save by right. That is what He has enjoined upon you, that you may understand. And approach not the property of the orphan, except in a way which is best, till he attains his maturity. And give full measure and weight with equity. We task not any soul except according to its capacity. And when you speak, observe justice, even if the concerned person be a relative, and fulfil the covenant of Allah.