A Publication of Lajna Ima’illah & Lajna Matters Nasiratul Ahmadiyya USA 21 Jamadi’ul Awwal 1434 - 21 Sha’ban 1434 Issue 2 - 2013 April - June 2013 Holy Qur’an Jalsa Salana, USA Harrisburg, PA June 28-30 Allah is the Light of the heavens JALSA BULLETIN included at the end of and the earth. The similitude of this issue of Lajna His light is as a lustrous niche, Matters. wherein is a lamp. The lamp is in a glass. The glass is as it were a glittering star. It is lit from a Special Features blessed tree — an olive — The Glorious Qur’an neither of the east nor of the Message from Sadr Lajna west, whose oil would well nigh Correspondence glow forth even though fire Reports touched it not. Light upon light! Khidmat-e-Khalq Matters Tarbiyat Matters Allah guides to His light Tabligh Matters whomsoever He will. And Allah Publication Matters sets forth parables to men, and Nasirat Matters Allah knows all things full well. Regional Matters Al Nur 24:36 Local Matters Urdu Section Jalsa Bulletin All members are asked to make use of O ye people, a manifest proof has the resources pro- indeed come to you from your vided by Jama’at and Lord, and We have sent down to Lajna in order to im- you a clear light. Al Nisa 4:175 prove their reading and their comprehen- sion of the Holy Qur’an. All Majalis are requested to Blessed is He Who has made spend 10-15 minutes mansions in the heaven and has during their General placed therein a Lamp and a Meetings to improve Moon giving light. Al Furqan their Tarteel. 25:62 Lajna Matters 2nd Quarter Issue, 2013 2 of 36 Ahadith Extract of the Kaiser’s response to Prophet Muhammad’ssaw invitation to Islam: I then asked you about what he teaches and you said he teaches the worship of One God, truth-speaking, virtue and the importance of keeping covenants and discharging trusts. I asked you also whether he ever played false, and you said, no. And this is the way of virtuous men.(Bukhari) Hadhrat Umar bin Al Khattabra relates that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: “I asked Allah about the differences among my Companions, Allah revealed to me: O Muhammad! The status of your companions with me is like the stars in the sky. Some are stronger than others. However everyone has light in him. Notwithstanding their differences, who- soever follows any of them he will be a rightly guided person with me.” He (Hadhrat Umarra) also related that the Mes- senger of Allah said: "My companions are like stars, whoever of them you follow, you will be rightly guided". (Mishakat Kitabal Manaqib Manaqibassahabah) Writings of the Promised Messiahas God is the light of the heavens and the earth. Every light that is visible on the heights or in the valleys, whether in souls or in bodies, whether personal or impersonal, whether apparent or hidden, whether in the mind or outside it, is a bounty of His Grace. This is an indication that the general grace of the Lord of the Worlds envelops everything and nothing is deprived of that grace. He is the source of all grace, the ultimate cause of all lights and the fountain- head of all mercies. His Being is the support of the universe and is the refuge of all high and low. He it is Who brought everything out of the darkness of nothingness and bestowed upon everything the mantle of being. The pure life that is free from sin is a brilliant ruby, which no one possesses today. God Almighty has bestowed that brilliant ruby on me and He has commissioned me that I should inform the world of the way in which that brilliant ruby might be acquired. I affirm with confidence that by treading on this path everyone would certainly acquire it. The only way in which it might be acquired is the true recognition of God; but this is a difficult and delicate matter. A philosopher, as I have said already, contemplating the heavens and earth and reflecting on the perfect orderliness of the universe, merely states that there ought to be a Creator. But I lead to a higher stage and affirm on the basis of my personal experience that God is. (Essence of Islam, Vol 1) Message from Sadr Lajna, Saliha Malik My Dear Sisters, Let us reflect upon the golden opportunities we have received in these recent months to absorb Allah’s Light and live according to His guidance. I have enjoyed the news of Ijtemat from many of you ‘calling us to prayer’ and of other special gatherings, which uplift our spirits and renew our faith. In May, we also gathered at mosques and mission houses to value the blessings of Khilafat. However, for the West Coast Jama’ats and for those who could be in Los Angeles, our beloved Khalifa’s atba visit was the greatest gift and filled our hearts and days with a special glow of joy. Some also travelled to Vancouver to linger longer in Hudhur’s company and take part in the Jalsa there. We have seen how Allah’s light is transmitted through His beloved prophets to his Khulafa and close companions so that we may also partake of it and transform our lives, Insha‘Allah. Let us bow down in deep gratitude to Allah, for we have accepted the Imam of the Latter Days, who reflected Allah’s Light and the light of His Messengersaw, and we live in the company of his Khalifa. I pray that our Jalsa in June will resonate with this good news and have a profound effect on us. May Allah strengthen our resolve to be true to our pledge so that we may truly partake of His Light. 3 of 36 Lajna Matters 2nd Quarter Issue, 2013 National Correspondence Letters from the office of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih Khamisatba January 30, 2013 period. All the Shoba’s have been addressed for this period and there are notable activities during this Dear Sadr Ima'illah USA, month such as the Jalsa Seeratun Nabi, celebrated at Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu both National and Local levels. It is through the teachings and blessed example of the Holy I have received your activity report for the month of Prophetsaw that members of the community can December 2012 together with a copy of the reform themselves. May Allah bless Lajna Ima'illah magazine “The Ayesha” and your request for prayers USA for their sincere efforts, Ameen. has been noted. Jazakamullah. The report is detailed and well presented and reflects on the dedication of March 26, 2013 your members. By the grace Dear Sadr Ima'illah USA, of Allah 5 baits were achieved this month. May Assalamu Alaikum Allah shower abundant Warahmatullahi blessings on Lajna Ima'illah Wabarakatuhu USA and enable them to I have received your become even closer to Him letter dated 10th February and grant steadfastness to 2013, the Lajna Ima'illah the new Mubaia’at. Ameen. and Nasirat USA activity May Allah enable you to report for the month of always serve the Jama’at November 2012, and the with commitment, Annual Waqfe Jadid enthusiasm and sincerity. report, together with Ameen. your request for prayers. Please kindly convey my loving Salaam to all the Jazakamullah Nasirat and Lajna Ima'illah members in USA. It is pleasing to note that Lajna Ima'illah USA managed to collect for the Waqfe Jadid scheme a sum of $349,124, which exceeded the collection February 27, 2013 figure for the previous year by a significant amount. Dear Sadr Ima'illah USA, May Allah accept your efforts and rewards you abundantly and enable you to always serve the Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu Jama’at with commitment, enthusiasm and sincerity. I have received your activity report dated October Ameen. 2012, Jazakamullah. Please kindly convey my loving Salaam to all the Your report reflects the hard work that has been Nasirat and Lajna Ima'illah members in USA. undertaken by Lajna Ima’illah USA during this Lajna Matters 2nd Quarter Issue, 2013 4 of 36 Selection of Hudhuratba’s Sermons Divine attribute of Al Nur (The Light) - December 4th, 2009 Hudhur Aqdasatba began by reciting verse 258 of Surah Al Baqarah and gave a discourse on the Divine attribute of Al Nur (The Light) in his Friday sermon today. The translation of the verse is: ‘Allah is the friend of those who believe: He brings them out of every kind of darkness into light. And those who disbelieve, their friends are the transgressors who bring them out of light into every kind of darkness. These are the inmates of the Fire; therein shall they abide.’ (2:258) Hudhuratba said according to lexicon Nur is one of the Divine attributes and is that Being through Whose light a physically blind person sees and a person who has gone astray finds guidance from wisdom that is bestowed by Him. It is that Being Who is apparent and through Whom all things are manifested. His Being is apparent in Himself and makes things evident for others. It is stated in the explanation of part of verse 36 of Surah Al Nur, ‘Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth…’ that it is God alone Who guides those in the heavens and in the earth. Nur is the light which is capable of being spread and helps in the sighting of things, it is of two kinds: worldly and of the Hereafter.