On 22nd September 2024, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad(aa) delivered the keynote address at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association’s gathering in Kingsley, Hampshire, highlighting the responsibilities on the shoulders of the attendees.

We present the official transcript of this address. After reciting Tashahhud, Ta`awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V(aa) said:

‘By the grace of Allah, once again, you have had the opportunity to hold and participate in the National Ijtema of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya, an Ijtema dedicated to young Ahmadi men and boys.

Furthermore, the Holy Prophet(sa) has stated that resorting to falsehood is a mark of a hypocrite. The Holy Prophet(sa) said that when a hypocrite speaks, he lies; when he makes a deal, he violates its terms; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when involved in a dispute, bereft of reason and logic, a hypocrite resorts to cursing and abusing the other party. No Ahmadi man, woman or child should ever tolerate the thought of being classed amongst the idolaters or hypocrites. As I have said, there should not even be a hint of deception in our words or deeds; rather, others should testify that Ahmadi youth speak truth, live truth and embody truth at all times. People should have complete confidence that if they deal with an Ahmadi, they will fulfil the terms of their agreement with integrity, even if it leads to a loss.

Further, if you ever find yourself in a dispute or argument, never lower your moral standards by abusing or cursing the other person; rather, use logic and evidence to support and convey your point. Hold fast to the truth, even if it may cause you short-term loss. Always remember that plotting or scheming can never lead to anything good or prove a means of benefit to us. One day, we must all depart this world, and so we must spend whatever time we have engaged in those acts that are pleasing to Allah the Almighty and abide by the perfect teaching He has bestowed to us through the Holy Prophet(sa).

Similarly, Ahmadi parents must refrain from all forms of falsehood within their homes, even what they might consider a harmless joke. As parents, you must nurture the seeds of truthfulness in your children. Otherwise, you cannot expect your children to speak truthfully and to understand its value. Similarly, always keep your promises to your children. Do not make a promise if you are unsure if you can fulfil it.

In his writings and various discourses, the Promised Messiah (as) has also repeatedly condemned falsehood in the strongest possible terms. On one occasion, the Promised Messiah (as) states, “In reality, until a person abandons falsehood, he cannot become pure. Worthless, worldly people believe that they cannot survive without lies. However, this is a reprehensible belief.”

Here, the Promised Messiah(as) condemns and utterly rejects the belief that a person must engage in falsehood to succeed. The Promised Messiah(as) further said, “If one cannot survive with truth, then falsehood certainly cannot sustain a person either. It is deeply regretful that these wretched people do not give God the value He deserves.”

He says, “They do not know that without the grace and mercy of God Almighty, a person cannot survive.”

The Promised Messiah(as) continued, “Yet, they consider the filth of falsehood to be their god and the means of resolving their difficulties. This is precisely why God Almighty has tied falsehood to idol worship in the Holy Quran. Know for certain that we cannot take even a single step, rather not even a single breath, without the grace of God.” (Malfuzat Vol. 2, p. 82)

The Promised Messiah(as) states that every single breath we take is due only to the grace of God Almighty and that a person’s scheming, plotting or lying can never lead to success. By departing from the truth, all we achieve is to depart from the protection and mercy of God Almighty. Conversely, if we eliminate falsehood from society, the many conflicts, disputes, and grievances that threaten the world’s peace and prosperity will find no oxygen to burn.

If truth and justice are prized above all else, the fear of facing the consequences of their actions would deter nations from perpetrating warfare, evil, and injustice. At an individual level, people would naturally try to free themselves of their vices out of a fear of exposure and having their reputation tarnished. This is why the Holy Prophet(sa) instructed one Companion that if he genuinely desired to rid himself of his many vices, he should pledge never again to tell a lie. Consequently, if we instil fidelity to the truth within ourselves, other virtues and qualities will automatically develop in us and become part of our daily lives.

Therefore, I reiterate that all Jama’at members, especially Khuddam and Atfal, should collectively pledge to eradicate all traces of dishonesty from their lives. Indeed, Ahmadi youth and children should, as individuals and collectively, launch a campaign and movement to uphold truthfulness and honesty, reject falsehood and embrace truth. May it be that all people testify to the fact that Ahmadi youth are those who never utter a false word.

Now, before concluding, I also wish to remind you of the crucial importance of obedience to Khilafat. If your pledge you have all vowed to abide by and fully obey any ma’ruf decision made by the Khalifah of the time, What is a ma’ruf decision? Simply, it is to convey the commands of Allah the Almighty and His noble Messenger(sa) because the Khalifah of the time will never give any instruction or statement contrary to the commands of Allah the Almighty or the Holy Prophet(sa). Accordingly, you must continually assess if you are living up to your pledge of obedience.

Amongst the ma’ruf decisions of the Khalifah of the time, instructing Ahmadis to observe Salat at the prescribed times and fulfil the rights of the worship of God Almighty is of primary importance. Thus, I repeatedly instruct Ahmadis to focus on offering namaz with concentration and humility at the appointed times. Regrettably, the attendance at our mosques and Salat centres is not as high as it should be, even though many Khuddam and Atfal live near a mosque or centre and can easily come for namaz.

Similarly, many do not wake up to offer the Fajr prayer at the correct time. Each Khadim personally, and Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya as an organisation, should pay attention to this. Unquestionably, when you strive to fulfil the rights of Allah, your love for Him will naturally lead you to fulfil the rights of His creation. So, if you are diligent in the worship of Allah the Almighty, you will come to possess and exhibit the highest morals and will never be the cause of disorder or division in society. Instead, you will play a significant and positive role in bringing people together under the banner of peace, love and mutual respect.

Similarly, I wish to draw your attention to the fact that after namaz, a short dars is normally offered in our mosques, and instead of leaving quickly, you should listen carefully to them. This will ensure that the commands of Allah the Almighty and His Messenger(sa) consistently reach your ear and will deepen your understanding of Islamic teachings and beliefs.

Now, as the Ijtema draws to a close and you return to your homes, I urge you to pay close attention to what I have said today. Reflect especially upon the hadith in which the Holy Prophet(sa) taught that shunning falsehood was the means of freeing yourself from other vices and sinful activities. Similarly, pay heed to the blessed words of the Promised Messiah(as) advising his followers to remain engaged in a constant spiritual jihad against falsehood.

Always remember that a community or nation whose members manifest truth and integrity is destined for great success. Hence, if members of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya and Atfalul Ahmadiyya hold fast to truth, there is no doubt that a great and everlasting spiritual victory is destined for us. Undoubtedly, if Ahmadis manifest Islam’s true teachings, individually and collectively, then no matter what our opponents throw at us, no matter how they seek to destroy or persecute us, their every effort will be futile and denied. They will never be able to cause us any harm, as together, we will raise aloft a shield of truth that can never be penetrated, Insha’Allah.

Always remember that our purpose extends far beyond mere words. We will not fulfil our objectives just by reciting poems or slogans; rather, our prosperity lies in ensuring that our deeds perfectly mirror the teachings of Islam.

And so, at the end, I pray that may every Khadim and Tifl leave this Ijtema with a fervent and burning desire to elevate their worship, strengthen their morals and embody truth in every facet of their lives. May Allah the Almighty enable all of us to do so – Ameen. JazakAllah.

Now, join me in silent prayer.

Today, on 29^th January, fifteen Local Ijtema’at were held across the United Kingdom. This was the first time in almost two years that Khuddam were able to get together for an Ijtema and compete in academic and sports competitions at a local level.

The fifteen Qiadats that had their local Ijtema’at were Baitul Futuh South, Tooting Broadway, Purley, Stockport, Leamington Spa, Burton Upon Trent, Watford, Wandsworth, Guilford, Bradford South East, Mitcham Park, Peckham, Swansea, Surbiton, and Malden Manor.

The Ijtema’at followed a similar programme:

• They started with an opening session in the morning
• They then held academic competitions consisting of Tilawat, Hadith, Adhan, Speech, etc.
• Followed by Namaz Zuhr and Asr
• Sports competitions including a sprint race, football, and cricket
• Closing session around 3pm where most Qiadats were joined by Sadr Sahib Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya UK via Teams and Khuddam were able to ask Sadr Sahib some questions
• The Khuddam were served food

Stockport Ijtema

The feedback from all the Khuddam was positive, all were happy to be meeting their fellow Khuddam brothers once again after such a long time. Below we share some of the feedback we have received from the Qaideen about how the Khuddam found their local Ijtema:

Tayyab Ahmad, Local Qaid Watford: “Due to COVID the numbers were lower than usual but that did not stop our Ijtema from being a success. The Khuddam enjoyed each other’s company and there is a strong feeling of being part of something that is bigger than all of us — overall everyone enjoyed participating in the sports and academic competitions.”

Fadlullah Afolabi, Local Qaid Peckham: “Alhamdulillah the Ijtema was successful, we managed to do football which always gets Khuddam together. Khuddam understood the theme for the year and Sadr Sahib’s address was very useful to everyone.”

Ammar Ahmad, Regional Qaid Darul Aman, speaking in relation to the Stockport Ijtema said “This is the first local Itema in over two years. One Khadim who unfortunately had to miss out still stood around outside for a bit, dismayed. He said he wishes he could be part of the gathering. We had our regional Murabbi Sahib do a Talqeen-e-Amal which was very beneficial to Khuddam, but it was the gathering of Khuddam— learning together, doing sports together, and doing prayers together which everyone loved.”

Watford Ijtema

At 3pm, the majority of the local Ijtema’at tuned into a live session with Sadr Sahib UK which he chaired from the Guildford Ijtema. Sadr Sahib delivered a talk that was listened to by all Khuddam present both physically and virtually as part of the closing sessions, due to all Ijtema’at having a hybrid set-up. At the end of the talk, Sadr Sahib opened up the floor for questions. These, along with the answers, are presented below.

Question: Why are congregational prayers more rewarding that individual prayers?

Answer: “In Islam there is more reward engaging in acts of virtue and goodness collectively. The reason for this is that through congregational efforts everyone influences each other and naturally the good in society is absorbed. Therefore, Islam has prescribed congregational prayers for all men and emphasised that it is obligatory upon men to pray at a Mosque. When we convene in gatherings such as today’s Ijtema’at and offer our prayers together, it has a different spiritual effect as compared to praying at home.”

Question: To what extent do we compromise shaking hands with the opposite gender?

Answer: “In reality you do not need to compromise on this. You should explain that these are your values and your religious beliefs and that they should be respected in the same way that you respect the values of others in society. We should remember that Allah the Almighty has a way of making mankind accept His commands—with the pandemic everyone has been forced to cover-up which is a type of Purdah [Islamic veil], before women in the West would not cover their faces but now at the very least they have to cover their faces in line with government guidelines. Furthermore, most people today prefer not shaking hands and prefer just saying greetings to each other from a distance because of COVID. Therefore, there is nothing wrong if you explain that you are not shaking hands because of your values. You should be polite, but be courageous about it.”

Question: These days the Jama’at is going through some difficulty, how can we show Huzoor^aba that we are loyal and how can we help him?

Answer: “Allah the Almighty has said when someone says he or she believes it is not the end of their difficulty. Rather, Allah the Almighty will test that belief in various ways. This is also the case with the community of believers. It is through such trials that Allah the Almighty determines who is a loyal devotee and whose faith is empty. Therefore, our responsibility is to act upon the instructions of Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih V^aba and to ensure that we remain attached to the Jama’at. In the future our progeny will either thank Allah that their forefathers remained attached to Khilafat if we now remain devoted, or they will curse those who left the Jama’at.”

Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya UK was incredibly privileged to have Hazrat Khalifatul-Masih V^aba, address Khuddam at the concluding session of the National Ijtema—marking two years since Huzoor’s previous address at a Khuddam National Ijtema.

The address ranged from explaining the true purpose of organising Ijtemas, stating the responsibilities of Khuddam and their value to the Jama’at, as well as giving a challenge to Khuddam to strive for academic excellence in their respective fields.

Below we present extracts from the address.

From the outset, Huzoor^aba stated that despite the natural inclination to socialise after two difficult years spent socially distanced and isolated, “It is very important to recognise that the primary objective of the Ijtema is not merely for the Khuddam and Atfal to gather together and enjoy each other’s company. Rather, the true and overriding objective of the Ijtema is the spiritual, moral and religious development of the participants.”

Further explaining this, Huzoor said “The Ijtema provides a place for you to take a step away from the material world, and focus your time and energy on absorbing and experiencing those speeches, competitions, and activities that will increase your piety and standards of righteousness.”

“These Ijtemas are held to ensure that every single Ahmadi, both male and female, and regardless of their age, ethnicity, or social background, understand that they are each of great value and importance to the Jama’at.”

Huzoor^aba then spoke of the restrictions on Atfal, where only Atfal aged 12 – 15 years were allowed to attend the Ijtema. Huzoor^aba said “I hope in the future the need for such restrictions will be removed. But it was important for those aged 12 to 15 to attend, as this is a crucial age in terms of one’s religious and moral development. Having attended the various events, and programmes held specially to cater for their needs, I hope the Atfal will now appreciate their true worth and value in the eyes of the Jama’at.”

Huzoor^aba then stated “Indeed, all Khuddam and Atfal should recognise that they are of great value, and that each Ahmadi is a precious member of the Jama’at of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him).”

Talking about the importance of the youth, Huzoor^aba said “It is a fundamental truth that the children and youth of each nation have a great role to play in the progress and well-being of their community.”

To elaborate, Huzoor^aba quoted the second Khalifah—Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad^ra—to explain the purpose of the Ansar, Lajna and Khuddam auxiliary organisations. Huzoor^aba said “If there is any weakness, laziness, or deficiency amongst the central Jama’at administration, or within a particular auxiliary body, the other bodies are there to bridge the gap and to take up the mantle, to ensure that the highest spiritual objectives of our community are fulfilled, and that the community of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) continues to march forward.”

“So, every member of the Jama’at, irrespective of whether they are an officer bearer or the members, should always reflect upon the fact that they have a personal responsibility to the mission of the Promised Messiah^as”.

Addressing Khuddam, Huzoor^aba went on to say that “If the members of Khuddam display the highest morals, give priority to their faith, maximise their religious and secular knowledge—and above all, are those who act upon the commandments of the Holy Quran, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and are fully obedient to the Khalifah of the time, then the rate of progress of your Jama’at will increase manifold.”

Huzoor^aba then explored the importance of the responsibilities of the older Khuddam, particularly focussing on the influence they have on the younger generations. “Do not think that your behaviour or conduct is something that does not impact others. Rather, the next generation is looking directly towards you. And so do not let them down. Always remember, that if you do not pay close attention to discharging your duties to Allah the Almighty, and to one another, and do not seek to elevate your religious, spiritual, and intellectual standards, then you will not only be harming yourself, but also those who follow in your footsteps. You will be setting a harmful example for the next generation. And so, if they go astray, you will be held responsible”.

Summarising the importance of this point, Huzoor said “Just as the sun rises without fail each morning, our each and every day should give rise to glad tidings of the spiritual progress and advancement of the members of the Jama’at.”

Referring to the banner and official slogan of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya ‘A nation cannot be reformed without the reformation of its youth’, Huzoor said “View these words as a personal challenge to live up to […] you must strive to attain the highest moral and spiritual standards and to be a true asset for your nation and community. Otherwise, just to repeat these words without any action is utterly meaningless.”

Then addressing the younger members of the audience, Huzoor^aba reminded them of the example of early Islam, where “Very young men, aged 18, or 19 not only took part in the major battles of that time, but were given the rank of commanders. They acted with outstanding courage and manifested the highest levels of faith. So do not underestimate your abilities or think that you can focus upon your faith and religion at a later time in your life. Rather, even as teenagers and young adults, you should understand your value and importance.”

Offering practical examples for spiritual progression, Huzoor^aba said “You must be regular in offering the five daily prayers and do not speedily offer them without your attention. Rather, your prayers should be offered carefully with proper concentration, and with the true love of Allah  embedded within your heart. Use that time of prayer to build your relationship with Allah. And do not just pray for yourself or your family, but also pray for your faith, for the Jama’at, and nation. Additionally, all Khuddam and Atfal should do Tilawat daily, even if it is just a few Rukus. You should try to understand the meaning of the Quran so that you can learn the best morals and know what Allah desires from you.”

Most importantly, Huzoor^aba singled out the quality of being truthful. “As you leave this Ijtema today, you should do so with the firm and sincere intention to always speak the truth, and to act with honesty at all times, and under all circumstances […] all Khuddam should understand that speaking the truth and acting with integrity is the means of gaining the nearness of Allah, whilst falsehood is equivalent to shirk — that is associating partner with God.”

“Those who purposely lie or deceive are no different to the idol worshipers who make falsehood their god, and who think that they will benefit from lying whilst fearing they will suffer if they adhere to the truth.”

Continuing on the qualities Khuddam should inculcate, Huzoor^aba said “Another very important quality and virtue that you should all develop is to become compassionate, loving, and considerate of others. Seek to establish the ties of mutual love, brotherhood and harmony. For a nation or community to be strong, it requires people to be united and to care for one another, and to share in each other’s joys and sorrows.”

Lastly, Huzoor addressed those Khuddam who are students or in higher education. “All students, whatever their age or level, should work diligently and seek to achieve the best possible results. And as you progress to adulthood, you should strive to reach the apex of your chosen profession.” Referring to the observation in the Jama’at that generally, girls are excelling more than boys in education, Huzoor said “I lay down the challenge to the members of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya to strive to redress this imbalance, and to endeavour to achieve the very best results in your academic career.”

Stating that it was God’s promise to the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) that members of his community will excel in gaining knowledge and understanding, Huzoor encouraged Khuddam to strive to be one of those who manifest this promise.

Beloved Huzoor concluded his address with the prayer that “May Allah the Almighty grant all of you the humility to truly comprehend your immense responsibilities and to fulfil your obligations as members of Khuddamul Ahmadiyya. May you fulfil the rights to Allah the Almighty, and to His creation, and be those who illuminate the name of our Jama’at in the world, and play a distinguished role fulfilling the mission of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him). It is my sincere and ardent prayer that you are successful in this. May Allah the Almighty continue to bless Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya in all respects. Ameen.”