Hijab — Page 191
191 of control. A young girl from Pakistan who came to Australia after getting married wrote to me, ‘I was also forced to give up Purda. Or maybe I got trapped because of the environment and gave up my Purda. Now when I went there on a visit, she wrote to me saying I was wearing a Burqa when you delivered the speech regarding Purda in the ladies on the occasion of Jalsa and I am wearing it since then. I am firm in it and making efforts and praying as well that I remain steadfast. ’ She has also requested for prayers. ” (Friday Sermon, December 20, 2013 at Baitul Futuh Mosque, London, Al- Fazl International, January 10, 2014) • The blessed advice delivered by the Khalifa of the time has made extraordinary impact on the moral and spiritual states of Ahmadis around the world. Therefore, in a Friday sermon, Huzoor Anwar atba spoke regarding the spiritual changes brought about in the USA. He said: “By the grace of Allah the Almighty, my visit has produced positive results in the USA and here [Canada] too. Some girls who were born and brought up in the USA and Canada have written to me; and letters are still pouring in that after listening to you, we have come to understand the concept of honour and Haya in a woman and a girl. Now we have become aware of our importance and the importance of Purda. We have become aware of the status of an Ahmadi girl. Similarly, youth have also written that they have learned about the importance of prayer. Some girls wrote that we had assumed that we will never have the courage to wear the Burqa and while living in this environment. But, after listening to you, we have presented ourselves in and Burqa and coat, and we make a pledge that we will never take off our Burqas. Thus, this is their thinking. May Allah help them to put their thinking into practice. And may they safeguard their honour in accordance with their pledge of safeguarding it. ” (Friday Sermon, delivered at Baitul Islam Mosque, Toronto, Canada, Al- Fazl International, August 3, 2012)