Khilafat Centenary Souvenir 1908-2008 — Page 90
K h i l a f a t C e n t e n a r y. . _ _"_. - -'~. . ·. Americans are generally more inclined toward religion, the message of true Islam is not reaching thein. " He also addressed specific segments of the Jama'at. To the converts: "After coming. into the. f~ld of Ahmadiyyat there should be a visible, positive change in you. . . I also exhort the newcomers that they should bring about such a change in themselves that will make them stand out among their peers. " To those members of Pakistani origin who pride themselves on their education and refuse to integrate the African brothers, he said: "They should come out of their shells and act upon the commandment that believers are like brothers. " To the women: "They are representing that part of the Jama'at with whom the lives of our future generations are linked. . . therefore, every Ahmadi woman should bear in mind that each and every action of hers should be a true picture of righteousness. . . when you raise your standard of worship your generations will be drawn toward the worship of One God. " To the Waqifeen- e-Nau (new devotees): "You must be mindful of the fact that you have to fulfill the promise that your parents have made with Allah. You have to safeguard yourselves against the so-called freedoms of t~e West. You have to become shining examples while preserving your individualities. You have to renew the pledge that your parents had made and that y ou will try, with all your faculties, to honor. . . I urge that more of you join this field [missionary work]. " On the topic of sincerity of the American Jama'at , Huzur aba said, "The progress that has been made by the American J ama'at in financial sacrifices, and the way they have answered the call of the khalifa of the time, surely reflect the fact that, despite being surrounded by an atmosphere of worldly pursuits, the spirit to step forward in the cause of Allah is alive and well in the American Jama'at. . . When I mentioned the Tahir Heart Institute, the faithful of America stepped forward and exceeded all my expectations. This clearly points to their sincer~ty and faithfulness. " He concluded his address with prayers: "May you be the beneficiaries of Hadhrat Masih-e- Maud's as prayers. May you be the recipients of Allah's blessings and mercy. May Allah create the conditions when we can see and hear each other face to face. Ma y Allah be y our protector and helper, Ameen. " Our Success is Tied to Khilafat Each khalifa has to deal with unique circumstances and it is a testament to the truth of this khilafat that our khulafa (plural of khalifa) have always dealt honorably and justly with the situations presented. During the time of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih y aba, the political and military pressures of the West on the Muslims are great, but with each incident Huzur aba has responded by providing all parties with a message that can easily lead to peace. It is a shame that people in this time would rather tune into vulgar propaganda than listen to reasoned advice. The sad reality is that these clashes will only grow, but it is with great pride that Ahmadi Muslims espouse the message of peace as given by the Holy Prophet saw and then later repeated by the Promised Messiah as and his khulafa. The institution of khilafat is a blessing that descends directly from God, and it will remain a source of divine guidance as long as we remain true to it. The blessings of khilafat are tremendous, especially in this day and age when other Muslims have languished among political mangling and reckless actions. Those without the blessings of khilafat are doomed to failure because they have rejected the Promised Messiah as and his divinely guided successors. We should pra y that Allah keep us firmly attached to this khilafat, and may He open the hearts of those who have not yet recognized the truth of this khilafat. Today it is our utmost responsibility to uphold the cause of khilafat because future generations will hold us accountable for our actions and efforts, or, God forbid, lack thereof. In this regard we should always keep in touch with the Khalifa of the time by listening to his advice and acting on it. May Allah grant Huzur aba a long, healthy life and may we always remain loyal to him. Ameen.