The Devotion of Life — Page 420
420 Hadrat Ibrahim’s as prayer, ‘O God, choose our children for yourself so that they become yours. ’ The next century should witness a grand army of children from around the world, freeing themselves from worldly pursuits to enter the next century as the slaves of the God of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), children being offered as gifts to God. ” The Importance of the ‘Waqf-e-Nau’ Scheme “There is an urgent need for this ‘waqf’. Hundreds of thousands of educated servants are needed to serve the extensive spread of Islam in the next hundred years. ‘Waqifeen-e-Zindagi’ are needed, those who will be the servants of God and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). ‘Waqifeen-e-Nau’ are needed from every section (of society) in every country. ‘Waqifeen-e-Zindagi’ are needed in large numbers from all spheres of life from every country. We have tried hard previously but some sections have practically felt themselves exempted from ‘waqf-e-zindagi’. The ‘waqifeen’ available to the Jama’at do not come from all classes. Some very well-to-do families have offered their children, but by and large the middle class, which is not highly regarded, has offered its children. The coming of ‘waqifeen-e-zindagi’ from this class enhances their dignity, not decreases it. The lack of ‘waqifeen’ from other classes definitely decreases the esteem of these classes. ”