An Appeal For Prayers And An Optional Fast

In the Friday Sermon delivered on 14^th of October 2011 our beloved Hazur Hazrat Khalifatul Massih ul Khamis (aba) said:

 ‘In terms of the issue and the question of Ahmadis, because of being loyal to the nation, despite the fact that certain legal restrictions and difficulties and adversities are placed upon them, yet, still Ahmadis pray that May Allah the Almighty save the country from destruction in every single way. In my previous week’s Friday Sermon, when I made an appeal for prayers, I also inculcated that a fast should be kept. I would also like to elucidate that when I said that every week an optional fast should be undertaken, I should include that it would be more suitable and appropriate that on the level of a Jama’at a single day should be designated for the fast. Every local Jama’at can make their decision on which day to choose but it would be better if one day is chosen in the local Jama’at. Monday or Thursday can be set for this optional fast; this is what I said to the Ahmadis of Pakistan.’

What does the Lajna pledge mean to you?

Lajna Imaillah Pledge: "I affirm that I shall always be ready to devote my life, property, time and children for the cause of the faith and the community. I shall always adhere to the truth and shall always be prepared to make every sacrifice for the perpetuation of the Ahmadiyya Khilafat, InshaAllah."

Pledge : A solemn binding promise to do, give, or refrain from doing something.

We as Ahmadi Muslim women stand up and repeat the above pledge in every meeting; it is for every individual to ponder over its meanings, and whether we mean or do what we say. 

‘I affirm that I shall always be ready to devote my life, property, time and children for the cause of the faith and the community.’

Life: We declare that we will always be ready to devote our life, both physical and spiritual, for our journey towards God and for the advancement of the Ahmadiyya community.

Property: This involves financial sacrifice in the way of God. We need to be aware that every single thing comes from the Almighty and will go back to Him. This is for our own benefit and teaches us humility, kindness and the spirit of sacrifice.

Time: We forget that time is a sacrifice we should be making and, although it should be the easiest, sometimes it can be the most difficult so we should plan well in advance how we will use it wisely. We should realise the purpose of our existence and not be engrossed in day-to-day material pursuits of which there is no end. Life is a test and what we do here will determine what we get in the afterlife. 

Children: We should teach our children the true Islam, as parents setting an example. This will enable them to face the world with their heads held high and proud to belong to the Jama’at of the Promised Messiah (as). We as parents tend to be happy when our children do well in school and other worldly affairs but how many of us actually put an effort to make them the true champions of Islam?

‘I shall always adhere to the truth and shall always be prepared to make every sacrifice for the perpetuation of the Ahmadiyya Khilafat, InshaAllah.’

Truth: We should always stick to the truth no matter what. This is one virtue which, if really put in practice, roots out other sins and solves a lot of problems in every sphere of life. We should not say an untrue thing even as a joke; or this can gradually develop into a habit of lying. The same is important for the Tarbiyyat of our children.

Perpetuation:  ‘To prolong the existence of or to cause to continue indefinitely’

Everyone, including Nasirat as the word can also be found in the Nasirat pledge, should know the meaning the above meaning of this word.