أَشْھَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلٰہَ اِلَّا اللّٰہُ وَحْدَہٗ لَا شَرِیکَ لَہٗ وَأَشْھَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُہٗ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ

أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَأَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰہِ مِنَ الشَّیْطٰنِ الرَّجِیْمِ- بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِیْنَ۔ اَلرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ۔ مٰلِکِ یَوْمِ الدِّیْنِ۔ اِیَّا کَ نَعْبُدُ وَ اِیَّاکَ نَسْتَعِیْنُ۔

اِھْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِیْمَ۔ صِرَاطَ الَّذِیْنَ اَنْعَمْتَ عَلَیْھِمْ غَیْرِالْمَغْضُوْبِ عَلَیْھِمْ وَلَاالضَّآلِّیْنَ۔

فَاتَّقُوا اللّٰہَ مَا اسۡتَطَعۡتُمۡ وَاسۡمَعُوۡا وَاَطِیۡعُوۡا وَاَنۡفِقُوۡا خَیۡرًا لِّاَنۡفُسِکُمۡ ؕ وَمَنۡ یُّوۡقَ شُحَّ نَفۡسِہٖ فَاُولٰٓئِکَ ہُمُ الۡمُفۡلِحُوۡنَ۔ اِنۡ تُقۡرِضُوا اللّٰہَ قَرۡضًا حَسَنًا یُّضٰعِفۡہُ لَکُمۡ وَیَغۡفِرۡ لَکُمۡ وَاللّٰہُ شَکُوۡرٌ حَلِیۡمٌ .(Al-Taghabun: 17-18)

So fear Allah as best you can, and listen, and obey, and spend in His cause; it will be good for yourselves. And whoso is rid of the covetousness of his own soul — it is such who shall be successful. If you lend to Allah a good loan, He will multiply it for you, and will forgive you; and Allah is Most Appreciating, Forbearing.

As is evident from this verse, Allah the Exalted is drawing the attention of the believers to adopt Taqwa and to fulfil the commandments of Allah the Exalted with perfect obedience. And among the countless commandments of Allah the Exalted, one important command is also spending in the way of Allah the Exalted. So a believer should never hesitate or waver at the time of financial sacrifice, because this financial sacrifice that the believers make is for a noble purpose. Today, it is only the Jama'at of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) that spends and desires to spend for the sake of obtaining the pleasure of Allah the Exalted, for the advancement of noble purposes for His sake. There is the propagation of Islam. There is the preparation of missionaries and sending them to the field of action. There is the publication of literature. There is the publication of the Holy Quran. There is the construction of mosques. There is the construction of mission houses. There is the establishment of schools. There is the launching of radio stations in various countries from which the teaching of the faith is spread. There is the establishment of hospitals. There are other works of human service. In short, there are various kinds of such works related to the fulfilment of the rights of Allah and the fulfilment of the rights of His servants, which today on the map of the world, according to the true Islamic teaching, only Jama'at Ahmadiyya is doing. This is because by accepting the Imam of the age, we have understood the spirit of these works.

We are those people who, while saving ourselves from the miserliness of the self, have attained the understanding of being included among those who are counted among the Muflihoon. Success alone is not its meaning. It means those people who are going to find ease. There is vastness in its meaning. Its detail is far greater than successes. Those people who are going to find ease, who are going to achieve successes, who are going to fulfil their good desires—they are those people who desire to attain a pleasant life. Such a pleasant life that is for the sake of the pleasure of Allah the Exalted. Whose lives come under the protection of God Almighty. Whose ease attains permanence. Which remains constant. Who attain peace by the grace of Allah the Exalted. Upon whom the graces of Allah the Exalted continue to descend always in this world and in the life of the Hereafter as well. So those who achieve successes from God Almighty, their successes are not limited; rather, as I have mentioned, there is limitless vastness in these successes. So how fortunate are those people who achieve this kind of success!

Then Allah the Exalted said about those who spend in the way of God Almighty that they are not merely being asked to spend; rather, those who are spending are you people. And this spending is a means for the welfare of those who spend. God Almighty does not keep in debt. Allah the Exalted looks upon your financial sacrifices with such loving eyes and appreciates them as if you have given a goodly loan to God Almighty. And when the time comes for the return of the loan, God Almighty gives back multiplied. And not only this, but Allah the Exalted says that because of this sacrifice of yours, He will forgive your sins, and not only will He forgive your sins but will also grant you the ability for further good deeds. So you cannot even estimate the appreciation of Allah the Exalted. Some detail of this appreciation has been stated in the explanation of the word Muflihoon.

So how fortunate are those people who benefit from the grace of Allah the Exalted in this way. And as I said, today in this world it is only Ahmadis who have the understanding of spending in the way of God Almighty, and because of this it is only Ahmadis who are benefiting from this grace. And these are not just mere words; there are hundreds, rather thousands of examples that come before me from time to time. Those who make financial sacrifices narrate and write. They are making these sacrifices with a yearning. If there is no understanding of financial sacrifice or spending in the way of Allah the Exalted, who can make financial sacrifice with such yearning? And then not only this, there are also many who immediately after this financial sacrifice also experience that Allah the Exalted returns to them multiplied. And then the impact of this loving treatment of Allah the Exalted upon them is so great that they spend the wealth increased by the grace of Allah the Exalted again in His way, and thus they continue to become receivers of favours financially as well, and other benefits, other graces also continue to reach them. There are many such incidents that Ahmadis narrate in a very emotional manner—how Allah the Exalted favoured them, how they received the ability to sacrifice, and how they became recipients of a share by the grace of Allah the Exalted beyond their hopes. I will present a few such incidents before you at this time.

Our missionary from Benin wrote that there is an elderly Ahmadi, Salman Sahib, from the city of Cotonou. Financially very weak. In December, he did not even have the means to pay the fifteen hundred CFA francs fare for coming and going to attend the Annual Convention of Benin. When he was asked to attend the Convention, he made an effort and by spending the fare for one way, he reached the Jalsa Gah, but he did not have the fare for returning. Then his arrangement had to be made. After the Convention, he reached home. Four or five days later, the collectors of Waqf-e-Jadid went to his house to collect the contribution. They told him that your payment of the Waqf-e-Jadid contribution that you had promised is still due. Salman Sahib welcomed them at his home with great cheerfulness and upon hearing about the Waqf-e-Jadid contribution, went inside the house and brought out six thousand CFA francs and gave it. The writer writes that according to his means, this was a very large amount. Upon this, the collector Raji Shahud Sahib first became emotional. Then he said to him that by all means give a small amount. Do not give such a large amount. Keep something for the children too, because this is more than your means. Then he replied that when God has given me this amount, why should I not give it in His way? This is not my money; this is the trust of Allah the Exalted. I had no money to go to the Jalsa. With great difficulty, I went by spending the fare one way. Upon return, Allah the Exalted has bestowed so much that I am ready to happily give this amount in His way. And furthermore, he said, come again after two days. I will give more money. And after two days, he paid an additional two thousand CFA francs.

Then our missionary from Tanzania writes that there is Ahmad Manyupe Sahib, a new convert, from one of the regions there. He became Ahmadi two years ago. He has repeatedly mentioned that I have seen that whatever we give in Waqf-e-Jadid and Tahrik-e-Jadid, God Almighty returns to us increased. And before joining the Jama'at, we did not know where the money went, but since we have joined the Jama'at and started giving contributions, there is a satisfaction of heart, and our economic conditions have become much better.

Then the missionary from Burundi writes that there is an Abubakar Sahib there. He is a very poor new Ahmadi. He makes his living on a meagre salary. He also helps his parents. So he says that when I went to him for the Waqf-e-Jadid contribution, he immediately paid something and said that because of a wound on his father's foot, he is very ill. For three months, he has been getting treatment at the hospital. He has also tried traditional treatment. Now the doctors are thinking of amputating his foot; there is no other option. The missionary writes that two weeks later, Abubakar Sahib came to Friday prayers and first of all paid his remaining Waqf-e-Jadid contribution and began to express gratitude in very heartfelt words. He told me that when he had paid the small amount of the Waqf-e-Jadid contribution (he had given some amount earlier), this was its grace that where I work, my employer increased my salary. And greater than this was the grace that my father also started getting better. Earlier, he used to walk with the support of a stick, a cane; now he has started walking without support, and this is all the blessing of giving contributions. And then he said, tell me the calculation of the regular contribution according to income so that I may start giving contributions regularly.

Then Sulaimani Sahib from the Lindi region of Tanzania writes that I am a shopkeeper. Last year, I suffered a loss in my business, but I did not let there be any reduction in my pledges for Tahrik-e-Jadid and Waqf-e-Jadid, and in the blessed month of Ramadan itself, I paid much more than my pledge so that I may be part of the prayer of Khalifatul Masih and come out of this loss. God Almighty bestowed such favour that at that time I had one shop, and that too was in loss. Allah the Exalted put so much blessing in my contribution that now I have two shops. So Allah the Exalted says that He does not withhold. He gives back multiplied.

Then from Tanzania itself, there is Shangwe Zuberi Sahib, a new convert from the Butawara region. He says that I had joined the Jama'at, then I left the Jama'at. Then through the efforts of the local Mu'allim, I came back into the Jama'at again. When I was outside the system of the Jama'at, my living was difficult. I had a small business. Every day I was at a loss. I had a bicycle on which I would put utensils and go to sell, and sometimes in the whole day, nothing would sell. But since I have joined the system of the Jama'at and started giving contributions in the appeals, after a short while, my economic condition changed. Allah the Exalted has put so much blessing in giving contributions that now instead of a bicycle, I have got a motorcycle, and I am in a condition many times better than my previous state.

Then the missionary from Congo Brazzaville writes that a poor Ahmadi friend, Alipa Sahib, does labour. Every month he pays contributions regularly. When we announced the Waqf-e-Jadid contribution, this poor Ahmadi said that I had only two thousand CFA francs, and I was not finding work anywhere. I went to the mosque, offered two Nawafil, and went to the Sadr Sahib and gave the two thousand francs that were available as a contribution. In the evening, he says, a person sent me twenty thousand CFA francs. That was the amount for some labour I had done a long time ago, but he had not paid me. He says I think that by the blessing of the contribution, God Almighty compelled him to pay me my money, and in this way, Allah the Exalted had the money paid ten times over.

Then the missionary from Benin writes that there is an Ahmadi there, Kainjnide Sahib. He belongs to the Gogoro Jama'at. He has recently taken Bai'at and has also started paying contributions. He feels an extraordinary change within himself. When the Waqf-e-Jadid contribution was taken from him this time, while giving with great eagerness, he said that since I have started giving contributions, my business, by the grace of Allah, is increasing, and there is extraordinary blessing in my work. I think all this is the blessing of entering Ahmadiyyat and giving contributions.

Then from the Kenema region of Sierra Leone, the missionary speaks about Haji Shaikhu Sahib. He said that earlier I used to give the Waqf-e-Jadid contribution on behalf of my children myself, but this time I told my daughter to write her own pledge and also pay it herself from her own pocket. When the Secretary Sahib went to take the Waqf-e-Jadid pledge, Dr. Haji Shaikhu Sahib told the daughter to write her pledge. The daughter said she would give ten thousand Leones. Dr. Sahib says I thought she would perhaps write three or four thousand. When the daughter said ten thousand, her mother said where will you pay so much money from? Dr. Sahib stopped the wife, saying be quiet, she has written of her own will, let her write. A few days had passed when some relatives of Dr. Sahib came to visit him, and while leaving, they gave the daughter fifteen thousand Leones. The daughter immediately gave Dr. Sahib ten thousand Leones and said this is my contribution that I had pledged.

So the Ahmadis living in these far-flung areas and the children of Ahmadis as well—Allah the Exalted has given them immense sincerity, and they understand the importance of contributions. Who is it that creates this urge in their hearts? Certainly, it can be none other than God Almighty. Yet the blind of the world cannot see that the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) has been sent by God Almighty. Also remember this, that the newcomers are making rapid progress in sincerity and loyalty. The spirit of advancing in good deeds—old Ahmadis and old families should also pay attention to this, and should pay attention with great concern.

Then our missionary from Kinshasa writes that there is an Ahmadi there, Ibrahim Sahib. He deals in buying and selling sheep and goats. Before accepting Ahmadiyyat, the condition of his business was quite bad, and there was no profit. After accepting Ahmadiyyat, he started paying contributions according to his means. By the blessing of contributions, the condition of his business improved. He acknowledges that all this is the result of the financial sacrifice he has made after joining the Jama'at.

The missionary from Congo Kinshasa writes that Mustafa Sahib is a resident of Mbanza Ngungu Jama'at from the Bakongo province. This year, he took Bai'at in Ramadan. During this period, his sister, who was a Christian, became very ill, and a large sum was being spent on her treatment. So in the same month, when he heard the appeal for financial sacrifice in the mosque, he paid contributions and also paid contributions while praying for the health of his sister. After that, his sister recovered. He himself says that all this is the blessing of the financial sacrifice made in the way of God.

Then Amir Sahib from Mali narrates that an Ahmadi there, Muhammad Jara Sahib, was very poor before giving Jama'at contributions, but since he started paying Jama'at contributions, his poverty has started to go away. By the grace of Allah the Exalted, some friends in Mali have now started making very notable financial sacrifices. Some time ago, a young man, Dao Salif Sahib, who is a poor craftsman, initially started giving one thousand CFA francs weekly as contribution, and there was so much blessing in his work and sincerity that a few days ago, he gave one hundred and fifty-three thousand francs as contribution, which equals about two hundred and two pounds. By the grace of Allah the Exalted, the inclination towards contributions among new converts is now increasing, and they give contributions with great sincerity. Similarly, there is another sincere member of the Jama'at, Fofana Sahib. Every month he pays one hundred and fifty thousand francs, approximately two hundred pounds. These are large amounts in those poor countries. Besides this, he also paid Zakat of two hundred and fifty thousand francs, approximately three hundred and thirty pounds. And by the grace of Allah, he is progressing in faith and conviction.

Inspector Sahib from Kashmir, India writes that in recent days, the flood that came in the province of Kashmir affected almost all Ahmadi homes in the city of Srinagar. The flood came in September. The water was so much that even two-storey houses were submerged in water. He says that when I arrived at the Srinagar Jama'at on tour, I was worried that now the hundred percent collection of the Srinagar Jama'at's contributions would not be possible because people are compelled to live on the roofs of their houses. Their entire homes were filled with mud, etc. And all the houses were in bad condition. Inspector Sahib says that when I went to any house, I did not find the courage to say that I had come for the collection of contributions. But he says people themselves, upon seeing me, would ask about contributions, and I was astonished that people were happily paying their outstanding contributions, and despite so much distress, there was not even a wrinkle on their faces. By the grace of Allah the Exalted, the budget of Jama'at Ahmadiyya Srinagar was completed. Seeing this scene, the eyes fill with tears, and one is reminded of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) who had nothing to eat but would take the lead in sacrifices. In reality, seeing the beloved Jama'at of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), one's faith increases.

Our Mu'allim from Benin writes that a new convert used to pay contributions regularly with the intention that Allah the Exalted make his family Ahmadi. He became Ahmadi. The family was not Ahmadi. He narrates that I saw in a dream that by the blessing of my giving contributions, my entire family has become Ahmadi. This dream created in me the urge to preach to them. Earlier, I did not preach. But because of the dream, I then started preaching to them as well. He says that I preached to them and also started giving contributions especially for this purpose, and today I feel pride saying that my entire family has become Ahmadi. This happened solely by the blessing of financial sacrifice in the way of religion.

From the village of Gogoro in Benin, there is a lady, Chabi Limita Sahiba. She says that last year my condition was such that whatever work or business I would start, I would suffer loss, and no work would succeed. One day, the Mu'allim Sahib drew my attention to spending honestly in the way of Allah the Exalted and to being regular. So I thought, let me try this too and see what benefit comes if I give a contribution honestly on my income. She says that since I have started giving contributions regularly, my business has started running. There is financial ease at home. All my affairs have started going right. God's promise is true that He gives much to those who spend.

Then from India, Inspector Qamruddin Sahib says that in the province of Kerala, at the beginning of the financial year, in connection with making the budget for Waqf-e-Jadid, I reached a Jama'at where I met a twenty-six-year-old young man. He said that I have completed my education in interior designing and am about to start a business with my father. When I told him about the importance of the Waqf-e-Jadid contribution, the young man immediately wrote two hundred thousand rupees as his budget and said that I have just started the work; God knows where the pledge will be fulfilled from. Then he says that he also wrote to me. The Inspector Sahib urged him to write to me for prayers, and he himself would also write. The Inspector Sahib says that when I went there again in connection with collection, he said happily that by the grace of Allah the Exalted, I got interior designing work from almost several banks, from which there has been much blessing in my income, and at that moment, he completely paid his pledge of two hundred thousand rupees.

Then from India, the Deputy Nazir Finance Waqf-e-Jadid writes that during the financial tour of the province of Uttar Pradesh, I met Muhammad Farid Anwar Sahib, Secretary Finance Kanpur. He paid his complete Waqf-e-Jadid pledge and also invited me to come to his home in the evening. So when I reached his home in the evening, he told me that his eight-year-old daughter had been waiting for me for two days. The child's name is Sajila. So Sajila quietly went inside the room. And when she came out after a while, there was a piggy bank in her hand, and while giving it to me, she said that throughout the year, I have collected money in this to give as a contribution. Take out all the money from it and give me a receipt. There were seven hundred and thirty-five rupees in it. He says I was very astonished to see this—an eight-year-old child who by the grace of Allah is also included in the Waqf-e-Nau scheme. She herself has her Waqf-e-Jadid pledge written and pays more than her pledge.

I have said before that this spirit that is being created in children—who can do this? It is only and only God Almighty who puts it in the hearts of children. But it is also the work of parents to keep the environment of the home religious and, along with other virtues, with worship, to keep putting the importance of contributions in the hearts of children from time to time. There are also such incidents where children came with contributions and were told that your father has given contributions on your behalf, and they said that the reward of what father has given will go to father; we will pay ourselves from our pocket money.

Amir Sahib of France says that when a friend was told about the Waqf-e-Jadid contribution, he said that whatever money I had at that time, I gave it all in contributions. The family members said keep some at least. How will the household expenses run? He says I said I have pledged the Waqf-e-Jadid contribution; I have to give this. Allah the Exalted Himself will make arrangements for the household. He narrates that the next month, he received a letter from the government's health department that looking at your medical report, we have decided to give you two years' expenses, and in this connection, three months' payment has also been sent along. When he looked at that amount, it was a hundred times more than what he had given in Waqf-e-Jadid. Allah the Exalted, by His grace and mercy, bestowed the fruit of financial sacrifice within one month.

The Secretary Tahrik-e-Jadid of Lajna UK also says that a Secretary Waqf-e-Jadid of a local area told her that a lady is financially very weak. She could not pay contributions. Nevertheless, she had her pledge written for the minimum possible. So that lady says that after having the pledge written, she started praying that Allah the Exalted grant her the ability to fulfil this pledge. This lady knew sewing. So just a few days later, she started getting sewing orders, and after that, not only was she able to pay her pledge, but there was much more income. Therefore, she also increased her pledge. I should also mention here that in both Tahrik-e-Jadid and Waqf-e-Jadid, the Lajna UK has not only met their targets with great effort and determination but, by the grace of Allah the Exalted, has paid much more than the target.

The Amir Sahib of Benin writes that in the north and centre of Benin, the Fulani tribe is settled in large numbers. In the past years, there had been Bai'ats in this tribe as well. Three villages of this tribe, due to the opposition and severe pressure of the Maulvis of that area, had stepped back some time after Bai'at. A Mu'allim belonging to the Fulani tribe from Burkina Faso was sent to Benin so that he could contact them in that area and remove their misunderstandings. So he worked in that area for a month, and these three villages, by the grace of Allah the Exalted, re-joined the Jama'at, and there was great progress in their faith. These three villages, by spending a large sum on buses for transport, themselves attended the Jalsa of Benin. And after the Jalsa, when they returned to their villages, a few days later, the Mu'allim of the Jama'at went to their villages and told them on my behalf that I have said to include new converts in financial sacrifice, even if they give little. Now this is the month of December, and it is the last month for the payment of Waqf-e-Jadid contribution. So he says that despite the fact that they had spent a large sum on transport for the Jalsa and there was also financial constraint, there was so much zeal in faith that upon hearing this, immediately, all the individuals of the three villages also joined in the Waqf-e-Jadid contribution. In this way, during this period, approximately one thousand new Bai'ats were also obtained in this tribe.

So these are some incidents of financial sacrifices—how these people pay contributions with yearning. In many incidents, we have also seen how God Almighty returns increased. So God Almighty is the One of true promises. Seeing these incidents, while the truth of the Word of God Almighty becomes evident and we ourselves also experience it, we also see spectacles of the support of Allah the Exalted with the Jama'at of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), whether it is in any country of the world.

I have already mentioned in the past years that Hazrat Khalifatul Masih the Fourth started the scheme of Waqf-e-Jadid especially to meet the needs of countries outside Pakistan, particularly Africa and India. Previously, there was not so much emphasis in countries outside Pakistan, especially in European countries or affluent countries, so now their money is spent in Africa.

At this time, I want to give you a little review that by the grace of Allah the Exalted, 95 mosques are under construction in eighteen countries of Africa, and some large mosques are also being built because the numbers are also increasing there and new fields of propagation are also opening. The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) also drew special attention to this—that where Islam is to be introduced, where preaching is to be done, build a mosque. (Adapted from Malfuzat, Volume 7, Page 119, Edition 1985, Published England)

Besides Africa, these works are also being done in the world. At this time, there are about twenty-five countries including Africa—seven other countries as well—where 204 new mosques have been constructed this year. Similarly, 184 mission houses have been constructed. Approximately eighty percent of the Waqf-e-Jadid contributions from Europe and Western countries is spent in African countries. Despite the fact that African Ahmadis, by the grace of Allah the Exalted, make great financial sacrifices, because their needs are increasing and despite the number of Bai'ats increasing, since the new converts are poor, they cannot fully meet their expenses. They do need help.

As has been mentioned in the incidents—how they are making sacrifices—but there are also such incidents here that opponents try to push away new converts by putting various pressures. There are also weak people who then step back. I have mentioned two such incidents, but there are many who are strong in faith and do not care about anything.

However, to draw their attention to this, I had told the Jama'ats to maintain continuous contacts after taking Bai'ats and to always strengthen the contacts. Go there repeatedly so that the training aspects also come forward and training continues. Now in African countries, there are many areas that are very remote areas where one has to go through jungles, and contacts do not remain strong there, or contacts happen with great difficulty. Because of this, for a long time, there is no connection with those Jama'ats or new Ahmadis. Then there is also a shortage of missionaries and Mu'allims that they too could go repeatedly so that contacts could be made. Even if they go with difficulty, because of this shortage, they cannot even go there. Therefore, many Bai'ats, as I said, are also wasted.

So the Jama'ats, especially the Jama'ats of these countries, should arrange this—that at least in the beginning, especially pay great attention for one year. Therefore, in the very first year of Khilafat, I had told the Jama'ats that countless Bai'ats were being wasted. The old Bai'ats that have happened, bring back at least seventy percent by making contacts. And by the grace of Allah the Exalted, as a result of this, the Jama'ats made efforts especially in Africa, and then when contacts were made, those people complained that you took Bai'at from us and left us and went away. They are Ahmadis at heart. There were many who were Ahmadis at heart, but they did not know the teaching of Ahmadiyyat further. There was a lack of training. However, by the grace of Allah the Exalted, new contacts were made in the hundreds of thousands, and those people came back, and now an active system for training has started. It needs to be further strengthened.

In restoring contacts, the most effort has been made by Ghana. Then Nigeria comes second. And similarly, there are the remaining African countries. In Tanzania, there is a great deficiency; they should also try to make their contacts more active because there too it is said that at one time, there were many Bai'ats. Search for all of them.

In Europe, twenty years ago or more, when the conditions of Bosnia became bad, many Bosnian people came to Germany. It is said that there were approximately one hundred thousand Bosnians who had taken Bai'at. But when they went back to their countries and contacts ended, there was no trace of where they were. In this regard, there is a need to try to make contacts in those countries as well. Similarly, there are contacts in India. In West Bengal, it is said there were Bai'ats, so there is a need to search for Ahmadis there.

If new converts are brought into the system of contributions, then only does the connection remain strong, and along with strength in faith, a relationship with the system of the Jama'at is also established. This is why I had said to include the newcomers also in Tahrik-e-Jadid and Waqf-e-Jadid. Make the old ones also aware of it. Some Jama'ats are very active in this regard and are working, but there is also lethargy in many places. I had said that even if someone gives ten pence a year as a sacrifice, take it from them too. At least a connection of theirs will be established. Everyone should know that we have to make financial sacrifices.

By the grace of Allah the Exalted, the number of those making financial sacrifice increases every year, but not as much as it should. For example, this year, there has been an increase of eighty-five thousand in Waqf-e-Jadid, and Alhamdulillah, this is the standard of the Jama'at's progress that financial sacrifices are increasing. But if they had tried and tried to include even twenty percent of the adults among this year's converts, then according to Bai'ats alone, there should have been an increase of over one hundred and ten thousand. So progress is indeed happening by the grace of Allah the Exalted, but there is more room for improvement. Next year, the Jama'ats will get new targets for including individuals through Wakalat-e-Mal; pay full attention to this. By the grace of Allah the Exalted, I have no worry about how the expenses will be met. Allah the Exalted will, Insha'Allah, meet them. This is His promise. We need more and more people who develop the spirit of sacrifices within themselves, and there is a need to increase this. For this, office-bearers should pray and also strive, and other ordinary Ahmadis should also continue the campaign of contacts. Those who are virtuous by nature and whom God Almighty wants to save, they, Insha'Allah, will return. And if the weak have stepped back, we certainly have sympathy for them—that after obtaining the blessing of Allah the Exalted, they have lost it—but we have no worry about the decrease in our numbers. The Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) also emphasized more than numbers that sincere ones advanced in sincerity, loyalty, and faith should be produced in the Jama'at.

So there are incidents of both new converts and old Ahmadis that reveal their sincerity due to the increasing standards in financial sacrifices. From this, their standards of sincerity become known. But the Jama'at system should also make a full effort to find those who are being wasted. In India too, as I said, there were Bai'ats in the Bengal area. Programs should be made to take stock so that the reasons for the breaking of contacts or stepping back can be found out, and for the future, keeping these deficiencies in view, comprehensive planning for preaching and training can be done. Similarly, in the rest of the world, work should be done on this pattern—how we should maintain continuous contact with whoever joins the Jama'at, no matter how remote an area they live in. Contact is extremely necessary. May Allah the Exalted grant the Jama'ats the ability to do this work.

Now, as is the custom, the announcement of the new year of Waqf-e-Jadid is made on the first or second Friday of January. I am making this announcement and will also present some statistics of the past year. The 57th year of Waqf-e-Jadid ended on December 31st while absorbing the graces of Allah the Exalted, and the 58th year began from January 1st. By the grace of Allah the Exalted, the worldwide Jama'ats Ahmadiyya were able to present a sacrifice of six million two hundred and nine thousand pounds in Waqf-e-Jadid this year, which is seven hundred and thirty-one thousand pounds more than last year. Alhamdulillah.

Pakistan is at the top. Last year, the UK came on top. After that is the UK. Then America. Then Germany. Then Canada. Then India. Then Australia. In Australia too, Masha'Allah, a lot of work has been done in terms of increasing numbers as well as collection. After Australia is Indonesia. Then Dubai, Belgium, and then an Arab country.

In terms of the increase in currency, as I said, Australia has made a notable increase. They have increased by one hundred and twenty-three percent. Canada has increased by twenty-one percent. After that, India is sixteen percent or approximately seventeen percent.

In terms of per capita payment, America is number one. They have paid seventy pounds per capita. Switzerland is fifty-nine pounds. Australia is fifty-six. The UK is fifty-one pounds. Then Belgium. Then France. Then Canada. Then Germany. Among these large Jama'ats, Germany is at the very end.

Number of participants: The number of participants in Waqf-e-Jadid has exceeded eleven hundred and twenty-nine thousand, and in terms of increase in numbers, the Jama'ats of Mali, Benin, Niger, Burkina Faso, Gambia, and Cameroon are noteworthy. In terms of overall collection in Africa, Ghana is first. Then Nigeria. Then Mauritius.

In adults, among Pakistan's top three Jama'ats, first is Lahore. Second is Rabwah. Third is Karachi. There, adults and children have separate (offices). And the position of districts is as follows: Rawalpindi is number one. Then Faisalabad. Sargodha, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Umarkot, Multan, Hyderabad, Bahawalpur, Peshawar.

The three major Jama'ats of children are (first) Lahore, second Karachi, and third Rabwah. And in terms of children, the position of districts is Sialkot, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Gujranwala, Narowal, Gujrat, Umarkot, Hyderabad, Dera Ghazi Khan.

In terms of overall collection, the ten major Jama'ats of the UK are Birmingham West, Raynes Park, Fazl Mosque, Gillingham, Worcester Park, Birmingham Central, Wimbledon Park, New Malden, Hounslow North, and Cheam. The position of regions is: London Region is number one. Then Midlands. Then Middlesex. Islamabad. North East and South Region.

The five small Jama'ats are Spen Valley, Leamington Spa, Bromley and Lewisham, Scunthorpe, and Wolverhampton.

In terms of collection, the ten Jama'ats of America are: Silicon Valley is number one. Then Detroit. Then Seattle. Then York Harrisburg. Then Los Angeles East. Then Boston. Then Central Virginia. Then Dallas. Then Houston and Philadelphia.

The five local Amarats of Germany are: Number one is Hamburg. Then Frankfurt. Then Gross-Gerau. Then Darmstadt. Then Wiesbaden.

And in terms of collection, the ten Jama'ats are Roder Mark, Neuss, Nidda, Flörsheim, Cologne, Friedberg, Koblenz, Mahdi Abad, Fulda, Hanover.

In terms of collection, the major Jama'ats of Canada are: Edmonton, Durham, Milton Georgetown, Saskatoon South, Saskatoon North.

In terms of collection, the first ten Jama'ats among the provinces of India are: Kerala is number one, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa, Karnataka, Qadian Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Lakshadweep, and Rajasthan.

In terms of collection, the Jama'ats of India are Kerolai, Calicut, Hyderabad, Calcutta, Qadian, Kannur Town, Suloor, Pengadi, Chennai, Bangalore. At the end are three Jama'ats: Karunagapally, Pathapiriyam, and Kerang.

The ten Jama'ats of Australia are: Number one is Blacktown, Melbourne, Mount Druitt, Adelaide, Marsden Park, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Tasmania, Darwin.

May Allah the Exalted put immense blessings in the wealth and lives of those who sacrifice.

Finally, I also want to draw attention to prayers, especially for the Ahmadis of Pakistan. In Rabwah as well, for the past few days, opponents and adversaries have been making considerable effort to worsen the situation. May Allah the Exalted protect every Ahmadi from their evil, may He turn their evil upon themselves, and may the situation of peace and security remain in Rabwah. May Allah the Exalted also give wisdom to the administration and government so that they can handle this matter properly.

Similarly, pray for the Muslim world and for the Muslims living in Europe as well. The cruel incident that has happened in France—and in the name of Islam and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), taking the law into one's own hands and killing someone in this way has no connection whatsoever with the teaching of Islam. We always say that this has no connection with the teaching of Islam and prove that there is no connection with the teaching. But still, the so-called Muslims and these Muslim organizations do not desist from their actions and these cruelties. As a result, the Muslims who live here in European countries or live in the West may have to face the wrong reaction of the local people of these countries.

And not only this—in this reaction, this newspaper against which action has been taken, whose editor and people have been cruelly killed—this newspaper and the people here and the press here, by showing a wrong reaction, may make wrong attacks on the person of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). May Allah the Exalted also grant the governments here the ability to try to stop this wrong reaction. They should catch those who are criminals and punish them according to the law. But if there are wrong reactions, then the Muslims who have no one to guide them will also react, and thus the cycle of disorder will continue to increase. There is a danger of it increasing.

Today, it is the work of only the members of Jama'at Ahmadiyya to pray for saving both sides from cruelties. Similarly, pay attention to reciting Durood Sharif abundantly these days, and those who can make practical efforts to create an atmosphere of peace in their sphere should also make efforts. May Allah the Exalted deliver the world from the situation of disorder, and may this situation of disorder quickly change into peace.