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۔

By Allah's grace, from next Friday onwards, the Annual Convention of Ahmadiyya Community UK will begin, God willing. For convention preparations, volunteer workers have been going to Hadiqatul Mahdi for some weeks now, and since last week, for the last ten days or so, Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya and other volunteers have been working tirelessly. Making all arrangements to hold a convention in the jungle is no ordinary matter. But youth and volunteers coming from different parts of our country, coming from different parts of Britain, do this work so skillfully, that its example is not seen anywhere else in the world, in any organization. So this too, by Allah's grace, is that spirit which Allah the Exalted has created in youth and workers after they come into the pledge of the Promised Messiah, peace and blessings be upon him. Whether it rains or shines, these youth, being indifferent to these matters, are working selflessly all the time for this convention started by the Promised Messiah (peace and blessings be upon him) and are preparing, and then during the convention days, thousands more workers will come presenting their services for serving guests and running the convention system in the best manner, and then after that, to wind up this work and to secure all the equipment also requires working for quite a long time. Among these workers, God willing, are men, women, boys and girls. Old and young are there who will come or are already there. So this is the extraordinary spirit of serving the Promised Messiah's guests which today we see nowhere except in the Community established by the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him. In these Western countries where earning the world and being involved in worldly matters is generally—except as Allah wills—everyone's first priority, there Ahmadi youth are serving voluntarily with humility. So it is our duty that we continuously keep praying for these workers: that Allah the Exalted, where He keeps granting them the ability to serve in the best manner, there He should always keep them protected from every evil, worry, and hardship.

Now, according to custom—and this is also necessary—I will say a few things for workers regarding hospitality. There is no doubt that all workers, as I said, serve the Promised Messiah's guests with all their effort and attention, but some newly joined ones and those children who are presenting their services for the first time, as well as old workers—for them too, as a reminder, it is necessary that we keep before us and keep repeating the Islamic teaching regarding hospitality, the excellent example of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) his true servant's own practice and his advice, so that we can establish better and better standards of hospitality. Allah the Exalted, telling us the importance of hospitality, mentions in the Holy Quran the guests of Hazrat Abraham, peace be upon him: that when guests came to Hazrat Abraham, peace be upon him, the first and immediate reaction he showed after saying welcome and prayers for safety was that he immediately had food prepared for them. And then there is mention of his concern for Hazrat Lot's guests: that people of my nation should not trouble them, and concern for the guests' protection gripped him. So there should be concern for the guest's hardship, and the guest's hardship also becomes a cause of the host's disgrace. This lesson also is learned from this.

So this should be remembered: that the guest's hardship is not some ordinary thing to be disregarded. Rather, if in any manner any hardship reaches the guest, this is a cause of shame and disgrace for the host. Therefore, Islam has greatly emphasized honoring the guest.

The extraordinary qualities of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that appeared to Hazrat Khadija, may Allah be pleased with her, and which Hazrat Khadija mentioned to the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) after his first revelation when she saw his agitation and said to him (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that God Almighty cannot let the possessor of these qualities be lost—among them she also described one quality: that how can God Almighty let you be lost (when) the quality of hospitality in you has also reached its extreme. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Beginning of Revelation, Chapter on how revelation began to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) Hadith number 3)

Then in the Holy Prophet's life, there are not one, two, five, ten, but hundreds—rather even more than that—examples, such incidents that are touching the highest standards of his honoring guests and hospitality, and then you also taught these methods to your Companions and your Ummah. There are also such incidents of Companions that reading them, one is amazed: how they used to do hospitality, making extraordinary sacrifices, and then how Allah the Exalted also blessed their hospitality and appreciated it. The Holy Prophet's method was that when more guests came, he would distribute some guests to everyone and also host his share of guests and then also personally do their hospitality himself. On one such occasion, when he distributed guests, when more guests came, he also hosted his share of guests. A Companion Abdullah bin Tuhfah says that on one occasion I was among those guests who came to the Holy Prophet's share. He took us with him to his home and asked Hazrat Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, is there anything to eat at home? She said there is a little hareera that I had kept for you. That day the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was also fasting. This little food was for his breaking of fast. In any case, at the command of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) Hazrat Aisha brought it in a vessel. He took a little from it—perhaps took a sip or two or ate a morsel—and told the guests to eat saying بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ. So they say we ate it in such a way that we were not looking at it, and all became full. Then he asked: is there something to drink, so they brought some drinks. He drank a little from it and then said drink saying بِسْمِ اللّٰہِ. Then we drank it and drank it in the same way that we were not looking at it, and then we became thoroughly full. (Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 7, pp. 794-795, Hadith of Tuhfah al-Ghifari, Hadith number 24015, Alam al-Kutub Beirut 1998)

So this was his hospitality. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had first eaten it or tasted it—rather one should not say eaten—would have just touched it with his mouth for prayer, so that by the blessing of your prayer it would suffice for all, and it sufficed. Similarly, there are also dozens of other incidents of food being blessed by prayer, from which it is known: how on his remaining food, on a little food, other people became full.

Then sometimes guests also create some troublesome situations and the host's patience breaks. Such circumstances arise. But even in such a situation, what a magnificent and wonderful example of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was: that a person stays as a guest at night, then due to stomach upset or due to enmity, deliberately dirties the bed and gets up in the morning and leaves. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) also, instead of saying anything to him, instead of any objection, immediately himself starts washing his bedding. In short, to whatever extent a guest's right can be fulfilled, we see it in the Holy Prophet's example, we see it in his life. When he showed this example, it is its very result that in the lives of Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, also we see examples of sacrifices for guests' sake.

This incident is also unique in itself—whenever you read it, a new pleasure comes—when a Companion, for the Holy Prophet's guest, coaxes his children and puts them to sleep hungry, and they themselves also remain hungry, but do not let the guest feel anything of any kind. An Ansari says that when the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) entrusted a guest to me, I came home and asked my wife, is there anything to eat? She said there is just a little food which is kept for the children. Both consulted that the children should somehow be put to sleep. Then bring food before the guest and extinguish the lamp on some pretext. So food was brought before the guest, and in the same way the wife extinguished that lamp by waving her sheet, and then this was also decided: that we will pretend that we too are eating food in this darkness, because if not done this way, it may be that the guest's hand also stops and he may not eat properly. The food was little. In any case, with this strategy they fed the guest. The guest ate till he was satiated. The next day when this Ansari presented himself in the service of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) he said smiling that your strategy of feeding the guest was such that God Almighty was also happy at it. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Virtues of the Ansar, Chapter on the saying of Allah "and prefer others above themselves though poverty become their lot," Hadith number 3798)

So this hospitality pleased Allah the Exalted so much that He also informed the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) about it. These Companions were those who gave preference to guests over themselves—rather over their own children. Certainly such people, obtaining Allah the Exalted's pleasure, become heirs of the bounties of both worlds. This spirit developed in Companions by seeing the Holy Prophet's own example and developed from his teaching.

In a tradition it comes that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: whoever believes in Allah the Exalted and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent, and whoever believes in Allah the Exalted and the Last Day, let him honor his neighbor, and whoever believes in Allah the Exalted and the Last Day, let him respect his guest. (Al-Mu'jam al-Kabir by Tabarani, Vol. 5, p. 233, Chapter Al-Zay, Abdul Rahman bin Abi Umrah, from Zaid bin Khalid, Hadith number 5187, Dar Ihya al-Turath al-Arabi 2002)

So these are the standards for being a believer. When steps move toward perfection of faith, then God Almighty's pleasure will also be included, and when Allah the Exalted's pleasure is obtained, only then can a person benefit from the bounties of both worlds.

When the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) entrusted guests, he would also inquire from guests how the hospitality was. In a writing it is said that once a delegation of guests from the tribe of Abdul Qais presented themself, so the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) instructed the Ansar for their hospitality. The Ansar took them to their homes. In the morning when those people presented themselves, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) asked how did your hosts serve you at night? They said O Messenger of Allah, very good people. They spread soft beds for us, took care of our comfort, fed us excellent food, and then kept teaching us the Book and Sunnah. (Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 6, pp. 118-119, Hadith of the delegation of Abdul Qais, Hadith number 17985, Alam al-Kutub Beirut 1998)

When they sat in gatherings, gatherings of remembrance of Allah the Exalted and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) were held. So these are the hosts' duties. Those in whose homes guests are coming should also, instead of spending time in useless talk at night, spend maximum time during these days in remembrance of Allah the Exalted and His Messenger. Matters of virtue should be discussed and matters of virtue should be taught. Among them are children also, youth also. In our conventions, besides Ahmadis, now non-Community guests also come in quite large numbers. They stay at different places, and at every place there is a hospitality team. These team members or workers—whoever are serving—should show their examples also in such a way at every accommodation that those who come should feel that they have come to participate in a religious convention, not in a worldly fair, and they should raise their behavior, their morals to high standards. At night or in any part of the day also, when they are free, instead of sitting free engaging in miscellaneous gossip, they should talk about religion. This will also have an effect on guests. It will be clear to them that these people, during these days, completely detaching from the world, have gathered purely for Allah's sake and are serving with this spirit also, and keeping this in view, are also teaching guests matters of their religion. So from the workers' side, this is also preaching and training of children and youth is also happening. We, the Ahmadiyya Community, still have, by Allah's grace, a very long journey to complete. When Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, understood this, then where they fulfilled the right of hospitality to the delegation that came—whose example I gave—by providing best accommodation, arranging it, feeding them best food, there they also tried to fulfill the right of their spiritual, religious, and scholarly need, so that when they go to their homes, they can train their people in the best manner and also convey Islam's message to people of their area in the best manner. In our system also are departments of training and preaching. During convention days, their teams are also formed. At night, with different nations, with different classes, some meetings also occur. So feeding this spiritual table to one's own and others is also the responsibility of those on duty. Arrangements for this should also be made in the best manner. So those on duty should also keep this matter before them. They should remember that their own practical examples also, and their words also, are part of hospitality. Not just serving. Attention should be paid to this also during these days.

In this age, what kind of examples of hospitality the true servant of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, showed us and how he trained—I present a few examples of this also. There is an incident of honoring and respecting a guest. Once a guest who came to Qadian, who was also in the pledge of the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him—there was also a relationship of discipleship—and under the spirit of this discipleship, he started pressing the Promised Messiah's feet. During this time, a Hindu friend knocked at the window or door of the room. This Companion says I got up to open the window, but the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, got up very quickly and went and opened the door and said you are our guest, and the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that the guest's honor should be done. (Taken from Sirat-ul-Mahdi, Vol. 1, pp. 65-66, Narration number 89, narrated by Mian Abdullah Sahib Sannori)

Now see, here are two situations: one of a disciple under which permission was given to press at his wish, and the second of a guest—so for fulfilling the guest's right, immediately keeping before him the command of his Master and Obeyed One, he also honored his arriving guest and, respecting the one coming, himself also opened the door for him.

An incident Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib narrates: a very noble and gentle-natured Ahmadi, Sethi Ghulam Nabi Sahib, who used to keep a shop in Pindi. Hazrat Mian Sahib says he told me that once I came to Qadian to meet the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him. It was the winter season and there was also some rain. I reached Qadian in the evening. At night when I ate food and lay down and quite late at night, someone knocked on my room's door. I got up and opened the door, and saw the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, standing in front. In one of his hands was a glass of hot milk and in the other hand was a lantern. I became agitated seeing His Holiness. But His Holiness said very affectionately: Milk had come from somewhere—I said I'll give it to you. You drink this milk. You will probably have the habit of milk. Sethi Sahib used to say tears welled up in my eyes. Glory be to Allah! What morals! God's chosen Messiah, taking so much pleasure and trouble in serving even his servants. (Taken from Sirat Tayyiba by Hazrat Mirza Bashir Ahmad Sahib, pp. 69-70)

For people of certain areas, he also had food prepared according to their taste. Though during convention days, for administrative reasons, he had one food prepared to avoid too many difficulties arising. But nowadays, by Allah's grace, his Community has become very well-trained administratively also, and volunteers are available. Resources also are there, and it can make big arrangements easily also. Therefore, under convention arrangements also, firstly there is arrangement of general langar, and secondly, for non-Community and people of certain areas or patients also, food is cooked, and there is no difficulty in this, nor should there be objection. Some people unnecessarily raise such questions: why is separate food being cooked, why is it separate for so-and-so? These people should also show forbearance. Yes, for those special foreign guests who are generally called guests of the mission—to show them also what convention participants generally eat, langar food should also be placed before them, and some people eat this food with interest also. In any case, the real thing is that there should be no formality. Earlier, arrangements could not be made, so separate arrangements were not made. Now it can be, so honoring the guest requires that arrangements be made for foreign guests. In Rabwah also, when conventions used to be held, there was also a dietary langar and for foreigners also, separate food used to be cooked. So here also, if such an arrangement is made, there is no objection. But generally Ahmadis should eat whatever is cooked under general arrangement, and similarly officeholders should also eat general langar food. Whatever workers there are, those on duty, officeholders—except that someone has some special trouble or at some time he is on duty with some special guest, then at that time he eats food with them. But generally everyone should show their example: that whatever is general food, that also officeholders should eat. The Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, also very much liked this, and he liked that the administration's formality should absolutely not be expressed. And you also liked that without formality, if special guests have to be treated extraordinarily, what should be done.

Then once in your time, some guests did not get food properly and due to the administration's mistake, care for them was not taken, so Allah the Exalted informed the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, about this incident: that some guests were not cared for. So he said that at night Allah the Exalted has informed me that in the langar, hypocrisy was done. For this reason, proper care was not taken—some, who were their own, were given food and some were not given. Proper service was not done. For this reason, he also ordered those working in the langar to be removed for six months. Despite his gentle nature, he also gave punishment. He could not bear hypocrisy and deficiency in guests' hospitality, and he punished those workers, and then had food arrangements in the langar made in front of him. (Tadhkirah, p. 689, 4th Edition 2004) So the hospitality department needs to be very cautious. Nowhere, to no one, in any manner should there be hardship.

The hospitality department is a very important department of convention arrangements. This department's proper and timely working also runs other programs properly. Hospitality is not only feeding or arranging langar. In this is langar arrangement also, feeding arrangement also, storage and supply arrangement also. If even a little difference occurs in supply etc., then the cooking arrangement also becomes disturbed. Food cannot be cooked on time, and then due to this, convention programs sometimes also do not start on time. Then in hospitality there is accommodation arrangement also. Providing bedding is also a responsibility. Those staying in Community accommodations should be properly provided. Then is the cleaning arrangement also. In this is general cleaning also and cleaning of bathrooms also. Then there is an arrangement for creating facilities for parking also. This too comes in hospitality. If there is difficulty in parking and there is chaos, then where guests have to face difficulty and hardship, there convention programs are also disturbed. Then there is an arrangement for removing the difficulty of paths due to rains—this too is hospitality: that facilities should be created for paths. Then there is the arrangement of buggies for old and disabled people. Then the shuttle service arrangement for bringing from parking places taken ten, fifteen, twenty minutes' drive away to the convention venue—this too is hospitality. Its proper arrangement should also be.

In short, there are many arrangements which are under hospitality itself, and if hospitality arrangements are correct, then the remaining arrangements are minor—they become correct automatically. Providing medical aid to guests—this too is hospitality. So eighty percent—I think rather even more—of convention work comes directly under hospitality. So every worker should remember: not only the hospitality department's work is theirs who have hospitality badges, but almost every department is a hospitality department, and providing facility for the guest, honoring and respecting him, and protecting him from every hardship is every worker's duty. May Allah the Exalted grant all workers the ability to fulfill this responsibility in the best manner, and may the convention also, by Allah's grace, be blessed in every respect.

Today is also August 14, which is Pakistan's Independence Day. In this respect also I want to draw attention to prayer. May Allah the Exalted grant Pakistan true independence and protect the country from the actions of selfish leaders and self-interested religious leaders. May Allah the Exalted also grant the common people the sense and understanding that they elect such leaders who are honest, who fulfill the right of their trust. May He grant all of them also the ability to understand the reality of this matter: that the guarantee of this country's survival and integrity is in justice and fulfillment of each other's rights. In avoiding oppressions is this country's survival. In bowing toward God Almighty alone is this country's survival. Ostensibly they take God Almighty's name and say this: that we are doing for God's sake, but in the name of the Lord of the worlds and the Gracious and Merciful God, markets of oppression are hot on every side. Oppressions are being done in the name of Allah the Exalted and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) who is mercy for the worlds. Ahmadis, who played an important role in making the country, gave sacrifices—oppressions are being done to them, but in any case, Pakistani Ahmadis, wherever they are, have to express loyalty to the country, and for this very reason also have to pray: that Allah the Exalted keep this country safe and deliver this country from oppressors and self-interested ones. The country's survival and integrity is threatened more by internal enemies than external ones—by selfish and self-interested leaders and clerics. If these people run the country keeping Allah the Exalted's fear in their hearts, then no external power can harm the country. In any case, Pakistani Ahmadis should pray as much as possible for their country: that Allah the Exalted also grant Pakistani Ahmadis true independence and this country remain established.

After prayer I will also lead some funeral prayers in absentia, of which one funeral is of respected Kamal Aftab Sahib, son of respected Rafiq Aftab Sahib, Huddersfield UK, who on August 7, 2015, passed away in Leeds Hospital due to leukemia at the age of 33. اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَاِنَّاۤ اِلَیۡہِ رٰجِعُوۡنَ. He got opportunities for Community service in various capacities. At the time of death also, he was serving as Regional Qa'id Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya Yorkshire and Secretary Tarbiyat Jama'at Huddersfield South. During the last days of illness, from his hospital room itself, he was running a campaign to collect fifty thousand pounds for leukemia research. Until the last breath of life, being selfless, he remained busy in serving humanity and preaching in various projects. He had an extremely sincere and loyal relationship with the Caliphate. Despite illness and weakness, when the Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya convention was held, on that occasion, arranging in the hospital itself, he had a TV installed and from there he listened to my live address.

The national newspaper Guardian gave him the honor of Volunteer of the Year 2014. A few days before death he also came to meet me, and despite the severity of illness, he was spending time with great courage and cheerfulness. There was no one to say he was in pain, though at that time also his pain was considerable. He always had an expression of loyalty and relationship with the Caliphate. His brother Farouk Sahib writes that he was the great-grandson of Hazrat Seth Allah Dittah Sahib, may Allah be pleased with him, Companion of the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him. In the circumstances of 1953 and 1974, an unsuccessful attempt was made to attack the house of Kamal Aftab Sahib's grandfather, respected Jamal-ud-Din Sahib. His grandfather Jamal-ud-Din Sahib was also a prisoner in Allah's way for six months. Kamal Sahib was a very sociable, well-mannered, high-spirited, helpful, beloved person. Non-Ahmadis along with Ahmadis were admirers of him, and nothing except praise was ever heard from anyone about him. Among all old and young, he was equally popular. There was a friendly relationship with all. One who served parents and took care of brothers and sisters. One who regularly observed prayers. At the forefront in service to humanity work. He was project leader of Humanity First's Gift of Sight program. He kept working on the project to build an eye clinic in East Africa. He was a very active caller to Allah. He would not let any opportunity for preaching go from his hands. During his treatment in hospital also, he introduced doctors and caretakers to the Community—rather, he himself told me: I have had a TV installed at my place, MTA is installed, and I show programs. Through these programs, paths of preaching also open. He was also an active member of Majlis Ansar Sultan-ul-Qalam. Through more than a hundred interviews on TV, radio, and newspapers, he conveyed Islam's message to millions of people.

One of his brothers, Yusuf Sahib, also says: he always tried to bring Khuddam and Atfal who had weak connections with the Community close to the Community through personal efforts and connection, and create love for the Caliphate in their hearts. Often he would take Khuddam to London so that they pray in Masjid Fazl and a connection is created with Khalifatul Waqt. He would draw Khuddam's attention to prayers generally, and office-bearers and members specially—not just draw attention but also take practical steps for it—rather, for Fajr prayer, he would bring some Khuddam from their homes.

About the illness, Dr. Hafeez Sahib says: when he found out about the illness, Kamal Aftab told me: whatever is acceptable to God is fine, I have no worry. So after diagnosis of illness, what he was most concerned about was—he told me—that the interviews that were being prepared for Humanity First after Nepal's earthquake, those interviews should definitely go online so that the world knows of the Community's service to humanity. This doctor says that from a medical point of view also, this is a painful situation, but he always kept smiling in illness—during stay in hospital also he told me: we should not let any opportunity for preaching go from our hands, because the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, expressed this wish: that if you knew English, how much you would arrange for preaching.

Abid Waheed, our press in-charge, says: besides other Community services, Kamal Sahib also created many new contacts in media for our office. Despite illness, from hospital, through phone and emails, he was persuading journalists to participate in the convention. After establishment of the central media team, he would often phone and inquire about the efforts of our Ahmadi Adam Walker who is a team member, and if ever he saw there was deficiency, he would say very emotionally: we should understand the importance of work. He says during convention duties, despite incomplete sleep, whenever he came to the office, he appeared fresher than all of us, and his positive thinking and nature had a good effect on everyone. He was informal in making contacts, and would make contacts boldly without any fear. Then he says: through his death also, he became a means of conveying Ahmadiyyat's message to the media. BBC, ITV, and Belfast Telegraph etc. published articles on his death. Well-known personalities paid tribute to Kamal Sahib on social media, and appreciated the Community's work. For instance, ITV journalist Heather Clarke says: as a journalist, I should not lack words, but heartfelt sorrow at Kamal Sahib's death that good people depart the world so quickly. Now we should keep his name and work alive.

Similarly, ITV News Yorkshire's head Margaret says: a very good, kind person. Seeing him, it seemed he lived a life full of happiness. We will give him a tribute on our TV.

The president of Jama'at Huddersfield says: extremely obedient. He had love to the point of obsession with the Community and Caliphate, which made one envy him. Very punctual in prayers and especially Fajr. Tremendous spirit, enthusiasm for service to humanity, and if there was also a delay in the report and I asked, he would immediately apologize. Non-Community people also greatly praise his charity work. Everyone is writing that he had great enthusiasm for preaching and whenever opportunity arose, he would preach.

Muhammad Ali Sahib from Hartlepool says: last year in December we got the opportunity to go to Ireland on temporary dedication. You were regional qa'id and I was qa'id of the council, but you appointed me as chief of the caravan, and during the entire journey I never felt that Kamal Sahib showed any deficiency in honoring, respecting, and obeying the humble one. He would specially arrange Tahajjud prayer and would preach with enthusiasm and passion.

Ireland's our missionary Ibrahim Noonan Sahib—he would ask him how those belonging to Christianity should be preached to, and he says during the journey, a Khadim who was with us, he drew his attention to reading books of the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, and later took a test also. Similarly, the other Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya servers are all also praising him. A former president of Huddersfield says: I knew him from childhood. Different temperament from other children. Neither fought nor was mischievous. From childhood itself he respected elders. He had enthusiasm to the point of obsession for Community service. It would not be exaggeration at all to say he was truly one who fulfilled his covenant. As a caller to Allah, he was a successful missionary. Wherever opportunity arose, he would start preaching. He would abundantly give Community literature to people who came to his work and invite them to Community functions. He had a very wide circle and his message reached everywhere.

A Khadim writes: possessed gentle nature and always kept himself ready for service of religion, and not that he would come forward but he enjoyed more working staying behind. He never worked with this intention that someone should praise him. He would keep advising others about connection with God Almighty. He had deep attachment with the Quran and Hadith. Great enthusiasm for study. He would study books of the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, with taste and enthusiasm. Whenever any book became available in English, he would immediately inform others about it: that the translation of such-and-such book is now available in English—read it. In short, he possessed countless qualities. May Allah the Exalted elevate his ranks and also grant his old parents patience and courage. May He create means for their consolation and comfort. His remaining brothers etc., relatives, close ones—may Allah the Exalted grant them all patience and courage.

The second funeral is of respected Muhammad Naeem Awan Sahib, who was the son of Mushtaq Awan Sahib, Germany. He passed away at the age of 36, in Germany by drowning in the River Rhine. Along with him was his twelve-year-old son—also drowned. Both father and son passed away. اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَاِنَّاۤ اِلَیۡہِ رٰجِعُوۡنَ . Naeem Awan Sahib had gone to Germany on July 31. He was living here (in the UK), and had gone with his wife and three children to meet parents, and there, while enjoying, they were bathing with children in shallow water near the sandy shore of Rhine when two large ferry boats passed from there, suddenly high waves came, and due to this surge of high waves, five members of his family came under the sweep, and the water pulled them in. But a German person present at the spot tried and pulled out three people, however, when Naeem Sahib saw his son drowning, he jumped or moved forward to save his life—I think perhaps he was already in the water—but both father and son were swept away in the fast waves of water. The next day his son's body was found. His body was found that night itself, but the son's was found the next day.

The deceased was the great-grandson of Maulvi Muhammad Ishaq Sahib of Kasur, Companion of the Promised Messiah, peace be upon him, and nephew of respected Mubarak Ali Awan, martyr of Lahore. He got the opportunity to serve in Germany's Jama'at Usingen as Qa'id of the Council. During construction of Baitul Huda Usingen, he gave extraordinary time to Waqar-e-Amal. In January 2005, he came to the UK with his family. Here also he was an active member of Majlis Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya. Regularly coming to mosque for prayers, giving security duty, and besides this, participating fully in Waqar-e-Amal. He also got the privilege of Umrah in 2012. He was a very well-mannered, sociable person. Among the bereaved, besides wife, he left two daughters: Aziza Razia Awan, ten years, and Aziza Natasha Awan, fourteen years, and parents and three younger brothers and a sister. Farouk Aftab, who is Mu'tamid of Khuddam-ul-Ahmadiyya—I mentioned Kamal Aftab's funeral earlier—he is his brother. He also says: I have known Naeem Awan Sahib for many years. Very well-mannered, virtuous person who helped others. Some time ago he faced quite some problems, but he did not mention this to anyone, nor ever took any help. In this respect also he was an example. The Qa'id of Halqa of Masjid Fazl London says: he would step forward greatly to help others but did not like to be a burden on anyone himself. He would not tell anyone his difficulties. Similarly, a president of Jama'at from Bad Homburg, Germany, says: on Monday, August 3, in our Jama'at, a preaching meeting with German friends was to be held. He says I reached the prayer center to review the work, and there I also saw Naeem Awan Sahib—who had gone to meet his brothers and sisters, to meet parents—working there. I was very happy to see him. He asked how did you come here, so he said I came with my brother so that I too can participate in this service and in this preaching meeting, my part should also be there.

In the UK, in every convention, he would participate enthusiastically in service of religion. One of his friends, Asim Sahib, writes: about a month before the convention, taking leave, the whole month daily from morning till evening, he would participate in Waqar-e-Amal in Hadiqatul Mahdi. He would perform duties with great hard work and honesty. He was very tough-natured and used to work very hard. He would present himself for every kind of heavy work. May Allah the Exalted elevate his ranks and also grant his bereaved patience and courage. May He Himself be guardian of his daughters.