Hudhur recited the following Quranic verse at the start of his Friday sermon:
‘Never shall you attain to righteousness unless you spend out of that which you love; and whatever you spend, Allah surely knows it well.’ (3:93)
Explaining, Hudhur said the Arabic word ‘Birr’ used in the verse means great virtue, perfect virtue. A true Momin (believer) who looks out to please God, searches for the level of virtue which gains nearness of God. The Holy Qur’an cites virtues that gain God’s nearness. Among these, spending one’s wealth and using one’s capabilities is also cited as virtue as it is in the aforementioned verse. Giving becomes a great virtue when one spends that which one loves. Without doubt, God rewards all virtuous acts that are done to please God. Yet, the best recompense is given when the best is spent in His way. That person is most beloved of God who ever tries to attain high level of virtue and in pursuit of this, does not hesitate in giving the best that he or she has. Such a person is ever ready to make any and every kind of sacrifice for strengthening of faith. Indeed, a true Momin is always anxious to attain high levels of virtues.
When the aforementioned verse was revealed one of the Companions of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that he would give his most favourite garden/orchard in the way of God. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) was most pleased by this. His Companions would ardently wait for instructions to carry out good deeds, so that they could fulfil them and demonstrate their faith, sincerity, loyalty and sense of sacrifice. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said that one who spends in the way of God is worthy of emulation. His Companions were most enterprising in spending in the way of God. They did so openly as well as privately in order to gain those levels that God expects of a Momin. God rewarded them immensely for their excellent sacrifices. Those who did ordinary work became millionaires. The more God gave them, more burnished became their giving. They had the spiritual insight that God greatly blesses what is spend in His cause. Seven-hundred fold, or even more. God does not remain indebted to anyone. It was through the power of holiness of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) that a spiritual revolution came about and it was by virtue of this that his Companions were always keen and eager to try and spend in the way of God. The life of the Companions tells us that they realised their objective.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) writes: ‘Did the esteemed Companions arrive at the level that they attained without cost? A lot of expenses and troubles are endured to attain worldly titles and in the end an ordinary title is obtained which cannot give peace of mind and tranquillity. Imagine then, did they easily attain the title of ‘RadhiAllahu Ilaihim’ [may Allah be pleased with them], which is a sign of peace and tranquillity of heart and mind and pleasure of the Noble Lord?’ He also said: ‘Fact of matter is that God’s pleasure is not attained until temporary difficulties are endured. God cannot be cheated. Blessed are those who do not care about difficulties in order to attain God’s pleasure. This is because a Momin finds eternal happiness and the light of perpetual comfort after temporary difficulty.’
God sent the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) in this age for the reformation of the world and he explains matters to us by citing the examples of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) as these pure examples are models for us and walking in their footsteps would gain God’s pleasure. Indeed, the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) directly trained thousands from among his own Community, who went on to demonstrate to the world that they were ever ready to sacrifice everything in the way of God. The energy of their faith and sense of sacrifice helped the Community to progress gloriously. Those who were blessed with his company understood his message very well when he said: ‘The door to virtue is narrow. Therefore have it inculcated very well that no one can enter it by spending what is useless. It is decisively apparent that ‘Never shall you attain to righteousness unless you spend out of that which you love…’ unless you spend what is most dear and most precious to you, the status of beloved cannot be achieved.’ Hudhur recounted a few accounts of some companions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) illustrating their spirit of sacrifice.
Hadhrat Sufi Nabi Bakhsh sahib (may Allah be pleased with him): He relates that once at the occasion of Jalsa Salana, he requested the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that he wished to see him in private. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) called him in, but a few others also followed. Nabi Bakhsh sahib said to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that his father said to him that he had given him a good education and now that he was earning, he did not serve him. His wife said to him that since he became an Ahmadi all her jewellery was sold. Sufi sahib added that he observed that the Promised Messiah’s followers spent thousands in the service of faith. He requested for prayers that may God doubled or trebled his salary so that he too could serve faith. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said very well, he would pray and asked to be reminded of this. Sufi sahib says he used to earn Rupee 55 in those days. He wrote one letter requesting prayer. Soon he found employment with Ugandan Railway with a salary of Rupee 120 and Rupee 35 as additional allowance. When he received his first salary he promptly offered this to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). He then left for Africa and as long as he stayed there, his salary was three-fold of what he first received. He says this is a miracle of acceptance of prayer of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace).
Hadhrat Chaudhry Rustam Ali sahib (may Allah be pleased be him) was an inspector in the railways. His salary was Rupee 150. He was a very sincere member of the Community. He would keep Rupee 20 for his own use and that of his family and send the rest to the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). This was his routine.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) also instilled a sense of sacrifice in the hearts of those who could not afford to give financially. They too were anxious to give.
Hadhrat Qazi Qamar uddin sahib (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates about Sa’in Dewan sahib that he would ask Sa’ain sahib who travelled through his village to go to Qadian, whether he was visiting Qadian to meet the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) or did he have some business there. Hudhur explained that the journey Sa’in sahib took on foot would be approximately hundred miles. In response to the question, Sa’in sahib used to say, ‘as I am poor, I cannot pay chanda. I am going so that I can weave the webbing of the bedsteads of the guest house and thus pay my chanda in lieu.’
Hudhur said there are numerous accounts but Hudhur has only presented a couple due to time constraint. Hudhur said that what he also wished to present filled one with praise of God and turns one to God more than before. The Community that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) established to bring the world under the banner of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) did not cease to have the high standards of sacrifice after the life of the companions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). In fact, with the grace of God, a hundred years later, the keenness and fervour for sacrifice is alive. It appears the new Ahmadis are competing with each other to spend in the way of God.
In this materialistic age, Ahmadis spend in the way of faith. For them worldly matters are secondary. Such sense of sacrifice alone is sufficient to prove the truthfulness of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). These sights can be experienced in Asia, Europe, Africa and America. These people try their best to understand the message of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and put it in practice. As long as we give precedence to faith over worldly matters and continue with our endeavours, no enemy can harm us in the slightest. InshAllah. Hudhur presented a few accounts to illustrate this.
Our person in-charge (Nazim) of Waqfe Jadid in India went on a tour to Kerala and was told by a friend that he had just started a furniture business. He pledged to pay 400,000 for Waqfe Jadid and said that he would also give 10% of the profit from his new business. With the grace of God his business did very well. He had instructed his wife to take out Waqfe Jadid contribution from the daily income. One year later, 550,000 was collected. For the next year, he offered to pay 25% of the profit.
A lady in India who is a teacher and her salary is somewhat limited pledged one month’s salary for Waqfe Jadid. When her father came to know he was moved to tears and told his elder daughter about her younger sister’s sacrifice and asked her what was she going to do about it. The older sister also pledged greater amount than she had done before.
Ameer sahib Mali writes that a new Ahmadi is very prominent in financial giving. He was contracted to work without leave for census purposes at the salary of a thousand in local currency. Jalsa fell when six days of his contract remained. He first thought he would send apologise to the Jama’at but later realised he had to give precedence to Jama’at work, regardless of losing the thousand in income. He went ahead with the Jalsa while his colleagues reproached him for losing out on the money. After his return from the Jalsa, the mayor of the area called him and said that although he had left contrary to his contract, since he had gone in the cause of God, the mayor had put aside the money for him. Later, the deputy mayor and the person in-charge of the accounts also called him respectively and repeated the same message. All three told him not to tell anyone. Thus, he ended up having three-fold the amount which he gave up to attend Jalsa. He promptly gave 20,000 for chanda.
Ameer sahib of The Gambia writes that a friend came to see him and paid 100,000 in chanda. He said he could be in debt of people but could not be in God’s debt. He is poor and under privileged and has difficulty in supporting his family but is most prominent in financial giving. He later said that soon after making the large chanda payment, he received a larger amount from somewhere.
Missionary sahib of Sierra Leone writes that a sincere Ahmadi who is not very well-off had some remainder on his Tehrike Jadid contribution. When missionary sahib visited his house he realised the dire situation of the family. The Ahmadi told him that all he had at the moment was enough to buy them a few cups of rice. He did not expect an income any time soon but he happily gave the money to pay off his chanda. He told his family that God would provide. He later said that the very same evening his sister sent a sack of rice to the family.
A new convert Khadim from Ivory Coast trades in eggs. He took leave from his trade for three months to attend a Tarbiyyat course. He felt he was going to do God’s work, and entrusted his trade to his younger brother. When he returned after three months, he was astonished at the extraordinary profit the business had accrued in the period. He increased his chanda to a thousand in the local currency. His business was further blessed, so he increased his chanda to 4000. He also pays Tehrike Jadid as well as Waqfe Jadid on behalf of his deceased parents, who were not Ahmadis.
Ameer sahib of Burkina Faso writes that once an Ahmadi listened regarding the significance of Waqfe Jadid in Friday sermon and could not sleep all night thinking about the tremendous task the Jama’at is undertaking and felt he did not fully participate. The next day he paid 4,500 in local currency for Waqfe Jadid, but spent the following night also in anxiety and returned the next day to pay a further 4,500 and said he was somewhat satisfied.
Missionary in-charge from Switzerland writes that a Nigerian Ahmadi came to work in an international company in Switzerland. He paid in 9000 Swiss Francs in the Jama’at account and gave his contact details. When the missionary sahib rang him and asked him what the huge amount for was, he said he had been in Switzerland for three months and the amount was for his chanda for three months. The missionary sahib said three months chanda did not come up to that amount. The Ahmadi said he had stayed in a country for three months prior to coming to Switzerland where there was no Jama’at, therefore he was paying for those months as well.
A Pakistani Ahmadi who works in Switzerland pledged 5000 Swiss Francs. He hoped to receive a bonus which he planned to use for personal needs but when payment time for chanda drew closer, he pledged the amount for chanda and abandoned his own need. With the grace of God, the bonus he eventually received was 10,000 Swiss Francs, which served his personal need as well as made his Waqfe Jadid contribution.
Missionary sahib from Benin writes that when a mu’alim went to collect Tehrike Jadid chanda, an Ahmadi paid 3,100 in local currency and said that if he had further income he would give more. Soon after he called the mu’alim and paid a further 7000. He said the day he had paid 3,100 in chanda a patient came to see him who paid a large amount in fees. Initially, the patient paid 34,000 but then took 3000 back for his travel expense. Therefore the Ahmadi felt that God had returned him ten-fold of what he had given in chanda.
Missionary sahib from Liberia writes that on his tours to a village an eight year old boy ran errands for him, offered him drinking water and took care of his bag etc. Missionary sahib was pleased and gave the boy five Liberian dollars as a token. Later, after the missionary sahib expounded the merits of Tehrike Jadid chanda, the very same boy rose and said he too wished to pay and he paid with the five dollars that the missionary sahib had given him. Seeing this, other children asked their parents to give them money so that they could pay chanda.
A new Ahmadi in Kyrgyzstan earned 66 dollars when Khilafat Jubilee was commemorated in 2008 and he pledged 44 dollars towards Jubilee fund. He came straight to the mission house on pay day and paid the money he had pledged. He said he did not go home first because the money would have been spent. After a short while he found another job and now his income is 770 dollars. He has also joined the Wasiyyat scheme. Upon joining Wasiyyat he was told that now his contributions had to be one-tenth of his income. He replied that he had been giving chanda at that rate anyway ever since he took his Bai’at.
A very sincere new Ahmadi lady from Kyrgyzstan had taken Bai’at for a year but did not paid chanda. When she was informed about this, she contacted the local sadr and said that she wished to meet urgently. The sadr sahib said he was otherwise engaged but the lady insisted that she had to meet him promptly. When she met the sadr sahib, she paid 15,000 in Kyrgyzstan currency. Sadr sahib was astonished at the large sum but she explained that this covered her year’s chanda as well as chanda for other Tehriks.
Next Haudhur announced the Waqfe Jadid new year. Hudhur said we are entering the 55th year of the scheme. With the grace of God the total contributions according to the reports received so far, given that some African countries are late in sending their reports is £ 4,693,000.00. This figure is £510,000 more than last year’s contributions. Alhamdolillah. In spite of the terrible financial situation there, Pakistan has maintained its first position in Waqfe Jadid contributions. May God bless them and their wealth and keep them in His protection and refuge from all evil. USA stands second. Hudhur said in light of reports received earlier on, it was thought that UK would take the second position but the final reports show USA to leave the UK slightly behind with a difference of £11,000. The increase in the contribution of UK is extraordinary and astonishing. May God bless all those who contributed to Waqfe Jadid. Here too the financial situation is not very good and there are other expenses, attention is drawn to building mosques. Yet there has been an extraordinary increase in both the Tehrike Jadid and Waqfe Jadid contributions and this demonstrates that they now understand the significance of ‘…unless you spend out of that which you love…’. May God enhance them in all other virtues as well and likewise all other Jama’ats in the world. Lajna UK has paid a large part in this. Their increase in Tehrike Jadid was huge as is in Waqfe Jadid, may God reward the sisters and the young girls.
Germany is in third position followed by Canada, India, Australia, Indonesia, Belgium and Switzerland. In terms of increase in local currency the positions are: India, Belgium, Australia, UK and Indonesia. In per capita contributions the positions are: USA, Switzerland, UK, Belgium and Ireland. Hudhur said it appears USA has reached a point where unless there are more people the position cannot be bettered but there is room for improvement in the UK and their position can be developed. Among the African nations, the positions are: Ghana, Nigeria, Mauritius, Burkina Faso and Uganda. This year there was an increase of more than 90 thousand contributors to Waqfe Jadid but there is still room for improvement. Hudhur said he has asked the African countries to improve in this regard and include the new converts in this scheme in light of the instructions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace). Hudhur said they should try and increase the number of contributors even if their contributions are small. Hudhur said Ghana needs to try harder in terms of more contributors as Hudhur had instructed them before
Within Pakistan the first three positions go to: Lahore, Rabwah and Karachi. In the USA the first five positions go to: LA Inland Empire, Silicon Valley, Detroit, Chicago and Seattle. In the UK, the first ten positions are: Raynes Park, New Malden, Worcester Park, Fazl Mosque, West Croydon, Birmingham West, Leamington Spa, Manchester South, Gillingham and Southall. The first five regions in UK are: South, Midlands, London, Islamabad ad Middlesex. In Canada, the positions are as follow: Peace Village, Rexdale, Weston South, Woodbridge and Edmonton. Also: Weston South, Peace Village South, Weston North, Durham and Hamilton North. Some of the positions in India are: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Jammu Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Delhi.
Hudhur prayed that may God bless those who had eagerly participated in Waqfe Jadid and may He bless their wealth. May God enable everyone to make bigger sacrifices in future and may He also bless the sacrifices. May God also immensely bless the funds of Jama’at. Given the global financial situation, it is mere grace of God that Jama’at is carrying on with all its plans and is completely them and is being enabled to make further plans, without this nothing can be of avail. Therefore Hudhur said a lot of prayers should be made for Jama’at funds to be blessed.
Finally Hudhur announced the sad passing away of a notable poet of the Jama’at and an elder, Abdul Mannan Naheed sahib whose funeral Prayer in absentia Hudhur said he would lead. He passed away on 1 January 2012 at the age of 93. Hudhur said he was a renowned poet who wrote profound poems and ghazals. He had served in the military accounts department. He was a gentle, humble person. He encouraged young poets and was a very courteous person. He had visited UK many times to participate in Mosha’ira [poetic sitting]. He was a devout person, regular at his Tahajjud. His obedience to Khilafat was of the first order. May God elevate his station. His wife had passed away before him and he had no children but he is survived by a foster son. May God enable the foster son to continue to serve the Community.