Friday, May 18, 2012
Progress & Contributions
Examining the growth of MKA USA through Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya
"I solemnly pledge, that I shall always be ready to sacrifice my life, wealth, time, and honor, for the sake of my faith, country, and nation. Likewise, I shall be ready, to offer any sacrifice, for guarding the Institution of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya. Moreover, I shall deem it essential, to abide by any Ma'roof decision, made by Khalifatul Masih, Inshallah."
In essence, the pledge of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya USA explains our close, personal relationship with Khilafat, in its simplest form; and it is because of this close relationship, that Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya USA has progressed since its inception.
To see the relationship Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya USA has with Khilafat today, one must first look back at how this relationship was built, with love and devotion. Hadhrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih II (ra) always cherished a special concern for the youth of the Jama'at. It was this concern that led him, as early as 1902, to start a literary organization for the youth called Tasheez-ul-Azan.
Nearly 2 decades later, 10 zealous young men approached Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra) seeking permission to form a youth organization; Huzur readily agreed. This group first met at the house of Sheikh Mahmoob Alam Sahib on January 31, 1938. They resolved to do their utmost to defend the institution of Khilafat and the Jama'at in general, and against any attacks made on it. Just 4 days later on February 4, 1938, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra) named this organization Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya. Huzur, while establishing this new born organization, defined the aims of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya by stating, "My idea of establishing this body is that the knowledge which has been acquired by us and is safely locked up in our hearts must continue to be passed on to the next generation after, and thereafter it must become a continuous cycle so that the world at large may benefit."
During the initial years the organization differed from what it is today in the sense that it was restricted. It was restricted in two ways; firstly in membership, and secondly in terms of the kind of duties undertaken by it. It was limited in terms of membership because it was primarily viewed by Khalifatul Masih II (ra) as an organization for the exclusive training of those young men who needed it. This meant that those youths who were sufficiently experienced in discharging responsibilities pertaining to the Jama'at were positively discouraged to become part of this organization. During the first Ijtema, held on December 25, 1938, in Qadian, India, rather than having academic and athletic competitions, there was only one item, which was an address by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra). In this address, Huzur established the great responsibility held by the Khuddam and the youth of the movement, as he stated, "The success of a nation is dependent on its youth. If the youth of a nation become true custodians of its traditions then that nation can survive for centuries upon centuries. However, if the generations of the future are negligent then a nation can never achieve success and even the progress it makes can be transformed into failure." (Tahrik Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya , Vol. 1, p.46-47)
On July 26, 1940, Huzur announced that within the next 15 days it was compulsory for every young man between the ages of 15-40 to register himself as a member of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya. As a consequence of these instructions, branches of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya were not only formed in all parts of India but in all parts of the world. At the outset, Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya was primarily a literary organization. Its programs therefore, included such things as the study of the Holy Qur'an, Hadith, Islamic History, Islamic Jurisprudence and knowledge about Islam and Ahmadiyyat. It is only later that the objectives of the Majlis became more detailed and more comprehensive.
Leaders for the American Jama'at
Since Jama'ats in the United States were not organized in any nationwide network until the 1950s, it is not surprising that the Khuddam auxiliary was not nationally recognized until the late 1960s. In 1969, Imam A.R. Khan Bengali Sahib appointed Munir Hamid Sahib (currently Naib Ameer Jama'at USA) of Philadelphia as the first National Qaid. The first National Khuddam Cabinet Meeting was held in April 1969 in Dayton, Ohio. Hussain Abdul Aziz Sahib started a newsletter that year titled The Khadim. Between 1970-1975, two National Qaideen succeed Munir Hamid Sahib, Muzaffar A. Zafr Sahib and Noorudin A. Latif Sahib. In 1976, the first issue of a new Khuddam magazine, Al-Tariq, appeared, and in 1978, the first National Ijtema was held in New Jersey. The Majlis was starting the initial stages of growth, with many "firsts," but at this point was relatively running on it own without any clear guidance or communication.
Nasir Malik Sahib (National Qaid 1982-1986) revamped the operations of MKA USA due to his knowledge of Jama'at and background having been in Pakistan, stating "The 1980's were a planning period for the Majlis. The Khuddam of the United States lacked the knowledge of how to properly run or host Khuddam events, such as an Ijtema, collecting Khuddam chanda, and in some cases, holding elections for officers. In the 1970s and early 1980s, there was no clear picture of how to run and operate the Majlis, and this was the arduous task given to me." Between his years as National Qaid, National Ijtemat were held for the first time in consecutive years (4 straight), finance collection improved dramatically, and the Nizam or structure in Rabwah was brought to the States.
While reflecting on his tenure, Nasir Malik Sahib remarks, "Many members and a majority of the National Ijtema attendees are second generation Ahmadis born and raised in the US, and many of them have come a long way in understanding Nizam-e-Jama'at. Many of my peers observe that American society will ruin our second generation, but if you look at the level of dedication and closeness among the American Ahmadi youth today, this observation is simply not true. The Khuddam today are bullish about their obligations, and so long as they hang on to the rope of Khilafat, they will do wonders for our Jama'at."
During this historic period, the Majlis realized yet another great sacrifice made in the cause of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya. On August 8, 1983, the entire community was shocked to learn that Dr. Muzaffar Ahmad Sahib, National Mo'tamid MKA USA was martyred outside his home in Detroit, Michigan. On August 12, 1983, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rh) related the significance of the martyrdom of Dr. Muzaffar Ahmad Sahib in his Friday Sermon. "Today I want to tell the Jama'at a piece of happy news cloaked in deep grief. Some of you who hear this will wonder if such news can even exist. I wish to tell them that there is a very happy piece of news that is always presented wrapped in deep grief and that news is of martyrdom. The martyrdom that I am going to mention is one of historical significance. For the first time, Allah has granted the rank of martyr to a young man in America. This is the first time in the history of Jama'at Ahmadiyya that the soil of America has tasted the blood of a martyr. This martyrdom is of great significance. It is of a very dedicated and devoted young man, Dr. Muzaffar Ahmad who lived in Detroit. Because of his devotion and eagerness to the Jama'at, he was appointed Qaid Ilaqa America and also was serving in the national body at the time of his martyrdom. He was eager to do Dawat Illallah (calling people towards Allah). He would never let an opportunity for Tabligh (propagation) of Islam that Allah offered him go by.
Martyrdoms are a destiny of the communities that are engaged in calling people to Allah. These martyrdoms are given as a reward and not as a punishment. Thus, I say to those who have been the most affected by this tragedy, that is the people of Detroit, that O' Ahmadis who live in Detroit and in other cities of America; O' you who are ready to sacrifice your lives in the east and the west, do not be grieved by this temporary sorrow. This sorrow is a harbinger of incalculable happiness. Do not say this martyr is dead; he is alive. Do not recede from this path by even an inch...the path on which this devoted man walked and moved far ahead. Be steadfast. Your determinations should not weaken. Look through the eye of wisdom that Muzaffar is alive today. He has achieved more life than ever before. Peace be upon you, O Muzaffar. After you, hundreds of thousands of Muzaffars are eagerly waiting to move forward and take your place. And those who put an end to his life should know that they have only given him the eternal life. He received life while death had been written as the destiny of his murderers."
A Closer Relationship is Built
In the course of his Friday Sermon delivered on November 3, 1989 in the Fazal Mosque, London, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rh) had announced that in the future he would himself supervise all the auxiliary organizations worldwide, and each respective organization would be responsible to Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih and would invariably obtain instructions directly from him. The sphere of central auxiliary organizations at Rabwah were then designated as ‘Sadr' (President). In light of this, Qamar Shams Sahib who was elected in 1989 became the first Sadr Majlis for MKA USA. Qamar Shams Sahib, reflecting back on his thoughts as Sadr, said, " My first thought was to figure out a way to establish here in the US what I had learned in Rabwah. I began to work with people who were familiar with the Nizam and tried to establish Qaideen throughout the country. Interestingly enough, I was the first MKA Sadr in the United States. In this capacity, I reported directly to Huzur rather than the International Sadr in Rabwah. At this time I wrote to Huzur asking him to allow us to call our National Amila members Mohtamimeen (Director) rather than Nazimeen (Secretary). Huzur agreed and thereafter the National Amila members were given the title of Mohatmim. I think the most influential person in my life was Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rh). When I was in Pakistan, I did not develop a direct connection with Khalifatul Masih II (ra) because he was sick at the time, and when I first arrived in the US, I was only able to meet Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih III (ra) a few times during his brief visits. But Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rh) lived in England during my tenure as Sadr, so I was able to maintain a continuous connection with him. During my time our focus was to increase attendance at the Ijtema, but the budget was always an issue. However, through the hard work of several dedicated members, attendance at the National Ijtema increased steadily."
"Obeying the institution of Khilafat and offering regular salat are two responsibilities, in my view, are essential for the success of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya," remarks Munum Naeem Sahib, Naib Ameer Jama'at USA, who served as Sadr MKA USA from 1994-1999. "In October 1993, then Sadr Qamar Ahmad Shams Sahib asked me to represent MKA USA at the International MKA Ijtema in Germany. I remember Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rh) introduced all the Presidents of the Jama'at and included me as one of them. I felt embarrassed and upset because I was not the President of the Jama'at, only the Sadr's representative. In a later session, I mentioned to Huzur that I held no official office, but I was merely representing the Sadr. Huzur firmly responded: "Don't worry--you will be one of these days." That comment stuck with me my whole life. To my absolute astonishment, just one year later, I was elected Sadr. Huzur's comment motivated me to work to my utmost capacity to serve the Jama'at. Without a doubt, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rh) was the most influential for me. I'd work tireless hours in service of the Jama'at, and any time I'd feel weary or fatigued, I'd recall Huzur's inspirational couplet: "Wake up! The moment is going away-look at the son of the Messiah, how long he has been waking you up!"
Closer Bonds Build a Closer Community
In the mid 1990's, the strengthened relationship between MKA USA and the institution of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya became even stronger and more apparent. With the dawn of the information age, the Majlis begins to utilize information technology to its full advantage and created a virtual "Khuddam Village." With the growing need of audio-video support, Majlis-e-Amila submits a proposal to create the Department of Sami-o-Basri, and receives approval from Huzur in 1995. This year, 10 videos were created, highlighting all of the major events of the Majlis including the National Ijtema and the Qaideen Refresher Course (QRC). The QRC was created in 1995, as a training seminar for Qaideen across the nation. This program has proven to be an effective way to train those holding offices regarding the directives of the Khalifa, and how to best implement them at their local majalis. The concept has proven to be so successful, that Jama'at USA and other auxiliaries have created similar programs modeled after the QRC.
The Majlis has come a long way from its humble beginnings as an organization focused on training its youth. Realizing the desires of Khalifatul Masih IV (rh) in ensuring directly that our youth receive proper career guidance and training, the Majlis-a-Amila sent a proposal and received approval from Huzur in 1995 to initiate the Department of Amoor-e-Tulba (Student Affairs). In 2007, there were 10 active Ahmadiyya Muslim Student Association branches (AMSA). The Department of Sanat-o-Tijarat sponsored 9 Regional Career Building workshops to support both the students and professionals who could take benefit of this resource.
MKA USA places serving the community and mankind at the forefront of its activities. With this idea in mind, the Majlis expanded into participating in Adopt-a-Highway programs, blood donation drives, flu shot drives, walk-a-thons, meals-on-wheels, and feeding the needy. For FY 2007, MKA USA fed 10,422 people; adopted 10 new highways and performed 56 clean-ups; and donated 3,639 articles of clothing. Khuddam performed 12,816 man-hours for Waqar-e-Amal.
Supporting Jama'at USA and the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra) clearly defined the role of Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya as the "backbone of the Jama'at." Members of MKA USA are visible at all functions performing various duties, whether it is administrative or labor-intense; from supervising an entire Jalsa Salana to discarding the last bag of trash at the end of the day. In 1997, there were 85 Khuddam serving in some major role of the USA Jalsa Salana; 10 years later at Jalsa Salana 2007, there were over 200 Khuddam volunteering just within the Office of Khidmat-e-Khalq alone; a great majority of volunteers which make up the MTA USA Team are also Khuddam. Throughout the years, Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya USA exclusively served as Hifazat-e-Khas, offering their life to protect the Khalifa while he visited and toured the United States.
Although Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra) created the notion of "Humanity First," it truly was not a well-known, or well organized charitable organization until this responsibility was handed over to Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya in 1994 by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rh). It was MKA USA, that started the process to register the organization in the US with the IRS as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, and also purchased the domain site humanityfirst.org. Khuddam have played an active role in providing disaster relief after earthquakes in Japan, Turkey, India, and Pakistan; floods in Guyana and Bangladesh; the Asian tsunami; Hurricanes Katrina & Rita; and most recently the California wildfires, just to name a few. In addition, long-term projects have been implemented, which take aim at providing poverty-stricken areas with the tools, skills, and knowledge to become self-sufficient and grow as a community. Such projects have been created in several African and South American nations.
Another area of support provided by MKA USA includes the virtual realm of the 21st century. In the mid 1990s, when the Internet was in its infancy and long before alislam.org, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Student Association at the University of Texas at Austin, maintained an active and heavily populated Internet presence, providing information and material online about the Jama'at to the entire world.
Today, the official website of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, www.alislam.org is managed and maintained solely by Jama'at USA, which Khuddam volunteers play an active role. Over the last 3 years, Khuddam have also been cataloging the many Majlis-e-Irfan (Question/Answer) sessions of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rh), and placing these on askislam.com.
Realizing the great communication tool the internet would become, MKA USA was the first entity to receive approval for creating its own website from Dr. Nasim Rehmatullah Sahib, Naib Ameer Jama'at USA and International Chairman of the Internet Committee. Today, mkausa.org provides Khuddam with a resource of Majlis-related information, news, and upcoming events; as well as event registration, Majlis reporting, and a variety of other tools.
Financial Sacrifices
As with the growth of any organization, MKA USA was not exempt from its growing need for a larger budget to complete accommodate the large number of khuddam and atfal attending the National Ijtema. In 2001, Majlis-e-Shura sent a proposal to Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rh) to increase the rate of Ijtema Chanda from $12/year to 1% of 1-month's income. Huzur graciously approved this proposal, and chanda collections increased from a baseline of $143,000 to $198,000.
Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V(aba) in his Friday sermon of November 3, 2006, giving a discourse on spending in the way of Allah, as the Tehrik-e-Jadid year had ended (10/31). Huzur noted that the USA per capita donation for the Tehrik-e-Jadid fiscal year was £91 whereas for UK it was £45.85. Huzur said, "land plots are being purchased for building mosques in USA as well, and although their earnings are higher, so is their sense of sacrifice. UK's per capita was half of that of USA although the exchange rate of the pound sterling was double of that of the US dollar!" If there is one defining feature that we have consistently displayed over the years in our history, it is our sense of financial sacrifice by spending in the way of Allah.
When the Khalifa of the time asks for enhanced financial sacrifice, the USA Jama'at is always one, if not the best contributors for many of the schemes for Jama'at. The USA National Secretary of Tehrik-e-Jadid, Anwer Mahmood Khan Sahib, stated, "The Khuddam of the United States are the main reason why we come out on top amongst most countries in Tehrik-e-Jadid collection. Khuddam are consistent in giving (financially) and the numbers keep going up." In answering the call of the Khalifa, the Khuddam of the US are the shining stars in financial sacrifice as Allah blesses many with well-to-do businesses and jobs. In FY2005, 1307 khuddam participated in the Tahrik-e-Jadid scheme.
In 1996, Majlis-e-Shura sent a proposal and received approval from Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rh) for creating the Department of Waqf-e-Jadid. Although this was later merged into the Department of Atfal, Khuddam still continue to be regular participants in this scheme. According to Dr. Waseem A. Sayed Sahib, USA National Secretary Waqf-e-Jadid, "Khuddam play an integral role in also keeping the USA Jama'at among the top contributors worldwide for Waqf-e-Jadid."
Nizam-e-Wasiyyat
In the concluding address of the 2004 UK Jalsa Salana, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) expressed his desire that 50% of all chanda paying members in the Jama'at should become Moosian by the time of the Khilafat Centenary in 2008. Huzur (aba) said he believed there is a connection between the system of Khilafat and the system of Wasiyyat. In its 100th year the scheme of Wasiyyat should be dynamic enough to raise the standards of taqwa (righteousness) of the Community. In 2007, 100% of the MKA USA National Amila had either submitted or been approved for Wasiyyat. Ever since the call, 264 khuddam have applied for Wasiyyat, and 181 applications have been approved as of June 2007.Jihad by the Pen
Through extensive research, the one underlying sacrificial service that Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya USA has made in the service of Khilafat is defend beautiful face of Islam and its founder, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw), through the Promised Messiah's (as) message of Jihad by the pen.
The Promised Messiah (as) has said: "In this Age, it is the sword of the pen with which we are attacked and the spears of objections are being shot at us. We also should not let out forces go waste. We should use our pen to prove the truth of the religion of God and the Prophethood of this chosen Prophet, may God's blessings be on him." (Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), Malfoozat, Vol.1, p.223). Through the department of Majlis Sultan-ul-Qalam USA, endorsed practice and methodology of Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as), and directives of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya, members of Majlis Sultan-ul-Qalam, USA (literally, "Committee of the King of Pen") have come forward to be the shields of Islam-Ahmadiyya in this day and age. They work tirelessly to review media attacks on Islam, sift through piles of published materials, and then pray for courage from Allah before placing their written responses in front of the shooting arrows.
Our beloved Huzur has stated in his November 3rd, 2006 Friday sermon, that responding to abusive publications directed towards Islam is a most pertinent point in terms of current affairs. Over 50 members of MKA USA are engaged, one-way or another, in responding to the critics and enemies of Islam that attack the personality of Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw). MSQ USA had hundreds of their written responses published in either a major American newspaper or news magazine, and reached a potential audience of millions of Americans. Huzur has instructed us to encourage our youth to become journalists; and as a result MKA USA is supporting the Jama'at Waqf-e-Nau Department with journalism opportunities and seminars.
A Personal Relationship
On June 27, 2005, the MKA USA National Amila had the privilege of meeting personally with Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V(aba) in Toronto, Canada. During the meeting, Huzur asked each Mohtamim about his respective department, and gave each department some advise for what they can directly do to improve. There were two discussions during that meeting that were of particular remembrance. While speaking with Mohtamim Khidmat-e-Khalq Sahib, Huzur asked as to the number of blood donations that were collected by MKA USA; as to which the response was 150. Huzur then asked what the total Tajneed of the Majlis was (about 2500+) and replied, "then why is this number so low?" Today in FY2007, MKA USA was responsible for collecting 420 donations with 76 donations collected by the Seattle Majlis in October 2007, the highest number ever collected during a single drive.
Later, during the same meeting, Huzur asked Mohtamim Maal Sahib as to the collection of chanda throughout the Majlis, and was curious as to what the minimum wage was vs. the average yearly wages of Khuddam. Huzur then asked, "You Americans love your hamburgers...what does a burger cost in America?" To which Mohtamim Sahib replied, "About two or three dollars." As the non-earning chanda is $24/year, Huzur commented "Can't they sacrifice more than 8 burgers?" Huzur's instructions were made very clear that while the amount of chanda being brought in was adequate ($216,000), the number of participants (900) was very low and both aspects had great room for improvement. Following this, for FY2007 MKA USA collected $298,499 from 1709 participants.
Huzur has consistently urged members to personally keep in touch with the Khalifa of the time; in addition to the countless number of letters written to Huzur, several members of the MKA USA National Amila have personally traveled to the UK to request his prayers and seek his guidance.
Recent Advice from the Khalifa
When Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) visited Sweden in 2005, he instructed the MKA National Amila to utilize the mail service to send printed matter to all of their membership. Picking up on this advice, the MKA USA Quarterly Magazine is now being printed and sent to each Ahmadi home in America with the latest news and information from the Majlis, in the hopes of attracting those less-active Khuddam.
During the 2005 meeting with the MKA USA National Amila, Huzur (aba) made note that it appears only 25% of the Khuddam seem to be active in some way, and asked the Majlis to identify possible causes for the inactivity. Alhamdolillah, just 2 short years later, the Majlis is becoming increasingly active as we witnessed a National Ijtema attended by over 1,000 in July; and the activity is not just seen in our event attendance. More than 1,000 Taleem Workbooks were completed over the last 4 quarters. Huzur's message to the participants of the 29th National Ijtema in a letter dated June 2nd, 2007, writes, "..let me remind you that your success lies in holding fast to the rope of Allah, and ensuring that you adhere to the institution of Khilafat and in your absolute obedience to Nizam-e-Jama'at. As a result, the sentiments of affection and relation by direct encounter are greatly fostered. This is indeed a grace from God Almighty on the Jama'at whose parallel we cannot find anywhere else in the world."
Looking Ahead
We are most fortunate to have the opportunity and privilege to serve our Jama'at through the Institution of Khilafat. At this historic milestone, members of the Majlis should plunge themselves into the service of the Jama'at today, for the generations of tomorrow will look back at us 100 years from now, to reflect on what we did.
The challenges faced during the foundation of the Majlis were just as evident then as they are now, as we remember the words of Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih II (ra), "I can see how we will respond to these attacks [by the enemy]. I have an overall view of all the things in my mind and one part of that is Khuddamul Ahmadiyya, and in reality this is a spiritual training and spiritual education ... today is the time for training of young men. The period of training is a silent period. People assume that nothing is happening, but when after receiving training the nation steps into the field of action, then the world sees the results. In reality a living nation that rises with the raising of the hand and sits down when the hand is lowered can make a great change in the world." (Tahrik Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya , Vol. 1, p. 3-4)
Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba), in his address sent to MKA USA on October 7, 2007, and published in the 1st Annual Yearbook, writes, "My message to the Khuddam of the United States of America is to be steadfast about their solemn pledge that they undertake every time they meet and fulfill it in true spirit. They should hold fast to the lifeline that the blessed institution of Khilafat offers them because this distinguishes us from the other Muslims. Only then can the youth be trained and the reformation of the nation established on a sound basis."
May Allah the Almighty continue to bless Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya USA, and make it so that the generations of the future continue to fulfill their duties as "Servants of Mankind," as we pray for the continuation of the Everlasting Khilafat. Ameen.
Editor's Note:
This article by Naem R. Mohamed and Rehan Chaudhry was originally published in the 2008 Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya Souvenir printed by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA.
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