Advice from Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad

0’ Ye Green Saplings of the Promised Messiah, alaih salato wassalaam

Assalamu Alaikum Warahrnatullah Wabarakatohu

I wish to remind the Khuddam and Atfal of the United States of America about prayers because I get the feeling that not

all of us are perhaps vigilant about the requirement of observing the five daily prayers in congregation. In some cases,

this may be due to the lack of training in the younger days. In other cases, distance from the nearest Salat centre may

be a hindrance, but then again distance has never prevented the people of this country in pursuit of other worldly

objects-- so why should we forget this duty that we owe to our Almighty Creator? Allah has commanded the believers:

“Be watchful over Prayers, particularly over the Prayer the hour of which approaches when you are occupied.’ (Ch.2:

239).

Allah has also guaranteed: ‘Prayer shields a votary against indecency and misbehaviour.’ (Ch.29:46)

Hadhrat Jabir, Allah be pleased with him, relates that he heard the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon

him, say: ‘Giving up Prayers is tantamount to disbelief and paganism.’ (Muslim).

Hadhrat Abu Hurairab, Allah be pleased with him, relates that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon

him, said ‘The first item in respect of which a person would be called to account on the Day of Judgment would be

Prayers.’ (Tirmidhi). He also relates that he heard the Holy Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, say; ‘Tell

me it’ one of you had a stream running at his door and he should take a bath in it five times every day, would any dirt be

left upon him?’’ He was answered: ‘No dirt would be left on him.’

The Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, observed: ‘This is the case of the five Prayers. Allah wipes

out all faults in consequence of them.’ (Bulchari and Muslim).

Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Masud, Allah be pleased with him, relates that he asked the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of

Allah be upon him: ‘Which action is most acceptable to Allah?’’ He answered: ‘Performing the salat at its due time.’ I

asked: ‘Which next?’ He answered; ‘Benevolence towards parents.’ I asked: ‘Which next?’ He said: ‘Striving in the cause

of Allah.’ (Bukhari and Muslim). You will observe from this Hadith that the observance of Prayers has been placed

foremost, well above Jihad. Youth is an impressionable age and some people get carried away about images of paradise

following Jihad, but such people should realise that Allah has granted a loftier status to prayers.

The obligation of observing the prayers for a Muslim has also been likened to a fish wanting to get back into the water.

In view of this brief message, I hope that the Khuddam and Atfal would resolve that from this day forward, they would

always learn how to say the prayers, observe their five daily prayers, after Wudhu, on time, preferably in congregation,

slowly and with deep reflection arid in the manner taught to us by the Promised Messiah, alaih salato wassalam.

My second message to the Khuddam and Atfal is that they say in their pledge that they would always remain loyal to the

institution of Khilafat. In order to comply with this pledge, they should safeguard this institution by placing their trust in

Allah and by obeying the instructions of the Khalifa given to them through their Jama’ at.

I pray that Allah blesses and rewards all those who participate in this Ijtima most generously and enables us to remain

as true Ahmadi Muslims.

Mirza Masroor Ahmad

Khalifatul Masih V