‘O ye who believe! fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become righteous.’ (2:184) It is merely with the grace of God that we are currently experiencing yet another Ramadan; a month of limitless blessings. God states that fasting is made obligatory in this month not to simply remain hungry from morning till the evening but so that righteousness is adopted. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said: ‘A person who keeps fast should always have it in view that fasting does not simply signify remaining hungry. Rather such a person should engage in remembrance of God so that he can attain devotion to God and is able to forsake worldly desires.’ He said: ‘Fasting signifies this alone that man gives up one kind of bread, which is for physical sustenance and takes the other kind of bread which is a source of contentment for the soul. People who fast only for...

Thirty days may not seem like a long time, but for some, it isn't long enough. Muslims around the world are about to embark on a spiritual journey as the month of Ramadan is upon us. As an Ahmadi Muslim, I also plan on taking part in this month of fasting. During Ramadan, everyone experiences something different, but most can agree to one thing, a stronger connection to Allah. Fasting isn't something that you do for anyone but Allah. Although this may seem obvious, sometimes it is hard to remember, especially for those who are fasting for the first time. When it is the middle of the fifteenth day of fasting and we feel hungry, it may seem like more of a chore that we have to complete rather than an act we do to earn Allah’s pleasure. Personally, I don't think fasting is particularly easy. Eating is an essential portion of life, and as an 18-year-old young adult, I tend to...

Today the Friday sermon delivered by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih was a tribute to the late Maulvi Abdul Wahab Adam Sahib. Huzoor said the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) received the revelation: ‘People whom We shall direct by revelation from heaven will help you.’ (Tadhkirah, p. 850, 2009 edition) even before his claim and received it many times. Later, in 1907 this revelation was accompanied with: ‘...

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih said that he led the last two Friday Prayers in Germany. The Friday sermon of 6 June was on the subject of obedience of Khilafat and it was not only intended for the German Jama’at but was for the entire world, although some examples were cited in it with reference to the German Jama’at. Huzoor is pleased that Ahmadis the world over responded to the sermon by promptly expressing their loyalty and particularly mentioned that although some office-holders do try and find their own interpretations on matters but have given assurance that it will not happen in future. It is the beauty of the Jama’at established by the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) that it promptly responds to whatever its attention is drawn to. May God enhance all Ahmadis in their obedience and loyalty! Huzoor based today’s sermon on his recent tour of Germany and the Jalsa Salana there. Huzoor said one source of delight of Jalsa...

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih delivered his Friday sermon in Germany today. The German Jalsa Salana commenced with the sermon. Huzoor expressed hope for good Jalsa attendance as the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) repeatedly drew attention to the blessings of coming to Jalsa. Thus, even if one has to experience inconvenience, one must try ones best to come to Jalsa. Ahmadis living in the West are fortunate that they can hold Jalsa and other gatherings. They should be grateful for this opportunity and in gratefulness they should fully avail of the Jalsa programme. Ahmadis in Pakistan face restrictions in this regard and endure agony and yearn to be able to hold Jalsa and be recipients of its promised blessings. Some visitors to German Jalsa from Pakistan met Huzoor and sobbed with deep emotions at the helplessness they face in Pakistan. Huzoor repeated his advice that Pakistani Ahmadis should turn to God with greater fervour in order to see change. The Promised...

"I shall cause thy Message to reach the corners of the corners of the Earth"   Every Ahmadi around the world knows of this revelation to the Promised Messiah in the early days of his calling but few are so directly connected as the early American converts to Ahmadiyyat from the early 1920's to 1950's. This generation of Ahmadis laid the foundation of today's Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA in small town and cities across the US far away from the remote birthplace of Ahmadiyyat. Who were these men and women? What was their story? Where are the loved ones they left behind? This year the Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya USA invested in the search to identify these individuals and reconnect their families to the their spiritual family of Ahmadiyyat. On Saturday June 7th 2014 at Baitul Hafeez Mosque in St. Louis, with blessed prayers of Huzoor (aba) MKA USA sponsored its first Ahmadi Muslim Pioneer Dinner for 4 notable personalities who played major roles in establishing Ahmadiyyat...

‘Do they then not look at the camel, how it is created. And at the heaven, how it is raised high? And at the mountains, how they are firmly rooted? And at the earth, how it is spread out?’ (88:18-21) Hazrat Khalifatul Masih recited the above verses and gave a discourse on obedience in the today’s Friday sermon. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) has elucidated obedience of Prophethood and Imamat (spiritual leadership) of the time with reference to these verses. He has made, what may appear an odd connection between the camel and obedience of Prophethood and Imamat. However, the deep and profound spiritual significance of the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) words tells us that there are several words for the camel in Arabic but the specific word stated in the verse above is a plural noun and this signifies that God intends to explain cultural and communal traits of the camel here. The camel has...

"We come to Capitol Hill not to ask but to give. We want to help feed the hungry in America."   Dr. Bilal Rana, Sadr MKA USA, uttered these solemn words at the press conference on Capitol Hill. On May 30th, over 250 Khuddam heeded the call of Sadr MKA USA and travelled from around the US to participate in the first visit of MKA USA to Capitol Hill. Muslim young men and boys from across the United States came to pray for the nation and to meet congressional leaders. The day began with meetings with various congressmen and congresswomen at their offices. A press conference featuring Congresswoman Jackie Speier co-chair of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Caucus and Congressman Mike Honda provided important statements highlighting the visit.     Historic Jummah [vc_separator type='small' position='left' color='' thickness='' up='' down=''] The more than 250 khuddam then held jummah prayers on the lawn of the National Mall, overlooking the Capitol. Naib Sadr Dr. Basiyr Rodney gave the khutba, a sermon on Making...

[Dr. Bilal Rana, Sadr MKA USA, press conference transcript]Greeting of peace and thank you for coming. Today is a historic day for the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association. We come to Capitol Hill not to ask but to give. We want to help feed the hungry in America. And we asked congress to help us identify organizations in the districts we work with to help us achieve our goal of feeding 1 million hungry Americans.     To achieve this goal of the Muslim Youth against hunger initiative, we have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for benefiting Why Hunger, Humanity First, Capital Area Food Bank, and The Boys and Girls Club of Lakeland County. Earlier this year, we assembled 600 hunger relief packages in 3 minutes – a feat currently in review of the Guinness Book of World Records. We have worked with numerous organizations locally and today we will inaugurate our third annual Walk for Humanity after this press conference.    The...

A great favour of God which has united Ahmadiyya community as one and which has been prevalent since the passing of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) is the institution of Khilafat. The last 106 years of the history of the community bear witness to the fact that after the Promised Messiah’s (on whom be peace) passing, just as he stated in his booklet Al Wasiyyat (The Will) members of the community have accepted Khilafat with perfect obedience. Every Ahmadi across the world no matter what his ethnic background or nationality understands very well that adherence to Khilafat on the precepts of Prophethood which was to start after the advent of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) is his biggest duty. Huzoor said here he did not refer to those who separated in the early years and now do not have any standing, rather the large majority of Ahmadiyya community which understands the status of the Promised Messiah (on...