Members of Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya from Midlands of the UK have Honour of a Virtual Meeting with Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
His Holiness outlines a daily routine Atfal should aspire towards.
On 25 April 2021, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad held a virtual online meeting with members of Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya aged between 13 and 15 from the Midlands of the United Kingdom.
His Holiness presided the virtual meeting from his office in Islamabad, Tilford, whilst 58 members of Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya gathered at the Darul Barakaat Mosque in Birmingham.
Following a formal session starting with recitation of the Holy Quran, members of Majlis Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya had the opportunity to ask His Holiness a series of questions regarding their faith and contemporary issues.
One member of Atfal whose family had recently converted to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community asked what advice His Holiness would give to new converts to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
In reply, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“After accepting the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, there should be a significant change in your life with regards to your religious matters. People should know that now, after having accepted the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, you are a changed person – that you offer five daily prayers in congregation at the Mosque if possible and, if not, then at least at home you can offer five daily prayers in congregation. Read the Holy Quran daily and identify the commandments and injunctions given in the Holy Quran and try to practice those. Whatever Allah the Almighty has asked to do, we should try to do so and whatever Allah the Almighty has asked us to stop, or is prohibited, we should not.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad further stated:
“So a true Ahmadi Muslim, whether a new convert or an old Ahmadi Muslim, the basic thing is that there should be a significant change which people should feel in him and that is to follow the true teachings of Islam and to be a practicing Muslim. Offer the five daily prayers, recite the Holy Quran, and try to learn more about religion and in this age, the literature given to us by the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) is the best literature through which we can comprehend much better our religion. The literature of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) covers all the necessary teachings of Islam given in the Holy Quran and in the Hadith. So we should try to read the books of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) and try to understand the true religion and be a practicing Muslim.”
Another boy asked if His Holiness would continue with virtual meetings along with in-person meetings once the Covid-19 pandemic has passed.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“If possible, it can be continued. Those members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community who are living in far-off countries where I do not visit frequently, they might have a virtual meeting with me. But people like you, who are just living 100 miles from here, they can easily come to see me.”
His Holiness asked the Tifl asking the question if he would prefer a physical meeting or a virtual meeting, to which the Tifl replied that he would certainly like to meet in person.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“So for you it is a physical meeting, but for those countries who cannot come to the UK easily, with them, it is quite possible we shall have a virtual meeting. Now we have opened a new avenue – new doors have been opened… So it can be utilised later on.”
One of the Atfal asked His Holiness what the daily routine of a Tifl should be.
In a detailed response, His Holiness said that when a Muslim reaches the age of 10, the five daily prayers become obligatory and so from that age, children should prioritise their prayers and base their lives around them.
Referring to those aged 10 and above, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“The best routine should be that you get up early in the morning, offer your Fajr prayer, recite the Holy Quran – even if it is one or two Rukus – then if there is enough time to have a short nap, then you can go to bed again and have a nap for half an hour. If there is enough time you can even sleep for two hours during summers. Then get up, get yourself prepared for school, go to school and spend your day in the school. There, you should also behave well with your fellow students.”
Speaking about after school hours, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“When you come back from school, do your homework and also try to do some extra work which you are supposed to the read the next day. That will help you to better understand the lecture of your teacher or whatever you are going to study. You will also have to offer your Zuhr prayers. If there is no time between closing of the school and reaching back home, then you should ask your teacher or head teacher to give you some place to offer your Zuhr prayers there. If the time is short then you can offer Zuhr and Asr prayers together…”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad continued:
“After that you should play for one hour outside. During summers you can easily play for one hour. Play football or cricket or hockey or rugby or anything you like. Then offer your Maghreb prayer. Then also try to read some books – either some religious books or other story books which will increase your knowledge. Also try to read the newspaper which will increase your secular knowledge. After having had your dinner, offer the Isha prayer and then go to bed as early as possible so that you can wake up instead of wasting time on television, internet or tablet. So you better go to bed early so you will be able to get up early in the morning for Fajr prayer. This is why it is said that ‘Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise!’ This should be your routine.”
Another member of Atfal-ul-Ahmadiyya asked how they could care for elderly people.
His Holiness said they should try to help and serve their elders and spend as much time as possible with them.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad advised:
“When you come back from school, after doing your homework, you should give some time to your parents and grandparents. Listen to them, speak to them. So in this way you can emotionally help them and they will be happy. They will pray for you and you need their prayers and that will also help you to attain success in your life.”
His Holiness was also asked how much time he spends on preparing his weekly Friday Sermons.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“It depends on the topic. Sometimes it takes me twenty hours, thirty hours, four days, five days. Sometimes it takes me two or three hours. So it all depends on the topic. When I have to find the references it will take me some time. When I have to write with my own hand the whole of the script then it takes time. So it all depends. You can say anywhere from around three hours to four days, or forty hours!”