“It is Allah the Almighty who has brought me to this position. So when Allah the Almighty brought me to this position, now it is Allah’s work. He made me to speak…” – Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad

On 12 September 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 Nasirat-ul-Ahmadiyya aged between 13 and 15 from Midlands and South-West UK.

His Holiness presided the virtual meeting from his office in Islamabad, Tilford, whilst members of Nasirat-ul-Ahmadiyya gathered at the Darul Barakaat Mosque in Birmingham.

Following a formal session starting with recitation of the Holy Quran, members of Nasirat-ul-Ahmadiyya had the opportunity to ask His Holiness a series of questions regarding their faith and contemporary issues.

One girl asked His Holiness that in the past, the Prophets and Caliphs have been religious leaders but have also held political authority. She asked if the Ahmadiyya Muslim Caliphs would ever accept political authority.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad replied:

“In the past not all the prophets were given political authority. In Islam, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was the prophet who had religious authority, he was the final of the prophets. He was the head of state as well after migrating to Madinah, but not before then. When he was in Mecca, he was persecuted and tortured very brutally – both him and his companions. Then, after his demise, the four rightly guided Caliphs, the ‘Khulafa-e-Rashideen’ also had political authority. But now, in the time of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him), neither the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) nor his Caliphs will have that political authority.”

Speaking of a time in the future, when, God Willing, the populations of certain countries become majority Ahmadi Muslim, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“Governments in each country will continue to run their affairs and the Khalifa of the time will be the spiritual head of those countries. In the Holy Quran it is written that if two Muslim countries or two Muslim parties fight with each other, then try to (peacefully) settle their matters and if they stop fighting then well and good. Otherwise, the person who is committing cruelty, who is unfairly attacking the neighbouring country or the Muslim country, then stop his hands by force. (In such circumstances) the Khalifa of the time will ask the other governments to act accordingly. Anyway, the Khalifa of the time will only be the spiritual leader. He has nothing to do with the politics of the countries. But the head of the states will seek guidance from the Khalifa of the time.”

Another young woman asked His Holiness if he can share a moment where he faced a hardship and how he dealt with it.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“Hardships are part of your life. Why should I mention them? If I say I faced any hardship, that means I did not understand the spirit of my Waqf (life dedication). So I cannot mention. I never faced any hardship. I always saw Allah’s blessings on me.”

Another attendee mentioned that she had heard that before being elected as the Khalifa, His Holiness was a shy person and did not deliver speeches. She asked how His Holiness manages all his tasks as Khalifatul Masih.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“It is God’s work. I did not with my own will and wish come on this position (of Khilafat). It is Allah the Almighty who has brought me to this position. So, when Allah the Almighty brought me to this position, now it is Allah’s work. He made me speak and deliver speeches and to talk to the people and even silence the people with arguments. If I myself see what I am, then I cannot say I can answer any person. It is Allah the Almighty who gives me the strength to do all these things.”    

Another member of Nasirat-ul-Ahmadiyya asked His Holiness how important it is for Ahmadi Muslims to fight climate change.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“It is very important. You should try to avoid using cars whilst travelling short distances. Either walk or use a bicycle. Cycling is good for your health as well. Every Ahmadi Muslim should make it a point that he should plant two trees every year. This is how you can fight climate change. If not possible here, then those who travel to other countries, they can plant trees there. So in this way we can help control the climate change.”

Another question related to the incident of Prophet Jonah (peace be upon him), whereby he survived being in the belly of the whale. One attendee asked His Holiness how it was possible, given that many scientists consider it impossible for someone to survive in such conditions.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“He was swallowed but the Holy Quran does not say that he was kept in the fish belly for three days. That is the Bible. As soon as he was swallowed by the fish, the fish brought him out… He did not stay there for a longer period. Even then, the Holy Quran says that when he came out of the fish, he was sick. He was unconscious and he was injured and after some time he became conscious and survived. So the scientists say that because the Bible says that he remained there in the fish belly for three days, so he cannot survive it. That is right. But we do not believe he remained there for three days. As soon as he was swallowed, he was also brought out.” 

Another person asked that the standards of expression of speech had changed and that some older people find younger people’s expressions to be offensive. She asked for advice in this regard.

Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“We have to learn good morals. Whether you are speaking to your parents, siblings or other relatives, you should not leave good morals. Good morals require that you should pay regard to the other person, regard your elders and regard your siblings as well. Be polite and kind to your siblings, to your friends, to your parents. So if you are showing good morals then it is the Islamic way.”

Speaking generally about the topic of freedom of speech, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:

“Freedom of speech does not mean that you start abusing somebody or, as it is said in the West, that because here there is freedom of speech and freedom to express your views so you can print the caricatures and cartoons (e.g. of the Prophets). These are not good morals. They have double standards. When the caricatures of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) were printed they (French political leaders) said there is freedom of speech and expression here so nobody should stop them. But when they printed the cartoon of the French President, then there was a hue and cry. Why? It means they themselves believe these are not good things but for themselves they have different level of morals and for others.”