Ramadān - Ahmadiyya Gazette Canada

Scheme to make ExtraOrdinary Sacrificesfor Tāhir Hall & Jāmi`a AhmadiyyaDear Brothers and Sisters,Assalāmo alaikum wa Rahmatullāh waBarakātuhū!As you are aware, a beautiful building ofTāhir Hall and Jāmi`a Ahmadiyya is underconstruction in the Headquarters of Jamā`atAhmadiyya Canada, on the west side ofBaitul Islām Mosque in Maple, Ontario andits construction is moving very rapidly.We hope that by the grace of Allāh, theTāhir Hall portion of the building will becompleted by the end of July, 2011 and theremaining portion of the building, whichincludes Jāmi`a Ahmadiyya North Americaand the Jamā`at Offices, will be completed byDecember, 2011. Insha’Allāh!By the Grace of Allāh, Brothers and Sisters,from all over Canada, have made verygenerous donations for this project.On our humble request, Syednā HadratKhalīfatul Masīh V aa has graciously permittedfor the names of those donors, who havedemonstrated exemplary levels of sacrifice,to be inscribed on four slabs of this building,so that, as Tahdīs-e-Ni`mat, they can becomea permanent part of the building, as ameans to maintain the traditions of suchsacrifices. Furthermore, these members willbe remembered in prayers and their futuregenerations will Insha’Allāh tread on the pathof sacrifices rendered by their forefathers.The criteria, for having one’s name inscribedon these four slabs, are as follows:• Slab 1 $50,000 and up• Slab 2 $25,000 - $ 49,999• Slab 3 $10,000 - $ 24,999• Slab 4 $5,000 - $ 9,999This applies to all donations paid by August31, 2011.Brothers and sisters are also urged toconsider donating on behalf of their lovedones as Sadaqa Jariyya. May Allāh acceptthe sacrifices of all the donors and bless theirfamilies and their homes!I would like to make a very earnest appealto my dear Canadian Brothers and Sistersthat they consider offering great sacrificesand move forward in spending in the wayof Allāh, for the construction of the veryimportant building of Tāhir Hall and Jāmi`aAhmadiyya. This will be done both as aSadaqa Jāriyya and as a way to express theirgratitude to Allāh for the unlimited blessingsshowered upon their families by AllāhAlmighty.May Allāh, the Almighty, shower His endlessGrace upon your wealth and persons andmay your future generations be proud ofyour financial sacrifices! May Allāh Almightyaccept your exemplary sacrifices with HisGrace and shower you with His Blessings!Āmīn!Wassalām!Lal Khan MalikAmīr Jamā`at Ahmadiyya CanadaCourtesy of Major Hafeez Khalifa

Ahmadiyya Gazette CanadaAn Educational and Spiritual PublicationVolume 40 - No. 8 - August 2011Ramadān-Shawwāl 1432 / Zahūr 1390 HSPearls of WisdomSelection from the Holy Qur’ān and Ahādīth p.2So Said the Promised Messiah as p.3Guidance from Hadrat Khalīfatul Masīh V aaSummary of Friday Sermons p.4ArticlesGuidance on Ramadān p.9Introduction to Bai‘at - Part III p.15Fasting During the Month of Ramadān: Purpose & Significance p.24Fasting and Its Obligations p.26So What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up? p.3035 th Jalsa Sālāna Canada - A Brief Report p.42Announcements p.46Instruction from Hadrat Khalīfatul Masīh V aa p.47Press Release:Prince Edward Visits Ahmadiyya Mosque In Southfields p.48Amīr Jamā`at:Lal Khan MalikChief Editor:Prof. Hadi Ali ChaudharyHonorary Editor:Hassan Mohammad Khan ArifEditors:Farhan A. Naseer (Assisting)S.H.HadiAssistant Editor:Hana MalikManager:Mubashir KhalidGraphics Layout:Farhan A. NaseerWeb Magazine:Muzaffar AhmadPrinting:Jamnik GraphicsWWW.AHMADIYYAGAZETTE.CACurrent Issues - Archives - Contribute - Register - ContactAhmadiyya Muslim Jamā`at Canada Inc., 10610 Jane Street, Maple, ON L6A 3A2, CanadaTel: 905-303-4000 Fax: 905-832-3220 - editor@ahmadiyyagazette.caThe Ahmadiyya Gazette Canada is published by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamā`at Canada. The editors of the AhmadiyyaGazette Canada shall be solely responsible for all errors or omissions contained in the publication herein of the writingsof the Promised Messiah as or any of his successors ra , as well as the summaries of the sermons or addresses of HadratMirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalīfatul Masīh V aa .Articles published in the Ahmadiyya Gazette Canada reflect the views of their respective authors and may not reflectthe views, beliefs and tenets of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamā`at Canada.The official publication of theAhmadiyya Muslim Jamā`at CanadaISSN 0229 56441. Ahmadiyya -- Periodicals.I. Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam Canada.BP195.A34 1972297.8605-20dcCANADA POSTSECOND CLASS MAILMail Registration No: 40026877Table of Contents

So Said the Promised Messiah asIn so far as I am concerned, I do not leave a fast unless it is likely to cause my death; I don’t feel inclined to leavea fast. These are blessed days and are the days of the showering of God’s blessings and mercy.Ramadān is a blessed month, a month of prayers.The Purpose of Fasting is Purification-Al-Hakam January 24, 1901-Al-Hakam January 24, 1901I have already spoken of the Salāt. Next in order is worship in the shape of the fast. It is a pity that some who callthemselves Muslims at this time desire to modify these forms of worship. They are blind and are not aware ofthe perfect wisdom of God Almighty. These forms of worship are essential for the purification of the spirit. Thesepeople seek to intervene absurdly in a sphere of which they have no knowledge and devise false schemes for theimprovement of a territory that they have not visited. Their lives are devoted to worldly affairs; of spiritual mattersthey have no notion. To be moderate in eating and drinking and to bear hunger and thirst are necessary for thepurification of the spirit and promote the capacity for visions. Man does not live by bread alone. To discard allthought of eternal life is to inviteDivine wrath. But it should beremembered that the fast does notmean merely that a person shouldabstain from food and drink overa certain period. During the fastone should be occupied greatlyDuring the fast one should be occupiedgreatly with the remembrance of God.with the remembrance of God. The Holy Prophet, peace be on him, occupied himself greatly with worshipduring the month of Ramadān. During that month one should discard one’s preoccupation with eating anddrinking and cutting asunder from these needs should address oneself wholly towards God. Unfortunate is theperson who is bestowed material bread and pays no attention to spiritual bread. Material bread strengthensthe body, and spiritual bread sustains the soul and sharpens the spiritual faculties. Seek the grace of God, as alldoors are opened by His grace. (Speech at the Annual Conference, 1906 pp. 20-21)The verse: The month of Ramadān is the month in which the Qur’ān began to be revealed (2.186); indicates thegreatness of the month of Ramadān. The Sufis have recorded that this is a good month for the illumination of theheart. One who observes the fast has frequent experience of visions in this month. The Salāt purifies the spiritand the fast illumines the heart. The purification of the spirit means that one may be delivered from the passionsof the self that incites to evil; and the illumination of the heart means that the gates of vision may be opened sothat one may be able to behold God.-Malfūzāt, Vol. IV, p. 256-257Pearls of Wisdom3

Guidance from Hadrat Khalīfatul Masīh V aaObedience to the StateSummary of Friday Sermon Delivered on April 1, 2011On April 1, 2011, Hadrat KhalīfatulMasīh V aa delivered the FridaySermon at Baitul Futūh Mosque,London.Hudūr aa started the sermon byappealing to Ahmadīs to pray forall the Muslims of the world andreminding them of their obligationsin this regard. Hudūr aa said thatthe rulers and kings of Muslimcountries should do justice to theoffices they hold and the citizens tooshould realize their responsibilityand not allow their countries tofall into the hands of extremists.Ahmadīs in such countries shouldturn their attention to prayers andtry to convince both sides that forceis not the solution to anything andthat prayer is the ultimate weapon.Hudūr aa added that today, I willaddress, in particular, the people ofthose countries who feel compelledto take matters into their ownhands. Hudūr aa quoted severalahādīth in which the Holy Prophet saurged Muslims to be patient in spiteof injustice of their rulers. Theseahādīth point out various wrongsand unlawful actions of the rulersbut do not give people the right torebel against them. Those who holdviolent demonstrations against4their governments and causedamage to property and engage inriots are acting against the Sharī`ah.These ahādīth teach us that wehave to obey our rulers in all thingsunless they force us to act againstthe Divine law regarding whichyou have God’s clear decree.Hudūr aa went on to say God doesnot love mischief-makers. ThePromised Messiah as says,“If your rulers are evil, do notabuse them; rather, reformyourselves and God will reformthe rulers also and make themgood. My advice to you is tobecome the embodiment ofgood and not to turn away fromyour obligations either to Godor to His creatures.”In case of disagreeing with one’srulers, the Holy Prophet sa has said,“I tell you to be fearful of Godand to show obedience even if anAbyssinian slave is made a masterover you. Those who live after mytime will see great turmoil but Iadvise them to cling to my way andthe way of my rightful successors.”The Holy Prophet sa once said, “AfterI am gone, you will face injustice,your rights will be usurped andothers will be given priority overyou and you will witness muchthat will displease you.” TheCompanions asked, “O Prophet saof God, what should we do then?”The Holy Prophet sa replied, “Youshould give the rulers their due andseek your due from God.”Hudūr aa further added that oneof the conditions upon whichan Ahmadī pledges Bai`at to thePromised Messiah as is that hewill avoid falsehood, fornication,adultery, trespass of the eye,debauchery, cruelty, dishonesty,mischief and rebellion; and will notpermit himself to be carried awayby his passions.The Holy Qur’ān not only addressescommon people but it also prohibitsrulers from behaving arrogantly,causing disorder in their land,ignoring the rights of the people,and allowing the gap between therich and poor to increase so muchthat it causes unease and pavesthe way for rebellion. Otherwise,the rulers will be inviting God’spunishment.The only path is that of Taqwa and ifboth the citizens and rulers adhereto it, they will all prosper.Continued on pg. 5...Guidance from Hadrat Khalīfatul Masīh V aa

Companions of the Promised Messiah asSummary of Friday Sermon Delivered on April 8, 2011On April 8, 2011, Hadrat KhalīfatulMasīh V aa delivered the FridaySermon at Baitul Futūh Mosque,London.Hudūr aa quoted several accountsfrom the Register Rawaya whichcontains narratives of theCompanions who saw the PromisedMessiah as , pledged Bai`at at hishands and experienced his blessedcompany.Hudūr aa said that these accounts notonly reveal the love and devotionof these Companions and give usan idea of how they came to pledgeBai`at at the hands of the PromisedMessiah as , but they also give usan insight into the PromisedMessiah as ’s kindness and lovefor his Companions. Theyalso contain answers to manyimportant questions. Theseare the accounts of those whobecame part of the PromisedMessiah as ’s blessed Jamā`at,and about whom he said hadshown extraordinary sincerityand devotion.Hudūr aa further added that thePromised Messiah as always gracedhis followers with his invaluableadvice and guidance. He talked ina very kind, compassionate andenlightening manner. He mostlykept his eyes low but whenever heraised them, his Companions wouldlower their gaze and would notlook at him directly. The PromisedMessiah as expressed great delightwhen someone rendered him evena minor service. He was extremelykind to children and very sensitiveto the feelings of those whocame to visit him. He offered hisprayers so fervently and with suchconcentration that the observer wasleft amazed.The Promised Messiah as wasagainst rebellion and alwaysinstructed his Jamā`at to remainfaithful to the government. Once,when he was asked about lotteryschemes, he said they were notlawful, and that any money wonthrough them should be spent forthe propagation of Islām, becausenothing is unlawful for God. ThePromised Messiah as once said to hisCompanions, “People sometimesabuse me in front of you becausethey want to incite you, but youshould never respond to abusewith abuse, because if you do so,they will abuse me even more andMay Allāh grant all ofthe Companions of thePromised Messiah as alofty status in heaven andforever bless their progenywith the true spirit ofAhmadiyyat.this abuse shall not be from thembut from you. In response to theirabuse, you should pray for themand be kind to them so that theymay come closer to you.”Hudūr aa read out various accountsrelated by Companions of thePromised Messiah as , such as HadratHafiz Muhammad Ibrahim ra sāhib,son of Mian Nadir Ali ra sāhib;Hadrat Master Khalilur Rahman rasāhib, son of Hadrat MaulawiNaik Alam ra sāhib of Kalri; HadratHafiz Ghulam Rasul ra sāhib, son ofHafiz Muhammad Hussain ra sāhibof Wazirabad; Hadrat Khan sāhibMunshi Barkat Ali ra sāhib, son ofMuhammad Fadil ra sāhib; HadratMuhammad Ismail ra sāhib, son ofMaulawi Jamalud Din ra sāhib ofGurdaspur, Hadrat MuhammadAkbar ra sāhib, son of AkhwandRahim Bakhsh ra sāhib of Dera GhaziKhan; Hadrat Nizamud Din ra sāhib,son of Mian Allāh Ditta ra sāhib ofSialkot; Hadrat Munshi Abdullah rasāhib Ahmadī of Sialkot; and HadratMuhammad Yahya ra sāhib, son ofMuhammad Anwaar Hussain rasāhib of Shahabad, Hardoi.Concluding the sermon, Hudūr aaprayed that may Allāh grant all ofthe Companions of the PromisedMessiah as a lofty status in heavenand forever bless theirprogeny with the true spiritof Ahmadiyyat. May Allāhenable all of us to improve ourcondition and to grow in faithand in conviction. May He letevery coming day increaseour and our children’s lovefor the Holy Prophet sa , forthe Promised Messiah as andfor Ahmadiyyat. And maywe always try to abide bythe injunctions of the HolyQur’ān. Āmīn....Continued from pg. 4At the end of the Sermon, Hudūr aainformed the Jamā`at of the saddemise of the following membersof the Jamā`at, Amatul Wadudsāhiba, wife of Syed Abdul Hayeesāhib, Nazir Ishā‘at, Rabwah;Muhammad Saeed Ashraf sāhib,son of Chaudhry MuhammadAshraf sāhib of Lahore; NaeemaBegum sāhiba of Ohio, USA; andNaeem Ahmad Waseem sāhib ofUSA. Hudūr aa led their NamāzJanāzah Ghā’ib after Friday prayer.Guidance from Hadrat Khalīfatul Masīh V aa5

Truth, Faith, Righteousness and ObedienceSummary of Friday Sermon Delivered on April 22, 2011On April 22, 2011, Hadrat KhalīfatulMasīh V aa delivered the FridaySermon at Baitul Futūh Mosque,London.Hudūr aa began his Sermon by sayingthat the purpose of the comingof the Promised Messiah as was torevive truth and faithfulness in thisage and to inspire people’s heartswith the spirit of righteousness.This was his mission and thosewho carry on this mission are theones whom the Promised Messiah ascalls his “evergreen branches.” Wealways have to bear in mind theresponsibilities our Bai’at places onus. The true spirit of Ahmadiyyatrequires that we always standon guard lest there should be acontradiction in what we say andwhat we do. God is never pleasedwith mere claims unless they aresubstantiated by the evidence ofconduct.Hudūr aa further added that,unfortunately, the resolve and faithshown by our elders is missingin some of their descendants. Weneed to remember our elders andregard them as our role-models.If we make a pledge never to doanything that will bring a bad nameto them, this means of self-reformwill be a great help to our spiritualadvancement. In addition to selfreform,however, we also need toreform our women and children.With the reformation of women, wecan guarantee the right upbringingof our future generations. But wemust first bring about a positivechange within ourselves.The Promised Messiah as says,“Our Jamā`at has madewonderful progress in love anddevotion, so much so that I amat times amazed to see their (theGuidance from Hadrat Khalīfatul Masīh V aamembers’) zeal, sincerity andlove.”Hudūr aa said that even today,there are many Ahmadīs who arefull of the same spirit and theyare also imparting it to their nextgenerations. Hudūr aa commendedthe spirit with which KhuddāmulAhmadiyya Pakistan has fulfilledits security duties in the wake ofthe Lahore incident and how theirfaith has been their motivation.Hudūr urged the Khuddām to notforget their prayers when on dutyand to always keep praying andremembering God.The Promised Messiah as says,“God is with those who do goodand are righteous and are everfearful of disobeying Him.”Again the Promised Messiah assays, “Those who have believedand their faith is unadulteratedby worldliness, hypocrisy orcowardice, and do not fail atany stage of obedience, such arethe people whom God loves.God says that they are the oneswhose every step is the step oftruth.”Hudūr aa continued to say there aremany levels of obedience and it isonly through complete obediencethat we can prove our loyalty toGod. Those who obey the institutionof the Jamā`at, from the lowest levelto the highest, win Allāh’s pleasure,and this should be the aim of everyAhmadī.Hudūr aa also reminded the officebearersthat they can only becomethe true representatives of Khilāfatif they fulfill their duties with asense of justice and fear of God. AllAhmadīs should at all times abideUnfortunately, the resolve and faith shownby our elders is missing in some of theirdescendants. We need to remember ourelders and regard them as our role-models.If we make a pledge never to do anythingthat will bring a bad name to them, thismeans of self-reform will be a great help toour spiritual advancement.by truth and with Taqwa in order tofulfill their pledge of Bai`at.Hudūr aa concluded the Sermon bysaying that our Jamā`at can only beworthy of being called a Jamā`at ifwe hold fast to our pledge of Bai`at,bring about a holy transformationin ourselves, freeing our lives fromsin and fulfilling all our obligationsto God and man. May Allāh enableus to lead our lives according tothe aspirations of the PromisedMessiah as . Āmīn.7

Faith Inspiring Stories of New Converts to IslāmSummary of Friday Sermon Delivered on April 29, 2011On April 29, 2011, Hadrat KhalīfatulMasīh V aa delivered the FridaySermon at Baitul Futūh Mosque,London.Hudūr aa said that the PromisedMessiah as ’s advice to those in searchof the truth was that they shouldseek Allāh’s guidance throughprayer. If they pray to Him with aclear and unprejudiced mind, Allāhwill surely guide them. In his bookNishān-e-Āsmānī, or The HeavenlySign, the Promised Messiah as hasoutlined the manner in which suchan Istikharāh should be performed.He says that a seeker of truthshould first sincerely repent all ofhis sins and then offer two rak‘ah ofprayer at night. In the first rak‘ah heshould recite Sūrah Yā-Sīn, and inthe second he should recite SūrahAl-Ikhlās 21 times, then send downDurūd (upon the Holy Prophet sa )300 times and then offer Istighfār300 times. He should then beseechAllāh, who is the Knower of allhidden things, to show him theright path. The Promised Messiah asalso says that if one’s heart is full ofprejudice and ill-will, it will remainunder the influence of Satan and hissearch for truth will not bear fruit.Hudūr aa further said there aremany fortunate people who havesought Allāh’s guidance and havebeen duly guided by Him. Eventoday, Allāh is showing signs of thetruth of the Promised Messiah as inorder to guide true seekers of truthtowards Him. Hudūr aa relatedseveral faith-inspiring experiencesof people from around the worldwho prayed for guidance and fortheir hearts to be opened to thetruth, and how Allāh revealed tothem the right path through theirdreams, where they eventuallyentered the fold of Ahmadiyyat.The Promised Messiah as says,“I can see, and so can you,that Allāh has kept me alive tothis day and has increased myJamā`at.”Hudūr aa said these words of thePromised Messiah as are as truetoday as they were in his lifetime,because even though the PromisedMessiah as is not physically amongus, his Jamā`at is still growing andhe continues to appear in people’sdreams testifying to the truth of hisclaim.The Promised Messiah as says,“The time has now come for theglory of Islām to be manifested.This is the purpose of mycoming. People must value theblessings that are descendingfrom heaven and be gratefulfor this timely help in an ageof turmoil. But if they do notvalue God’s gift, He will ceaseto care about them and Hewill certainly accomplish Hismission.”Hudūr aa prayed that may Allāhopen people’s hearts so that theyseek guidance from Allāh. Andmay Allāh cause our own faith togrow stronger every day. Āmīn.At the end of the Sermon, Hudūr aainformed the Jamā`at of the sadmartyrdom of two Syrian Ahmadīs,Tamir Al-Rashid sāhib andMuhammad Mustafa Ra`ad sāhib.Hudūr aa also spoke about the saddemise of Ahmad Baqir sāhib ofSyria and Lutfur Rahman Shakrisāhib, son of Maulana AbdurRahman Anwar sāhib, who servedThe Promised Messiah as ’s advice to those insearch of the truth was that they should seekAllāh’s guidance through prayer. If theypray to Him with a clear and unprejudicedmind, Allāh will surely guide them.The time has now come for the glory ofIslām to be manifested. This is the purposeof my coming.for a long time as a pharmacist atFadl-e-Umar Hospital in Rabwahand was now living in Germany.Hudūr led their Namāz JanāzahGhā’ib after the Friday prayer.8 Guidance from Hadrat Khalīfatul Masīh V aa

Guidance on RamadānHadrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmūd Ahmad, Khalīfatul Masīh II raRamadān: A Time for Sincere WorshipFriday Sermon Delivered on August 29, 1913After Tashahud, Ta’ūz andrecitation of Sūrah Fātihah, Hudūr rarecited verses 11-22 of Sūrah Zumar,chapter 39 of the Holy Qur’ān:Say, ‘O ye My servants whobelieve, fear your Lord. Thereis good for those who do goodin this life. And Allāh’s earth isspacious. Verily, the steadfastwill have their reward withoutmeasure.’ Say, ‘Verily I amcommanded to worship Allāh,being sincere to Him in religion.And I am commanded to be thefirst of those who submit to Him.’Say, ‘Indeed I fear, if I disobeymy Lord, the punishment ofthe great day.’ Say, ‘It is AllāhI worship, being sincere to Himin my religion. ‘So worshipwhat you like beside Him.’Say, ‘Surely the losers will bethose who ruin their souls andruin their families on the Dayof Resurrection.’ Beware! Thatwill surely be the manifestloss. They will have over themcoverings of fire, and beneaththem similar coverings. It is thisagainst which Allāh warns Hisservants. ‘O My servants, takeMe then, for your Protector.’And those who shun false godsGuidance on Ramadānlest they worship them andturn to Allāh — for them is gladtidings. So give glad tidingsto My servants, Who listen tothe Word and follow the bestthereof. It is they whom Allāhhas guided, and it is they whoare men of understanding. Ishe, then, against whom thesentence of punishment hasbecome due fit to be rescued?Canst thou rescue him whois in the Fire? But for themwho fear their Lord there arelofty mansions built over loftymansions, beneath which riversflow. Allāh has made thatpromise; and Allāh breaks notHis promise. Hast thou not seenthat Allāh sends down waterfrom the sky, and causes it toflow in the form of streamlets inthe earth and then brings forththereby herbage, varying in itscolours? Then it dries up andthou seest it turn yellow; thenHe reduces it to broken straw.In that verily is a reminder formen of understanding. (39:11-22)3 Types of PeopleThere are 3 types of people in theworld. The first are those who donot fear God, the Exalted. [Theyhave] no relationship with Him, norespect for Him, no awe of Him, nolove or affection for Him, nothing atall. They completely reject Allāh’scommandments, if not in terms ofbelief then, by way of action.The second types of people arethose who are not rejecters, but theiractions are not based on taqwā.They obey [their] religion, but donot [obey it.] They pray, yet do notpray, they fast yet do not [truly]fast, they perform Hajj but do notdo so, they give zakāt but do not doso. Their actions are habitual. Forexample, thousands of Muslimssay, “In the name of Allāh,” beforeeating; and afterwards say, “Allpraise belongs to Allāh.” Howeverwhen they say, “All praise belongsto Allāh,” are their hearts filledwith a strong love for God? Doesthe thought occur to them that thisfood is Allāh’s grace? If it were notfor Him, then they would have noidea what type of food would beprepared. Putting a bite of food inyour mouth is easy, but what mustbe thought of is after how muchwork, hardships and manpowerthat morsel came into [an edible]form.9

Similarly, Muslims greet each otherby saying Assalāmo Alaikum.However are all Muslims awareof the underlining wisdom behindthis? Are their hearts filled withthe same emotions and the sameearnestness as were intendedby the Holy Prophet sa when hestarted this phrase? Do they havean overwhelming desire in favourof their brother [to whom they aresaying this phrase] that may Godkeep him away from every evil?Keep him away from every typeof disorder? That may that God,whose name is Salām, keep himsafe?[The second type of people] arethose who act as follows. Whenthey fast, they will remain thirstyand hungry, they will give uptheir closest relations, but they willhave no desire to achieve the finalcause, [i.e. the underlining intendedpurpose of fasting].The third types of people are thosewho carry out all their actions whilemaintaining fear and reverence ofGod. They do not perform salāt soas to be recognized as people whopray, they do not bow their headswith humility before their Lord sothat people may think of them assaintly. They do not remain hungry[while fasting] because theymerely observed their fathers andgrandfathers keeping fasts. Theydo not give zakāt so that peoplemay say they give zakāt. They donot go for hajj so that people maycall them Hājī. Rather, all theiractions are meant to please thatBeing who is seated gloriously inthe heavens. These are the peoplewhose worship is accepted.God, the exalted says, to hisservants, you have claimed to havebelieved, however you cannot bebelievers until you remain foreverestablished on taqwā and untilyou have reverence of your lordin your hearts. Ritualistic prayersThere is no guarantee on life, so makebenefit of this blessed hour. God the exaltedis not pleased with rituals; rather, He ispleased with that which is in your hearts.Make sacrifices, for without sacrificesyou cannot reach God’s presence. Adopttaqwā, for taqwā is the spirit of all actions.Taqwā means to sacrifice your desiresbefore God.are performed by Jews as well.Ritualistic fasts are performed byHindus, in fact they keep eight fastsand do not eat for 3 days at a time.But will they earn great rewardsfor these fasts? No, because theydo not carry out these actions withtaqwā and true obedience in view,rather they do them as habits andrituals. So you should ponder, iffor a month you bear hardship andat the end do not gain any benefit,that is to say you did not cause any[positive] change within yourself,then what else can this be [called]except, “losing out in the world andin the hereafter.”(Al-Hajj, verse 12)The month of Ramadān is a monthof great rewards and great fear.So you should decide to causea change within yourself beforeRamadān [begins] and act upon thecommandment, “Fear your lord.”(Al-Zumar, verse 11)This Friday is the last Friday. Soin this blessed hour, you shouldpledge, that [from now on] oursalāt, and our fasting, and all ouractions will be for God [alone], notas a habit or as a ritual. Who knowsif they will see the next month.Perhaps today is your last day,perhaps this month is your lastmonth, or this year is your last year.The Meaning of TaqwāThere is no guarantee on life, somake benefit of this blessed hour.God the exalted is not pleased withrituals; rather, He is pleased withthat which is in your hearts. Makesacrifices, for without sacrificesyou cannot reach God’s presence.Adopt taqwā, for taqwā is the spiritof all actions. Taqwā means tosacrifice your desires before God.The Promised Messiah as narratesto us a saying of the Holy Prophet sathat, “The exalted status of AbūBakr over you is not due to hissalāt or fasts, rather it is due to thatwhich is in his heart.”On one occasion, an issue occurredwhich I wanted to settle accordingto the desire of Khalīfatul Masīh.Yet a friend would continuously sayto me, “Miān sāhib adopt taqwā,adopt taqwā.” Eventually thatmatter reached Khalīfatul Masīh.He said, “Compare his age withyour own age. If he understandsmy desire, then you, who are olderthan him should understand itmore than him.”As such, following one’s own desireis not called taqwā, rather, obeyingAllāh the exalted is called taqwā.10 Guidance on Ramadān

Say, ‘O ye My servants who believe, fear your Lord. There is good for those who do good in this life.Chapter 39 Al-Zumar Verse 11If by obeying Allāh one has to facehardships, then Allāh the exaltedsays, ‘My land is spacious. You arenot permitted to revolt against yourking with swords in hand. But youcan migrate and remain patient.Those who are patient are promisedan unending reward which will begiven in full.’ Then Allāh says to theHoly Prophet sa , “Say, ‘I have beencommanded that I worship Allāhthe exalted with great sincerity andbe ever obedient to Him.’” Whenthe Khātam al-Nabīyīn has beengiven this command, then whoelse could there be who would beexempted from worship?The blessed personage of theHoly Prophet sa is an exampleof complete compliance andcomplete obedience to Allāh. It isfor this reason that Hadrat Ā’isha rasaid,. Meaning,however many commands werefound in the Qur’ān, he sa woulddo, and however many things wereforbidden he would avoid. What aGuidance on Ramadānpure example we have before us,an example which was refreshed inthis age by the coming of anothermessenger in this century. What apure teaching is found in the HolyQur’ān.If Christians drink alcohol thenthey are not to be blamed for theirGod Jesus also drank. (Luke 7:34)If a Wām Mārgī, [an ancient Hindusect] drinks alcohol and partakes inindecent acts then it is nothing tofeel sorrow over, for their teachingsare such. But if a Muslim does suchactions then how greatly sorrowfulwould it be, because the HolyQur’ān has strongly forbiddenthese actions.God even commands the HolyProphet sa+ to say, “If I were todisobey, then I am fearful ofGod’s punishment.” After him sawho else can remain safe fromGod’s punishment despite beingdisobedient. Therefore, you shouldleave [the company] of bad peoplejust as a snake leaves its slough.Purify YourselvesJust as today, Friday, you haveperformed your physical ablution,similarly you should cleanseyourself of all filth and also makeyour soul fragrant. For God isQudūs, and aside from those whoare pure, none else can reach him.May God grant you the ability totread according to the example ofthe Holy Prophet sa , and the abilityto follow Islām. May God make ourwords and actions more righteous.May God be pleased with us. Maywe live as Muslims, die as Muslims,and be raised as Muslims.This sermon was originally printed inan issue of Al-Fadl dated September 3rd,1913. The Urdu text of this sermon canalso be found in Khutbāt Mahmūd, Vol. 4,page 6-9. It has been rendered into Englishby Farhan Ahmad Naseer.11

After Tashahud, Ta’ūz andrecitation of Sūrah Fātihah, Hudūr rarecited verse 184 of Sūrah Baqara,chapter 2 of the Holy Qur’ān:O ye who believe! Fasting isprescribed for you, as it wasprescribed for those beforeyou, so that you may becomerighteous. (2:184)How tremendous is Allāh theexalted’s beneficence, how great isHis grace, that of the sharī`at Hehas bestowed upon Muslims, andthe commandments given to usthrough the Holy Prophet sa , none ofthem are such that cannot be actedupon. In fact, every command thatis given can easily be carried out byman.Eating and drinking are suchnecessary and important requisitesthat if man is told that he mustrefrain from them for a period oftime, then upon hearing this hewill become worried. But [see how]Allāh the exalted has given thiscommand in so benign a manner.The command says, “O ye whobelieve! Fasting is compulsory foryou.” Hearing this command, it isquite possible that people becomeworried [and think], “How willwe be able to give up food, drink,speaking to a certain extent andRamadān: A Time for PreparationFriday Sermon Delivered on July 31, 1914relations with our women?” Forthis reason [Allāh says], “as it wasprescribed for those before you.”This is not a commandment thatnobody can act upon. We have beengiving this command to peoplebefore, and so you have no reasonto worry.This is one of the miracles of the HolyQur’ān, that for every commandit puts forward, it immediatelyresponds to the sentiments of riskand hardship that would enterinto a person’s heart due to thecommand. So, where the commandis “O ye who believe! Fasting iscompulsory for you.” There too italso says, it is possible that you mayfind this to be bad for you, [you maythink], “how can we give up food,Giving up food for God’s sake is an exercisethat prepares a person’s ability to not careif ever a misfortune occurs.drink, speaking to a great extentand relations with our women?”Such a thought would come aboutnaturally; however, this is not acommand that you are unable toact upon. People before you havecontinued to act upon it. And this issuch a tried and tested prescriptionthat if you were to carry it out thenyou would become righteous.Many of man’s actions arerepetitive and in accordance withhis strengths. A person who sleepsa lot becomes a habitual sleeper;however, if he wants, he can cut itdown as well. To a great degree,many of man’s abilities are suchthat they work in accordance withhowever they are exercised. It isfor this reason that when a sharī`atcomes, it generates within a personsuch limbs, which due to theirproper exercise, is never targetedwith hardships or trials at anytime.Giving up food for God’s sakeis an exercise that prepares aperson’s ability to not care if evera misfortune occurs. Similarly,giving up drinking of water, havingrelations with one’s spouse andremaining awake throughout thenight for worship is preparation forif ever a hardship must be handledin which a person has to give upsomething, then he may not worry.In the month of Ramadān, abeliever gives up eating solely forGod’s sake. This illustrates that ifever he must leave something forGod’s sake then he will certainlyleave it. In Ramadān, a believerstops drinking water for God’ssake. He stops having relationswith his wife for God’s sake. Hesacrifices his sleep and engages inworship of God, the exalted. Thisis an illustration presented by Godthe exalted, to man, [he tells us], totry this exercise for a month, so thatif ever you are [genuinely] facedwith such circumstances, you willeasily get through them.All governments of the worldhave armies that work throughoutthe year. Similarly, amongst thebelievers there is also a groupregarding whom God the exaltedsays:And let there be among you abody of men who should invite12 Guidance on Ramadān

to goodness, and enjoin equityand forbid evil. (3:105)Governments also have reserveswhich only work 1 or 2 months inthe year. If a war occurs, then theyare immediately called to dutybecause they had been preparingbeforehand. Now because allMuslims do not commonly fast for12 months, nor do they do tahajjud,for this reason all are required tospecifically carry out these exercisesin the month of Ramadān; although,there is a group of God’s people whoare involved in these throughoutthe year. God the exalted says carryout these exercises so that you maybe safeguarded from hardship.A government whose armyconstantly prepares [for war]cannot face defeat from its enemy.Similarly is the case of a nationwhose people are righteous andpious, who give up anything forGod’s sake, Satan does not havethe power to defeat them. Allāhthe exalted says, in these dayswhichever Jamā`at safeguards itselffrom all evils, [for such a Jamā`at]Satan does not even think to attackthem because Satan only attacksfilthy and impure hearts. [Just as] adrunkard can invite another drunkto drink alcohol, he can never havethe courage to give a righteousperson [this invitation]. And so,when an entire Jamā`at becomesrighteous, then Satan cannot attack.[Allāh says] if you do these thingsthen you will remain safe fromSatan. Because each of you will be asoldier, and each will have preparedto face the enemy, for this reasonSatan will not have the courageto attack. This is the reason whyup and until now, all the Muslimswere soldiers. Satan did not attackthem. But when they became scarce,then they were attacked and Satandestroyed them by putting varioustypes of thoughts in their hearts.Guidance on RamadānThere is a time when special peopleremain awake at night and praybefore God the exalted. However,this is a grace from God that hehas also given a chance for all toget together and worship at night.Many people cannot always getup at night, some laborers workhard during the day which makesit hard for them get up at night.The Holy Prophet sa has givensuch people permission to notalways pray tahajjud. However, inRamadān everyone must awaken[at night], and everyone’s prayersreach acceptance because they areoffered at a time regarding whichGod the exalted says, “I will acceptthem.”Alongside fasting, God theexalted says,“And when My servants askthee about Me, say: ‘I am near.I answer the prayer of thesupplicant when he prays toMe. So they should hearken toMe and believe in Me, that theymay follow the right way.’”(2:187)The days of fasting are very blessed,blessed is that person who benefitsfrom them.In the time of the Holy Prophet sacongregational tahajjud wasnot performed. Afterwards, thecompanions preferred to offer it incongregation so that some peoplewho are lazy may join in as well. Soit is better for those people who donot have confidence in themselvesto offer it in congregation beforeeating sehrī or offer it the nightbefore. Those who have controlover their selves may read at homeseparately. The real intent behindthis is to read the Holy Qur’ān andto be involved in supplications.Long sūrahs can also be recited athome.We have many difficulties in thisage. Compared to the world,our Jamā`at is already a smallJamā`at, now a portion of it hasalso separated. Before we used toconsider non-Ahmadī attacks asinternal attacks, but now even moreinternal attacks have started. Thus, aperson who sleeps soundly despitebeing surrounded by his enemy onall sides is a fool, especially whenhe is even given the opportunity toprepare to face his enemy.In these days, you should keepfear of God in mind and pray sothat God may remove this internaldisorder. Understand this well thatwithout God’s help, nothing hasever happened in the past, nor willit happen now. You do not have anarmy, respect, wealth, armaments,nothing of the sort with which youare going to stand up against theworld. For your success, you onlyhave one way and if you grab a holdof it, you will be successful. Graba hold of God’s door and presentyourselves before him and plea tohim to save us from all our enemies.A thief only attempts to steal aperson’s wealth when he is at adistance from police headquarters,and if a policeman is close, he daresnot make any attempt. So you tooshould fall before God the exalted,and grab a hold of his door askinghim for protection. Then, no one willbe able to attack you and if someonedoes, then that King of kings [willsend his] soldiers and they grab ahold of him and punish him. Do notwaste these days. Disorder is notdecreasing; rather, it is increasing.Troubles are not decreasing; rather,they are increasing. Therefore, donot be lazy.13

Allāh Desires that you may exalt Him for His having guidedyou and that you may be grateful.Chapter 2 Verse 186While reading the history ofMuslims, one is amazed thateven during wars, they regularlyprayed tahajjud. They fought allday and then at night, rather thansleeping, they occupied themselvesin worship. In the battle of Yarmūk,the Christian king sent one of hismen to the Muslim camp at nightto find out something. When hereturned he said, “We will neverbe able to overcome them. [Whenour] soldiers return they begin tostretch and take off their armor inthe middle of the path so that theymay quickly go and rest. But these[Muslims] remain occupied inprayers and worship of God evenat night.”Take a hold of God’s name. Whowould desire that his name beerased? It is for the sake of a namethat people are hopeful of havingchildren. So when even a weakhuman does not desire that hisname should be erased, then howcould He, who possesses greatmight and power ever desirethat His name be erased? If yourepresent God’s name, then if youare wiped out it will be as if God’sname is erased [which God willnot allow]. Therefore, grab a holdof his door and occupy yourselfwith prayers. It is possible that oneof your prayers will be acceptedand this present disorder mayberemoved.Pass through this Ramadān byachieving many benefits andworship God. When through youGod’s name is made to shine andyou bow at His door, then nobodywill be able to destroy you. And ifyou move away from his door thenHe too has no care for you. He willsend another nation. For He is notin need of us; rather, we are in needof Him.A gardener plants a tree in hisgarden but whichever tree remainsfruitless, he cuts off so that it doesn’ttake up needless space, after which,the tree it can be used for burning.This garden has been planted bythe Promised Messiah as . If it doesnot bear fruit then another gardenwill be planted. He who is standingin this garden and is not bearingany fruit, should be more fearfulthen a tree standing in a jungle. In ajungle, fruitless and barren trees canremain standing, but in a gardensuch trees are definitely cut down.You are trees in this garden, youare in more danger as compared toothers, therefore, whoever amongsees in himself the trait of beingfruitless and barren should cause achange in himself.During your fasts, involveyourselves specifically in God’sworship so that your Eīd will be asource of joy. May Eīd be a sourceof joy for you, not because that dayyou will be able to eat and drink,rather because on that day you willenjoy special fruits and delicacies ofGod’s mercy. May Eīd be a sourceof joy for you, not because you willmeet your friends and dear ones,rather, because on that day you willmeet more of God’s creation.This is a very blessed month. Hewho desires to benefit from it willbe showered with great blessingsand mercy.This sermon was originally printed in anissue of Al-Fadl dated August 6th, 1914.The Urdu text of this sermon can also befound in Khutbāt Mahmūd Vol. 4, page143-148. It has been rendered into Englishby Farhan Ahmad Naseer.14 Guidance on Ramadān

Introduction to Bai‘at - Part IIIHadrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalīfatul Masīh V aaThe following is the continuation ofthe concluding address delivered at theAnnual Convention of the AhmadiyyaMuslim Jamā`at, United Kingdom, onJuly 27, 2003, in which the first threeconditions of Bai‘at were explained indetail.Condition IIThat he/she shall keep away fromfalsehood, fornication/adultery,trespasses of the eye, debauchery,dissipation, cruelty, dishonesty,mischief and rebellion; and that he/she will not permit himself/ herself tobe carried away by passions, howeverstrong they might be.Nine kinds of sins are mentionedin this condition, and the initiate,everyone who claims to belongto the Jamā`at of the PromisedMessiah as , should eschew thosesins.Falsehood—the Greatest of EvilsIndeed, falsehood is the greatest ofall evils. Once someone asked theHoly Prophet sa for advice becausethat person was suffering frommany weaknesses and did notthink that hecould leave all of them at once. TheHoly Prophet sa told him, ‘Promisethat you will always speak the truthand will never tell a lie.’ Just byadopting the path of truthfulness,he was freed from all of his sinsIntroduction to Bai‘at - Part IIIone by one. Whenever he thoughtof committing a sin, he thoughtthat if he were caught he would bepresented before the Holy Prophet sa .He had promised not to tell a lie. Ifhe were to speak the truth [aboutthe act], he might be humiliated orpunished. Gradually, he was freedfrom all his sins. Indeed, falsehoodis the root of all evils.I will now elaborate upon thisfurther. Almighty Allāh says in theHoly Qur’ān:That is God’s commandment.And whose honours the sacredthings of Allāh, it will be goodfor him with his Lord. And cattleare made lawful to you but notthat which has been announcedto you. Shun therefore theabomination of idols, and shunfalse speech. (al-Hajj, 22:31)Here, uttering falsehood has beenmentioned together with shirk.Allāh also says:Hearken, it is to Allāh alone thatsincere obedience is due. Andthose who take for protectorsothers beside Him say, ‘Weserve them only that theymay bring us near to Allāhin station.’ Surely, Allāh willjudge between them concerningthat wherein they differ. Surely,Allāh guides not him who is anungrateful liar. (al-Zumar, 39:4)There is another hadīth in SahīhMuslim:Hadrat ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Amr Binal-‘As ra relates that the HolyProphet sa said, ‘Whoever has thefollowing four characteristics isa real hypocrite, and whoeverhas one of these characteristicshas an element of hypocrisyuntil he leaves that habit:• When he speaks, he tells alie. [His speech is mingledwith falsehood, and heutters falsehood.]• When he makes a contract,he breaks it.• When he makes a promise,he breaks it. [This is also aform of faslehood.]• When he argues, he startsusing foul language.’All of these characteristics arerelated to the telling of lies. Thenthere is another hadīth.Hadrat Imam Malik ra relatesthat, ‘I have heard that Hadrat‘Abdullah Bin Mas‘ud ra usedto say, ‘‘Adopt truthfulnessbecause truthfulness leadstowards virtue, and virtue leadsto Paradise. Avoid falsehoodbecause falsehood leads todisobedience, and disobedienceconveys one to Hell. Do you notknow that it is said that suchand such spoke the truth and15

16obeyed; or that he lied and wasinvolved in sin?’’’ (Al-Mu’attaLil Imam Malik, Kitab-ul-Jami‘,Babū ma ja’a fis-sidqi walkadhib)Then there is a hadīth in MusnadAhmad bin Hanbal:Hadrat Abū Hurairah ra relatesthat the Holy Prophet sa said,‘Whoever invited a young childto give him something and didnot do so, it would be countedas a lie.’ (Musnad Ahmad binHanbal, vol. 2, pg. 452, printed inBeirut)This point is very important formoral training. Keep in mind thatfor the moral training of childrenyou should not say such things evenby way of jest. Otherwise, childrenwill pick up the habit of telling liesin daily conversation, and lyingwould become a firm habit later intheir lives. Gradually they will loseall feelings and inhibitions againsttelling lies.Hadrat Ibn-e-Mas‘ud ra has relatedthat the Holy Prophet sa said,‘Truth guides to virtue, andvirtue guides to Paradise. Aperson keeps telling the truthtill in the sight of Allāh he isnamed truthful. Lying leads tovice, and vice leads to the Fire;and a person keeps lying till inthe sight of Allāh he is named aliar.’ (Sahīh Al-Bukharī, KitAbūl-Adabi, Babū Qaulillahe Ittaqullahawa kunu ma‘as Sadiqin)Hadrat ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Amr Bin al-‘As ra narrates that,‘A man came to the HolyProphet sa and said, ‘O Prophetof Allāh, what are the deedsthat lead to Paradise?’ The HolyProphet sa replied, ‘Speaking thetruth. When a servant of Allāhspeaks the truth, he becomes anobedient servant, and when hebecomes an obedient servant,he becomes a true believer, anda true believer finally entersParadise.’ The man askedagain, ‘O Prophet of Allāh,what is the action that leadsto Hell?’ The Holy Prophet sareplied, ‘Falsehood. Whensomeone tells a lie, he becomesdisobedient, and disobedienceis kufr [disbelief], and someonewho is established on disbelieffinally enters Hell.’ (MusnadAhmada bin Hanbal, vol. 2, pg.176, printed in Beirut)The Promised Messiah as says:The Holy Qur’ān has regardedthe uttering of falsehood to bean abomination as Allāh says:Shun therefore the abominationof idols, and shun false speech.(al-Hajj, 22:31)Here the words falsehood andidolatry have been used inconjunction. Indeed, falsehoodis an idol because otherwiseno one would leave the truth.Just as an idol has nothingbut artificial polish, so too,falsehood has no reality behindit. Those who tell lies lose theircredibility so much that evenwhen they speak the truth onethinks that perhaps there is anelement of falsehood in it. Ifthose who are given to tellinglies want to cut down theirhabits, they will not find it easy;they have to struggle for a longtime before they get used tospeaking the truth. (Malfūzāt,vol. 3, pg. 350)The Promised Messiah as also says:Of all the natural conditions ofman, one that is an essential partof his nature is truthfulness.Normally, unless a person ismoved by some selfish motive,he does not wish to tell alie. He is naturally averse tofalsehood and is reluctant tohave recourse to it. That is whyhe dislikes a person whom heknows to be a liar and looksupon him with disdain. Butthis natural condition by itselfcannot be considered moral.Even children and the insaneexhibit this quality. The factis that so long as a persondoes not renounce the selfishmotives which prevent himfrom telling the truth, hecannot be considered truthful.If a person tells the truth onlywhen he stands to lose nothing,but tells a lie when his honour,property or life are threatened,how can he be considered betterthan children and the insane?Do minors and the insane notspeak this kind of truth? Thereis hardly anyone in the worldwho would tell a lie withoutany motive. Therefore, the truththat is forsaken when facedwith possible loss can neverform part of true morals. Thereal occasion of telling the truthis when one apprehends loss oflife or property or honour. Inthis context, the divine teachingis:• Keep away from idol worshipand lying because falsehoodtoo is an idol; one who reliesupon it ceases to rely upon God.Hence, by telling lies, one losesGod. (al-Hajj, 22:31)• When you are summoned totestify to the truth, do not refuseto do so. (al-Baqarah, 2:283)• Do not conceal true testimony;and he who conceals it, his heartis certainly sinful. (al-Baqarah,2:284)• And when you speak, speakonly what is absolutely trueand fair, even when you testifyagainst a close relative. (al-An‘am, 6:153)Introduction to Bai‘at - Part III

Condition IIThat he/she shall keep away fromfalsehood, fornication/adultery,trespasses of the eye, debauchery,dissipation, cruelty, dishonesty,mischief and rebellion; and that he/she will not permit himself/ herselfto be carried away by passions,however strong they might be.• Hold fast to truth and justice,and bear witness only for thesake of Allāh; never utter a lieeven if telling the truth mayendanger your lives or yourparents’ lives or other lovedones like your children. (al-Nisa’, 4:136)• Let not hostility towards apeople prevent you from givingtrue testimony. (al-Ma’idah, 5:9)• Truthful men and truthfulwomen will earn great reward.(al-Ahzab, 33:36)• They are accustomed tocounselling truth…(al-‘Asr,103:4)They do not keep company withthe untruthful. (al-Furqan, 25:73)(Islāmi Usul ki Philosophy, RuhaniKhaza’ in, vol. 10, pg. 360–361)Keep Away From AdulteryThe second condition of bai‘at alsoincludes a commitment to avoidadultery. In this respect, AlmightyAllāh says in the Holy Qur’ān:And come not near untoadultery; surely, it is a foulthing and an evil way. (BaniIsra’il, 17:33)In a hadīth, Muhammad BinSirin narrates that the HolyProphet sa admonished to dothe following. Then he narratesa long hadīth that includesthe admonition that chastityand truthfulness are betterand everlasting in contrastto adultery and falsehood(Sunanud-Darimiyyi, Kitab-ul-Wasaya, Babū ma yustahabbu bilwasiyyatiminat-tashahhudi walkalam)Here adultery and falsehood havebeen mentioned together. This alsoillustrates how major a sin lying is.The Promised Messiah as says:Do not go near adultery. Thatis to say, avoid all occasionsthat create that thought in yourmind. Avoid all ways that carrya risk of getting involved in thissin. Whoever commits adulterygoes to the limit of the evil.Adultery is a very evil way. Itstops you from reaching yourtrue objective and carries majorrisks in it. He whois unable to getmarried shouldtry to maintainhis chastity inother ways; forinstance, he should keep fastsor reduce his food intake, orshould do hard physical work.(Islāmi Usul ki Philosophy, RūhānīKhazāin, vol. 10, pg. 342)The Promised Messiah as hasadmonished to stay away fromthings that lead to adultery.Sometimes the youth ignore thismatter. They get used to watchingfilms that are not fit to be seen. Theyare beneath good moral standards.Avoid them because that is also aform of adultery.Keep Away From theTrespasses of the EyeThe second condition also refersto a third kind of evil, which is thetrespasses of the eye. Avoiding itis known as ghadd-e basar. [A termin the Holy Qur’ān, which literallymeans: keeping the eyes cast down.]Hadrat Abū Raihanah ra narratesthat he was with the Holy Prophet sain an expedition and one nightheard the Holy Prophet sa say, ‘Fireis forbidden to touch the eye thatremains awake for the sake of Allāh,Introduction to Bai‘at - Part III17

their good looks, whether withpure intent or otherwise. Wehave been directed to eschewall this as we eschew carrion,so that we should not stumble.It is almost certain that ourfree glances would cause us tostumble some time or another.As God Almighty desires thatour eyes and our hearts and allour limbs and organs shouldcontinue to be in a state ofpurity, He has furnished uswith this excellent teaching.There can be no doubt thatunrestrained looks become asource of danger. If we placesoft bread before a hungry dog,it would be vain to hope that thedog should pay no attention toit. Thus, God Almighty desiredthat human faculties not beprovided with any occasionfor secret functioning and notbe confronted with anythingthat might incite dangeroustendencies. (Islāmi Usul kiPhilosophy, Rūhānī Khazāin, vol.10, pg. 343–344)Keep Away FromWickedness andImmoralityThe second condition also enjoinssaving oneself from wickednessand immorality. Almighty Allāhsays in the Holy Qur’ān:And know that among youis the Messenger of Allāh; ifhe were to comply with yourwishes in most of the matters,you would surely come totrouble; but Allāh has endearedthe faith to you and has madeit look beautiful to your hearts,and He has made disbelief,wickedness and disobediencehateful to you. Such indeedare those who follow the rightcourse. (al-Hujurat, 49:8)In a hadīth pertaining to this subject,Introduction to Bai‘at - Part IIIHadrat Aswad ra narrates fromHadrat Abū Hurairah ra that:When someone is fasting, heshould not indulge in foultalk, nor talk of wickedness orignorance. If someone dealswith him in ways of ignorance,he should simply respond, ‘Iam fasting.’ (Musnad Ahmad binHanbal, vol. 2, pg. 356, printed inBeirut)The Holy Prophet sa has alsosaid, ‘To rebuke a believer iswickedness and to fight him isdisbelief.’ (Musnad Ahmad binHanbal, vol. 1, pg. 439, printed inBeirut)‘Abdur-Rahman Bin Shiblnarrates the Holy Prophet sasaid, ‘The merchants arewicked.’ The narrator adds thathe was asked, ‘Does Allāh notmake trade lawful?’ The HolyProphet sa said, ‘Why not? Butwhen they make a deal, they telllies and raise the price makingstatements under oath.’The narrator adds that:The Holy Prophet sa said, ‘Thewicked will be in hell.’ He wasasked, ‘Who are the wicked?’He answered, ‘Some women arewicked.’ A man asked, ‘Prophetof Allāh, are they not ourmothers, sisters, and wives?’ Heanswered, ‘Why not? But whensomething is given to them,they are not grateful; and whena hardship befalls them, theydo not show patience.’ (MusnadAhmad bin Hanbal, vol. 3, pg. 428,printed in Beirut)The businessmen need to ponderover this. Clean dealings are acondition of bai‘at.The Promised Messiah as says:It is established from hadīth thatthe wicked should be punishedbefore the disbelievers…. Thisis the way of Allāh, that whena nation becomes wicked andimmoral, another nation ismade to rule over it. (Malfūzāt,new ed.,vol. 2, pg. 653)Then he as says:When wickedness andimmorality exceededtheir limits, and peoplestarted disrespecting thecommandments and signs ofAllāh, and were lost into theaffairs of the world and itsadornment, God caused theirruin at the hands of Hulaguand Genghis Khan. It is writtenthat at that time a cry was heardfrom heaven:O disbelievers kill the transgressors.In short, the wicked and theimmoral are lower and moredespicable than disbelievers inthe eyes of Allāh. (Malfūzāt, newed., vol. 3, pg. 108)Then he as says:The prayer of the wicked tyrantis not accepted because he isunmindful of Allāh, and thusAllāh cares not for him. If a sonis unmindful of his obligationsto his father, the father doesnot care about him, because ofhis disobedience. Why shouldAllāh care for such people? (Al-Badr, vol. 2, February 13, 1903,pg. 28, col. 2)Keep Away From CrueltyThe second condition also enjoinsavoiding cruelty. The Holy Qur’ānsays:But the parties differed amongthemselves. So woe to thosewho were cruel by way of thepunishment of a grievous day.(al-Zukhruf, 43:66)Hadrat Jabir ra narrates that theHoly Prophet sa said, ‘Bewareof cruelty because cruelty will19

appear as darkness on the Dayof Judgement. Beware of greed,stinginess and envy becausegreed, stinginess and envycaused the destruction of theearlier nations. It incited themto bloodshed and to dishonourthat which was sacred.’ (MusnadAhmad bin Hanbal, vol. 3, p. 323,printed in Beirut)To usurp the rightful belongingof others is also cruelty. Hadrat‘Abdullah Bin Mas‘ud ra narratesthat,‘I asked the Holy Prophet sa ,“What is the greatest cruelty?”He said, “The greatest cruelty isthat a brother should unlawfullyoccupy one arm’s length of landfrom his brother. On the Day ofJudgement, even a pebble fromthe land he has usurped will beplaced as a chain around hisneck; and no one knows thedepth of the earth except AllāhWho has created it.’” (MusnadAhmad bin Hanbal, vol. 1, pg. 396,printed in Beirut)Some people fail to discharge theobligations to their sisters, brothersand neighbours, or illegally occupytheir properties and land. Pleaseponder over this. As Ahmadis, theconditions upon which we havetaken the pledge require us notto usurp the rights of anyone, norto be cruel. We need to fear Allāhgreatly about this matter. There is ahadīth that:Hadrat Abū Hurairah ra hasrelated that the Holy Prophet sasaid, ‘Do you know who apauper is?’ We answered,‘Among us a pauper is one whohas no cash or property.’ Hesaid, ‘A pauper from among mypeople would be one who facesthe Day of Judgement with arecord of Salāt and fasting andZakāt, but who will have Abusedone, falsely calumniatedsomeone else, devoured thesubstance of a third, shed theblood of a fourth and beaten afifth. Then each of them will beallotted a portion of his gooddeeds. Should they not suffice,their sins and defaults will betransferred from them to himand he will be thrown into theFire.’ (Sahīh Muslim, Kitab-ul-Birri was-Silah, Babū Tahrimiz-Zulmi)Please ponder over this matter.All of us who are guilty of suchmisdeeds need to be fearful. MayAllāh safeguard every one of usfrom appearing in His presence inthe condition of such a pauper.The Promised Messiah as says:The members of my Jamā`at,wherever they might be, shouldlisten with attention. Thepurpose of their joining thisMovement and establishingthe mutual relationship ofspiritual preceptor and disciplewith me is that they shouldachieve a high degree of goodconduct, good behaviour andrighteousness. No wrongdoing,mischief, or misconduct shouldeven approach them. Theyshould perform the five dailyPrayers regularly, should notutter falsehood and should nothurt anyone by their tongues.They should be guilty of novice and should not let evena thought of any mischief,wrong, disorderliness, orturmoil pass through theirminds. They should shunevery type of sin, offence,undesirable action, passion,and unmannerly behaviour.They should become pure--hearted and meek servantsof God Almighty, and nopoisonous germ should flourishin their beings…. Sympathywith mankind should be theirprinciple and, they should fearGod Almighty. They shouldsafeguard their tongues andtheir hands and their thoughtsagainst every kind of impurity,disorderliness and dishonesty.They should join the five dailyPrayer services without fail.They should refrain from everykind of wrong, transgression,dishonesty, bribery, trespass,and partiality. They shouldnot participate in any evilcompany. If it should be provedthat one who frequents theircompany does not obey God’scommandments… or is notmindful of the rights of people,or is cruel or mischievous, oris ill-behaved, or is seeking todeceive the servants of GodAlmighty by speaking ill orAbūsively of him, or is guilty ofimposture towards the personswith whom they have enteredinto a covenant of bai‘at, itshould be their duty to repelhim and to keep away fromsuch a dangerous one. Theyshould not design harm againstthe followers of any religionor the members of any tribeor group. Be true well-wishersof every one, and take carethat no mischievous or viciousperson, or disorderly one orill-behaved one, should everbe of your company, or shoulddwell among you; for such aperson could at any time be thecause of your stumbling. Theseare matters and conditionsthat I have been urging fromthe beginning, and it is theduty of every member of myJamā`at to act upon them. Youshould indulge in no impurity,mockery or derision. Walkupon the earth with goodhearts, pure tempers, andpure thoughts. Not every evil20 Introduction to Bai‘at - Part III

is worth fighting, so cultivatethe habit of forgiveness andoverlooking defaults, andbehave with steadfastnessand meekness. Do not attackanyone improperly, and keepyour passions under completecontrol. If you take part in adiscussion, or in an exchangeof views on a religious subject,express yourself gently and becourteous. If anyone misbehavestowards you, withdraw fromsuch company with a greetingof peace. If you are persecutedor reviled, be mindful that youshould not meet stupidity withstupidity, for otherwise youwill be counted in the samecategory as your opponents.God Almighty desires thatyou should become a Jamā`atthat should set an exampleof goodness and truthfulnessfor the whole world. Hastento exclude everyone fromyour company who sets anexample of evil, mischief,provocation and ill-behaviour.He who cannot dwell amongus in meekness, goodness andpiety, using gentle words andcomporting himself in ways ofgood conduct, should departfrom us quickly, for God doesnot desire that such a oneshould dwell among us. Hewill die miserably, for he didnot adopt the way of goodness.Therefore, be alert, and betruly good-hearted, gentle andrighteous. You will be knownby your regular attendance atPrayer services and your highmoral qualities. He who hasthe seed of evil embedded inhim will not be able to conformto this admonition. (Tablīghe-Risalāt, vol. 7, pg. 42–44. Ishtihar(The Announcement), May 29,1898, pg. 2)Introduction to Bai‘at - Part IIIKeep Away FromDishonestyAlmighty Allāh says aboutdishonesty in the Holy Qur’ān:And plead not on behalf ofthose who are dishonest tothemselves. Surely, Allāh lovesnot one who is perfidious and agreat sinner. (al-Nisa’, 4:108)According to a hadīth:Hadrat Abū Hurairah ra narratesthat the Holy Prophet sa said, ‘Ifsomeone gives you somethingfor safekeeping, return it tohim. Do not be dishonest withanyone, even if he has beendishonest with you.’ (SunanoAbi Dawud, Kitab-ul-Buyu‘, Babūfir-Rajuli ya’khudhu Haqqahu…)The Promised Messiah as says:Of the various forms ofdiscarding evil, the second isthe virtue known as honestyand integrity, which is theindisposition to harm anyoneby taking possession of hisproperty mischievously anddishonestly. It should be clearthat honesty and integrityconstitute a natural humancondition. That is why an infant,which is by nature simple andnaïve, and, because of youngage, has not yet acquired any badhabits, dislikes what belongs toothers so much so that it is withgreat difficulty that [he] allowsa strange woman to breastfeed[him]. (Islāmi Usul ki Philosophy,Rūhānī Khazāin, vol. 10, pg. 344)Keep Away From MischiefAlmighty Allāh says about mischiefin the Holy Qur’ān:‘And seek, in that which Allāhhas given thee, the Home of theHereafter; and neglect not thylot in this world; and do goodto others as Allāh has done goodto thee; and seek not to makemischief in the earth, verilyAllāh loves not those who makemischief. (al-Qasas, 28:78)Hadrat Mu‘adh Bin Jabal ra relatesthat the Holy Prophet sa said,‘Combat is of two types: Onethat is waged for the pleasureof Allāh under the leadershipof an Imam [divinely guidedleader]. A person engaged insuch combat spends his bestproperty in the way of Allāh,is comforting his companions,and avoids mischief. For sucha person, everything—hissleeping and waking time—earns merit in the sight ofAllāh. And there is another whoengages in combat for pride,ostentation, and to talk abouthis valour. He disobeys theImam and creates mischief inthe earth. Such a one can neverequal the first one in rank.’(Sunano Abi Dawud, Kitab-ul-Jihad, Babū fi man yaghzu wayaltamis-ud-Dunya)Hadrat Asma’ Bint Yazid ra narratesthat the Holy Prophet sa said,‘Should I inform you aboutthe best of people?’ TheCompanions ra said, ‘Certainly,tell us O Prophet of Allāh.’He said, ‘When they witnessa desirable scene, they startremembering Allāh.’ Then hesaid, ‘Should I tell you aboutthe worst of people? The worstpeople are those who go aboutbackbiting and creating discordbetween people. Their wishis that the obedient servantsof Allāh get involved in sin.’(Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, vol.6, pg. 459, printed in Beirut)The Promised Messiah as says:Do not engage in fighting ordiscord with those who leaveyou because you have joineda Movement established by21

Almighty Allāh; instead,pray for them in secret thatAlmighty Allāh may grantthem the insight and cognitionthat He has granted you. Withyour pious example and goodbehaviour, prove that you haveadopted the right path.Listen! I am appointed toadmonish you repeatedly toavoid all occasions of discordand disturbance. Have patienceeven if you hear Abūse.Respond to evil with goodness.If you encounter discord, slipaway from that situation orrespond with kind words….I do not like when I learnthat someone has quarrelleddespite being a member of myJamā`at. Almighty Allāh doesnot like that the Jamā`at that isdestined to become a modelfor mankind should adoptsuch ways, which are not theways of righteousness. Indeed,I tell you that Almighty Allāhhas emphasised this matterso much that if someone—declaring his membership ofthe Jamā`at—does not showpatience and perseverance, hedoes not belong to this Jamā`at.The utmost cause of yourprovocation might be that youhear people Abūsing me. Leavethat matter for God to decide.You cannot judge it. Leave myaffair to God; you should showpatience even in the face of suchAbūse. (Malfūzāt, new ed., vol. 4,pg. 157)Keep Away Fromthe Ways of RebellionThe second condition of bai‘atalso requires that the initiate shallsafeguard himself from the ways ofrebellion. In explaining two versesof Sūrah al-Baqarah, the PromisedMessiah as says:And fight them until therebellion is removed, andreligion is professed only forAllāh. (al-Baqarah, 2:194)Fighting (in the Holy city ofMecca) is a heinous thing, butto hinder men from the waysof Allāh and to be ungrateful toHim, and to expel the righteousmen from the Sacred Mosqueis more heinous in the sightof Allāh. And rebellion, thatis, interfering in the peacefulliving, is worse than killing…(Jang-e-Muqaddas, RūhānīKhazāin, vol. 6, pg. 255)The Promised Messiah as also said:I see that many ignorant andmischievous people fromamong the Hindus and Muslimsdemonstrate such activitiesagainst the government thatsmell of rebellion. I suspect thata time will come when the waysof rebellion will be establishedin their hearts. Therefore, Iadmonish the members ofmy Jamā`at who are settled inPunjab and [the subcontinentof] India who, by the Grace ofGod, number in hundreds ofthousands, that they shouldremember this teaching of minethat I have been impressingupon them in my speeches aswell as in my writings for thelast twenty-six years, that theyshould be truly loyal to thisgovernment that has done usfavours…. Remember it wellthat a person who entertains anyrebellious thoughts against thegovernment cannot continue tobe a member of my Jamā`at. Iconsider it a great impertinencethat we be ungrateful to agovernment that delivered usfrom the clutches of tyrants andunder which we are makingprogress. Almighty Allāh saysin the Holy Qur’ān: The rewardfor goodness is nothing butgoodness. (al-Rahman, 55:61)In a hadīth, the Holy Prophet sa saysthat, ‘Anyone who is ungratefulto people cannot be grateful toAllāh.’ Just imagine, if you moveoutside the protective shade of thisgovernment, where will you findrefuge? Name one government thatwill grant you protection. EveryIslāmic government is grinding itsteeth to kill you because accordingto them you are disbelievers andapostates. Be then grateful for thisfavour of Allāh…. To spread thedoctrines that a bloody Mahdi willcome and will apprehend all theChristian monarchs is a concoctedapproach that has blackenedand hardened the hearts of ouropposing Muslims. Such doctrinescan, and definitely will, incitethe ignorant to rise in rebellionat some time. Therefore, we arestriving that Muslims may get ridof such doctrines. Remember, afaith that lacks human sympathy, isnot from God. God has taught us,‘Be merciful on earth so that youmay be shown mercy in Heaven.’(Majmu‘ah Ishtiharat, vol. 3, pg. 582–585)Do Not be CarriedAway by PassionThe second condition also drawsthe initiate’s attention to not beingcarried away by passion. ThePromised Messiah as says:The fourth stage of spiritualprogress is that which ismentioned by Almighty Allāhin the noble verse of the HolyQur’ān:And who guard their chastity—(al-Mu’minun, 23:6)That is, higher in status than thebelievers of the third rank arethose who guard themselvesagainst the carnal passionsand unlawful lust. This rank22 Introduction to Bai‘at - Part III

is higher than the third rankbecause at the third rank oneonly sacrifices wealth that isdear to him.But a believer at the fourthrank sacrifices something thatis dearer to him than wealth—the carnal passions. Man isso enamored with his carnalpassions that he spends largesums to satisfy his lust. Hegives no importance to wealthwhen pursuing such desires.It has been observed that thereare many stingy people who donot give a penny to the needy,but destroy their householdsby spending large amounts onvisiting women of ill repute.It is thus established that thecarnal passions are a fierce floodthat carries with it a filthy habitlike stinginess. It is thereforeobvious, that in comparisonwith the strength of faith thatcures stinginess and preparesone to part with his belovedproperty for the sake of Allāh,a much stronger and longlastingfaith in combating Satanis required to safeguard oneselffrom the deluge of carnalpassions, because such faithtramples under its foot the oldserpent called Nafs-e-’Ammarah[the self that incites to evil]. Asfar as stinginess is concerned, itcan be avoided during times ofsatisfying the carnal passions orfor ostentation and show, butthis deluge that is raised by theupsurge of carnal passions isa very severe and long-lastingdeluge that cannot be avertedexcept with the mercy of Allāh.Just as the bone is the hardestpart and longest living in thecomponents of the body, so toothe strength of faith needed forsafeguarding from this delugeis hardest and longest lasting sothat it may persist in combatingthis enemy for a long time.And that too with the mercyof Allāh, because the delugeof carnal passions is such adevastating flood that nobodycan safeguard himself from itexcept with the mercy of Allāh.That is why Hadrat Yusūf as hadto say:‘And I do not absolve myself ofweakness; for the soul is surelyprone to enjoin evil. It is notpossible to safeguard oneselffrom its attack except that Allāhthe Almighty should havemercy.’ (Yusūf, 12:54)The phrase mentioned in thisverse is: “Save that whereon myLord has mercy.”Similar words were used at thetime of Noah’s deluge:There is no shelter for anyonethis day, from the decree ofAllāh, excepting those to whomHe shows mercy. (Hud, 11:44)This points out that the delugeof carnal passions is similarto the deluge of Noah in itsseverity and danger. (Barahine-Ahmadiyyah,vol. 5, RūhānīKhazāin, vol. 21, pg. 205–206)In summary, the carnal passionswill always try to vanquish you.Avoid them, ever seeking themercy of Allāh. In these days,many other paths to it havebeen opened. Therefore, weneed to pray and turn to Allāhseeking His mercy more thanever before.Hearken, it is to Allāh alone thatsincere obedience is due. Andthose who take for protectorsothers beside Him say, ‘Weserve them only that theymay bring us near to Allāhin station.’ Surely, Allāh willjudge between them concerningthat wherein they differ. Surely,Allāh guides not him who is anungrateful liar. (al-Zumar, 39:4)The Promised Messiah as says:Believe in the God, Whoseexistence is confirmedunanimously by the Torah, theGospels and the Holy Qur’ān.Do not fashion a god whoseexistence is not proven bythe unanimous testimony ofthese three books. Accept thatwhich is testified by intellectand human conscience and istestified by the books of God. Donot believe in God in a mannerthat creates discord between thebooks of God. Do not commitadultery. Do not tell lies.Avoid the evil look. Safeguardyourselves from wickedness,immorality, cruelty, dishonesty,and ways of rebellion. Do not beoverpowered by carnal desires.Establish the five daily Prayersbecause human natures undergofive kinds of trials. Be gratefulto your noble Messenger andinvoke blessings upon him, forhe is the one who showed youthe way of recognising Godin the age of darkness. Theseare the principles that are thedistinguishing features of myCommunity. The way thisCommunity establishes humansympathy, avoiding to do harmto human beings, and forsakingthe opposition of the official incharge, are not found in otherMuslims. Because of their ownmistakes, their principles are ofa different type, which do notneed explanation at this time.(Damimah Tiryaq-ul-Qulub,Rūhānī Khazāin, vol. 15, pg. 524–526)Introduction to Bai‘at - Part III23

Fasting During the Month ofRamadān: Purpose & SignificanceAtif Munawar MirO ye who believe! fasting isprescribed for you, as it wasprescribed for those before you,so that you may guard againstevil. (Holy Qur’ān 2:184)All other deeds of man are forhimself, but his fasting is purelyfor Me [Allāh] and I shallreward him for it. The fast is ashield. (Hadīth Qudsi) 1The Qur’ānic verse and theHadīth cited above indicate thatthe purpose of fasting is to be ashield to guard against evil. Howdoes fasting allow us to guardagainst evil? Human nature isweak and thus tends towardsevil. To overcome this tendency,individuals must learn to controltheir urges and desires. As fastingrequires one to maintain a highdegree of discipline and controlover oneself, its practice results inlearning self-control. According toHadrat Sir Zafrulla Khan ra , duringfasting,“The faculty of hearing, thesight, the tongue, the mind areall under stricter control. Forinstance, not only vain talk,but much talk is eschewed, sothat there should be greaterconcentration on remembranceof Allāh and reflection uponHis attributes.” 2Further, as fasting is solely for thesake of Allāh, the act of fastingensures that one is ever-mindful ofAllāh. The constant remembranceof Allāh will have an effect suchthat anxieties are replaced withtranquility and contentment.The Promised Messiah as hasdiscussed human nature. Accordingto the Promised Messiah as , theactions of an individual arise fromhis or her natural, moral or spiritualstate. The natural state is the “selfthat incites to evil.” 3 When havingprogressed to the moral state,humans cease “to resemble ananimal” 4 and the self “reproves manon vice and is not reconciled to…submitting to his natural desiresand leading an unbridled existencelike the animals.” 5 If he or sheprogresses to the spiritual stage, thesoul is delivered from all weaknessand “is filled with spiritual powersand establishes a relationship withAllāh Almighty without Whosesupport it cannot exist.” 6The Promised Messiah as referredto the process of moving from thenatural state to the spiritual state asthe “second birth of the soul.” 7 ThePromised Messiah as stated,“The design of Almighty whohas created the soul from thebody with his perfect powerappears to be that the secondbirth of the soul should takeplace through the body. Themovement of the soul followsthe movement of the body.” 8That is why the Holy Qur’ānprovides elaborate guidanceas to all human actions, suchas “laughing, weeping, eating,clothing, sleeping, speaking,keeping silent, marrying, remainingcelibate, walking, standing still,outward cleanliness, bathing[and] affirms that man’s physicalcondition affects his spiritualcondition deeply”. 9 Therefore,abstaining from food from dawnto dusk facilitates the “secondbirth of the soul”. According tothe Promised Messiah as , eating lesshelps purify the soul and increasesone’s potential to be the recipient ofDivine revelation. 10 The purificationof the soul and the granting ofnearness to Allāh thus results in theability of one to guard against evil.Fasting inspiresSympathy and GratitudeThe purpose of all acts of worshipis to promote righteousness, whichincreases our awareness of theduty and obligations that we oweto Allāh and our fellow humanbeings. Hadrat Sir Zafrulla Khan rastated,“It must never be overlookedthat the whole purpose offasting, whether obligatory, asduring the month of Ramadān,or voluntary, as at other times,is to promote righteousness,24 Fasting: Purpose & Significance

which means the progressivecultivation of spiritual values...Thereafter the normal dailyroutine is followed with aheightened consciousness ofthe duty owed to Allāh andto His creatures, one’s fellowbeings. Praise, glorification andremembrance of Allāh for, as itwere, the infra-structure of allactivity and greater attentionis directed towards caringfor the poor, the needy, thewidowed, the orphan, the sick,the distressed, the neighbor, thewayfarer, etc.” 11“The consciousness that a largenumber of their fellow beingshave to go hungry most of thetime is sharpened and there is agreater eagerness to share withthem the bounties that Allāhhas, of His Grace, bestowed onthem. It is related of him (theHoly Prophet sa ) that duringRamadān his own concern forthe care of the poor, the needy,the sick and the orphan wasintensified manifold, and thathis charity knew no limit.” 12Although we undergo pangs ofhunger while fasting, our plightcannot compare with that of thosewho suffer in poverty. However,by our receiving a mere inklingof their suffering, sympathy fortheir plight is inspired within usas well as tremendous gratitudeto Allāh for granting us the abilityand provision to partake of theiftar. This sympathy and gratitudeis expected to result in inspiringaction on the part of the personwho fasts to work towards and seekthe welfare of the poor and needy.Fasting allows forSpiritual Status to BecomeElevatedAs Allāh does not desire hardshipupon Muslims, the purpose ofFasting: Purpose & Significancefasting is not to inflict suffering, butrather, to allow for one to elevatetheir spiritual status. The HolyQur’ān states:“The prescribed fasting is fora fixed number of days, butwhoso among you is sick or ona journey, shall fast the samenumber of other days; andfor those who are able to fastonly with great difficulty, is anexpiation - the feeding of a poorman. And whoso does good ofhis own accord it is better forhim. And fasting is good foryou, if you only knew.” (HolyQur’ān 2:185)“The month of Ramadān isthat in which the Qur’ān wasrevealed as a guidance formankind with clear proofs ofguidance and discrimination.Therefore, whosoever of you ispresent at home in this monthlet him fast therein. But whosois temporarily sick or on ajourney, shall fast the samenumber of other days, Allāhdesires ease for you, and Hedesires not hardship for you,and He desires that you maycomplete the number, and thatyou may exalt Allāh for Hishaving guided you and thatyou may be grateful.” (HolyQur’ān 2:186)In addition, the Holy ProphetMuhammad sa stated:“The fast is, however, inno sense a penance. It is aphysical, moral and spiritualdiscipline, and the object is thepromotion of righteousness andsecurity against evil. Throughthe experience of the fast theworshipper is impelled to exaltAllāh for His having providedguidance to mankind.” 13ConclusionBy living the high-pressure lifestyleof North American society, it maybecome easy for some to get lost intheir routines and worldly pursuits.Fasting enables one to mentallybreak away from this and to refocusone’s attention to Allāh andre-place priority on one’s spiritualdevelopment. Through fasting, selfrestraintand increased frequencyof prayers, Muslims rediscoverand further develop their physicalstrength and spiritual endurance.They realize the value of charity,and recognize that they can andshould minimize their lavish habitsand expensive hobbies. Moreover,Muslims come to realize that whenthey make a conscious effort, it isnot beyond their capacity to purifytheir thoughts and their language,to discharge their responsibilitiestowards the unfortunate, reformtheir behavior and improve theirconduct towards the people aroundthem. The ultimate objective ofhuman existence is to becomedivine-like by inculcating theattributes of Allāh into the souland to thus become a blessing forhumanity.Endnotes:1. Gardens of Righteousness,Translated by MuhammadZafrullah Khan, Curzon Press Ltd,2006, p.2122. Khan, Sir Muhammad ZafrullaKhan, “Fasting” Review ofReligions, Volume 96, No 10/113. Ahmad, Mirza Ghulam, “ThePhysical, Moral and SpiritualStates of Man” The Philosophy ofthe Teachings of Islam”, p. 14. Ibid, p.25. Ibid, p.26. Ibid, p.37. Ibid, p. 88. Ibid, p. 89. Ibid, p. 810. Mirza Ghulam Ahmed, Malfūzāt,Vol 5. Islam InternationalPublications 2003, p. 10211. Ibid12. Ibid13. Ibid25

Fasting and Its ObligationsMaulāna Abdul Maajid Tahir, Additional Vakilul Tabshīr, London(Translated from Weekly Al-Fazl International, London)Who Is Obligated To Fast?Fasting is obligatory for every adultMuslim male and female who isfit, healthy and stationed (not on ajourney). People on a journey andwho are sick enjoy the concessionto complete the missed fasts afterthe month of Ramadan. People withchronic sickness who are unlikelyto regain full health or those hewho are so weak and not able tofast should pay Fidya (expiation).Pregnant women and nursingmothers are not to fast and shouldpay Fidya.At What AgeShould one Should Fast?About the age when one shouldstart fasting, Hadrat KhalīfatulMasīh II ra wrote:“There are some people whoforce even young children tokeep fast. One must know thatfor every obligatory worship,there are certain limitationsand times. I think certaininjunctions start at the age of4 and others between ages 7and 12. Again, there are somethat start at the age of 15 or 18,which is considered the age ofmaturity. At age 15, one shouldstart fasting regularly and atage 18, it becomes obligatory.I remember that when I wasyoung, I wanted to fast, but thePromised Messiah as did notpermit me to do so. Instead ofpersuading us to fast, he wouldrather prohibit us. By doingso, he wanted to maintain thehealth of children. When onereaches the age of 15, theyshould be gradually persuadedto fast. In the first year, theymay be permitted to keep asmany fasts as they like. Thenumber should increase duringnext year and more in the thirdyear. This is the way that theyshould gradually develop thehabit of regular fasting.” (Al-Fazl, April 11, 1995)Travelers and the SickFor the travelers and the sick, Allāhsays in the Holy Qur’ān:“Whoso among you is sick oron a journey shall fast the samenumber of other days; and forthose who are able to fast butwith great difficulty is expiation– the feeding of a poor man.”(2:185)The Promised Messiah as was askedabout fasting during a journey. Hesaid:“From the Holy Qur’ān, it isvery clear that those who aresick or on a journey, should notfast and this is an injunction.Allāh has not said that youhave an option to fast. In myopinion, a traveler should becareful about this injunction:“make up for these fasts inother days.” It is as if, onewho keeps fast during traveland bears the hardship triesto please Allāh by manifestinghis strength. He does not seekAllāh’s pleasure by humblesubmission. He is misguided.True faith demands obedienceof the divine commandmentsand concessions also prescribedby Allāh the Almighty.” (Al-Hakam, January 26, 1899)About a traveler, the PromisedMessiah as said:“If someone is traveling by trainand feels there is no hardship,he may fast. Otherwise takethe advantage of what Godhas permitted.” (Al-Hakam,December 24, 1900)The Promised Messiah as again saidat another place:If someone fasts in the monthof Ramadān while traveling oris sick, he is disobedient of cleardivine commandment. Allāhhas clearly commanded that thetraveler and sick are not to fastwhile they are on a journey orduring sickness. They shouldfast when they reach theirdestination or regain theirhealth. They should obey thedivine commandment because26 Fasting and Its Obligations

d e l i ve r a n c eis by gracealone. Onecannot winsalvation bythe strengthof his deeds.Allāh did notsay that ifthe sicknessis mild orsevere or thejourney isshort or long. The injunction iscompulsory and all concernedmust obey. If one who is sickor a traveler fasts, he will beregarded as being disobedient.(Al-Badr, October 17, 1907)Hadrat Khalīfatul Masīh II ra said:“There are certain illnesses inwhich the sick carries on his orher daily routine. Such a personis not deemed as sick. Therefore,if traveling is one’s routinebecause of his/her occupation,he/she will not be considereda traveler. There are certainillnesses in which a personkeeps on performing his routinejob. For instance, some soldiersfall prey to food poisoning,but they do not stop working.Therefore, if one can find timeand strength to engage in otheractivities, why should he notfast? People who do not like tofast use these alibis. No doubtit is divine commandment thatone is not to fast if he is sickor on a journey and we insiston it so that we should not beconsidered disrespectful toQur’ānic injunctions. But ifsomeone uses this injunction asan excuse not to fast while heis healthy, or if some fasts aremissed and had he tried enough,he could have been able to fast,then he is guilty like him whodoes not fast even without aFasting and Its ObligationsThe hardships a person faces due to his family, wealth andneighbors are expiated by Salāt, fasting, and giving charity.cause. Therefore, every Ahmadīwho did not fast because ofnegligence or without any validreason should make up laterafter the month of Ramadān.”(Al-Fazl, August 16, 1948)Therefore, he who regularly travelsas part of his duty, like a railwayguard, a locomotive driver, anairplane pilot, or a travel agent willbe considered as a stationed personand it is obligatory for them to fastduring their travels.Chronic Patients andTravelersWhen asked about fasting ofchronic patients and the travelers,the Promised Messiah as replied:“The sick or old weak andtravelers who think that theywill not get another chanceto fast, for example, an oldand weak person or a weakpregnant woman who thinksthat after delivery she willbe incapacitated because ofsuckling and the whole yearwill pass, such persons areallowed to not fast because oftheir inability. They should payFidya. Fidya is also allowed forthe elderly or someone who willnever have the strength to fast.But for others it is not permittedthat just by paying Fidya theywould be excused from fasting.Permitting Fidya for those whowill be able to fast later, is likeopening the door of mischief.The religion inwhich there isno striving is notworth anything.Similarly, toremove theo b l i g a t i o n simposed by theAlmighty is agrievous sin.Allāh says inthe Holy Qur’ānthat guidanceis given only to those whostrive in Our ways.” (FatawaAhmadiyya pg. 183)Travel and FastingIn this connection, HadratKhalīfatul Masīh II ra said:“Although some religiousscholars have different opinions,but I think that a person whostarts his journey at Sehrī andknows that he will return beforesunset may not be considered atraveler. The Sharī`ah prohibitsfasting during journey and totravel during fasting.” (Al-FazlDecember 25, 1942)There may be four possibilities offasts during traveling:• If travel is in progress, whetherit is on foot or any other modeof transportation, one shouldnot fast.• If one plans to stay overnightand the whole next day, andfacilities are available for Sehrīone may fast if he likes.• If travel is to start after Sehrīand there is a possibility ofreturning home before Iftarī, itis permissible both ways, to fastor not to fast.• During the travel, if one plansto stay at some place for 15 daysor more, he should try to fastduring those days.27

TheDefinitionof JourneyIn this regard,the PromisedMessiah as said:“I believe thatone shouldnot createtoo manyh a r d s h i p sfor himself.Whatever is commonlyconsidered a journey, (even if itinvolves only a few miles) oneshould follow the injunctionsmentioned regarding travel.As it is said, Innamā al a`amālobinniyyāt. (This means thatactions are judged accordingto one’s intent). Sometimes wego for a walk for 2-3 miles withbrothers and no one considersit a journey. But when someonepacks up his luggage and setsout with the intent of traveling,then he will be considered atraveler. The Sharī`ah doesnot intend to inflict hardship.According to religion, aconventional journey shouldbe considered as travelling.One should enjoy the leavegranted by Allāh and he will beobeying His commandments.Obligations are from Allāh asare facilities granted by Him.”(Al-Hakam, Vol. 5, Feb. 17, 1901)The Promised Messiah as wrote thefollowing to Hadrat Sahibzada PeerSirajul Haq Naumani ra :“Man kāna minkum marīzanau `alā safarin faiddatum minayyamin ukhar, meaning, ‘ifyou are sick or on journey(short or long) then fast thesame number of days at othertime’. Allāh has not put limitfor the journey neither onefinds any limit mentioned inAhadīth. Whatever distance isOne who fasts in Ramadān, having sincere faith, and hopingfor a reward from Allāh, then all his previous sins will beforgiven.Sahih Al-Bukharīnormally considered journeyshould be regarded as journey.Any distance which is less thannormal should not be calledjourney.” (Maktūbat, Vol. 5, pg.81)Fasting of a LabourerFor some labourers, it seemsdifficult to fast while doing manuallabour. Are they allowed to notfast on this account? The HolyQur’ān has not mentioned anyexception about it, neither dowe find any mention about it inAhadīth, although people in thosedays used to do manual labour. Ofcourse if someone is very weak andfasting is unbearable, then such aperson may be considered sick andfasting and is not mandatory forhim during his sickness.The question was presented to thePromised Messiah as that sometimesRamadān falls during weatherwhen farmers perform hardmanual labour like sowing seeds orharvesting the crop and it becomesimpossible for them to fast. Whatshould they do? He replied,“Innamā al a`amālo binniyyāt(Actions are judged accordingto intent). These peoplekeep their condition a secret.Everyone should evaluate his/her condition with piety andfear of God. One should hire alabourer if he can afford,otherwise such a person is tobe regarded as sick and shouldfast when betterc o n d i t i o n sprevail.” (Al-Badr, September26, 1907)Fasting forWomenA woman whois menstruatingwill not fast.In this regardHadrat Ayesha ranarrates that when we did not fastduring the time of our menstruation,the Holy Prophet sa told us to fast onother days. (Ibn Mājāh)The same applies to ladies whohave recently given birth. But whenthey are clean, they must make upfor those missed fasts. We find thefollowing in the Hadīth about suchwomen:“The Holy Prophet (peace andblessings of Allāh be upon him)said that Allāh has forgivenhalf of Salāt (ritual prayer) forthe man on a journey. Both, anursing mother and pregnantwoman are given leave fromfasting.” (Tirmidī)A Hadīth by Hadrat Anas ra isrelated as follows:“The Holy Prophet sa has givenleave to pregnant women andnursing mothers from fasting.”(Ibn Mājāh)This means that these womenshould complete the number offasts when their condition haschanged. (i.e. they are not pregnantor nursing mothers). They shouldalso pay Fidya if they have themeans, otherwise making up for thelost fasts will suffice as expiation.In the case of a woman who iseither pregnant or nursing, shedoes not have to fast. Paying Fidyawill suffice for her. In the case ofthose who are chronically ill for28 Fasting and Its Obligations

whom fastingis not possible,they may alsopay Fidya.A FastingStudentA student whois preparing forhis examination, Sahih Al-Bukharīs h o u l dconsider thefollowing regarding his fasts.We are not allowed to quit routineactivity. If fasting becomesunbearable for him because ofroutine daily activity, he is to beconsidered sick. But in this case,he is totally responsible for hisdecision and Allāh will treat himaccording to his intent. In otherwords, he or she herself is the judgeof her personal condition.If someone gets sick due to fasting,he is excused from fasting. If itbecomes a rule with him, i.e. healways becomes sick with fasting,he will be permanently exempt fromfasting. If a particular weather is thecause of his illness, then fasting isto be observed on the change of theseason. Anyhow, one has to remaincautious and fear Allāh beforemaking these decisions and theseallowances should not be an alibi.There are people who arestubborn. They skip fastingfor no reason. On the otherhand, there are, like pregnantor nursing mothers or very oldpeople who would like to fast. Boththese conditions are wrong. In Islām,there is no coercion. Apart from this,a Muslim should take advantage ofthe concessions granted to him byGod Almighty. Regarding certaincommandments, Islām has laiddown some conditions. For a sickperson, fasting is not permitted.Secondly, if as a result of fastingone becomes sick or increases hismeans, shouldgive Fidya aswell. Fasting isobligatory andpaying Fidya isthe practice of theWhen Ramadān comes, the gates of Heaven are opened. Holy Prophet saand a way ofshowing one’sgratitude thatAllāh gave thesickness, he is not obliged to fast.strength to fast and enabled him toThere are pregnant or nursingget greater rewards from Allāh.mothers and old people who maysuffer seriously due to fasting. Theyare not obligated to fast.Fasting is not mandatory for a sickperson who is unable to fast for ashort period. But he can pay FidyaAll such conditions are extremewith a view that Allāh will grantand should be avoided. We are nothim strength later to make up forto quit fasting for petty reasonsthe missed fasts and He will notlike mere weakness or tiredness.deprive him of the blessings of theSimilarly one should not insist onmissed ones.fasting if he is genuinely ill.Fidya is mandatory for thoseThe Promised Messiah as has givenwho can afford the burden andvery valuable advice on this issue.cannot make up for missed fastsHe said:due to illness for longer periods like“If Allāh had so willed, hepeople of very old age, pregnantwould not have set limits for thewomen or nursing mothers. If oneUmmah as He did not set anyis unable to fast temporarily, hefor other Ummahs (religiousshould fast after that episode passescommunities). He did so for ouraway even if he paid the Fidya.own wellbeing. As I understand,the truth is that when a personhumbly supplicates to Allāh,He does not hold back blessingsof Ramadān from him. Withthis condition of his heart, evenif someone falls ill, this sicknessbecomes a blessing. It is becausedeeds are the result of one’sintent. A Momin must provehis courage in the way of Allāhwith his actions. If one had asincere desire to fast, but fellill, and is truly grieved becauseof his sickness, the angels willOnce, someone asked the PromisedMessiah as if a person had notobserved a single fast, whether heshould pay Fidya? He replied thatAllāh does not overburden anyonebeyond his capacity. His responsewas, “Pay Fidya whatever you canand promise that in future you willfast regularly.” (Al-Badr, Vol. 1, No.12, January 16, 1903, pg. 91)Amount of FidyaAbout calculating the amount ofFidya, the following principle hasbeen mentioned in the Holy Qur’ān:fast for him. Allāh will surely Min ausata ma tut`amūnareward him because he wantedto fast.” (Fatawa Ahmadiyya)FidyaThe normal teaching is that oneshould fast and if he has theahlīkum (On average, whateveryou feed your family.This means that you should feedsomebody according to your ownstandard.Fasting and Its Obligations29

So What Do You Wantto Be When You Grow Up?Dr. Ijaz A. Rauf – National Secretary Ta‘līmPart IGeneral AdviceAnd everyone has a goal whichdominates him; vie, then, withone another in good works.Wherever you be, Allāh willbring you all together. Surely,Allāh has the power to do allthat He wills.(2:149)Do you know where your lifeis heading? Are you on track,implementing your plan, orwaiting for someone else to tell youwhich direction your career shouldtake next or are you just lettingopportunities and offers come yourway hoping they provide what youtruly desire in your life?As students approach high school,they start to set their sights on thefuture. Career development, formost people, is a lifelong processranging from educational, skillsdevelopment and employmentopportunities. Every processis influenced by many factors,including their environment,personal aptitudes, and educationalqualifications. A major turningpoint in students’ lives is the careerchoice they make while in highschool. Generally, it is viewed byfamily and community as a merestart of professional life; however,this decision plays a major rolein establishing a career path thatopens as well as closes a multitudeof opportunities.The interdependence of family,school, and community cultureplays a critical role in shaping ouroccupational choice. The economicand social circumstances of thebroader community also colourand influence our perceptions ofappropriate career choices. It isalmost impossible to reach ourgoals without a destination. As weuse a map to find our way to a newdestination, a map for our careeris just as important. Without anaddress and directions, you willend up lost. Some teenagers failbecause they have no plans. When ateen wishes to have a specific careerin the future, he is much likely tograduate compared to someonewho has no plans at all. At highschool, through interactions withthe family, school, and communitywe live in, we learn about andexplore careers and make choicesthat can ultimately transform usto useful contributing members ofthe society. Parents usually wishtheir children to become successfulbut in many situations it is difficultfor children to become what theyreally wish to be. For this reason,parents, community leaders andcareer counsellors are there to help,of course with the help of prayers.Many students sometimes thinkthat high school is too early forthem to decide their ultimate career.They tend to forget that planningtheir future during high schoolwill have a big impact on makingdecisions in their life especially intheir future careers. As a student,you must have a forward visionabout your future. Believe it ornot, if you are in high school rightnow, you are at a great point inyour life. You have your whole lifein front of you. And now is a goodtime to start thinking about yourfuture, to make some initial plans;just remember that plans can beeasily changed. Remember too, thatexperts predict that the averageperson will change careers -- notjust jobs -- more than five times inhis or her lifetime. Now is the timeto pursue your dreams! And asyou start thinking about potentialeducational and career paths hereare some useful tips:Study hard and get good grades.Academic progress is the firstkey to have a good future career.Education is very important ifyou want to have the best careersomeday. Having good gradesin high school and college willmake building your career easier.You can do this by going to studysessions, reading books and beingat the top of your class. Academicachievement is your greatest tool torealize a dream career for yourself.Getting a University degree or anMBA, for example, someday is anadvantage when you apply for ajob. So make the most of your high30 So What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

school and undergraduate days.And this hard work in your highschool days pays off in your lateryears in life.Get as much education as you can.We are now a society in which manyjobs and careers require additionaleducation or training way beyondhigh school. Most of the careerseven require a graduate degreebefore you can work in the field.Take advantage of all educationalopportunities that come yourway, such as summer educationalopportunities and educationaltrips abroad. Being an AhmadīMuslim, you are supposed to leadthe world and for this reason itbecomes extremely important foryou to seek higher education -- andthere are many ways to help makeit so -- attend university; universitygraduates make a much highersalary, on average. It is obvious fromFigures 1 & 2 that getting highereducation pays off and for this, onehas to plan and prepare in earlyyears in the high school. Besides,it is obvious from Figure 3 thatthe world around us is becomingmore and more competitive withan increasing number of universitygraduates and post graduates anda shrinking number of people withonly a high school diploma. Inorder to land a decent job, you haveto obtain at a minimum, a bachelorsdegree from a university.Never stop learning. Read, grow,and expand your mind. Don’tpass-up opportunities to learnand experience new things. Manyteachers offer or assign summerand supplemental reading lists --look at these as opportunities forgrowth rather than a drag on yoursummer. The more you read, themore you will know. It is a cliché,Figure 2but knowledge is power.Be involved in different activities.Every student has a unique talentand abilities and you shoulddevelop and make use of theseskills and talents. But it does notmean that you will only concentrateon what you can do. Step outfrom your comfort zone and trysomething else. Don’t be afraid todiscover new things because thiswill be an effective way to developyour self-confidence and self- trust.So when opportunity comes, grabit & volunteer for it. You will earnyour volunteering credits, valuableskills and experience that will go along way.Now that you are in later yearsof your high schools, discuss thepossibilities of each university /institution with parents; it is alwaysgood to get a variety of trustedopinions. Visit the high schoolguidance counsellor and collect allavailable information on any localor private grants, scholarships, andfinancial assistance that might havebeen overlooked. Knowing whatyou want to study, you are nowable to identify a university whichhas a top reputation in that field.Because you are so focused andcommitted to the field, with prayersand the help of Allāh, you have noproblem getting into that school.Furthermore because you arefocused and you know what youwant to do, you find yourselfmeeting people in your chosencareer and they help you land thebest possible learning opportunitiesin the field. Perhaps you land asummer internship working in thefield of your choice. When studiesget tough, and your classmates arethinking of quitting and movinginto an easier major, you stay ontrack. With the help of Allāh, youknow what you want to do. Youhave a road map to the future. Youhave confidence and direction,something most other students willnot have. You have a competitiveadvantage.So What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?31

When you graduate from auniversity, even if times are toughand there aren’t many job openings,you have made connections. Youhave made an impression on peoplein your chosen field. Your biggestproblem will be deciding whichjob offer to take. You have scoredyour first job. Since you targetedthis career through the careerplanning process, you are in a jobyou can do well. Opportunitiesand promotions come your waywith the help of Allāh. You enjoywhat you do. The rewards startflowing in. You are able to supportyour family, give charity, buy thatdream car, and the dream house.Your dreams have become realitywith the grace of Allāh.Sound too good to be true? Notreally. If you consider that mostof your peer groups will not haveaccess to any career planning, youcan have a competitive advantage.Most students do not get theopportunity to figure out whatthey want to do. In most cases,it is because no one shows themhow. That is where your prayers,parents, community leaders andguidance counsellor can help.Now that you are convinced thata little planning in the high schooland higher education can go a longway in placing you in overdrivemode for your career. Besidesexploring your own inner self andgetting career guidance you mayalso want to see how the Canadianjob markets are doing so thatyou can match your abilities andinterest with high demand fieldsof the future (when you completeyour education).Part IIWorkforce Projectionsin CanadaIn Canada the total employmentis expected to grow at an annualaverage rate of 1.1% to 2015.The Canadian economy shouldstill create about 1.9 million newjobs over the next 10 years. Overthe next 10 years, employmentgrowth in the service sector (1.2%)is expected to outpace that in thegoods-producing sector (0.8%),continuing a long running trend.This is largely the result of strongerproductivity growth in the goodsproducingsector, as manufacturersare expected to continue improvingefficiency in order to remaincompetitive in the face of thelofty Canadian dollar and intenseinternational competition.Among services, employmentgrowth should be particularlystrong in the health, computersystem design and professionalservices sectors. This vigorousgrowth will be mainly the result ofincreased public spending in healthcare made possible by the improvedfinancial position of governments,to the continued shift towards aknowledge-based economy and toincreased investment in researchand development.Within the goods-producingsector, high energy prices willcontinue to spur investmentspending and output in theoil and gas sector, while thecomputer and electronic products,other transportation equipment(especially aerospace), andfabricated metals manufacturingindustries will benefit from strongglobal demand and high corporateprofits. In contrast, the auto andparts sector is expected to strugglein the face of faltering auto demandin North America, as are the forestryFigure 3industry and the wood productsmanufacturing industry, whichwill be affected by the weakeningof residential constructionOver the next 10 years period, it isexpected that about 1.7 million newnon-student jobs will be createdas a result of increasing economicactivity (expansion demand),while close to 3.8 million existingpositions will be freed up byretirements. In other words, about70% of all job openings during thatperiod will be associated with theneed to replace retired workers, upfrom an average of about 51% overthe last ten years. Retirements willaccount for an even higher share oftotal job openings over the longerterm. Key occupations that will facestrong retirement pressures includeelementary/secondary schoolteachers and registered nurses,as well as managers in publicadministration, health, education,social and community services.Over this period, about twothirds (65.9%) of job openingsresulting from both expansiondemand and retirements areexpected to be in occupationsusually requiring postsecondaryeducation (university degree) orin management (again requiringuniversity degree and experience),up slightly from 63% over the lastten years.The highest rate of expansiondemand is expected to be inoccupations that require a university32 So What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

degree or postgraduate diploma(annual average rate of 1.6%),spurred by the continued shift toa knowledge-based economy andby increased public spending in thehealth care sector. Overall, highskilledoccupations will account forabout 70% of all new jobs createdover this period, compared to 60%over the last ten years.Given these projections of futurejob openings and new job seekers,as well as the assessment of currentworkforce market situations,numerous occupations are expectedto continue to face imbalancesbetween demand and supply overthe medium term.Most of the managementoccupations currently facingpressures are expected to continueto do so over the next 10 years, asthe projected number of new jobopenings is expected to be greaterthan the projected number of newjob seekers. The growing need toreplace retiring workers will openup positions in many occupations,including legislators and seniormanagement, human resourcesmanagers, as well as supervisorsin trades, facility operation, oiland gas drilling and service, andprocessing. Shortage pressures arealso expected to emerge in twoother managerial occupations:managers in health, education,social and community services, andmanagers in public administration.Increased health care needsresulting from the aging of thepopulation will result in demandoutpacing supply for several healthcare occupations. Occupationssuch as physicians, optometrists,health diagnosing and treatingprofessionals, head nurses andsupervisors, nurse aides andorderlies are expected to continueto face shortage pressures overthe next decade. At the same time,other occupations in the healthfield — therapy and assessmentprofessionals and medicalradiation technologists — are likelyto continue to display signs ofpressure even though projectionspoint to a relative balance betweennew job openings and new jobseekers. This result stems from thefact that future supply would haveto outpace future demand in orderto alleviate the current pressures.Shortage pressures among humanresources and business serviceprofessionals are expected toremain as employers continue toplace greater emphasis on recruitingand retaining quality employees tohandle the increasingly complexjobs of our economy.Pressures are also expected toTable 1: Current and Future Labour Market Conditions by OccupationNon-studentemployment2003 (000s)Currentlabour marketconditionsExpansiondemand (1)Retirements(2)Labourdemand(3)=(1)+(2)Laboursupply(4)Potentialpressures(3) vs. (4)LabourMarketConditionsTotal 14,613.1 Fair A A A A — FairSkill typeBusiness, finance andadministration2,980.7 Fair A AA A A — FairNatural and applied sciences 1,064.4 Fair AA A A A — FairHealth 934.6 Good AA AA AA A Up GoodSocial science, education,government service and related1,073.2 Fair AA AA AA AA — FairArt, culture, recreation and sport 408.8 Fair A A BA AA Down Fair*Sales and service 3,952.9 Limited A A A AA Down LimitedTrade, transport and equipmentoperators2,351.2 Fair A A A A — FairPrimary industry 527.2 Limited BA A A AA Down LimitedProcessing, manufacturing andutilities1,319.7 Limited A A A A — LimitedSkill levelManagement 1,372.1 Good A AA AA BA Up GoodUniversity degree 2,513.6 Fair AA AA AA A Up Fair*College diploma or apprenticeshiptraining4,612.1 Fair A A A A — FairHigh school diploma 4,653.4 Fair A A A A — FairOnly on-the-job training 1,461.5 Limited BA A BA BA Down LimitedAA = above average; A = average; BA = below average; — = no change; * = pressures insufficient to change future conditions. Source: HRSDC-PRCD, Labour Market and Skills Forecasting and Analysis Unit, Reference Scenario 2004.So What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?33

persist over the next decade amongoil and gas well drillers, servicers,testers and related workers as aresult of an increase in demandassociated with large capitalspending projects, such as thetar sands development projectsin Alberta. Finally, strength innon-residential construction andin renovation will benefit civilengineers and residential homebuilders and renovators.However, some occupationscurrently facing shortage pressuresshould move in the coming yearstowards a better balance betweenworkforce demand and supply.These include occupations inthe residential construction andreal estate sectors, as a resultof an anticipated slowdown inresidential investment after therecent boom. Pressures amonguniversity professors are alsoexpected to lessen, as more peoplecomplete their doctoral studies,though some shortage may subsistTable 2:CategoryBusiness, finance and administrationoccupationsin specific disciplines. The same canbe said for geologists, geochemistsand geophysicists, mainly thanks tothe high number of people enrolledin fields of study related to physicalscience. Computer and softwareengineers should also have enoughworkforce supply to satisfy thedemand for workforce. All theoccupations currently in excesssupply are expected to remain inthis situation over the next 10 years.These occupations are mainly inlow-skilled categories.In summary, the following twographs indicate to you which broadcategories of occupation will seethe highest growth and which 20more specific occupations willhave the highest growth rates inCanada. This will help you choosethe education you wish to pursue.Part IIIWhat should I do toGet Into One of the TopCareersAt this stage you must be wondering,OK, I am motivated, I have an ideaof the kind of education I wish togo for at the university, but I am inhigh school, what do I have to donow to get in my field of interest?This is exactly what we are goingto talk about in the next sectionfor some of the top professionswe have identified Ahmadī Youthshould seek.General Practitionersand Family PhysiciansMain duties:• Provide counselling andsupport to patients and theirfamilies on a wide range ofhealth and lifestyle issues• Perform patient advocacy role• Co-ordinate or manage primarypatient care• Provide continuous care topatients• Supervise home care services• Report births, deaths, andcontagious and other diseasesto governmental authorities.• Examine patients and take theirOccupations Expected to Face Excess Demand Pressures Over the Next 10 YearsLegislators and senior management (NOC 001)Human resources managers (NOC 0112)Human resources and business service professionals (NOC 112)Natural and applied sciences and relatedoccupationsCivil engineers (NOC 2131)Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians (NOC 2233)Health occupationsOccupations in social science, education,government service and religionTrades, transport and equipment operatorsand related occupationsOccupations specific to the primary industryOccupations specific to processing,manufacturing and utilitiesManagers in health, education, social and community services (NOC 031) Physicians, dentists andveterinarians (NOC 311)Physicians, dentists and veterinarians (NOC 311)Optometrists, chiropractors and other health diagnosing and treating professionals (NOC 312)Therapy and assessment professionals (NOC 314)Head nurses and supervisors (NOC 3151)Other technical occupations in health care (except dental) (NOC 323), such as registered nursingassistants, audiology technicians and physiotherapy techniciansMedical radiation technologists (NOC 3215)Nurse aides and orderlies (NOC 3413)Other aides and assistants in support of health services (NOC 3414)Managers in public administration (NOC 041)Residential home builders and renovators (NOC 0712)Facility operation and maintenance managers (NOC 0720)Contractors and supervisors, trades and related workers (NOC 721), such as in pipefitting trades andcarpentry tradesSupervisors, oil and gas drilling and service (NOC 8222)Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers (NOC 8232)Supervisors, processing occupations (NOC 921), such as in petroleum, gas and chemical processing andutilities, and plastic and rubber products manufacturing34 So What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

Best 20 Occupations with Expected Growth rates to 20153.50%3.00%2.50%2.00%1.50%1.00%0.50%0.00%So What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?histories, order laboratory tests,X-rays and other diagnosticprocedures and consult withother medical practitioners toevaluate patients’ physical andmental health• Prescribe and administermedications and treatments• Perform and assist in routinesurgery• Provide emergency care• Provide acute care management• Inoculate and vaccinate patients• Deliver babies and provide prenataland post-natal care• Advise patients and theirfamilies on health care includinghealth promotion, disease,illness and accident prevention• These physicians work inprivate practice, or hospitalsand clinics.• The unionization rate (54%) isclose to the average (32%) forall occupations.• The highest concentrations(per 10,000 people) of GeneralPractitioners and FamilyPhysicians are found in BritishColumbia and Nova Scotiawhile the lowest concentrationsare in New Brunswick andPrince Edward Island.Education/TrainingYou must complete a Bachelor’sdegree and then complete aDoctorate of Medicine at arecognized institution. In Quebec,you must complete a collegeprogram in health science and oneyear of pre-medicine university35

studies, and must graduate from anapproved medical school. You mustfinish two to three years of a familymedicine residency program. Youmust also complete the qualifyingexaminations of the MedicalCouncil of Canada and obtain alicense from the licensing authorityin the province/territory where youwill work. Most recent entrantshave an undergraduate universitydegree.Useful Experience/Skills & HighSchool Subjects: Multidisciplinaryteamwork, Business and financialmanagement, Committee work,Interpersonal skills, Communityinvolvement; For admission to abachelors degree one has to studyMath, Biology, Chemistry, Physicsand English and obtain an overallaverage of 90% or above.PharmacistsMain duties of IndustrialPharmacist:• Participate in basic research forthe development of new drugs• Formulate new drug productsdeveloped by medicalresearchers• Test new drug products forstability and to determine theirabsorption and eliminationpatterns• Co-ordinate clinicalinvestigations of new drugs• Control the quality of drugproducts during production toensure that they meet standardsof potency, purity, uniformity,stability and safety• Develop information materialsconcerning the uses, propertiesand risks of particular drugs• Evaluate labelling, packagingand advertising of drugproducts• Promote pharmaceuticalproducts to health professionals.Main duties of CommunityPharmacist:• Check prescriptions for properdosage• Compound prescribedpharmaceutical productsby calculating, measuringand mixing the quantities ofdrugs and other ingredientsrequired and filling appropriatecontainers with correct quantity• Dispense prescribedpharmaceuticals to customersor to other health careprofessionals and advisethem on indications, contraindications,adverse effects,drug interactions and dosage• Maintain medication profilesof customers including registryof poisons and narcotic andcontrolled drugs• Ensure proper preparation,packaging, distribution andstorage of vaccines, serums,biological and other drugs andpharmaceuticals• Order and maintain stock ofpharmaceutical supplies• Advise customers on selectionand use of non-prescriptionmedication• May supervise and coordinatethe activities ofother pharmacists, pharmacyassistants,pharmacytechnicians and other staff.Education/TrainingYou need a Bachelor’s degreein Pharmacy and a license topractice from the appropriatelicensing body of your province.To be a community or hospitalpharmacist, you need a license inthe province/territory where you’llwork. Most recent entrants have anundergraduate university degree.Useful Experience/Skills & HighSchool Subjects: Multidisciplinaryteamwork, Business and financialmanagement, Committee work,Interpersonal skills, Communityinvolvement; For admission toa bachelors degree one has tostudy Math, Biology, Chemistry,Computer related courses andEnglish and obtain an overallaverage of 85% or aboveRegistered NursesNursing is one profession withtwo categories of care providers- Registered Nurses (RNs) andRegistered Practical Nurses. Thetwo main areas of differencebetween RNs and RPNs areeducational preparation and limitsof practice. Although all nursingstudents learn from the same basicbody of nursing knowledge, RNsstudy over a longer period of timeand, accordingly, provide care inmore complex situations.This occupational group alsoincludes nurse practitioners(NPs), also known as extendedclass nurses or RN (ECs). NPs areRegistered Nurses with additionaleducational preparation andexperience who diagnose, order andinterpret diagnostic tests, prescribepharmaceuticals and perform othernursing procedures which RNs andRPNs do not perform.Selected Main Duties• Registered nurses performsome or all of the followingduties:• Assess patients to identifyappropriatenursinginterventions;• Collaborate with members ofan interdisciplinary health teamto plan, implement, co-ordinateand evaluate patient care inconsultation with patients andtheir families;• Administer medications andtreatments as prescribed bya physician or accordingto established policies andprotocols;• Operate or monitor medicalapparatus or equipment;• Monitor, record and reportsymptoms and changes inpatients’ conditions;• Assist in medical procedures orsurgery;• Manage cases and develop andimplement discharge plans;• Supervise registered nursingassistants and other nursingstaff.• Other job duties specific tonursing specialization include:• At an advanced level, nursepractitioners provide basicprimary health care that36 So What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

complements that provided byphysicians. They diagnose andtreat common acute illnessesand injuries and prescribemedicine. They generally workas part of multidisciplinaryteams but may work alone inrural and remote areas.• Occupational health nursesdevelop and implementemployee health educationprograms and provideregistered nursing care inprivate businesses and industry.• Community health nursesprovide health education andregistered nursing care inpublic health units and throughhome visits, manage complexhome care cases, participate incommunity needs assessmentand program development,conduct disease screeningand deliver immunizationprograms.• Psychiatric nurses providenursing care, supportivecounselling and life skillsprogramming to patients inpsychiatric hospitals, mentalhealth clinics, long-term carefacilities and community-basedsettings.• Clinical nurses provideleadership, advice andcounsel on the provision ofresearch-based care for specificpatient groups within thecare of particular health careorganizations.• Registered nurses work variablefull-time or part-time hoursdepending on the position andtype of work. Shift work, parttimeand weekend work arecommon especially for nursesemployed in direct patient care.Some nurses work at more thanone facility. Most nurses workin healthcare facilities or officeenvironments. Home healthand public health nurses travelto patients’ homes, schools,and other locations. Directpatient care can be physicallyand emotionally demanding,involving prolonged periodsof standing and walking, anddealing with emergencies andstress. Care is required to guardagainst disease and exposureto potentially hazardouschemicals, anaesthetics andradiation.Education/TrainingRegistered nurses require a fouryearBachelor’s degree in nursingfrom a community collegeuniversitycollaborative program, ora university; and must successfullycomplete the national exam. Nursepractitioners are RNs who haveacquired work experience and havetaken an additional NP universityprogram and passed the qualifyingexam.Useful Experience/Skills & HighSchool Subjects: Multidisciplinaryteamwork, Business and financialmanagement, Committee work,Interpersonal skills, Communityinvolvement; For admission to abachelors degree one has to studyMath, Biology, Chemistry, Physicsand English and obtain an overallaverage of 85% or above.Physical ScienceProfessionalsProfessionals in the field of physicalscience conduct research in theirfield of specialization.Physicists conduct basic researchof natural phenomena and developnew processes/devices in areassuch as electronics, aerodynamics,communications, power utilities,optics, and lasers.Astronomers research the universeand develop instrumentation/software for astronomicalobservation/analysis.Chemists conduct research andare involved in process control,product development, industrialoperations, environmental control,biotechnology, and other areas.Geologists, geochemists, andgeophysicists conduct research/exploration to extend knowledgeof the earth’s surface/subsurface;locate mineral, hydrocarbon, andwater resources; plan/implementextraction programs; and conductenvironmental assessments.Meteorologists forecast weather;conduct research into weather,climate, and atmosphere;and provide consultation onatmospheric phenomena.Metallurgists study the properties/production of metals/alloys.Materials scientists researchceramics, composite, and othermaterials.Soil scientists research thecomposition and evolution of soilsEducation/TrainingTo be a physical scienceprofessional, you need a Bachelor’sdegree in your science or a relatedfield. To conduct research or teachin a post-secondary establishment,you usually need a master’s ordoctoral degree.To be a physicist or astronomer,you need a master’s or doctoraldegree.To be a geologist or geophysicist,you may need to become registeredby a provincial or territorialassociation.Useful Experience/Skills &High School Subjects: Projectmanagement, Team projectwork, Proposal writing,making presentations, financialmanagement, Committee workon environmental ethics. Foradmission to a bachelors degreeone has to study Math, Biology,Chemistry, Computer relatedcourses and English and obtain anoverall average of 80% or aboveUniversity ProfessorsUniversity professors teach coursesto undergraduate and graduatestudents and conduct research atuniversities and degree-grantingcolleges. University professorswho are heads of departments areincluded in this unit group.So What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?37

Selected Main DutiesUniversity professors performsome or all of the following duties:• Teach one or more universitysubjects to undergraduate andgraduate students• Prepare and deliver lectures tostudents and conduct laboratorysessions or discussion groups• Prepare, administer and gradeexaminations, laboratoryassignments and reports• Advise students on course andacademic matters and careerdecisions• Direct research programs ofgraduate students and adviseon research matters• Conduct research in field ofspecialization and publishfindings in scholarly journals orbooks• May serve on facultycommittees dealing with suchmatters as curriculum planningand degree requirements,and perform a variety ofadministrative duties• May represent their universitiesas speakers and guest lecturers• May provide professionalconsultative services togovernment, industry andprivate individuals.• University professors specializein a particular subject mattersuch as physics, biology,chemistry, anatomy, sociology,business administration or law.• University professors usuallyhave flexible work schedulesthat involve teaching, research,writing, study, meetings andbeing available for consultationwith students.• Most work long hours includingsome evenings.• Travel is required to conductresearch, attend conferences,symposia and otherevents. Professors teachingintroductory undergraduatecourses may have very largeclasses of over 200 studentswhich can be demanding.When classes are in session,classroom teaching takesapproximately 9 to 12 hours aweek, preparation for teachingtakes up to three hours forevery hour of instruction time,and grading and evaluatingcourse assignments takesapproximately 9 to 12 hours aweek. Professors are expectedto use the periods in whichthey are not teaching, generallythe spring or summer months,to pursue research activities.Many universities occasionallygrant professors study leaves(sabbaticals) to assist in theirstudies and research.Education / TrainingA doctoral degree in the field ofspecialization is required. Licencesor professional certification maybe required for professors teachingfuture practitioners in certainprofessionally regulated fields,such as medicine, engineering,architecture, psychology or law.Useful Experience/Skills &High School Subjects: Projectmanagement, Team projectwork, Proposal writing,making presentations, financialmanagement, Committee workon environmental ethics. Foradmission to a bachelors degree &to keep all the options open one hasto study Math, Calculus, Biology,Chemistry, Computer relatedcourses and English and obtain anoverall average of 80% or above.Occupational TherapistsOccupational therapists developindividual and group programs forpeople affected by illness, injury,developmental disorders, emotionalor psychological problems andageing to maintain, restore orincrease their ability to care forthemselves and to engage in work,school or leisure. Occupationaltherapists may specialize inworking with specific populationssuch as children or adults, orpersons with distinct problemssuch as dementia, traumatic braininjury and chronic pain, or providespecial interventions such as returnto-workprograms.Selected Main Duties:• Occupational therapistsperform some or all of thefollowing duties:• Analyse clients’ capabilities andexpectations related to workand activities of daily livingthrough observation, interviewand formal assessments;• Develop treatment plans, whichmay include life, industrialor vocational skills andrecreational activities;• Implement treatment programsand evaluate their progress;• Maintain clinical and statisticalrecords;• Consult and advise on healthpromotion programs to preventdisabilities and to maximizeindependent function in allactivities of life• Occupational therapistsgenerally work a 40-hour weekin an office or clinical setting.Education/Training38 So What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

Occupational therapists requirea Bachelor of Science degree inoccupational therapy from anapproved university, or equivalent,including supervised field workexperience (on-the-job training);and completion of the nationalcertification examination.Useful Experience/Skills & HighSchool Subjects: Multidisciplinaryteamwork, Business and financialmanagement, Committee work,Interpersonal skills, Communityinvolvement; For admission to abachelors degree one has to studyMath, Biology, Chemistry, Physicsand English and obtain an overallaverage of 85% or above.PhysiotherapistsPhysiotherapists assess patientsand plan and carry out individuallydesigned treatment plans tomaintain, improve or restorephysical functioning, alleviate painand prevent physical dysfunctionin patients. Physiotherapists mayfocus their practice in particularclinical areas such as neurology,oncology, rheumatology,orthopaedics, obstetrics, paediatrics,geriatrics or in the treatment ofpatients with cardiovascular andcardiopulmonary disorders, burnsor sports injuries. Physiotherapy isa drug-free health care practice.Selected Main Duties• Physiotherapists perform someor all of the following duties:• Assess patients’ physicalabilities through proceduressuch as functional abilitiesevaluations;• Establish treatment plans withpatients based on physicaldiagnoses;• Plan and implementprograms of physiotherapyincluding therapeuticexercise, manipulations,massage, education, the use ofelectrotherapeutic and othermechanical equipment andhydro-therapy;• Evaluate effectiveness oftreatment plans and modifyaccordingly;• Communicate with referringphysician and other healthcareprofessionals regardingpatients’ problems, needs andprogress;• Maintain clinical and statisticalrecords;• Develop and implement healthpromotion or educationalprograms for patients, staff andthe community.• Physiotherapists generallywork full-time in a clinic oroffice setting with speciallyequipped facilities.Education/TrainingPhysiotherapists require auniversity degree in physiotherapyfrom a Canadian university (orequivalent); a period of supervisedpractical training; and successfulcompletion of the PhysiotherapyCompetency Exam (PCE).Useful Experience/Skills & HighSchool Subjects: Multidisciplinaryteamwork, Business and financialmanagement, Committee work,Interpersonal skills, Communityinvolvement; For admission to abachelors degree one has to studyMath, Biology, Chemistry, Physicsand English and obtain an overallaverage of 85% or above.DentistsDentists perform some or all ofthe following duties:• Examine patients’ teeth, gumsand surrounding tissue todiagnose disease, injury anddecay and plan appropriatetreatment• Restore, extract and replacediseased and decayed teeth• Perform oral surgery,periodontal surgery and othertreatments• Clean teeth and instruct patientson oral hygiene• Design bridgework, fit denturesand provide appliances tocorrect abnormal positioningof the teeth and jaws, orwrite fabrication instructionsor prescriptions for useby denturists and dentaltechnicians• Supervise dental hygienists,dental assistants and other staff.• Dentists may specialize in suchareas as oral and maxillofacialsurgery, orthodontics,paediatricdentistry,periodontics, endodontics,prosthodontics, oral pathology,oral radiology or public healthdentistry.• Dentists may work in privatepractice or in hospitals, clinics,public health facilities, anduniversities.Education/TrainingYou must complete one to four yearsof pre-dental university studies or,in Quebec, a college program inscience, and must hold a universitydegree from a recognized dentalprogram. You must also obtain alicense from the regulatory bodyin the province/territory whereyou’ll work. You need advancedtraining and an additional licenseto specialize. Most recent entrantshave an undergraduate universitydegree.Useful Experience/Skills & HighSchool Subjects: Multidisciplinaryteamwork, Business and financialmanagement, Committee work,Interpersonal skills, Communityinvolvement; For admission to abachelors degree one has to studySo What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?39

Math, Biology, Chemistry, Physicsand English and obtain an overallaverage of 90% or above.Treating ProfessionalsOptometrists examine, diagnose,treat, manage, and preventdiseases/disorders of the eye, andprescribe and dispense eyeglasses/contact lenses.Chiropractorsdiagnoseand treat disorders of theneuromusculoskeletal system withmanipulation and other techniques,and provide holistic health care.Osteopathic physicians diagnose,treat, and prescribe for patients’medical, surgical, and obstetricalproblems. Their training includesan emphasis on the use of themusculoskeletal system in restoringhealth.Naturopathic doctors diagnose,treat and prevent diseases/disorders using natural noninvasivetherapies and hands-ontechniques such as acupuncture/Asian medicine, botanical (herbal)medicine, clinical nutrition,homeopathic medicine, physicalmedicine, and lifestyle counselling.People in this group work in clinics,community health centers, andhospitals; in private practice; andas consultants to businesses.Education/TrainingTo be an optometrist, you need athree-year college program withmathematics/science courses anda four-year university degree inoptometry and you must pass theCanadian Standard Assessmentin optometry and provincial/territorial exams.To be a chiropractor, you mustcomplete three years of universityscience studies, obtain a degreefrom an accredited chiropracticcollege, and pass the CanadianChiropractic Examining Board andprovincial/territorial exams.To be an osteopathic physician,you need a university degree, afour-year osteopathic medicineprogram, and two to five years ofpost-graduate training. Most recententrants have an undergraduateuniversity degree.Useful Experience/Skills & HighSchool Subjects: Multidisciplinaryteamwork, Business and financialmanagement, Committee work,Interpersonal skills, Communityinvolvement; For admission to abachelors degree one has to studyMath, Biology, Chemistry, Physicsand English and obtain an overallaverage of 85% or aboveCivil, Mechanical,Electrical and ChemicalEngineersEngineers in this group usuallyplan, evaluate, research, andmanage projects in their area ofspecialization.Civil engineers design theconstruction/repair of structuressuch as: buildings, roads, tunnels,airports, and rapid transit facilities;bridges, dams, ports, and coastalinstallations; systems relatedto highway and transportationservices; and water distribution/sanitation.Mechanical engineers designthe operation of machinery/systems for: heating, ventilation/air conditioning, and powergeneration; transportation; andprocessing/manufacturing.Electrical and electronicsengineers design the operation/performance of: electrical generationand distribution networks;electrical machinery/components;electronic communications; andinstrumentation/control systems,equipment, and components.Chemical engineers designthe operation/improvement of:chemical processes and equipment;quality control; environmentalprotection;biochemical/biotechnical engineering; and otherareas.Education/TrainingIn general, you need a universitydegree in your chosen area ofengineering or in a related field. Youmay also need a master’s degree ordoctorate in a related engineeringfield. As an engineer, you are eligiblefor registration as a ProfessionalEngineer (P. Eng.) after graduationfrom an accredited educationalprogram, after three or four yearsof supervised work experience inengineering, and by passing theprofessional practice examination.You need a license from aprovincial/territorial association ofprofessional engineers to practiceas a professional engineer (P.Eng.). Most recent entrants have anundergraduate university degree.Useful Experience/Skills &High School Subjects: ProjectManagement, Multidisciplinaryteamwork, Business and financialmanagement, Committee work,Interpersonal skills, Communityinvolvement; For admission toa bachelors degree one has tostudy Math, Physics, Calculus,Chemistry, Computer relatedcourses and English and obtain anoverall average of 80% or above.LawyersLawyers advise clients on legalmatters, plead cases, conductprosecutions in courts oflaw, represent clients beforeadministrative boards and tribunals,and draw up legal documents suchas contracts and wills. They mayspecialize in specific areas of lawsuch as criminal law, corporate law,40 So What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

commercial law, real estate law,family and estate law, intellectualproperty law and labour law.Selected Main DutiesLawyers perform some or all of thefollowing duties:• Advise clients of their legalrights and all matters related tolaw;• Research legal precedents andgather evidence;• Plead clients’ cases before courtsof law, tribunals and boards;• Draw up legal documents suchas real estate transactions, wills,divorces and contracts;• Negotiate settlements of civildisputes;• Perform administrative andmanagement functions relatedto the practice of law;• Act as mediator, conciliator orarbitrator;• Act as executor, trustee orguardian in estate and familylaw matters.• Lawyers operate in offices,libraries and courtrooms.Meetings with clients arecommon as well as seminarsand court appearances.Education/TrainingTwo to four years of undergraduatestudies and a Bachelor’s degreefrom a recognized law school, aperiod of articling and successfulcompletion of the bar examinationset by the provincial law societyare required. A licence issuedby the provincial law society isalso required. The Law Society ofUpper Canada regulates lawyers inOntario. The Ontario governmentsupports programs that can helpnewcomers get their license orcertificate in their profession ortrade so that they can work inOntario.Useful Experience/Skills &High School Subjects: ProjectManagement, Multidisciplinaryteamwork, Business and financialmanagement, Committee work,So What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?Interpersonal skills, Communityinvolvement; For admission to abachelors degree one has to studyCanadian and world studies,English, History, Social Sciencesand Humanities, Computer relatedcourses and obtain an overallaverage of 90% or above.JournalistsJournalists research, investigate,interpret and communicatenews and public affairs throughnewspapers, television, radio andother media.Selected Main DutiesJournalists perform some or all ofthe following duties:• Collect local, national andinternational news throughinterviews, investigation andobservation;• Write news stories forpublication and broadcast;• Receive, analyse and verifynews and other copy foraccuracy;• Arrange for and conductinterviews as part of researchand for radio and televisionprograms;• Research and report ondevelopments in specializedfields such as medicine, scienceand technology;• Prepare regular feature columnsand stories on specializedtopics;• Write editorials andcommentaries on topics ofcurrent interest to stimulatepublic interest and expressthe views of a publication orbroadcasting station;• Write critical reviews of literary,musical and other artisticworks based on knowledge,judgement and experience.• The work of journalists is oftenhectic. Deadlines present greatpressures. Some journalistswork in quiet offices whileothers operate in a noisy,busy environment. Inquisitivebystanders, police or emergencyworkers may distract reportersat the scene. The dangers ofcovering disasters, wars orother hazardous events areobvious. Working hours areunpredictable with eveningwork, shift work and weekendwork possible. Foreigncorrespondents travel and maywork nights to meet deadlinesback home. Journalists mayalso work on a freelance basis.Education/TrainingA university degree or collegediploma in journalism or a relatedfield such as communications isusually required. Journalists mayspecialize in print, broadcast orWebcast media, or in particularissues such as political affairs orentertainment news, or a particulargeographic area.Useful Experience/Skills &High School Subjects: ProjectManagement, Multidisciplinaryteamwork, Business and financialmanagement, Committee work,Interpersonal skills, Communityinvolvement; For admission to abachelors degree one has to studyCanadian and world studies,Geography, English, French & otherlanguages, History, Social Sciencesand Humanities, Computer relatedcourses and obtain an overallaverage of 80% or above.At the end, it is hoped thatthe materials and informationpresented in this article are helpfulin the determination of a futuregoal for our youth and helpfulto parents in terms of providingguidance to our high schoolstudents. The intent is to shape ourfuture for a much better economicand intellectual perspectives forour younger generations. MayAllāh accept our humble efforts andprovide us a multitude of fruits sothat we start to see an economicallyand intellectually blessed andaffluent younger generation verysoon. Āmīn.41

Stage of the Jalsa GahThis year, the stage of the JalsaSālāna was decorated with theKalimah Tayyibah and verse 10 ofSurah Al-Hijr, translated as:‘Verily, We Ourself have sentdown this Exhortation (theHoly Qur’ān), and most surelyWe will be its Guardian.’Day One:Friday, July 1st 2011Friday PrayersThe Jalsa Sālāna commenced withFriday prayers led by respectedAmīr sāhib. However, before theFriday Sermon, a portion of theFriday Sermon of Hadrat KhalifatulMasih V aa delivered earlier that dayfrom Germany was relayed to thecongregation. In his Friday Sermon,Hudūr aa addressed the attendeesof both Jalsa Sālāna in Canadaand the US and shed light on theresponsibilities of those attendingthis spiritual gathering. After a briefFriday Sermon, Amīr sāhib led theJumu`ah and Asr prayers.Flag Hoisting CeremonyBefore the start of the inauguralsession, just outside the mainentrance of the men’s Jalsa Gah,respected Missionary In-chargesāhib hoisted the Liwa-e-Ahmadiyyat(the Flag of Ahmadiyyat) andrespected Amīr sāhib, hoisted theCanadian flag and led everyone insilent prayer.Canada Day CelebrationsJuly 1 st is Canada Day, and as such,this momentous occasion wascelebrated in the Jalsa Gah just priorto the start of the opening session.This is because Jamā`at Ahmadiyyaconsiders love for one’s homelandto be an important part of its faithand is proudly loyal and faithful tothis great land. It is for this reasonthat this Canada Day celebrationwas the largest of any gatheringin Toronto, with an attendance of11,000 people.After the flag hoisting ceremony,a program on Canada Daycommenced in the men’s Jalsa Gah.Boys and girls presented a chorusof the national anthem and heartfeltspeeches were delivered on thetopic of ‘Love of the homeland ispart of one’s faith.’Four prominent politicians Gracedthe occasion with their presenceand addressed the audience:1. Honourable Bob Rae – MP,Toronto Center; Interim Leaderof the Liberal Party of Canada2. Honourable Harinder Takhar –MPP; Minister of GovernmentServices3. Honourable Kyle Seeback –MP, Brampton West4. Dr. Kristy Duncan – MP,Etobicoke NorthThey praised the speechesdelivered by two young girlsand commended the disciplinedstructure of the Jamā`at and thepassion for community servicethriving in every member of theJamā`at. They even remarked thatCanadians should learn a lessonfrom the Ahmadiyya MuslimJamā`at.Afterwards, respected Amīr sāhibaddressed the congregation andexpressed his love and devotiontowards Canada and said that onthis auspicious day, the communityalso celebrated Canada Day in theBaitun Nur Mosque (Calgary) inwhich more than 10,000 peopleattended.Sessionsof the Jalsa SālānaThis year, there were four sessionsheld in the Jalsa. Every session beganwith a recitation from the HolyQur’ān followed by a recitation of aselected portion from the beautifulpoems of the Promised Messiah as .The Lajna session was held onSaturday afternoon. This sessionconsisted of four speeches and aninspiring speech delivered by aconvert to Ahmadiyyat.First SessionIn the first session, two speecheswere delivered in English. Thesession was presided by respectedAmīr Jamā`at Ahmadiyya Canada.In his inaugural address, Amīrsāhib spoke on the pertinent topicof ‘What has Ahmadiyyat done forus?’The second speech was deliveredby Kaleem Ahmad Malik sāhib,Nā’ib Amīr Jamā`at AhmadiyyaCanada on the topic ‘Concept ofGod in Islām’.After these speeches, dinner wasserved to all guests.Āmīn CeremonyOn July 1 st , 2011, at 8:00 p.m., anĀmīn ceremony was held in BaitulIslām Mosque, Toronto. RespectedAmīr sāhib heard short portions ofthe Holy Qur’ān from 55 boys andgirls.Evaluation of JalsaArrangementsAfter Maghrib and `Isha prayers,respected Abdul Aziz Khalifa sāhib,Nā’ib Amīr Jamā`at AhmadiyyaCanada, held a meeting withofficers and organizers of theJalsa in the lower level of BaitulIslām Mosque. An evaluation andassessment of the proceedings ofthe first day of Jalsa Sālāna wastaken and directions were renderedto ensure the smooth operation ofall Jalsa arrangements. This alsotook place on the second day.Day Two:Saturday July 2nd, 2011Second SessionThe second session was presided byrespected Abdul Aziz Khalifa sāhib,Nā’ib Amīr Jamā`at AhmadiyyaCanada. This session was in theUrdu language and a simultaneousEnglish translation was providedthrough headsets.35 th Jalsa Sālāna Canada - A Brief Report43

Remembering theDeparted Members of theCommunityAccording to the writings of thePromised Messiah as , one of theobjectives of the Jalsa Sālāna wasto remember those members ofthe community who had passedaway within the previous year, sothat prayers for their forgivenesscould be offered. According to thisobjective, names of 41 departedmembers of the community wereread out by Colonel (Rtd.) DildarAhmad sāhib, Secretary BaitulIslām mission house.SpeechesThe second session had fivespeeches. They were as follows:1. Companions ra of the PromisedMessiah as by Maulana AsifAhmad Khan sāhib, ProfessorJāmi`a Ahmadiyya NorthAmerica2. Obedience Exemplified by theCompanions of the Holy ProphetMuhammad sa by ProfessorAli Chaudhary sāhib, VicePrincipal Jāmi`a AhmadiyyaNorth America3. Family Life of the PromisedMessiah as by MaulanaMuhammad Ashraf Arif sāhib,Missionary GTA East region4. Holy Prophet Muhammad sa : HisVision of One Muslim Ummahby Maulana Ghulam MisbahBaloch sāhib, Professor Jāmi`aAhmadiyya North America5. The Holy Qur’ān as a Fountainheadof Knowledge. by Maulana HafizAttaul Wahab sāhib, ProfessorJāmi`a Ahmadiyya NorthAmerica.After announcements, all guestswere served lunch in the diningarea.Ladies’ Session(Second Session)Most speeches were relayed livefrom the men’s Jalsa Gah to theladies’ Jalsa Gah, which had anattendance of 6,587. However, onJuly 2 nd 2011, during the secondsession, four speeches weredelivered in the ladies’ Jalsa Gah.All speeches were translatedsimultaneously either from Urdu toEnglish or from English to Urdu.Speeches1. ‘High Moral Station of the HolyProphet sa by Amtul Hafiz Hinasāhiba on the2. Living in an Electronic Era and ourResponsibilities by Saadia Mahdisāhiba, who spoke on the topic:3. Natural Disaster or DivinePunishment? by Maliha Shahidsāhiba4. My Acceptance of Islām andAhmadiyyat by Clement Clairesāhiba inspirationally spoke onDistribution ofEducational AwardsEducational awards weredistributed to women whoachieved academic excellence intheir respective fields. This year, 32students were awarded certificatesof achievement by sāhibzadiAmatul Jameel Begum sāhiba,daughter of Hadrat KhalifatulMasih II ra .Concluding AddressThis ladies’ session was concludedby an address by Amtul NoorDaud sāhiba, Sadr Lajna Ima’illāhCanada. She spoke on the subject:‘A Happy Family Life: Formation ofa Heaven on Earth.’ Following thisspeech, a dinner was presented tothe attendees of the Jalsa.Meetings ofProfessional AssociationsVarious professional associationsheld meetings immediately afterthe session.Third SessionMaulana Mubarak Ahmad Nazir,Missionary In-charge Jamā`atAhmadiyya Canada presided thethird session.Speeches1. The Holy Prophet Muhammad sa– Life in Mecca by MaulanaAbdul Rashid Anwar sāhib,Missionary Eastern Region2. Institution of Marriage in the Lightof Islāmic Teachings by MaulanaMirza Muhammad Afzal Mirzasāhib, Missionary Peel Region3. Video presentation was shownon the construction of TahirHall and Jāmi`a AhmadiyyaNorth America, produced byMTA Canada Studios.4. Raising Children to Love Allāh byMaulana Sohail Ahmad SaqibBasra sāhib, Professor Jāmi`aAhmadiyya North America5. Existence of God in Light ofthe Holy Qur’ān by ProfessorMukhtar Ahmad Cheemasāhib, Jāmi`a Ahmadiyya NorthAmericaShabina Ijlas(Tablīgh Session)At 8:30 pm on Saturday July 2 nd2011, a Shaibina Ijlas in which aTablīgh seminar was conductedin Baitul Islām Mosque under thechairmanship of Saleem Akhtar andFarhan Khokhar sāhib, NationalSecretary Tablīgh Canada. Matterssuch as the importance of Tablīghand a summary of Tablīgh events inCanada were discussed. Many menand women attended this session.Announcements of NikāhAfter the Tablīgh session, MaulanaMubarak Ahmad Nazir sāhib,Missionary In-charge Canada,announced six Nikāhs just prior toMaghrib and `Isha.Day Three:Sunday, July 3rd, 2011Final SessionRespected Lal Khan Malik sāhib,Amīr Jamā`at Ahmadiyya Canadapresided the final session of the 35 thJalsa Sālāna Canada.44 35 th Jalsa Sālāna Canada - A Brief Report

Distribution ofEducational AwardsOn the final day of Jalsa Sālāna,according to the tradition of theJamā`at, educational awards aregiven to deserving individualswho excelled academically intheir respective fields. Abdul AzizKhalifa sāhib, Chairman AcademicAward Committee announces thatthis year, 36 students achieved thisdistinction, by the Grace of Allāh.These students received theirawards from Amīr sāhib Jamā`atAhmadiyya Canada.`Alame `In`amiPresentationAfter the educational awards hadbeen handed out, the `Alame `In`amiCeremony was conducted, in whichthe top Majalis of the previousyear, both in Majlis KhuddamulAhmadiyya Canada and MajlisAtfalul Ahmadiyya Canada, wereannounced by Sabih Nasir sāhib,Nā’ib Sadr Khuddamul AhmadiyyaCanada.By the Grace of Allāh the Almighty,Majlis Khuddamul AhmadiyyaBrampton Heartlake was awardedthe `Alame `In`ami this year. MajlisKhuddamul Ahmadiyya WestonNorthwest came in second, andMajlis Khuddamul AhmadiyyaWoodbridge achieved third place.For the Best Regional MajalisAward, the following wereawarded:1. Majlis Khuddamul AhmadiyyaPeel North Region2. Majlis Khuddamul AhmadiyyaGTA Center Region3. Majlis Khuddamul AhmadiyyaEastern Canada RegionBy the Grace of Allāh the Almighty,Majlis Atfalul Ahmadiyya WestonNorthwest was awarded the `Alame`In`ami this year. Majlis AtfalulAhmadiyya Brampton Springdaleranked second.For the Best Regional Majalis35 th Jalsa Sālāna Canada - A Brief ReportAward, the following wereawarded:1. Majlis Atfalul Ahmadiyya PeelNorth Region2. Majlis Atfalul Ahmadiyya GTACenter Region3. Majlis Atfalul Ahmadiyya YorkRegionMasroor InternationalCricket TournamentBy the Grace of Almighty Allāh,Majlis Khuddamul AhmadiyyaCanada’s Cricket Team won firstplace at the 3 rd Annual MasroorInternational Cricket Tournament,held in London, UK. HadratKhalifatul Masih V aa graciouslyawarded the team with the trophyof the tournament. The team waswarmly received and presented tothe audience from the stage of JalsaSālāna Canada.SpeechesThis session had three speeches, andbesides these, distinguished guestswere given some time to addressthe audience about their thoughtson the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamā`atand the Jalsa Sālāna. The speecheswere as follows:1. Commonalities of Faith by astudent of Jāmi`a AhmadiyyaNorth America, Talha Ali sāhib.2. Islāmic Perspective on Blasphemyby Maulana Mubarak AhmadNazir, Missionary In-chargeJamā`at Ahmadiyya Canada.Guest SpeakersMany federal and ProvincialMinisters, Members of Parliament,Mayors, Councillors from differentcountries, the Chief of Police,representatives from variousorganizations and scholars attendedthe convention and addressedthe attendees. They spoke inadmiration of the great discipline,peacefulness, brotherhood,loyalty, unity and cooperationdisplayed by the members of theAhmadiyya Muslim Jamā`at. Theyalso expressed their impressions ofattending the Jalsa Sālāna. Messagesfrom the Prime Minister of Canada,the Minister of Immigration andPremier of Ontario were read out tothe audience and presented to Amīrsāhib Jamā`at Ahmadiyya Canada.The following dignitaries addressedthe attendees of the Jalsa:1. Honourable Judy Sgro – MP,York West2. Bob Delaney – MPP,Mississauga Streetsville3. His Worship Doug White –Mayor, Town of Bradford WestGwillimbury4. His Worship Dave Barrow –Mayor, Town of Richmond Hill5. Mauril A. Belanger – MP,Ottawa-Vanier6. Honourable Jim Karygiannis –MP, Scarborough-Agincourt7. Honourable Chris Bentley –Attorney General of Ontario8. Jim Jones – Regional CouncillorTown, of Markham9. His Worship MaurizioBevilacqua – Mayor, the City ofVaughan10. Honourable Tim Hudak –MPP, Leader of the OppositionParty of Ontario; ProgressiveConservative Party11. Honourable Greg Sorbara –MPP, Vaughan12. Honourable Bal Gosal – MP,Bramalea-Gore-Malton;Minister of State for Sport13. Honourable Peter Kent –MP, Thornhill; Minister ofEnvironmentConcluding AddressLal Khan Malik sāhib, Amīr Jamā`atAhmadiyya Canada delivered theconcluding address of the Jalsa on‘What does Islām offer to the West?’After the address, he led everyonein a silent prayer, marking thesuccessful conclusion of the 35 thJalsa Sālāna Canada, by the Graceof Allāh the Almighty. Immediatelyafter the silent prayer, Zuhr andAsr prayers were offered at the45

Jalsa Gah, and upon its completion,guests were served lunch.VIP Banquet LunchThis year, nearly 1000 guestsattended the special banquet luncharranged for important guestsattending the Jalsa.Appreciation for theVolunteers of Jalsa SālānaAs soon as the Jalsa concludes, thewind-up teams began packing upall materials and equipment so thatthe hall could be returned to theauthorities in pristine condition,in a timely manner. Amīr sāhibvisited and inspected the siteswhere volunteers were windingup. He appreciated their hard workand had group photographs takenwith these volunteers.Inspectionof the Langar KhanaAs soon as the entire Jalsa Gah hadbeen inspected, Amīr sāhib visitedthe Langar Khana. He commendedthe dedication and commitmentdisplayed by all volunteersthroughout the Jalsa.MTADuring the Jalsa, MTA Canada hadsetup a studio in the Jalsa Gah fromwhere interviews of dignitaries,officers, and volunteers of the JalsaSālāna were recorded.Canadian MediaSome Canadian newspaperspublished reports and snapshotsof the Jalsa. In addition, Canadiantelevision stations also televisedsome glimpses of this convention.Headquarters of Jamā`atAhmadiyya CanadaThe headquarters of Jamā`atAhmadiyya Canada, BaitulIslām Mosque and surroundingproperties were decorated withcolourful and beautiful flowerbeds. Flags from various nations ofthe world were added to the beautyof the mosque. Additionally, atnight, homes decorated in PeaceVillage made a city of light andluminescence.During the days of Jalsa, all prayerswere offered with great fervour, andthe mosque was filled with manyworshippers, men and women,old and young. Likewise, tahajjudprayers were offered during thethree days of Jalsa in Baitul IslāmMosque, followed by Dars-e-Hadīth. In short, these days werefilled with blessings and everyonewas focused on developing aspecial relationship with their Lord,Almighty Allāh. The environmentwas, without a doubt, both highlyspiritual and captivating.Hence the Jalsa Sālāna was verysuccessful, and all attendees wenthome with a new passion to createa change in their lives.May Allāh the Almighty bless usall with the everlasting blessings ofJalsa Sālāna, and may we partake ofthe heartfelt prayers of the PromisedMessiah as which he prayed for theattendees of this holy gathering.Āmīn.A detailed report of the Jalsa will bepublished in a later issue.AnnouncementsWalimaBy the grace of Allāh, on Sunday July 10, 2011, Majorand Mrs. Abdul Hafeez Khalifa hosted a walimareception of their son, Omar & Alicia daughter of Mr.and Mrs. Rameshwar Lall. The reception was held atCreek Golf Club in Kleinburg, Toronto.Rahim Khalifa Sahib was the master of ceremony forthe event. Proceedings started with the recitation of theHoly Qur’an by Raza Dard. The English translation waspresented by Hashim Chawdhry. Abdul Aziz KhalifaSahib, Acting Amir Jamā`at Ahmadiyya Canada, ledthe guests in a silent prayer. Shortly after, a buffetlunch was served for all the guests.Omar Nur ul Haq Khalifa is the great-grandsonof Hadrat Khalifa Nur Din Jammuni ra , an eminentcompanion of the Promised Messiah as .The Ahmadiyya Gazette Canada wishes to congratulateboth families on this union. All members of the Jamā`atare requested to pray for the success of this matrimony– may Allāh the Almighty shower His immense graceon both families and make this union a delight for theireyes, Āmīn.Academic AchievementAisha Mashaal Ahmad (Waqifah Nau), daughter ofMr. Muhammad Najmi Ahmad and Rehma AhmadSahiba, Scarborough, granddaughter of Dr. AbdulMajid Hamid and Zeenat Majid Sahiba, Peace VillageCenter has passed Grade 8 with honours.She secured 98% marks in French language and alsowon a citizenship award out of 150 students in Grade8 of Tecumesh Senior Public School, Scarborough, ON.May Allāh enable this success to be her first step in herreligious and worldly pursuits, Āmīn.46 35 th Jalsa Sālāna Canada - A Brief Report / Announcements

Instruction fromHadrat Khalīfatul Masīh V aaDuring his Friday Sermon on December 3, 2010, our beloved Imām,His Holiness Khalīfatul Masīh V aa gave the following instruction.“I would especially like to draw the attention of Jamā’at membersin all parts of the world, towards praying for our brothers who arepersecuted, and are caught in troubles and hardship. At the veryleast every Ahmadī is to offer 2 nafl daily solely for these peoplewho are suffering any type of pain due to Ahmadiyyat, who aredeprived from their civil and religious rights due to unjust laws.Similarly, pray especially for the progress of Jamā`at Ahmadiyya.If every Ahmadī fully presents his heart’s distress to Allāh theExalted in advance, then he will witness how Allāh will look uponhim with love. More than before, Allāh the Exalted will take himin His refuge.”- Al-Fadl Rabwah, December 14, 2010Nay, Allāh is your Protector, and He is the Best of helpers.Āl-e-`Imrān Chapter 3 Verse 151رَ‏ ب ‏َّنَ‏ آ‏ اَ‏ فْ‏ رِ‏ غْ‏ عَ‏ لَيْ‏ نَ‏ ا صَ‏ بْ‏ رً‏ ا وَّثَ‏ بِّتْ‏ اَ‏ ْ ق دَ‏ امَ‏ نَ‏ اوَ‏ انْ‏ صُ‏ رْ‏ نَ‏ ا عَ‏ لَى الْقَ‏ وْ‏ م ِ الْ‏ کٰ‏ فِرِ‏ يْ‏ ‏َنO our Lord! Pour forth upon us steadfastnessand make our steps firm, and help us against thedisbelieving people. (2:251)اَ‏ لل ‏ّٰھُ‏ مَّ‏ ا ‏ِن ‏َّا نَ‏ جْ‏ عَ‏ ل ‏ُکَ‏ ف ‏ِیْ‏ نُحُ‏ وْ‏ رِ‏ ھِ‏ مْ‏ وَ‏ نَ‏ عُ‏ وْ‏ ذُ‏ بِکَ‏ مِنْ‏ شُ‏ رُ‏ وْ‏ رِ‏ ھِ‏ مْ‏رَ‏ ب ‏َّنَ‏ ا لَ‏ ا تُز ‏ِغْ‏ قُ‏ ل ‏ُوْ‏ بَنَ‏ ا بَعْ‏ دَ‏ ا ‏ِذْ‏ هَ‏ دَ‏ يْتَ‏ نَ‏ ا وَ‏ هَ‏ بْ‏ لَ‏ نَ‏ ا مِنْ‏ ل ‏َّدُ‏ نْ‏ كَ‏رَ‏ حْ‏ مَ‏ ة ً ‏ۚا ‏ِن ‏َّكَ‏ اَ‏ نْ‏ تَ‏ الْوَ‏ ه ‏َّابُ‏ ‏O our Lord! Let not our hearts become perverse afteryou have guided us; and bestow on us mercy fromYourself; For surely you are the great Bestower. (3:9)O Allāh! We make You a shield against the enemies andwe take refuge in You from their evils.اَ‏ سْ‏ تَ‏ غْ‏ فِرُ‏ اہللَ‏ رَ‏ ب ‏ِّی مِنْ‏ کُلِّ‏ ذَ‏ نْ‏ بٍ‏ وَ‏ اَ‏ تُوْ‏ بُ‏ ا ‏ِلَ‏ یْ‏ ہِ‏I seek forgiveness from Allāh my Lord, for all my sinsand turn to Him in all sincerity.سُ‏ بْ‏ حَ‏ انَ‏ اہللِ‏ وَ‏ بِحَ‏ مْ‏ دِ‏ ہٖ‏ سُ‏ بْ‏ حَ‏ انَ‏ اہللِ‏ الْعَ‏ ظِ‏ یْ‏ مِ‏اَ‏ لل ‏ّٰھُ‏ مَّ‏ صَ‏ لِّی عَ‏ ل ‏ٰی مُ‏ حَ‏ مَّ‏ دٍ‏ وَ‏ آ‏ لِ‏ مُ‏ حَ‏ مَّ‏ دٍ‏Holy is Allāh and worthy of all praise, Holy is Allāh theGreat. O Allāh, bestow Thy blessings on Muhammad saand the people of Muhammad sa .Instruction from Hadrat Khalīfatul Masīh V aa47

Press Release:Prince Edward VisitsAhmadiyya Mosque InSouthfieldsThe Earl of Wessex greeted byHadrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad,world Head of Ahmadiyya MuslimJamā`atHRH, the Earl of Wessex, PrinceEdward today paid a visit to the FazlMosque in South West London. TheFazl Mosque, commonly known asthe ‘London Mosque’ is owned bythe Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamā`atand is London’s oldest mosque.Prince Edward arrived at 11:20 amand was greeted by a delegation ofthe Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamā`at,led by its Khalifa, Hadrat MirzaMasroor Ahmad, who is theworldwide spiritual leader of thecommunity.The Earl of Wessex was attendingin his capacity as a Patron of ‘TheLondon Gardens Society’ and thustook the opportunity to inspect thegardens of the Fazl Mosque, whichhas won numerous awards overthe past few years. The Earl wasalso able to view a small exhibitionabout the history of the mosque.The Earl was accompaniedthroughout the visit by HadratMirza Masroor Ahmad, who himselfhas a keen interest and expertise inhorticulture. The Earl also viewedthe actual mosque and was keen tolearn of its history. He was also ableto view a private garden within thecomplex where he was pleased tosee a large cherry tree cultivatedunder the supervision of HadratMirza Masroor Ahmad over thepast few years.Hadrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadalso informed the Earl about howthe Ahmadiyya Khilāfat has beenbased in the UK since 1984 dueto the persecution faced by theJamā`at in Pakistan.At the conclusion the President ofthe Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamā`atUK, Rafiq Hayat, invited the Earl ofWessex to visit the Jamā`at’s BaitulFutuh mosque in Morden at a laterdate.A number of other local dignitariesalso attended including the Mayorof Wandsworth, Councillor JaneCooper.End of ReleaseFurther Info: Abid Khanpress@ahmadiyya.org.uk / 0208 -544767848Press Release

General Requirements:• Sound knowledge of Islāmic studies• Willing to devote (Waqf) for short (3 years) orlong term (the whole life)• All applicants must be exemplary in observingIslāmic values & purdah• All other qualifications being equal, preferencewill be given to candidates residing in the GTAareaQualifications forAdministrative Staff:• Proficient in Microsoft Office and otheradministrative tools• Ability to type English and Urdu 40 words perminute preferably• Administrative Assistant certification/educationan assetQualifications for Principal:• Minimum of Master’s degree• Exceptional leadership qualitiesQualifications for Faculty:• In addition to the first degree, a minimum ofBachelor’s degree in Education (B.Ed) from arecognized institution• A minimum of 2 years experience at a teachinginstitution/new graduates may also be accepted• Faculty members applying to teach the Holy Qur’ānmust have the Advanced Level certification from thedepartment of Ta‘līmul Qur’ān and Waqf ArdhīIn the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful‘Aisha AcademyPrincipal, Faculty and Administrative Staff Sought“The best amongst you is one who learns theQur’ān and teaches it”-The Holy Prophet saTitleContact your Local Sadr Lajna and/or Local Secretary Ta‘līmfor application forms and further information49

‘Aisha AcademyAdmissions Open - Apply Today“Pursuit of knowledge is a duty of every Muslimman and woman.”• An Institute of Islāmic Studies for women-The Holy Prophet sa• Mubashira Degree will be awarded upon completion• 3 Years Program• Classes starting in September 2011• Limited spaces available• Application deadline: August 31, 2011“O my Lord!Show me the truenature of things."-Prayer of the Promised Messiah asRequirements for Admission:• Exemplary adherence to Islāmic Values (includingPurdah)• High School Diploma• Age limit of 25 yearsEvery student is required toarrange their own accommodationContact your Local Sadr Lajna and/or Local Secretary Ta‘līmfor application forms and further information50 Title