Voice of British Muslim Women

Reem Shraiky, Hampshire

_{(Editor’s note: His Holiness Khalifatul Masih V has delivered two inspirational addresses to Ahmadi Muslim women in the last few months. We reflect over these through a series of blogs as we learn from the guidance contained within.)}

The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) told us more than 1400 years ago that the sun will rise in the latter days from the west.

What is meant by this prophecy in fact, is that the sun of Islam, and we have witnessed it rising from the west with our own eyes since seat of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Khilafat or Caliphate moved to the West more than 35 years ago.

Since Allah has blessed us with the opportunity to live in the warmth of this shining spiritual sun, we must thank Him by following all His commandments which are illustrated to us by our living guide, the luminous sun – His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, (may Allah be his Helper). It is our beloved Khalifa who keeps reminding us, we, who live in the West, on every occasion of our responsibilities and duties.

His Holiness said recently at the Lajna UK Ijtema 2021:

‘I also wish to remind all of you that, even whilst living in the comfort of the West, you must never forget your roots and your true objectives.

Certainly, most Ahmadis living in the Western world, especially those who originate from Pakistan, came here to escape religious persecution. Irrespective of their place in society, whether working as businessmen, professionals, labourers, or if they are in education, Ahmadis in Pakistan continue to be the victims of grave persecution and injustice’.

So, the first blessings which we must keep in mind is ‘the comfort of life’ and we have to ask ourselves do we discharge the rights of this prosperity and ease with which we are living? By remembering the needy and by making financial sacrifices towards our community? And by actively contributing to our country to return part of its bounties to us?

The second thing which we must remember according to the above instructions of our beloved His Holiness is the religious freedom that we enjoy, and our first duty here after thanking Allah is to thank our country for giving us this fundamental human right. The Holy Prophet of Islam (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) said: ‘He who does not thank the people is not thankful to Allah.’ With this freedom of religion and knowing that Qur’anic teachings are the means of salvation we must spread and convey these teachings with wisdom and kindness. By doing so we will be trying to share the happiness we derive from these teachings with every good soul.

HisHoliness further said:

‘Accordingly, all Ahmadis living in the comfort of the West should recognise their good fortune and realise that a great religious responsibility lies upon their shoulders. The very reason for your coming here. or your parents or grandparents, was so you would be able to practice your religion freely. And so, it is incumbent upon you to strive to fulfil this objective rather than becoming immersed in the material ways of Western nations. Appreciate all the opportunities you have here. For example, Ahmadi girls in the UK are studying in very good schools, colleges and universities, and have the opportunity to advance and progress… So, remember why you have this chance and never forget who you are; rather, take pride in your faith and religion. Where you strive to excel in your studies, you must also remember that your faith should take precedence over all worldly and material matters. If your priorities are in order, you will live your lives in a way to be proud of, and you will also prove to be of benefit to this country. Strive to be good citizens, and to achieve this, you must utilize  your capabilities, faculties, and skills for the benefit of others and play your role in building a better and more harmonious society.’

Thus, in addition to excelling in studies and committing to be good citizens, we must be proud of our religion and adhere to it, as it is the haven protecting us from the rampant materialism around us.

 His Holiness also said:

‘You should seek to integrate, but as I have said in the past, integrating and contributing to your country does not require you to violate your moral compass and forsake your religious values; rather, the way to successfully integrate into Western nations is to contribute to the success of the nation whilst maintaining your religious identity. Indeed, this should be the hallmark and distinguishing feature of Ahmadi Muslims living in the West. Sacrificing your moral standards and values is not going to help your country in any way. Going to nightclubs where men and women mix and dance, whilst in a state of undress, is not going to benefit this country. Going to pubs and bars so you can get drunk and lose all your inhibition and senses is not service to the nation.’

How beautiful is this definition of integration! Our country will certainly gain enormous benefit if we study and utilise our skills to serve it.

As Muslim Ahmadis in the West, we must never forget to express gratitude to God Almighty and to our governments for the comforts and freedoms we enjoy. We must remember that some of our dear Ahmadis brothers and sisters around the world have sadly been deprived of such. We should seize every opportunity to positively contribute to the wider community, and in this way, we can exemplify the beautiful teachings of Islam Ahmadiyyat. Just as flowers turn towards the sun to produce vital nutrients, we must turn towards our Khalifa to seek spiritual sustenance. It is the rays of Khilafat which will truly illuminate our lives and enable us to fulfil our social and religious duties to the highest of standards.