Voice of British Muslim Women

Shumaila Iftikhar, London

Pondering upon the concept of Khilafat, for anyone looking from the outside, it may seem difficult to comprehend that a single institution can unite, under its fold, people from all cultures, intellects, ages and experiences. His Holiness, Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Helper) said in a speech to an audience in Taha Mosque, Singapore, that:

“Certainly, you will not find any other Islamic community that is united like the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. Wherever our members are in the world, they act in the same way and have the same beliefs.”

In a world in which artificial connectivity through modern technology shrouds the much deeper wounds inflicted on us as age old belief systems and values are abandoned in pursuit of power and worldly prestige, it is the profound blessings of Khilafat that act as a healing balm.

As Ahmadi Muslims, we see this epitomised in the ceremony of the pledge of allegiance (or Bai’at) on the final day of the annual three-day Jalsa Salana (annual religious convention). People of all ages and nationalities form chains in rows as the declaration is read out by the worldwide head of the Community, each line, recited first in Urdu, is echoed in the various languages present on the day. The Friday of the Jalsa Salana also brings a flag hoisting ceremony, during which one witnesses an array of flags flying high and representing all the nations to which this blessed institution has reached. It is a reminder to every eye seeing this display that Khilafat brings together and celebrates our differences whilst being a guiding light to Divine truth.

The Holy Qur’an states: “By the testimony of time,

Surely, man is in a state of a loss,

Except those who believe and do good works, and exhort one another to accept truth, and exhort one another to be steadfast.” (110:2-4)

Khilafat, in bringing people together for the doing of good deeds to please God, offers a system of strength to replenish our thirst for purpose, and encourages us to stay firmly and unflinchingly on the path of righteousness. The strength we can derive from knowing our purpose as human beings is to serve God and His creation, regardless of who we are, and where we may come from, and being able to benefit from the wisdom of one man chosen by God to lead us, is of the kind we witness in our everyday lives as lacking for those not part of this.