Voice of British Muslim Women

*Huzoor is the term Ahmadi Muslims use to refer to His Holiness, the fifth Caliph/Khalifa of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community*

Munazza Mateen Malik, Malden Manor

We all go through stormy seas. Some face higher waters than others and everyone deals with their storms differently. When I would go through times that were toughest for me, I would cry and pray to Allah and immediately write for prayers to Huzoor, assured that this would be a blessed way to reach the Gracious God. I have lost the number of times where I had only just written a letter, sometimes not even sent it, and help of Allah would come in some amazing way. I would immediately be comforted knowing that by the grace of Allah, these are the blessings of Khilafat, Alhamdolillah (all praise belongs to Allah). If I had lacked the means to the guidance and support from Huzoor, I surely would have crumbled to pieces. There’s no denying the fact that Khilafat has a huge impact on each and every sincere Ahmadi.

It took me a while to understand that Allah was educating me, by holding my hand and walking the path towards the blessings, emanating from His Holiness Khalifatul Masih V, may Allah be his Helper, which Allah Himself has ordained to ease our lives. I cannot count the number of times, the light of Khilafat seeped through when there was only darkness. The love and attention received from Huzoor by keeping in touch, bound me to him with such love. This of course, had the benefit of a cascading effect on my children who have become witnesses to the power and holiness of this protective shield which doesn’t waver. He is the rock that remains firmly resolute.

Born into Ahmadiyyat, I have never known life without Khilafat. Growing up, when my parents required guidance or prayers for a particular matter, they would write to Huzoor. They would adhere to any guidance given whether they felt it right or not at the time. In due course, if not immediately, we all witnessed the guidance given by Huzoor was, needless to say, always right!

Unfortunately, I was not regular in writing to Huzoor until I was about 19. But once on the road of connecting with beloved Huzoor, that was it! My thirst was in constant need of guidance and prayers and with time, I would then write even about trivial things. If I did pause momentarily, no doubt I would feel completely lost. Those have always been the most awful times I had to go through. However, once contact was maintained, I would be revived.

Occasionally, the thought occurs, how do people who do not have the blessings of Khilafat feel?  Especially when seeing someone walking down the street, looking not particularly happy and forlorn or watching certain religious clergy on television behaving disgracefully. It makes one shudder. The truth is, without Khilafat we are completely lost. Khilafat is our guiding light, most importantly the Khalifa of the time connects us with the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). In this darkness he is our only way to Allah.

May Allah Almighty grant Huzoor, good health and may we never ever leave this blessed threshold and stay loyal to Khilafat. Ameen.