Belief In Khilafat

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

Rabia Salim, Surrey

I would like to give a small glimpse into my experience of being a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and how the worldwide head of the community, the Khalifa, has shaped it.  Our belief is not only in any one Khalifa after the Promised Messiah (peace be on him), but all.  When a Khalifa passes away, there is a successor who takes over the helm of the Community.  The fifth and current Khalifa, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Helper) expounded in a speech in 2015 “now Islam has entered the era of the everlasting Khilafat” (1) 

We call all Khulafa (plural of Khalifa) ‘Huzoor’.  In my childhood, having lived in England, there were several joyful memories of being near the fourth Khalifa, His Holiness Mirza Tahir Ahmad, and I’ve grown older with the fifth Khalifa His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad. The shift I’ve seen in myself due to natural maturing, is a steady increase in conviction and faith in him.

I recall as a seven-year-old my childlike excitement asI remember when our family had requested to meet the fourth Khalifa.  The elation – from the waiting room to the heavenly glow of Huzoor’s face, to the chocolates His Holiness offered us at the end.  When I observed my toddler children meeting the fifth Khalifa, I saw the same emotion, and my 3-year-old son Sami innocently exclaimed ‘cookie!’ when he saw the golden ’Twix’ packet coming towards him.  Embarrassed at Sami demanding chocolate, I quickly observed Huzoor’s face.  His Holiness was gracefully smiling at the young one’s innocence and gave Sami a pat on the cheek.

At these meetings, as I reached the age of consciousness around to teens, the joy was the same, however you’re unable to say much, as the presence of Huzoor is awe inspiring and spiritually igniting.  In 1992, the Ahmadiyya satellite channel, Muslim Television Ahmadiyya (MTA) was established and therefore, even if you didn’t live nearby Huzoor’sresidence, you could still see and hear him regularly.

I have also had the experience of being physically far away from Huzoor when I lived in Chicago USA.  I would be able to watch speeches on MTA, for example, and the Friday sermon of the Khalifa every week.  Additionally, there were many programmes produced which we watched, such as enlightening discourses on the Holy Qur’an, and Question and Answer sessions of different strata of society, from young to old, with Huzoor.  During visits to the United Kingdom to see my family, I was able to have a meeting with Huzoor around once every year too.  Truly energising, one visit in the enlightening presence of His Holiness would wash away fatigue, sorrow, and pain.  He has a profound understanding of human nature.  Once I took some honey to his office, for a friend’s baby back in Chicago.  As I presented it to him, I almost spilled it on his desk papers, and he smiled, and said, “Don’t panic” and I immediately relaxed.  He has a wide spiritual and intellectual knowledge as well as Divine wisdom. 

For an Ahmadi Muslim, an inspirational quote from His Holiness’ lectures on MTA, one glimpse or one wave from His Holiness at the mosque satiates the soul and intellect. When this effect somewhat wears off, a believer wishes for another interaction.  For example, when the Ahmadiyya Muslim Annual Convention (Jalsa Salana) in Hampshire finishes, many families look forward to watching the recordings of the Convention on MTA that go on for a week.

As I have grown up, this faith in Khilafat has endured, and time, space and distance were irrelevant, and I forever hold onto this rope of faith.

1. Concluding session of the Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya Ijtema UK 2015 in Islamabad UK.