Maariya Thakur, Luton
As the Lajna Centenary is being commemorated all over the world, I’ve been pondering over what Lajna Ima’illah means to me. First established in India 1922, we are an independent group, an auxiliary organisation of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The organisation was established as a result of His Holiness, Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad’s, (may Allah be pleased with him), the second worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, passion for intellectual and spiritual development, as well as advancement of women, and was initially suggested by his wife. It continues to transform the lives of Ahmadi women a century later.
Lajna Ima’illah is sisterhood to me, bringing us all together in this unbreakable bond that is formed from birth, through classes, activities, and trips that aim to improve our morals and spirituality, assisting us in serving not only Islam, but humanity and our wider communities. Being a part of Lajna has instilled in me from a young age the desire to always seek more knowledge, as His Holiness Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (may Allah be pleased with him), stated at the time of founding the organisation, “Women should strive together to enhance their knowledge and spread the knowledge they have attained to others.”[1] and to help others, which is accomplished through a multitude of ways such as outreach work, social welfare, physical health training, and industry and creative endeavours.
Being a part of Lajna Ima’illah has taught me about the rights and privileges in Islam, and enabled me to build enough confidence to use this knowledge when disputed with the argument that women in Islam are oppressed and disregarded. Ijtemas, our two-day annual events of Ahmadi Muslim girls and women, allow us to reaffirm the unity amongst us women and it is here where I feel most at home: among a community and family of women with shared beliefs and similar experiences, who open their arms of warmth and kindness to me. The gathering is a time when we hear about and share the outstanding activities that women from all over the country have conducted in the past year, as well as exhibitions, educational and informative talks on topics such as astronomy, genetic mutation, and promoting a world free of bias, discrimination, and stereotypes. The ambience and atmosphere at this year’s event, after our annual Ijtema was delayed for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic was one I had never experienced before, as we all yearned to see and reunite with one another after difficult and testing times.
With a strong central focus to female icons in religion, the flag of Lajna Ima’illah is one that I look to with pride and admiration; it has the crescent moon symbolising the light Ahmadiyya brings in a time of spiritual darkness, the six pointed star referring to the six articles of Islamic faith: belief in the Oneness of Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Prophets, the Day of Judgement, and His Divine Decree. The white minaret represents the fulfilment of the advent of the Promised Messiah(peace be on him) while sun rising in the west denotes the success of Islam and Ahmadiyyat in the western world, as prophesised by the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be on him. The three date trees and their symbolism is my personal favourite part of the flag. Date, a fruit mentioned in the Holy Qur’an 23 times, holds significance in Islam and is traditionally used to break fasts in the holy month of Ramadan. Three holy, blessed women in the history of religion represented by this symbolism are: Hazrat Hajra, Hazrat Maryam and Hazrat Amina, who gave birth to three Prophets of God, Prophet Ishmael, Prophet Jesus (peace be on them both) and our beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah) be on him. Every day I aim to follow in the footsteps of inspiring, powerful women who dedicated their lives to Allah, and undoubtedly set an example for us all.
[1] The Constitution of The Lajna Imaillah Sisila ‘Aliya Ahmadiyya 2017.
Voice of British Muslim Women 
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