Voice of British Muslim Women

Part II

Kholood Munir Tahir, London

One beautiful memory of my visit to Qadian in January 2023 that I will cherish is that of the piety and simplicity of the elder members of Lajna Ima’illah that I saw, whose hearts brimmed with such unwavering love and kindness:

Due to the snowy weather conditions in Kashmir at the time, many Kashmiris were residing in Qadian until the weather improved in Kashmir. Many of whom were elderly women whose compassion and warmth, I came to know, were immeasurable. On many occasions when I would be Praying at Masjid Mubarak, upon finishing my Prayer, I would find small gifts of Kashmiri apples or Kashmiri walnuts next to me that one of them would have left for me. Before my trip, I was nervous to be travelling to India without my mother who was still in London, but it felt like Allah answered my prayers in the form of tens of mothers through those elderly aunties, who would kiss my hands, envelop me in an embrace and lovingly say salam to me every time they saw me. I spent hours in between Prayer times in Mubarak Masjid with them and had the privilege to hear their stories and feel their undying love for beloved Huzoor, who they referred to as “Allah ka banda” (A man of God) whom they had never actually seen in real life but still loved so dearly. This left me at a loss for words. Every moment of theirs was filled with the dhikr (remembrance) of God Almighty and an abundance of heartfelt duas (prayers) for Khilafat, Ahmadiyyat, Islam, the poor, the suffering, the world; their words still sometimes echo in my heart and mind. Their simplicity in dress and demeanour would perhaps be considered impoverished in much of the world, but the reality was that they were truly  the wealthiest of people I had ever met: wealthy in contentment, piety and purpose.

Journeying back to the humble roots of the organisation in Qadian and retracing the footsteps of the empowered and independent women who came before me, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and admiration for what it means to be a member of Lajna Ima’illah. I am humbled by the progress that has been made over the past century and inspired by the remarkable women that make up Lajna Ima’illah such as those Kashmiri aunties I met at Mubarak Mosque. My heart fills with joy to think of the ambition and goodness in the sweet Nasirat who will soon enter Lajna and the mark they will inshAllah make on the world. Above all, I thank God Almighty for the countless blessings He has bestowed upon us through Islam and Ahmadiyyat and Lajna Ima’illah.