Voice of British Muslim Women

Ayesha Naseem Mirza, Walsall

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

Letter writing is one of the oldest forms of communication, one that is a very human experience. Every time I can think of finding a pen and paper to write a letter, I have written it to Beloved Huzoor, His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. And for someone who otherwise doesn’t write letters in her life and struggles to express her thoughts on paper, I try to handwrite my letters to Huzoor instead of typing them.

Many years ago, I was in a group of students who were blessed to have a Mulaqat [meeting] with His Holiness. At the end of an hour-long question and answer session, Huzoor asked if there were any questions left, or if any of us still had something to say. Seeing our nervousness, His Holiness then very graciously said that we could write to him; any question, any thought, or anything that we feel like sharing with him, we could write it and he would reply to it personally. It was so gracious and so affectionate of him to give us the confidence that we could reach out to him whenever we needed to.

I was writing letters before this meeting too, but it was afterwards that I became even more regular and dedicated in my writing to Beloved Huzoor. Every time a question fogged my mind, a worry concerned me, when I was happy, or when I had a lot to say but not the right words, I wrote a letter. Through that one piece of paper where I express myself and my thoughts – something I felt I couldn’t do otherwise – I always find immense peace, contentment, and assurance.

And alongside a reply full of prayers and guidance whether directly from Beloved Huzoor or his Private Secretary office, every letter of mine brings blessings – results of his countless prayers – and an unimaginable ease and comfort of heart, sometimes as soon as I have only just sealed the envelope.

Beloved Huzoor reads hundreds of letters daily, and replies to further hundreds at the same time. No matter where we are in the world, each one of us who write to him know how many blessings there are in that one piece of paper. It’s a treasure of guidance; and an ocean of our spiritual father’s love for us.

Besides the huge workload of letters, His Holiness also meets Ahmadis in person daily. Families who come to seek his guidance and request for prayers in these one-to-one personal sittings leave feeling spiritually rejuvenated. A meeting that lasts less than three minutes normally leaves a life changing and profound impact on the ones having them. The ocean of love and spiritual inspiration that they receive from the Khalifa of the time is personal for each attendee, yet each one of them feel it at the same level.

Each one of us, Huzoor loves the most in this world. This is the extent of the unconditional love of the Khalifa for his people.

Once during a family meeting, I remember walking into Beloved Huzoor’s office with a lot on my mind. Even on the way to the Mubarak Mosque that day, I asked my mother to pray that Allah allows me even a minute with Huzoor so I could seek his guidance. Allah the Almighty accepted my prayer so beautifully that when our family’s time was concluding, my mother humbly requested if I could speak to Huzoor on my own. Beloved Huzoor very graciously allowed me a few minutes to speak with him. It often happens that in front of this holy man of God, one fails to utter even one word properly, but I still tried my best and even when I couldn’t speak as I had wished to, Beloved Huzoor understood me. His words of guidance, encouragement to continue writing to him, and his precious prayers still ring in my ears. And as I glance at my life ever since that meeting specifically; I am witnessing the results and blessings of his prayers.

The memory of this meeting is special but in hindsight there is always regret that when I was expressing my worries to him, he was in discomfort due to his health (to the entire Community’s oblivion until Huzoor addressed it himself). But the ocean of his affection, love, and understanding for all of us is such that he consistently and selflessly puts our comfort and assurance above his own, just as a father would.

May Allah grant Beloved Huzoor a healthy, active and long life. May we always be from those who are the source of his delight and comfort. Ameen.