Voice of British Muslim Women

Zohaa Qasim Roehampton 

“And hold fast, all together, by the rope of Allah” (Chapter 3: Verse 104) is the theme of this year’s Lajna Ima’illah UK National Ijtema, graciously approved by His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Helper) current worldwide head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. 

“In today’s world, at every turn and corner, rampant materialism and worldliness are prevalent… As members of Lajna Ima’illah, always strive to strengthen your relationship with Khilafat and act upon the instructions and decisions of Khalifatul Masih.” – His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, address at the Lajna Ima’illah UK National Ijtema 2024. 

As the days get shorter and autumn begins to creep in, anticipation for Ijtema 2025 builds with members from across the country preparing for what promises to be a spiritual and knowledgeable experience. This is an annual event and a time for sisterhood and learning, as well as a key opportunity for many to reconnect with Allah the Almighty and recommit to the mission of spreading the message of Islam to all corners of the world.  

The most eagerly anticipated moment of the Ijtema is, needless to say, the address of His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad (may Allah be his Helper). His wise words of guidance and devout prayers have always been the main event in these gatherings. His addresses remind us of our duties as Ahmadi Muslim women in today’s everchanging world and urge us to stay on the path of those who do right. This year’s address will be nothing short of inspiring and profound as His Holiness provides us with clarity, direction, and purpose to help us build a deeper connection to our faith whilst standing firm together.  

In other aspects of Ijtema, a must see is the wide variety of workshops designed to increase spiritual and general knowledge. From lectures on Quranic commentary, to sessions on growing up, personal development, and health, these workshops aim to empower women and provide them with practical skills they can use in every aspect of life. There will also be similar sessions for younger members of the girls’ auxiliary, Nasiratul Ahmadiyya, ensuring they too learn about Islamic values and what it means to be an Ahmadi Muslim girl. 

The Ijtema would be incomplete without the traditional academic competitions. Lajna and Nasirat from across the country gather to participate in tilawat (recitation of the Holy Qur’an), nazm (melodious poems) and speech competitions. This will be accompanied by Hifz-e-Qur’an which will focus this year on the memorisation of chapter 62, Surah Al-Jumu’ah of the Holy Qur’an with emphasis placed on proper pronunciation. The memorisation of Al Qaseeda, an Arabic poem of The Promised Messiah (peace be on him) will allow a special prize to be awarded to Lajna members, although, as the Promised Messiah (peace be on him) was assured by Allah, there is surely no better prize than a person’s heart being granted a deep love for both the Promised Messiah (peace on him) and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). There will also be a Bait Bazi (a last letter Urdu poetry game) where couplets are recited, an extempore speech on a mix of general knowledge and religious topics, and English poetry which allows for expressions of faith and creativity. 

To conclude, whilst there is a multitude of different events to get immersed in and engage with, we must remember to listen attentively to the address of His Holiness (may Allah be his Helper) so that we can return to our homes spiritually enlightened and ready to serve the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community with renewed energy.