Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community addresses Concluding Session of IAAAE Annual Symposium
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad says that serving humanity is an essential part of Islamic faith
On 2 May 2015, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, addressed the Annual Symposium of the European chapter of the International Association of Ahmadi Architects and Engineers (IAAAE). The symposium took place at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in south-west London.
During his address, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said that service to humanity was an essential part of Islamic faith. He said that those serving organisations such as the IAAAE were extremely fortunate as their service was a means of attaining the rewards of God Almighty.
His Holiness began his address by referring to the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s commitment to providing humanitarian relief.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“The humanitarian work conducted by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is rendered entirely selflessly and without any desire for worldly reward. This is not only because it is a basic moral obligation to help others but also due to the fact that serving humanity is an essential part of our faith as Muslims.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“In the Holy Quran, Allah the Almighty has repeatedly instructed true believers to fulfill the rights of mankind and to help all those in need or who face difficulties of any kind. The Quran has particularly emphasised the need to help the most vulnerable members of society, such as those who are mired in poverty, who are destitute or who have been left orphaned.”
Describing the unparalleled example of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to serving mankind, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) repeatedly said that it was essential to fulfill the rights of mankind. And if we look at his own blessed example, we see that in every possible way he served humanity and forever sacrificed his own comfort in order to provide comfort and ease to others. Indeed, on one occasion, the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said that the very meaning of faith was to desire goodness and to be sincere towards others and to fulfil their rights.”
Commenting on the various humanitarian initiatives established by the IAAAE in deprived parts of the world, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“With the Grace of Allah, the IAAAE has established various projects in order to alleviate the suffering of those in need and to provide ease to them. For example, they have rehabilitated thousands of water wells in order to provide drinking water to people. And through the model village projects they have provided shelter and essential community facilities to the local people living in deprived parts of the world.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad continued:
“Always remember and recognise the fact that you are all extremely fortunate as you are serving in a capacity that is a means of providing relief and ease to others. And Allah has promised that He will provide comfort to such devoted people in the Hereafter.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad narrated an incident from the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) where some youths knocked over a water vessel balanced on the head of an elderly lady. His Holiness said that the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) had been left very distressed by the discomfort caused to the lady.
Commenting on this incident, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Instead of providing relief to this elderly woman and instead of helping her to carry the water, those youths caused her a great deal of pain and discomfort. On the other hand, the members of the IAAAE are extremely blessed because rather than knocking down water vessels balanced on the heads of poverty-stricken women, they are actually removing the weight and burden from their shoulders by providing running water to their homes and villages.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad concluded his address with the words of the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian who said:
“To love and care for all of mankind is a very great form of worship and is a wonderful means of attaining the pleasure of Allah the Almighty.”
Earlier in the evening, a report was presented by Mr Muhammad Akram Ahmedi, the Chairman of the IAAAE (European Chapter), in which he outlined the main activities and projects of the IAAAE during the past year.
He said that due to the outbreak of the Ebola virus some projects in West Africa had been delayed but that subsequently humanitarian relief projects in Central and East Africa had been accelerated. He said the IAAAE was also working on the construction or renovation of various Mosques and Mission Houses both in Africa and Europe.
The event concluded with a silent prayer lead by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad.
More than 120 delegates attended the Symposium from a number of European countries.