Jamia Ahmadiyya UK Convocation Takes Place in Historic Event
68 gaduates receive their Shahid degrees from Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is pleased to announce that on 13 May 2023, the Convocation Ceremony of Jamia Ahmadiyya UK took place at the college premises in Haslemere in Surrey.
The ceremony was presided over by the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad.
This year a joint convocation ceremony for missionaries who had graduated during the past 4 years and, who were unable to receive their degrees earlier due to the Covid-19 pandemic, took place.
68 missionaries who graduated between the years 2019 and 2022 had the honour of receiving their Shahid degree certificates from His Holiness, meaning that a total of 199 students have graduated from this institute to date.
After the students received their degrees, His Holiness delivered a faith-inspiring address where he reminded the missionaries of the importance of the task that lay ahead for them.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Always keep in mind, that you must strive to attain the purpose for which you enrolled in Jamia Ahmadiyya (of Tabligh and Tarbiyyat). You are now graduating after having received training on how to achieve that purpose. You have been shown the pathways to achieve the objectives that should be in front of a life devotee and missionary and so you must not assume that you have achieved your goal. Your responsibilities have now increased and so, endeavour endlessly to attain your aims.”
His Holiness stated that Missionaries should constantly assess and self-evaluate their own performances to see if they are successfully working towards their objectives.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“A good missionary should constantly undertake self-assessment to see if they are moving in the right direction towards the fulfilment of their goals. They should see if their standards of worship of Allah have elevated and whether their knowledge and morality has increased… Always remember that now that as you have become missionaries, people will be looking at you as role models and so, you should bring about the reforms within yourself that behove a missionary. Carrying out self-analysis will enable you to climb the ladder of morality and spirituality. You will try and attain loftier standards as a result.”
His Holiness went on to highlight several qualities that missionaries should adopt, in light of the guidelines given by the Second Caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community which have also been compiled into book form.
Speaking of the quality of being courageous, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“You should express the teachings of Islam without any fear or sense of inferiority. It should not be that you remain silent out of fear of upsetting people or that you express your views in an unnecessarily ambiguous manner to avoid criticism. You should express your point of view with bravery and courage. There are many vices in society today and it is the responsibility of every missionary to outline these vices both with wisdom and courage and strive to reform society.”
His Holiness said that if one is wise, their viewpoint can be shared openly but in a way that will help people to understand and without taking offence.
Explaining another quality, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“It is important for every missionary that he should have passionate sympathy in his heart for his own people and for others. He should share in their grief and pain. When people observe such heartfelt sympathy, it will create a personal relationship and lasting bond and it will be easier to bring about a moral reformation within such people. It will aid a missionary in his efforts to deliver the message of Islam to such people.”
His Holiness also advised that missionaries should have a good understanding of news and current affairs so that their message can be delivered in a more effective manner.
Speaking about how Ahmadi Muslims should be leading the world in the attainment and pursuit of high moral values, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“We are the ones that are to bring about a spiritual and moral revolution in the world. Rather than follow others, we should inspire them to follow us. We are the ones who can inform the world about the outstanding and glorious teachings of Islam. In order to bring about such a positive change in the world, it is essential for our missionaries to always conduct themselves in a dignified manner.”
His Holiness also said that missionaries should be in the habit of waking up for the pre-dawn Tahajjud prayers and must be regular in offering their five daily prayers in congregation at their Mosques or prayer centres.
Emphasising the importance of turning to Allah the Almighty for every need, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“There should always be the realisation that we are nothing without prayers and worship. All our tasks can only be achieved through prayers and this alone is the means of the success of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and this is the way to carry out tarbiyyat and to deliver the peaceful message of Islam to people. We cannot achieve anything without the blessings of Allah. To attain the blessings of Allah, worship, prayers and spending time in the remembrance of Allah are of vital importance.”
Speaking about the need for seeking to increase their knowledge, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad advised the missionaries and stated:
“Always try to excel in seeking knowledge. Never assume that you have gained enough religious knowledge. Where you try to gain secular knowledge, you should always be trying to increase your religious understanding. There is no limit to gaining religious education. In a saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), it is mentioned that you should seek knowledge from the cradle to your grave. Therefore, we should always be trying to increase in knowledge.”
His Holiness said that such knowledge is necessary to effectively respond to allegations raised by non-Muslims against Islam and to false claims levelled against the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
A quality His Holiness mentioned that missionaries should adopt is a spirit of sacrifice for the sake of others.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“It is important for a missionary that he should adopt within himself a sincere passion for making sacrifices for others. This will bring people closer to you and will add weight to your words. You should not just have sympathy for people, rather you should adopt a higher state where you make sacrifices for their sake.”
His Holiness also said that social media and other innovative platforms should be adopted to deliver the message of Islam.
As his Holiness concluded, he again highlighted the importance of prayer combined with sincere hard work and effort.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Whilst utilising all our capabilities to carry out our tasks, and whilst using all the knowledge and means available at our disposal, we should turn to Allah through prayer and pray for the fruitful results of our endeavours. If we pray in this manner, then most certainly our efforts will be blessed.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad prayed and said:
“May Allah bless your efforts and grant you success in every field wherever you are designated to serve and may Allah always make you the helpers of Khilafat. May you truly become a reflection of the expectations that Allah the Almighty has of a life devotee and may you live up to the wishes of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him). May you become sincere and pure role models and bring about a true revolution in the world.”