Jamia Ahmadiyya UK, Germany and Canada Convocations take place in Joint Ceremony
“Follow not the world, but let the world follow you” – Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad
41 graduates receive their Shahid degrees from Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is pleased to announce that on 29 April 2019, the 7th Convocation Ceremony for Jamia Ahmadiyya UK, the 8th Convocation Ceremony for Jamia Ahmadiyya Canada and the 4th Convocation Ceremony for Jamia Ahmadiyya Germany took place in a combined event at the UK college premises in Haslemere, Surrey.
The World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad presided over the ceremony and delivered the keynote address.
During the ceremony, 17 graduates from Jamia Ahmadiyya UK, 6 graduates from Jamia Ahmadiyya Canada and 18 graduates from Jamia Ahmadiyya Germany were presented with their ‘Shahid Degree’ certificates by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad and were thus enrolled as official Missionaries and Imams of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.
Following the presentation, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad delivered a faith-inspiring address, in which he reminded the young Imams that they should continually seek to increase and progress their knowledge and understanding of their faith.
His Holiness brought to attention the heavy responsibility that now lay upon the life devotees and the need to realise the overall objective of their mission.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“You have dedicated your lives for the sake of that Messiah and Mahdi who was sent by God Almighty for the renaissance of Islam. You have devoted your lives for the sake of fulfilling his mission. So this is a great responsibility that you have taken upon yourselves.”
Continuing, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad stated:
“By devoting your lives, you have presented yourselves to be the support of the true Khilafat which was to be established after the advent of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) who came in accordance with the prophecies of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).”
A key theme emphasised by His Holiness throughout the address, was that the Missionaries ought to serve their faith with a spirit of true sincerity and absolute fidelity. His Holiness impressed its importance and shone particular light on the example of Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him).
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Allah the Almighty has praised Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) in the Holy Quran where He states, ‘Abraham who fulfilled the commandments’ because he fulfilled the covenant which he had made to Allah the Almighty. Now fidelity to your faith demands that you too should fulfil this covenant that you have made. And this cannot be fulfilled simply through mere words, rather lifelong devotion and a spiritual Jihad (struggle) will be required.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad also said that personal efforts alone would not result in success, rather obedience, sincerity and God’s help were the means to bring about a change for the better in the world.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Constant prayer and the establishment of a personal relationship with Allah the Almighty too are essential for your success. A person cannot achieve true fidelity and loyalty to his faith until he prays earnestly and creates a personal relationship with God seeking His help in attaining the highest standards of faithfulness.”
His Holiness drew the attention of the new graduates towards the importance of self-assessment and improvement.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“We must regularly assess ourselves. We should see whether or not we are advancing in our love for Allah the Almighty. We should not make hollow claims or pay mere lip-service to our faith. Rather we must self-analyse and ask ourselves, ‘Are we consumed by the love of Allah? Are our hearts immersed in it? Are we endeavouring to fulfil the rights of Allah the Almighty? Are we trying to attain the high standards required of His worship?’”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad continued:
“I hope that by the grace of Allah you will always and forever continue to strive towards becoming submerged in the love of Allah the Almighty and will try to consistently rid yourselves of the material desires of this world.”
Whilst speaking of the need to improve in their spirituality, His Holiness also emphasised the need for the young missionaries to develop true compassion for humanity. His Holiness said true sympathy and empathy towards others would enable the Missionaries to forge strong bonds with the younger members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and the wider society.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“You should hold compassion in your hearts for humanity more than all others. It is sympathy for humanity that will enable you to widen your circles and to increase the ties of brotherhood with others. It will allow you to attach the youth to yourselves which will better enable you to help them with their moral and spiritual training. People will come closer to you if they see your kindness and consideration towards them.”
His Holiness said that when it comes to matters of faith, one should be free of all hypocrisies and never make compromises. His Holiness advised that the Imams must become like
“firm mountains”
in their resolve to follow the teachings of Islam.
His Holiness reflected on the spiritual and moral state of the world and said that mankind is in desperate need of guidance and the graduating Imams must play their role in guiding people towards morality.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“Nowadays, majority of the world is engulfed in a race towards materialism and has forgotten God Almighty and thus is mired in spiritual darkness. In such times it is your responsibility to become the guiding stars of the night. This is the task of those who have presented their lives for this purpose.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad continued:
“In this day and age you have been made the spiritual leaders of the world by God Almighty. He desires that you may become the centre towards which people flock to gain religious knowledge and to increase in spirituality. This demands that you create a bond of love with God Almighty and increase in your spirituality.”
Reminding them about their objectives, His Holiness said the young Imams must not only guide people of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community towards improving their obedience to the teachings of Islam, but also must inform others about the beautiful and peace-loving teachings of Islam.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“You must follow not the world, but let the world follow you! Continue to follow and spread the teachings of Islam with determination and perseverance. You must make the world follow the light of the teachings of Islam, rather than bowing down to materialism and worldly ideologies.”
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad further stated:
“Indecency and immodesty are becoming widespread in the name of so-called ‘freedom’. You have been brought up in the West and so you know this well and now it is your duty to combat this spiritual decline. Material progress is tantamount to ignorance if it lacks the blessings of God Almighty.”
His Holiness said that truly civilised and educated are those who follow the teachings given by God Almighty through His Messengers and it is through the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that humanity witnessed uncivilised people not only become civilised, but reach the pinnacle of civilisation and morality.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“We ourselves should be the first to follow the teachings of Islam without any fear or complex as we are the ones who have pledged to spread its message to the corners of the earth.”
His Holiness concluded his address by praying for the young missionaries.
Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said:
“May Allah enable you to progress in your love for the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) and attain the love of God Almighty. May Allah the Almighty enable you and I to spread the peaceful teachings of Islam, which was the task begun by the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) in servitude of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him).”
Further Group Photos