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| His Holiness Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the 5th Khalifat-ul-Masih, the current spiritual head of the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community |
Source/Credit: Richmond Muslim Examiner
By Ayesha Noor | May 27, 2011
Today the worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is celebrating the 103rd anniversary of the institution of Khilafat. Khilafat is a dynamic leadership that aims at guiding humanity towards spiritual, moral and social prosperity. The Khalifa, the recipient of the title of Khilafat, ensures that he is contributing in the spiritual and moral well being of his followers by inspiring them to become such human beings who struggle to attain the nearness of God and are beneficial for the society’s practical betterment.
This is quite different from the status quo definition of Khilafat. Khilafat is widely and wrongly associated with political empowerment. Non-Muslims consider it a threat to western democracy, liberalism and secularism. Liberal Muslims, although revere the system of Khilafat, yet deem it to be an outdated institution. Orthodox muslims aspire to re-establish Khilafat through force and consider it a tool to demolish other systems prevailing in the world. So the question arises, if the very definition of Khilafat is so enigmatic, then how can Ahmadiyya Muslim Community celebrate 103 years of Khilafat with no bloodshed, riots against the west, and burnings of the American flag?
The Islam Ahmadiyya Khilafat is no different from the earliest Khilafat in Islam known as "Guided Khilafat." Upon the passing of Prophet Muhammad, the institution of Khilafat was established in Medina. Abu Bakr Siddiq became the first Khalifa of Islam.
He and his successors lead Muslims in a highly organized manner. Under Khilafat, Muslims excelled in education, business, defense, farming and in spiritually. Since there was no sound political system prevailing in Arabia at that time, the Khalifas served as heads of the state as well. However, none of the four rightly guided Khalifas ever campaigned to become the Khalifa, nor did they nominate themselves at the time of election. Although the Arabian economy was thriving at that time, all the Khalifas lead an extremely simple lifestyle. This was so because their ultimate goal was not to achieve high worldly standards but to ensure the religious and spiritual heights for themselves and their people. With their gifted foresight and shrewd intelligence, they were able to guide their people in all walks of life.
The Islam Ahmadiyya Khilafat works in the same manner as the “Guided Khilafat.” Established in 1908 after the passing of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the Promised Messiah, the Islam Ahmadiyya Khilafat has seen 5 successors. Each Khalifa has contributed immensely to the community’s spiritual, moral and social uplift. Moreover, the Islam Ahmadiyya Khilafat has been a driving force to establish peace, justice and pluralism all around the world.
The first Khalifa of Islam Ahmadiyyat Hakim Maulvi Nooruddin (1908-1914), a distinguished physician and scholar gathered the community on one hand and preached the peaceful message of Islam to Europe. His medical prescriptions benefited thousands and his deep and unique understanding of the Holy Qur’an is a fountain of spiritual knowledge for future generations. The 2nd Khalifa, Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmad (1914-1965), was an outstanding executive and a prolific scholar. Apart from organizing and educating the community he improved the world in countless ways. For example, his sharp understanding of politics helped Indian Muslims through the trying times of pre-partition India. His financial movements benefitted thousands of people all over the world. His scholarly work in sociology, economics, religion, and politics is matchless. The 3rd Khalifa Mirza Nasir Ahmad (1965-1982) brought the message of “Love for All Hatred for None.” His deep love for Africans lead him to initiate Nusrat Jehan Scheme in Africa. Since then thousands of students have attained free secular education from those schools. The 4th Khalifa, Mirza Tahir Ahmad (1982-2003), was a great scholar of Islam, comparative religions, contemporary issues, science and politics, and was a voice of the poor and the needy. His thousands of talk shows, articles, sermons, books and seminars not only provide better understanding of religion, but also provide solutions to the economic and political crises the world faces, even today.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community’s 5th Khalifa, Mirza Masroor Ahmad, became Khalifa in 2003. Since then, he has been actively involved in creating inter-faith dialogue across the globe. His message of peace is so strong and powerful that the Canadian Prime Minister Mr. Stephen Harper was compelled to call him “A model of Peace.” In current times, when terrorism has inflicted the very fabric of some Islamic countries, his efforts to promote peace are highly needed.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Richmond chapter will be celebrating Khilafat Day with prayers for world peace. On May 29th, members of the community will get together at Baitul Rahman in Silver Spring, Maryland to celebrate the 103rd anniversary of the blessed institute of Khilafat. All are welcome to attend.
Read original post here: 103 years of Islam Ahmadiyya Khilafat
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