CAN MOTHERS CHANGE THE WORLD?...YES WE CAN!

Progeny? At what age can a person start thinking of their legacy? So this is me 22 years old and thirty two days before my first baby is due. It’s a girl (in case you were wondering).

I can’t help the feeling of responsibility and the great task that lies ahead in not only training my first child, but rather all my children and future generations.

People like me have many desires and aspirations for what we want our children to become and what they should achieve in life. Some parents work hard at training their children in a chosen direction to be a doctor, entrepreneur or a gold-winning Olympic athlete.

But unfortunately there are far too many who do not choose to focus their attention on the training of their children and the results are obvious; looters, rioters, anti-social behaviour, spoilt brats, etc.
The recent national rioting of summer 2011 in Britain made the general public realize that it is the parents who bear the greater responsibility rather than the schools and teachers in avoiding the youth being disaffected.

This responsibility, placed on the shoulders of a mother, was portrayed many years ago by the late Leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community, his Holiness Hadhrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmood Ahmad, Second Successor to the Promised Messiah (peace be on him).

He offered a great tribute to mothers by way of acknowledging their task in the moral training of children. His Holiness said that the mother’s task of permanently instilling great faith in children was a task even greater than the conquests of famous generals and kings, and they alone were capable of doing so. He elaborated further by stating:

"if a woman decides that she is going to make the future generation righteous rather than barbaric, then how can Satan capture them....it is only women who can challenge Satan permanently. If women decide that they are going to make the future generations servants of religion then who will Satan corrupt? The future generation is not influenced by Satan but by their mothers, but mothers can make the mistake of letting them go so that they become bait hunted by Satan.....you must understand your responsibility.”

His Holiness went so far as to say that the eminent Muslim leaders of the past did not have this intrinsic skill which is within women, to instil faith in their offspring. This is because a woman teaches a child to speak and is its first contact with human nature and all human experiences, the child initially learns everything from her.

These few words of wisdom provide inspiration to a generation of mothers, or mothers-to-be, that they have the capability, honour and blessing in raising children for the benefit of mankind. I feel inspired and so should you.

Politics: Ethnic Minorities Representing Britain

The UK is one of the most culturally and religiously diverse places to be. For us residents we witness spectra of race, colour, creed and language in our personal and professional encounters. I could not be more proud to be British.

However, when I say to you that out of 650 MP’s in the UK Parliament only 27 are of ethnic minority background – data accurate as of January 2012 – something doesn’t quite add up. Firstly, why does the question arise about Parliament? Secondly, do we need more diversity amongst our MP’s?

Parliament is the heart, brain, limbs and five senses of this great nation. Every process established in the UK, be it trade, industry, health, education, legal or otherwise is directly controlled by one decision or another taken by Parliament. Our past, present and future is in the hands of our Parliamentarians. Without making its governance sound dictator-like, the UK Parliament really does matter to us all in more ways than we perhaps wish to believe.

The job of our Parliamentarians seems ever more important in the global village we live in. In an age of global threats of terror, continued religious and political persecution, violent civil uprisings and a social networking frenzy, Parliamentarians bridge the link between us and our fellow humans. Not forgetting that we are possibly on the brink of a third world war, envisaged to hit at the core of the western civilization.

Whilst all the above, no doubt, occupies the daily agendas at 10 Downing Street and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the day-to-day grind of protecting our nation, strengthening our economy, delivering world-class education and healthcare, establishing an realistic welfare system, saving the pensioners, offering hope to our unemployed youth, promises of both freedom of expression and privacy, and facilitating community cohesion, all lay at the forefront of covenants entered into by our MP’s.

To be an MP is not a career move, it’s a way of life.
My deliberate theological angle has a purpose. To be an MP in today’s Britain you have to understand and work with individuals, families, communities and societies of a different genetic make-up. We need our MP’s to be of the people and pave the halls of Westminster with all the goodness that comes from their diverse backgrounds.

Religious teachings of moral and social responsibilities will be a huge asset to our government by ensuring that decisions are taken in the most honourable manner. Cultural and societal traditions, regardless of the source, can play a key role in our Parliamentarians being able to educate our future generations to co-exist in peace whilst in search of prosperity.

Ethnic minorities have undertaken a struggle to integrate into this nation and it is high time the make-up of our most worthy Chamber reflects that integration. An MP is elected to represent his or her local constituents or residents. We don’t need MP’s who are best in speech, we need MP’s who can speak up for all corners of Britain. Let’s open the field to our ethnic minorities who can, on merit, lead our nation into a better future for Britain. An all-inclusive future.

Qaseem is an Immigration and Asylum Consultant registered with the Law Society of England and Wales. Qaseem is the local co-ordinator for a Youth Charity Organisation (AMYA) working for the betterment of youth in the London Borough of Waltham Forest and wider-London. He is also the Campaign Officer the Local Labour Party. His interests include Martial Arts, Mountaineering and looking after his pet chickens.

Follow Qaseem on twitter at: @Qaseem_Ahmed

Religion: True Worship

"Man claims to worship God, but worship does not consist of a lot of prostrations and bowing and standing, or rotating the beads of a rosary countless times. Worship means to be so drawn to God, out of love for Him, that one’s ego should disappear altogether. First, there should be firm faith in the existence of God and a full appreciation of His Beauty and Beneficence. Then there should be such love of God that the heart should ever feel its flame and this condition should be manifest all the time from one’s countenance. God’s greatness should so inspire the heart that the whole world should appear dead in comparison. His being should be the source of all fear. Pain endured for Him should be all joy, His company should be a source of delight, and the heart should find no comfort with anyone other than Him. To reach such a condition is termed ‘worship’..."

Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, The Promised Messiah, Essence of Islam Vol: 4 pg.175

“The movement which is the existence of the universe is the movement of love.”

Ibn 'Arabi, Fusûs al-Hikam
[One of Islam's greatest Saints]

 

 “Love for all, hatred for none”

  

Mirza Nasir Ahmad, 3rd Head of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

Religion: What is Heaven and Hell?

"The similitude of the Heaven promised to the God-fearing is, that through it flow streams: its fruit is everlasting, and so is its shade. That is the reward of those who are righteous; and the reward of the disbelievers is Fire." [Holy Qur'an 13:36]

From this verse it is clear that the Qur'anic view of Heaven and Hell is presented in similitudes and metaphors. The following verse again reminds us that such descriptions are to be understood metaphorically:

"And no soul knows what joy of the eyes is kept hidden for them, as a reward for their good works."

[Holy Qur'an 32:18]

The Promised Messiah (peace be on him) has explained the true nature of Heaven and Hell. He writes:

"What is the object of religion? It is that having the certainty of faith in the existence and perfect attributes of God Almighty, man should attain release from the passions of self and should develop personal love for God. That is the Paradise which will be manifested in diverse ways in the hereafter. To remain unaware of the True God and to keep away from Him and not to have true love for Him is the Hell which will be manifested in diverse ways in the hereafter." [Essence of Islam Vol II by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, p. 427]

In the book he further explains that Heaven and Hell is not a physical but an internal phenomenon occurring within the mind or soul, but it will be sensed by the mind as if physical. This kind of perception is common in dreams.

As I explained in the previous post, love of God in inherent within the mind. Therefore not having love for God is in direct conflict with the mind. Lack of love and not being loved creates Hell within the mind. However, following one's nature and expressing personal love towards our Creator is what creates the Heaven within ourselves. 

Spirituality: Golden Ticket to Heaven

What a great and revolutionary message is given by the Promised Messiah (peace be on him). It is refreshingly so different from the dry, literalists who in their ignorance dare to comment on the sublimest of human thought , that is, spirituality. He writes:

“The whole basis of salvation is the personal love of God Almighty, which is the name of the love generated by God Almighty in the very nature of the human soul.” 
[Extract from Essence of Islam Vol. II by Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, p. 389]

He says that God has a ‘maternal bond’ with  His creation, the human consciousness and each person has a built-in love and urge towards its Creator and Lord. By understanding this it becomes easy to visualise how the disciples of the Holy Prophet Muhammad and the earlier Prophets (peace be on them all) were so ardent in their sacrifices in the cause of God. The Prophets brought people in touch with this natural love in a person for his or her Lord. Islam and any other Divine religion was not presented to the disciples just as a set of laws to follow as the basis for getting to Heaven.

“I shall cause thy message to reach the corners of the earth"

To us bloggers and ipad  users the above statement seems mundane, we achieve this at the click of a button, but such was not the case over 120 years ago from Qadian, a lowly hamlet in India. This unassuming haven, not unlike Nazareth, was to be the birth-place of the great one whose message was destined to reach the very corners of the earth.

Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) was that embodiment of the numerous prophecies recorded in the holy scriptures of all religions foretelling the coming of a special personality to reform the latter day people. Each holy founder of a religion ascribed that Promised Reformer with either his own name or with a unique title indicating certain recognizable qualities, but the timing of the advent is agreed upon by all.

We find among the major world religions that Hindus awaited the coming of the Neha Kalank Avatar, Buddhists awaited the Buddha, Zoroastrians awaited the Mesio Darbahme, Christians awaited the Messiah, the Muslims awaited the Imam Mahdi and the Masih, Sikhs were informed by Guru Baba Nanak to await a great spiritual reformer.

Today that divine message has truly reached the corners of the earth as promised by the Almighty God. Visit 'MTA International' a global, multi-lingual free satellite channel and www.alislam.org to see how that message from Qadian is today spreading and changing the direction of humanity.

My blog is now one sparkle within that awesome lightening bolt from on high that delivers the message of Hadrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (as) to the corners of the earth and to you. 

Reported by Salma Ahmed Hayat

Brave Women of Ahmadiyya Islam

Look and you shall see! The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam is being persecuted on every front.  Ahmadis are martyred or tortured daily. Our mosques raided.  Our businesses destroyed. Our homes violated. Our women widowed. Our children martyred. Our men imprisoned. When we, the people of Waltham Forest (London) take this to our MPs and Councillors so that a protest is lodged through them, they do not know who we are or what we stand for.

We the Ahmadi women of Waltham Forest, on behalf of the wife left widowed with no family in the heart of Bangladesh, on behalf of the student left with no school to learn from in Jakarta, on behalf of the mother left with no children to love in Lahore, decided to address this.

These atrocities continue and seem to have no end. The perpetrators are clearly devoid of even a shred of humanity. However the history of Ahmadiyyat is one of triumph amidst tragedy, accomplishment amidst adversity, progress amidst pain. Thus we cannot be shaken, we will stand strong, we will stand united with the eternal decree of God against anyone who dares stand in our way.

The Leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam proclaimed to the world: 

‘I say that do as you may please, try as hard as you can. I swear by God that we shall not be moved, we shall not be moved from the paths of Hadhrat Muhammad Mustafa (saw), and those of his slaves. And this caravan of Ahmadiyyat will forever continue to go forward.’ (His Holiness Hadhrat Mirza Tahir Ahmad)

The political discussions of banning the burqah in the UK are not yet being responded to by us in Waltham Forest. If we the Muslim women, cannot speak up now, tell me who will represent the women of Islam as an open attempt is being made today by the combined forces of governments to disgrace the ordinary God-fearing woman?

We need to move our women to believe in a common purpose, a higher purpose, a purpose that stretches to each corner of the Earth with no discrimination or prejudice. 

So let’s first pray to God for strength. Then we will go and knock on their doors, then knock on their hearts, and let them know that they matter to us and we the Ahmadi women of London care for them and their families, care for them, their safety and security, care for them, their life and their children.   

And I am here today in front of you because of what Martin Luther King called ‘the fierce urgency of NOW!’, And we cannot wait till it’s too late, this is Our time this is Our moment, O you Ahmadi  Women, our time is now! 

Speech delivered by Salma Ahmed Hayat to the ladies of Lajna Imaillah: Waltham Forest
Salma's grand-uncle was among the 86 Ahmadi Muslims brutally gunned down whilst praying in the mosque in Lahore on 28/05/2010 by local extremist Muslims.

Mother's Day Everyday

In many parts of the world a formalised ritual is enacted annually, 'Mothers Day'.As if it suddenly clicks to a nation that mummy exists and is in need of special attention. Mummy loves it, but what happens the next day? Couldn't there be a more mature understanding and respect for what a mother is and does.

Only two groups seem to have that answer. Firstly, those sensitive souls who instinctively in their hearts hold their mothers dear and actually treat them with respect and love every day - as if the apron-strings have never been cut.

Secondly, those believers in God who are emphatically told by Him:
"we have enjoined upon man concerning his parents - his mother bears him in weakness upon weakness,
and his weaning takes two years - 'Give thanks to Me and to thy parents'. [Holy Quran 31:15]
The Holy Prophet of Islam, Mohammed (pbuh) elaborated further:
"Paradise lies at the feet of your mother".

Here God tells mankind clearly that if we want to give thanks to Him through daily prayers and other acts of worship, we must simultaneously give thanks to our parents - especially our mother.

So on this Earth today, those people who follow their hearts or follow God, do daily acts of thankfulness and love towards their mothers in a visible manner - not as an annual outburst. This why Islam is called a natural religion.
As for myself, I can't wait to become a mother and get this extra special true love from my children.


Reported by Salma Ahmed Hayat

The Unshackling of The Arab Nations

History is being made. Regimes are toppling one after the other like dominos. Every defenceless man, woman and child appears roused and squaring up to the great monolithic dictatorships and winning. Modern military tools, Facebook and twitter, generate a new global army is called 'the People'. This army is walking across the face of the earth taking baby-steps nation by nation.

We, the Ahmadi women understand that the root cause is the same as is given by Newton's law 'Every action has an equal and opposite reaction'. A dictator expresses his liberty at the expense of the liberty of his subjects. A tipping point is reached, the subjects with full disregard for their lives then kick back. It's freedom or death!

The leader of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Islam brought this biological phenomena to our attention in the following words:

"Freedom is a prerogative of all living things, man being no exception. Liberty is the most cherished fruit of life. Man is the epitome of liberty which is ingrained in him. His very texture is woven with the yarn of liberty" - Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge and Truth by His Holiness Mirza Tahir Ahmad (ra)

To read the book from which this extract is taken, please follow the link below.
http://www.alislam.org/library/books/revelation/part_1_section_2.html

Reported by Salma Ahmed Hayat