A guide on building a strong relationship with Khilafat

Ahmadi Muslims are blessed by Allah to have received the gift of Khilafat. Many people know of its importance in our Jama’at; how it is a source of leadership, a source of direction, a source of divine guidance and a source of spiritual solace. But what some don’t know or instead, don’t realise, is the countless benefits which can be attained from it. Allah has opened up so many avenues for Ahmadis to utilise Khilafat, yet whether it be through negligence due to worldly commitments, or simply through lethargy, some of us don’t take advantage of them.

Khilafat is essentially a continuation of divine authority based upon the precepts of Prophethood. After the Prophet Muhammadsa, Khilafat was established that kept the teachings and foundations of Islam alive and kept its followers on the right path. Similarly, after the Promised Messiahas passed away, Khilafat was established to keep the followers of Ahmadiyyat united and rightly guided. We must ensure that we are from among those who follow this divine leadership as it will inevitably guide us towards Allah. If you look at any other sect of Islam, they all have different sub-divisions within their sect which listen to different leaders/Imams. There is no sense of complete unity within these sects which is why the Muslim world is in a state of disarray. The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community is different. We have one Khalifah who makes decisions and all of us are united under him as one.

We must remember that Huzooraba is divinely guided by Allah and has a direct link to Him. Therefore, by gaining nearness to Huzooraba, we in turn gain nearness to Allah, which should always be our main focus in life. This article is a guide on the simple things which we can implement to attach ourselves to Khilafat to help us reap great rewards, not only in this life, but also the next.

The first, and possibly the most important, advice is to listen to Huzoor’saba Friday Sermons. I can’t even begin to describe to you the number of useful things which can be learnt in each sermon. So much knowledge is imparted regarding every walk of life, from how to conduct yourself on a daily basis to dealing with difficult circumstances and much more. The key steps I would suggest are firstly, setting aside part of your day each week to listen to the Friday Sermon. Secondly, properly trying to understand the key teachings from each sermon (using translation if required). Thirdly, actively implementing these teachings into your daily life. The first step is probably the hardest as it requires you to give up your time which could otherwise be used in pursuing other worldly matters. Identifying that your religious and spiritual livelihood is ultimately more important to you than your current worldly livelihood is paramount to unlocking the drive you require to pursue Khilafat. Once this hurdle has been crossed, then the other steps tend to fall into place quite easily.

Secondly, I urge you to write to Huzooraba on a regular basis to request for prayers. Allah listens most to those who are closest to him and Huzooraba is the closest to Allah of any person on Earth. As a result, asking Huzooraba to pray for you will help you immensely. In your letters you can also ask Huzooraba for guidance concerning any matter and he will have the perfect answer as it will flow from a divinely inspired source.

Thirdly, when possible, try to arrange mulaqats (meetings) with Huzooraba. These are extraordinarily special occasions where you get to be as close as possible to Huzooraba. Mulaqats are another opportunity to ask for guidance from Huzooraba in person as well as for prayers.

Another piece of advice I’d like to give is to watch MTA as much as possible. Along with the many other educational and inspiring programmes, there are also lots of programmes involving Huzooraba that you can watch and gain knowledge from. These involve classes with members of Waqf-e-Nau and question and answer sessions. Whatever Huzooraba says is blessed and you should try to act upon it.

There are many Ahmadis who have already acted upon this advice and even gone above this. They are continually receiving the benefits of Khilafat and there are lots of examples of this. Many people have reported incidents where they were in dire circumstances but, with the help and prayers of our beloved Huzooraba, were able to resolve the situation. They have inculcated a deep love and trust for Khilafat; this is a bond that, once made, can never be broken.

You may ask as to how can one man help and care for so many people? The answer to that is that a Khalifah is no ordinary man. He is the man who receives the most assistance and blessings from Allah. Therefore, put your trust in him and ultimately put your trust in Allah.

It’s never too late to change yourself and strengthen your bond with Khilafat. Huzooraba, with the help of Allah, will always be there for you in your darkest moments. He will listen to you, he will guide you, he will pray for you. But the fruits of this tree will only become apparent to you when you go searching for it yourself.