Becoming Faithful Servants of the Promised Messiah
Official Transcript of the Concluding Address by Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V (aba) at the National Khuddam and Atfal UK Ijtema 2026
*Please note that this transcript may not be reproduced without express permission either on other websites or in print format.
After reciting Tashahhud, Ta`awwuz and Surah Al-Fatihah, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih V (aba) said:
‘As you are aware, Khuddamul Ahmadiyya comprises of the male members of our Jama`at from the ages of 15 to 40, and Atfalul Ahmadiyya from 7 to 15. As a Khadim, you are of an age where you will have attained a good standard of education and acquired skills or entered professions that can be directly harnessed for the service of the Jama`at and humanity.
Moreover, both physically and mentally, you have the ability to take a full part in our Jama`at’s activities and offer great service to it. At the same time, whilst having an education or gaining skills is very important, always remember that the success of divine religious communities is not contingent on the capabilities of its members.
Rather, it is contingent upon the grace of Allah and its members acting with Taqwa and establishing a close bond with Allah the Almighty. Here, naturally, the question arises that how does a person attain the nearness of Allah? In simple terms, it requires a person to fulfil the rights of Allah’s worship, to act upon his commands, and to discharge the rights of mankind. Certainly, a religious community cannot move forward and attain success if its members are weak in this regard.
As Ahmadis, we must never underestimate how fortunate we are to have been born and raised in this blessed era of the Promised Messiah (as), whose advent was foretold by Allah the Almighty and the Holy Prophet (sa). Indeed, the Holy Prophet (sa) prophesied that the initial rise and advancement of Islam would be followed by a sustained period of religious decline and that this era of spiritual darkness would last for a thousand years.
Thereafter, the mercy of Allah would manifest itself once again. He would send to the world the most devoted and truthful servant of the Holy Prophet (sa) as the Promised Messiah (as) and Mahdi to revive and spread the true and peaceful teachings of Islam across the world. During those many centuries of moral decline, and especially as the appointed time for the advent of the Messiah and Mahdi drew near, countless pious people fervently prayed and desperately searched for him so that they may accept him and serve his mission. Yet, they came and left this world without finding what their hearts yearned for. Yet, we Ahmadis with the grace of Allah are those fortunate people who have recognised the one foretold in these prophecies and have pledged our allegiance to him. Thus, as you navigate this world that is consumed by materialism and endless distraction, always recognise and appreciate how fortunate you are.
Not only were you born in this era of the Promised Messiah (as) but you have also been guided to accept him and to witness the grand manifestation of Allah’s promise and the fulfilment of the great prophecy of the Holy Prophet (sa). At the same time, this immeasurable blessing carries a profound responsibility.
Having taken the Bai‘at of the Promised Messiah (as), we have pledged to always give precedence to our faith over all worldly matters. This demands that we fulfil the rights of Allah and mankind. It compels us to strive for true righteousness. It requires us to obey the commands of Allah, His Messenger (sa), and the Promised Messiah (as) and to set a noble example of peace and compassion before the world.
Recently, on various occasions, I have spoken about the conditions of Bai‘at. As Ahmadis, we must regularly reflect upon these ten conditions so that our faith becomes stronger and so we may fully grasp our religious duties.
Thereafter, today, I wish to return to the vital subject again and shall focus on two specific conditions of Bai‘at.
As every religious person should understand, a faith that is bereft of the worship of Allah and a connection with Him is no faith at all. Indeed, if a person claims to be a Muslim yet fails to fulfil the rights of Allah’s worship, it follows that their claim remains hollow and nothing more than empty words.
The paramount form of worship is set forth in the third condition of Bai‘at, which states that he or she shall offer the five daily prayers without fail in accordance with the commandments of Allah and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). With regard to Salat, Allah Tala says in the Holy Qur’an:
اِنَّ الصَّلٰوۃَ تَنۡھٰی عَنِ الۡفَحۡشَآءِ وَالۡمُنۡکَرِ
Surely, prayer restrains one from indecency and manifest evil.[1]
Elaborating on this, the Promised Messiah (as) says: “Salat is such a virtue through which satanic weakness is eliminated, and this is what is called true prayer and supplication. Therefore, Satan desires for a person to exhibit weakness in Salat because he knows that to whatever extent a person is able to reform, it will be through this means.”[2]
Regarding the blessings of Salat, the Promised Messiah further says, “Keep the love and majesty of Allah forever flowing in your hearts. For this there is no greater means than Namaz.”[3]
He explains that while other forms of worship, such as fasting and paying Zakat, are essential, Salat is supreme because the period of fasting in Ramadan lasts for just one month in a year. While Zakat is obligatory, it is only for those with sufficient wealth in a year. Namaz, however, is a universal obligation binding upon every Muslim to be offered five times every single day. Thus, the Promised Messiah (as) emphasised that Salat must be offered with intense concentration and a firm conviction that you are standing before that all powerful being who can answer and accept your prayers instantly if he so wills.
The Promised Messiah (as) states that worldly leaders are constrained by finite resources and remain always in fear that their treasuries may become depleted. In contrast, the treasury of Allah is limitless and can never be exhausted. Hence, when a person stands before Him, it should be with the certainty that Allah hears all their supplications and is the Possessor of all powers.
He is All Hearing, Al-Sami, and All Knowing, Al-Aleem. He is All Aware, Al-Khabeer, and the All Powerful, Al-Qadir. Thus, perform your prayers with complete conviction and trust in Allah and with absolute humility rather than just repeating the words out of habit.
Furthermore, the Promised Messiah taught that we must never become hopeless or assume that Allah is not listening to our prayers.
Rather, our trust in Him must remain steadfast. At times, people ask why Allah has not accepted their prayers. Instead of showing frustration or impatience, they must remember that the acceptance of prayer is conditional. If we desire for Allah to respond to our supplication, we must first obey His commands.
So, every person should ask themselves whether they are truly acting upon Allah’s commands. Are their lives completely free from every trace of shirk? And do they stay far away from every type of wrongdoing? If not, then complaining that Allah does not hear their supplications is a baseless and unjust allegation against Him.
Allah responds favourably to those who pray with a firm belief in His supreme power and who realise that if they ignore His commands, their prayers will be worthless and even a means of His displeasure. Regarding the power of prayer, the Promised Messiah (as) said, “It is a well-known truth that Namaz is a powerful instrument for safeguarding a person from sin. It is the intrinsic quality of Namaz that it repels a person from sin and immorality.”[4]
Many people offer the excuse that their busy schedule and demanding workloads make it difficult to perform Namaz at the prescribed times. This excuse is nothing new. Indeed, the Promised Messiah has mentioned a Hadith in which a group of people who had newly accepted Islam sought the permission of the Holy Prophet (sa) to be exempted from Salat.
They submitted that they were very busy during the day tending to their livestock and that the nature of their work often left their clothes soiled. In reply, the Holy Prophet (sa) said, “Take heed. If there is no Salat, then there is nothing. Faith without worship is no faith at all.”
Elaborating on this, the Promised Messiah (as) said, “Namaz is obligatory on every single Muslim…and what is Namaz? It is to submit with complete humility your weaknesses and frailties before Allah and seeking His help to fulfil all of your needs. Regarding how to pray, the Promised Messiah says, “A supplicant should praise Allah by proclaiming His greatness and majesty in order to bring forth His mercy.”[5]
We often see that when a person wants help from someone, they offer praise to win their favour. Similarly, when we seek Allah’s help, we should praise Him in order to draw His mercy. The Promised Messiah (as) states, “Man is utterly needy and dependent on the grace of God, and so he should continually seek the pleasure of Allah, the Almighty.” He further says, “Only through His grace and mercy can a person accomplish anything.” So a person should pray that, “O Allah, grant us the ability to become wholly Yours, and may we walk only on the path that leads to Your pleasure and favour, and may Your love enter our hearts.”[6]
The Promised Messiah (as) continues by saying that, “the person who seeks to free himself from Salat is no better than an animal, as he spends his life eating, sleeping, and pursuing vain desires.” He says, “that it is not faith, rather it is the way of the disbelievers.”[7] So always remember that a true believer can never be negligent in fulfilling the rights of Allah. Allah the Almighty says in the Holy Qur’an,
فَاذۡکُرُوۡنِیۡۤ اَذۡکُرۡکُمۡ وَاشۡکُرُوۡا لِیۡ وَلَا تَکۡفُرُوۡنِ
Therefore, remember me, and I will remember you, and be thankful to me, and do not be ungrateful to me.[8]
The Promised Messiah (as) elaborates on this verse by stating that Allah will never abandon those who remain engaged in His remembrance and who remain ever grateful to Him. He will always care for and protect such people and fulfil their needs. Conversely, neglecting Allah’s remembrance and exhibiting ingratitude are indicative of disbelief. Indeed, the five daily prayers are the bare minimum of what is required. Otherwise, a true believer should remember Allah at all times so that he may be inspired to give precedence to his faith over all worldly matters.
Only then will he recognise that Allah is watching his every day and abstain from violating His teachings and commands. Allah promises that if a person reaches this spiritual state, their Salat and remembrance of Allah shall protect him from all forms of indecency and immorality. Thus, Salat offered with true devotion becomes a powerful catalyst for moral reformation.
It shields believers from the worldly vices and temptations that surround us, whether online, on television, across social media, or anywhere else. Nor will such people ever think of deceiving others in their business dealings or short-change their nation by failing to pay their due taxes or to transgress the law in any way.
Nor will they be minded towards any other type of sin. Generally, young people enjoy good health and physical vigour. And so, Khuddam cannot plead physical infirmity or frailness as an excuse to avoid going to the mosque or Salat centre.
So, offer your prayers in congregation at all possible times. If, however, you are at work and there is no one else to pray with or there is some other necessity, you should still offer your prayers at the correct times. If your intention is pure, Allah can bestow upon you the same reward as those who pray in congregation.
As the Holy Prophet (sa) taught: deeds are judged by intention.
In this day and age, we must pay special effort to our prayers because even among our own people, many are becoming consumed by worldly pursuits. As a result, they are failing to fulfil the rights of Allah’s worship. Allah the Almighty proclaims that observing prayer is the very foundation of faith.
Many sayings of the Holy Prophet (sa) further testify to the paramount importance of Salat. For example, Hazrat Abu Huraira (ra) narrates that he heard the Holy Prophet (sa) say that on the day of judgement, Salat will be the first thing Allah calls us to account for.
If a person’s record in prayer is complete, they will succeed and attain salvation. However, if their record is deficient, they will fail and suffer the consequences of that failure. In today’s world, wherever one turns, he is confronted with widespread immorality and vice. And so to shield yourself from these influences, you must prioritise worshipping Allah above all else.
Otherwise, the world is hurtling rapidly towards an ever deeper moral decay. And those who fail to protect themselves from such corruption will incur Allah’s displeasure. Indeed, they will be subject to His punishment, whether in this world or in the hereafter. On one occasion, the Promised Messiah (as) said, “All of you who count yourselves as members of my Jama`at should understand that in heaven you shall only be counted members of my community when you truly begin to walk upon the paths of righteousness.” That is Taqwa. He said, “For this you must offer your five daily prayers with such reverent fear and complete focus as though you can see God Almighty before you.”[9]
At times, people express that they struggle to find pleasure or devotion in prayer. To experience genuine emotion and spiritual delight in Salat, the Promised Messiah (as) instructed us to supplicate in the following words, “O Allah, you see how blind and bereft of sight I am and how at this moment it is as if I am dead. But I know that I shall be called back at any time and must present myself before You, and no one can stop this.”[10]
He says that when we pray, we should acknowledge the fleeting nature of this world and recognise that we shall all return to Allah. He teaches that we must continuously pray that Allah does not take us from this world while we remain spiritually blind and ignorant of His mercy, grace and majesty.
Rather, we must constantly pray that whenever Allah calls us back to Him, it be at a time when our worship and devotion is of the highest order. The Promised Messiah (as) gives the glad tidings that if one worships and supplicates in this manner those prayers that once felt like a mere formality or burden will be infused with spiritual light, and that light shall ignite a profound emotion, divine love and pure joy within one’s worship.
In short, Salat is the single most indispensable part of our faith. Therefore, from a young age, ensure that five daily prayers remain your constant and lifelong companion. Children of the age of 10 should also remember this point. Never assume that you are too young or that you have many years ahead to build your connection with Allah.
Instead, I hope and pray that every one of you departs from this Ijtema with a firm resolve to strengthen your bond with your Creator and to worship Him with unwavering sincerity and devotion. Remember, to truly safeguard our faith, we must uphold every pledge we have made to Allah.
In this regard, I now also wish to draw your attention to the tenth and final condition of Bai‘at as prescribed by the Promised Messiah (as), which is of vital importance, especially for the members of Khuddamul Ahmadiyya. The tenth condition of Bai‘at states, “that is that he or she shall enter into a bond of brotherhood with this humble servant of God. Pledge obedience to me and everything good for the sake of good and remain faithful to it until the day of his or her death.”
Here, the Promised Messiah (as) has taken a pledge from every Ahmadi that they will seek to establish a bond of unconditional love and loyalty with him. This bond of fidelity and brotherhood is no ordinary bond. Rather, it is a means of demonstrating that we have accepted that Messiah and Imam Mahdi who has been sent to the world by Allah according to His promise and according to the prophecies of the Holy Prophet (sa).
Moreover, it illustrates our firm commitment to act upon the teachings of the Promised Messiah (as) and to serve his cause until our dying breath. If a person is sincere in this pledge, their connection with the Jama’at will naturally grow stronger and they will be shielded from negative thoughts and satanic influences.
Their faith in the Promised Messiah (as) and Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya will always remain firm and resolute. Even if they observe shortcomings in certain office bearers or individuals, it will neither shake their faith nor turn them against the Jama’at or the Promised Messiah (as). Instead, they will recognise that even if an individual office bearer is at fault, it must never lead them away from fulfilling the rights of their Bai’at.
In the Holy Qur’an in Surah Al-Nur, where Khilafat is mentioned, Allah the Almighty says,
طَاعَۃٌ مَّعۡرُوۡفَۃٌ
Obedience in what is right.[11]
Thus, the Qur’an requires a believer to obey all Ma‘ruf instructions, meaning they will accept and obey every decision of a Prophet or his successors that is righteous and good.
The question often asked is, what is meant by Ma’ruf? Simply, Ma’ruf refers to any instruction or decision based upon the command of Allah, the teachings of the Holy Prophet (sa) and the Holy Qur’an. When we understand this, it becomes clear that every decision of the Promised Messiah (as) and the Khulafa is Ma’ruf, because the Promised Messiah (as) was the most devoted follower of the Holy Prophet (sa) and so neither he nor his true successors could ever direct mankind towards anything that departs from goodness and truth.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I (ra) has provided a beautiful and wise explanation regarding the true meaning of a Ma‘rufdecision. He noted that the concept of obedience is what is right is one that people sometimes fail to understand. In fact, he observed that some people mistakenly believe they are the ones to determine what is right.
They assume that if an order appears wrong in their estimation, they are free to reject it. This is not something to take lightly. If all members of our Jama’at take this attitude and decide for themselves what is Ma’ruf, the unity of the Jama’atwill break down and complete obedience will become impossible to achieve.
Explaining further, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I said that the word Ma’ruf has been used in the Holy Qur’an in relation to the Holy Prophet (sa) and the believing women who took his Bai‘at. In this regard, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I (ra) asked whether the women mentioned in the verse had formed, God forbid, a list of faults or mistakes of the Holy Prophet (sa) that they would not obey.
Of course, this could never be. Similarly, he said, the Promised Messiah (as) has used the term obedience to what is right in the condition of Bai‘at. And so, all those who take the Bai‘at are bound to obey all of his instruction and those of the Khalifah of the time.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I (ra) stated, that he had clarified this point to remove any doubt or confusion, not to raise the finger of suspicion upon anyone. In this era too, people do have questions about the meaning of Ma’ruf, which is why I also address this question from time to time.
So, always remember that obedience in everything good means that whatever command or instruction is given in accordance with the teachings of Allah and His Messenger (sa), must be fully obeyed. Regarding the limits to obedience, the Holy Prophet (sa) stated that if a leader or an Ameer is appointed over a people and he gives an instruction that is contrary to the command of Allah or against the teachings of the Holy Prophet (sa), it should not be implemented. However, within our Jama’at, with the grace of Allah, we are blessed with the institution of Khilafat-e-Ahmadiyya. Khalifatul Masih will never give an instruction that contravenes the Shari’ah.
In the verse of Surah An-Nur, where Khilafat is mentioned, Allah says in one of the verses, that:
وَاَقۡسَمُوۡا بِاللّٰہِ جَھْدَ اَیۡمَانِھِمۡ لَئِنۡ اَمَرۡتَھُمۡ لَیَخۡرُجُنَّ ؕ قُلۡ لَّا تُقۡسِمُوۡا ۚ طَاعَۃٌ مَّعۡرُوۡفَۃٌ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ خَبِیۡرٌۢبِمَا تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ
And they swear by Allah their strongest oath that if thou command them they will surely go forth. Say swear not. What is required is actual obedience in what is right. Surely Allah is well aware of what you do.[12]
In this verse, Allah the Almighty says there is no value in just making empty vows or swearing oaths. Here at the Ijtemaand at other events our members recite emotional poems or Nazms expressing their loyalty and making grand proclamations of faith. However, proclamations on their own are meaningless. What actually counts is obedience in practice. In the verse, Allah the Almighty commands true adherence to all that is righteous and good. It is self-evident that a Prophet will never act or speak against Allah’s law, nor will he ever issue a command that defies wisdom. Thereafter, Khilafat is mentioned, signifying that after the life of the Prophet, his followers must render complete obedience to the Khilafat.
As I said at the start, we are fortunate to have accepted the Imam of the Age and everything he taught and instructed was based on Islam’s true teachings. On one occasion, when addressing the Jama`at, the Promised Messiah (as) said now you have accepted me, so you must become regular in offering the five obligatory prayers. You must leave all forms of falsehood. You must forsake arrogance and pride. You must never seize the rights of others. Instead, treat all others with love and compassion.
It was to serve and fulfil the mission of the Promised Messiah (as) that Allah established the institution of Khilafat. Moreover, it is the promise of the Holy Prophet (sa) that the Khilafat of the Promised Messiah (as) shall endure until the final day, so long as his followers continually seek to excel in Taqwa, and are obedient to what is good and are ever ready to defend and uphold the true teachings of the Holy Prophet (sa). Certainly, only if you strive to fulfil these noble objectives can you truly be living in accordance with the teachings of Islam. If, however, you fail to fulfil your duties, your claims to follow every instruction of the Khalifah of the time shall be rendered hollow and nothing short of a great falsehood.
Therefore, as members of Khuddamul Ahmadiyya, who pledge to be ready for every sacrifice to protect and safeguard Khilafat, you must specially strive to understand and act upon the guidance of the Promised Messiah (as) and in this era the directive of the Khalifah of the time. Every step you take must lead towards righteousness and draw you ever closer to Allah the Almighty. The means of achieving this lie in observing Taqwa, fulfilling the rights of Allah the Almighty and the rights of His creation and discharging the solemn demands of your Bai’at, your firm faith and you must always stand ready to offer every possible sacrifice for the sake of your faith and your Jama’at.
At the end, I pray that all of you recognise that it lies upon you to be at the forefront of bringing about a true and everlasting spiritual revolution in the world and to live your lives as faithful and devoted servants of the Promised Messiah (as) and bring the world under the banner of the Holy Prophet (sa). May Allah the Almighty enable all of you to rise to this noble challenge – Ameen.’
[Official Transcript originally published in The Review of Religions]
ENDNOTES
[1] The Holy Qur’an, 29:46
[2] Malfuzat, Vol. 4, p. 59, Ed. 2022
[3] Ibid, p. 61
[4] Ibid, p. 232
[5] Ibid, p. 340
[6] Ibid, pp. 340-341
[7] Ibid, p. 341
[8] The Holy Qur’an, 2:153
[9] Kishti-e-Nuh, Ruhani Khaza’in, Vol. 19, p. 15
[10] Malfuzat, Vol. 3, p. 481
[11] The Holy Qur’an, 24:54
[12] Ibid
