‘Never shall you attain to righteousness unless you spend out of that which you love; and whatever you spend, Allah surely knows it well.’(3:93)
Every believer wishes to attain Divine nearness by doing good and God draws the attention of believers in the aforementioned verse that if you wish to do good to seek God’s pleasure then remember doing good requires sacrifice. Sacrifice of that which one loves, which benefits one, which brings one comfort, which in one’s eyes is a source to better the future of one’s children. Man has always loved wealth and God has stated that gold, silver, property, crops, orchards are dear to man and he feels pride over them.
In this day and age when technology has not only brought the world together but along with the prevalent financial system technology has facilitated to heighten personal wishes whether or not an individual has copious means. These wishes have reached fever-pitch; to have access to every luxury item wherever in the world it is available; this is particularly so in the developed world. If God forbid the situation in the developed world was to deteriorate or they faced war, the people here would be in an unthinkable state. This is an incidental remark.
People living in deprived and under-developed or developing world are also aware of these facilities and leaving aside the very under-privileged, the preferences of at least the middle income people are to get hold of the latest merchandise. Materialism is at its very height. In such milieu sacrificing your wishes and comforts is a strange phenomenon for a normal worldly person who would consider it an out-dated view. Or he would consider helping the needy, giving to charity but would then deem it preposterous to spend what is most dear to one by crushing one’s own wishes for another or for faith.
The world does not know that even in this day and age there are people who aspire to Al Bir (righteousness) and who are restless to be of benefit to others. They try to do good which establishes high standards of sacrifice of life and property in order to spread religion and spread good which enhances them in obedience and they do not see what is most dear to them, they only see that they are obedient to God. A large part of the world does not know who these people are. Indeed, these are the people who have joined the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and in joining him they have gained the insight into attaining what piety truly means. To attain piety they have tried to seek light and guidance from those luminous columns of light who sought direct beneficence of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him).
When the verse ‘Never shall you attain to righteousness unless you spend out of that which you love…’ was revealed, a Companion Hazrat Abu Talha (may Allah be pleased with him) who was a wealthy inhabitant of Medina and was the owner of many date orchards offered to give his finest orchard which he liked a lot and which was close to the Prophet’s Mosque and was visited by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). He submitted to the Holy Prophet that the orchard was his finest piece of property which he gave in the way of God. Such luminous stars were the Companions and the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) have cited their example numerous times and has unfolded the teachings of the Holy Qur’an to impart insight into attaining piety and to impart levels of sacrifice. He said it was essential to follow the example of the Companions.
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said: ‘No one can claim to do good by spending what is useless and gimmicky. The doorway to piety is narrow therefore be heedful that no one can enter through it by spending what is useless because the signification is: ‘Never shall you attain to righteousness unless you spend out of that which you love…’ Unless you spend what you hold dearest and most cherished, you cannot attain the rank of being a beloved and a dear. How can you be successful if you do not want to endure pain and do not want to adopt true piety? Did the Companions attain their status for free? Much expense and difficulties are endured to achieve worldly titles, resulting in having an ordinary title which cannot give peace and tranquillity of mind. Think then, would the title of رضی اللہ عنہم ‘may Allah be pleased with them’ which brings inner peace and tranquillity and is a sign of pleasure of Noble Lord would have been achieved just like that? Fact is that pleasure of God Almighty, which is the source of true happiness, cannot be attained unless temporary pain is endured. God cannot be conned. Blessed are those who do not care about pain to attain Divine pleasure because believer finds the light of eternal happiness and comfort after temporary pain.’ (Report Jalsa Salana 1897, p. 79)
The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) also said: ‘Man has great love for wealth. This is why interpretations of dream state that if anyone sees that he takes his liver out and gives it to someone, it means wealth/property. This is the reason it is stated regarding attaining true devotion to God and attaining faith: ‘Never shall you attain to righteousness unless you spend out of that which you love…’ This is because a large part of sympathy and compassion for creation of God necessitates spending of wealth because compassion for mankind and for creation of God is an important element of faith without which faith cannot be complete and cannot be instilled. Man cannot be of benefit to another unless he makes sacrifice. For sacrifice is necessary to be of benefit to another and to show them sympathy. The verse: ‘Never shall you attain to righteousness unless you spend out of that which you love…’ teaches and guides to such sacrifice. Thus, spending of wealth in the way of Allah the Exalted is a standard and a benchmark of man’s goodness and righteousness. The standard and benchmark of devotion to God in the life of Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was that when the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) mentioned one requirement, he brought all that was in his home to give.’ (Al Hakm, Vol. 4/30, p. 4, dated 24 August 1900)
The community that the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) created did not just listen to these words and then diverted their attention. Rather, they established standards of sacrifice. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) spoke with reference to this many times. He once said:
‘I see hundreds in our Jama’at who can scarcely afford to clothe themselves and can scarcely afford to have one outfit. They do not have any property but their boundless sincerity, devotion, love and loyalty causes amazement and astonishment.’
He also said: ‘The progress and change found in our Jama’at cannot be found anywhere else.’
Did this sincerity diminish with time? Most certainly it did not. There are men, women and children in the Jama’at of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) today who excel in sincerity. And this is not the case in a few places or some specific places. Rather, Ahmadis who have a real insight into ‘Never shall you attain to righteousness unless you spend out of that which you love…’ are spread all over the world. Among them are both long-term and new Ahmadis, even some who joined a few months ago, whose preferences were worldly but they are now ready to sacrifice what they hold dear for the sake of faith. This revolutionary change has been brought in this age by the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) whose words are being proven true today and in amazing fulfilment. Below are some examples of this.
Our missionary from Sierra Leone writes that a blind lady had promised Leone 2000 for Tehrik e Jadid. She was worried that owing to her disability her income was not much and fulfilling the promised amount was difficult but she had made the pledge and wanted to pay. She thought to take a loan for the purpose from a non-Ahmadi sister, but she refused because she felt the lady would not be able to pay back. When they went to collect Chanda from her, the lady asked if they could come another time. She became engaged in prayer. One day as she sat outside her home she saw an unfamiliar man pass by. She called him over and said that she had a cloth which she used as head covering and asked him to buy it off her for Leone 2000. The value of the cloth was Leone 10,000 to 15,000, so the man asked why she was selling it so inexpensively. She told him that she needed to pay that amount for Tehrik e Jadid. The man purchased the cloth but then returned it to her.
Missionary-in-charge in Rajasthan India went on a tour. He met an ailing 65 year old Ahmadi who does not have any regular source of income and only works 100 days a year as a governmental labourer. His wife goes out to work to support the family. When he was asked for financial sacrifice he pledged Rupee 1050. Owing to his financial situation he was asked why he was pledging so much and it was suggested to him to keep some of it. Hearing this he wept and said he had saved the money for the sake of God and asked for prayers to be in good health so that he can give more.
Ameer Sahib of Benin writes that when a long-term Ahmadi was reminded of his Tehrik e Jadid contribution he came to the mission house and said he had not eaten for one week and wept all night because he did not have money to give. He paid a small amount of contribution and was in turn given some money as help. He returned CFA Franc 10,000 of money given to him saying he owed that much in his overdue Chanda Aam.
In India significance of Tehrik e Jadid was mentioned in a Friday sermon as was acting on the call of words of Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) in this regard. Following this the local Sadr Lajna gave her weighty gold bangles for Tehrik e Jadid.
The national secretary for Tehrik e Jadid in Germany writes that after attending a seminar on Tehrik e Jadid an Ahmadi brought his wife’s jewellery to donate. He said as they went home from the seminar he told his wife that he had made his pledge and asked her what she had pledged. His wife replied that in accordance with ‘Never shall you attain to righteousness unless you spend out of that which you love…’ she was going to give her jewellery and she gave her wedding jewellery.
Ameer Sahib of Lahore writes that a lady had pledged well for Tehrik e Jadid but when additional contribution was requested she produced a jewellery box saying all its contents were to be given in God’s way. She took out a weighty gold bangle and gave it for Tehrik e Jadid.
Our missionary writes that a man said to our mual’lim (teacher/tutor) in a region of Mali that he had heard Hazrat Khalifatul Masih’s sermon on the radio and was there to pay Chanda. Our mual’lim quoted ‘Never shall you attain to righteousness unless you spend out of that which you love…’ to him and the person was amazed and said indeed he had heard the same verse in the Friday sermon on the radio. He said he had initially thought of giving CFA Franc 5000 but Satan led his astray and he was going to only give 2000. However, after listening to the same verse he was convinced that this was a Divine system and he gave CFA 5000.
A person from Congo said that he is a farmer and grows produce. Previously he gave little in way of donation but since he started giving more his crops yield much more and the significance of giving is clear to him. He says this has transformed his life.
A lady from Congo says that she is also in farming and has now started paying Chanda at every harvest. She has experienced that paying Chanda doubles her income.
Our missionary from Congo writes that an Ahmadi pledged Franc 2000 for Tehrik e Jadid although he was not employed at the time of pledging. A week later he found a job and now works as a manager in his field and pays Chanda regularly and says all this is due to the blessing of Chanda.
Niab Wakeelul Maal Qadian writes that an Ahmadi from Kerala Jama’at said on telephone that when Hazrat Khalifatul Masih announced the new year of Tehrik e Jadid he mentioned how generously the under-privileged people of Africa gave. He said since he could afford he would increase his pledge from Rupee 200,000 to Rupee 500,000. He became emotional as he pledged and also wrote to Huzoor for prayers that he may be able to fulfil his pledge. Sometime later when Naib Wakeelul Maal Sahib met him, he told him that he had paid his contribution and his work had increased so much that he finds it difficult to manage.
Inspector Tehrik e Jadid Karnataka writes that in response to words of Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him), a Khadim of Gulberga Jama’at pledged one month’s salary circa Rupee 73,000. However, when it was time to pay he gave an extraordinarily greater amount of Rupee 100, 511. This resulted in God showing a miracle to him. A person who had owed him a large sum of money and who had in spite of persistent reminders not paid, so much so that the Khadim had lost hope of being paid back, turned up and most apologetically returned the entire amount.
An Uzbek new Ahmadi says that he has been living in Moscow for a very long time and has always had an idea what his income would be. However, since he did bai’at and started paying Chanda his income has increased so exponentially that he had not earned in the last thirteen years what he has earned this year. He has perfect belief that this is due to the blessings of spending in the way of God.
An Ahmadi mentioned to our mual’lim in a village in Burkina Faso that he wished to perform Haj but he did not have the resources. He was advised to pay Chanda regularly and God would Himself provide means to go to Haj. He person started making regular contributions. A short while ago he reported that God had fulfilled his wish to perform Haj. Not only is he now regular in paying Chanda, he has also performed Haj.
A Sadr from Burkina Faso said that a person was experiencing financial hardship and due to this he could not start a project that he wanted to do. He happened to attend Jalsa Salana Burkina Faso where he heard about the merits of financial giving. He decided to start contributing once he went back home. Immediately on his return he first paid all his Chanda arrears and promised to be regular and on time in future. A month had passed that all his troubles started to resolve and with the grace of God he was able to finish his project. All this was owing to the blessing of Chanda.
Ameer Sahib of Canada writes that a few years ago an Ahmadi suffered a loss of some $250,000 in business. He was advised to be regular in his obligatory Chanda as this would bless his earnings. He started paying obligatory Chanda. After a while he read saying of Hazrat Musleh Maud (may Allah be pleased with him) that Tehrik e Jadid contribution should be paid in the beginning of the year. For the past three years he has been paying Tehrik e Jadid in the beginning of the year. With the grace of God he has paid all his debt and his financial situation has started to improve.
Ameer Sahib of Canada writes that an Ahmadi started his own business and pledged $1000 for Tehrik e Jadid. He was advised that he should pledged at least $5000 the next year and was also advised to write to Hazrat Khalifatul Masih for prayers. When it was time for him to pay at the end of the year he said his business had done very well and he wished to pay $5000 for the first year and would try to increase it in future.
Ameer Sahib USA writes that an Ahmadi said during 1974 and 1984 [troubles] their business was set on fire in Pakistan but each time they suffered loss, with His special grace, God blessed their means manifold. [Now in USA] this year he has pledged $100,000 and has said that his business has expanded to an extent that was once beyond their imagination.
An Ahmadi from Chicago contributed with a cheque for $38,415.00. When asked why the specific amount, he said he was giving whatever was in his bank.
An Ahmadi from an Arab country took bai’at in 2009 while his wife took bai’at last year. The finance secretary has related that the husband and wife would talk amongst themselves that Ahmadiyya Jama’at spends in the way of God in the best manner therefore one should spend in the way of God through the Jama’at. With the grace of God this year the couple has contributed almost £14,000 for Tehrik e Jadid which is the largest donation in their area.
Ameer of London writes that when Worcester Park Jama’at appealed for more contributions to meet their target one family gave whatever they had saved for their holiday and spent the holiday period at home.
Our missionary from Uganda writes that an Ahmadi was reminded of Tehrik e Jadid contribution. At the time he only had a rooster and he gave the price of the rooster for Tehrik e Jadid. He said he also had his children’s school fee to pay but he wanted to pay for Tehrik e Jadid first.
National Tehrik e Jadid secretary from USA writes that an eleven year old had saved up to buy a video game. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih remarked that at this age boys are very interested in video games and cannot see beyond them. However, when the young boy was asked about Tehrik e Jadid he gave $100.00 that he had saved up for the game and thus fulfilled the pledge of giving precedence to faith over worldly matters.
Our missionary in Uganda writes that a Tifl learnt Salat and now leads Salat and Friday Prayers in his Jama’at. As an encouragement Ameer Sahib gave him a gift which he donated to Tehrik e Jadid. Later the tifl went somewhere for a funeral. While he was there it was Salat time, so he gave most melodious adhan. A person was so pleased to hear his adhan that he gave him some money as gift. The boy also gave that to Tehrik e Jadid. Seeing him other atfal are also enthused pay Tehrik e Jadid and some of them have said that they will take up digging jobs to pay their contributions. This year six atfal of the Jama’at gave more than they had pledged.
May God continue to enhance this spirit and may everyone also enhance in righteousness.
Next, Hazrat Khalifatul Masih announced the start of new year for Tehrik e Jadid and gave a report on last year.
With the grace of God this is the start of 82nd year of Tehrik e Jadid. According to reports received thus far the total contributions for last year stand at £ 9,217,800.00. This is an increase of £147,000.00 from the year before.
In spite of unfavourable circumstances Pakistan has maintained its spirit of sacrifice and is first among all countries.
Outside Pakistan following is the order of the first ten countries this year: Germany, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, India, Middle Eastern country, Indonesia, Middle Eastern country and Ghana. Switzerland is number 11 this year.
There is a great spirit of financial giving in Germany. They are also making sacrifices for many new mosques and are excelling in contributions all round.
Ghana has improved by 60% this year according to their local currency.
As for contributions per capita Switzerland stands first, followed by two Middle Eastern countries. USA hold fourth position, then Australia, UK, Germany and Norway at number nine.
Prominent among small Jama’ats were: Singapore, Finland, Japan and four Middle Eastern countries.
Prominent African countries were: Ghana, Nigeria, Mauritius, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Gambia and Benin.
Hazrat Khalifatul Masih always encourages number of participants to increase even if some pay a token sum. With the grace of God this year the number of participants increased by 100,000 and was 1, 311,000. Australia has worked very hard in this regard and have 94% participation whereas Canada’s participation is 91%. India has also worked hard in this regard and although their report has not yet been received their participation would also be of similar percentage.
Benin in Africa has also worked very hard in this regard as have the following countries: Burkina Faso, Congo-Brazzaville, Guinea Conakry, Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal and South Africa.
Dafter Awal has 5, 927 registers of which 85 belong to people who personally pay while 5,842 are paid by families on behalf of deceased relatives.
The following Jama’ats were the first three in Pakistan: Lahore, Rabwah and Karachi.
Also prominent were: Islamabad, Multan, Quetta, Peshawar, Hyderabad, Mirpur Khas, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Jhang.
The following ten districts were prominent: Sialkot, Faisalabad, Sargodha, Umerkot, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Toba Tek Singh, Mirpur Azad Kashmir, Okara, Nankana Sahib and Sanghar.
In USA the following ten Jama’ats were prominent: Silicon Valley, Detroit, Los Angeles, Seattle, Central Virginia, York and Harrisburg.
In UK the following 5 regions were at the forefront London A, London B, Midlands, North East and South.
As regards contributions per capita were the following regions: Islamabad, Midlands, South West, North East and Scotland.
Following were the first ten large Jama’ats: Fazl Mosque, Raynes Park, Worcester Park, New Malden, Gillingham, Birmingham South, Thornton Heath, Wimbledon Park, Bradford and Glasgow.
Following were prominent among small Jama’ats: Leamington Spa, Wolverhampton, Spen Valley, Coventry and Newcastle.
Also prominent in terms of contributions were: Devon and Cornwell, Leamington Spa, Spen Valley, Swansea and Wolverhampton.
In Canada, following were prominent: Calgary, Peace Village, Toronto, Vaughan and Vancouver.
Prominent in terms of contributions collected were: Edmonton, Durham, Saskatoon South, Milton, George Town and Ottawa West.
In Australia the following were prominent: Castle Hill, Melbourne South, Brisbane Logan, Brisbane South, Canberra, Adelaide South, Hampton, Black Town, Mount Druitt and Marsden Park.
In India following were the first ten Jama’ats: Kerala, Hyderabad, Calicut Kerala, Qadian, a town in Kerala, Kannur Town Kerala, Pangadi Kerala, Calcutta, Bangalore, Karnataka and Sulur Tamil Nadu.
In India the prominent provinces were: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu Kashmir, Orissa, Punjab, Bengal, Delhi and Maharashtra.
May God continue to enhance blessings for all participants!
