Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad addresses over 5,600 Muslim youths from across the UK. “Be the ones who are at the forefront of spreading the enlightened teachings of Islam far and wide” – Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad On 23 September 2018, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad delivered a faith-inspiring address to conclude the three-day National Ijtema (Annual Gathering) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association in the UK (Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya). The objectives of the Ijtema, held for the second time at Country Market, Kingsley, were to educate the Muslim youths of the true peaceful teachings of Islam and to inspire them towards serving both their faith and nation to the best of their abilities. The theme of this year’s Ijtema was ‘Salat’, the five daily prayers that are to be offered by every Muslim. During the concluding address, His Holiness spoke extensively about the importance of Salat, saying that the five daily prayers ought to remain the ‘constant companion’ of a true Muslim. His Holiness directed that having accepted the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community as the Promised Messiah it was incumbent upon Ahmadi Muslims to act upon Islam’s true teachings. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “If we are negligent in our religious duties, we will have no right to assert that our acceptance of the Promised Messiah (peace be upon him) has brought about a spiritual revolution within us or has enabled us to follow the true teachings of Islam. Rather, our acceptance of him will merely be a hollow and meaningless claim uttered by our tongues.” To highlight the importance of offering the five daily prayers, His Holiness quoted chapter 2 verse 239 of the Holy Quran which states: “Watch over Prayers, and the middle Prayer, and stand before Allah submissively.” His Holiness explained that whilst the verse calls on Muslims to guard against inattention to the five daily prayers, it particularly reminds Muslims to watch over the ‘middle prayer’. Explaining the term ‘middle prayer’, His Holiness said that the ‘middle prayer’ is whichever prayer which is at risk of neglect due to material interests. His Holiness explained that in the modern era the early morning prayer Fajr often the ‘middle prayer’ for many people. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “In today’s world, people of all ages, including many youngsters, stay up late studying, or wasting time in immoral or wasteful things such as aimlessly surfing the internet, watching films or TV, scrolling endlessly on their phones or tablets or sending messages late into the night. As a result, they fail to wake up for Fajr and so, due to their routine, Fajr actually becomes the middle prayer for them. Thus, the middle prayer is whichever prayer is at risk of being forsaken as a result of worldly or material pursuits.” His Holiness advised Ahmadi Muslim youths to go to bed early so that they could easily wake for the Fajr prayer. He said if that was not possible they must still go to bed with a firm intention and determination to wake up for the Fajr prayer. His Holiness also referred to a saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) that the reward for the prayers offered in congregation is at least twenty-seven times greater compared to offering the prayer alone. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “Such narrations make us realise how gracious, generous, merciful and benevolent Allah the Almighty is. Whilst, the punishment for a sin is equivalent and proportionate to the offence committed, when it comes to virtue and good deeds, Allah the Almighty often rewards us many times over. Hence, it is your duty to take benefit of the great mercy of our Gracious God by joining together in our Mosques for congregational prayers and bowing down before Him beseeching His forgiveness for your sins and weaknesses.” Speaking of the theme of this year’s Ijtema being ‘Salat’, His Holiness cautioned that Salat must become an integral part of the life of every Ahmadi Muslim not just for this year, but for the entirety of the life of every Ahmadi Muslim. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “Do not fall into the trap of thinking that ‘Salat’ is a theme for just one year, rather it should remain the theme underpinning your entire lives. Whatever age you are, and whether you live into your seventies, eighties or even beyond, Salat is the one thing that a true Muslim can never do without. Without it, nothing of value can ever be achieved.” His Holiness commended those Ahmadi Muslim youths who had improved their standards of worship of Allah over the past year. He said they should continue to seek spiritual progress and development, whilst those who had not made any effort to raise their standards of worship should now seek to improve. Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “If there are some who have not made a resolute effort to improve their standards of worship over the past year they should not waste another day. Now is the time to make a firm and conscious decision to improve. Now is the time to start climbing that spiritual ladder that takes us towards our Creator.” Describing the power of sincere prayer, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad said: “If you ignore your duty to worship Allah and focus upon material interests, you may be successful in attaining worldly pleasures, but remember that a true Muslim focuses upon the permanence of the next life and not just the fleeting pleasures of this temporary worldly existence. So, the only solution and the only way is prayer.” Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad continued: “If we are regular in prayer and if we pray with sincerity then our lives will be worthy of success. According to the Promise of Allah the Almighty, we will be freed from the shackles of wrongdoing, evil and immoral behaviour. We will be those who fulfil both the rights of our Creator and of one another. We will be those who spread love, tolerance and compassion amongst society. We will be true
