In a stirring address that blended spiritual insight with practical direction, the Amir (National Head) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria, Alhaji (Barr.) Alatoye Folorunso Azeez, has charged members of the Majlis Ansar Sultanul Qalam (MASQ), also known as Muslim Writers’ Guild of Nigeria, to elevate their writing craft as a means of serving faith, enlightening society, and upholding the noble legacy of the Promised Messiah (as).
The Amir gave the charge during the MASQ Writing Workshop and Annual Conference 2025, held at the Conference Hall of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at of Nigeria Headquarters, Ojokoro, Lagos, from 25th to 26th October 2025. The two-day intellectual gathering featured technical sessions on article writing, poetry, advocacy writing, and digital research tools, as well as a keynote conference themed “Writing Hope in an Era of Fear — The Pen as a Beacon of Light.”
Amir Sahib emphasized that writing is not a casual endeavor but a refined skill that must be consciously nurtured. “Writing is a skill; you don’t just pick a pen,” he said, urging members to master the full cycle of communication which are listening, speaking, reading, and writing — in order to express divine truths with clarity and purpose.
He recalled that the Promised Messiah (as) was endowed with excellence in all four dimensions of communication, and was divinely titled “Sultanul Qalam” (King of the Pen), a title that inspired the establishment of MASQ as the writing guild of the Jama’at. “This association must keep that spirit alive,” Amir Sahib stressed.
Underscoring the importance of intellectual development, he called for renewed attention to translation work and the production of high-standard Islamic literature. “We have to translate a lot of books into local languages,” he mentioned. “Previous works were done, but we now need standard versions of those pamphlets. We need standard authors whose writings are refined and authoritative.”
Amir Sahib further encouraged members to aim for depth and breadth in their writing, drawing inspiration from the scholarly approach of academics. “When academics write, they don’t write on only one aspect of a subject. This should also be our aim,” he mentioned.
Highlighting the broader mission of writing in Islam, Barr. Alatoye reminded participants that Ahmadi writers are not fictional authors but conveyors of divine truth. “We are not fictional writers; we are explaining religion. Write for a wider audience,” he emphasized, adding that such writing attracts continuous spiritual reward for guiding others.
He also reiterated MASQ’s crucial role as the literary arm of the Jama’at, describing it as complementary to the mission of Muslim Television Ahmadiyya (MTA). “MASQ is like MTA; take it seriously like that. The prophecy ‘I shall cause thy message to reach the corners of the earth’ also refers to Sultanul Qalam. Both arms must work to compliment each other,” he said.
Amir Sahib encouraged the expansion of the guild to include more Khuddam, Jama’at members, and even external participants, while emphasizing the need for financial and intellectual capacity to sustain its projects. “Funding is very important for all our projects,” he noted. “Jama’at members have the means; we should preach and pray that Allah grants people faith with their wealth.”
In a motivational close, he advised members to ensure that their published works create impact, both spiritually and professionally. “Your articles should be impactful on society and on yourself. Published works should elevate your recognition as writers,” he declared, urging members to pursue advanced education. “Get your master’s, PhD, become professors. Raise your profile and reach the peak of your field — all in the service of the Jama’at.”
Amir Sahib reaffirmed the divine gift bestowed upon the Promised Messiah (as) – the power of the pen, and enjoined participants to explore and multiply that gift in their lives. “Allah has given the Promised Messiah this gift; we must explore it,” he added.
The conference concluded with the presentation of awards to outstanding writers and guest contributors in recognition of their dedication and impact through the pen.
