Purdah – a means of progress

Saliha Malik, National Secretary Tarbiyat

Agenda

My meeting with Huzurat

Summary of Huzur’s Address to Lajna UK Jalsa

Huzur’s letters to Sadr Lajna USA

Other advice from Qur’an, Promised Messiahas, Huzurat…

Questions and concerns

Address to Lajna, UK Jalsa 2010

TAQWA

When Taqwa (righteousness) disappears from the world, Vices spread all over.

At that time Allah sends His chosen servants

Holy Prophet saw said: ‘Oh Mankind’ – it is only your righteousness and your good deeds that can help you.

It is essential to believe in this Prophet and follow him completely

The Blessings of Allah

There is no other way to attain the blessings of Allah – no new book, no new law, no shariah, no government….

Those who claim to believe in this message, should mold his /her life to that claim

Holy Prophetsaw was the most beloved of Allah

You can only come under His protection by following His beloved

Otherwise your claim would be useless:

There would be no value in it

Insignificant

No Value in it

TAQWA

Those who believe: Have fear of Allah in their heart so that

they avoid both big and small sins Take care that no thorns should pierce

their clothes as they walk by them

Sometimes those thorns that stick to you injure others as well

The Imam of the Age

For those who believe in Promised Messiahas:

It is essential to follow his instructions

They must remain within the boundaries he has established

Increase in righteousness, reform character & behavior

Whatever I hear from him I have to make it a part of my life

Your Children

Establish your children on the path of Taqwa:

Their relationship with Allah should be firm

Watch over their prayers

Make sure they are not mixing with people of bad character

They should become the ambassadors of Ahmadiyyat, the true Islam

Allah’s Boundary

Declaration of belief must be made with both tongue and action:

If on the one hand we say we believe and then deviate from Allah’s boundary, we lose His Blessings

Submit fully to ALL the commandments and act upon them

Recognize the purpose of your Creation

The Wrong Path

Free education has put some on the wrong path:

DON’T Expose your bodies Become a stumbling block for other people

– by your words or your actions

You cannot say you believe and then follow Satan – it’s impossible

Who are Allah’s Servants?

Those who are truly obedient to Him

Who stand before Him submissively

Who take care of their prayers & their children’s prayers

Who sacrifice everything for His service

Honor and piety of ladies

There is ONE GOD who knows the hidden things

A pious lady would never do anything against TAQWA – all her actions are known to God.

How do they live?

Protect the affairs of the household in the absence of their husband

Do not squander their husband’s money

Look after the children

Take friends who are loyal – who do not teach them to be indecent or wasteful

Shun evil thinking & do not disgrace others

Their daughters are chaste – who never do anything that has to be hidden from parents

They Protect their Sanctity

Understand the real spirit of Hijab - no extremes:

Lower your eyes

Cover your Zeenat – your adornments

Partially cover the face – no makeup

Cover the hair completely

Wear a lose coat

Qur’an on Purdah

“O Prophet! tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers that they should draw close to them portions of their loose outer coverings. That is nearer that they may thus be distinguished and not molested. And Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful.”33:60

Freedom of the West

If this freedom has resulted in their piety, we will accept we were wrong

TAQWA

Obedience

Ahmadiis are those who obey everyword of our Khalifa

Jalsa USA 2010

Huzur’s Letter 1

When attention is brought to young girls regarding purdah, their mothers object that there are a lot of office holders who do not observe purdah.

When office holders are told to observe purdah, they say that purdah is a PROCESS. It will correct gradually.

But there is a lot of bad influence on the new converts and the young girls from this behavior.

The scarf is only for the Mosque

Huzurat spoke very strongly against hypocrisy, saying that there should not be two faces to a person. There should not be one face in one situation and another face elsewhere. It is very important to have only one face.

Huzur’s letter 2

Ahmadi girls should try to avoid talking to boys in their universities.

Also try to avoid having deep associations/friendships with non-Ahmadi girls – do not get pictures taken with them.

Even if it’s an Ahmadi boy, try not to have too much interaction with him since it’s possible that someone will try to pretend as an Ahmadi and contact/approach them.

A means of progress

Your purdah is your protection

Keeping to the boundaries Allah has set, you are comforted by His Guardianship

These things are not a penalty, they are a means of progress

So keep on reminding; surely reminding is profitable.

He who fears Allah will heed

87:10 & 11

People make Excuses Purdah is a PROCESS

Purdah is my own choice

When my heart is ready I will observe it

My husband doesn’t want me to wear it

My mother in law says in America we don’t have to worry about purdah

To tell you the truth I don’t observe purdah

I didn’t know Aamla members should observe purdah

Qur’an on excuses

Don’t Delay….

Constantly keep this slogan in your awareness: “If not now then never” (anon)

And say not of anything, ‘I am going to do it tomorrow,’ (12:13)

Remain Steadfast

Determination brings the strength to continue, the steadiness to succeed, and the wisdom to slip past difficulties undisturbed. (anon)

“Verily those who say, ‘Our Lord is Allah’ and then are steadfast – no fear shall come on them, nor shall they grieve” 46:14

Strive with all your capacities

‘And as for those who strive in Our path — We will surely guide them in Our ways. 29:70

However, if selfish thoughts and excuses get in the way and slight effort is assumed as ‘striving’, man cannot attain God.

The entire matter rests on striving, without which nothing can be attained. (Promised Messiahas)

Unless one annihilates oneself in God’s way, there is no reciprocation. (Promised Messiahas)

From Khutba 9/3/10

Prayers become profound

Blessed are the prisoners who never tire of supplication for they shall one day be freed

The standing of the spirit (in prayer) signifies that it shows readiness to suffer every hardship and to obey every command for the sake of Allah

Its prostration is that it falls on the threshold of God and forsaking all personal thoughts, loses the very identity of existence

Lecture Sialkot, Promised Messiahas

When we don’t observe Purdah

Tarbiyat of self: Personal journey is arrested

Tarbiyat of Community: Others follow your example Loss of respect for office holders / Nizame

Jamaat Increase in backbiting, domestic problems

We Assimilate into Society: Rishta Nata problems / divorce increase We can’t do the real work - Tabligh

What do we gain?

Jihad of the self: We confront our ego desires, vanity, self

image

Relationship with God: We strive in our plan to be obedient, truthful We seek help in prayer, increase in humility

Serve the Community: Encourage others by our example Spread the true Islam

Purdah – a means of progress

Questions and Concerns