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In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

.......... The HOPE Bulletin ………..

Health, Ongoing Projects, Education

www.aaiil.org

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Akbar Abdullah, Editor On behalf of The HOPE Bulletin team, I extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. HSM Boedhoe, Dr. Mujahid Ahmad Saeed, Rizwan ud Dean, Jannifar Khanoum, Arshad Alvi, Ahamed Hosein, Shabir Buksh and the many other brothers and sisters of the worldwide Jama‘at who provided their valuable information and memorable photographs for the preparation of this special Eid-ul-Fitr supplement.

DEDICATION We dedicate this Eid supplement to the memory of the late Jama‘at members, Brigadier Nasir Ahmad Saeed (Canada), Dr. Muhammad Ahmad Hami (Pakistan), Begum Zamarud Ramzan (Pakistan), Begum Qudsia Haq Apa (Pakistan), Br. Khan Mohammad (United Kingdom), Tamuir Ahmad (Pakistan), Br. Tariq Ahmad (USA), Abdul Ghafoor Sahib (Pakistan), Br. Kamal ud Dean Sahu Khan (Fiji Islands), Bhabi Nuzhat Nasir Saeed (Canada), Br. Farooq Ahmad (Pakistan), Begum Sahidan Karamatali-Ketwara (Suriname), and Imam Hadjie Yusuf Hussain Ishaaq (Holland), who all peacefully returned to Allah since last year’s Eid-ul-Fitr. May Allah have mercy on their souls and grant them an abode in the highest pedestal in Heaven, Jannate-Firdous. Aameen.

HAZRAT AMEER’S EID-UL-FITR MESSAGE

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(1430 Hijrah, September 2009)

“And be not like her who unravels her yarn, disintegrating it into

pieces, after she has spun it strongly” (16:92).

Ramadan, being a month of fasting, prayers and complete submission to the dictates of Allah Ta‘ala (abdiyyat), has blessed us with an opportunity to draw nearer to Him. We bow our heads in gratitude to Allah Ta‘ala, Who granted us this chance to fast, pray and ask for forgiveness of our sins. In His infinite mercy He has promised to forgive us our sins and protect us against evil inclinations, which are likened to the “fire of hell,” if we sincerely repent during this Holy Month.

In the light of the verse I have quoted above, imagine a person who spends a whole month spinning a strong yarn. This yarn represents the need for sustenance of the spiritual life ahead. At the end of the month he decides to unravel it and shred it into pieces, thus making futile all the efforts he has put in. We too have spent a month spinning a yarn that would be a means of nourishment for our souls and a means to protect them. A person who unravels this yarn would be deemed of having an unsound mind.

Eid day is not just a moment of celebration; it is a day of thanking Allah Ta‘ala for the health and opportunity He granted us to undertake this spiritual exercise of perseverance, patience, prayer and submission to His Will. It is a day of sharing with the less blessed. It is a day for spreading goodwill and love amongst all peoples irrespective of their caste, creed, colour and status. It is also a day for making firm resolutions; the foremost of these is not to follow the parable of the person mentioned in the Qur’anic verse who unravels the yarn, but to benefit from the spiritual yarn which we have created in this month of fasting. Let us resolve that we will strive to add more to it through continuing efforts till another Ramadan gives us this opportunity again.

Let us leave the congregations after Eid prayers with a determination that we will continue to shun evil as we have done in the month of Ramadan, and that we will continue to repent for our sins and progressively strengthen the bond with our Creator. If we can succeed in doing so, then we have indeed benefited from the Ramadan supplications, else we have ended up unravelling the yarn we had spun for a month. I pray that we will succeed in continuing to nurture our souls. Aameen.

As we celebrate Eid let us not forget to pray for all humanity and the world; for its security and peace. I pray that those who are young now and do not realise how difficult and dangerous the present times are, will grow up in a world where they can have peace and security. Let us all work towards the common goal of making this world a better place.

AUSTRALIA Ameen Sahu Khan, Sydney, Australia Assalaamu Aleikum Wa Rahmatullahe Wa Barakatahu. On this joyous occasion of Eid-Ul-Fitr may Allah bless you with happiness and may He grace your house with warmth and peace. EID MUBARAK.

CANADA Ahamed Hosein, President AAIIL, Toronto, Canada Assalaam O Alaikum. Eid Mobarak to your Jamaat your family and yourself. May Allah grant you good health and His blessing for the wonderful work you are doing to keep us all focused on the activities of the Anjuman. Allah Hafiz. Eid service The Eid namaaz was held in Toronto on Sunday 20 September 2009. The recitation was led by Imam Zahid Sattaur. Yazid Ali led the Eid ul Fitr prayer, and Imam Abass Bayio Khan gave the Kutbah. Ahamed Hosein rendered the Eid message. Miss Narissa Hydal & Mr Adli Ali read the greetings from other Jamaats and the Secretary, Zahida Hydal, presented all the latest news updates.

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FIJI ISLANDS

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GERMANY

Manfred Yahya, Hamburg, Germany ID MUBARAK. I sincerely hope and pray that you will be able to enjoy the peace and blessings of the Holy Month of Ramadan, culminating in Id! Much love to your family & Wasalam.

HOLLAND A.S. Abdul Santoe, AAIIL European Representative My dear brothers and sisters in faith, Assalaam Alaikum WRWB. The holy month of Ramadhan has nearly come to its end once again in our lifetime. In bidding a farewell to this dearly and inspiring period, my prayers are to strengthen the bond of brotherhood and peace within our Movement as well as to peace, prosperity and harmony for the whole of mankind. Let us also pray for those who have passed away. May Allah SWT forgive them and grant them the choicest blessings in His jinnatul firdaus. Blessings and barkaats be upon you and all your loved ones. Ameen.

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The Hague and Rotterdam Jama‘ats My dear brothers and sisters in faith, Assalaam Alaikum WRWB. The holy month of Ramadhan has nearly come to its end once again in our lifetime. In bidding a farewell to this dearly and inspiring period, my prayers are to strengthen the bond of brotherhood and peace within our Movement as well as to peace, prosperity and harmony for the whole of mankind. Let us also pray for those who have passed away. May Allah SWT forgive them and grant them the choicest blessings in His jinnatul firdaus. Blessings and barkaats be upon you and all your loved ones. Ameen. Eid mubarak! Mr. Haroen Badloe, President AAIILN/ The Hague Mr. Firos Nasrullah, President RIVAAIIL, Rotterdam Mr. Naem Nasrullah, Vice-President, Rotterdam Khalid N.A. Saboerali, Netherlands Happiness, joy, peace, love – all elements of the Id al-Fitr we celebrate today. Praise be to Allah! May He richly bless you and your family with these elements. Id Mubarak! Dr. HSM Boedhoe, Rotterdam, Netherlands Assalam alaikum wrwb. I want to say from the bottom of my heart Eid Mobarek to you and your family and your djamaat. May Allah Subhan wa Ta’ala grant you all the blessings you deserved in the Holy month of Ramadaan, and may the joy of Eid be with all of you every second of your lives. Wassalam.

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INDIA

Shagufta, Urfan and Gibran Tareen WISH U ALL A V V V HAPPY EID. MAY ALLAH BLESS U ALL WITH HIS CHOICEST BLESSINGS. DO REMEMBER US IN UR PRAYERS. WITH LOVE.

NEW ZEALAND

Shabir Buksh, Secretary, AAIIL, NZ Please pass on the best wish from NZ Jamaat to the Global Jamaat. Wishing you all a very happy and joyous Eid.

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Wassaalam.

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PAKISTAN

Amir Aziz, General Secretary, AAIIL, Pakistan Dear Brothers and Sisters, Assalamu Alikum. On behalf of the Central Anjuman I wish you all a very Happy Eid. It’s time that we all thank Allah for granting us the opportunity to share the happiness of this special occasion. May Allah descend His bounties of this day on you, your family, every member of your jammat and on the whole Muslim Ummah. (Ameen.) Mudassar Aziz, PA to Hazrat Ameer Assalaam-o-Alaikum Wa Rakhmatullahi Wa Barakaato Hoo. EID MUBARIK TO YOU ALL. MAY THIS DAY BRING ALL FAVOURS, BOUNTIES AND BLESSING OF ALLAH FOR EVERY ONE OF YOU. Mohammad Saeed, Moderator Lahore Ahmadees

May the blessings of Almighty Allah Ta’ala be upon you and all the members of your Jama‘at. Aameen.

“Wasta‘eenoo bis sabr i wassalaat – And seek assistance through patience and prayer” (from verse 45 of Surah Al Baqarah).

(Oil painting by Abdul Ghafoor Saqib)

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Ramadan and Eid in Central Anjuman

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SURINAME

ic Studies and Publications, Paramaribo, Suriname.

st continue during the next months, for example, control

Riaz Ahmadali, Editor, A Spiritual Note Salaam alaikum w.r.w.b.

Eid mubarak to all of you, on behalf of Institute for Islam

Physical fast is over, but may the moral and spiritual faour eyes, hands, tongue, etc.

Khuda Haafiz.

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THAILAND Eid message from Shaukat A. Ali, Coordinator, Asia & Pacific Region

Bismillahi-r-Rahman ir Rahim

tullahe wa Barakatuh.

Allah Ta’ala has once again facilitated the completion of fasting for the holy month of Ramadan. The spiritual experience and enlightenment that we have gained and achieved, as well as taqwah (righteousness) which we have attained, will, I am sure, not be lost because the fasting is over. Let us vow to keep the spirit of fasting in our hearts and minds for the rest of the next eleven months, and beyond. We must always remain conscious of the practical aspects of Ramadan Kareem, which are to forgive and forget any wrongs that may have been done to us, be maintainers of justice, and to be charitable. And to do all that Allahu Ta’ala and the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, have taught us and expect of us throughout the year. Once again I have decided to quote a number of verses of the Holy Quran instead of presenting my personal views and hope that these will assist us in our daily lives. The verses which are being shared with you relate to justice and charity or giving out of what Allah Ta’ala has given us. Among other commandments in the Holy Quran, we are told repeatedly to do justice and to spend out of what Allah has given us. I have decided to dwell on these two aspects in this message as Allahu Ta’ala has warned us of the consequences of not doing justice and not spending out of what He has given us. I quote below several verses pertaining to these two issues. Doing Justice 4:135: “O you who believe, be maintainers of justice, bearers of witness for Allah, even though it be against your own selves or (your) parents or near relatives – whether he be rich or poor, Allah has a better right over them both. So follow not (your) low desires, lest you deviate. And if you distort or turn away from (truth), surely Allah is ever Aware of what you do.” 5:8: “O you who believe, be upright for Allah, bearers of witness with justice; and let not hatred of a people incite you not to act equitably. Be just; that is nearer to observance of duty. And keep your duty to Allah. Surely Allah is Aware of what you do.” 16:90: “Surely Allah enjoins justice and the doing of good (to others) and the giving to the kindred, and He forbids indecency and evil and rebellion. He admonishes you that you may be mindful.” 42:15: “To this then go on inviting, and be steadfast as you are commanded, and follow not their low desires, and say: I believe in what Allah has revealed of the Book, and I am commanded to do justice between you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. For us are our deeds; and for you your deeds. There is no contention between us and you. Allah will gather us together, and to Him is the eventual coming.”

(In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful)

Dear sisters and brothers, Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahma Alhamdulillah,

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9:9: “And if two parties of the believers quarrel, make peace between them. Then if one of them does wrong to the other, fight that which does wrong, till it return mand. Then, if it returns, make peace between them with justice and act equitably. S equitable.”

our living. In return, He as commanded us to spend in the way o has repeatedly told us that He

will reward us abundantly and give u e than what we spend. Those who are giving regularly have

and spend out of what We have given them.”

, secretly and openly, and repel evil with good; for such is the (happy) issue of the

ains. And Allah multiplies (further) for whom He pleases. And Allah is

4 to Allah’s com

urely Allah loves the Spend out of what Allah has given Allah Ta’ala has given us brains, eyes, ears, tongue, hands and feet with which we earn h f Allah from what we earn. Allah Ta’ala

to hundreds of times more out os up f His grac practical experience of this.

2:3: “Who believe in the Unseen and keep up prayer 8:3: “Those who keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them.” 9:34 & 35: “And those who hoard up gold and silver and spend it not in Allah’s way — announce to them a painful chastisement, On the day when it will be heated in the Fire of hell, then their foreheads and their sides and their backs will be branded with it: This is what you hoarded up for yourselves, so taste what you used to hoard.” 13:22: “And those who are steadfast seeking the pleasure of their Lord, and keep up prayer and spend of that which We have given themabode—” 14:31: “Tell My servants who believe to keep up prayer and spend out of what We have given them, secretly and openly, before the coming of the day in which there is no bartering, nor befriending.” 42:38: “And those who respond to their Lord and keep up prayer, and whose affairs are (decided) by counsel among themselves, and who spend out of what We have given them.” 2:261: “The parable of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is as the parable of a grain growing seven ears, in every ear a hundred grAmple-giving, Knowing.” Let us pray that Compassionate and Merciful Allah guides and grants us courage of conviction to do justice at all times even under most difficult circumstances; and a loving heart so that for the love of Allah we spend out of what He has given us:

“Our Lord, grant me protection and my parents and the believers on the day when the reckoning comes to pass” (14:41) – aameen.

EID MUBARAK. Please convey our Salaams and Eid Mubarak to all your members and their loved ones as well. Wassalam. (Please continue to promote our website: www.aaiil.org. We had almost 1.3 million hits in August, and September is expected to be about the same.)

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Enayat Mohammed, Chairman, Ahmadiyya Muslim Literary Trust, Trinidad & Tobago Dear Hazrat Ameer Assalamu Alaikum. I extend greetings to you, your family and the rest of the worldwide AAIIL Jama‘at on the joyous occasion of

id-ul-Fitr. E Ashraf & Nafiesa Ali, Members of the AMLT EID MUBARAK. May the blessings of Ramadan remain with us, Insha Allah.

During the Eid service

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Enjoying the sawine afterwards

Later ... Getting the sawine ready and sharing it with the neighbours

UNITED KINGDOM

Jameelah Khan, President, AAIIL, UK May I ,through your progressive medium, convey to our Worldwide Jamaats EID MUBARAK. May the spiritual blessings you received during Ramadan remain with you always. Brother Shahid Aziz, General Secretary, AAIIL, UK Assalamu Alaikum. Eid Mubarak to all our brothers and sisters.

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Jannifar Khanoum, Oakland Mosque, California

EID MUBARAK AHMADIYYA ANJUMAN ISHAAT-I-ISLAM

OAKLAND CA USA

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Service at Oakland Mosque

Du‘a before leaving for mosque

Arrival at mosque

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Waiting for service to start

Talking abo t Eid prayer u

Getting ready for prayer

Ikram Jhangiri giving short takreel Hasmullah delivering khutba

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Jafar Abdullah re ul-Fitr message ading Hazrat Ameer's Eid-

Prize giving to children

Prize giving to children

Prize giving to children

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Special question asked by Mousa Jhangiri on receiving money and gift

Closing du‘a by Mohammed Mustapha

& winner of the questi

Eid hugs

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Lunch

Editor’s Acknowledgement I thank Hazrat Ameer, Dr. Abdul Karim Saeed Pasha Sahib, and members from our worldwide jama‘ats who submitted their messages and greetings for circulation through our HOPE publication. May Allah bless you on this joyous occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr and keep you all under His protection and care at all times. Aameen. Allah Hafiz.

CONTACT INFORMATION Akbar Abdullah

Editor, The HOPE Bulletin Mailing Address: P.O. Box A2127

211 South Clark Street Chicago, IL 60690, U.S.A.

E-mail Address: akbar_786us@yahoo.com Telephone Number: (773) 539-6892 Facsimile Number: (773) 539-9975