Published on Oct 22 2010 by Nadimur Rahman

Hudhur gave a discourse on the fine requirements of Waqfe Zindagi (life-dedication) in his Friday Sermon today, highlighting the aspirations of the scheme of Waqfe Nau. He began the exposition by reciting the following two Quranic verses:

And let there be among you a body of men who should invite to goodness, and enjoin equity and forbid evil. And it is they who shall prosper. (3:105)

It is not possible for the believers to go forth all together. Why, then, does not a party from every section of them go forth that they may become well versed in religion, and that they may warn their people when they return to them, so that they may guard against evil? (9:122)

Hudhur explained that these verses cite a group of people who dedicate their lives for religion and with the grace of God from the time of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) such a system has been prevalent in our Community. In the second Khilafat, life-dedication process was properly established, the Jamia was further organised and missionaries were sent abroad. These missionaries accomplished great feats. With the grace of God, with Tabligh and Tarbiyyat activities they introduced the Jama’at and this work continues to this day. Apart from Indian and Pakistani missionaries, people from other backgrounds also joined the system, especially Indonesians and Africans. May God enable them to serve with sincerity. There is another group of people in the life-devotees and these are professionals like doctors and teachers. Just as the needs of the Community are increasing and Tabligh work is extending so are the needs to have more people with religious knowledge who can carry off Tarbiyyat and Tabligh work.

Hudhur said it is clear from the aforementioned verses that it is not possible for every single individual of the Community to be constantly involved in this work and that is why a separate group of people is needed. In spite of the fact that in another place every member of the Ummah has been given responsibility but it is also stated that running of the worldly matters is also essential. Therefore, those who are busy cannot give all their time to religious work. In addition, neither everyone’s temperament is suited to do this work in a fine manner nor does everyone have the required religious knowledge and every single person cannot be given special training. Thus, there should be a body of people who should seek religious knowledge with complete concentration and then spread it. Hudhur said, MashaAllah, there are many in our Community who, in spite of having worldly professions, have great compassion for religion, but their schedules do not allow them to give time as they would like to.

This is why God states that there should be people who dedicate their lives. As Islam is a global religion, such a body of people should be from every part of the world. Extending it further, every nation should be represented in it, as the temperament and psychology of each nation is different and thus people can do Tabligh in accordance to this. Hudhur said our Community operates on this principle and with God’s grace people from different nations and backgrounds are part of the group who dedicate their lives. As the Community grows there is also need for this body of people to grow. Observing such a need, and with God’s guidance, Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (may Allah have mercy on him) initiated the Waqfe Nau scheme, with taqwa (righteousness) as its basic principle. He asked parents to dedicate their offspring prior to birth and declare like the mother of Hadhrat Maryam: ‘‘My Lord, I have vowed to Thee what is in my womb be dedicated to Thy service. So do accept it of me;’ (3:36) Hudhur said when mothers dedicate their children with this prayer, they have a huge responsibility to raise the children in a way that they spend their lives in the way of God while honouring the dues. They should pray through out the pregnancy that may the child stay free of worldly filth and be a sincere servant of faith. After the birth of the child their Tarbiyyat should be such they are made aware of their Wafq from an early age, so that when the child reaches adolescence he or she dedicates him or herself with sincerity. The parents should remember that it is for them to prepare the child for Waqf, so that they present an accomplished young person to the Khalifa of the time and the Community for service of God.

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