Jamaat Ahmadiyya is on the verge of witnessing a historical event on May 27, 2008 which heralds the completion of 100 years of Khilafat-e Ahmadiyya! On the eve of this auspicious day, let us truly demonstrate our love for Khilafat not just with verbal pledges but also through our sincere effort and actions. All Lajna and Nasirat members should make a special effort in examining whether they are following these directives from Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba: 1. Becoming more observant and mindful of saying Salat at the 5 prescribed times. Inshallah, this habit will cleanse

our hearts of rancor and bring us closer to Allah and to each other. 2. Improving our practice of Purdah. As we become more watchful of our Purdah, we will find ourselves developing a

more modest and humble attitude. 3. Learning self-control and maintaining silence at large gatherings. This habit will serve Lajna and Nasirat well as we

prepare for upcoming Khilafat centenary celebrations, Jalsa Salana and Ijtema’at. If we make an extra effort to improve in all of these areas, we will be able to provide Huzoor with a priceless gift for Khilafat Centenary, Inshallah. May Allah out of His infinite Grace and Mercy give us the strength and ability to practice these directives so that they become an integrated part of our behavior and practice, Ameen.

8th Rabi-ul-Sani 1429 Issue 2—2008 Apr 15th - Jul 15th 2008

A Publication of

Lajna Imaillah USA &

Nasiratul Ahmadiyya USA Lajna Matters Special Features

• Correspondence

• Message f rom Sadr Lajna

• Mentoring Meeting 2008

• Jalsa Salana 2008

• New Ahmadis

• Talim Updates

• L a j n a a n d N a s i r a t Highlights

• Announcements

MESSAGE FROM SADR LAJNA, USA Dr. Shanaz Butt

Khilafat Jubilee Mubarak!

Holy Qur’an And We, indeed, sent Messengers before thee; of them are some whom We have mentioned to thee; and of them are some whom We have not mentioned to thee, (40:79) And there is no people to whom a Warner has not been sent (35:25). Hadith "And among others from among them who have not yet joined them. He is the Mighty, the Wise." (62:4) "Abu Hurairah relates that people were sitting around the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him, when Surah Jummah was

revealed. When Huzoor recited the verse quoted above, a person enquired the Holy Prophet who those people would be? He repeated this question two or three times. Hazrat Salman the Persian was also sitting in the audience. The Holy Prophet put his hand on the shoulder of Salman the Persian and said: "If faith would go up to the Pleiades even then people from among Persians will certainly bring it back to earth." Writings of the Promised Messiahas “It is the way of Allah which He has been fulfilling ever since the creation of the world that

he helps his Prophets and Messengers. He makes the Prophets sow the seed of truth but the full fruition of the seed and perfection of their work is not fully completed by them. Instead, He causes them to die at a time when the mission has the color of failure, and gives to their opponents an occasion to mock and ridicule them. Then Allah manifests another aspect of His Power. He creates a set of circumstances that work for the full attainment of the mission and provides such means through which those aims that had been left unfulfilled to some degree are fully achieved.”

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January 3, 2008 With this letter I would like to wish the members of Lajna Imaillah USA a peaceful and joyous new year. I pray that Allah enables us to look back and analyze the past year, where our weaknesses lie and what steps have been taken to remedy our faults and errors. May we overcome them and gain Allah’s pleasure. Ameen. On the subject of errors, it has been brought to my attention that certain ladies are occupied with objectionable mannerism which is contrary to both the Jamaati and Islamic teachings. They engage themselves in finding faults with the Jamaat, the Nizam and even the Khalifatul Masih. This kind of tendency breeds resentment and has adverse effect on the new converts as well. With the onset of the new year and dawn of the Khilafat Centenary not far, it would be most appropriate for you to start the new era in introducing a greater awareness of the risks involved in such a behavior and instill in the ladies the importance of purity and sanctity of our Jamaat. Old habits die hard, but with diligence they can be averted. As the Sadr Lajna USA, the responsibility lies primarily on your shoulders to hone in on this problem and eliminate the root of it. May Allah help and guide you to achieve this objective. I hope and pray that with the onset of the new year, a conscientious Lajna Imaillah emerges under your Sadarat. Ameen. January 7, 2008 I have received and read your letter dated 4th December 2007, comprising of the monthly report for September 2007, Lajna Matters Magazine, as well as Majlis-e-Shura Report for this year, Jazakamullah. Your report gives a good account of the activities carried out in your Jamaat for this month. It was pleasing to read of the efforts that Lajna USA are making in all areas, particularly in Tabligh. The many events that are held, such as the Interfaith Symposium are all beneficial for propagating the true face of Islam, Mashallah. Although a good report has been provided, it is still surprising to read about the low attendance at meetings and those who are proficient in spiritual knowledge i.e. Namaz. These issues are of fundamental importance and need to be addressed immediately. However, May Allah the Almighty bless this Lajna and grant it success, Ameen. Please convey my salaams to all the Nasirat and Lajna in USA. February 17, 2008 I have received and read your Nasirat report for the month of October 2007 and the report of the workshop held in Pittsburgh on December 2007, Jazakamullah. Your report demonstrates that a comprehensive program of study has been made for the Nasirat of the USA, Mashallah. May Allah enable your Nasirat to prosper into proficient and knowledgeable Lajna, Inshallah. There is a slight concern at the low number of Nasirat attending meetings and other various Jamaat functions, especially in the regions with low numbers of Lajna and Nasirat. Please see that this is addressed so that further progress can be made. May Allah grant you and your Lajna patience and fortitude so that you may attend to this in the best manner possible. Your report concerning the workshop held in Pittsburgh shows that progress is being made in this area. Previous problems have been addressed and Lajna are now being educated in a positive fashion. May Allah enable the Lajna of Pittsburgh to progress with the knowledge they have acquired at this workshop, Inshallah. Please convey my salaams to all Lajna and Nasirat in USA. March 5, 2008 I have received and read your report for the month November 2007 and the special report of Lajna’s KCC goals, Jazakamullah. Your report for November describes the many activities undertaken by Lajna Imaillah USA during this month. Steady progress is being made in all areas and good contact is being maintained amongst the various regions. May Allah Help you and your Lajna to progress further and may He shower His choicest blessings on you, Ameen. It is pleasing to read of the special attention being paid to the Wasiyyat scheme and that Lajna are addressing previous issues that have been raised actively and effectively. May Allah bless you in all your sincere efforts. Please convey my salaams to all Lajna and Nasirat in USA. March 11, 2008 I am sending this circular to all the Lajnaat regarding Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba Friday Sermons which were delivered on 15th & 22nd February 2008 on the topic of Salat. The sermons should be listened to repeatedly and the members assessed accordingly. In the Friday sermon of 15th February 2008 emphasis was laid on the importance of Salat, Huzoor said: “Salat is such a basic fundamental requirement of faith that we should never underestimate its importance. We should always be vigilant that every Ahmadi should always observe the 5 daily prayers. The five daily prayers are the seeds of righteousness which blossom into fruit bearing trees. If we do not offer Salat with all its requisites then the weeds flourish destroying the crop. Try to offer Salat with due care then it will lay the foundation for all other pious acts. Every Ahmadi should assess himself and his household on whether they are true servants of Allah and have good morals.” In order to achieve the higher status, in his Friday sermon of 22nd February Huzooraba said: “Just as the foundations of buildings have strong pillar, similarly our faith should be established on strong pillars. We need to safeguard the pillars, otherwise there is the danger of cracks appearing in our faith. The high standard of Salat that would bring satisfaction cannot be seen in reports of anywhere. Some office-holders express optimism with regard to observance of Salat, whereas no undue optimism should be expressed in context of Salat unless every single Ahmadi is 100% firm on the requisites of Salat. While we are in a thankful frame of mind in terms of the Khilafat Centenary we should be most mindful of the key principle of belief (i.e. Salat) because Khilafat is only promised to those who offer prayers. I stress once again every Ahmadi should assess himself that he is taking the steps to safeguard his Salat, has he reached that high standard of offering Salat that Allah and His Messenger (saw) want to see.” In the light of Huzoor’s admonitions, I request all Sadr Lajna Imaillah to assess their members on Salat and repeatedly remind them of its importance and that they should listen to these Friday sermons repeatedly. So that we can achieve the highest standard in this regard to which Huzoor has drawn our attention. Jazakamullah

Assistant Private Secretary—In charge Lajna Section

Letters from the Office of Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba

National Correspondence

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National Mentoring Meeting 2008

By the Grace of Allah, a productive mentoring weekend for Lajna Imaillah-USA was held from February 29th-March 2nd, 2008 at Bait-ul-Baseer Mosque, Silicon Valley, CA. More than 230 participants attended including members of National Amila, Local Presidents and approved local Amila. Jazakallah to Wasim Malik Sahib, Jamaat President, Sister Samar Munir, Lajna President and to the members of the Silicon Valley Majlis for their assistance and hospitality. The meeting started right after the Jummah prayer. By the grace of Allah the National Mentoring Meeting was well or-ganized. The National Amila presented different aspects of their offices i.e. Lajna website, Khilafat Centenary Talim and Tarbiyyat program, Tabligh Tips, matrimonial challenges, finance and Tajnid updates, motivating our Nasirat, Helping our sisters (Khidmat-e-Khalq), Waqf-e-Nau career paths, KCC project updates and preparation for Jalsa Salana 2008. Respected Sadr Sahiba advised that we must purify our intentions, which in turn will improve our conduct and our Ma-jaalis. This meeting was very informative for all the members especially for the Local Amila members who were attend-ing the meeting for the first time. May Allah reward everyone abundantly. Ameen

National Matters

San Jose girl confronts alleged rapist, armed with knives rescues 2-year-old

By Sean Webby, Mercury News April 1, 2008 Monday afternoon, 17-year-old Saba Sohail was catching up on her homework when a neighbor burst into her San Jose apartment, naked and bleeding. The teenager covered the woman with a blanket and, between sobs, the woman told the teen she had just been raped. At that moment, the alleged rapist appeared in the open doorway. Police were marveling Tuesday at what happened next: The girl confronted the half-dressed interloper, scared him off and then - wielding two kitchen knives - went back into the woman's apartment to rescue her 2-year-old son. Police soon caught the alleged rapist hiding on a landing inside the building. Juanito Antonio Gonzales, 27, of San Jose, has been booked on suspicion of sexual assault and burglary, police said. "This young lady went ahead and did something that police train and prepare for," said Lt. Mark McIninch, who heads up the Sexual Assault Investigative Unit. "It's extremely impressive." Sohail, the newly-elected president of Prospect High School's Key Club, a community service organization, said she didn't think she did anything special. "If you are out there...you might feel like 'Wow,"' Sohail, an honor student, told the Mercury News. "But when you are there, there's not really anything else you can do. "I feel I did what I had to." Police say Gonzales lived in the apartment complex on the 1500 block of Alta Glen Drive in Willow Glen but didn't know his alleged victim. About 4:40 p.m. Monday, police say, he sneaked inside a 28-year-old woman's apartment, forced her into a bathroom, choked her, beat her and sexually assaulted her. When the man wandered briefly to another room, police said, the victim bolted into the hallway, running into her neighbor's apartment. The man followed her, wearing only a shirt. Alone in her family's apartment with her grandmother, Sohail heard screaming. At first, she figured it was her book-laden younger sister demanding to be let in. It was her neighbor. They knew each other well. The woman would often visit with her parents. They would share tea and Sohail would play with the woman's son. Then came the man. He was muscular, big. He was only wearing a shirt. "All of a sudden there is this danger in your house - this one place that is supposed to be your safe place," Sohail said. "All of a sudden it is not." Sohail got between the alleged attacker and his victim. The 5-foot, 4-inch girl screamed at him, cursing. "When he first saw me it looked like he was thinking 'Ohmigod, there is another person here," the girl said. "Then it was like 'It's another girl." And his face changed. I guess I don't look that strong." He came closer. "Get the hell away from me! I'm not even kidding!" the girl screamed. "What the hell are you doing in my house?" Sohail said she was "freaking out" inside, but tried to keep her composure. "If I get really scared or really nervous, people can't always tell," she said. Then the man started to rummage around the apartment, and Sohail thought he was looking for something to hurt them with. She screamed at him again, this time dialing 911. The man first sat down in a chair, mumbled that he was sorry and then walked out into the hallway. That's when the victim screamed out her little boy's name. "She thought the guy was going back into her apartment to hurt her son," the teenager said. So Sohail grabbed two butcher knives off the counter, walked into the hallway and then into the apartment. She didn't know where the man was. She grabbed the child and ran out. Soon afterward, a neighbor upstairs called out to say that the man was passed out by his door. "We were standing there shaking and the police came running in there to do something about it," Sohail said. "I was proba-bly holding them in more awe than they were for me."

Please check the Lajna website www.ahmadiyya.us/lajna for information regarding Lajna syllabus, Jalsa Salana, and other events. Jazakallah to Sister Mabroor Jattala for updating the site regularly.

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National Matters

“And remember Allah's favour upon you and the covenant which He made with you, when you said, 'We hear and we obey.' And fear Allah. Surely Allah knows well what is in your minds.” (5:8) Topics and activities will be chosen to highlight the importance of this Theme in our daily dealings as wives, mothers, chil-dren and Ahmadis in the community from various points of view. Mark your calendars and plan to attend your regional Ijtema during this summer. As always, the success of these gatherings are dependent on your attendance and active par-ticipation.

Welcome to 60th Jalsa Salana USA, 2008

The 60th Jalsa Salana USA will be held at the PA Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA from June 20th—22nd, 2008 Inshallah. (http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/fscomplex/site/default.asp)

Please plan to attend and volunteer your services wherever they are needed. Your help will surely make this Jalsa a success in all aspects of hospitality, service and sisterhood. F o r J a l s a r e g i s t r a t i o n , p l e a s e g o t o http://www.ahmadiyya.us. Please contact Nazim Registration, Athar Malik Sahib at jalsausa@jalsasalana.org with your questions.

Welcoming our New Sisters & Guests

Please help us welcome our newest Lajna members and in-vited guests to Jalsa Salana USA 2008. Local Sadrs, please be sure to submit the following information to Hospitality at LajnaJalsaOffice@yahoo.com as soon as possible: Name of Majlis, Local Sadr, Total # of New Ahmadi Sisters, Total # of expected Jalsa Guests, Their Names, Con-tact Information (phone and email), Date of Bai'at (if ap-plicable), and the dates they plan to attend the Jalsa Salana USA,. If you are aware of their transportation or accommodation needs, please specify and explain circum-stances. Keep in mind, unreserved hotel rooms may be charged to your local Majlis if reserved and not used.

Jazakallah, Hospitality Team

Jalsa Announcements

Offer Salat in congregation at designated times, standing in neat rows shoulder to shoulder

Observe appropriate mosque etiquette when in the prayer area

There will be NO cameras allowed in the Jalsa site.

Ladies who are not offering prayers should kindly watch the children so they don’t run around causing disturbance

Please keep your mobile phones turned off during Jalsa proceedings

Food will not be allowed in the Jalsa Gah at any point or time

Children under the age of seven will use the children’s Jalsa Gah

ALL MOTHERS of children under 7 will remain with their children in the Chil-dren’s Jalsa Gah at ALL TIMES

Those mothers with more than one child should keep the family together in the Children’s Jalsa Gah unless the family member is 11 years or older and is re-sponsible/capable of handling them-selves in the main Jalsa Gah

Please notify security about any suspi-cious characters not wearing a badge

Cooperate with ALL volunteers, including those on duty to help you park in appro-priate spaces

We must also keep in mind the cleanli-ness of the premises (host family home, hotel accommodation, Jalsa site, Food Hall, bath room etc)

With anticipated increased attendance at the Jalsa we humbly request you all to dedicate your time to serve the guests of the Promised Messiahas

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Experiences of Sisters from Mentoring Meeting 2008

This year I was fortunate enough to have been invited to attend the yearly Mentor’s Meeting, which was held in San Jose, CA. I was particularly excited to be attending this event since I lived in the San Jose area before I converted to Ahmadiyyat and I got to know the San Jose Lajna very well. I was very happy to be visiting with my friends once again. The event was so wonderful and I truly enjoyed it. The San Jose Jamaat really outdid them selves putting this event to-gether. Everything was so well organized and their hard work really showed. I found myself spiritually rejuvenated after the three-day event. Once the sessions concluded on Sunday afternoon I felt like running home to my local Jamaat and implementing all of the wonderful things I had heard other Lajna members dis-cuss. I really enjoined hearing what other local Jamaats were doing and what worked and didn’t work at their local level. Our local Sadr was unable to attend the meeting this year but I took several pages of notes for her and I’m really hopeful that some of the feedback I got from the mentor’s meeting will work in our local Jamaat. For instance the structure of the Lajna meetings, I heard so many Lajna members discussing things they did in order to increase attendance and there were a few suggestions I think would really work in our local Jamaat, Inshallah. One of the other things I really enjoyed about the Mentor’s Meeting was having the opportunity to hear Sister Saliha leading the prayers. Mashallah, she has such a beautiful and melodious voice, I was simply moved by her during prayers. I noticed I wasn’t the only one though because by the end of prayers there wasn’t a single dry eye in the prayer hall. And lastly, Sadr Sahiba closing address was also very touching. I really enjoyed her speech about intentions; particu-larly the part about how intentions have no color, language or culture. I thoroughly enjoyed her speech and I totally agree that we should all be a little more mindful of the intentions behind our actions, Inshallah. I really had a wonderful time at the mentor’s meeting and it made me even more grateful for all of the wonderful women we have in our community/family.

Aida Lone (St. Louis) When I was asked to be an observer at this years Mentoring Meeting, I was very excited and honored to be able to go. I really enjoyed myself during the weekend. I was able to meet new sisters from all over the country, while learning more about the different departments in the Jamaat. I learned much in both the open forums and the presentations by the different departments. One thing that I learned was how to turn a question asked into Tabligh. I now know that the best way to do Tabligh, is to do enough research ahead of time, to be able to answer most questions fully and thoroughly. Now that I am aware of how to be better be equipped to answer questions fully, and if need be, ask additional questions to see how much the person would like to know about Ahmadiyya. I also learned about the different KCC projects that are ongoing with translating books and speeches by the Promised Messiah (AS), from Urdu to English, that I am even more resolved to learn Urdu so that I can both read the writings in their original language, but also Insha Allah, be able to help with other translation projects in the future. This may have been my first national event, but after attending the Mentoring Meeting, I know that this will not be my last, Inshallah.

Regina Rohlsen (Chicago West)

New Ahmadi-Muslims

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Talim Test Results—April 2008

The Talim test is part of our Lajna Constitution. The main objective of the Talim test is to reinforce what is learned in our Talim Program. It is therefore important for all members to attempt the test. A summary of the 2008 Talim test results can be seen below.

Talim Matters

Total Lajna Chapters 62 64 66

# of Lajna Chapters that Participated in Test 56 60 63

# of Members that Participated in Test 1404 1707 1733

% of Lajna Chapters that Participated in Test 90 94 95

Year 2006 2007 2008

Majaalis (Small) % Participated Majaalis (Large) % Participated Toledo 100 MN-St. Paul 50 NJ-North 77

OH-Columbus 93 NC-Charlotte 50 MI-Detroit 59

CA-Merced 92 CT-Hartford 43 VA-South 56

NV-Las Vegas 92 MA-Boston 43 NY-Brooklyn 55

CA-Oakland 90 NY-Albany 43 NY-Queens 54

VA-Beach 90 OK-Tulsa 38 VA-North 51

CA-San Diego 86 OK-St. Louis 36 CA-LA East 47

TX-Houston-West 84 LA-New Orleans 35 TX - Dallas 45

TX-Austin 77 CA-Bay Point 25 IL-Chicago West 42

Indiana 70 Alabama/Tenn. 17 MD-Potomac 37

WI-Oshkosh 69 NJ-Central 35 NY-Rochester 68 Majaalis (Medium) % Participated LA-Inland Empire 34

TX – Houston South 68 PA-York/Hsb. 59 MD-Silver Spring 32

MD-Baltimore 65 NJ-Willingboro 57 PA-Philadelphia 28 NY-Bronx 64 GA/SC 53

NC-Res. Triangle 62 IL-Chicago East 50 FL-Orlando 60 MD-Laurel 48

OR-Portland 59 TX-Houston-North 39

NY-Buffalo 59 FL-Miami 38

OH-Cleveland 58 CA-LA West 35

CO-Denver 56 IL-Zion 33

NY-Syracuse 55 WA-Seattle 29

CA-Sacramento 55 CA-Silicon Valley 29

DC-Washington 54 NY- Long Island 28

AZ-Phoenix 54 WI-Milwaukee 24

Kansas 54

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$84,

915

$79,

445

$95,

628

$93,

975 $127

,773

$177

,229

$181

,600

$200

,424

$83,

522

$69,

752

$94,

846

$170

,012

$207

,657

$227

,881

$242

,951

$227

,591

$0

$50,000

$100,000

$150,000

$200,000

$250,000

$300,000

29/4

6 M

ajal

is

36/4

7 M

ajal

is

35/4

8 M

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is

48/5

0 M

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is

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is

63/6

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is

63/6

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2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Pledged

Collected

Lajna Highlights October—December 2007

Meetings

Tajnid as of March 2007: 3,772 Total number of meetings held: 263 Average attendance: 35% Total number of Halqa meetings: 232 Monthly reports received: 98%

Tabligh # of Bai’ats obtained: 6 Alhamdolillah! Baltimore 1 Orlando 1 Las Vegas 1 Queens 3

Outreach (Number of People/Guests) People under one-to-one Tabligh: 2,672 Tabligh meetings held: 148 Guests who attended these: 1,058 Needy served outside the Jamaat: 2,478 Needy Lajna served: 1,101

Literature Distributed Holy Qur’an: 51 Books: 351 Tapes: 80 Pamphlets: 770

Average percentage of members active in Daee Ilallah Committee: 403/month Khidmat-e-Khalq: 994/month Listening to Khutba/MTA: 45% Learning Qur’an Nazira: 13% Know Salat in Arabic: 70% Know Salat Translation: 47% Perform 5 Daily Prayers: 55% Recite Holy Qur’an Daily: 38% Observing Purdah: 45%

Waqf-e-Jadid Report 2007

Lajna Imaillah-USA has made progress and improvement in the number of members participating as well as in the amounts pledged and collected, Alhamdolillah! May Allah bless all Lajna, Nasirat and children. for their sacrifices towards Waqf-e-Jadid, Ameen.

Total Amount Pledged = $200,424 Total Amount Collected = $227,591

All Majaalis are requested to submit their semi-annual Tehrik-e-Jadid and Waqf-e-Jadid reports. Jazakamullah

Majaalis Highlights

Keeping Silence for Jalsa

We have two requirements upon us for keeping effective silence during proceed-ings at Jalsa: • Respect for those in prayer, if our prayer is completed we should wait with those who are praying in prayerful silence. • Respect for those giving a speech we should listen quietly, see how much we can learn, and not engage in our own conversations or other distractions. In order to increase in our capacity for this important discipline, it will be helpful to practice keeping silence in groups. During such time engage yourself in remem-brance of Allah. A large group of people keeping silence while gathered together is an extraordinary experience. Each of us in that group connects deeply within ourselves to be in quiet conversation with Allah, and it fills each heart with intense satisfaction. The silence becomes a powerful presence that no one wishes to break. As we achieve this kind of contentment within ourselves we will want to use it during prayer times when others are praying or when there is a need for silence. We will also increase our capacity to be listeners. We will be able to listen atten-tively to those who recite Qur’an and those who have come before us to speak. We will realize that distractions of any kind during the proceedings harm our Jalsa experience, and in fact may deprive us of it altogether. Let us all work together in our practice of keeping silence.

Saliha Malik, National Tarbiyyat Secretary

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Attention Nasirat Secretaries and Sadran! All Nasirat secretaries should

give their names to their Lajna Sadrs to forward to Hazri Nigrani for volunteering at Children’s Jalsa Gah. All Local Sadrs please send a list of Nasirat

who have finished their FIRST reading of the Holy Quran since last Jalsa Salana (September 2007) to now. Please be sure to send a picture of the Nasira if possible. Monthly Nasirat reports are due on the 10th of

t h e f o l l o w i n g m o n t h nsnasiratreporting@yahoo.com.

Please direct any questions/concerns to Tahera Anwar, National Nasirat Secretary at nsnasirat@yahoo.com. ………………………………………………………….

Treatment of Guests

Abu Hurairahra relates that a man came to the Holy Prophetsaw and said: I am famished. He sent to one of his wives and she sent back word: By Him Who has sent thee with the Truth, I have nothing but water. Then he sent word to another and received back the same reply. He sent word in turn to every one of them and the same reply came back. Then he said: Who will make this one his guest? One of the Ansar said: Messenger of Allah, I will. So he took him home and said to his wife: Have you anything? She answered: Nothing, except a little for the children. He said: Beguile them with something, and when they should ask for food, put them to sleep. When the guest comes in, put out the light, and make him feel that we are also eating. So they sat down and the guest ate and they passed the night hungry. When he came to the Holy Prophetsaw in the morning, the latter said to him: Allah was well pleased with that which you did about your guest last night.

(Bukhari and Muslim)

# of Activities in…

Nasirat Activity Summary October—December 2007

October November December Average Khidmat-e-Khalq 28 30 27 28

Tabligh 23 14 18 18 Workshops 13 16 16 15

Sihat Jismani 25 25 25 25

Handicraft 12 12 12 12 Arabic-Urdu

Classes 17 19 19 18

Nasirat Reporting Attendance Summary October—December 2007

Month # of Majaalis

# of Reports Rec'd

Reported Tajnid

# of Meetings Reported

% Attendance

October 62 61 657 75 54

November 62 58 671 101 68

December 62 50 682 85 60

56 670 87 61 Average

Nasirat Matters

Did you know?

1. What is taking the oath of allegiance and reciting the pledge is called?

2. What are the sayings of Holy Prophet Muhammadsaw called?

3. What is the person who has memorized the entire text of the Holy Qur’an called?

4. What is the person who has performed the pilgrimage of Ka’aba in Mecca called?

5. What does “Mashallah” mean?

6. What is the name for the Central Ahmadiyya Directorate that regulates the administrative affairs of the Community?

7. What does “Shariah” mean?

8. What is the name of the organization that looks after the Ahmadiyya missions established in various countries of the globe and was started in 1934?

9. What does “Tauheed” mean?

10. What is the name of the organization that looks after the spiritual upbringing of the members living in the rural areas?

Answers: 1. Bai’at, 2. Hadith, 3. Hafiz, 4. Haji, 5. Whatever Allah wishes (spoken as a token of appreciation), 6. Sadr Anjuman, 7. Religious law, 8. Tehrik-e-Jadid, 9. Islamic belief in unity of God, 10. Waqf-e-Jadid

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Word Search Qudrat e Thania Bahisti Maqbara Baait Khilafat Eid ul Adha Hajj Qadian ZulHaj Wasiyyat Taqwa Waqf e Arzi Rooh ul Qudus

MONTH OF APRIL IN HISTORY

24 hour worldwide MTA service was started on April 1st 1996

Waqf-e-Nau scheme was started on April 3rd 1987

General Zia passed ordinance against Ahmadis on April 26th 1984

Death of Khalifatul Masih IV, Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmadra on April 19th 2003

Election of Khalifatul Masih V on April 22nd 2003

Establishment of computerized press in London in April 1986

Khalifatul Masih IV, Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmadra immigrated to London from Pakistan on April 30th 1984

MONTH OF MAY IN HISTORY

Inauguration of Talim-al-Islam College in May 1903

Death of Promised Messiahas in Lahore on May 26th 1908

Establishment of Ahmadiyya Caliphate on May 27th 1908

Inauguration of Jamia Ahmadiyya on May 20th 1928

BRIEF HISTORY OF JALSA SALANA

A Jalsa (convention) which is held once a year is called "Jalsa Salana"

The first Jalsa Salana of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya was held on Dec 27th 1891 in Qadian. Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya was established on Mar 23rd 1889. Therefore after two years of establishment of the Jamaat the first Jalsa Salana was held. 75 people attended this Jalsa in Aqsa Mosque, Qadian.

During the life of Promised Messiahas seventeen Jalsas were held

Khalifatul Masih IIra allowed the women to attend the Jalsa for the first time in 1914

The first separate Jalsa for women was held in 1917

The Jalsa held in 1939 was celebrated as the Golden Jubilee of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya

Rabwah’s first Jalsa Salana was held in 1949

The Jalsa of 1989 was celebrated for completion of 100 years since establishment of Ahmadiyyat. Hazrat Maulvi Mohammad Hussainra who was a Companion of Promised Messiahas especially attended this Jalsa on the request of Khalifatul Masih IV, Hazrat Mirza Tahir Ahmadra.

Nasirat Matters

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Letter from Secretary Wasaya USA

Clarification has been sought on some issues/concerns that Ahmadi women face, especially, at the time of filling in their Wasiyyat (the Will) application forms. Following is a set of explanations (in the light of Markaz’s instructions) in regard to payment requirement for Hissa Amad (portion of income) and Hissa Jaidad (portion of property) for compliance. a. Hissa Amad: A Moosiah is required to pay Hissa Amad on the following:

i. On income if she is working; otherwise pay on pocket money b. Hissa Jaidad: A Moosiah is required to pay Hissa Jaidad on the following (only on that which is applicable).

i. Haq Mahr (Dowry money given by the bridegroom to the bride) ii. Jewelry iii. Any assets received in inheritance iv. Any property acquired through her personal resources e.g. her income

Additional Clarification in regard to property (for purposes of Wasiyyat only): Any asset (including home of residence) owned jointly with husband is counted entirely as belonging to the husband unless the wife has personally paid for it. (This, notwithstanding the country’s laws which would apply for other pur-poses).

Local Matters

Community Group Raises Funds to Support Share Your

Lunch Campaign

In a matter of days, the members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community (a nonprofit organization) generated a significant amount of donations for the Share Your Lunch campaign. Social Chair, Sabuhi Sid-dique coordinated the efforts and ex-pressed her passion for helping the com-munity. “Our religion teaches us to help those in need,” she said. “It does not matter whether they are Muslim or Christian. It does not matter if they are black, white or orange! From whatever little I have, my neighbor or a person in need has a share in it. We are all the creation of God.” In addition to financial contributions, for over six years the Ahmadiyya Muslim Com-munity has regularly volunteered at several of the Food Bank’s Family Harvest sites. “This is our belief: Love for all Hatred for none” are the words found on the cover of their brochure and their support for Second Harvest Food Bank proves their commit-ment to these words. We thank The Ahmadiyya Muslim Commu-nity for their peaceful efforts to make changes for the better in our community. For more information on this organization, visit www.alislam.org. By the Grace of God the Silicon Valley Jamaat was awarded a Bronze Award and was recognized for their effort.

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Department National Officer Deadlines

Finance Income Report Sister Najmi Azam—nsfinance2@yahoo.com 31st May

Tehrik-e-Jadid (Semi-Annual) Sister Mubarika Malik—nstehrikejadid@yahoo.com 31st May

Lajna Monthly Reports sendreports@aol.com & nsgeneral2@yahoo.com & Regional Presidents 10th of the following month

Nasirat Monthly Reports nsnasiratreporting@yahoo.com & Regional Presidents 10th of the following month

Waqf-e-Jadid (Semi-Annual) Sister Shazia Sohail—nswaqfejadid@yahoo.com 31st May

Lajna Matters has enjoyed almost 7 years of publication. It has become a regular quarterly publication and has evolved through many changes based on the needs of the time. MashaAllah, due to the amazing growth we have seen within Lajna Imaillah-USA, we have tried to come up with more efficient ways to provide you with a snapshot of what is happening around the country. We hope that you will enjoy reading the newsletter. Your feedback and input is greatly appreciated.

The Lajna Matters team would like to thank all those who have sent timely announcements for this issue. We look forward to your contributions and feedback for the July 2008 issue by June 10th, 2008 to lajnamatters@yahoo.com.

Editors: Asma Siddiqui, Samrah Ahmad

Managing Editor: Dr. Shanaz Butt

Publisher: Fazl-e-Umar Press

Chauncey, OH

Lajna Matters is a quarterly publication and is mailed to all regular chanda-paying members. If you are not receiving the newsletter, please contact:

lajnamatters@yahoo.com and cc: NSTajnid@yahoo.com

The editorial board reserves the right to use their discretion in editing & publishing any information.

Khilafat Centenary Mubarak to all of you and we humbly request your prayers.

REQUEST FOR PRAYERS Respected Huzooraba and his family Respected Ameer Sahib and his family Respected Sadr Sahiba and family Sister Fozia Ahmad and family Sister Salma Ghani and family Sister Aliyah Shaheed, Pittsburg Sister Saliha Minhas and family Sister Shahida Mohsin and family Sister Rubina Rafi and family Sister Iffat Afzal and family Sister Rifat Wali and family (Merced) Sister Bushra Bhatti and family

(Philadelphia)

EDITOR’S DESK

ANNOUNCEMENTS Sister Nuzhat Tahir (LA East) was blessed with a son, Baasel Ahmad Sister Samaya Malik (LA East) was blessed with a son, Jasim Malik Sister Gul Chaudhry (LA East) was blessed with a son, Sharif Malik Chaudhry Sister Maryam Aamar (LA East) was blessed with a daughter Sister Haiyya Ahmad (North VA) was blessed with a daughter, Aasifa Wahab

Mirza Sister Brishna & Babar Chaudhry (Houston North) were blessed with a daughter Sister Saima & Omer Shiekh (Houston North) were blessed with a son Sister Sidra & Jahanzeb Sheikh (Houston North) were blessed with a daughter Sister Humaira & Usama Virk (Silver Spring) were blessed with a daughter Attiyya Summerise (Milwaukee), 15, went to Valparaiso, Chile, under the

Milwaukee school system's "Sponsor a Scholar Program" after winning a writing competition. Imanni Ahmad (Milwaukee), 14, took a trip to the Czech Republic and Austria

with her High School Orchestra. She is a talented violinist and performed with the European high school symphonies.

Mark Your Calendars

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A quarterly publication of Lajna Imaillah, USA An Auxiliary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

Views expressed in this publication are not

necessarily the views of The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

E-mail: lajnamatters@yahoo.com

Lajna Matters Lajna Matters Printed and Distributed by Fazl-I-Umar Press Chauncey, Ohio 45719

Obedience to Khilafat

...In assigning your allegiance to the Khalifat-e-Waqt you bind yourself to spiritual and temporal standards which must be upheld. These obligations certainly demand much sacrifice from a sincere believer but the benefits gained are so immense as to make the sacrifices seem insignificant. Addressing this issue the famous historian Hadhrat Ibn Khaldun (rh) quite magnificently explains that it is not the Khalifa who should qualify his position because it has already been certified by Almighty Allah through the mechanism of divine appointment; rather, it is in fact the members of the Ummah who must qualify their status and worthiness to be lead by a Khalifa. He expresses this as follows, “…a community which consents to be ruled by a Khalifa must be a community which admires and cherishes his way of life. The office of Khalifa ‘demands perfection in attributes and manners’; and only the community which can recognize and give allegiance to a man of this description is worthy of living under the regime of the Law.”